Members of the Alabama delegation honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Today, Americans across the country are celebrating the life and achievements of civil rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. January 15th would have been Dr. King’s 87th birthday. Now 47 years after his death, his message of equality for all resonates as much as it did half a century ago. Today members of the Alabama delegation took to social media to honor and remember Dr. King. Here’s what they’re saying: U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne (AL-01): This morning I ran into Boy Scout Troop 600 from Aimwell Baptist Church in Mobile at the annual 27th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Breakfast at Bishop State Community College. Impressive group of young men. U.S. Rep. Martha Roby (AL-02): “We must all learn to live together as brothers — or we will all perish together as fools.” – Martin Luther King, Jr. I like this photo of Dr. King taken in 1956 at the end of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. The look of quiet accomplishment along with the familiar Montgomery trappings on the bus make it especially interesting (Coliseum Blvd, Highland Garden, Heart of Dixie plate). Last year was the 60th anniversary of the boycott and the 50th anniversary of “Bloody Sunday” and the Selma-to-Montgomery voting rights march. Of course, the impetus for these came from native Alabamians like E.D. Nixon, Fred Gray, John Lewis, Amelia Boynton, Rev. Frederick D. Reese, along with so many others. But it was this young Georgia preacher who gave a special voice to the Civil Rights Movement that could not be ignored by leaders in our state, our nation and around the world. U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07): Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., proved that the hearts of many could be changed by the voice of one. Eloquently declaring that, “Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend,” Dr. King laid the framework for the essential bridge toward equality. His dream of a collective nation, dedicated to peace and harmony, is the cornerstone of his teachings. We should arm ourselves with the love and compassion Dr. King carried daily. As a daughter of Selma, Alabama, I am proud to represent a district historically rooted in the fight for civil and voting rights. We cannot forget the many sacrifices that have been made to advance the cause of equality, and we must do our part to carry the torch that has been passed down to us. Dr. King’s timeless vison should continue to guide us as we push forward. We cannot become complacent, but should remain steadfast in our push to secure fair voting rights across the nation. On this Martin Luther King, Jr., holiday, let us recommit ourselves to the principles of equality and justice for which Dr. King died.
KKK distributes fliers in Mobile featuring Martin Luther King Jr.
During the weekend the Loyal White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, based in Pelham, North Carolina, distributed fliers throughout Mobile, Alabama, referencing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The fliers were found by residents, and promptly discarded, only one day before the country celebrated King’s legacy Monday. The fliers, like ones previously distributed across the state, were in plastic bags and found on lawns throughout the city’s Midtown neighborhood. In 2014, fliers were distributed throughout Tallassee and, in 2015, similar flyers were distributed in Selma on the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday. According to multiple reports, the fliers contained a “happy birthday” message to King and further said “The blacks have NAACP, the Mexicans have La Raza, the Jews have JDL, and white people have the KKK.” Though a phone call to the group was unsuccessful, the voice mailbox opened with: “Hey whitey, how do you feel about this Martin Luther King Day?” The message went on to disparage King in a variety of ways, using expletives and insulting racist language. It also urged the day be used to celebrate the legacy of Gen. Robert E. Lee. The group’s website calls itself an organization for “White Christian Men & Women Working to Secure A Future, For Pure White Americans” and rejects assertions it’s a hate group. If any of the fliers’ distributors are found, criminal littering charges could be levied, police said.
