Martha Roby: A recap from the road, part 2
Over the last month during the August district work period, I have had the opportunity to travel throughout Alabama’s Second District to meet with constituents, local leaders, and business owners. Having this time to hear firsthand from the people I represent is tremendously important, and I believe it enables me to better represent your views in Washington. I recently wrapped up my district travel for the month, and I would like to briefly share with you an update on some of my visits and meetings I had towards the end of August. I met with leaders from Ingram State Community College in Deatsville. We had a great conversation about our state’s excellent community college system and ways we can continue to improve higher education and opportunities for AL-02 students. I also sat down with some folks from the Alabama Association of School Boards, and they updated me on some of the issues our local school systems face. I appreciated hearing from them and learning more about their perspective. One afternoon, I had the privilege of speaking to the Montgomery chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers during their monthly luncheon. We discussed a number of important topics, including efforts in Congress and the Trump Administration to reinvigorate our nation’s aging infrastructure. I appreciated this opportunity and everyone who took the time to visit with me. I also visited the Army Aviation support facility in Hope Hull for a briefing and an overview of their facility. I enjoyed talking with General Gordon, Colonel Bass, and others during my time there. I stopped by Sabel Steel to meet with company leadership, including owner Keith Sabel. As you may know, Sabel Steel recently announced that thanks to our historic tax overhaul, they will use their significant savings to provide pay increases to all employees, invest in new equipment, expand their existing facilities, and hire additional workers. I enjoyed visiting this outstanding company, and I wish them continued success as we work to implement even more pro-growth policies to assist job creators across the district. In Dothan one afternoon, I visited the Dothan Behavioral Medicine Clinic where I talked with staff and received a briefing on the Clinicom technology that is used to diagnose mental illness. Mental health is an acute problem facing our country, and I was pleased to learn more about their work. One morning, I had the opportunity to speak to the Squadron School at Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base. We had a great conversation about leadership qualities and my role in Congress as an advocate for our military. I really appreciated the many thoughtful questions I received and am already looking forward to my next visit! One day, I sat down with Jay Moseley, Teresa Collier, and John Hamm from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s Fusion Center. They updated me on the status of the human trafficking problem in our state and their efforts to eradicate this horrendous plague on our communities. I appreciate these leaders and their work to combat this atrocious problem. I also toured Common Ground Ministries’ Mercy House and helped serve lunch one afternoon. I really enjoyed meeting some wonderful people and having several deeply meaningful conversations. We are fortunate to have Common Ground and all its dedicated volunteers as a resource in the River Region. These are just some of the many productive, informative meetings I had over the second half of this August district work period. Now that the month is behind us and fall is quickly approaching, I would like to extend a sincere “thank you” to all the individuals, businesses, local officials, and others who hosted me and visited with me over the last several weeks. It is always a true joy to visit various communities in AL-02, and I look forward to more opportunities to learn from the people I represent. ••• Martha Roby represents Alabama’s Second Congressional District. She lives in Montgomery, Alabama, with her husband Riley and their two children.
