Senator Katie Britt, R-Alabama, a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, joined her colleagues Tuesday in advancing the Fiscal Year 2026 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Act through the Senate Committee on Appropriations. The bill will now need to be considered by the full Senate before heading to the U.S. House of Representatives.
In the bill, Britt directly secured more than $14.4 million to support local law enforcement, fund important programs at universities across the state, and for beneficial-use projects and sediment flow studies at the Port of Mobile.
“Alabama stands at the forefront of America’s leadership in space exploration, hosts some of the most dedicated law enforcement agencies in the country, and as a Gulf Coast state, is home to crucial research on our nation’s oceans and wildlife. Securing this funding ensures Alabama remains a national leader by investing directly in the people who make our state a powerhouse. I’m proud to have delivered for our people and our state, and I will continue fighting every day for hardworking Alabamians,” said Britt.
A detailed breakdown of many of the Alabama priorities secured by Britt can be found below:
- $1.007 million for the City of Dothan for the purchase of drones and related equipment for their ‘Drone as First Responder’ program.
- $500,000 for the City of Enterprise for law enforcement equipment for their Special Response Team to combat fentanyl trafficking.
- $435,000 for the Cleburne County Sheriff’s Department for law enforcement vehicles.
- $650,000 for the Lawrence County Commission for emergency communications infrastructure.
- $750,000 for the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences for the implementation of Rapid DNA testing.
- $500,000 for Alabama Port Authority for a study to understand the source and context of dramatically increased sediment in recent years that has impacted the Port of Mobile.
- $1 million for Auburn University to research and develop innovative technologies in the agriculture industry.
- $2 million for the University of South Alabama to investigate solutions to expand and enhance the prediction of severe weather in southern Alabama.
Britt said she fought for important funding provided in the bill specifically for NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, including more than $1.3 billion for the Space Launch System, over $2 billion to fund the development of two independent Human Landing System vehicles, and no less than $110 million for nuclear thermal propulsion systems. The FY 26 CJS bill also includes $30 million for the Cooperative Institute for Research to Operations in Hydrology to address the nation’s growing water-related challenges and no less than $40 million for the National Water Center in Tuscaloosa.
Britt also directly supported a $5 million increase for the National Data Buoy System, $850,000 for the National Marine Fisheries Service to continue work on improving shrimp fishing technologies, level funding for Sea Grant Aquaculture Research, and full funding for SEAMAP.
“At the University of Alabama in Huntsville, Senator Britt was proud to advocate for the inclusion of $11 million for the Vortex Southeast Hazardous Weather Research Program,” Britt’s release shared.
The FY 26 CJS bill includes funding for critical national priorities, including: $30 million for the National Mesonet Program; $10.6 billion to support the Federal Bureau of Investigation; $2.6 billion to support the Drug Enforcement Administration’s efforts to dismantle drug cartels; and $720 million to support state and local law enforcement implement Violence Against Women Act programs.
