Parts of an appropriations bill that recently passed the House with little or no fanfare represent a “momentous victory” for northeast Georgia, according to 9th District Congressman Andrew Clyde (R-Jackson County).

“The critical provisions related to Lake Lanier in the FY26 Energy and Water Development appropriations bill represent a momentous victory for Northeast Georgia,”Clyde said. “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.”

The measure which easily passed the House 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.” 

The bill includes a provision (Sec. 109) that allows local partners that manage several recreation sites at a Corps-managed 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 the Lanier Parks Local Access Act, which aims to incentivize local governments to manage recreation sites on Lanier to help keep parks “open, safe, and well-maintained,” Clyde said. And it includes a provision that prohibits the Corps from using taxpayer funds to rename Buford Dam and Lake Lanier. A proposal to do just that several years ago following a public outcry.

The House Appropriations Committee had signed off on the bill last summer.

Rep. Clyde Applauds House Passage of Lake Lanier Wins in FY26 Appropriations BillShare on Facebook Share on X Print this Page Share by EmailWashington, January 8, 2026WASHINGTON, 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)