Wicker Applauds Passage of Appropriations Bills

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., today highlighted the Mississippi wins in the appropriations package, that includes appropriation bills for Defense, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Financial Services.

"This is how Congress should operate, passing federal spending bills through the appropriations process. I am pleased that the Senate has embraced regular order. I look forward to the ways this legislation will help Mississippi's needs and will support job creators and local governments," said Senator Wicker.

Below is a section-by-section list of Mississippi initiatives funded in this appropriations package:

Mississippi Projects in the FY26 Defense Appropriations Bill:

• $897 million for defense medical research: rapid and transformative innovation is critical to ensure the Military Health System has the most advanced medical capabilities available to support readiness, effectiveness in combat, and survivability against adversaries.
• $462.1 million for the Sentinel program, which replaces the aging Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile system and modernizes the ground-based leg of the nuclear triad: Sentinel includes new missiles, hardened launch infrastructure, and secure command-and-control systems. The program's modular open systems design improves flexibility, security, and long-term cost-efficiency. It supports a significant portion of missile systems production in Iuka, Mississippi.
• $370 million for peer-reviewed medical research programs: Rapid and transformative innovation is critical to ensure the Military Health System has the most advanced medical capabilities available to support readiness, effectiveness in combat, and survivability against adversaries.
• $175 million for improved an improved works turbine engine program: This funding will support the Army's T901 engine development for Black Hawk and Apache helicopters. Much of the production takes place in Batesville, Mississippi, where ceramic matrix composites are manufactured, currently employing over 250 people. This funding would ensure job retention and support expansion aligned with the Army's modernization roadmap.
• $150 million for expanding domestic sources of solid rocket motors (SRM) at scale: This provides critical funding to expand the SRM merchant supplier base under Title III of the Defense Production Act. This investment will enhance production capabilities, improve supply chain resilience, and reduce reliance on a narrow set of vertically integrated suppliers, thereby strengthening the overall defense industrial base in Mississippi and nationwide.
• $79 million for auxiliary vessels, which are built in Pascagoula: This funding will support modernization and continued funding of the Auxiliary Personnel Lighters, which house sailors during ship maintenance.
• $24 million for United Service Organizations (USO) operations support: USO provides programs and services that connect service members with their families, boost morale, and support resilience. With National Guard, active-duty, and reserve forces stationed throughout Mississippi, local communities and military families will continue to benefit from USO engagement.
• $20 million for tactical mobile electric power: This funding will support the fabrication, testing, and optimization of lightweight, fuel-efficient, low-signature hybrid generators intended to replace the Army's existing inventory.
• $20 million for the Defense Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research is the full name of the program stimulate competitive research (DEPSCoR): DEPSCoR supports science and technology research and development at colleges and universities in areas, such as remote sensing, artificial intelligence, astrophysics and aeronautics.
• $17.5 million for peer-reviewed cancer research: This funding will support peer reviewed research within the defense health program.
• $12.5 million for intelligent autonomous systems research: This funding will support the development and testing of autonomous systems capable of sensing, decision-making, and navigation across maritime, air, and land environments. The University of Southern Mississippi and companies in Gulfport contribute to this research and development.
• $10 million for multi-domain kill chain automation: This funding will continue development of artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) software to automate threat detection, sensor-to-shooter linkages, and decision-making across domains.
• $9 million for low-cost missile propulsion development: This funding will development and testing of low-cost solid rocket motors in support of the Army's evolving long-range precision fires strategy. Testing and prototyping of solid rocket motor technology is conducted at NASA Stennis Space Center in Hancock County, Mississippi.
• $8 million for family of all terrain cranes for the U.S. Army: The cranes enable rapid movement and deployment of weapons, fuel, barriers, and supplies near the front lines. These cranes are produced in Louisville, Mississippi.
• $7 million for combatant craft assault procurement: This is central to USSOCOM's Major Capability Acquisition strategy for maritime preposition of special operations forces.
• $6 million for Narrative Intelligence: This will enable the National Center for Narrative Intelligence (NCNI) to analyze and address the impact of technology-driven malign narratives. The University of Mississippi and Mississippi's Institute of Higher Learning established the NCNI in 2023.
• $6 million for improvements in mobility modeling: This funding will support the continued development of mobility simulation systems and will partner with the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center and academic institutions, including Jackson State University, Alcorn State University, and Tougaloo College.
• $5 million for autonomous systems for underwater sensing: This funding will support the Navy's Ocean Battlespace Sensing program to advance mine warfare capabilities by improving UUV sensor performance through platform noise reduction. The effort will fund development of AI-driven signal processing for magnetic sensor arrays, iterative prototype builds, and in-water testing coordinated with academia and industry in Mississippi.
• $4 million for advance composite shaft design for submarines: This funding will support the development, testing, and equipment for advanced composite shafting for the next-generation submarine class SSN(X). Much of the production takes place in Gulfport.
• $3 million for the Security Work Readiness Duty (SWoRD) Program: This funding will support work at future facilities near Keesler Air Force Base and Columbus Air Force Base. These centers would serve as practical training environments for military cyber personnel and Mississippi State University students while simultaneously supporting small businesses and local governments with cybersecurity monitoring.
• $3 million for engineered roadway repair materials for effective maneuvering of military assets: This funding will support the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center in developing resilient, rapidly deployable roadway repair materials that enable sustained vehicle maneuvering in challenging climates and operational settings. This project is headquartered in Rankin County.

