AL-01 Congressional hopeful Jerry Carl releases first TV ad
Election 2020 is in full-swing in the Yellowhammer State and U.S. House of Representatives hopeful, Republican Jerry Carl released his first TV ad of the season on Thursday. Highlighting his commitment to standing up for President Trump, the ad is backed by a substantial six-figure buy and will run across several mediums across the first district. “Raised by a single mother, Jerry Carl headed to college but left early to start a business. Then another. And another. He married, raised a family, and was saved by grace,” the ad details. “A tough upbringing and business struggles made Jerry the man he is. Like President Trump, Jerry Carl’s got a backbone. He’s tired of political correctness and will fight the ‘The Squad.’ He’s never the loudest, but he’s the toughest. He’s just Jerry.” Watch the ad below:
Bill Hightower ‘praying for God’s guidance’ in potential congressional run
Now that sitting 1st District U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne has announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate, there’s chatter over who will run for his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Among those considering a congressional run is Mobile-Republican, former State Senator Bill Hightower. “Since Congressman Byrne’s U.S. Senate campaign announcement, I have been honored by the many calls I have received urging me to launch a campaign for Congress in Alabama’s 1st District. I believe public service is a high calling and I do not take these encouragements lightly,” Hightower said in a statement on Thursday. “Over the next few weeks, I will be discussing the potential of a congressional campaign with my family and close friends, while praying for God’s guidance as we make a final decision.” About Hightower During his time in Montgomery, Hightower ranked among the most conservative state senators in Alabama. He pushed for smaller government and lower taxes – even sponsoring legislation to change Alabama to a flat tax. Mostly recently he vied for the Republican nomination for Governor, which he ultimately lost to Kay Ivey. Hightower graduated from the University of South Alabama, received an M.B.A. from Vanderbilt University, and has worked with with several Fortune 100 corporations including Emerson Electric, AlliedSignal, Eaton
Bradley Byrne introduces Constitutional amendment to impose term limits on Congress
Alabama 1st District U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne proposed a Constitutional amendment on Wednesday that would impose term limits on members of both houses of Congress. House Joint Resolution 25 would amend the Constitution to limit Congressional service to six two-year House terms and two six-year Senate terms, or twelve years in each case. “Seats in Congress belong to the American people, not any single elected official,” explained Byrne. “Our Founding Fathers never expected individuals to make a career out of Congressional service, and term limits will allow us to keep fresh blood and ideas in the halls of Congress. “When I first ran for Congress, I pledged to support term limits, and I remain committed to that promise. I urge my colleagues in Congress to support this legislation to ensure the power remains with the people, not the government.” In April of last year, President Donald Trump voiced his support for term-limits for members of Congress. I recently had a terrific meeting with a bipartisan group of freshman lawmakers who feel very strongly in favor of Congressional term limits. I gave them my full support and endorsement for their efforts. #DrainTheSwamp — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 30, 2018 Byrne cosponsored similar amendments in the 113th, 114th, and 115th Congress. Watch Byrne discuss his support for term limits:
Bradley Byrne: A week of good news
There was much to celebrate this past week in Washington. That sentence may surprise you if you just go off what you hear from the national news media, but the reality is we continue to get work done here in the People’s House. To be clear, there is still work to be done, and that starts with passing funding necessary to secure the border and protect the American people. That said, I think it is worth pausing for a moment and reviewing the wins from this past week. One of the biggest wins last week was passage of the 2018 Farm Bill. As I have said before, our farmers and foresters are our future. I am pleased to have voted for this bipartisan legislation to better support our farmers in Alabama and throughout the country. The 2018 Farm Bill will allow for improved crop protections and loan options for farmers, incentivize rural development, support animal disease prevention and management, and will continue our nation’s commitment to agriculture and farmers. I am especially pleased to see the substantial resources provided to improve rural broadband access to communities. Providing Internet access to people in rural Alabama is absolutely critical to economic development and the success of these communities in the 21st Century. A few of the other provisions in the bill will greatly benefit the cotton and peanut growers here in Alabama; help maintain access to crop insurance through reduced premiums and waived fees; boost critical funding for feral swine control; and restore funding for trade promotion efforts in an attempt to keep pace with trading