Terri Sewell highlights local victories in annual State of the District address
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:
Democratic leadership taps Terri Sewell as Chief Deputy Whip for the 116th Congress
Alabama 7th District U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell will once again work Democratic leadership to help formulate policy and rally support for the Caucus’ legislative priorities on the House Floor. On Thursday, House Majority Whip-Elect James Clyburn announced he selected Sewell to serve as Chief Deputy Whip for the 116th Congress when it convenes in January, a post she has held since 2013. “I am proud to accept the honor of serving as one of Democratic Whip James Clyburn’s Chief Deputy Whips for the 116th Congress,” said Sewell. “I am thrilled to work side-by-side with our Democratic leadership team supporting an agenda focused on good-paying jobs, access to affordable health care, infrastructure investments, and democracy reforms. Working to advance these priorities with our Democratic leadership team and with my colleagues on the Steering and Policy Committee, I believe we can make a real difference for working families in Alabama and across the country in the new year.” Party whips are responsible for mobilizing the party vote on important legislation before they come to the floor to be voted on. The whip also acts as a liaison between the Members and the Caucus, to help build strong support for the Democratic agenda. Clyburn announced ten total representatives who will serve as Chief Deputy Whips in the 116th Congress, including: Rep. John Lewis (GA-05) and Rep. Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) will serve as Senior Chief Deputy Whips. Meanwhile Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23), Rep. G.K. Butterfield (NC-01), Rep. Peter Welch (VT-AL), Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07), Rep. Shelia Jackson Lee (TX-18), Rep. Dan Kildee (MI-05), Rep. Pete Aguilar (CA-31), and Rep. Henry Cuellar (TX-28) will serve as Chief Deputy Whips. “In my campaign for Majority Whip, I promised to involve every segment of our Caucus and empower the next generation of leaders as integral parts of the Whip team,” said Clyburn. “I am very excited for the diverse set of experiences and talents these members and staff will bring to the table.”
Terri Sewell files bill to help low income workers get training
By 2030, as many as 375 million workers — or approximately 14 percent of the global workforce — may need to learn new skills or switch occupational categories as automatization and digitization continues to grow, according to a 2017 report from McKinsey Global Institute. The World Economic Forum speeds up that timeline in their estimates. They say by 2020, more than one-third of the core skill sets of most jobs will be skills that are not considered crucial to today’s workforce But the change of priority skills doesn’t have to equate layoffs and unemployment. At least not if Alabama 7th District U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell has anything to say about it. On Monday, Sewell, along with Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-WA), introduced the Lifelong Learning and Training Account Act, which would create a tax-preferred savings account with a generous government match to assist low and moderate-income workers seeking to retrain or upskill over the course of their careers. “If we want to grow our economy and create better jobs for American families, we have to invest in our nation’s number one asset – our workforce,” said Sewell. “That means providing our workers with opportunities to learn new skills and transition into competitive jobs in a changing economy. The Lifelong Learning and Training Account Act gives working families the tools they need to save for retraining and continuing education over the course of their careers. For workers in Alabama’s 7th District and across the country, today’s bill represents a step forward in our fight for better jobs, better pay, and a better future for our families.” The Lifelong Learning and Training Account Act would give workers a portable, government-matched savings vehicle for lifelong learning so they can continue to work and provide for their families. Contributions to an LLTA by low-to-moderate income workers or their employers are eligible for a dollar-for-dollar federal match of up to $1,000. The federal matching funds are directly deposited into the LLTA immediately after the contribution by the worker or employer. The worker then gets to choose how to use the LLTA funds, which can be applied towards any training that leads to a recognized post-secondary credential. “As our economy continues to change, workers must have access to the opportunities of tomorrow,” asserted DelBene. “Right now, many hardworking Americans don’t have the skillsets to transition into a new job. This legislation will give those folks the tools to retrain and learn new skills so they can keep up with advances in technology and earn a good-paying job. Investing in these workers and helping them further their educations will yield benefits that help middle-class families thrive.” Virginia U.S. Sen. Mark Warner introduced a companion bill. “By 2030, up to one-third of American workers will need to retrain or change jobs to keep up with disruptions due to automation and a changing economy. That means lifelong learning will be the new normal for millions of Americans,” added Warner. “The Lifelong Learning and Training Account Act represents the first major investment towards helping workers pay for the education and training necessary to modernize their skills, and I’m pleased that this important legislation is moving forward in the House of Representatives.”
