ICYMI: Against the Odds, Amodei Guides Homeland Security Bill Through Committee  

Washington, D.C. – This week, the House Appropriations Committee approved Subcommittee Chairman Amodei’s FY27 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill, delivering a hard-fought victory during one of the most pivotal and politically contentious periods in the Department’s history.
 
Rep. Mark Amodei has served on the House Appropriations Committee since the 114th Congress in 2015. After chairing the Legislative Branch Subcommittee during the 118th Congress, he assumed leadership of the Homeland Security Subcommittee in the 119th Congress. Taking the gavel amid the Biden Administration’s border crisis, Amodei has worked to strengthen border security and ensure the Department has the resources needed to support the current administration’s enforcement and homeland security priorities.

“First, I’d like to thank each member of this subcommittee for working together to deliver a bill that embodies responsible legislating,” said Homeland Security Subcommittee Chairman Mark Amodei. “We all know the importance of this agency and the work it does every day to secure our homeland. While it has been no easy feat to chair a subcommittee in such a polarized environment, this bill was drafted with a deliberate focus on building upon investments that have strengthened our capabilities while ensuring resources are directed where they are needed most.

“At its core, this bill maintains our strong posture on immigration enforcement, expands the use of technology to detect and stop deadly drugs from entering our communities, provides resources to investigate and protect victims of exploitation and human trafficking, streamlines preparedness and security efforts for upcoming and major national events, modernizes maritime operations, strengthens disaster response efforts, and helps deter ongoing aggression generated by nation-state adversaries. 

“It has been an absolute honor to serve as a cardinal on the Appropriations Committee. I am proud of what we have accomplished over the years, especially our diligence to restore regular order and bring fiscal sanity back to the appropriations process under Chairman Cole’s leadership. While you can never say mission accomplished in this business, I feel incredibly grateful to be concluding my service with a strong proposal such as this and a deep appreciation for the colleagues and staff who make the work possible.”

Quote of the week: 

“Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.” 

Fiscal Year 2027 Homeland Security Appropriations Act

The Homeland Security Appropriations Act provides a total discretionary allocation of $64.9 billion for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), of which $2.9 billion is provided for defense activities. The bill also includes $6.2 billion in discretionary appropriations that are offset by fee collections and $28.39 billion as an allocation adjustment for major disaster response and recovery activities.

The legislation includes the resources required to protect the homeland and keep American communities safe, secure, and resilient. The bill provides the necessary personnel, training, and technology to secure our air, land, and maritime borders and the nation’s critical infrastructure against nation-state adversaries.
The measure was approved by the Committee with a vote of 34 to 27.  

Key Takeaways
​
Champions public safety and homeland preparedness by: 

• Upholding the America First vision by realigning DHS priorities around its fundamental mission: defending the nation against the threat posed by terrorists, criminals, and foreign adversaries to ensure the safety and security of every American.
• Enhancing resources to detect and counter the spread of deadly drugs, like fentanyl, that poison our communities.
• Partnering with state and local law enforcement to enhance immigration enforcement and homeland defense capabilities.
• Protecting vulnerable children by strengthening investigations of exploitation, human trafficking, and forced labor.
• Bolstering disaster preparedness, response, and recovery efforts for U.S. communities through increased grant funding for firefighters and first responders.
• Supporting security preparation and planning for the 2028 Summer Olympics and Paralympics, and other National Special Security Events.

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

• Enhancing the operational execution of Public Law 119-21, which prioritizes security and safety through long-term border security and immigration investments.
• Funding the military pay raise for Coast Guard servicemembers.
• Prohibiting funding for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts.
• Ensuring no funding to non-governmental organizations that facilitated the Biden border crisis.
• Codifying the Trump Administration’s reductions to bloated federal bureaucracy.

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

• Providing $3.8 billion for ICE custody operations to strengthen the Trump Administration’s efforts to detain and deport all criminal and removable aliens.
• Providing $439 million to sustain 22,000 Border Patrol agents.
• Providing $226 million to improve baggage screening equipment at airports.
• Providing $135 million to counter China by increasing the Coast Guard’s Indo-Pacific footprint.
• Providing $97 million for unmanned systems to improve maritime domain awareness.

Safeguards American taxpayer dollars and preserves core functions by: 

• Reallocating $100 million from previous appropriations to sustain the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) core mission functions.

​Dear Friend,
 
It’s been a busy couple of weeks in Washington. From advancing the FY27 Homeland Security Appropriations bill out of subcommittee to securing funding for projects across CD-2 and sounding the alarm on California policies that continue to drive up costs for Nevadans, there’s plenty to cover. 
 
As always, representing our Original Nevada in Congress remains the honor of my lifetime. As I approach the finish line of my time in public service, rest assured I’m not slowing down. There’s still work to do, and I intend to go out sprinting. 
 
