By Huntsville Madison County Chamber 

The new $1.3 trillion spending package passed by Congress late Thursday night and signed by President Trump Friday will benefit many federal activities in North Alabama. The spending bill will keep the government funded through the end of September.

U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Tuscaloosa, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies, said the FY 2018 appropriations bill will benefit many federal activities in Alabama and national defense.

“Through this appropriations measure, Alabama will receive significant funding for a number of priorities around the state,” Senator Shelby said. “I look forward to seeing our state benefit from this robust bill.”

Alabama-related items include:

• Redstone Arsenal – Important funding for critical research and development activities that are being conducted by the Army Space and Missile Defense Command that will enable the U.S. Army to deter and prepare for conflicts of the future, including investments to advance our cybersecurity, directed energy technology and capabilities in space;
• Development of a new rocket propulsion system to modernize our national security space launch – Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV), which is $100 million above the President’s budget request.
• National Aeronautics and Space Administration – The bill includes $20.7 billion for NASA, which is $1.1 billion above the FY2017 enacted level and $1.6 billion above the budget request, to support the human and robotic exploration of space, fund science missions that enhance the understanding of the Earth, the solar system, and the universe, and support fundamental aeronautics research.
• Huntsville – $110 million to fund a new federal courthouse in Huntsville.

The Huntsville/Madison County Chamber thanks Senator Shelby for his strong support of our region.

“Senator Shelby has been our champion on the Hill, fighting for our nation’s continued leadership in the human exploration of deep space and supporting critical programs to enhance our national defense,” said Chip Cherry, the Chamber’s President and CEO. “This appropriation far exceeds what we could have hoped to get for the program.”

“We are very grateful to Senator Shelby for his leadership to secure funding for so many Alabama projects and especially for his support for our local Huntsville projects,” said Mike Ward, the Chamber’s Senior Vice President of Government & Public Affairs. “In addition to support for our key space and defense programs, Senator Shelby also helped to fund a long overdue new Federal Courthouse for our district.”