Terri Sewell to hold Five-Town Hall Tour in counties across 7th District
Not one to shy away from her constituents, Alabama 7th District U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell has announced she will host five town hall meetings in October in 7th Congressional District. On Monday, October 15, and Tuesday, October 16, Sewell will continue her annual “Congress in Your Community” tour — a tour hall tour she hosts every year in each of the 14 counties she represents —by hosting a series of five town halls in five counties: Greene, Hale, Marengo, Choctaw and Clarke. These meetings serve as a catalyst for meaningful dialogue with constituents, allowing Sewell to connect with residents of the 7th Congressional District and address their concerns. Monday October 15 Greene County 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Eutaw City Hall: 116 Main St. Eutaw, Ala. 35462 Hale County 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Moundville Community Activities Center: 39750 Alabama Highway 69 Moundville, Ala. 35474 Tuesday, October 16 Marengo County 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM Theo Ratliff Activity Center: 306 1st Ave. Demopolis, Ala. 36732 Choctaw County 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Choctaw General Hospital: 410 Vanity Fair Ave. Butler, Ala. 36904 Clarke County 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. City of Thomasville Town Hall: 559 W. Front St. N Thomasville, Ala. 36784 The town halls, which are free and open to the public.
On its 53rd anniversary, Terri Sewell says Voting Rights Act must be restored
Monday, August 6, marks the 53rd anniversary of the enactment of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA). The VRA abolished restrictions on black Americans voting in federal, state and local elections. In 2013, key components of the law were removed by the Supreme Court in its Shelby County v. Holder decision. Alabama 7th District U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell on Monday said the the law must be restored. “Today’s anniversary is a reminder that foot soldiers in Alabama and across the country fought, bled, and died for our right to vote,” saidSewell. “Right now, their work is under attack as states across the country pass strict voter ID laws, gerrymander electoral districts, and purge voters from their voter rolls. As we recognize the impact that Shelby County v. Holder has had on our democracy and its damaging effect on voter access, let us recommit to action in the face of voter suppression. We must restore the full protections of the Voting Rights Act to keep our elections free and fair. In June 2017, Sewell sponsored the Voting Rights Advancement Act (VRAA), which seeks to restore full protections to the Voting Rights Act of 1965 following Shelby County v. Holder. To address the Supreme Court’s concerns with the VRA, the VRAA would create a new coverage formula which requires federal oversight of states with repeated voting rights violations in the last 25 years. If passed, 13 states nationwide, including Alabama, would be subject to federal election oversight due to a recent history of voter discrimination. It would also require states with a recent history of voter discrimination to seek approval from the Department of Justice before making any changes to their electoral laws.
Terri Sewell leads effort to address wastewater systems in rural Alabama
Alabama 7th District U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell joined local officials and experts in Lowndes County on Monday to address what she referred to as a “public health crisis” in rural Alabama Black Belt and surrounding counties. For decades, homes in rural communities in the state have not been connected to their local wastewater and sewage systems, causing a myriad of problems for the residents. For some, brackish wastewater fills their yard and the smell of sewage, only increased by the heat, wafts through the air. In poverty-stricken Lowndes County the situation has led to a surge of tropical diseases mostly found in developing countries; hookworm, toxocara, and the perfect breeding grounds for mosquito-borne illnesses, including Zika and West Nile. Experts suggest 60 percent of homes in some parts of rural Alabama drain wastewater without treatment from a septic system.1 Researchers from the University of Alabama estimate that more than 500,000 gallons of raw sewage enter rivers and streams in Alabama’s Black Belt each day. “In most countries in the Western world, it’s assumed governments will one way or another make sure basic facilities like clean running water, sewage, and sanitation are available,” Philip Alston, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, told the Montgomery Advertiser. “What was striking to me in Alabama was the extent to which there’s no sense that a government should be working towards providing basic infrastructure,” Alston continued. “If you happen to live in one of the big cities, you will get access, but if you don’t — and particularly if you live in one of the poor counties like Lowndes — there isn’t any obligation and there are no plans in place.” But Sewell is hoping to change that. On Monday, she called on state departments to stop fining those residents who are living with insufficient and failing water systems; instead asking that they relax the citation practice for a year to give residents time to be identified, and ask for help. “They [the health department] have been been lenient,” Sewell told the Montgomery Advertiser. “But in order to really have people self-identify, you’re going to have to incentivize that.” “These are remote areas; they are 40 miles from nowhere,” Sewell continued. “And it’s not just Lowndes County. It’s rural America. Even in Alabama, the problems are not just in the Black Belt. We can’t fine people. We need to help them.” Sewell met with experts from several fields and local residents to discuss the problem posting a video of her interactions on Facebook, saying that solving the issue “is going to take all of us working together!!” Sewell’s visit come just a few days after The United States Department of Agriculture announced over $4 billion in national agriculture loan funds assigned to fund rural wastewater infrastructure projects. The experts she met with said that one-size-fits-all solutions will not work in Lowndes County, saying a mixture of solutions will be necessary for any real change to occur.
