Two Alabama Congressional Districts rank among highest opioid prescription rates in U.S.
According to a recent study conducted by Harvard University, two Alabama Congressional Districts rank among the top five districts with the highest opioid prescription rates in the U.S. Alabama’s 4th Congressional District has the highest prescription rate in the country. Whereas Alabama’s 1st Congressional District has the 5th highest rate. In the 4th District, an astounding 166 prescriptions were written per 100 people. According to the study, that’s more than two times the national average. Meanwhile in the 1st District, 131 were written per 100 residents. “It is deeply saddening to learn that the 4th Congressional District has such a high opioid prescription rate. I think this crisis, particularly in rural America, corresponds directly to President Trump’s popularity in my district,” said U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt who represents the 4th Congressional District. “People here have felt left behind and have seen their jobs and opportunities disappear. Due to the epidemic of depression, some people have turned to prescription drugs to dull the pain. However, I believe that President Trump’s renewed focus on these areas and increasing jobs has resonated here strongly.” “My colleagues in Congress and I have been working toward that end,” added Aderholt. “In the FY18 funding bill signed into law in March, Congress included $4 billion to directly combat the opioid crisis. This is the largest amount of money ever to address prevention, treatment, and enforcement issues. $130 million was set aside for the Rural Communities Opioid Response program, to reach rural communities that have been hit especially hard by the opioid crisis. And another billion in grants to states and Indian tribes to be used at the local level to target this epidemic. We are currently working on the funding for FY19 and I am confident that we will continue strong funding for these programs. Congressional Districts with highest opioid prescription rates, 2016:
Donald Trump plans emergency aid to farmers affected by his tariffs
The U.S. readied a plan Tuesday to send billions in emergency aid to farmers who have been hurt by President Donald Trump’s trade disputes with China and other American trading partners. The Agriculture Department was expected to announce the proposal that would include direct assistance and other temporary relief for farmers, according to two people briefed on the plan, who were not authorized to speak on the record. The plan comes as Trump speaks at the Veterans of Foreign Wars national convention in Kansas City in the heart of the nation’s farm country. Trump declared earlier Tuesday that “Tariffs are the greatest!” and threatened to impose additional penalties on U.S. trading partners as he prepared for negotiations with European officials at the White House. Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., said the funding may need to be approved by Congress and the aid would be temporary. “The administration is trying to negotiate better trade deals,” he said. “In the near term is there some relief we can look at? Well, we’ll see.” But the plan magnified objections among many Republicans that the tariffs amount to taxes on American consumers. House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin said lawmakers are making the case to Trump that tariffs are “not the way to go.” Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., said the plan would spend billions on “gold crutches.” “America’s farmers don’t want to be paid to lose — they want to win by feeding the world,” he said. “This administration’s tariffs and bailouts aren’t going to make America great again, they’re just going to make it 1929 again.” The Trump administration has slapped tariffs on $34 billion in Chinese goods in a dispute over Beijing’s high-tech industrial policies. China has retaliated with duties on soybeans and pork, affecting Midwest farmers in a region of the country that supported the president in his 2016 campaign. Trump has threatened to place penalty taxes on up to $500 billion in products imported from China, a move that would dramatically ratchet up the stakes in the trade dispute involving the globe’s biggest economies. Before departing for Kansas City, Trump tweeted that U.S. trade partners need to either negotiate a “fair deal, or it gets hit with Tariffs. It’s as simple as that.” The president has engaged in hard-line trading negotiations with China, Canada and European nations, seeking to renegotiate agreements he says have undermined the nation’s manufacturing base and led to a wave of job losses in recent decades. The imposition of punishing tariffs on imported goods has been a favored tactic by Trump, but it has prompted U.S. partners to retaliate, creating risks for the economy. Trump has placed tariffs on imported steel and aluminum, saying they pose a threat to U.S. national security, an argument that allies such as the European Union and Canada reject. He has also threatened to slap tariffs on imported cars, trucks and auto parts, potentially targeting imports that last year totaled $335 billion. During a Monday event at the White House featuring American-made goods, Trump displayed a green hat that read, “Make Our Farmers Great Again.” The president is meeting with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on Wednesday. The U.S. and European allies have been at odds over the president’s tariffs on steel imports and are meeting as the trade dispute threatens to spread to automobile production. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Richard Shelby: Senate takes another step toward regular order in Appropriations process
