Rep. Sewell Secures $5.5 Million in Direct Funding for Alabama's 7th Congressional District in House-Passed Spending Package

Funding bills reject Trump's draconian cuts and reassert Congress' power of the purse

Washington D.C. - Today, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) voted to pass three Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 appropriations bills: the FY26 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, the FY26 Defense Appropriations Act, and the FY26 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. The package includes $5.5 million in direct funding that Rep. Sewell secured for nine local projects in Alabama's 7th Congressional District.

"I am thrilled that the funding package passed today includes $5.5 million to support nine projects right here in Alabama's 7th Congressional District," said Rep. Sewell. "From Birmingham to Tuscaloosa and the Black Belt, these investments will fund essential infrastructure, expand economic opportunity, and improve the quality of life for every day families. I look forward to seeing the lasting impact that these federal dollars have in our communities!"

The projects include:

• $250,000 for improvements to Craig Field Airport in Selma, including upgrades to the precision approach path indicating system, taxiway and runway signage, and parking asphalt repairs;
• $1,656,000 for the City of Selma to revitalize Alabama Avenue by assessing, renovating, and converting fourteen existing buildings;
• $500,000 for Auburn University to construct ten prototype "resilient homes" in Selma made from high-performance materials to withstand extreme weather elements;
• $850,000 for the Bessemer Housing Authority toward construction of a multi-purpose community center;
• $250,000 for the City of Homewood to upgrade and expand culvert capacity in the neighborhoods surrounding Edgewood Elementary School;
• $250,000 for the Jefferson County Greenway Commission to upgrade and renovate the entrance and guest parking lot of Red Mountain Park;
• $700,000 for the City of Pleasant Grove to install 2.57 miles of new sidewalks, strategically add pedestrian lighting, and repair 1.26 miles of deteriorated sidewalk;
• $850,000 for the City of Hueytown to improve roadways and walkways in the community by resurfacing streets and installing new sidewalks; and
• $250,000 for the City of Tuscaloosa toward upgrades and renovations to the infrastructure of the Tuscaloosa Public Library.

That is in addition to more than $4 million that Rep. Sewell already secured for local projects in previously passed FY26 appropriations bills, including:

• $750,000 to strengthen public safety in the City of Brighton by equipping local law enforcement with updated materials and tools, improving emergency response, supporting crime prevention efforts, and helping residents feel more secure in their community.
• $500,000 to transform the Marion National Guard Armory, into a multi-purpose community center offering workforce development training, a temporary shelter for families during emergencies, and a community hub for the deployment and distribution of essential supplies;
• $1,015,000 for Rural Health Medical Program, Inc. (RHMPI) to renovate the Uniontown Health Center by upgrading clinical equipment, labs, X-ray capabilities, and IT systems, and by enhancing the roads and parking facilities around the center;
• $1,000,000 to construct a new joint police and volunteer fire station in Aliceville, helping first responders better serve the residents of Pickens County and West Alabama; and
• $750,000 for the Sumter County Commission for a new community center where residents of all ages can gather, connect, and engage in activities that promote community empowerment and resilience.

Rep. Sewell successfully led the effort to restore and increase appropriations for pancreatic cancer research in the FY26 defense bill after funding for the program was completely eliminated in FY25 under Republicans' continuing resolution. Sewell secured a historic $20 million for the program, a $5 million increase from FY24 funding levels.

The package passed today reflects Democrats' commitment to reasserting Congress' power of the purse. Sewell and her colleagues successfully defeated extreme cuts proposed by the Trump Administration and secured key investments in public health, affordable housing, childcare, and military personnel. The funding package passed today:

• Increases funding for NIH by $400 million, including research to develop treatments and cures for cancer, Alzheimer's, ALS, Diabetes, and other diseases;
• Rejects proposed cuts to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), increases funding for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by $15 million and State Opioid Response Grants by $20 million;
• Increases funding for Child Care and Head Start by $170 million, helping provide hard-working families access to early childhood education and childcare;
• Provides $66.6 billion in funding for rental assistance programs, rejecting President Trump's efforts to slash funding for these programs by 50 percent;
  
• Provides $18.6 billion for the FAA, an increase of $1.6 billion, including funding to expand the air traffic controller workforce by 2,500 personnel, improve facilities and equipment, and modernize the nation's air traffic control towers;
• Increases funding for medical research by $1.7 billion, including $1.3 billion for Congressionally Directed Medical Research Projects (CDMRP) that support efforts to develop treatments for cancer, disease, and service-related injuries; and
• Fully funds the 3.8 percent pay raise for military personnel.

"After a year of chaos from the Trump Administration and a record-long Republican shutdown, I'm encouraged that House Republicans have finally joined Democrats and returned to the regular appropriations process," continued Sewell. "It is my hope that we can continue working together to responsibly fund the government and avert another costly shutdown."

The package now heads to the U.S. Senate where Rep. Sewell urged its quick consideration and passage.

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