Terri Sewell travels to Texas border to visit detention center
On Thursday, Alabama 7th District U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell traveled to the Texas border where she and other members of Congress toured a border patrol processing center and detention center. The trip, which lasted Through Saturday, July 21, led the group of nine to the Port Isabel Detention Center, an adult detention center, as well as the Brownsville Port of Entry, the initial point of entry and detention for many asylum seekers. “This week’s trip to the border is a chance for lawmakers to see firsthand how President Trump is treating immigrant families seeking shelter” said Sewell. “The United States is a country of immigrants with a proud legacy of protecting families fleeing violence and persecution. She continued, “By tearing children from their parents and by placing them in long-term detention, President Trump has failed that legacy. Dr. King once said that, ‘injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.’ With this week’s tour of the border, Members from across the country are taking a stand against the injustice and abuse committed by the Trump Administration against families seeking shelter in the United States.” Sewell is a cosponsor of the Keep Families Together Act, a bill which would prohibit the Trump Administration from separating immigrant children from their families, except in extraordinary circumstances.
Terri Sewell hosts Thanksgiving week town halls across 7th District
While many members of Congress have shied away from town hall meetings the past few years, Alabama 7th District U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell continues to host a town hall every year in each of the 14 counties she represents. During Thanksgiving week, Sewell will host two days “Congress in Your Community” town hall meetings in four counties: Choctaw, Clarke, Marengo, and Perry Counties. During the town halls, Sewell will answer questions from constituents, provide an opportunity for them to share their views and concerns, and hear updates on the latest in Congress. Choctaw County Town Hall Monday, November 20, 2017 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Pennington Town Hall 282 Pine Grove Road Pennington, Ala. 36916 Clarke County Town Hall Monday, November 20, 2017 4:00 p.m.– 5:00 p.m. Grove Hill Town Hall 111 S. Church Street Grove Hill, Ala. 36451 Marengo County Town Hall Tuesday, November 21, 2017 10:00 a.m.– 11:00 a.m. Bryan Whitfield Memorial Hospital Hospital Classroom 105 US Hwy 80 East Demopolis, Ala. 36732 Perry County Town Hall Tuesday, November 21, 2017 1:00 p.m.– 2:00 p.m. Sowing Seeds of Hope 1728 Washington St. Marion, Ala. 36756 Thus far in 2017, Sewell has hosted town halls in Jefferson County, Pickens County, Tuscaloosa, Dallas, Montgomery, Wilcox and Lowndes.