Bradley Byrne: Time to turn page on Obama presidency
Last week, President Barack Obama came before Congress to deliver his final State of the Union Address. The President outlined a long list of policy ideas, but many of them were simply recycled from his previous State of the Union speeches. If you are one of the 25% of Americans who like the direction our country is headed, then you probably enjoyed the speech. On the other hand, if you make up the 65% of Americans who think we are headed in the wrong direction then you probably were disappointed. I certainly was. The President tried to paint a rosy picture, but the facts simply aren’t on his side. He talked about the how his administration has “delivered more care and benefits to our troops and veterans,” yet he failed to address the fact that the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) has been plagued by scandal and is leaving far too many of our veterans behind. The President went on and on about how our economy is so strong. If that is the case, then why have so many Americans simply stopped looking for work and left the workforce altogether? Why has it been months, or even years, since hardworking Americans have received a raise? If the economy had truly turned the corner, these issues still wouldn’t be plaguing the American people. President Obama also used the speech to praise the Iran nuclear deal. What the President didn’t mention in his speech was that Iran was holding ten U.S. sailors as prisoners. While the sailors have now been released, this incident further illustrates that Iran is no friend of the United States and simply can’t be trusted. A major portion of the President’s speech was focused on praising his foreign policy and justifying cuts to our military. Once again, the facts aren’t on his side. As we cut our military, countries like Russia and China are growing their military capabilities. We cannot continue to cut our military and just expect other countries to act responsibly. Ultimately, the President’s speech was way out of touch with reality. He spent more time lecturing Congress than he did offering to work with us on areas where we can find common ground. As he wrapped up the speech, I looked at my colleague sitting beside me and noted that this speech marked the beginning of the post-Obama era. Sure, President Obama will be in the White House until early next year, but the focus will no longer be on him and his policies. Instead, it is time we start putting forward commonsense alternatives to turn our country around. For example, we should focus on cutting regulations on small businesses. We need to pursue an “all-of-the-above” energy strategy and make it easier for Americans to gain the skills they need to get the high-paying jobs they want. We must also remove regulations from the Dodd-Frank Act, which are hampering our nation’s banks and credit unions. When it comes to veterans, we need to fundamentally alter the way we care for those who have served our country. Instead of forcing veterans to stay in the VA system, we should give greater choice and allow them to seek care from doctors and hospitals in their local communities. We must also outline a clear case for a strong national defense that helps keep the American people safe at home and deters threats around the world. Peace through strength must be more than a slogan. It should be the foundation for securing our own freedom and prosperity. It is time we start looking past this time of big government and toward an America where the government actually works for the people and not the other way around. Bradley Byrne is a member of the U.S. Congress representing Alabama’s 1st Congressional District.
45,000 Alabamians at risk of losing food stamp benefits as work requirements resume
A federal waiver which allowed states to waive work requirements for recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, formerly known as the Food Stamp program, expired Jan. 1. The expiration of the federal waiver means that about 45,000 Alabamians receiving SNAP benefits must acquire work to maintain their benefits. The change does not affect recipients with physical or mental disabilities, only those who are “able-bodied” adults, ages 18 to 49, without dependents and receiving $194 a month in benefits. Along with exceptions for disabled recipients, those who are pregnant or caring for an incapacitated person. Though the expiration of the waiver requires these able-bodied Alabamians to work, or be enrolled in a training program, at least 80 hours a month, SNAP benefit recipients affected are allowed three months without a job during a 36-month period. The highest number of affected recipients is in Jefferson County, 6,377, with Mobile County close behind at 5,068. The work requirement waiver will continue to be observed in 13 of Alabama’s 67 counties suffering from high unemployment rates, including Barbour, Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Lowndes, Monroe, Perry, Sumter, Washington and Wilcox counties. As many as 1 million people nationally could lose SNAP benefits as a result of the waiver expiration, 40 percent of them women and a quarter who do not have a high school diploma, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders go head-to-head in heated 4th Democratic debate
The fourth Democratic presidential debate was held Sunday night in South Carolina and featured presidential hopefuls Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley. The debate was the final opportunity for candidates to explain and defend their political messages before the first contests of 2016: the Feb. 1 Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary Feb. 9. Sunday’s debate featured constant barbs thrown between front runners Clinton and Sanders while O’Malley, currently polling in the single digits, often had to fight to get a word in. Chief among the topics discussed at last night’s debate were racial inequality, foreign policy, gun control, climate change, and healthcare. “It is beyond my comprehension how we can elect a President of the United States, somebody like Trump, who believes that climate change is a hoax invented by the Chinese,” Sanders said to laughter from the crowd. Clinton used the debate as an opportunity to tie herself closely to the policies of the Barack Obama administration and to attack Sanders for his criticism of that administration. “President Obama has led our country out of the Great Recession,” Clinton said. “Senator Sanders called him weak, disappointing.” Clinton further tied herself to Obama via healthcare, calling the Affordable Care Act “one of the greatest accomplishments of President Obama, the Democratic Party and our country” and vehemently opposing Sanders’ plan to systematically change healthcare in this country. “What a Medicare-for-all program does is finally provide in this country health care for every man, woman and child as a right,” Sanders said. “The truth is that Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Harry Truman believed that health care should be available to all of our people.” While many of the criticisms pointed at Sanders’ previous vote to protect legal gun sellers from prosecution, the self-proclaimed Democratic Socialist threw punches of his own. Sanders took Clinton to task over the apparent conflict-of-interest surrounding her plans for Wall Street reform while receiving $600,000 in speaking fees from Goldman Sachs. The most humorous portion of the debate, and likely the one that garnered the loudest applause for O’Malley, was when the former governor was asked whether there was anything he’d like to say that he hadn’t been able to during the debate. “Thank you so much, but we’re going to have to get 20 minutes to do it,” O’Malley said after an eruption of applause and laughter. The Democratic candidates will meet again Feb. 11 after the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary, before going into the Nevada and South Carolina primaries when, feasibly, the field will be narrowed down to two remaining candidates.
