Cole Votes in Favor of Defense; Labor, Health and Human Services, Education; Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development; and Homeland Security Appropriations Packages

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | CONTACT: Olivia Porcaro 202-225-6165

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) voted in favor of H.R. 7149, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026, which includes funding for Defense; Labor, Health, and Human Services, Education; and Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development, and H.R. 7147, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2026. After voting in favor of the bills, Congressman Cole released the following statement:

“Over the past 250 years in America, we have created the greatest volunteer military in the world, made significant medical advances through biomedical research, improved transportation through the Interstate Highway System, and transformed security preparedness across all domains. Today, in passing these full-year funding measures, we recognized that legacy and our obligation to carry it forward,” said Congressman Cole.

“These bills champion American military power, support lifesaving biomedical research and resilient medical supply chains, and back the growth of America’s transportation sector. Additionally, the Homeland Security funding bill provides for much-needed investments into enhanced border security, as well as other measures essential to protecting the American homeland from terrorists, narco-traffickers, criminals, and other bad actors who wish us harm,” said Congressman Cole.

“Today, the House of Representatives finished the job, as we have now officially passed all twelve funding bills for the Fiscal Year 2026. Subcommittee Chairmen Calvert, Aderholt, Womack, and Amodei have worked hard to get this legislation across the finish line, and I look forward to seeing it placed on President Trump’s desk,” said Congressman Cole. 

Key Provisions in the Defense; Labor, Health, and Human Services, Education; Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development; and Homeland Security Appropriations Acts of 2026

Defense

• Champions American military superiority enhancing investments in 5^th and 6^th generation aircraft.
• Boosts production of munitions critical to winning conflicts with pacing adversaries like China.
• Provides $13.3 billion for Special Operations Forces operations, equipment, and capabilities development.
• Provides a 3.8% pay raise for all servicemembers.
• Provides a 1% civilian employee pay increase.
• Combats international actors who facilitate drug manufacturing and trafficking into our country.
• Ensures no funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, Critical Race Theory, or abortion-related travel at the Pentagon.

Labor, Health, and Human Services, Education

• Protects the right to life by maintaining the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits taxpayer funding for abortion on demand.
• Maintains the Dickey Amendment, which ensures that federal funds cannot be used to advocate or promote restrictions to Second Amendment rights.
• Rescinds the Biden Administration’s massive expansion of the IRS.
• Champions President Trump and Secretary Kennedy’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) agenda.
• Increases funding to train workers and educate students in rural America.
• Provides $48.7 billion to ensure America remains the pioneer in biomedical research.
• Prioritizes increased funding for the Social Security Administration to enhance frontline customer service provided directly for America’s seniors.

Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development

• Increases funding for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) by $1.588 billion, which will keep our skies safe and help build a world-class air traffic control system.
• Provides the FAA with resources to hire 2,500 new air traffic controllers.
• Invests in highway and airport infrastructure.
• Codifies DOGE recommendations to reduce the federal bureaucracy at Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development agencies by 29%.
• Reinforces citizenship requirements for housing assistance.
• Prohibits the Department of Transportation from enforcing COVID-19 mask mandates on public transportation conveyances and transportation hubs.
• Maintains “Buy American” provisions.

Homeland Security

• Realigns the Department of Homeland Security’s priorities around its fundamental mission: defending the nation against the threat imposed by terrorists, criminals, and foreign adversaries to ensure the safety and security of every American.
• Enhances resources to detect and counter the spread of deadly drugs.
• Partners with state and local law enforcement to enhance immigration enforcement and homeland defense capabilities.
• Bolsters disaster preparedness, response, and recovery efforts for U.S. communities through increased grant funding for firefighters and first responders.
• Includes a military pay raise for Coast Guard servicemembers.
• Provides $513 million to sustain 22,000 Border Patrol agents, $3.8 billion for custody operations to strengthen this Administration’s efforts to detain and deport all criminal and removable aliens, and $420 million to hire critical positions at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to counter the threat from China.
• Ends programs that incentivize illegal immigration.

Oklahoma Priorities/ Congressman Cole Secured in the Defense; Labor, Health, and Human Services, Education; Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development; and Homeland Security Appropriations Acts of 2026

Defense

• $715 million for Paladin Integrate Management to support ammunition operations and testing at Fort Sill.
• $740 million for programs that support operations, soldier health, and counter-UAS advancements at Fort Sill.
• Includes language to safeguard and prevent the closure of the Fort Sill National Historic Landmark and Museum.
• $1.1 billion for research, development, test, and evaluation of the E-7 Wedgetail to help accelerate this replacement for the aging E-3 AWACS platform at Tinker Air Force Base.
• Includes language to protect and bolster the E-7 Wedgetail aircraft program and prohibits funds to pause, cancel, or terminate the program.
• $1.17 billion for programs that support operations at Tinker Air Force Base including advancements in additive manufacturing and 3D printing capabilities.
• $17 million for the Indian Incentive Program to support Native American economic development initiatives.
• $1.043 billion for TACAMO Modernization to support the Navy’s strategic command missions at Tinker Air Force Base.
• Over $180 million for programs and industry support located within the Fires Innovation Science and Technology Accelerator (FISTA) in Lawton, Oklahoma. This includes support for advancements in counter-UAS, AI implementation, and surveillance technology.
• Over $160 million for advancements in radar technology, MRADS, software innovations, and fuel capability enhancements in partnership or led by the University of Oklahoma.
• Over $256 million in cutting-edge technologies and innovations spearheaded by industries in Lawton, Ardmore, Chickasha, Duncan, and Oklahoma City.