competitors around the world. Most importantly, the 2018 Farm Bill will help equip and train the next generation of farmers both here in Alabama and throughout the United States. I was proud to support this bill, and I look forward to President Trump signing it into law. Another piece of good news we received this week was the passage of a bill to help drain the Washington swamp. The American people are sick of Congress being able to play under different rules than the rest of the country, and that must change. That is why I am proud to be one of the leaders on the effort to reform the way sexual harassment claims are handled on Capitol Hill to increase transparency and accountability. No longer will members of Congress be able to use taxpayer dollars to pay settlements for their own misconduct when it comes to sexual harassment. No longer will members of Congress be able to cover up their personal wrongdoings at the expense of the American people. It was important for Congress to make this statement. With this legislation, we did the right thing. By doing the right thing, we not only do right by the people who work around us and for us, but we do right by the American people. This has been a tough fight, but with these reforms we will make the Washington swamp a little less swampy and shine light on what is happening in the halls of Congress. With this week of good news, it is also important to remember that the best news of all will be celebrated next week: a small baby, wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger. This good news is the birth of our Savior, bringing God’s light directly into the world through His son. It is easy to lose sight of the meaning of Christmas with all the bustle of daily life and routine. But this week, I challenge you to stop and remember what this season is about in preparation for the good news yet to come. • • • Bradley Byrne is a member of U.S. Congress representing Alabama’s 1st Congressional District.
Bradley Byrne: Down the home stretch
Some of the greatest sporting events in history have come down to the wire. Those bottom of the ninth, fourth and inches, double overtime plays are what stand out in our memories as the greatest successes or the worst defeats in sports history. Similarly, we here in Washington are entering our own home stretch of the 115th Congress. It has been a long year filled with many victories for the people of Alabama, but there is still work to be done. Next year, the game will change completely. With Democrats taking control of the House, things will be different. Where bipartisan progress can be made, we must take advantage of it. Instead of being the “resistance,” we should be the loyal opposition. Loyal to the country but opposing policies and ideas that do not match up with our conservative values and beliefs. I promise you two things that won’t change no matter who is in charge of the House: I will put Alabama’s priorities first, and I will support President Donald Trump and his pro-America agenda. For now, the next two weeks will be like the bottom of the ninth in Washington. We still need to pass a Farm Bill that works for our Alabama farmers and foresters, ensure the national flood insurance program continues, pass a funding bill for the remaining portions of the federal government, and protect our Southern border. As I have said before, our farmers are our future. Without the tireless efforts of farmers all across the nation, life as we know it would not exist. I am hopeful we can pass a strong Farm Bill by the end of the year to provide greater protections for Alabama farmers and ensure benefits for rural America. The flood insurance program is very important for those of us in coastal Alabama, and I want to see the program reformed and strengthened in a way that protects our coastal communities. We cannot let the program expire, so I will be pushing hard to get the program reauthorized. Similarly, we must work to fund the remainder of the federal government. We currently have around three-quarters of the government funded for next year, including the critical funding needed to rebuild our military. This was the first time in a decade that we have been able to reach this point on time and in a bipartisan way. Now, we must address funding for agencies like the Department of Justice, Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Homeland Security. I want to see a funding bill that reflects the need to rein in wasteful spending while also supporting programs and projects important to Alabama. It is imperative that any funding bill also help secure our southern border. It is clear that our immigration system is broken, and we must fix it. First, however, we must build President Donald Trump’s border wall and stem the flow of illegal immigration. I have a solution to provide funding for the wall: the 50 Votes for the Wall Act. By using the budget reconciliation process, we can avoid Democrat obstruction in the Senate and secure the funds necessary to complete this task. I hope my colleagues will make the right decision for the country and bring my bill up for a vote. These next two weeks will be the last play of a tough-fought game. As we near the goal line, I am committed to trying to get a few more wins for Alabama and America before the next Congress starts. • • • Bradley Byrne is a member of U.S. Congress representing Alabama’s 1st Congressional District.