Marco Rubio says faith “single greatest influence in my life”
Republican presidential hopeful Marco Rubio promised to keep “talking about God” as he campaigned across Iowa Monday, reminding influential evangelical voters of his commitment to Christian values just two weeks before the state’s lead-off caucuses. The Florida senator’s GOP rivals have dismissed him as too moderate at times, but on Monday, he spoke of how Christian conservative values would guide his decisions in the White House, if he is elected. The Florida senator, a Catholic, opened up about religion when confronted by an atheist during a town hall-style meeting in Waverly, Iowa. “No one’s going to force you to believe in God. But no one’s going to force me to stop talking about God,” Rubio told the atheist, Justin Scott, of Waterloo. Added Rubio, “Not only am I a Christian, not only am I influenced by my faith, but it is the single greatest influence in my life. And from that, I’ll never hide.” Looking up at businessman Donald Trump and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz in the polls, the first-term senator is trying to break out of the crowded Republican field. There are several candidates aggressively courting Iowa’s religious conservatives, who typically play outsize influence in the opening contest. Cruz is particularly popular among such voters, as is retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and former Pennsylvania Gov. Rick Santorum. Rubio’s focus on religion would be less appealing in New Hampshire, which holds the nation’s first presidential primary eight days after the Iowa caucuses and typically rewards economic, rather than social conservatives. In Waverly, the second of five campaign appearances Rubio had scheduled Monday, he renewed his opposition to abortion and promised to strip funding from Planned Parenthood if elected. He also said pastors, bakers and florists shouldn’t be penalized for refusing to participate in a same-sex marriage. On abortion, Rubio supports an exception for the life of the mother, but opposes exceptions in cases of rape and incest. “I believe every human being, no matter what stage you are in your development, even if you don’t have a birth certificate, even if you don’t have a lawyer, even if you don’t have a name, has a right to live,” Rubio said, adding that he respects people on the other side of the debate. Rubio told the atheist that his Christian faith shouldn’t be a concern. “In fact, I think you should hope my faith influences me,” Rubio said, noting that his faith outlines an obligation to care for the less fortunate, to love his neighbor and feed the hungry. “I’m going to share my faith, especially when I’m asked, because my faith influences who I am in every aspect of my life,” he said. Rubio added that he’ll live to 85 or 90, if he’s lucky. “But I’m more interested in eternity and the ability to live forever with my creator,” he said. “And that’s what I aspire to more than anything else.” Republished with permission of the Associated Press.
