Terri Sewell highlights local victories in annual State of the District address

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Terri Sewell

Alabama 7th District U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell delivered her 2020 State of the District address on Tuesday, highlighting the accomplishments she helped deliver for Alabama’s 7th District in 2019 while simultaneously looking to the future. 

In her speech, Sewell highlighted the legislative initiatives, grants and casework wins she helped secure on behalf of the 7th District in 2019, including the fact she hosted 84 district events and town halls in each of the district’s 14 counties throughout the year.

Additionally, she:

  • Helped recover over $2.28 million in favorable benefits owed to constituents by the federal government;
  • Received over $2.4 billion in federal grants to fund important projects throughout the district;
  • Successfully introduced and passed H.R. 4, the Voting Rights Advancement Act, in the House to restore the full protections of the Voting Rights Act;
  • Worked to pass the FUTURE Act into law, which will provide $9.5 million per year in permanent funding for Alabama HBCUs;
  • Secured $18 million in funding to preserve the sites of the civil rights movement.

“Over the past year, Congress has been working hard on your behalf, passing common sense legislation to address the real and tangible needs of families across our district,” Sewell said. “I am proud to say that the state of our district is getting stronger because of the work we have done together thus far.”

“At the same time, I recognize that there is still so much work ahead of us,” Sewell continued. “This year we must work together to make sure Alabama’s 7th Congressional Counts in the 2020 Census and that our vote counts at the ballot box.”

The 2020 Census will help determine how $800 billion per year in federal funds are distributed. According to Sewell, for everyone not counted in Alabama during the last census, the state lost out on about $1,600 per person in annual federal funding.

Watch Sewell’s full address below: