Dale Strong

U.S. Rep. Dale Strong, R-Monrovia, announced this week that almost $2.6 million in federal funding has been secured for Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children.

The funding is through the FY26 Homeland Appropriations Bill to provide backup generators for the hospital.

The project will strengthen emergency preparedness and system redundancy to ensure the hospital is able to care for patients across north Alabama during severe weather events or unexpected power disruptions, the congressman said.

As north Alabama’s only hospital dedicated to advanced pediatric and neonatal care, Women & Children’s serves as the region’s pediatric referral center, providing specialized care for critically ill infants, children and mothers across north Alabama and southern Tennessee.

As part of the Huntsville Hospital Health System, Women and Children’s is designated critical infrastructure by FEMA, underscoring the need for reliable backup power and uninterrupted care for vulnerable patients in the Pediatric Emergency Department, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, and Regional Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Strong toured areas of the hospital, including the NICU, to see firsthand the necessity of preparedness funding to support families across the Tennessee Valley.

“Having served as a firefighter and EMT for decades, I’ve seen how severe weather and natural disasters can cause widespread power outages and put the lives of vulnerable patients at risk,” Strong said. “For newborns in the NICU, children in critical care, and mothers depending on lifesaving treatment, even a brief interruption in power can be detrimental. This funding will help ensure the hospital can continue to care for our most vulnerable patients when they need it most, no matter the circumstances.”

The funding strengthens the hospital’s ability to care for patients when they need it most, said Tracy Doughty, president and chief operating officer of Huntsville Hospital.

“A reliable, modern generator is critical to ensuring continuity of care for newborns, children and women across North Alabama, even in the face of disaster or power disruption,” Doughty said. “We are grateful to Congressman Dale Strong and our federal partners for investing in the health and safety of North Alabama families.”

The funding marks nearly $36 million secured by Representative Strong in FY26 Community Project Funding for the Fifth District.