10 must-read quotes from Sunday night’s fourth Democratic debate
Hoping to win their Party a third consecutive term in the White House, presidential hopefuls Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders and Martin O’Malley faced-off Sunday night in the fourth Democratic debate vying for their party’s nomination. Hosted by the Congressional Black Caucus on NBC, the debate took place in Charleston, SC — just blocks away from blocks from the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church where nine parishioners were killed during Bible study in a mass shooting last summer — where the candidates went head-to-head on a variety of hot-topic issues. Below we’ve rounded up 10 of the most significant quotes from the debate. On gun control: MARTIN O’MALLEY: I’ve listened to secretary Clinton and senator Sanders go back and forth on which has the most inconsistent record on gun safety legislation, and I would have to agree with both of them. They’ve both been inconsistent when it comes to this issue. On fundraising: BERNIE SANDERS: Well, the first difference is I don’t take money from big banks. I don’t get personal speaking fees from Goldman Sachs… I have doubts when people receive huge amounts of money from Wall Street. I am very proud, I do not have a super PAC. I do not want Wall Street’s money. I’ll rely on the middle class and working families. On the GOP: BERNIE SANDERS: It is beyond my comprehension how we can elect as president of the United States somebody like Trump who believes that climate change is a hoax, invented by the Chinese. On Obamacare: HILLARY CLINTON: I don’t to want see us start over again with a contentious debate. I want us to defend and build on the Affordable Care Act and improve it. On the criminal justice system: HILLARY CLINTON: There needs to be a concerted effort to address the systemic racism in our criminal justice system. And that requires a very clear agenda for retraining police officers, looking at ways to end racial profiling. More on the criminal justice system: BERNIE SANDERS: We have a criminal justice system which is broken. Who in America are satisfied that we have more people in jail than any other country on Earth, including China? Disproportionately African-American and Latino. Who is satisfied that 51 percent of African-American young people are either unemployed or underemployed. Who is satisfied that millions of people have police records for possessing marijuana when the CEOs of Wall Street companies who destroyed our economy have no police record. On polls: BERNIE SANDERS: Secretary Clinton well knows, when this campaign began, she was 50 points ahead of me. We were all of 3 percentage points. Guess what? In Iowa, New Hampshire, the race is very, very close. In terms of polling, guess what, we are running ahead of Secretary Clinton in terms of taking on my good friend, Donald Trump. On drug abuse: HILLARY CLINTON: We have to move away from treating the use of drugs a as crime and, instead, move it to where it belongs, as a health issue. And we need to divert more people from the criminal justice system into drug courts, into treatment, and recovery. On privacy vs security: MARTIN O’MALLEY: I believe whether it’s a back door or front door, that the American principle of law should still hold that our federal government should have to get a warrant. Whether they want to come through the back door or your front door On Wall Street and big banks: MARTIN O’MALLEY: Look, if a bank robber robs a bank and all you do is slap him on the wrist, he’s just going to rob banks again. The same thing is true with people in suits.
Ann Eubank: Is it time to bring them home?
We the people are very, very angry this election cycle; so much so that our anger is palpable. To quote Howard Beale in the movie “Network,” “We’re mad as Hell and we’re not going to take it anymore.” The rage towards Washington is evident all over the country, and that includes Alabama. We are disgusted with our own representatives being so-called “campaign conservatives” who only care about what we think when it gets close to the time to come home and face the voters. Have we seen any “political blood” shed while fighting for Alabama conservative values from any of the four incumbents facing re-election? I haven’t. They have come home and are spending millions of dollars trying to convince you that they have, but have they really? Thankfully, this time we do have choices and we need to make them count. This election cycle Senator Shelby, Congresswoman Roby, Congressman Aderholt and Congressman Rogers all have challengers. Spend some time researching these challengers, go hear them at a candidate forum, and get to know them. The only way to change the culture in D.C. is to replace those who have done nothing to mitigate the damage that Obama has done to our Country. Can the opponents of these four carry the day on March 1st? It remains to be seen, but it will take each of us going to the polls and voting to make it happen. Will we re-elect “Conservative Shadow-Boxers” who think they are ordained to return to D.C., or will we send a “shot across the bow” of those who think they can continue to ignore the will of the people with no consequences? My definition of insanity: To continue sending the same people to Washington (and Montgomery) and expecting a different outcome. Your Choice! — Ann Eubank is the statewide co-chair of Rainy Day Patriots, and the legislative chair of the Alabama Legislative Watchdogs. Ann is a frequent visitor of the Statehouse and has bridged the gap between strong advocate and respected resource for members. She is also a member of the Alabamians United for Excellence in Education Taskforce and several other Stop Common Core groups.