Labor, Health, and Human Services, Education

• 3 to 13% in tribal set-asides for National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program, Tribal Epidemiology Centers, Child Care and Development Block Grant, and opioid response grants.
• $207.4 million for tribal behavioral grants for substance abuse prevention and mental health programs.
• $6 million for Tribal minority HIV/AIDS Prevention and Treatment program.
• Includes language supporting a National Rural Water Apprenticeship Program to promote workforce development and opportunities.
• $116.8 million for Native American Caregiver, Nutrition Support Services, and Native American training and employment programs.
• $67.8 million for Tribally Controlled Colleges, Universities, and Postsecondary Career and Technical Institutions.
• $602.9 million for universal flu vaccine research, pandemic influenza preparedness, and Infectious Disease Rapid Response Reserve Fund.
• $415 million increase for the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
• $100 million increase in Alzheimer’s disease research funding across the NIH.
• $75 million for Medical Student Education grants to improve primary care physician training in rural and underserved areas.
• $27 million for the Good Health and Wellness in Indian Country program to promote chronic disease prevention in Tribal communities.
• $735 million in Public Health Emergency Preparedness Cooperative Agreement Program, which aids public health departments to respond effectively to public health threats.
• $450.95 million for the Institutional Development Award Program (IDeA), which increases biomedical research capacity in States with the lowest levels of NIH funding.
• $63.5 million for Native American social and economic programs to improve the wellbeing of Native people and local economy.
• $9 million for the Improving Native American Cancer Outcomes Program to address higher cancer incidence and mortality among Native Americans.
• $12.4 million in funding for Head Start.
• $1.05 billion for Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).
• $850 million for Project Bioshield, a secure funding source for the purchase of critical medical countermeasures, such as vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics.
• $1 billion for the Strategic National Stockpile.
• $1.191 billion for TRIO.
• $388 million for GEAR UP.
• $13 million for Rural Community Facilities Technical Assistance Program.
• $4.045 billion for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
• Report language requiring CDC funds to State health departments be passed through to local health departments.
• $10 million for the ALS Registry.
• $2.1 million for Interstitial Cystitis research.
• $6 million for the Center for Indigenous Innovation and Health.
• $440 million for the Charter Schools Program.
• Report language promoting training and technical assistance to Community Health Centers.
• $14.365 million for national activities within the Office of Indian Education.
• $1.477 billion for Impact Aid Basic Support Payments, which provides support for federally impacted schools that don’t receive traditional funding through local taxes, such as schools serving a high percentage of military or Native American students.
• $38 million for Special Olympics.
• $185 million in state grants for employment and training services for veterans.
• $3 million for Strengthening State Indian Child Welfare Act Compliance.

Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development

• $7 million for Haliburton Field Improvements at Duncan Municipal Airport.
• $15 million for Ada Regional Airport improvements.
• $17.1 million for the University of Oklahoma Westheimer Airport improvements.
• $3.96 million for the City of Lindsay’s New Electrical Substation.
• $4.34 million for the Walters Public Works Authority Substation Rebuild and Capacity Enhancement Project.
• $5 million for the City of Lawton’s Alternate Water Supply.
• $6.286 million for the Pauls Valley Lake Emergency Overflow Spillway project.
• $7 million for Goldsby Municipal Water improvements.
• $7.5 million for Ardmore Storm Water and Street improvements.
• $8.45 million for the Chickasaw Nation Water Quality and Hazardous Substance Testing Center.
• $11.5 million for the Fires Innovation Science and Technology Accelerator’s (FISTA) Science and Technology Convergence Institute.
• $12 million for the Newcastle Wastewater Treatment Facility.
• $4 million for the FAA to continue the work established in Fiscal Year 2024 at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center, in partnership with aviation manufacturers, to accelerate testing, certification, and the implementation of new radio altimeter capabilities consistent with the next generation of avionics standards.
• Includes language preventing funds to be used for the construction of a second Air Traffic Control Training Academy.
• $13.71 billion for FAA operations.
• $4 billion for FAA facilities and equipment.
• $1.236 billion for the Native American housing block grant program.
• $200 million for the Tribal transportation program.
• $1.8 million for the Indian housing guarantee fund program.
• $1 million for the Title VI Loan Program under the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (NAHASDA).
• $10 million for the Tribal HUD-VASH program.
• $14 million for Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) research that will support the FAA in their mission to integrate UAS into the National Airspace System, complimenting the work being done at the University of Oklahoma.
• $158 million for the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation.
• $57.5 million for housing counseling assistance at HUD.
• $1.031 billion for housing for the elderly.
• $529 million for housing opportunities for people with AIDS.
• $5 million to support the wide adoption of multiple technologies that provide the necessary GPS backup and complementary position, navigation, and timing.
• $3.3 billion for the community development block grant program at HUD.
• $10 million to test the utilization of high-powered microwave systems in the national airspace system to defend against unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center.
• $7.426 million for consolidated rail infrastructure and safety improvements.
• $10 million to address lead and other residential environmental stressors in low-income communities in older housing stock.

Homeland Security

• $48 million for the Next Generation Warning System Grant Program that funds public safety communications infrastructure.
• $11.4 million for the National Dam Safety grants to assist states in mitigating and repairing high risk dams.
• $494 million for the State Homeland Security Program, which funds the Oklahoma Counter Terrorism Intelligence Center (OCTIC).
• $14.25 million provided for the Tribal Homeland Security Grant Program.
• $5 million for Long-Endurance Unmanned Aircraft Systems within CBP, which are currently developed at Fort Sill.

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