Bradley Byrne: Hitting the road
Each August, the House of Representatives typically enters a period of recess known as the August District Work Period. This is time set aside for Members of Congress to travel across their home districts visiting with the people they represent. For me, this is incredibly valuable time that I can spend listening to my constituents and gaining a better understanding of the issues impacting our area. Here is just a quick highlight of my August District Work Period so far. As you probably already know, I love to hold town hall meetings throughout the First District to hear directly from the people I represent. This August, I am holding a “Better Off Now” Town Hall Tour with twelve stops in all six counties that make up the First District. So far, we have held town hall meetings in Salipta, Atmore, Brewton, Dauphin Island, Millry, Citronelle, and Mobile. Later this month, we will make stops in Grand Bay, Monroeville, Seminole, Loxley, and Spanish Fort. You can get all the details about the town halls online at Byrne.House.Gov/BetterOffTour. Visiting local businesses and talking with employees is another priority for me in August. For example, I have already visited Olin in McIntosh, the Louisiana Pacific facility in Clarke County, Serda Brewing in Mobile, and Metal Shark Boats and Master Marine in Bayou La Batre, just to name a few. The visits help me learn firsthand how federal issues are directly impacting employers and employees in Southwest Alabama. A really special opportunity was being able to ride along with UPS to help deliver packages on the Eastern Shore. I dressed up in the full UPS uniform, rode in the truck, and personally delivered packages. It really helped to step in the driver’s shoes and see the difficult work they do every day. I am especially grateful to Chris Dorgan for showing me the ropes. Just last week, I hosted Chris Oliver, NOAA Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, down on Dauphin Island for a Red Snapper research trip. As one of the leading federal officials responsible for our fisheries, I welcomed the opportunity to show off the health of the Red Snapper stock in the Gulf, as well as the very impressive research being done locally by the University of South Alabama and the Dauphin Island Sea Lab. Also last week, I traveled to the Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System in Biloxi to meet with the director and get an update on services for our veterans. As you may know, the Biloxi VA oversees most of our local VA facilities. It was a productive visit as I work to hold the VA accountable and ensure our veterans receive the care they deserve. We had the annual Women’s Forum in downtown Mobile, which is organized by the Community Foundation of South Alabama. We had another outstanding crowd as local women had the opportunity to network and hear from speakers and panelists about issues important to them. I find great value in holding roundtable discussions to hear directly from leaders about specific issues. With this in mind, we held separate roundtables with local school superintendents, economic developers from our area, and community leaders from Chatom. Each of these roundtables were very informative, and we have more scheduled later this month. As you can probably tell, this August District Work Period has already been a huge success. The good news is that we are just getting started! I look forward to spending more time around Southwest Alabama throughout August to help me be the best Congressman possible. • • • Bradley Byrne is a member of U.S. Congress representing Alabama’s 1st Congressional District.
Mike Rogers: A snapshot of the August District Work Period in East Alabama
As Congress gears back up after a very busy August District Work Period, I wanted to share some of my experiences while I was back home in Alabama. I made my way across almost all of the Third Congressional District and am coming back to Washington excited about the future of our great state. As most of you know, the Agriculture industry drives the economy in Alabama. I was able to attend ALFA meetings in several counties and even had the chance to visit with the 2017 ALFA Young Farm Family of the Year in Cleburne County. As a senior member of the House Agriculture Committee, I have always made it a priority to encourage our young folks to get involved in farming and the ag industry. In Talladega County, I was impressed with my tour of Alabama Childhood Solutions. They are working to break the cycle of government dependency while providing nutritious food to kids in the area. USDA programs that support their mission are authorized by the Farm Bill. In Calhoun County, I toured the Anniston Fire Department Regional Training Center, the Public Safety Complex in Jacksonville and visited with the Acting Superintendent of the Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP). As a senior member of the House Homeland Security Committee, these facilities are so important in keeping our communities safe, and the CDP’s mission is critical in training first responders to protect us from those who wish us harm. I was also able to visit with soldiers at the Army National Guard Training Center and thank them for their service to our country. I visited Trinity Christian Academy students on their first day of school and joined Brother Grinstead on his Christian radio station. In Tallapoosa County, I was proud to attend the grand opening of Our Town/Willow Point Volunteer Fire Department and present them a U.S. flag to fly at their new building. In Chambers County, I met with the Industrial Development Authority board to get an update on what’s going on and also toured the 911 Center in Lanett. I visited Auburn University to see the exciting things going on there including their new Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM)facility. I stopped by and had lunch with old and new friends in Cherokee County and made my way to Clay County to visit Wellborn Cabinet. It was a busy few weeks, but my biggest takeaway from my time home was seeing the outpouring of prayers, support and donations for our brothers and sisters affected by Hurricane Harvey. We should continue to keep all those families who lost everything in our prayers as they start to rebuild their lives. I want to hear from you on this or any issue. Please sign up for my e-Newsletter by visiting mikerogers.house.gov. To stay up to date, you can also like me on Facebook at Congressman Mike D. Rogers, follow me on Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram at RepMikeRogersAL, on Tumblr at repmikerogersal.tumblr.com and you can also subscribe to my YouTube page at MikeRogersAL03. ••• Mike Rogers is a member of U.S. Congress representing Alabama’s 3rd Congressional District.
Bradley Byrne: A busy August
Each August, the House of Representatives goes out of session and members of Congress spend time back in their home state for a District Work Period. While these District Work Periods are sometimes known as “recess,” that does not mean members of Congress are on vacation. Instead, some of the most valuable time I have comes in August when I travel throughout Southwest Alabama and engage directly with the people I represent in Congress. I kicked off the District Work Period last week with a “Better Way to Fight Poverty” tour in Mobile and Washington counties. I toured organizations in Fruitdale, Chatom, and Mobile that are leading the way in the fight against poverty. I also held a joint roundtable discussion to talk about what works and what does not work in the war on poverty. In addition to our roundtable on poverty, I will also hold roundtable discussions with economic developers, our local school superintendents, and the leaders of our colleges and universities. These roundtable meetings help me to better understand issues facing our area, but they also allow for the sharing of ideas and collaboration among the other attendees. Another important way I spend the District Work Period is visiting local businesses to listen to their ideas and concerns. It is so helpful to spend time on the production line or behind the scenes to see how businesses operate and learn more about the various challenges facing their industry. August also gives me an opportunity to visit with local organizations and civic clubs. For example, last week I spoke to the Southwest Mobile Chamber of Commerce in Tillman’s Corner. We had a great discussion about the economic progress in our area and ways we can continue to move Southwest Alabama in the right direction. Later in the month, I will be speaking to other groups ranging from farmers to school groups about ways they can be a part of our area’s impressive progress. I also want to make sure everyone has an opportunity to share their concerns with me, so we have scheduled a number of town hall meetings. These meetings give you an opportunity to ask me any questions you may have or to share your concerns. This August, my town hall meetings will be in Citronelle, Grand Bay, Stockton, and Summerdale. We will also have more town hall meetings throughout the year. Later in August, my wife, Rebecca, and I will host our annual “Women’s Forum.” The theme this year is “Charting Your Own Course,” and the event provides networking opportunities for women in our area. I am especially excited this year’s event will include a special appearance by Congresswoman Cathy McMorris-Rodgers, the highest ranking woman in Congress. You can get more information about all of these events online at Byrne.House.Gov or by calling my office in Mobile at 251-690-2811. At each of these stops and events, I am talking about the Better Way agenda, which offers an alternative to the big-government policies that have become all-too-common over the last eight years. My hope is to share the ideas of the agenda with you, so I can get your feedback about what you like and what you disagree with. That way, when I head back to Washington in September, I can share your feedback with my House colleagues. You elected me to serve as your voice, and in order to do that, I must hear from you. That is why the August District Work Period is so important. I hope to see you around this month! • • • Bradley Byrne is a member of U.S. Congress representing Alabama’s 1st Congressional District.