Without further ado, let’s get into the latest.

 
FY27 HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS BILL ADVANCES TO FULL COMMITTEE

 
Chairing the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Appropriations has undoubtedly come with its share of challenges over the past fiscal year. While the finger pointing may continue elsewhere, our focus has always been on finding practical solutions to the challenges before us. 
 
The bill we advanced to the full committee reflects that commitment through commonsense funding decisions that maintain strong border security, protect critical infrastructure and networks from persistent cyber threats, ensure communities have the resources they need when disasters strike, and build on our investments to the Coast Guard, whose presence and mission help keep our nation and our allies safe.
 
On our road to restoring regular order this time around, I hope we've learned that when this process is disrupted, it is the people we serve who bear the consequences.
 
Following the markup of the Labor, Health, and Human Services Appropriations bill, the full committee will take up my Homeland Security bill. The markup is expected to begin later today and continue into Wednesday. You can watch it live on the Appropriations Committee’s YouTube channel here.
 
A summary of the bill is available here.
Bill text is available here. 

 


 


 
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

 
Each year through the appropriations process, Members of Congress can submit Community Project Funding requests for their districts. Securing every priority in a single fiscal year is uncommon, which is why I’m especially pleased to announce that all 20 projects submitted by my office were approved, bringing more than $29 million to CD-2.
 
Beyond FY27 appropriations funding, I also worked directly with leaders in Washington to secure an additional $20 million for the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority Terminal Modernization Project and $10 million for the Washoe County RTC to replace aging buses that have reached the end of their service life.
 
Read my full press release here to learn more about the projects receiving funding and what they mean for our communities.

 


 
STUCK RIDING SHOTGUN ON CALIFORNIA’S ROAD TO DISASTER

 
Pressure at the pump is top of mind across the country amid Iran’s ongoing weaponization of the Strait of Hormuz. But even if that conflict were resolved tomorrow, Nevada would still face another engine of high prices: being handcuffed to California’s self-inflicted fuel crisis.
 
California’s climate crackdown is now pushing another major refinery, Valero’s Benicia facility, to shut its doors after agreeing to pay a $3.25 million penalty over alleged air quality violations. That comes on the heels of another major Los Angeles refinery, Phillips 66, announcing plans last year to close up shop.
 
Combined, those shutdowns are expected to cut the state’s gasoline refining capacity by roughly 17%. Lost refinery capacity cannot easily be replaced due to the West’s limited pipeline connectivity, which only exacerbates the situation.
 
Chevron is now threatening to leave the state, citing excessive overregulation that, rather than advancing clean energy, has deepened California’s reliance on imported fuel. When you factor in that these policies increasingly incentivize oil production abroad in countries with far lower environmental standards, the supposed climate benefits begin to defeat their own purpose.
 
Additionally, roughly 30% of the foreign crude oil California imports comes from the Middle East, a region directly impacted by disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. According to Energy Marketers of America, crude oil often accounts for as much as 70% of the price consumers pay at the pump. California’s restrictions on domestic production have therefore left the state, and Nevada by extension, increasingly dependent on foreign oil markets and more vulnerable to higher consumer prices.
 
Governor Newsom, and the Californians who haven’t already packed up and moved to neighboring states, may not feel the squeeze quite the same way thanks to electric vehicles. But out in rural Nevada, people don’t exactly have the luxury of hopping on a subway or plugging in at local charging stations.
 
According to Stillwater Associates, California supplies “88% of the Nevada gasoline market (including 100% of the Reno, NV market).” And while plenty of Californians are leaving the Golden State, many are landing right here in Nevada. That means demand is growing while supply capacity is shrinking, and you don’t need to be an economics wizard to see where this is headed.
 
Being entirely dependent on a state where Nevadans have no influence over the policies is killing us at the pump. That vulnerability was exposed during the devastating wildfires in California, and we are experiencing those disruptions once again.
 
I appreciate Governor Lombardo taking action by creating Nevada’s Fuel Resiliency Committee. This needs to be a priority now because while the problem is immediate, the solutions are not. Building infrastructure, expanding pipeline capacity, and securing alternative refinery access all require serious planning and time.
 
One option currently being evaluated is expanding HF Sinclair’s footprint in both southern and northern Nevada. According to last year’s announcement, “The first phase would increase capacity by a projected 35,000 barrels per day to move supply from our Rockies production into Nevada and is targeted to be online in 2028.”
 
While this is a step in the right direction and the wheels are finally beginning to turn, we need to put the pedal to the metal. We need to aggressively pursue every viable short-term and long-term solution because Nevadans shouldn’t be forced to pay the price for California’s half-baked energy policies.

 

Washington, D.C. – Rep. Mark Amodei announced that all 20 of his Community Project Funding requests, totaling over $29 million, for NV-02 were accepted following the House Appropriations Committee’s release of the FY27 bills for Interior and Environment; Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies; and Commerce, Justice, and Science. 
 
