Kansas City Ready for the World Stage

This year, the world is coming to Kansas City.

The FIFA World Cup will bring millions of visitors to the United States, and Kansas City has been chosen as one of the host cities. For our region, that means an incredible opportunity — showcasing our community, growing our local economy, and welcoming people from around the globe.

But hosting one of the largest sporting events on Earth also requires serious preparation, especially when it comes to security.

That’s why we’ve been pushing the Department of Homeland Security to release federal security funding that Congress already approved for World Cup host cities.

Last week, I led a letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem alongside Kansas Congressman Derek Schmidt, urging the department to move forward with the $625 million Congress set aside for World Cup security. Local officials need that funding now to finalize security plans, coordinate law enforcement, and make sure everything is in place well before the first match kicks off.

I’m glad to report that DHS has now begun releasing that funding.

This money will help support the men and women responsible for keeping fans, visitors, and our communities safe — from local police and first responders to federal security partners. Large international events require coordination across every level of government, and these resources help make that possible.

Kansas City has a once-in-a-generation chance to show the world who we are.

Missourians know what makes our communities special: hard work, hospitality, and pride in where we live. When the world arrives for the World Cup, we want them to see a city that’s prepared, welcoming, and ready to host an unforgettable event.

Ensuring the proper security resources are in place is a key part of making that happen.

I’ll continue working to make sure Kansas City has the support it needs so we can safely host this global event and make our region proud.

WATCH ANNOUNCEMENT BY CLICKING BELOW:

America’s Next Act:

Protecting the Vote, Securing the Future

America has always been a nation of action, of opportunity, of doing the right thing at the right time. And right now, we are on the edge of our next big act. One that ensures our elections are secure, our voices are heard, and our future stays in the hands of the American people. That next act is the SAVE America Act.

You’ve probably heard a lot about voter ID, proof of citizenship, and election security. Maybe it feels complicated, but here’s the simple truth: Americans overwhelmingly support these commonsense measures. Poll after poll shows that voters of every party — Republican, Democrat, independent — want their elections to be secure. They want confidence that every vote counts, and every vote is LEGAL.

The SAVE America Act is about giving that confidence back to the people. It strengthens voter ID laws, protects against fraud in mail-in voting, and ensures that only eligible citizens can cast ballots. These aren’t partisan gimmicks. These are common-sense rules that protect democracy itself.

And let’s be clear: this is the kind of action that doesn’t suppress participation. People are more willing to vote when they know the process is fair and secure.

We’ve had a front-row seat to elections under stress, and the American people deserve better. They deserve a system they can trust — a system that works, no tricks, no surprises. 

That’s what the Save America Act is about: putting rules in place that secure our elections for the long term.

The Left must stop talking, stop delaying, and pass the SAVE America Act. Let’s make sure the next act in American democracy is one we can all be proud of. Because elections are the heart of our country, and the heart deserves protection.

The curtain is rising, and America’s next act is ours to write. 

Let’s get it right!

DHS SHUTDOWN UPDATE:

AMERICA STILL SUFFERS FROM THE LEFT'S METLDOWN. 

Right now, the Department of Homeland Security shutdown is still ongoing — and unfortunately, there’s still no deal in sight.

We’re going on a month into this shutdown, and here’s where things stand today. Senate Democrats are still refusing to pass a full funding bill unless their demands on immigration enforcement are included. 

At the same time, they’re pushing a new strategy — trying to fund parts of DHS like TSA and FEMA… but leaving out Border Patrol and ICE entirely. 

That approach just doesn’t work. Because DHS isn’t something you can fund halfway. You can’t say you support national security while cutting out the very agencies responsible for enforcing our laws and securing the border. 

Meanwhile, the consequences are getting worse. TSA agents have now been working without pay for weeks. Airports across the country are seeing delays, and officials are even warning that if this continues, some airports could face serious disruptions or closures. 

