HAPPY NEW YEAR 2026!
 
As we begin a new year, let’s build on our successes in 2025 that made America safer and stronger! 
 
TAX CUTS: 
Middle and working-class families will take home more money in 2026, thanks to the new historic savings that we secured in the Working Families Tax Cuts. 
 
STRONGER BORDERS:
America is now safer with stronger border security and effective law enforcement, dismantling dangerous drug trafficking and human trafficking organizations. 
 
PROTECTING BENEFIT PROGRAMS: 
We protected key benefit programs, like Medicaid and SNAP, with landmark reforms that cut waste, fraud and abuse. 
 
INVESTING IN AMERICAN ENERGY: 
We made important investments in America’s domestic energy production, strengthening the coal industry, reining in job-killing regulations and codifying President Trump’s executive orders on energy. 

RURAL HEALTHCARE: 
We invested $50 billion to improve rural healthcare across the country over the next five years, starting with nearly $213 million for Kentucky in 2026, with more to come through the year 2030. 
https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases?ID=3177953F-1F2D-49F8-BE85-39112AE422EF 

CURBING THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC: 
Kentucky is leading the nation with a 30% reduction in overdose death rates. We must continue our life-saving work through investments in law enforcement, treatment and education. Congress passed several key bills to curb the nation’s drug abuse crisis that President Trump signed into law in 2025, including the HALT Fentanyl Act and the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act. The legislation increases penalties for fentanyl trafficking, strengthens prescription drug monitoring programs, improves treatment options for pregnant women with substance use disorder, enhances recovery support services, and invests in recovery to workforce opportunities. 

 
EDUCATION: 
When unspent COVID-era funding was hanging in the balance for school districts across southern and eastern Kentucky, I hosted a regional meeting of school superintendents to listen to their concerns. I was proud to help successfully protect federal funding for our rural school districts as they continue to create new opportunities for our students. Click here for details.  

NATURAL DISASTERS:
Our region was hit with several major disasters in 2025, including severe flooding on Valentine’s Day and a deadly tornado in May that took the lives of 19 people. My field team led recovery efforts in our region, working in partnership with FEMA, SBA, Kentucky Emergency Management, and multiple nonprofit organizations. I was proud to recognize our heroic first responders with a tribute in the Congressional Record to honor the life-saving efforts made immediately after an EF-4 tornado hit our region. So far, FEMA has obligated or approved more than $135 million in public and individual assistance for those disasters. In the wake of other recent floods, I also secured funding for new homes, infrastructure for housing developments on higher ground, a comprehensive study of the Kentucky River, and flood control projects in Beattyville, Coal Run and Paintsville. We will continue to help individuals, businesses and local governments with rebuilding efforts in all our impacted counties. 

JOB CREATION: 
I was proud to join the Southeast Kentucky Economic Development (SKED) Corporation in October to host the 8^th annual Supplier Education and Economic Development (SEED) Symposium in our region. Each year, we welcome our region’s manufactures to meet with federal contractors to learn what it takes to earn federal contract opportunities and create new jobs in our region. I’m proud of the additional contracts and jobs that have been added in our region as a result of the SEED Symposium. We have the best workforce in the country, and I am confident that our local businesses have what it takes to fulfill more contracts for the federal government. Learn more here: https://skedcorp.com/seed-symposium-creates-connections-in-region/

INVESTMENTS IN COAL COMMUNITIES: 
At the 2025 SOAR Summit, Gov. Beshear and I announced $26 million in Abandoned Mine Lands Economic Revitalization (AMLER) grants for 15 projects in 11 counties in Eastern Kentucky. The projects are expected to create or retain more than 3,500 jobs and train up to 1,200 individuals. Click here to see the all the grant award recipients for 2025: https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases?ID=F5D772B3-1EFE-46F3-BD12-5D4DECB13BEA

 
COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING: 
More than $7 million was passed into law in November for first responders in Eastern Kentucky, including more than $3 million for a new Louisa Fire Department and nearly $4 million for the new Pikeville Police Department. Those are two of the 15 projects that I requested earmark funds for in fiscal year 2026. As we continue our work on FY26 funding in January, I am hopeful that the remaining Community Project Funding requests will get across the finish line as well. Click here to see the full list of earmark requests: https://halrogers.house.gov/fiscal-year-2026-community-project-funding-requests
 
May the new year be filled with many more successes for southern and eastern Kentucky and may your home be filled with many blessings. 
 
As always, please reach out to my offices in Somerset, Hazard, Prestonsburg, Ashland or Washington if I can be of assistance.
 
Happy New Year!
Hal