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ANNOUNCEMENT

H.R. 4016 – Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2026

Dear Colleague:                  

The Committee on Rules may meet the week of July 14th to provide for floor consideration of H.R. 4016, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2026.

If a Member wishes to offer an amendment for consideration, they must submit a searchable electronic copy of the amendment, which should be provided by the Office of Legislative Counsel (HOLC), via the Rules Committee website by 5:00 PM on Tuesday, July 8, 2025.  Please note that staff must be on the House network, either physically or remotely via virtual private network (VPN), in order to access the online submission form.

Members should draft their amendments to the text of H.R. 4016, which is available on the Rules Committee website. Given the anticipated number of submitted amendments and revisions, and the anticipated legislative schedule, Members are strongly advised to submit amendments by the deadline.

Members should use HOLC to ensure that their amendments are drafted in the most appropriate format. To help expedite drafting requests, drafting templates can be found on the Rules Committee website. Additionally, Members who wish to offer “2(f)” dollar transfer amendments should follow the instructions on the Legislative Counsel homepage to expedite the preparation and review of their amendments. 

If HOLC is unable to provide their drafting services before the submission deadline, Members are strongly encouraged to submit amendments written using the posted templates. Members are urged to re-submit any such amendment as a revision upon receipt of a formal draft from HOLC.

Given the large number of amendments expected, the Rules Committee is providing further guidance regarding the submission of amendments which differs from previously provided guidance. Members should attempt to draft their amendments with actual legislative language, to ensure the Committee is able to properly review and assess amendment submissions. Members should not submit amendment “placeholder text”, blank attachments, or legislative text which is not consistent with the intent of the amendment. Amendments which do not comply with this directive will not be reviewed, even if revised.

Members may not digitally edit HOLC PDFs prior to submission. If a Member must edit an HOLC draft prior to submission, please do so by printing, hand correcting, and scanning so it is clear there is a non-HOLC change. Members are still urged to re-submit any such hand revision upon receipt of an updated formal draft from HOLC.

Members are encouraged to work with the Committee on Appropriations for technical and subject matter expertise. Additionally, Members should consult with the Office of the Parliamentarian and the Committee on the Budget to be certain their amendments comply with the rules of the House and the Congressional Budget Act.

The Rules Committee will not make in order amendments that are in violation of House rules or budget rules and would require a waiver, including clause 2 of Rule XXI, which prevents authorizing on an appropriations bill.  If you have any questions, please contact Ashlee Anderson of the Committee staff at Ashlee.Anderson@mail.house.gov or at 202-225-9191.

Sincerely,

Virginia Foxx

Chairwoman

House Committee on Rules