Congressman Vince Fong (CA-20) voted in favor of H.R. 6938, the Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2026. The legislation allocates $78.011 billion in discretionary funding, with $71.407 billion directed to non-defense purposes and $6.604 billion to defense.
According to Congressman Fong’s office, nearly $21.6 million has been secured for projects within California’s 20th District, including up to $15 million for NASA’s Making Advancements in Commercial Hypersonic (MACH) Program.
“These investments put Central Valley families, farmers, and communities first and ensure taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly,” said Congressman Vince Fong (CA-20). “I have secured critical federal investments for our region, while cutting $2 billion in wasteful spending. These resources will modernize aging water and wastewater infrastructure, enhance groundwater recharge and flood protection, expand public safety capabilities, support our tribal communities, invest in our local aerospace and defense, and prepare our workforce for next generation jobs.”
Specific projects funded in the district include:
– $2 million for the City of Visalia’s Groundwater Recharge Basin F Project to improve stormwater capture and groundwater quality.
– $1.25 million for the Tule River Tribe to replace water transmission infrastructure.
– $1 million for Ridgecrest’s Wastewater Treatment Plant Replacement.
– Over $1.1 million for Cerro Coso Community College’s new cybersecurity education program.
– $1 million for Lemoore’s Advanced Metering Infrastructure Water Meters project.
– Nearly $580 thousand to expand Tulare Police Department’s dispatch center.
– Over $14.6 million toward completing the Success Reservoir Enlargement Project.
The bill also directs up to $15 million toward NASA’s MACH Program after agency review.
Key provisions of the appropriations package increase funding by $63 million for the Drug Enforcement Administration to address fentanyl trafficking while reducing Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives funding by $40 million. Funding increases are also allocated to agencies addressing unfair trade practices and foreign adversary activities.
Other highlights include supporting research aimed at countering advances by China in science and technology fields such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing; providing nearly a billion dollars for NASA Aeronautics; enhancing Department of Justice grants targeting opioid abuse and organized crime; maintaining Second Amendment protections; preserving pro-life funding restrictions on DOJ funds except when necessary to save a mother’s life; increasing National Weather Service funding; encouraging economic growth; and supporting law enforcement through Byrne JAG and COPS Hiring grants.
The district includes NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center—recognized as an important contributor to U.S. aeronautics research—which stands to benefit from these legislative provisions.