New report alleges discrimination by companies seeking temp workers
A new report from Reveal, a news media project affiliated with the left-leaning Center for Investigative Reporting, details pressure placed on an Alabama-based temp agency to discriminate against black workers looking for job placement at the hands of some employers. The new report claims widespread discrimination by employers seeking to hire only white, or sometimes Latino, workers through Automation Personnel Service, based in Clanton, AL. The discriminatory activity was often done discreetly using code words, but other times in rather blunt terms. One manager at a Georgia manufacturing plant asked the firm not to send him “any black thugs.” “I don’t think it’s a good idea to send him,” one recruiter remembered an employer advising. “They prefer somebody, you know, who’s white.” The report interviewed several former temp recruiters and customer service managers who said racist hiring policies were endemic during their time serving industrial, administrative, and agricultural companies around the south. The former employees said race-based discrimination gave rise to a colorful menagerie of terms employers would use to express their preference for Caucasian workers, including “blue eyes,” “vanilla cupcakes,” “hockey players” or someone “like you and me.” “Another agency owner in Alabama was accused of running her finger along her own white cheek to indicate a preference for whites,” writer Will Evans reported. Such discrimination, if true, raises a major problem for non-whites in the workplace. Temp workers have tripled since 1990 and grown tremendously since the most recent economic downtown. “Researchers and government officials say hiring discrimination is a particular problem in the industry. Temp agencies face financial pressure to please their customers. Employers sometimes think they can get away with it if a temp agency does the dirty work for them,” the report reads. “Temp workers, replaceable on a whim, are especially vulnerable. And with multiple companies intertwined, it’s hard to prove claims of discrimination.” The Center for Investigative Journalism published their report in AL.com, among other outlets. Conservative media watchdog groups like the pro-business Media Research Center maintain their coverage is influenced by contributions from hedge fund billionaire George Soros and other liberal donors.
49 years after Lurleen Wallace admin, Jim Zeigler again decries Capitol portrait removal
This month marks the 50th anniversary of the inauguration of Alabama’s first and only female governor, Gov. Lurleen Wallace, the wife of her predecessor and notorious fellow Gov. George Wallace. State Auditor Jim Zeigler continued his criticisms of the administration of Gov. Robert Bentley, who removed both Wallaces’ portraits from the Capitol rotunda in Montgomery in a move the auditor calls a move to re-write Alabama’s history. “One year ago, the Bentley administration removed her portrait from the capitol rotunda, where it historically and legally was supposed to remain,” said Zeigler. “One of my regrets in my one year as state auditor is that they declined my two requests — and requests by many citizens — to restore her portrait to its lawful place.” The portrait issue is one of many where Zeigler and the governor have had disagreements, including taxes, state parks, and other more personal conflicts. Last month Zeigler accused Bentley of basing his decision to revamp the abandoned gubernatorial residence in Gulf Shores on his personal desire for a new place to stay on the Gulf coast after Bentley lost his own house there in a public divorce with his longtime wife Dianne Bentley. “It will likely take a new governor in 2018 to right this wrong and stop this historical revision,” remarked Zeigler, who also took Bentley to task for removing items bearing the Confederate flag from the Capitol gift shop. “Sadly, Gov. Lurleen Wallace’s 50th anniversary will pass next year with Bentley still as governor and the Lurleen portrait still banished from the rotunda.” Zeigler’s interest in the portrait issue aroused the attention of left-leaning anti-racism group Southern Poverty Law Center after he addressed in a speech to the neo-Confederate League of the South. “It’s quite unfortunate that a public official would lend legitimacy to a hate group by appearing at one of its functions. And believe me, the League of the South is about hate, not heritage,” Southern Poverty Law Center President Richard Cohen said. Zeigler contested that criticism, saying the SPLC doesn’t know a hate group when they see it. “They were interested in my fight to return the portraits of Governors George and Lurleen Wallace to their legal and historical place in the capital building, and that is a legitimate issue that has nothing to do with hate,” Zeigler recently told reporters. The administration of Lurleen Wallace was largely seen as an extension of her termed-out husband, who served as her “one dollar a year adviser,” strongly influencing her actions as head of the state’s executive branch.