“I’d like to give a special thanks to the Subcommittee Chairs and their staff for carefully reviewing every submission and determining the projects I submitted to improve NV-02 met all qualifications," said Rep. Mark Amodei.
 
“These investments will bolster our police force and enhance public safety. They will maintain quality drinking water for our communities and rehabilitate our waterway infrastructure. They will also support our pro-growth goals by advancing initiatives that improve the efficiency of our roads, schools, and airport.
 
“I’m proud to be Original Nevada’s Congressman delivering all twenty of our district-focused priorities during my final appropriations season for pure Nevada, and I look forward to watching these investments pay off while someone else handles the late-night votes.”
 
 
FY27 Community Project Funding Secured:
 
Commerce, Justice, and Science:
Recipient: Douglas County Sheriff’s Office
Amount: $2,000,000
Project Description: This project will support the replacement of aging, end-of-life equipment with modern radios, repeaters, and supporting infrastructure; upgrades to backhaul from legacy copper lines to fiber; and the addition of redundancy, including backup power, diverse routing, and alternate sites, to ensure reliable, interoperable communications for first responders. 
 
Recipient: Carson City Sheriff’s Office 
Amount: $1,085,000
Project Description: This project will support the purchase of a multi-agency, multi-discipline response vehicle to replace the current apparatus and provide improved functionality, mobility, technology, and reliability for critical incidents and major events. 
 
Recipient: City of Sparks 
Amount: $2,500,000
Project Description: This project will support the purchase of seven drones for a Drone as a First Responder program, investigative and forensic crime analysis software, gunshot detection expansion, additional live cameras and license plate readers, and modernization of a regional mobile command center. 
 
Recipient: University of Nevada, Reno 
Amount: $2,963,000
Project Description: This project will support the deployment of 15 meteorological stations with real-time data visualization and community outreach to improve flood, fire, and water supply forecasting, including enhanced data to support water planning. 
 
 
Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies:
Recipient: Lander County 
Amount:$2,160,000 
Project Description: This project will support the construction of a sanitary sewer lift station and associated mainline extension along Sheep Creek Road in Battle Mountain, Nevada, represents a critical investment in public health, environmental protection, and community growth. The project will reduce septic system density, preserve vital groundwater resources, and provide the infrastructure necessary to support sustainable development identified in the Lander County Master Plan. 
 
Recipient: City of Yerington 
Amount: $1,500,000 
Project Description: This project will support the Critical Drinking Water Rehabilitation and Improvement Project, which addresses urgent deficiencies in the City of Yerington’s municipal water storage system. Five water tanks require rehabilitation to maintain compliance with drinking water standards after the 2023 Nevada Department of Environmental Protection Sanitary Survey identified significant deficiencies, including corrosion and rust confirmed by a follow-up engineering assessment. 
 
Recipient: Storey County 
Amount: $1,500,000 
Project Description: This project will support the Silver City Watermain Replacement Project, which will replace the approximate 8,500-linear-foot (1.6 miles) of a nearly 150-year-old transmission main, stretching from State Route 342 to an existing County water storage tank. The proposed transmission main will traverse along the terrain, parallel to the existing main’s original alignment. The original line was installed in the 1870s and is in dire need of replacement to deliver safe drinking water to Virginia City. 
 
Recipient: City of Fernley 
Amount: $1,000,000 
Project Description: This project will support the Highway 50 Looping Water Mainline project, which will extend a water main along US 50A from Nevada Pacific Boulevard to Julia Lane. The project provides essential redundancy, fire-flow reliability, and hydraulic stability in a high-growth, high-traffic regional corridor and will provide a reliable drinking water source for the community surrounding Farm District Road. 
 
Recipient: Lyon County 
Amount: $1,000,000 
Project Description: This project will support the South Plant Effluent Pumping Improvements project. The existing effluent pumping surrounding the current pump station and other disposal sites near the South Plant needs standby effluent pump and upsizing the force main under the Carson River in order to maximize the effluent delivery to the reuse sites. The current system deficiencies limit the effluent disposal capacity of the utility impacting the overall wastewater management in the utility’s service area. 
 
Recipient: Kingsbury General Improvement District 
Amount: $1,000,000 
Project Description: This project will support the modernization of the Kingsbury General Improvement District’s existing wastewater infrastructure serving the Stateline community. The project will construct new sewer conveyance infrastructure redirecting wastewater flows from the aging Market Street Lift Station to the Douglas County Lake Tahoe Sewer Authority Beach Lift Station, eliminating aging lift station infrastructure and removing asbestos cement force main that feeds into Edgewood Creek. 
 
