Alford Votes to Bolster Trump’s Peace Through Strength Agenda, Support Our Troops

Today, Congressman Mark Alford (MO-04) issued the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 3838, the Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY 2026 NDAA).

"We were proud to stand with our troops by supporting this year's NDAA," said Congressman Alford. "This vital legislation provides a much needed pay raise for our enlisted servicemembers, bolsters President Trump's peace through strength agenda, and prepares our military for rising threats from adversaries like Russia and Communist China. We're also making critical investments in the Fourth District to develop a new national security corridor stretching from St. Louis to Wichita-with the Kansas City area becoming a cornerstone of our defense industrial base. By passing this NDAA, we are sending a message to the world that the United States military will remain the most lethal fighting force on earth."

Background:

The FY 2026 NDAA:

• Codifies President Trump's efforts to end left-wing ideology, wokeism, and DEI in the military and restores focus on lethality, meritocracy, and accountability.
• Fully funds and provides additional authorities to DoD to support DHS border security efforts.
• Fundamentally reforms the DoD acquisition process, codifying President Trump's EO and speeding the delivery of innovative new technologies to the warfighter.
• Carries out President Trump's efforts to improve the quality of life for our servicemembers with a 3.8% pay raise and improved benefits for military families.
• Authorizes full funding for President Trump's top priorities, including the Golden Dome, F-47 fighter aircraft, submarines, warships, and autonomous systems.
• Authorizes funds and creates new authorities to meet President Trump's goal of revitalizing the defense industrial base, growing defense manufacturing jobs in America, and onshoring our defense supply chains.
• Includes new authorities to support President Trump's effort to force our allies to pay more for their own defense.
• Changes laws governing the hiring and firing of DoD civilians to carry out President Trump's civil service reforms.
• Includes new authorities and funding to support President Trump's efforts to prepare our military for a potential conflict in the Indo-Pacific.
• Extends authorities President Trump uses to eliminate terrorists that threaten Americans.
• Codifies President Trump 's EO to promote energy independence and utilize new nuclear power technologies.

Fourth District Priorities Included in the FY 2026 NDAA:

• Supports the growth of the Kansas City National Security Campus for the Non-Nuclear Component Expansion Transformation program.
• Promotes increased utilization of the University of Missouri system for national security with:
  • $4 million to rebuild the submarine battery supply chain, fostering the development of a sustainable and secure NiZn battery supply chain.
  • $4 million to build warfighter energy materials, establishing a sustainable, domestic manufacturing capacity for non-rechargeable (primary) batteries and energetic.
• Authorizes increased funding for 21 new Joint Assault Bridges (JABs), which are used to train servicemembers at Fort Leonard Wood. The JAB is essential to meet the Army's focus on flexible and maneuverable combat formations of the future, providing Army divisions the ability to traverse gaps and deliver maximum armor and firepower to the battlefield.
• Recognizes Whiteman Air Force Base's 509^th and 131^st Bomb Wings for the successful Operation Midnight Hammer strikes to decapitate Iran's nuclear capacity, similar to Rep. Alford's resolution. The language also calls for sustaining the total force integration model, which made the operation possible, for the incoming fleet of B-21s.

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