Organizers said identification can help unhoused residents access shelters, jobs, housing, rehabilitation and other services often blocked by paperwork barriers.
Officials said the facility will bolster hands-on training for responders preparing for mass casualty incidents and hazardous materials emergencies nationwide.
A retired Gulf gas platform was transformed into offshore habitat, expanding fishing and diving opportunities while funding marine research and restoration.
Advocates said Alabama’s coverage gap left working adults uninsured, strained rural hospitals and deepened disparities after ACA enrollment fell sharply.