Recipient: City of Carlin 
Amount: $1,000,000 
Project Description: This project will support the replacement of the aged Oak Street Sewer Lift Station that has gone beyond its economic useful life that serves 2,519 citizens of Carlin, which is a rural small town located in northern Nevada. This funding request is vital for the City of Carlin in order to keep the existing system operating for its citizens. 
 
Recipient: City of Fallon 
Amount: $1,000,000 
Project Description: This project will support the construction of a 3,000,000-gallon municipal water storage tank for the City of Fallon to improve reliability and resilience of the community’s municipal water system. A new water tank is necessary to improve drinking water storage capacity in the community water system, increase fire flows, fulfill the needs of a growing community, and give the ability to provide storage redundancy for the Fallon Naval Air Station in the event of an emergency. 
 
Recipient: City of Yerington 
Amount: $500,000 
Project Description: This project will support the Critical Wastewater Rehabilitation and Improvement Project, which addresses urgent deficiencies in the City of Yerington’s wastewater treatment system identified by the Nevada Department of Environmental Protection (NDEP). Recent inspections determined that the City’s sewer pond liners are in unsatisfactory condition and that failing equipment within the collection system is causing inadequate conveyance of raw sewage to the treatment ponds. These failures have resulted in raw sewage backups in a residential neighborhood and insufficient odor mitigation, creating significant public health, environmental, and quality-of-life concerns. 
 
Recipient: Lyon County 
Amount: $1,000,000 
Project Description: This project will support the rehabilitation of Sewer Station 4 Lift Station in Lyon County. Sewer Lift Station 4, located at 490 Dayton Valley Road, Dayton, NV has reached its end of life and needs rehabilitation to extend the life of the lift station and ensure continued operation in the sewer collection system. The Lift Station also needs to be equipped and upgraded with proper instrumentation and control facilities to function efficiently. 
 
 
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development:
Recipient: Washoe County Sheriff’s Office
Amount: $3,000,000
Project Description: This project will support a roof retrofit, hangar door replacement, and upgrades to fire suppression systems and concrete infrastructure for the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office. 
 
Recipient: Carson City 
Amount: $1,000,000
Project Description: This project will support the completion of the interior and exterior ADA-related improvements of the Carson City Community Center. The funds will be used to implement critical infrastructure and add system upgrades to improve safety and accessibility. 
 
Recipient: Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority 
Amount: $2,344,000
Project Description: This project will support the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority to acquire modern snow removal equipment for the Reno-Tahoe International Airport. The funds will be used to replace two runway brooms and two snowplows, three that were purchased in the late 1990s and one purchased in 2006, with two multifunction units. One multifunction unit replaces both a broom and a plow. These new units are more efficient and will improve the ability to keep the airport operational in the face of major winter weather. 
 
Recipient: City of Fernley 
Amount: $1,000,000
Project Description: This project will support the City of Fernley’s Gustafson Road and Bridge Replacement Project. The funds will be used to replace a failing, weight-restricted bridge over the Truckee-Carson Canal, which will be able to service heavy vehicles such as emergency fire and rescue trucks. 
 
Recipient: Town of Gardnerville 
Amount: $750,000
Project Description: This request will support the town of Gardnerville’s Service Drive, Pep Circle, and Venture Drive Reconstruction and ADA Upgrades Project. The funds will be used to fund the reconstruction of three worn-down and damaged roads. 
 
Recipient: Humboldt County School District
Amount: $1,000,000
Project Description: This project will support the Winnemucca Grammar School, a 100-year-old historic elementary school. The Humboldt County School District closed the building in February 2026 after engineering evaluations identified structural deficiencies that pose a significant safety risk, and the district has had to temporarily send 300 students to an elementary school ten miles outside of town. The funds will be used to fix structural deficiencies that pose safety risks and allow the school district to serve the student population within the community. 
 
 
PLUS…
In addition to the FY27 appropriations funding, I successfully secured support for two other community initiatives: 
 
Recipient: Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority Terminal Modernization Project
Project Description: Through conversations with my former House colleague and current Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, I emphasized the importance of this terminal modernization project. This $20 million investment will replace aging concourses with modern, efficient facilities that address capacity constraints driven by rapid population growth and increased passenger demand. The finished project will leave the community with a family-friendly airport, full of space to enjoy the surrounding views, including post-security outdoor space to get fresh air and enjoy the beautiful weather of our region. By investing in this key entry point, we are effectively investing in the economic vitality of the entire Nevada business and tourism ecosystem. 
 
Recipient: RTC of Washoe County
I had previously helped secure nearly $10 million for Washoe RTC to buy hydrogen fuel cell electric buses to replace aging diesel buses and install fueling infrastructure and create a workforce development program. After several holdups with the Department of Transportation, I worked directly with Transportation Secretary Duffy to have these funds delivered to Washoe RTC. It's great to see this project come to fruition!