{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://bell.house.gov/media/press-releases/bell-secures-major-wins-and-millions-critical-funding-st-louis", "Bell Secures Major Wins and Millions in Critical Funding for St. Louis", "2025-12-10", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "MO", "Wesley Bell", "B001324", "bell.house.gov", "bell", "https://bell.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014Today, U.S. Representative Wesley Bell (D-Mo.) voted YES on the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act. The bipartisan legislation specifies the annual budget and expenditures of the U.S. Department of Defense and included critical investment in the St. Louis defense workforce, a 3.8% raise for servicemembers, support for our allies abroad, and much needed oversight to hold Secretary of Defense Hegseth accountable.\n\n\u201cWhile this bill is not perfect, it represents a significant and necessary step forward for our state and our nation,\" said Rep. Bell. \"Crucially, it includes critical investments and oversight that will directly benefit the St. Louis region, securing a stronger future for the people I represent and for the country as a whole. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I am proud to champion the work the St. Louis region is doing everyday to support and strengthen our national security. No matter what, I will continue to fight to deliver for St. Louis and Missouri.\u201d\n\nHowever, the final version of the bill was not without disappointing omissions.\n\n\u201cRepublicans, at Donald Trump\u2019s direction, stripped out provisions protecting collective bargaining rights, expanding TRICARE coverage for IVF and fertility care, and safeguarding our efforts to ensure no military base honors Confederate traitors. I will continue fighting to restore these protections and deliver full accountability.\u201d\n\nAs a member of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Bell was able to secure critical wins in the NDAA including:\n\nInvesting in the St. Louis Workforce and Industry:\n\nBringing home millions of dollars in programs that directly support the St. Louis defense industrial base and its skilled manufacturing workforce.\n\nProtecting and advancing next-generation defense systems built in St. Louis.\n\nStrengthening St. Louis\u2019 rapidly growing geospatial and AI ecosystem, anchored by the new NGA West campus in North St. Louis, through expanded federal support for GEOINT, AI/ML, and cybersecurity initiatives.\n\nReinforcing federal support for the 442nd Fighter Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, preserving readiness and regional operations.\n\nProtecting DoD civilian workforce by strengthening protections against arbitrary reductions in force.\n\nDelivering for our Servicemembers and Military Families:\n\nProviding a 3.8% pay increase for servicemembers.\n\nSecuring $1.5 billion in new construction of barracks, dormitories, housing, and child development centers.\n\nPreventing the closure and downgrading of Military Treatment Facilities, including Ft. Leonard Wood Hospital.\n\nSupporting our Allies & Ensuring Accountability and Oversight on Trump/Hegseth:\n\nFencing 25% of Secretary Hegseth\u2019s travel budget until the Department releases all video evidence of recent Administration-directed strikes in the Caribbean.\n\nPreventing the Administration from abandoning key allies by prohibiting unauthorized troop reductions in Europe and South Korea, maintaining force levels critical to U.S. and allied security.\n\nSupporting our global Democratic allies by reauthorizing funding for crucial programs such as the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) and the Baltic Security Initiative (BSI).\n\nRep. Bell is a member of the House Armed Services\u2019 Committee, serving on the Strategic Forces and Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittees.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://bell.house.gov/media/press-releases/bell-secures-major-wins-and-millions-critical-funding-st-louis"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.803457573056221, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}