Alabama’s senior U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations and its Subcommittee on Defense, on Tuesday delivered remarks on the Senate floor regarding the consideration of H.R. 6147. This bill packages four Fiscal Year 2019 appropriations measures, including Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies; Financial Services and General Government; Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies; and Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies. All four of the bills were passed by the full committee with unanimous support. “I am proud that the Senate is taking another step toward regular order in the appropriations process,” said Shelby. “It is evident that appropriators on both sides of the aisle have embraced a willingness to sacrifice partisan riders for the good of the process. I encourage my colleagues to sustain the momentum we have generated and support this bill.” This legislation comes on the heels of last month’s passage of H.R. 5895, a minibus including three FY2019 appropriations bills, which passed the Senate with the overwhelming support of 86-5. All 12 of the Senate’s FY2019 appropriations measures were passed out of the committee by wide bipartisan margins and were approved by a cumulative committee vote of 363-9. Watch Shelby’s floor speech below: Shelby’s full remarks, as prepared, are as follows: Thank you, Madam President. Madam President, this week the Senate takes another step toward regular order in the appropriations process. The package before the Senate contains the fiscal year 2019 appropriations bills for the Subcommittees on Interior; Financial Services; Agriculture; and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development. Madam President, we have not debated an Interior appropriations bill on the floor of the United States Senate in nearly a decade. The Financial Services appropriations bill has not seen floor action in several years either. Why, Madam President? Because year after year party-line votes in committee represented the end of the line in the legislative process. Yet here we are today, debating both of these appropriations bills and more on the Senate floor. So what changed, Madam President? What changed was the mindset of appropriators on both sides of the aisle who embraced a willingness to sacrifice partisan riders and priorities outside the committee’s jurisdiction for the good of the process. Together we committed to do what’s good for the process because we want to do what’s right by the American people. This approach has yielded meaningful results thus far. The Interior and Financial Services bills in this package both won the unanimous approval of the Appropriations Committee. Unanimous, Madam President. We haven’t seen that level of support for these bills in quite some time around here. The Agriculture and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development bills also garnered the unanimous support of the Appropriations Committee. I want to commend the chairmen of these subcommittees – Senators Murkowski, Collins, Hoeven, and Lankford – for their leadership in this process. They have worked cooperatively with their Democratic counterparts and produced strong, bipartisan bills. This broad bipartisan support paved the way for the full Senate’s consideration of these bills, and I want to thank Leaders McConnell and Schumer for agreeing to bring this package to the floor. As we begin debate this week, we can leverage our recent success in passing appropriations bills. Just last month, the Senate passed a package of three fiscal year 2019 appropriations bills with overwhelming support. This support was facilitated by an open amendment process and a willingness to work together to address legitimate member concerns. As a result, the process was both open and disciplined. More importantly, it was successful, passing by a vote of 86 – 5. The bill managers on both sides of the aisle will seek to replicate this process and success with the package now before the Senate. We ask the continued cooperation of all senators in this effort. Critical mass, Madam President; that’s what we’re building here in the Senate. Critical mass for a return to regular order in the appropriations process. By completing our work in a deliberate and timely manner on this package, we can turn next to the Defense and Labor-HHS-Education package. While completion of our work on the current package would mean that we have passed more than half of the 2019 appropriations bills, the lion’s share of discretionary spending is contained in the Defense and Labor-HHS bills. Very important to all of us here – very important to our constituents and very important to our country, Madam President. So again, Madam President, I encourage our colleagues to participate in this process and help sustain the momentum we’ve generated. We have a lot of work to do, but we are making real progress. I hope my colleagues find this encouraging, Madam President; I certainly do. And with that I yield the floor.
