U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.), a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, has helped move forward the Fiscal Year 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. The bill was advanced by the committee and will now go to the full Senate before being considered in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Senator Britt secured over $28.63 million in Congressionally Directed Spending for Alabama’s medical centers, hospitals, and universities.
“Alabama’s medical and academic communities have a strong champion in me. These investments in our research institutions, universities, local hospitals, rural health services, mental health research, child care, and education will no doubt strengthen our local communities for years to come. Advancing this funding means significant progress toward delivering these wins for the people of Alabama. I’m proud to continue fighting to ensure that Alabamians, no matter their zip code, have access to the best possible medical care and educational opportunity so they can thrive and live their American Dream,” said Senator Britt.
The legislation includes support for $48.7 billion in funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), with more than $7.37 billion directed specifically to the National Cancer Institute. It also maintains language protecting Indirect Cost Rates and adds new requirements for NIH to distribute multi-year grant allocations on schedule.
In addition to supporting medical research funding, Senator Britt backed programs such as $8.8 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant; $12.4 billion for Head Start and Early Head Start; $315 million for Preschool Development Block Grants; and $90 million for K-12 educator development through the Supporting Effective Educator Development program. New language was included requiring timely distribution of formula grant funds by the Department of Education.
Other priorities funded include $2.193 billion for the National Institute of Mental Health; $534.6 million for the 9-8-8 Lifeline; continued support with $73.4 million for NIH IMPROVE Initiative; grants totaling $66.3 million aimed at rural hospital flexibility; nearly $14 million allocated to rural residency planning; over $303 million supporting nursing workforce development; and more than $1.42 billion focused on chronic disease prevention.
The appropriations act passed out of committee with bipartisan support by a vote of 26-3. It retains existing policy provisions like the Hyde Amendment and Title X restrictions related to abortion funding through family planning programs while increasing Social Security Administration funding by an additional $100 million to help seniors receive benefits.