Mississippi Projects in the FY26 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill:

• $7 million for the University of Mississippi for construction of lab space and facilities and acquisition of drug development technology and equipment
• $5.6 million for Memorial Health System for facilities and equipment to support a radiation oncology equipment project.
• $5.5 million for Mississippi State University to purchase equipment for a new rolled aluminum mill for industrial applications
• $5.3 million for Mississippi State University to expand a workforce training program for skilled manufacturing.
• $2.5 million for the Mississippi Public Health Institute's Center for Optimizing Maternal Outcomes to support data development and systems and to support staffing requirements.
• $1.5 million for Singing River Health System for facilities and equipment to acquire and install generators.
• $1 million for the University of Mississippi Medical Center for facilities and equipment to support Rural Primary Care Provider system and telehealth strategies.
• $801,000 for the Mississippi State Department of Health for acquisition of telehealth equipment.
• $800,000 for the Delta Health Alliance to improve education outcomes.
• $765,000 for Mercy House Teen Challenge for facilities and equipment for acquisition and installation of telehealth equipment.
• $500,000 for the Mississippi Department of Archives and History to establish a workforce training field school.
• $500,000 for Mississippi State University to support physician assistant education.
• $396,000 for the University of Southern Mississippi to upgrade their audiology clinic and acquire audiology equipment.

Mississippi Wins in the FY26 Transportation and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill:

• $10 million for the Mississippi Department of Transportation for Tupelo rail improvements.
• $10 million for the University of Mississippi for the Innovation & Entrepreneurial Fusion Center.
• $8.5 million for the University of Mississippi Medical Center for Site Preparation and Critical Infrastructure Support.
• $7 million for the Star Landing Road Corridor in DeSoto County.
• $3 million for the Mississippi Department of Archives & History for the Vicksburg National Military Park improvements.
• $3 million for the City of Vicksburg for flood wall closure system improvements.
• $2 million for the Lake Okhissa access and utilities project.
• $2 million for Madison County for the Bozeman-Reunion Crossing Inter-Connectivity System.
• $2 million for the Canal Street Bridge replacement project.
• $2 million for the Texas Flat Road reconstruction.
• $2 million for Pearl River Community College for a road infrastructure project.
• $1.5 million for U.S. Highway 80 improvements at the entrance of Mississippi College.
• $1.5 million for the Dedeaux Road Widening Project in Gulfport.
• $1 million for Edwards Street reconstruction in Hattiesburg.
• $1 million for the Highway 80 East widening project in Brandon.
• $1 million for the City of Madison for the widening of Madison Avenue.
• $1 million for Jones County Junior College for construction of an educational building.
• $1 million for the SR1 College Preparatory and STEM for a learning center
• $1 million for the Forrest-Lamar Alliance for infrastructure improvements
• $1 million for Lee County for a learning center.
• $1 million for the Golden Triangle Airport for an expansion of the terminal baggage claim area.
• $1 million for the Meridian Regional Airport to build a new terminal.
• $1 million for the Gulfport-Biloxi Regional Airport to replace a passenger boarding bridge.
• $500,000 for the Greene County Airport planning and development.

Mississippi wins in the FY26 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Bill:

• $5 million for the University of Mississippi for the Small Business Technology Program.
• $2 million for the Rural Youth Mental Health and Substance Abuse Prevention Program at the University of Mississippi.
• $1.5 million for Mississippi State University for the Childcare and Entrepreneurship Program.
• $750,000 for the Rural Master Entrepreneurship Volunteer Program at Mississippi State University.
• $500,000 for Rust College Center for their Entrepreneurship and Innovation program.