Terri Sewell introduces Public Funds for Public Schools Act
Alabama 7th District U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell is hoping to close a tax loophole that diverts resources away from public schools with the introduction of H.R. 4269: Public Funds for Public Schools Act. The bill seeks to limit the double benefit of charitable contributions, which Sewell explains “allows the wealthy to turn a profit on donations to private school voucher organizations.” “As the daughter of two long-time educators and the proud product of Selma public schools, I know the power of public education,” said Sewell. “Today’s legislation would stop wealthy donors from cheating our tax system and diverting dollars away from children in our public schools.” Sewell continued, “Under current law, wealthy donors in states like Alabama can turn a profit on contributions to private school voucher organizations by claiming both state and federal tax benefits. At a time when our public schools are short on resources and Congress is struggling to find funding for important programs such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), we have a responsibility to close this tax loophole and protect public funds for public schools.” Sewell is referring to tuition tax credits (TTCs), which are offered to individuals or corporations in 18 states across the country who contribute to Scholarship Granting Organizations or school voucher nonprofits. In seven of these states — Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Montana, Nevada, and South Carolina — the tax credit is dollar for dollar. In addition to receiving a full refund from their state, these donors qualify for a federal tax deduction on the same donation. Sewell wants to close the loophole in the tax code which allows this and disincentive the diversion of federal dollars from public schools. Under Sewell’s bill, savings created by the Public Funds for Public Schools Act could be reinvested in the school system to offset costs for K-12 education programs, like those under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
Terri Sewell named Vice Chair of group to ‘protect’ voters from Donald Trump
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) launched a new group on Thursday that aims to “protect” American voters from President Donald Trump. Formed in direct response to the Trump Administration’s Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity, the Commission on Protecting American Democracy from the Trump Administration aims to will investigate voter suppression, the “voter fraud” myth, and strategies for modernizing the voting process to expand voting rights. “President Trump’s commission is nothing but a sham to justify the GOP’s voter suppression efforts across the country,” DNC Chairman Tom Perez said in a statement. “While Trump’s misleading claims about voter fraud were probably made to mend his bruised ego after losing the popular vote, he created an opening for Republican politicians to nationalize their efforts to complicate voting and suppress eligible voters.” Jason Kander, President of Let America Vote and a former Missouri secretary of state, will chair the 13-member commission along with Alabama 7th District U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell who has been named vice chair. “When it comes to protecting voting rights for all Americans, we cannot trust the Trump Administration to get the facts right,” said Sewell. “Time after time, President Trump has chosen to recite baseless ‘voter fraud’ claims rather than taking on real issues like voter suppression.” “Our Commission will document and report on today’s wave of voter suppression tactics and provide recommendations for strengthening access to the polls for all Americans. One person, one vote is a fundamental principle of our democracy, and I am proud to be part of a Commission that seeks to protect and advance voting rights.” The other members of the commission include: New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker; Texas Rep. Joaquin Castro; Colorado House Speaker Crisanta Duran; Maricopa County Recorder Adrian Fontes; Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes; Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey; New York Representative Grace Men; Wisconsin Representative Gwen Moore; California Secretary of State Alex Padilla; DNC Vice Chair Karen Carter Peterson; and District of Columbia Attorney General Karl Racine.
Need a Job? Congresswoman to host Birmingham Job Fair Aug. 11
Alabama 7th District U.S. Congresswoman Terri Sewell will host her 5th Annual Congressional Job Fair next week, bringing together 125 employers from a diverse range of sectors throughout the 7th Congressional District. On Thursday, Aug. 11 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Sewell will host the job fair, a continuation of the inaugural event held in Birmingham in 2012, at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex in the North/South Exhibition Halls. Sewell’s Job Fair comes at a welcome time as Alabama’s June unemployment rate was 6 percent, representing 130,349 unemployed people. “I am thrilled to have the job fair return to Birmingham where I launched this effort in 2012,” said Sewell. “My top priority remains getting Alabamians back to work, and as representative of Alabama’s 7th Congressional District, it is important that I address unemployment in every area that I represent.” Individuals are encouraged to come dressed for success with resumes in hand, as employers will be looking to fill current openings in numerous job sectors. The event is open to the public and free to attend.
Terri Sewell introduces bill to designate Birmingham’s Historic Civil Rights District as national park
U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) Monday introduced a bill that would designate Birmingham’s Civil Rights District as a new National Historic Park. The Civil Rights District, designated by the city in 1992, covers a six-block area of downtown Birmingham where several significant events in the American Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s took place. “I am proud to introduce this important, bipartisan legislation that incorporates Birmingham’s Historic Civil Rights sites into the National Park Service System,” Sewell stated. “With this designation, historic preservation efforts will be enhanced for these historic sites, greater economic revitalization will occur, and it will forever cement the pivotal role Birmingham played in the Civil Rights Movement.” Ranging from Sixth to Second Avenue North, and from 15th to 19th Street in the heart of downtown Birmingham, the district includes the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, Kelly Ingram Park, 16th Street Baptist Church, Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame and the Fourth Avenue Business District. Sewell said, “The Historic Civil Rights District in Birmingham holds many stories of the journey from what was regarded as one of the most segregated cities in the South to what Birmingham is today. The National Park designation will be a real tourism boost for Birmingham and will mean greater economic development for Alabama. The Birmingham Civil Rights District will include the 16th Street Baptist Church, Kelley Ingram Park, A.G. Gaston Motel and other historic landmarks.”