House District 102 winner to be announced today
Out of the over 20 runoff races statewide only a few resulted in a margin just too close to call, one of those races; Mobile County’s House District 102. The two candidates; Satsuma Police Chief Shane Stringer and The Call News Publisher and owner Willie Gray were neck-and-neck receiving a total of 5,103 votes, with Stringer garnering only 25 more votes than Gray. However, the outcome of the race remains to be seen due to provisional ballots in the county that haven’t been counted. According to a news release from the Probate Court in Mobile county, there were 154 provisional ballots in Mobile County cast last week, with 58 in House District 102. The probate court was still counting the votes Tuesday afternoon. Whichever candidate is claimed the winner Tuesday will automatically win in the November General Election, as there is no Democratic opponent for the House seat. Both candidates expressed their gratitude for voters, volunteers and their continuing wishes on their campaigns Facebook pages. “We are humbled by the overwhelming support from our friends, family, and all of the Stringer supporters,” Stringer wrote. “Words cannot fully express the amount of gratitude that we have for the love that you all have poured into our lives.” “Please be in prayer today as we head to Probate Court and get the provisional vote count. We will send out an update as soon as we can,” Gray posted on Facebook. “Thank you all so much for your support and trust in this campaign. We know whatever happens it’s God’s will! God Bless District 102 and God Bless Alabama!”
New investment fuels aerospace job growth across Alabama
Momentum continues to build in Alabama’s aerospace industry, which is adding new investments and hundreds of jobs to produce innovative, in-demand products in communities across the state. In 2017 alone, there were announcements totaling nearly $690 million and 1,750 jobs. Those numbers increased the sector’s cumulative investment over the past seven years to almost $2.4 billion, along with 8,348 aerospace and defense jobs during the same time period. This year, there’s a hiring surge, as the plans become reality. And more jobs are on the way. At last week’s Farnborough International Airshow, defense contractor BAE Systems and Carpenter Technology Corp., a maker of premium metals and alloys used in the aerospace industry, announced expansions of their Alabama operations. Together, these projects will create more than 250 jobs in north Alabama. Meanwhile, growth plans are already in place for aerospace companies operating across the state. Airbus’ Alabama factory, for instance, is in linefor 600 new jobs, thanks to a planned second assembly line for the Bombardier C Series jetliner (renamed the A220), as well as a potential increase in the production of A320 Family aircraft. GE Aviation plans to double its 90-member Huntsville workforce in the coming year and increase to 300 when the new factory complex for silicon carbide materials reaches full production. The company is also adding workers at its Auburn facility, which mass produces a jet engine fuel nozzle using additive manufacturing, or 3-D printing technologies. Targeting growth Aerospace companies from around the world are seeing that Alabama offers plenty of advantages to help them expand their business, said Greg Canfield, secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce. “From complex military weapons systems to innovative passenger aircraft, and many of the break-through technologies that power them all, Alabama is home to an impressive array of the industry’s leading products,” Canfield said. “How do we do it? In Alabama, we take partnerships very seriously. A company’s strategic vision and expertise, coupled with the skill and dedication of our highly trained workforce, is always a winning combination.” Canfield joined Gov. Kay Ivey and an Alabama team at Farnborough for appointments with executives of 16 aerospace companies, including Airbus, Boeing, Leonardo and GE Aviation. The talks were aimed at bringing home new investment and jobs in the aerospace sector. Aerojet Rocketdyne One of last year’s key announcements was Aerojet Rocketdyne’s $46.5 million, 800-job expansion project in Huntsville. The company is consolidating its Defense division headquarters and Rocket Shop advanced programs to the Rocket City, where it has had a presence for more than 50 years. It has also moved into a new office space at Cummings Research Park and is building a new Advanced Manufacturing Facility that will produce subassemblies and components for the AR1 rocket engine, composite cases for rocket motors, 3-D printed rocket engine components and other parts. James Ramseier, site leader for operations at the Huntsville Advanced Manufacturing Facility, said