Bradley Byrne: Let us give thanks
On October 3rd, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued a Proclamation on Thanksgiving establishing the fourth Thursday of November as a national holiday, encouraging every American – at home and abroad – to give pause and give thanks. Thanksgiving had existed before in America. There was the First Thanksgiving celebrated by the Pilgrims and Native Americans in Massachusetts in 1621, of course, and Presidents George Washington, John Adams, and James Madison also issued proclamations encouraging the celebration of Thanksgiving. It is interesting that during a time as perilous as the height of the Civil War, President Lincoln entrenched this holiday of gratitude and togetherness into the American year. 1863 was a time of divisiveness and uncertainty, and yet people throughout the country could still find things to be thankful for. Only two months after this proclamation, on December 3rd, 1863, the final symbolic decoration was added to the outside of the Capitol Dome in Washington: a 19-foot tall statue known simply as Freedom. The freedoms we enjoy today are some of the greatest things we can be thankful for. For many throughout the world, the freedoms we enjoy do not exist for them. As we gather with friends and family, I hope you will take time to answer this simple question: what are you thankful for this year? For myself, I am extremely thankful for my family, my friends, and for the opportunity I have to serve you in Washington. I am thankful for the many pieces of landmark legislation we were able to pass this year, including fully funding our military for next year, providing funds for vital water infrastructure projects, and enacting meaningful change to the G.I. Bill and the Veteran’s Choice Program. I am also thankful for all of the positive economic news this year: our thriving economy and jobs market are creating more opportunities for people in Alabama and around the country. With good news there is also bad. The acts of violence we have seen over recent months in Pennsylvania and California demonstrate the amount of evil there is still to combat in this world. The extremely deadly wildfires currently raging in California causes our hearts to ache for all those affected so unexpectedly and so close to the holidays. But even in these tragedies, there are things to be thankful for. The first responders who risk their lives to help those in need; the medical professionals who provide service to the sick and those in pain; and perhaps the thing for which we as Americans can be most thankful is our interminable spirit to come together as one, help our neighbors, and make the world a better place to live through one small act of kindness at a time. More personally, I am thankful to be a child of a loving, forgiving, and all present God. I’m also thankful to call Southwest Alabama home. Of course, I am thankful for my wonderful family; every moment I get to spend with Rebecca, our children, and our grandchildren is a moment I feel truly blessed. Lastly, I am eternally grateful for the opportunity I have again to serve the people of Southwest Alabama over the next Congress. There is a memorable verse from the book of John: “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32) One of the truths we can hold firmly to this Thanksgiving is this: we in the United States are richly blessed with life, prosperity, and freedom. Knowing that, we can be very thankful indeed. From my entire staff, family, and myself, we wish you a very happy Thanksgiving. • • • Bradley Byrne is a member of U.S. Congress representing Alabama’s 1st Congressional District.
Bradley Byrne wins re-election over Robert Kennedy Jr. in Alabama’s 1st District
Incumbent Bradley Byrne has won re-election over challenger Robert Kennedy Jr. in the race for Alabama’s 1st Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Fairhope Republican defeated the Pritchard Democrat 63.3 to 36.7 percent with 100 percent of precincts reporting. Following his victory Byrne said he is honored to continue to serve the district. “I am honored by the faith the residents of Southwest Alabama have put in me to continue to serve as their voice in Congress. We had so many great supporters throughout this campaign, and Rebecca and I truly appreciate all the hard work that went into the victory,” Byrne said in a statement. “Following the Senate special election in 2017, some thought Democrats had the opportunity to win throughout our state. What we saw on Tuesday night was pretty clear: Alabamians support commonsense, conservative candidates who stand up for the values and priorities of Alabama. We must continue to elect those kind of individuals to represent our great state.” Located in southwestern Alabama, the district includes Mobile, Baldwin, Escambia, Monroe and Washington counties and a part of Clarke County.
