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Watch Congressman Alford’s remarks on the House floor is support of the defense appropriations bill here or by clicking the images above.

“Our defense appropriations bill, H.R. 4016, isn’t just policy—it’s a commitment to strength,” said Congressman Alford. “House Republicans are ensuring our troops are well-equipped and our military remains dominant. We’re prioritizing readiness, providing military personnel with an across-the-board pay raise, investing in the B-21 Raider, and eliminating DEI overreach. Paired with the One Big, Beautiful Bill, we’re making bold investments to confront modern threats head-on.”

Congressman Alford is a member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee and represents two military instillations—Fort Leonard Wood and Whiteman Air Force Base—in Missouri’s Fourth District.

Background:

H.R. 4016 champions America’s military superiority by:  

• Enhancing investments in 5th and 6th generation aircraft including the F-35, F-47, and F/A-XX.  
• Supporting the modernization of the nuclear triad: the B-21 Raider, the Columbia Class Submarine, and Sentinel.
• Targeting resources for unmanned aerial systems, uncrewed maritime platforms, and land-based counter-unmanned aerial systems to advance capabilities and strengthen our national defense.
• Investing in national security space, including proliferated missile warning, missile tracking satellite, and next generation intelligence collection systems to ensure national leaders have real-time global situational awareness.
• Allocating approximately $13 billion for missile defense and space programs to augment and integrate in support of the Golden Dome effort.
• Providing over $2.6 billion for hypersonics programs.
• Reversing the “divest to invest” trend by preserving F-15s and U-2s while investing in next-generation fighters and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems.
• Continuing to prioritize innovation through over $1.3 billion combined for the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies (APFIT), and Office of Strategic Capital (OSC).
• Supporting our close ally Israel by providing $500 million for the Israeli Cooperative Missile Defense Programs, and $122.5 million for U.S.-Israel cooperative development programs.

H.R. 4016 cares for our troops and their families by:  

• Including an increase of 3.8% in basic pay for all military personnel effective January 1, 2026.
• Continuing historic pay increases enacted in Fiscal Year 2025 for junior enlisted servicemembers.
• Improving quality of life, readiness, and continuity for servicemembers by slowing permanent change of station moves, saving over $662 million.

H.R. 4016 shapes a more efficient and effective Department of Defense by:  

• Reducing $6.5 billion and almost 45,000 civilian full-time equivalents to capture Workforce Acceleration and Recapitalization Initiative efforts.
• Prioritizing fiscal sanity and eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse through codifying both the Department’s cooperation with DOGE and streamlined functions and management improvements at the Pentagon.
• Requiring detailed reporting on the Department’s proposed allocations and expenditures of reconciliation.

H.R. 4016 combats international actors who facilitate drug trafficking and manufacturing by:  

• Providing $1.15 billion for counter drug programs, which is $245 million above the budget request.
• Increasing funding for the National Guard Counterdrug Program.
• Transferring Mexico from U.S. Northern Command’s jurisdiction to U.S. Southern Command for better coordination and prioritization.

H.R. 4016 supports the Trump Administration and mandate of the American people by:  

• Codifying President Trump’s executive actions to end discriminatory Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs by prohibiting funding for DEI efforts and Critical Race Theory.
• Backing President Trump’s executive action to restore free speech by prohibiting funding for federal government censorship.
• Amplifying President Trump’s executive action to restore readiness by prohibiting funding for sex-change surgeries.
• Reinforcing President Trump’s executive action on withdrawing funding from United Nations organizations acting contrary to U.S. interests by prohibiting funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency.
• Continuing the prohibition on funding for any discriminatory action against individuals advocating for traditional marriage.
• Advancing prohibitions on funding for abortion-related travel, drag queen shows, and COVID vaccine and mask mandates.

A summary of the bill is available here.

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