Alford Applauds Labor-HHS-Education Funding Bill’s Focus on Mental & Rural Health Care

Today, Congressman Mark Alford (MO-04) issued the following statement after the House Appropriations Committee passed the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education funding bill for fiscal year 2027.

"I was proud to support the Labor-HHS-Education funding bill, which delivers smart, targeted investments in biomedical research, rural health, and workforce training while slashing waste to save taxpayer money," said Congressman Alford. "This legislation advances President Trump's America First agenda by bolstering our national security through biodefense and domestic manufacturing, protecting taxpayer dollars from fraud and abuse, and prioritizing real solutions like mental health support and skilled trades apprenticeships. It also helps Missouri families and communities thrive without growing Washington's bloated bureaucracy but delivering almost $3 million we secured in responsible investments to improve rural health care in the Fourth District."

Through his role on the Appropriations Committee, Congressman Alford secured $2,800,000 in federal investments for critical healthcare projects in the Fourth District to help turn the "Show Me State" into the "Grow Me State," including:

• $1,000,000 for Jordan Valley Community Health in Lebanon, MO to contribute to the construction of a new 25,000-square-foot facility that will expand access to coordinated medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, and PACE services for seniors and medically underserved residents.
• $1,000,000 for Citizens Memorial Hospital in Bolivar, MO to modernize the hospital's emergency medical service system by replacing outdated and high-use equipment to improve patient care and protecting the safety of first responders.
• $500,000 for Compass Health in Nevada, MO to support the construction of a new, fully integrated health care clinic providing comprehensive primary medical, behavioral health services and a 24/7 Behavioral Health Crisis Center to meet the health care needs of residents of Vernon County.
• $100,000 for Bates County Memorial Hospital in Butler, MO to assist in the purchase of a new HVAC system for the hospital, which is vital medical infrastructure that supports patient safety, infection control, and continuous operations.
• $100,000 for Mercy Hospital in Lebanon, MO to upgrade mammography imaging equipment at its rural cancer center, improving patient outcomes, early detection, and access to care.
• $100,000 for Preferred Family Healthcare in Columbia, MO to support the renovation and consolidation of the agency's three Columbia-based Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) clinic sites into a single community clinic that will improve access to timely, coordinated, integrated, and multidisciplinary care.

Other Alford priorities secured in the Labor-HHS-Education funding bill include:

• $575 million for rural health initiatives, including many provisions in support of rural hospitals to help combat the risk of closure.
  • Language complementing Rep. Alford's Sustaining Rural Healthcare Act to support rural healthcare facilities that are struggling financially but do not meet all the criteria for official Critical Access Hospital designation.
  • A provision forcing federal agencies to recognize the ongoing crisis of rural hospital closures.
• Increased funding for portable bio-containment units (PBCUs), like those manufactured by MRIGlobal in Kansas City, as part of the ongoing response to evolving infectious disease threats such as Hantavirus and Ebola.
• Robust funding and numerous provisions to address the mental health crisis in Missouri and across America.
  • $10 million increase for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline above FY26 levels.
  • Increased funding for the Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Program.
  • Language acknowledging suicide a growing public health problem that requires strategic prevention approaches.

Read more about the legislation here.

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