Lawmakers Rake in Earmarks for Water, Energy Projects
January 26, 2026
Three major water infrastructure projects and a hurricane protection system will be the beneficiaries of the largest earmarks in Congress’ fiscal 2026 spending bills. When the Senate passes the last of the appropriations bills — which is supposed to happen this week — Republicans and Democrats will have secured more than 8,400 earmarks collectively worth more than $15.7 billion for projects in their home states and districts. The approval of those earmarks will be a welcome development for lawmakers who have waited nearly two years to secure funding for local initiatives such as road and transit improvements, dam and lock maintenance, wildfire mitigation, and wastewater and sewer projects.
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