Full Committee Markup of H.R. 8748, H.R. 8790, and H.R. 7129

The House Science, Space, and Technology Committee held a full committee markup on May 21, 2026, to consider three bills: H.R. 8748 (Surface Transportation Research and Development Act of 2026), H.R. 8790 (Next Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act), and H.R. 7129 (Water Power Research and Development Reauthorization Act). The committee discussed reauthorizations and modernizations of research and development programs related to surface transportation, geothermal energy, and water power technologies. Several amendments were proposed and adopted, including those addressing electric vehicle fire response, transit workforce training, human trafficking research in transportation, digital infrastructure modernization, wildfire impacts on transportation infrastructure, and advanced building materials for infrastructure. The committee emphasized bipartisan collaboration and the importance of federal support for innovation, safety, and sustainability in transportation and energy sectors. All three bills, as amended, were favorably reported to the House for further consideration.