Washington, D.C. – The House Appropriations Committee approved the Fiscal Year 2026 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill introduced by Homeland Security Subcommittee Chairman Mark Amodei.

“The American people sent us here to clean up the chaos at the border, address the crime in our communities, and restore the law and order that was abandoned under the last administration. This bill delivers on that mission by fully funding the Department that protects the Homeland, and refocuses where necessary, to make sure this Department is only doing the job that Congress has authorized it to do — keep the American people safe.

None of this would matter without the brave men and women on the frontlines, our agents and officers, who have been unfairly demonized simply for doing the hard work of defending our homeland, but we will not turn our backs on them.

When I was entrusted with chairing this subcommittee, I knew we had both an opportunity and a responsibility to make our country safer and to push back against a status quo that too often bent a knee to violence, drug trafficking, and infiltration in our communities.

Thank you to Chairman Cole, members of the committee, and staff for their dedication and urgency in moving this priority down the field, and to the Trump Administration for putting the safety of American citizens first. I look forward to its arrival on the House floor.”

The Fiscal Year 2026 Homeland Security Bill

The Homeland Security Appropriations Bill provides a total discretionary allocation of $66.36 billion. The defense portion of the allocation is $3.29 billion, which is $41 million (1.22%) below the Fiscal Year 2025 enacted level. The non-defense portion of the allocation is $63.08 billion, which is $1.37 billion (2.05%) above the Fiscal Year 2025 enacted level.

The bill includes $6.3 billion in discretionary appropriations that are offset by fee collections and $26.47 billion as an allocation adjustment for major disaster response and recovery activities.

Key Takeaways

Champions public safety and homeland preparedness by: 

• Upholding the America First vision by realigning the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) priorities around its fundamental mission: defending the nation against the threat posed by terrorists, criminals, and foreign adversaries and ensuring the safety and security of every American.
• Prioritizing border security and the detention and swift removal of criminal aliens. 
• Enhancing resources to detect and counter the spread of deadly fentanyl that poisons our communities.
• Partnering with state and local law enforcement to enhance immigration enforcement and homeland defense capabilities.
• Protecting vulnerable children by strengthening exploitation investigations.
• Refocusing cybersecurity capabilities to address critical infrastructure threats from criminals and nation-state actors.
• Strengthening disaster preparedness, response, and recovery efforts for U.S. communities.

Supports the Trump Administration and mandate of the American people by: 

• Prohibiting funding for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Critical Race Theory.
• Prohibiting the government from labeling Americans’ constitutionally protected speech as “misinformation” and imposing a penalty of termination for such action.
• Prohibiting funding for providing or facilitating abortions for ICE detainees.
• Prohibiting gender-affirming care, including hormone therapy and surgery for ICE detainees.

Bolsters U.S. national security and border protections by: 

• Providing $613 million to sustain 22,000 Border Patrol agents.
• Providing $346 million for border security technology.
• Providing $300 million for Non-Intrusive Inspection equipment.
• Providing $4.4 billion for custody operations to fund 50,000 ICE detention beds.
• Providing $1 billion to fund transportation and removal operations for criminal and/or removable aliens.
• Providing $1.6 billion to modernize Coast Guard cutters and aircraft to help secure our border.

Safeguards American taxpayer dollars and preserves core functions by: 

• Ending programs that incentivized more illegal migration, such as:
• Eliminating the Shelter and Services Program for aliens, providing $650 million savings compared to Fiscal Year 2025 enacted level.
• Eliminating the Case Management Pilot Program for aliens, providing $20 million savings compared to Fiscal Year 2025 enacted level.
• Eliminating funding for costly soft-sided facilities used to process aliens, $1.7 billion less than Fiscal Year 2025 enacted level.
• Eliminating the duplicative Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman, saving $28.6 million from the Fiscal Year 2025 enacted level.

A summary of the bill is available here.
Bill text is available here.

Dear Friend,

We know it’s been some time since our last update, and that’s not by accident. The political landscape in Washington has been shifting whichever way the wind blows. Rather than flood your inbox with outdated information, we’ve waited until we could give you the clearest, most accurate snapshot of where things stand right now. These are the latest developments on the issues that matter most to you, but remember, the next shift could be just around the corner.
 
