Alabama could receive nearly $171.4M in new defense budget

(The Center Square) – Alabama could receive nearly $171.4 million to fund construction projects in the new defense appropriation that recently passed the U.S. House of Representatives.

The biggest single outlay will go to the Redstone Arsenal, the Army's primary testing facility for missiles in Huntsville. It would receive $80 million for a ground test facility.

The Anniston Army Depot, which overhauls U.S. Army vehicles and small arms, would receive $56.4 million for power generation and a new microgrid, along with $14.5 million for a small arms warehouse and $3.42 million for a general purpose warehouse.

Fort Novosel, formerly known as Fort Rucker, would receive $24 million for a 10 megawatt capacity reciprocating internal combustion engine and microgrid controls.

The Alabama National Guard's Huntsville Readiness Center would receive $17 million for new construction.

The 2025 National Defense Authorization Act passed the House by a 217-199 vote on June 16 and will be considered by the Senate Armed Services Committee before heading to the full Senate for a vote and President Joe Biden for a possible signature.

U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Alabama, is the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. He said in a release after the bill's passage in the House that the threats facing our nation "are more complex and challenging than anything we've encountered before" and passage of the bill would deter the nation's adversaries.

The $895.2 billion measure would increase junior enlisted pay by 19.5% and give a 4.5% raise for all other service members and provide more money to improve military housing.

The measure also contains a ban on critical race theory in the military, ending of affirmative action at the service academies, and a hiring freeze on diversity, equity and inclusion officials for the Department of Defense.

"There is no investment more important than the one we make in the men and women who serve in our all-volunteer force," Rogers said the release. "We cannot kick the can down the road when it comes to providing for our servicemembers."