construction is about 60 percent complete and right on schedule. “We plan on opening that facility in December of 2018, and initially in 2019, we are going to go through product verification. In 2020, we will ramp up to full production,” he said. Ramseier said everyone in Huntsville, from major business groups to individual building inspectors, has been supportive and welcoming. “The culture here is, ‘Let’s all work together to help make you successful,’” he said. “It’s a pleasure working in an environment where people want you to succeed. “You don’t feel like a stranger. As soon as you move here, you’re part of the family.” Aerojet Rocketdyne’s hiring plans are moving forward as well, with support from Alabama’s top worker training agency. “AIDT is fantastic. We’re working with them every week on developing our training plans and material, and they have been outstanding to work with,” Ramseier said. Forging partnerships The company is also impressed with the ties between business and education in the community, said Bill Bigelow, chief of defense communications. “The partnerships here are very attractive to us,” he said. “We’re growing the future workforce, as we grow our presence here in Huntsville, partnering with Alabama A&M University, the University of Alabama in Huntsville and other area educational institutions, as well as the chamber of commerce and the mayor’s office.” Bigelow said the Tennessee Valley is clearly committed to bringing in the types of jobs and training programs that will grow a generational workforce. “The knowledge and the history in all things aerospace, missile-defense and industrial base operations is here, and Aerojet Rocketdyne wants to leverage that community expertise both now and well into the future,” he said. Republished with the permission of the Alabama Newscenter.
Ready to go head-to-head, Walt Maddox formally invites Kay Ivey to debate
In a few months, Alabamians will once again decide who will be their next governor. Their choice lies between Republican, incumbent Gov. Kay Ivey and Democratic-hopeful Walt Maddox. Thus far the two candidates have yet to go head-to-head in a debate, but Maddox would like to change that. On Tuesday, he sent a formal letter to Ivey requesting that she join him a series of gubernatorial debates to give the voters a chance to make a fair decision. “As you know, Alabama is facing many challenges. We can both agree that we owe the people of this state an opportunity to hear directly our specific plans to address these issues and lead our state forward into the future,” Maddox explained in the letter. “Accordingly, I am proposing that you and I agree to participate in four debates covering different topics and conducted in both standard debate and town hall formats.” Maddox proposed two hour debates on the following debate topics, noting the the format, moderator(s), location, times and place be agreed upon by their respective campaigns: Debate One: Education and Economic Development Debate Two: Public Safety, Health Care and Infrastructure Debate Three: Town Hall Meeting in a major Alabama city Debate Four: Town Hall Meeting in a rural Alabama county Ivey’s history of dodging debates In all reality, Ivey’s deflect and dodge strategy shouldn’t be all that surprising as it’s what voters have seen from her in campaign-mode for months now. Ivey drew criticism from her opponents —Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, state Sen. Bill Hightower and evangelist Scott Dawson — throughout the Republican primary process where they called on her to show up, and discuss her ideas. She declined all offers, saying that as the current-Governor her schedule was too full to fulfill their requests. Maddox, the Tuscaloosa-mayor who handily won the Democratic nomination, hoped things would change following the June 5 primaries, when he first invited her to debate via a text message. He said he believed Alabama voters deserve to hear from both candidates on how they plan to address the state’s problems in health care, education and infrastructure. At the time, Ivey’s campaign spokeswoman Debbee Hancock responded, ‘There will be plenty of time for these discussions and decisions’ in the months ahead.” Now, Maddox is holding Ivey that response, “I am confident that with more than three months remaining, and with so much at stake, we will make this happen for the people of Alabama.” Maddox and Ivey face-off Nov 6 in the general election. It remains to be seen wether or not she will ignore Maddox’s persistent calls to action. View the letter below:
Kayla Freeman makes history as first black female pilot in Alabama National Guard
