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HYDE-SMITH VOTES FOR FINAL PASSAGE OF INTERIOR-ENVIRONMENT APPROPRIATIONS BILL
Miss. Senator Worked to Secure Infrastructure Resources for Mississippi Communities in Bill Headed to President Trump
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, on Thursday voted for final passage of a bill that would make appropriations available for Mississippi water systems, wastewater infrastructure, and unique cultural projects.
The Senate approved the FY2026 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, 82-15, as part of a three-bill package (HR.6938) that now goes to President Trump to be signed into law. The interior appropriations measure funds the U.S. Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Forest Service, and other agencies.
“For Mississippi, this bill is an important source of federal resources to help our communities upgrade water and wastewater infrastructure. It funds the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, which has a direct influence on offshore energy development in the Gulf. And it also helps our state manage and preserve its historical legacy and historical site management,” Hyde-Smith said. “This is responsible legislation, and I look forward to it becoming law so these resources can be put to work in Mississippi.”
The enactment of this three-bill package will mean Congress has approved six of the 12 annual appropriations bills for FY2026. HR.6938 spends less money—$10 billion less—than if these agencies were funded under a continuing resolution. Congress has until Jan. 30 to act on the remaining FY2026 funding bills before the current continuing resolution expires.
Among the items of interest to Mississippi in the Senate’s FY2026 Interior Appropriations Bill:
- $7.8 million for the Cities of Clinton, Bolton, and Raymond for Regional Wastewater Improvements
- $2.5 million for the DeSoto County Regional Utility Authority (DCRUA) Effluent Pump Station Project
- $1.17 million for the City of Natchez for Stormwater Infrastructure Improvements
- $500,000 for the City of Louisville for Historic Strand Theater Preservation and Restoration
The bill includes significant policy provisions that would benefit Mississippi, including:
- $20 million for the American Battlefield Protection Program
- Report language for Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to continue mineral assessments on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (Ole Miss)
- Report language to direct EPA to continue to update and refine its draft of the Rodenticide Strategy
- $49 million for the North American Wetlands Conservation Fund
- Report language adopted via amendment directing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to restore, enhance, and better manage habitat for waterfowl and wildlife at the Mathews Brake and Yazoo National Wildlife Refuges, in partnership with local landowners and nonprofit conservation organizations.
The bill provides $2.8 billion for the EPA Clean Water and Drinking Water Revolving Funds that have been used successfully by communities throughout Mississippi to tackle water and wastewater infrastructure issues.
The National Parks in Mississippi would also benefit from funding in the bill to support the national parks’ operations, preserve historic sites, and sustain staffing capacity to address visitor services and park management needs.
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