ISRAEL / IRAN
 
Tensions between Iran have continued to intensify with each step Iran takes toward acquiring a nuclear weapon, and based on recent reports, they were dangerously close. While Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied any U.S. involvement, we all unite to echo our appreciation to Israel for taking decisive action to disrupt Iran’s nuclear ambitions, an effort that prevents devasting consequences not only for the Middle East, but across the globe.
Although the Trump Administration pursued negotiations in good faith, it’s now clear that Iran was never truly interested in a reasonable agreement. As a nation, we have a duty to stand with our greatest ally, Israel, and defend its right to protect itself from hostile regimes that threaten the safety of all free nations. My thoughts are with the people of Israel, civilians throughout both regions, and the brave U.S. troops serving on the ground.
 
TARIFFS
 
Good faith negotiations have been ongoing and are proving to be successful.
Just days after the tariffs were enacted, more than 50 countries came to the table to engage in fair trade discussions. The Trump Administration made it clear that the United States will no longer tolerate the status quo of unfair trade practices.

Most notably, we reached a strong agreement with China. The deal sets U.S. tariffs at 55%, keeps China’s at 10%, and eliminates Chinese export restrictions on rare earth minerals.

It’s also worth noting that, despite initial panic on Liberation Day, the markets have largely rebounded. Many of the same voices that claimed they had lost everything have now regained much, if not all of it. One last point on this: since the tariffs were put in place, inflation has come in below economists’ expectations month after month.

Given the sensitivity of the situation, this process should not be rushed to meet an arbitrary deadline. So, we expect the current July 8 deadline to be extended.

ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL ACT
 
Over the past few weeks, Washington has been moving at full speed to fulfill our commitment to the reconciliation process. We’re now approaching the final stages that will bring meaningful relief to hard working Americans.

Despite efforts to invoke fear and confusion, this budget reconciliation bill is delivering on the promises Americans voted for. It puts taxpayer dollars to work for American taxpayers, makes historic investments in our national defense and security, unleashes American energy dominance, and targets waste and abuse head on.

Republicans remain committed to protecting the mandatory programs that millions of Americans rely on. Through this process, we’re working to strengthen these programs, ensuring they operate more effectively and continue serving the people they were designed to support.

While we expect some changes to the bill following the Senate’s review, we’re confident that the final legislation will reflect what 77 million Americans voted for last November.

Updates on Federal Lands Amendment

Members across the Republican Party had drawn red lines and demanded negotiations to secure their support for the reconciliation bill. This was not surprising, given the bill spanned over 1000 pages and our party has historically struggled to pass any major legislation with full unity.

Unfortunately, a few members, who neither represent Nevada nor fully grasp the challenges we face as a state with over 80% of our land federally owned, had drawn a red line over my amendment. They had threatened to oppose the entire bill based on a Nevada-specific provision, revealing their short-sighted, anti-growth stance.

Thankfully, we have an ally in Senator Mike Lee of Utah, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. He recently released draft legislation that, if adopted by the Senate, could be included in the final reconciliation package. The proposal empowers city council members and local leaders to identify federally managed lands within their jurisdictions that are suitable for disposal and potential development.

I’ll continue to keep you updated as this process unfolds. It’s important to remember that reconciliation is just one path forward. If this priority isn’t included in the final package, we’ll continue pursuing alternative solutions to advance meaningful legislation, striking a smart balance between conservation and growth to keep Nevada prepared for the future.

Read my statement here.

Ways and Means

After a 17-hour markup, the House Ways and Means Committee passed their directives for the reconciliation process. The most important priority that members of the committee were able to include was the extension of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which will save American taxpayers from a $1,700 tax increase. Instead, because of this extension, small businesses, working families, American manufacturers, and farmers throughout our nation will feel relief and support through new investments and job creation. 