Kayla Freeman wasn’t looking to make history when she decided to pursue a career with the Alabama National Guard, but that’s exactly what she did. Freeman’s graduation on Saturday from Tuskegee University where she was enrolled in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, made her the first African-American female in Alabama’s National Guard history to earn her wings and become a pilot. “I just wanted to do the best that I could do and hopefully inspire a few people along the way,” she told the U.S. Army. “You can’t let mistakes and setbacks keep you down. Learn from them and continue moving forward. Most importantly keep God first and He will direct your path.” Having graduated, Freeman’s is currently employed as an aerospace engineer at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Ala. as her civilian job, but is now at Fort Hood, Texas; preparing to deploy to the Middle East as a platoon leader in the Alabama National Guard’s 1-169th Aviation Battalion, according to the Associated Press. She was pinned on Saturday by Col. Christine “Nickey” Knighton, a Georgia native and fellow history maker. Knighton, who made history on several different fronts was the first woman to command a tactical combat arms battalion in the U.S. Army, the first woman from Georgia to complete flight training at Fort Rucker, and the second African-American woman in U.S. military history to earn her wings at Fort Rucker. “Col. Knighton has been an inspiration to me since college” Freeman told the U.S. Army. “I felt that it was only right to have her pin me.” Another female history maker — Alabama’s Major General Sheryl Gordon commended Freeman for her achievements. “We take the ideals of equal opportunity very seriously,” Gordon told Tuskegee University, “and we’re extremely proud of 2nd Lt. Freeman’s achievements. She is further proof that we don’t see race or gender in the Alabama Guard — we see Soldiers and Airmen and their potential.” “She has worked very hard to earn those wings, and that’s a great example for all of us,” Gordon continued.
Senate confirms Robert Wilkie for Veterans Affairs secretary
The Senate on Monday confirmed Pentagon official Robert Wilkie to be secretary of Veterans Affairs, charged with delivering on President Donald Trump’s campaign promises to fire bad VA employees and steer more patients to the private sector. Wilkie won approval on a bipartisan vote of 86-9, securing the backing of many Democrats after insisting at his confirmation hearing that he will not privatize the government’s second-largest department. It was a moment of respite from the sharp political divisions engulfing Trump’s other nominees in the final months before congressional midterm elections. Wilkie is Trump’s third pick for the job in 18 months. The longtime public official says he will “shake up complacency” at VA, which has struggled with long waits in providing medical treatment to millions of veterans. In a statement released by the White House, Trump applauded the confirmation vote and said he looked forward to Wilkie’s leadership. “I have no doubt that the Department of Veterans Affairs will continue to make strides in honoring and protecting the heroic men and women who have served our nation with distinction,” he said. Trump selected Wilkie for the post in May after firing his first VA secretary, David Shulkin, amid ethics charges and internal rebellion at the department over the role of private care for veterans. Trump’s initial replacement choice, White House doctor Ronny Jackson, withdrew after allegations of workplace misconduct surfaced. Wilkie, a former assistant secretary of defense under President George W. Bush, has received mostly positive reviews from veterans’ groups for his management experience, but the extent of his willingness to expand private care as an alternative to government-run VA care remains largely unknown. Trump last year pledged he would triple the number of veterans “seeing the doctor of their choice.” Currently more than 30 percent of VA appointments are made in the private sector. Under repeated questioning at his hearing, the Air Force and Navy veteran said he opposed privatizing the agency of 360,000 employees and would make sure VA health care is “fully funded.” When pressed by Sen. Jon Tester, the top Democrat on the panel, if he would be willing to disagree with Trump, Wilkie responded “yes.” “I have been privileged to work for some of the most high-powered people in this town,” said Wilkie, currently a Pentagon undersecretary for Defense Secretary Jim Mattis. “They pay me for their opinions, and I give those to them.” Wilkie’s main task in the coming months will be carrying out a newly signed law to ease access to private health providers. That law gives the VA secretary wide authority to decide when veterans can bypass the VA, based on whether they receive “quality” care, but the program could face escalating costs. Some Democrats have warned the VA won’t be able to handle a growing