August Recess agenda: Alabama U.S. Senator Richard Shelby
It’s August, and that means the Alabama Delegation has put business on hold in Washington, D.C. until after Labor Day and members have made their way back to the Yellowhammer state for August Recess. This year’s recess is an unprecedented seven-weeks, with Congress taking additional time off to attend the presidential conventions. While “recess” may sound like a vacation, it’s actually a block of time designed to give members of Congress an opportunity to get back home for more than a week or weekend and reconnect with the constituents they represent. Alabama U.S. Senator Richard Shelby is making the most of his time this August, staying busy across the Yellowhammer State. He began his time away from D.C. in his Tuscaloosa office. There he held office hours and took time to meet with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) Alabama chapter, where he renewed his commitment to supporting critical funding for juvenile diabetes research. Over this past weekend, Shelby attended the Business Council of Alabama’s 2016 Governmental Affairs Conference in Point Clear. There, he had the opportunity to connect with fellow lawmakers, business leaders and governmental affairs professionals to discuss politics and policy. While he may be away from Washington, Shelby has not stopped working on policy issues that impact his constituents. At the end of last month, he joined Calhoun County Sheriff Larry Amerson in calling on President Barack Obama “to reverse his dangerous restrictions on the Section 1033 program.” The program, which transferred surplus military equipment to law enforcement agencies, was valuable to local law enforcement during the terrorist attacks in Orlando and San Bernardino and according to Shelby could be the key to protecting Americans and police from future attacks. He’s also publicly questioned the recent news that the Obama Administration secretly sent $400 million dollars to Iran in an unmarked cargo plane at the same time four American hostages were released earlier this year. Shelby’s staff also has a busy schedule this recess. Three members of his team will be attending the 19th Annual Space & Missile Defense Symposium — the leading educational, professional development and networking event in the space and missile defense community — in Huntsville next week. There they will network and collect valuable information on programs and policies that impact the aerospace industry on behalf of the Senator.
August Recess: What your Member of Congress has been up to
It’s August, and that means the Alabama Delegation has been back home in the Yellowhammer state for August Recess, and will pick up business in Washington, D.C. after Labor Day. But don’t let the name fool you, the “recess” is designed to give members of Congress an opportunity to reconnect with the constituents they represent. Here’s a quick peek at what the Alabama Delegation has been up to during August Recess: U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions: Sen. Sessions stopped by to meet with workers at the Honda plant in Lincoln. Sen. Sessions visited the Army Reserve Building in Gordo. U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby: Joined Tuscaloosa Mayor Walter Maddox and HUD Secretary Julián Castro on a tour of recovery sites in Tuscaloosa impacted by the 2011 tornado. U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne (AL-01): Ag Matters tour with a stop in Brewton to visit with some local foresters. Organized the Women’s Forum in downtown Mobile. 100 women attended. Held an Education and the Workforce Committee field hearing to discuss the National Labor Relations Board’s interpretation of a “joint employer.” Visited the National Naval Aviation Museum at Naval Air Station Pensacola to learn more about our nation’s airmen and the important work they do. U.S. Rep. Martha Roby (AL-02): Visited with the honors junior and senior classes at Ariton High School. Visited the Pike County Economic Development Corporation. Visited Barbour County. U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (AL-03): “Congress on Your Corner” event in Ashland. “Congress on Your Corner” event in Wedowee. “Congress on Your Corner” event at the Russell County Courthouse in Phenix City. U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt (AL-04): Visited Corinth West Methodist Church in Cullman County for their annual singing. Got the chance to drive the car around the track at the Talladega Superspeedway. U.S. Mo Brooks (AL-05): Visited with the Jackson County chapter of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE) in Scottsboro. Town Hall meeting in Decatur. Met with the Athens Limestone Association of Realtors. U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer (AL-06): Visited the State Farm Insurance Birmingham Operations Center. Visited the Home Depot store in Pelham. Joined the people of the Pelham Police Department and the Pelham Fire Department for lunch. Spoke at the Trussville Area Chamber of Commerce. U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07): Met with Rep. Aderholt, Bryan Kindred the CEO of DCH and Keith Parrott. Welcomed the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack for a tour of the 7th Congressional District. Toured the Selma site of the Innovative Readiness Training Healthcare Clinic. Spoke to Educators at Choctaw County School system.