The legislation also delivers: 

• An additional $1,300 tax cut for the average American family. 
• No tax on tips, overtime pay, and car loan interest, and provides additional tax relief for seniors.
• Child Tax Credit for more than 40 million families and provides additional tax relief for American families.
• Makes permanent the 199A small business deduction to 23% - creating over 1 million new Main Street small business jobs annually and generating $750 billion in economic growth for American small businesses. 

Regarding the Inflation Reduction Act, I have made it clear: The bill as a whole is deeply flawed, which is why I did not support it; however, there are a few provisions that have undoubtedly benefited my district. Therefore, I joined 12 other Republicans urging House Leadership to consider preserving some of these tax credits that have spurred new developments to help us reach our goal of an all-of-the-above approach to energy dominance. A handful of GOP hardliners successfully pushed to phase out these provisions entirely as part of a broader effort to cut federal spending. I remain committed to working with my colleagues to speak out in support and emphasize the importance of preserving progress already made to reach our energy dominance goals.

We need sustainable policies that stand the test of time, and I will continue to support initiatives that have delivered positive results for Nevada. I am personally cheering it on to be included in the Senate version of the reconciliation bill.

For more information and fact sheets, visit the Ways and Means website here. 

Energy and Commerce

Recently, some have taken it upon themselves to spread lies and promote fear that Republicans would be cutting Medicaid. These claims are completely false. The truth is, annual Medicaid spending has ballooned at twice the rate of inflation in just a few years, between 2018 to 2023. 

A report from the Congressional Budget Office to the Energy and Commerce Committee found: 

• 1.4 million illegal immigrants are receiving Medicaid.
• 4.8 million able-bodied adults who refuse to work are receiving Medicaid.
• 1.2 million ineligible recipients are receiving Medicaid. 

 In order to make these critical programs and services sustainable for future generations, we must address the abuse the system has allowed to persist for far too long. By taking responsible steps to strengthen eligibility requirements and close existing loopholes, we can preserve the longevity and quality of Medicaid for those it was intended to serve: pregnant women, children, disabled individuals, low-income seniors, the most vulnerable Americans, and low-income families.  

 Over the past few months, we have kept in constant contact with some of the largest healthcare providers in both northern and southern Nevada regarding potential Medicaid proposals from the E&C Committee. In mid-March, I hosted a roundtable with all the major hospitals in the state, which included health staff from the E&C Committee as well as representatives from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to discuss the current proposals and the potential impacts on the state of Nevada.  

 Since then, we have followed up multiple times to ensure they have the most up-to-date information and ample opportunity to share feedback and suggestions. We will continue to keep that line of communication open should they wish to further the discussion.

 For more information and fact sheets, visit the Energy and Commerce Committee website here. 


SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING

Last week, I decided to stand with the Corporation of Public Broadcasting and vote against stripping their funding. Listen, I definitely do not think some stations across Nevada are part of the Amodei Fan Club, but I see them as a part of the media infrastructure, especially in rural areas.

 Without a plan to continue service or ensure access to news and lifesaving emergency updates for folks back home, I could not in good conscience vote to rescind already appropriated funds.

 Read my statement here

APPROPRIATIONS

My, what a difference 12 months can make. The change in leadership has prompted a swift realignment with the Department of Homeland Security’s core mission: keeping Americans safe. We are no longer being forced to fund an agency that neglected its duties and drifted from its purpose. Instead, the Department is reclaiming its role as an enforcer of the law and a defender of our national security.

 Today, U.S. Customs and Border Protection holds firm authority at our southern border, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is rigorously pursuing its mission throughout the interior of our country. Across the Department, outdated equipment is being modernized, the U.S. Coast Guard is once again a priority, the Secret Service is refining its mission, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency is sharpening its focus in the ongoing battle against enemies who seek to do us harm in the cyber arena.

 Last week, the Fiscal Year 2026 Homeland Security Bill cleared through subcommittee, with full committee consideration expected in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, the Appropriations Committee has already advanced 2 of the 12 annual funding bills, putting us on a strong path forward. You can never say mission accomplished in this business, but the mission is off to a strong start.

