(NAFB.com) – Congress on Thursday approved a major bipartisan spending package that funds key energy, environment and science agencies for fiscal 2026, but lawmakers stopped short of including protections for a Colorado research lab sought by some Democrats. The Senate voted 82-15 to send the roughly $180 billion “minibus” package, covering the Department of Energy, Interior Department, Environmental Protection Agency and other science programs, to President Donald Trump’s desk. The legislation locks in full-year funding after months of negotiations, rejecting deeper cuts proposed by the administration. Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet voted against the legislation after pushing unsuccessfully for an amendment to safeguard the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, a climate and weather research facility. Supporters said the package provides stability for research and environmental programs, while critics raised concerns that it trims some funding and fails to address long-standing agency budget shortfalls.