Alabama Delegation: August Recess schedule 2015
It’s August, and that means the Alabama Delegation has put business on hold in Washington, D.C. until after Labor Day and has made its way back to the Yellowhammer state for August Recess. While it sounds like vacation, the “recess” is actually designed to give members of Congress an opportunity to reconnect with the constituents they represent, and travel to places across the globe relevant to legislation in Congress, and to strengthen U.S. relations in those countries. Here’s what the Alabama Delegation is up to this August: Rep. Bradley Byrne (AL-01): Congressman Byrne is currently in Israel with a group of Congressmen working to strengthen relations between the U.S. and Israel. Monday, August 17, 2015 9:00 a.m: Solutions Tour Town Hall Meeting at the Poarch Creek Indian Reservation, Tribal Auditorium 11:00 a.m.:Solutions Tour Town Hall Meeting at the Pollard, Town Hall 1:30 p.m.:Solutions Tour Town Hall Meeting at the Brewton, City Hall 3:00 p.m.: Solutions Tour Town Hall Meeting at theEast Brewton, City Hall Tuesday, August 18, 2015 9:00 a.m.:Solutions Tour Town Hall Meeting at the Chatom, Town Hall 10:30 a.m.:Solutions Tour Town Hall Meeting at the Millry, Town Hall 1:30 p.m.:Solutions Tour Town Hall Meeting at the Grove Hill, Town Hall 3:00 p.m.:Solutions Tour Town Hall Meeting at the Jackson, Senior Center Wednesday, August 19, 2015 9:00 a.m.: Solutions Tour Town Hall Meeting at the Bayou La Batre, City Hall 11:00 a.m.: Solutions Tour Town Hall Meeting at the Dauphin Island, Town Hall 2:30 p.m.: Solutions Tour Town Hall Meeting at the Chickasaw, City Hall 4:30 p.m.: Solutions Tour Town Hall Meeting at the Mobile/Maysville Community, Williamson High School Friday, August 21, 2015 9:00 a.m.:Solutions Tour Town Hall Meeting at the Bay Minette, City Hall 11:00 a.m.:Solutions Tour Town Hall Meeting at the Loxley, Town Hall 2:00 p.m.:Solutions Tour Town Hall Meeting at the Elberta, Town Hall Thursday, August 27, 2015 5:30 p.m.: Solutions Tour Town Hall Meeting at the Monroeville, City Hall Rep. Mo Brooks (AL-05): Thursday, August 13, 2015 7:00 p.m.: Athens Town Hall Meeting: Athens State University, Sandridge Center Ballroom Wednesday, August 26, 2015 8:30 a.m.: Women’s Conference at the Battle House Hotel in Mobile Rep. Gary Palmer (AL-06): Congressman Palmer is currently in Israel with a group of Congressmen working to strengthen relations between the U.S. and Israel. Alabama Today will continue to update the August Recess schedule, so be sure to come back for updates.
Mike Rogers: Visiting across east Alabama this August
Each August, Congress recesses for the August District Work Period to allow members of Congress the chance to get back and spend time in their home state. I am looking forward to this upcoming work period so I can start making my way across the 3rd District. Having the opportunity to visit with folks and hear what’s on their minds helps me better represent their interests in Washington. Throughout the month, I will be holding “Congress on Your Corner” events, which are like town hall meetings. I will hold these events in different areas of east Alabama to give folks a chance for a face-to-face update on what’s been going on in Congress. It also gives people the chance to ask questions and let me know about issues that are on their minds. Keep checking your local papers and radio stations to learn more. I hope to see you at one. I will be making several stops to tour different industries in east Alabama. These companies are vital to creating good paying jobs. I will also be making a few visits to some of our senior centers from Heflin to Odenville. Some of the best conversations occur there. Additionally, I’m looking forward to speaking at a couple of different Rotary clubs. Later on, I will get an update on first responder training while visiting the Center for Domestic Preparedness in Anniston. As well as touring Maxwell Gunter Air Force Base in Montgomery with U.S. Rep. Martha Roby. In Auburn, I’ll attend a Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) demonstration and get to see first-hand the training they are doing with their canine program. With so much going on in Congress and across the globe, this month will provide a good opportunity to ensure I keep working to represent each of you. I look forward to seeing you in August! Mike Rogers represents Alabama’s 3rd Congressional District. He is in his third term.