Jeb Bush calls for “complete overhaul” of system in education plan
Jeb Bush is calling for a complete overhaul of the nation’s education system in a plan that focuses heavily on school choice. In a post on Medium, Bush unveiled a wide-sweeping education plan that increases support for charter schools and makes federal aid to low-income and special needs students portable. The proposal also gives high school graduates a $50,000 line of credit to help pay for college and would make the federal debt collection system more transparent. “Every individual in this country has the right to rise. Yet today, the American Dream — the idea that anything is possible through hard work — is threatened by an education system failing to prepare the next generation of children for success,” wrote Bush. “Too many low-income students start kindergarten already years behind their more affluent counterparts. Only one-third of students graduate high school prepared for college or a good career. And our higher education system has become too expensive for many Americans to afford.” Bush released his education proposal on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and he invoked the civil rights leader in his post. Bush said he believes “that ensuring every individual has access to a quality education is the great civil rights challenge of our time.” NEW VIDEO: Ensuring every child has access to a quality education is the great civil rights challenge of our time. https://t.co/v7CrBH18yl — Jeb Bush (@JebBush) Jan. 18, 2016 The plan focuses on both K-12 and higher education, and Bush said his plan is “budget neutral and returns power to the states, local school districts and parents.” The proposal would allow 529 college savings accounts to be converted into an education savings account. Those accounts would then allow families to save tax-free for education, including pre-kindergarten, elementary school, college, and job training. Bush has been heavily involved in education since leaving office in 2008. He founded the Foundation for Excellence in Education, which has pushed for education reforms in Florida and across the country. The release of Bush’s education plan comes two weeks before the Iowa caucuses and three weeks before the New Hampshire primary.
Disaster assistance approved for 4 flood-ravaged counties
The Alabama counties of Coffee, Jefferson, Montgomery, and Morgan have been approved for Small Business Administration (SBA) loan assistance, after days of tornadoes and floods severely damaged property and commercial infrastructure there. Three people reportedly died as intense storms flooded much of the state last month when about 14.2 inches of rain fell in some areas. They included one Coffee County man who drowned amid the deluge. Gov. Robert Bentley‘s office announced the federal assistance over the weekend. “Cleanup continues in many communities, and assistance from the SBA will go a long way in helping our communities recover from the tornadoes and flooding experienced in December,” said Bentley, who is usually averse to intervention from Washington. “There is help available for homeowners, businesses and nonprofit organizations that suffered damage from the storms. From the time the storms and flooding hit our state, to seeking today’s disaster declaration from the SBA, we have been working with affected communities and connecting them with resources available,” Bentley said. Aside from the four primary disaster areas listed above, the following counties contiguous with those counties are also eligible for some help: Autauga, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Covington, Crenshaw, Cullman, Dale, Elmore, Geneva, Lawrence, Limestone, Lowndes, Macon, Madison, Marshall, Pike, Shelby, St. Clair, Tuscaloosa, and Walker. According to the governor, the assistance comes in the following forms: Home Disaster Loans: Renters and homeowners alike may borrow up to $40,000 to repair or replace clothing, furniture, cars, appliances, etc., damaged or destroyed in the storms. Homeowners may apply for up to $200,000 to repair or replace their primary residence to its pre-disaster condition. Business Physical Disaster Loans: Loans of up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged property owned by the business, including real estate, inventories, supplies, machinery and equipment. Businesses of any size are eligible. Private, nonprofit organizations such as charities, churches, private universities, etc., are also eligible. Economic Injury Disaster Loans: If a small business or private, nonprofit organization has suffered economic injury, regardless of physical damage, and is located in an SBA-declared disaster area, they may be eligible for financial assistance of up to $2 million from the U.S. Small Business Administration. “We appreciate the Small Business Administration for working quickly to approve Governor Bentley’s request,” Alabama EMA Director Art Faulkner said. “AEMA will continue to work with citizens and local elected officials to identify resources that may be available.”
