WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Andrew Clyde (GA-09) applauded the Lake Lanier wins in Division B of H.R. 6938, the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, which passed the House of Representatives this afternoon by a vote of 397 to 28.

“The critical provisions related to Lake Lanier in the FY26 Energy and Water Development appropriations bill represent a momentous victory for Northeast Georgia,” said Clyde. “For years, I’ve worked to use every tool at my disposal to secure measures that preserve and improve our beloved landmark for locals and visitors alike. Due to my hard-fought efforts, this House-passed spending bill includes wins that protect Lake Lanier’s name and help keep its parks open for folks to safely enjoy. I’m pleased that these initiatives are one step closer to becoming law — delivering effective solutions to Ninth District families, small businesses, and local governments.”

Due to Rep. Clyde’s successful work, the FY26 Energy and Water Development appropriations bill includes a provision (Sec. 109) that allows local partners that manage multiple recreation sites at a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) civil works project to spend collected user fees across all sites they oversee at that project, rather than being limited to using the fees only at the specific site where the funds were collected.

The measure mirrors Reps. Andrew Clyde and Rich McCormick’s Lanier Parks Local Access Act, which aims to incentivize local governments to manage recreation sites on civil works projects like Lake Lanier — a simple yet effective solution to help keep Lake Lanier parks open, safe, and well-maintained.

Additionally, the FY26 Energy and Water appropriations bill report includes language requested by Rep. Clyde to prohibit the USACE from using taxpayer funds to rename Buford Dam and Lake Lanier:

None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to carry out any action altering the designation of Buford Dam and Lake Sidney Lanier, Georgia, authorized in Public Law 84-457. (Page 65)

Background

In 2023, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers identified Lake Sidney Lanier and Buford Dam to be renamed due to a misguided measure in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021.

For nearly three years, Rep. Clyde has fought to protect and preserve the Ninth District’s Lake Lanier and Buford Dam:

March 2023: Rep. Clyde Applauds Pause of Lake Lanier and Buford Dam Renaming Efforts

November 2023: Rep. Clyde Fights to Protect Lake Lanier in Appropriations Process

October 2024: Rep. Clyde Requests Confirmation of Terminated Efforts to Rename Lake Lanier, Buford Dam

July 2025: Rep. Clyde Secures Lake Lanier Wins in FY26 Appropriations Process