Today, Congressman Mark Alford issued the following statement celebrating the Appropriations Committee completing its consideration of all twelve individual appropriations bills for Fiscal Year 2026 and highlighting the critical federal investments into the Fourth District he secured during the appropriations process.
“In a historic achievement, House Republicans have advanced all twelve individual appropriations bills out of committee on a condensed timeline,” said Congressman Mark Alford (MO-04). “Under the leadership of Chairman Tom Cole, we are responsibly funding our government, while returning to regular order, restoring fiscal sanity, and advancing President Trump’s America First agenda. I’m also proud to have secured almost $23 million in federal investments into the Fourth District in these committee-passed bills to help turn the Show Me State into the Grow Me State. We will continue working around the clock to avoid a disastrous government shut down, and I urge Democrats to join us.”
Federal investments into the Fourth District in committee-passed bills through Community Project Funding:
Rural Health Care
- $1,622,500 million for a regional maternal health center at Golden Valley Memorial Hospital in Clinton
- $750,200 for a rural health innovation center at Bothwell Regional Health Center in Sedalia
University of Missouri at Columbia
- $4.2 million for safe and reliable reactor operations
- $3 million for an agriculture animal genetics facility
Infrastructure
- $6 million for the Skyhaven Airport Expansion at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg
- $397,000 for the White Road Non-NBI Bridge Replacement in Oak Grove
Law Enforcement
- $750,000 for the sally port at the Missouri Law Enforcement Center in St. Claire County
- $120,000 for new radios for the City of Peculiar Police Department
Workforce Development
- $6 million for the Workforce Training Center for Agriculture Advancement at State Fair Community College in Sedalia
Congressman Alford also fought for and secured two amendments to the committee-passed appropriations bills that directly benefit the Fourth District, including:
- During the Appropriations Committee’s consideration of the Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2026, Congressman Alford co-led a bipartisan amendment directing the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to maintain its capabilities and to avoid closures, consolidations, or eliminations, given their essential role in advancing weather forecasting. This amendment, which passed by voice vote, is a continuation of Congressman Alford’s fight to ensure Fourth District residents receive adequate warning of dangerous weather patterns through the NOAA-NWS office in Pleasant Hill.
- Watch Congressman Alford’s remarks in support of his amendment here.
- During the Appropriations Committee’s consideration of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2026, Congressman Alford led an amendment to ensure the USDA’s Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Program continues to support urban farming, while implementing a 50% cost-share requirement to promote fiscal responsibility.
Congressman Alford also delivered on several other Fourth District priorities, including:
- Maintained funding for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics.
- Increased funding for Small Business Development Centers, including those at the University of Missouri, the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and State Fair Community College in Sedalia.
- Language encouraging NOAA to use technology to fill gaps in weather data sets.
- Additional funding for programs to increase biosecurity measures in agriculture to fight diseases like Avian Influenza and pests like the New World Screwworm.
- $56,000,000 to support the 28 Urban Search & Rescue Task Forces, like Missouri Task Force One out of Columbia.
- Continued funding for the B-21 Raider program to support Whiteman Air Force Base.
- Increased funding for small caliber ammunition to support the Lake City Ammunition Plant.
- Language encouraging the Department of Veterans Affairs to improve detection of esophageal cancer, treatment for sleep disorders, and fair treatment of dialysis services.