A look at the voting history of Alabama’s 1st Congressional District
For the past decade Alabama’s 1st Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives has been a solidly red district for over 20 years. Located in southwestern Alabama, the district includes Mobile, Baldwin, Escambia, Monroe and Washington counties and a part of Clarke County. Currently Rep. Bradley Byrne, a former member of the Alabama State Senate, fills the seat. He was first elected during a special election in December 2013 after 10-year incumbent Jo Bonner announced his retirement to become vice chancellor for the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Byrne has since been re-elected twice, in 2014 and 2016. In the 2018 General Election Byrne faces political newcomer, Democrat Robert Kennedy Jr., a military veteran and and business executive. FiveThirtyEight, a statistics-driven news-and-analysis site, anticipates that Byrne will coast to victory on Election Day, giving Kennedy Jr. only a 0.1 percent chance of winning the seat. Here’s a look at the voting history of the District: U.S. House, Alabama District 1 General Election 2016 Bradley Byrne (R) 96.4 percent 208,083 votes Write-in 3.6 percent 7,810 votes 215,893 total votes General Election 2014 Bradley Byrne (R) 68.2 percent 103,758 votes Burton LeFlore (D) 31.7 percent 48,278 votes Write-in 0.1 percent 198 votes 152,234 total votes General Election 2012 Jo Bonner (R) 97.9 percent 196,374 votes Write-in 2.1 percent 4,302 votes 200,676 total votes General Election 2010 Jo Bonner (R) 83 percent 129,063 votes David Walter (C) 17 percent 26,357 votes 155,420 total votes General Election 2008 Jo Bonner (R) 98.3 percent 210,660 votes Write-in 1.7 percent 3,707 votes 214,367 total votes
Bradley Byrne: What’s next for Congress?
The House returns to session this week after the month-long August District Work Period, and there are many important legislative items that need our attention. August was a busy time back in Southwest Alabama listening to the people I have the honor of representing. I appreciate all those who took time to visit my office, attend a town hall meeting, or host me at their business. I look forward to taking back all I learned to Washington as we address the range of issues before us. Midterm elections for every House seat and one-third of the Senate seats will occur in November, and elections traditionally slow down legislative action in Washington. That said, there are many priorities that require our attention, and I know many of us are committed to getting the job done. Our biggest priority is passing government funding bills for the next fiscal year. Government funding expires on September 30th each year, so Congress needs to pass funding bills by the end of this month. The good news is that we have finally reached a bit of a breakthrough in the Senate on passing smaller individual funding bills instead of a massive omnibus bill that no one likes. We must get away from these big omnibus bills and focus on passing smaller, targeted bills one at a time. Thanks to Alabama’s own Senator, Richard Shelby, the Senate appropriations process is actually moving forward, unlike in years past. This is a big victory as we try to fix the broken process and pass responsible government funding bills on time. I’m optimistic we can pass many of the funding bills before the end of September. This is especially important for our military as years of delayed funding has deteriorated our readiness leaving our service members without the resources they need to defend our country. There is also a lot of talk in the House about doing “Tax Reform 2.0.” I’m sure you remember last year when Congress passed and President Donald Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act into law. This year’s tax reform efforts will focus on making many of those tax cuts permanent to ensure taxes remain low for American families. The House is also waiting for the Senate to act on a package of bills to address our nation’s opioid drug epidemic. The House has passed over 50 bills to help prevent and treat opioid addiction and abuse while ensuring our drug laws are effective in stopping the flow of illegal drugs. The Senate must act on these bills or pass their own. Far too many Americans are losing their lives to opioid addiction each year, and we must act to stop this alarming trend. While the path forward is not quite as clear, I remain strongly committed to passing an immigration bill to secure our borders, allow for construction of President Trump’s border wall, crack down on so-called “sanctuary cities,” and close loopholes in our current system. Border security is national security, so I am going to keep pushing for the House to pass strong immigration reform. At the committee level, I will continue working on the Armed Services Committee to advocate for full funding for our nation’s defense and provide critical oversight as we continue to rebuild our military. On the Education and the Workforce Committee, we remain focused on reauthorizing of the Higher Education Act and oversight hearings on Department of Labor policies. So, despite what you might hear in the media, the remainder of 2018 will be busy for Congress. I refuse to allow the midterm elections to slow us down from our job: addressing the priorities of the American people. • • • Bradley Byrne is a member of U.S. Congress representing Alabama’s 1st Congressional District.