And behind the scenes, negotiations aren’t moving. The White House has offered concessions — things like more transparency and oversight — but Democrats are still holding out for broader immigration restrictions. They continue to grandstand because they care more about illegal aliens than the safety of you, america. 

So where does that leave us? It leaves frontline workers stuck in the middle. It leaves travelers dealing with chaos. And it leaves our country less secure at a time when global threats are rising. 

This shouldn’t be complicated. We must fund the Department of Homeland Security. Support the people protecting this country. And stop playing politics with national security.

WASHINGTON, D.C. MEETINGS

Great meeting with Provost Jennifer Lundgren, Chancellor Agrawal, Anthony Caruso, and Courtney Kawelaske.

The University of Missouri–Kansas City continues to drive real opportunity in the Kansas City region. Strengthening education, fueling innovation, and playing a vital role in advancing national defense research. Proud to support their mission and impact!

It was an honor to meet with Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy John J. Perryman. 

We had a productive discussion on the challenges facing military housing and barracks, the importance of supporting our newest enlisted sailors, and ensuring they receive the training they need to succeed. We also talked through the complexities of military medicine and how we can deliver faster, higher-quality care to the men and women who serve our nation.

Had a great conversation with Kevin O’Neill, Matt Turner, Darrell Curls, Johnathan Duncan, and Stuart Haynes, local Missouri leaders who visited our office with the National League of Cities.

We discussed housing policy, real estate development tools, school district improvements, and water infrastructure—because strong schools, strong homes, and smart infrastructure build strong communities.

Thankful for the opportunity to meet with Citizens Memorial Hospital CEO David Calhoun to talk about the physician shortage facing rural Missouri.

Strengthening the healthcare workforce pipeline and supporting initiatives like the Rural Healthcare Transformation Program funding will be key to keeping quality care close to home.

Each year House Members honor one high school student from their districts by selecting a piece of artwork for inclusion in an exhibit at the U.S. Capitol for approximately 11 months. With millions of visitors passing through the Capitol each year, the exhibition is among the most viewed student art displays in the country. 

This year’s theme is: ‘Celebrating 250 Years of America’

RULES AND GUIDELINES

The competition is open to high school students grades 9-12. Students must reside in Missouri's 4th Congressional District.

Each entry must be original in concept, design and execution. Artwork must be a creation of a single student. Student's may not collaborate on an entry.

Each piece may not violate U.S. copyright laws. Any entry that has been copied from an existing photo or image (including a painting, graphic, or advertisement) 

All participating students need to fill out a Release Form that can be located at: https://norman.house.gov/uploadedfiles/2026_student_release_form.pdf 

 *Please include a short description of/story behind your piece 

and submitted to:  USRep.AlfordProject@mail.house.gov

Art must be a minimum of 1 MB in size in JPEG format.

Art file must be saved in the following format:

County_School_TeacherName_StudentName_Year

Teacher's with multiple entries: Please submit a list of all the pieces coming from your school / group. This will assist with submission verification. An email with the total number of entries and a list of the students art file names and your contact information can be emailed to: USRep.AlfordProject@mail.house.gov.

A copy should be included with pieces dropped off for the exhibition.

All ENTRIES and RELEASE FORMS must be submitted digitally by March 26th, 2026 to USRep.AlfordProject@mail.house.gov (Release Forms attached)

Artwork entered in the contest may be up to 20 inches by 20 inches, may be up to 4 inches in depth, and not weigh more than 7 pounds. These dimensions are conservative to allow room for the framing if chosen as the winning piece. 

If your artwork is selected as the winning piece, it must arrive framed and has strict maximum measurements.

All Artwork must be two-dimensional. Accepted mediums for artwork are as follows:

• Paintings - including oil, acrylics, and watercolor
• Drawings - including pastels, colored pencil, pencil, charcoal, ink, and markers (It is recommended that charcoal and pastel drawings be fixed.)
• Collages - must be two dimensional
• Prints - including lithographs, silkscreen, and block prints
• Mixed Media - use of more than two mediums such as pencil, ink, watercolor, etc.
• Computer-generated art
• Photography

TIMELINE & EVENTS

The 2026 Congressional Art Competition is OPEN.