Homeland Security Subcommittee Hearings

Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve held numerous oversight hearings featuring testimony from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Acting Director of Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Bridget Bean, Acting Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Todd Lyons, United States Coast Guard Acting Commandant Admiral Kevin Lunday, Acting Commissioner of Customs and Border Patrol Pete Flores, and Transportation Security Administration Acting Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill. 

 Our authorizing colleagues are working on reconciliation bills that will provide significant investments in the President’s immigration and border security agenda, including funding to the Coast Guard to secure our maritime border.

 I want to sincerely thank the selfless agents and officers who are working tirelessly to remove dangerous criminals, individuals on the terrorist watch list, and illicit drugs that should never have made it into our country in the first place. Their efforts, guided by the commonsense directives from the Trump Administration, are helping make American communities safer. 

 I emphasized the importance of keeping an open and honest line of communication between DHS and Congress. It is our job as members of the Appropriations Committee to make sure the Department is appropriately spending the money Congress provides, as well as to ensure the Department has the resources it needs to execute its mission on an annual basis.

Oversight Hearing with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem

Oversight Hearing with Acting Director of Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Bridget Bean

 
KEEP IN TOUCH
 
As always, thank you for subscribing to the Amodei Report. I look forward to continuing to keep you up to date on the issues you care about most.
 
For additional information, please call my Washington office: (202) 225-6155, Reno office: (775) 686-5760, or Elko phone: (775) 777-7705 or visit my website at Amodei.house.gov.
To receive updates on what I am doing in Washington and Nevada’s 2nd District follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Sincerely,

 
Mark E. Amodei
Member of Congress

 


 
        

Amodei Statement Following Vote on Rescissions Package

Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Mark Amodei issued the following statement after voting against the $9.4 billion rescissions request sent to Congress by the Trump Administration: 

“If we do not have time to think about it, we sure as hell have time to talk about it before October 1st when the impacts of these rescinded funds would start to be felt,” said Rep. Mark Amodei. “This is forward funding. So, before we trigger major consequences for our local public broadcasting stations throughout the West and other rural areas, we need more discussion—rather than railroading folks over the East Coast’s editorials and indiscretions. 

“I agree we must make meaningful cuts to shrink our federal deficit; however, I would be doing a disservice to the thousands of rural constituents in my district if I did not fight to keep their access to the rest of the world and news on the air.  
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“Having the ability to discuss real impacts, beyond just the global perspective, is a healthy and necessary step. I’m sure we will be voting on this again before the cake is fully baked, so I look forward to working with my colleagues to improve and protect this infrastructure our rural communities rely on.” 

Washington, D.C. – Today, the Co-Chairs of the Public Broadcasting Caucus, Congressman Mark Amodei (NV-02) and Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10), issued a joint statement urging the Trump Administration to reconsider recissions in funding to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. 

“From coast to coast, Americans rely on public broadcasting for lifesaving emergency alerts, trusted news, and coverage on key issues that connects communities across our nation. 

We see firsthand the valuable role public media plays across our districts, particularly in rural areas where, in many cases, it is the only available and reliable media service available. Of the 544 radio and television stations that receive federal funding, 245 serve rural communities and collectively support more than 5,950 local jobs. Rural broadcasters face significant challenges in raising private funds, making them particularly vulnerable if government funding is cut. 

Our local stations are dedicated to serving their communities, but their ability to continue offering free, high-quality programming would be eliminated if the federal funding is rescinded. Rescinding this funding would also isolate rural communities, jeopardizing their access to vital resources they depend on.
 
Furthermore, public broadcasting represents less than 0.01% of the federal budget, yet its impact reaches every congressional district. Cutting this funding will not meaningfully reduce the deficit, but it will dismantle a trusted source of information for millions of Americans. 

Public media has demonstrated a willingness to listen to the American public and adapt. While we reaffirm that public media must be objective and legitimate concerns about content should be addressed, funding decisions should be objective as well.  
​
 As Co-Chairs of the Public Broadcasting Caucus, we feel it is our responsibility to protect the lifeline public media plays in the day-to-day lives of our constituents. Above all, we seek to preserve non-commercial, community-rooted content that informs, protects, and connects all Americans, regardless of zip code or political affiliation.”