Bradley Byrne: The value of Town Hall meetings
No one can deny that the political climate in our country today is pretty divisive. Protests and outbursts are becoming more and more common. This shouldn’t be a huge surprise when you consider that a certain group now considers themselves “the resistance.” Given the volatile condition of our politics today, many Members of Congress are no longer hosting town hall-style meetings to meet with their constituents. These events have become too risky as they provide an avenue for “the resistance” to cause problems and create negative attention. Despite the national trend away from town hall meetings, I continue to believe town halls are one of the best ways to stay in touch with the people we represent. My town hall meetings are always open to anyone and provide for an hour of open dialogue between residents and the person elected to be their voice in Congress. While I know some town halls around the country have turned confrontational, I believe that the people of Alabama have enough decency to be able to openly debate and discuss political issues without becoming nasty. I’ve held over 115 in-person town hall meetings since being elected to Congress, and I can count on one hand the number of times someone has been intentionally disruptive or hateful. Last year, a national news crew from CBS came down to Alabama to cover a day of my town hall meetings. I think they were expecting some hostile moments. At the end of the day, they commented about how nice, friendly, and hospitable the people were. I told them that was just how we operate in Alabama. See, I think being able to debate – and even disagree – about important issues is fundamental to our country. If you look at places like Russia, North Korea, and Iran, they don’t allow for open debate and dialogue about issues. It is this type of conversation and the freedom to disagree that makes our country great. So, over the past month, I hit the road to visit communities across Southwest Alabama to hold town hall meetings. Known as the “Better Off Now” Town Hall Tour, I held open meetings in Salipta, Atmore, Brewton, Dauphin Island, Millry, Citronelle, Mobile, Grand Bay, Monroeville, Seminole, Loxley, and Spanish Fort. For me, it is very important to spread out where I hold town hall meetings. Instead of just staying in larger cities, I have made a commitment to visiting communities of all sizes and in each of the six counties that make up the First Congressional District. The voice of the people in the Salipta community of Clarke County matters just as much as the voice of those in Mobile. During my recent town hall meetings, hot topics were problems at the Department of Veterans Affairs, concerns about illegal immigration, issues with the “Deep State” and government bureaucracy, and the need for improvement to local roads and infrastructure. Each town hall meeting was different, but these were some of the overarching themes. At the end of the day, I refuse to give in to the narrative that we can no longer openly discuss political issues in our country. We need to embrace the diversity of opinions and views, and town hall meetings are a great way to do that. So, I promise that as long as I am your Congressman, I will continue to hold public, in-person town hall meetings throughout our area to hear directly from the people I represent. Through these meetings, I become a better Congressman, and I think our society becomes a little stronger. • • • Bradley Byrne is a member of U.S. Congress representing Alabama’s 1st Congressional District.
Bradley Byrne confirms illegal immigrants will not be housed in Baldwin County
Alabama 1st District U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne on Tuesday tweeted there are no plans to house immigrants at the Navy airfields in south Baldwin County. “BREAKING: My office has learned that there are no plans to house illegal immigrants at Navy airfields in south Baldwin County! This was a bad idea from the start, and I am pleased it will not come to fruition,” Byrne tweeted upon receiving confirmation from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). BREAKING: My office has learned that there are no plans to house illegal immigrants at Navy airfields in south Baldwin County! This was a bad idea from the start, and I am pleased it will not come to fruition. — Rep. Bradley Byrne (@RepByrne) August 14, 2018 “Housing illegal immigrants at ill-equipped airfields along the Gulf Coast was always a terrible idea, so I appreciate the confirmation that this plan is no longer being considered,” Byrne said in a statement following his tweet. “We had a team effort to push back this flawed idea, and I especially want to thank Baldwin County Commissioners Chris Elliott and Tucker Dorsey and Baldwin County Sheriff Hoss Mack for their advocacy on this issue.” Byne continued, While I am glad this issue is resolved, we must continue working to secure the border and eliminate the need for additional housing for illegal immigrants altogether. I remain 100% committed to working with President Trump to build a border wall, hire additional border patrol officers, and ensure our border security is as strong as possible.” Byrne led an effort in Washington in June to express opposition to housing up to 10,000 illegal immigrants at Naval Outlying Field Silverhill and Naval Outlying Field Wolf in south Baldwin County. He joined other members of the Alabama and Florida Congressional delegations in sending a letter to Secretary of Defense James Mattis and Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielson outlining concerns with the proposal. Byrne also hosted Baldwin County officials in Washington for a series of meetings to convene local concerns with the proposal. Read the letter from ICE Deputy Director Ronald Vitiello below:
