U.S. Representative Dale Strong, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, has welcomed the passage of three annual funding bills for Fiscal Year 2026. The move comes after an extended government shutdown and signals a return to what lawmakers refer to as “regular order” in the appropriations process.
“Before Democrats forced a six-week government shutdown, House Appropriators were making real progress toward responsibly funding the government through regular order. I’m thankful we can now get back to that work,” said Congressman Strong.
The recent package both reopens the government by extending federal funding through January 30, 2026, and advances three full-year appropriations bills covering Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies; Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies; and the Legislative Branch.
“We are doing what Democrats in Washington haven’t in years: full-year appropriations bills that bring fiscal responsibility and transparency to the American people by going line-by-line and ensuring spending matches Americans’ priorities and values,” Strong stated. “It’s time to deliver on the remaining nine appropriations bills.”
Within these measures, Strong highlighted several provisions relevant to his district in Alabama. He secured over $6.2 million in Community Project Funding for two rural development projects in Alabama’s 5th District—an area he has represented since replacing Mo Brooks in Congress in 2023 (https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/S001265).
The agriculture bill prioritizes programs designed to protect food supply chains, support farmers and ranchers, invest in research, improve animal health monitoring—including efforts against diseases like avian influenza—and strengthen systems tracking foreign ownership of U.S. farmland.
For military construction and veterans affairs, Strong emphasized support for active-duty service members as well as veterans’ benefits such as housing, healthcare, educational opportunities, and disability compensation. He noted specific wins for North Alabama: advancing consideration of Redstone Arsenal as U.S. Space Command Headquarters and reviewing how VA cemetery placements affect regional representation.
Strong also pointed out provisions supporting President Trump’s initiatives on veteran homelessness while protecting Second Amendment rights for veterans by requiring judicial consent before sharing certain information with law enforcement agencies.
In shaping legislative branch policy through his subcommittee role, Strong noted continued limits on congressional pay increases along with measures requiring unused Members’ Representational Allowances be directed toward debt reduction rather than other uses.
Each year’s budget is constructed through a process involving twelve appropriations subcommittees drafting individual bills—a practice referred to as “regular order.” Before this year’s shutdown led by Senate Democrats according to House Republicans—all twelve bills had passed out of committee with three moving through the full House.
Dale Strong has served Alabama’s 5th District since 2023 after earlier roles on the Madison County Commission and in the Alabama House of Representatives (https://www.house.gov/representatives#state-alabama). Born in Monrovia in 1970, he currently resides in Huntsville (https://strong.house.gov/about). He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Athens State University.