price tag, putting it at risk of budget shortfalls next year. Major veterans’ groups want full funding for core VA medical centers, which they see as best-suited to veterans’ specialized needs such as treatment for post-traumatic stress. As VA secretary, Wilkie also will have more power under a new accountability law to fire VA employees. Lawmakers from both parties have recently raised questions about the law’s implementation, including how whistleblower complaints are handled and whether the law is being disproportionately used against rank-and-file employees rather than senior managers who set policy. “The tone has been set by President Trump on the direction of VA reforms,” said Dan Caldwell, executive director of the conservative Concerned Veterans for America. “There have been a tremendous number of bills passed in the last year and half, and all will require a lot of work to make sure they are properly implemented.” Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson of Georgia, chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, praised Wilkie as “eminently qualified,” saying he will “bring stability and leadership” to VA. Wilkie served as acting VA secretary after Shulkin’s firing in March, before returning to his role as Pentagon undersecretary. He will replace current acting VA secretary Peter O’Rourke, who clashed with the VA inspector general after refusing to release documents relating to VA whistleblower complaints and casting the independent watchdog as an underling who must “act accordingly.” Under pressure from Congress, the VA agreed last week to provide documents to the IG. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Bradley Byrne to hold 12 Town Hall meetings in August
Never one to shy away from his constituents, Alabama 1st District U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne has announced he will host 12 Town Hall meetings throughout the month of August. Known as the “Better Off Now” Town Hall Tour, Byrne will hold public town halls in each of the six counties that make up Alabama’s 1st Congressional District. There, he will discuss how he believes the American people are better off now thanks to a booming economy, stronger military, and safer communities. “You may remember two years ago when House Republicans unveiled our ‘Better Way’ agenda that focused on everything from fixing the tax code to growing our military to cutting government regulations. Well, thanks to the help of President Trump, we have successfully implemented much of that agenda, and it is safe to say the American people are ‘Better Off Now.’” Byrne said in a constituent newsletter announcing the upcoming tour. Below is a list of Byrne’s upcoming Town Hall meetings; Salipta Monday, July 30th at 3:00 p.m. CT Salipta Fire Department (145 River Crest Road; Jackson, Ala.) Atmore Tuesday, July 31st at 2:00 p.m. CT Atmore City Hall (201 East Louisville Avenue; Atmore, Ala.) Brewton Tuesday, July 31st at 4:00 p.m. CT Brewton City Hall (1010A Douglas Avenue; Brewton, Ala.) Dauphin Island Wednesday, August 1st at 10:00 a.m. CT Dauphin Island Town Hall (1101 Bienville Boulevard; Dauphin Island, Ala.) Millry Thursday, August 2nd at 1:00 p.m. CT Millry Town Hall (105 2nd Avenue; Millry, Ala.) Citronelle Thursday, August 2nd at 3:00 p.m. CT Citronelle High School (8200 Lebaron Avenue; Citronelle, Ala.) Mobile (sponsored by the Association for Mature American Citizens) Wednesday, August 8th at 2:00 pm. CT Connie Hudson Mobile Regional Senior Center (3201 Hillcrest Road; Mobile, Ala.) Grand Bay Monday, August 20th at 3:00 p.m. CT Grand Bay-St. Elmo Community Center (11610 US-90; Grand Bay, Ala.) Monroeville Tuesday, August 21st at 3:00 p.m. CT Old Monroe County Courthouse (31 North Alabama Avenue; Monroeville, Ala.) Seminole Wednesday, August 22nd at 1:30 p.m. CT Three Rivers Church (31841 U.S. Highway 90; Seminole, Ala.) Loxley Wednesday, August 22nd at 3:30 p.m. CT Loxley Town Hall (1089 North Hickory Street; Loxley, Ala.) Spanish Fort Wednesday, August 22nd at 5:30 p.m. CT Spanish Fort City Hall (7361 Spanish Fort Boulevard; Spanish Fort, Ala.) All the town hall meetings are open to the public and free to attend. All the information can be found online at Byrne.House.Gov/BetterOffTour. Byrne ranks among the top of all Members of Congress for the number of town hall meetings held. Since assuming office in late 2013, Byrne has held over 100 town hall meetings, including meetings over the phone and through Facebook. “I am committed to being the most accessible Congressman possible, and town hall meetings are an excellent way for me to hear directly from the people I represent. I encourage you to spread the word with your friends, family, and neighbors and invite you to attend one of the free, public town hall meetings!” Byrne added in the newsletter.