Online applications with artwork must be completed and submitted digitally by March 26th, 2026 to USRep.AlfordProject@mail.house.gov

If you have several pieces being submitted by your school, please send a list of your participants as confirmation of your participation as soon as you have that confirmed.

Judging will take place between March 30-April 2nd from the digital entries.

All artwork is welcome for our Art Exhibition. Please clearly and securely label the back of each submission with the student’s name, school and artwork title. 

Artwork does not need to be framed for the district competition. Art should be mounted on poster board or foam board for protection and display.

Drop off for your school's artwork will be April 7-9th at the County Commissioner/ County Clerk's office. (This will be sent the end of March with finalized details) 

Congressman Alford's office is hosting an Academy Nominee Reception and Art Exhibition Saturday April 18th at the University of Central Missouri 511 S Holden St, Warrensburg, MO, United States, 64093 in the Student Union Room  237 A. 

The Art Exhibition will be from 11:00 am-12:15pm. 

Students may take their Artwork home that day. The rest will be returned in the following weeks.

The winning Art piece will be taken to the District Office in Raymore for final preparation to be shipped to Washington DC

Once the winner is selected, their artwork will have to be framed according to Congressional Art Institute guidelines for display and shipped to Washing DC for  display.

The Congressional Art Competition Celebration for Winner and a guest in Washing DC will be held June 25th, 2026

Since 2002, Southwest Airlines has generously donated two round-trip tickets for each winner and a guest to attend the Winners' Celebration in Washing DC, helping thousands of students and their families experience the exhibition in person, tour the Capitol, and meet with their Member of Congress.

DETAILS FOR WINNING PIECE

To allow artwork to hang in the Cannon Tunnel to the U.S. Capitol, the following rules are enforced:

• All artwork must be framed according to the appropriate framing guidelines, listed below.
• Artwork must be two-dimensional.
• Artwork can be no larger than 26 inches high, 26 inches wide, 3 inches deep, and 15 pounds, including the frame.
• Accepted mediums for the two-dimensional artwork are as follows:
• Paintings: oil, acrylics, watercolor, etc.
• Drawings: colored pencil, pencil, ink, marker, pastels, charcoal (Charcoal and pastel drawings must
• be fixed.)
• Prints: lithographs, silk screen, block prints
• Mixed Media: use of more than two mediums such as pencil, ink, watercolor, etc.
• Collages (must be two-dimensional)
• Computer-generated art
• Photographs
• Each entry must be original in concept, design, and execution and may not violate U.S. copyright laws. Any entry that has been copied from an existing photo or image (including a painting, graphic, or advertisement), that was created by someone other than the student violates the competition rules and will not be accepted.
• The artwork must be in the original medium (i.e., not a scan of a painting, drawing, etc.).
• Artwork will hang in the Cannon Tunnel from June 2026 through May 2027. Students should only submit artwork they will not need for other purposes. 

For additional information, please contact the office of Congressman Mark Alford by phone at 816-441-6324 or email USRep.AlfordProject@mail.house.gov

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

The Congressional Institute is proud to sponsor the Congressional Art Competition since 2009. The annual competition celebrates the artistic achievements of the nation’s high school students. Check out the winners from the 2025 Congressional Art Competition. 

https://www.congressionalinstitute.org/art-contest-winners/

View highlights from 2025 at: https://youtu.be/GERa4aUC-8U

IN THE MEDIA

BBC: 

Real America's Voice: 

FOR ALL THE VERY LATEST, TUNE IN TO

MARK ALFORD'S CAPITOL RECAP.

NEW Capitol Recap is out now — and you won’t want to miss this one.

The left’s DHS shutdown. Election integrity. Trump Admin Making the American Dream of homeownership possible again.

PLUS, our conversation with State Rep. Jeff Vernetti on securing Missouri elections!

LISTEN: