Bradley Byrne gives farewell speech to House of Representatives
Congressman Bradley Byrne (R-AL) gave his farewell speech on the floor of the House of Representatives. Byrne spoke of his hope and optimism for the direction of our nation, what the American people have said in recent elections and his thankfulness for the people of Southwest Alabama and other friends and supporters. Some highlights from his speech are below. Congressman Byrne said: “There are people on both sides of the House who want to say this country is in a bad place and headed in the wrong direction. I believe that view ignores two very important things. One is our history, and the other is what I hear the people of America telling us… I think if the people of America knew their history better, they would be more hopeful; they would be more optimistic… “Division in our country is the greatest internal threat we’ve got, and I will tell you, Mr. Speaker, it’s the greatest threat of all, because there is nothing that this great nation can’t accomplish when we are united, when we are e pluribus unum, one out of many. That is who America is, that’s who the American people want us to be, and that’s the great challenge before this House. “I want to thank my long-suffering family. They loved me, and they supported me, even when I wasn’t so lovable, and even when it wasn’t so easy to support me. I could not have done it without them.” Byrne’s service in the House of Representatives will end at the conclusion of the 117th Congress on January 3, 2021.
Martha Roby: Final remarks on the House floor
U.S. Representative Martha Roby (R-AL) on Tuesday gave her final speech on the floor of the House of Representatives to commemorate her time in Congress and service to Alabama’s Second Congressional District: “Mr. Speaker, I rise before you and my colleagues here today to speak for my final time on the House floor. “Seventeen years ago, my husband, Riley, and I prayerfully decided I would put my name on the ballot for the first time. Never could we have imagined the original decision to run for the Montgomery City Council would lead us to serve five terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. We are so grateful that God allowed us to serve our country in this way, and we give all honor and glory to Him. “I count it a great privilege to have served the people of Alabama’s Second Congressional District over the past decade, and I cannot adequately express how deeply thankful I am for the confidence my constituents have placed in me over the years. “Each of you sitting here before me knows the responsibility that comes along with being a Member of Congress. Yes, we are required to vote and to be the conscience of those we represent, but serving our constituents back home truly changes lives and our communities for the better. “As I look back on the wonderful things Team Roby was able to accomplish, along with the help of my colleagues in the Alabama delegation, I realize that our most significant duty is to help those who need us. “Whether it is requesting assistance with the VA or another federal agency, assisting with clean up following a large-scale weather event, voicing an opinion, or booking tours of the U.S. Capitol, my doors have always remained open to each person I represent. “I am thankful for the unique opportunities given to me by those who came before me, especially the chance to serve on several impactful committees including Appropriations, Judiciary, Agriculture, Armed Services, Education and the Workforce, and the Select Committee on Benghazi. Much work has been done in each of these revered committees to impact the lives of my constituents, and for that I am forever grateful. “I have been asked many times over the past few months what I will miss the most upon my departure, and my answer has remained the same – the relationships. The genuine friendships formed with my colleagues, my constituents, and so many others over the years and interacting with these individuals on a daily basis is what I will truly miss most. “For many, this past year was and continues to be very challenging. We have all experienced plenty of unfamiliar hardships. Not only has a global health pandemic taken center stage, but America is marked by intense division and polarization. Every time you turn on the television, you see a depiction of disunity among the American people. I imagine many Americans struggle to believe that friendship can actually exist within the halls of Congress. “It is incumbent upon us, Members of Congress, to join forces and work together to get things done for the good of the American people. When we reach across the aisle and work with the other side to arrive at a compromise for the benefit of those we serve, we are truly at our best. “I believe the American people are starving to see bipartisanship in action, especially during this time of much suffering and uncertainty. People want to know their leaders are working together for the common good and not just shouting each other down. “My greatest hope and prayer moving forward is that all Members of Congress – new and old, regardless of party identification, beliefs, or opinions – will come together and work toward a common goal to deliver real results for the American people. I have faith in this institution, and I have faith in each of you. “Now, I want to especially thank the people of the Second District. It is your faith and trust in me as your representative that helped me every step of the way. I am honored to have been given this incredibly unique opportunity, and I thank you for letting me be your voice in Congress. “Together, we have been able to deliver some incredible results for our military, veterans, agricultural community, and the unborn. While we made much progress together, the fight is not finished. “I want to thank my congressional colleagues for your kindness and friendship throughout the years. Not too far into my time in Congress, I woke up realizing the people I served with had become some of my very best friends. I am confident these relationships will continue. I will certainly miss our time spent together, having conversations about our families and encouraging one another. “I want to thank my incredible staff, all former and present members of Team Roby for your hard work on behalf of the people of Alabama and our country. I know all Members say this, but I truly believe I have the greatest staff in the world. I would never be able to execute this job without the dedication and support of my staff. They have worked tirelessly to serve the people of the Second District. We have a special saying on our team, “once Team Roby, always Team Roby.” “And lastly, I want to thank my husband, Riley, and our two children, Margaret and George, my parents, the Robys, and our entire village for supporting our decision to serve our country. Your steadfast love and constant support have carried us through the easy and the hard times, and I love each of you dearly. “On behalf of Riley, Margaret, George, and myself, we sincerely thank all those who made our service to our country and the great State of Alabama possible and those who offered their services along the way. “Thank you, and for the very last time, I yield back.” [Download broadcast-quality footage of Representative Roby’s remarks.]
U.S. panel endorses widespread use of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine
A U.S. government advisory panel endorsed widespread use of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine Thursday, putting the country just one step away from launching an epic vaccination campaign against the outbreak that has killed close to 300,000 Americans. Shots could begin within days, depending on how quickly the Food and Drug Administration signs off, as expected, on the expert committee’s recommendation. In a 17-4 vote with one abstention, the government advisers concluded that the vaccine from Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech appears safe and effective for emergency use in adults and teenagers 16 and older. That endorsement came despite questions about allergic reactions in two people who received the vaccine earlier this week when Britain became the first country to begin dispensing the Pfizer-BioNTech shot. Despite all the remaining unknowns, in an emergency, “the question is whether you know enough,” said panel member Dr. Paul Offit of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, who concluded that the shot’s potential benefits outweigh its risks. The independent review by non-government experts in vaccine development, infectious diseases, and medical statistics was considered critical to boosting Americans’ confidence in the safety of the shot, which was developed at breakneck speed less than a year after the virus was identified. The decision came as COVID-19 cases surge to ever-higher levels across the U.S., with deaths hitting an all-time, one-day high of more than 3,100 on Wednesday. Pfizer has said it will have about 25 million doses of the two-shot vaccine for the U.S. by the end of December. But initial supplies will be limited and reserved primarily for health care workers and nursing home residents, with other vulnerable groups next in line until the shots become widely available on-demand, something that will probably not happen until the spring. Experts estimate at least 70% of the U.S. population will have to be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity, the point at which the virus can be held in check. That means it could be several months before things start getting back to normal and Americans can put away their masks. The FDA next week will review a second vaccine, from Moderna and the National Institutes of Health, that appears about as protective as Pfizer-BioNTech’s shot. A third candidate, from Johnson & Johnson, which would require just one dose, is working its way through the pipeline. Behind that is a candidate from AstraZeneca and Oxford University All eyes now turn to the FDA staff scientists who will make the final decision on whether to greenlight use of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Regulators not only in Britain but in Canada have already approved it for use in their countries, and President Donald Trump and White House officials have complained for weeks about the pace of FDA’s careful review. FDA’s vaccine director Dr. Peter Marks said ahead of the expert meeting that a decision would come within “days to a week.” “Americans want us to do a scientific review, but I think they also want us to make sure we’re not wasting time on paperwork as opposed to going forward with the decision,” FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn said before the meeting. A positive vote for the vaccine was virtually assured after FDA scientists issued a glowing review of the vaccine earlier in the week. Agency staffers said data from Pfizer’s ongoing study of 44,000 people showed strong protection across different age groups, races, and health conditions with no major, unexpected safety problems. The Pfizer-BioNTech shot remains experimental because that final-stage study isn’t complete. As a result, the expert panel wrestled with a list of questions that have yet to be answered. For example, while the vaccine is more than 90% effective in blocking the symptoms of COVID-19, the FDA’s advisers stressed it is not yet clear if it can stop the silent, symptomless spread that accounts for up to half of cases. “Even though the individual efficacy of this vaccine is very, very, very high, you really as of right now do not have any evidence” that it will lower transmission, said Dr. Patrick Moore of the University of Pittsburgh. He urged Pfizer to take additional steps to answer that question. And the advisers are worried that Pfizer will lose its opportunity to answer critical questions as it begins offering the real vaccine to study participants who had been getting dummy shots. The company proposed gradually moving those patients to the vaccine group, with priority based on age, health conditions, and other factors. Under that plan, 70-year-old participants would cross over before healthy 30-year-olds. Pfizer must still show whether the vaccine works in children younger than 16 and in pregnant women. On the safety front, as widespread vaccinations begin, the first recipients will be closely tracked by government health authorities since studies in tens of thousands of people can’t detect rare risks that strike 1 in a million. Hanging over the meeting were the British allergic reactions and a warning from authorities there that people with a history of serious reactions shouldn’t get the vaccine for now. Pfizer representatives said they have seen no signs of allergic reactions in their trial. But some of the FDA advisers fear the British warning will deter millions of Americans with allergies who might benefit from the COVID-19 vaccine from giving it a try and urged additional studies to try to settle the issue. “This issue is not going to die until we have better data,” Offit said. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Sen. Doug Jones calls for bipartisanship in farewell speech
U.S. Sen. Doug Jones of Alabama gave his farewell address on the Senate floor Wednesday, saying it had been an honor to represent his state and urging his colleagues to step away from partisan divisions that stymy progress. “The Senate is capable of great things — if we do them — of bridging divides that society may view as too wide to cross,” Jones said. In 2017, Jones became the first Alabama Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate in a quarter-century. He is leaving the Senate after being defeated by Republican Tommy Tuberville. Jones, who as a U.S. attorney prosecuted the Klansmen who bombed a Birmingham church, is believed to be a leading contender for President-elect Joe Biden’s attorney general. A Democrat in a traditionally red state, Jones said he “had a pretty doggone good idea” from the beginning that his Senate tenure would be limited to three years. He said he may have an affinity for lost causes. “From the church bombing case to a Senate election in Alabama, I fought for those causes because I believe in hope. I believe in redemption. I believe in the possibility,” Jones said. Jones highlighted some of his favorite moments from the past three years, including co-sponsoring the bill to eliminate military widows’ tax. He said he did not shy away from the so-called third-rail issues — thought to be too politically toxic to take on — because “there is no time for caution.” “No one could believe a senator from Alabama actually talked about how we could stop gun violence in a way that made some sense, not from an extreme view on the right or an extreme view on the left,” said Jones, a gun enthusiast who believes in some gun control measures such as universal background checks. He said the topic was important to address even though he knew it could be twisted into a negative campaign ad, “which, by the way, it was.” He urged his colleagues to step away from partisan corners and toward addressing difficult issues. “It’s possible to make affordable quality health care a reality for all Americans. … It’s possible to provide a quality education to every American child,” he said. Bringing high-speed internet access to rural areas, he said, is the modern equivalent of the federal effort in the 1930s to bring electricity to rural communities. Jones said one disappointment of his term was that Congress did not pass law enforcement reform in response to the death of George Floyd. “It is possible for our system of justice to treat all Americans equally, not just talk about it but to do it,” Jones said. Jones drew praise from both Minority Leader Charles Schumer and Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby, a Republican. Schumer likened Jones to Atticus Finch, the hero of “To Kill a Mockingbird.” “Doug spent his time in the Senate, indeed his whole life, embodying the courage that Atticus describes,” Schumer said. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
