Congressman Dale Strong lists his legislative accomplishments of 2024

As 2024 comes to a close, I wanted to provide you with an update on my work for North Alabamians this year.

When the people of North Alabama sent me to Congress, I knew I wanted to focus on reforming how Washington does business for people. I am proud that my office has assisted nearly 1,200 constituents this year with various issues like delayed tax returns, VA claim denials, and ensuring folks receive the social security benefits they’ve earned.

I have also put forward a legislative agenda that supports American veterans and seniors, secures our borders and protects our homeland, and strives to make our federal government smaller and more efficient.

In 2025, with President Trump returning to the White House and Republicans proposing a low-tax, pro-growth agenda, I am looking forward to working hard to make life a little easier for working families across the Tennessee Valley.

STRONG LEGISLATION INTRODUCED IN 2024

Redivision Northern District of Alabama - H.R. 7177 – Signed into Law

A bipartisan bill to improve the organization of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. It redraws divisional boundaries and assigns counties to divisions with the closest courthouse.

DHS Biodetection Improvement Act - H.R. 6174 – Passed the House

Would bolster U.S. biodefense by ensuring that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is positioned to combat bioterrorism threats.

SHIELD Against CCP Act - H.R. 9668 – Passed the House

Would establish a dedicated DHS working group to counter threats from the Chinese Communist Party. Specifically, it would require the group to examine, assess, and report on the spectrum of nontraditional tactics employed by the CCP and the efforts of DHS to counter these malign activities.

National Training Center for Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act - H.R. 8590

Would establish a dedicated counter-UAS training program to train authorized personnel to operate counter-UAS detection and mitigation systems, equipment, or technology on measures to address a credible threat that a UAS poses to the safety or security of a covered facility or asset.

Deport Illegal Voters Act of 2024 - H.R. 10081

Would expedite the removal of aliens convicted of voting illegally by adding unlawful voting to the defined list of aggravated felonies under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and provide for the expedited deportation of convicted individuals.

Small Modular Reactor Demonstration Act of 2024 - H.R. 9710

Would amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to support a program to advance the research, development, demonstration, and commercial application of Small Modular Reactors (SMR) and micro-reactors in the U.S.

SPACEPORT Act - H.R. 10464

The Spaceport Project Opportunities for Resilient Transportation (SPACEPORT) Act would modernize the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Space Transportation Infrastructure Matching (STIM) grants program to address the increased demand for civil, commercial, and national security space launch and reentry activities.

SERVICE Act of 2024 - H.R. 8140

The Supporting Every At-Risk Veteran In Critical Emergencies (SERVICE) Act would establish a pilot program to allow local law enforcement agencies to use the Department of Justice's (DOJ) Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grants to establish dedicated 'Veterans Response Teams' to respond to emergency calls involving veterans in crisis.

SECURING THE HOMELAND

In response to complex threats to our homeland, I introduced and secured House passage of the DHS Biodetection Improvement Act to detect and defend against bioterrorism attacks and the SHIELD Against CCP Act to ensure that the Department of Homeland Security has a task force dedicated to countering the Chinese Communist Party. I also worked to establish robust counter-drone measures to combat the increasing threat posed by nefarious drone operators through my legislation, the National Training Center for Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act, which was included in a comprehensive C-UAS Reauthorization package.

I also introduced H.R. 3357, Protecting America's Agricultural Land from Foreign Harm Act to prevent the purchase or lease of U.S. agricultural land by those affiliated with the governments of our adversaries. This legislation was included in the Republican Study Committee's historic anti-CCP bill this year. Related provisions were also included in the Farm Bill.

As the greatest nation in the world, the United States must also protect its domestic energy resources from foreign influence. H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act, and H.R. 6009, the Restoring American Energy Dominance Act aim to unleash American energy production by streamlining permitting processes, increasing domestic energy output, removing regulatory barriers that delay critical energy projects, and ensuring American assets and resources are secured and protected for the benefit of American families.

To bolster energy production and security, I worked to accelerate the development of Small Modular Reactors through H.R. 9710, to ensure the country can provide reliable and sustainable base-load power generation.

Further, my successful amendment to the NASA Reauthorization bill ensures North Alabama will continue to play a central role in the Artemis and Moon to Mars programs, ensuring U.S. leadership in space and further strengthening our national security in an increasingly contested domain.

DEFENDING NATIONAL SECURITY

Our adversaries are constantly pushing boundaries to undermine U.S. leadership. Unfortunately, American defense stockpiles and many key programs are not where they need to be. As a staunch supporter of our men and women in uniform, I look forward to a new Commander in Chief bringing direction and strength back to our armed forces.

As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I worked diligently on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) – which authorizes funding and policy for the Department of Defense (DoD), nuclear weapons programs within the Department of Energy, and other defense-related activities.

Through the NDAA process, I successfully championed hundreds of millions of dollars for military construction, RDT&E, operations & maintenance, and procurement for Redstone Arsenal and North Alabama defense stakeholders. Space-based capabilities, offensive and defense missile capabilities, and aviation, particularly UAVs, are pillars of the fight of the future – and happen to be what North Alabama is best at.

I also advocated for provisions in the FY25 NDAA to enhance the quality of life for our service members and their families. The FY25 NDAA includes a 14.5% pay raise for lower enlisted service members, codifies the Military Spouse Career Accelerator, and expands the DoD SkillBridge program to help service members with their transition into civilian life.

The FY24 NDAA included my bill, the FINISH IT Act, H.R. 5130, which overrode the Biden administration's decision to allow millions of dollars' worth of U.S.-Mexico border wall materials to go to waste.

ADVOCATING FOR SPACE COMMAND

I refuse to sit back and allow such a blatantly political decision to put our national security and key space programs at risk. Through an objective, fact-based, process, Huntsville demonstrated that North Alabama is the best location to permanently house Space Command. I look forward to new leadership in the White House, who will put America's national security needs before politics.

Throughout a multi-year Strategic Basing Process led by the U.S. Air Force, Redstone Arsenal consistently ranked the #1 location for the nation's newest combatant command headquarters. However, despite the facts, President Biden attempted to override the Air Force's preferred location of Huntsville and locate USSPACECOM headquarters in Colorado.

I fought back and requested the House Armed Services Committee hold an oversight hearing into President Biden's decision. Through that investigation, it was discovered that there would be no interruptions to readiness should the combatant command move to North Alabama. Additionally, I worked to include a provision in the FY24 NDAA to put a full stop to all military construction and expansion efforts for USSPACECOM headquarters in Colorado until the completion of a DoD Inspector General and GAO report looking into the Biden administration's decision.

I also fought for key provisions in the FY24 and FY25 NDAAs which would restore our military's focus on lethality, stop woke policies within the DoD and service academies, and increase military recruitment and retention.

HONORING OUR VETERANS

Our nation's commitment to service members of the U.S. military doesn't stop when they retire but is a lifelong partnership. To honor the men and women who fought for our country, I've sought to be an advocate for the almost 60,000 veterans and their families who call North Alabama home.

I was proud to introduce and support legislation to improve the quality of life for veterans and their families and implement robust oversight over the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This includes his legislation, H.R. 8140, the SERVICE Act, which would create a pilot program to provide grants for law enforcement to establish dedicated "Veterans Response Teams" within departments to respond to emergency calls involving veterans in crisis.

I am committed to holding the VA accountable. Following several reports from constituents of the shortfalls within the VA's Beneficiary Travel Self-Service System (BTSSS), Congressman Strong penned a letter to VA Secretary Denis McDonough highlighting technical glitches, processing delays, and the discouragement of the use of paper reimbursement claims, all of which were hindering veterans and their families from receiving timely reimbursement of their travel expenses to VA appointments.

9.8% of the residents within AL-05 hold veteran status, which is a higher rate than both Alabama at large and the majority of Congressional districts around the country. A community of veterans this large deserves robust VA healthcare options. While I am thankful for the exceptional service provided by the Huntsville VA Clinic and Fox Army Medical Center, they need more help providing care to such a large veteran population without subjecting those veterans to a drive to Birmingham or Nashville for a routine doctor's office visit. This is why I am advocating for a dental clinic and VA Health Care Center in North Alabama.

NORTH ALABAMA INVESTMENTS

Over the last two years, I have worked tirelessly to send as much of your taxpayer dollars directly back to the fifth district as possible; securing over $18 million in funding for projects to improve the safety and infrastructure in your communities in a single fiscal year. When complete, the Fiscal Year 2025 appropriation bills stand to send tens of millions in additional funding for similar projects back to North Alabama.

I'm excited to share that I have been selected to serve on the House Appropriations Committee for the 119th Congress, starting on January 3rd, 2025. The Appropriations Committee oversees all discretionary spending and reviews how federal tax dollars are spent. Alabama has a decades-spanning history of powerful service on the Appropriations Committee. This assignment ensures our state's historical influence on how federal dollars are spent continues.

As we close out the year, I want to wish you all the happiest of holiday seasons and a Happy New Year. Entering the new year, I promise to keep fighting on behalf of you, the great people of North Alabama. 2025 is looking bright!