On Friday, Feb. 13, Alabama U.S. Sen. Katie Britt spoke to a sold-out crowd at the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber’s 2026 D.C. Legislative Update luncheon. During her address, she discussed judicial nominations, U.S. Space Command, legislative achievements, appropriations, funding for North Alabama, and various policy initiatives.

During her speech, Britt addressed the 2025 government shutdown, which had a major impact on North Alabama workers.

“You all know that we had an unprecedented government shutdown at the end of last year, and I’m proud to have been a part of finding a pathway forward. We utilized regular order and appropriation spills as a vehicle to do that,” Britt stated.

She said that now, the U.S. Senate has passed 11 out of 12 appropriations bills, and 96% of the government is funded.

Britt emphasized that restoring regular order in Washington has been central to her agenda, saying her goal is “making the Senate work again.”

“I believe that every time we pass a continuing resolution, not only does it cost the taxpayer more, but it also creates uncertainty that undermines our national security, our national defense, and our ability to do good things for people from coast to coast,” she said.

Britt also shared that she recently secured about $25.3 million for North Alabama, noting that she takes these appropriations seriously.

“I believe two things: number one, that if you send it up there, that it should come home, and it’s my job to make sure that that happens. We have a gap to be fiscally responsible. I was pushing hard and was proud to be successful in making sure that we spent less money under actual appropriations skills than we would have under a CR (continuing resolution),” she said.

Some of the notable area projects Britt mentioned include:

$10 million for artificial intelligence research infrastructure at the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH)
$2 million for ALDOT to replace the Sparkman Drive bridge in Huntsville
$250,000 to Alabama A&M University for cameras and crime detection

The senator also pointed to funding secured for NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, including:

More than $1.3 billion in funding for the Space Launch System
Over $2 billion to fund the development of two independent human landing system vehicles
$110 million for nuclear thermal propulsion systems

“Both nuclear thermal propulsion and nuclear electric propulsion…have a place in our future. We will continue to be the center of excellence for propulsion, and the mission here at Marshall will not change,” Britt said.

Britt noted that the FY26 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill includes $55 million in programmatic wins for Redstone Arsenal, directed toward a propulsion systems building.

Britt commended UAH President Charles Karr for his leadership in helping bring the $10 million, 58-acre AI mixed-use district for student life research/a community center to the college.

“Thank you for believing in what was possible on that campus. You brought a new energy, you reached out to industry, you connected dots that other people had failed to or didn’t care to because you understood what was possible,” Britt noted.

She continued, “You also understood the economic engine that UAH is for North Alabama and how to meet those needs, meet the needs of the arsenal, meet the needs of the community with the great students who walk through your doors and across your campus.”

Britt also provided an update on U.S. Space Command, stating that 50% of its personnel are expected to be relocated to Alabama by the end of 2028.

“We’re going to use every tool in our toolbox to make sure that this permanency is just that, permanency, and there is no way to unwind that,” she said.

Britt concluded her speech by emphasizing her commitment to collaboration with local leaders and her focus on expanding opportunity across the state.

“We have a great state with great people, and we have a great story to tell. I appreciate you allowing me to be a part of telling that story. I always have an open door and certainly open ears to figure out solutions and pathways forward to allow the unseen to be seen and to create opportunity for all of our great state,” she said.