Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin challenges Teamsters president to fight at U.S. Senate hearing
Samantha Dietel, Alabama Reflector WASHINGTON — Sen. Markwayne Mullin, an Oklahoma Republican, challenged the head of the Teamsters union to a physical fight at a U.S. Senate hearing Tuesday intended to showcase how labor unions are making families’ lives better. The tense confrontation at the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing stemmed from acrimonious posts on social media, as well as a confrontation between the two at an earlier Senate hearing. Tuesday’s episode started after Mullin read aloud one of Teamsters chief Sean O’Brien’s posts on X, formerly known as Twitter. In the post, O’Brien had called Mullin a “greedy CEO who pretends like he’s self made.” O’Brien, general president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, ended the post by writing, “You know where to find me. Anyplace, Anytime cowboy.” “So this is a time, this is a place,” said Mullin, who has a mixed martial arts background, to O’Brien, seated at a witness table in front of him. “You want to run your mouth, we can be two consenting adults. We can finish it here.” “OK, that’s fine,” O’Brien said. “Perfect.” “You want to do it now?” Mullin asked. “I’d love to do it right now,” O’Brien said. “Well, stand your butt up, then,” Mullin said. “You stand your butt up,” O’Brien said. Both men rose to their feet. Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders, an 82-year-old Vermont independent, intervened and called for them to sit down. “You’re a United States senator,” Sanders told Mullin. “This is a hearing. God knows the American people have enough contempt for Congress. Let’s not make it worse.” For Mullin’s remaining time asking questions of O’Brien and other witnesses, the two continued to throw verbal insults at each other. Sanders pounded his gavel and shouted over them in attempts to shut down the heated exchange. “We’re not here to talk about fights or anything else,” Sanders said. Mullin and O’Brien also had a tense moment at a previous committee hearing back in March. In another post on X, O’Brien told Mullin, “Sounds like you need to shut your mouth & get to work for the people of your state.” UAW strike Another main witness at the hearing, titled “Standing Up Against Corporate Greed: How Unions are Improving the Lives of Working Families,” was Shawn Fain, president of the United Auto Workers. The union reached tentative agreements at the end of October with the “Big Three” automakers — Ford Motor Co., Stellantis, and General Motors. The strike began in Detroit in mid-September but expanded to more than 20 other states. “The working class needs this committee and the entire Congress to step up,” Fain said. “You all have an essential role to play, not only supporting our fights and other fights like ours but to finish the job for economic and social justice for the entire working class.” Fain spoke about the success of the UAW’s strike and the ripple effect it has had. He referenced that auto companies Honda, Toyota, and Hyundai have raised wages since the UAW agreements. “In less than seven weeks, we won justice for our members and other workers,” Fain said. Fain said the UAW’s efforts helped significantly raise wages for over 100,000 workers, improve retirement security, secure jobs and ensure workers have “a just transition” to making electric vehicles. This transition would allow autoworkers to “flow” into a new job of making batteries for electric vehicles, Fain said. Legislative efforts Sanders, who supported the UAW’s strike, highlighted his legislation — the Protecting the Right to Organize Act, otherwise known as the PRO Act — as a means to make organization easier for American workers. Ranking member Bill Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican, said the PRO Act faces opposition from his party. U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, a Wisconsin Democrat, said she is working on legislation that would require the Federal Trade Commission to additionally “consider the impact of mergers on workers.” “The workers are the ones who bear the brunt of the quote-unquote ‘efficiencies’ found after a consolidation,” Baldwin said. Protecting the right to unionize Labor organizers called for more action by Congress to help U.S. workers. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters is a labor union with members across diverse occupations. The largest employer in the Teamsters union is UPS, which reached a collective bargaining agreement earlier this year. This agreement raised wages and improved workplace conditions for UPS workers. “We need our elected officials to do more and do what’s right,” O’Brien told senators. Sara Nelson, the president of the Association of Flight Attendants-Communication Workers of America, said labor unions are “necessary for a stable economy, our safety, our security and our democracy.” Republican witnesses included Diana Furchtgott Roth, the director of the Center for Energy, Climate, and Environment and the Herbert and Joyce Morgan Fellow in Energy and Environmental Policy at the Heritage Foundation, and Sean Higgins, a research fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute in Arlington, Virginia. The Heritage Foundation and the Competitive Enterprise Institute are both conservative think tanks. Higgins said the increased wages as a result of union strikes could increase inflation. In response, Fain later said the idea that raising wages negatively impacts the economy is rooted in “fearmongering.” Fain said when unions bargain for a contract that includes higher wages, the opposition often believes “the world’s going to end because working-class people make a livable wage, and it’s going to drive the price of vehicles up.” Sen. Robert P. Casey Jr., a Pennsylvania Democrat, said a worker’s right to unionize “is under threat.” “Every day of the week, that right is under threat across the country,” Casey said. “That right to organize is essential to building an economy that works for all Americans.” Alabama Reflector is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Alabama Reflector maintains editorial independence. Follow Alabama Reflector on Facebook and Twitter.
Katie Britt and colleagues want to redesignate Iran-Backed Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization
On Monday, U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Alabama) joined in a letter urging the Biden Administration and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken to redesignate Ansarallah, more commonly known as the Houthis, as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO). Sen. Britt cited their longstanding acts of terrorism, actions to destabilize the Middle East, the security threat they pose to the United States, and most recently, their involvement in the ongoing conflict in Israel, including missile and rocket attacks on Israel last week. The Houthis control a large swath of war-torn Yemen. In 2021, the Trump Administration designated the Houthis as an FTO. However, the Biden Administration inexplicably reversed that following Biden’s inauguration. The Houthis are longtime Iranian clients who, thanks to that relationship, have amassed one of the most sophisticated arsenals of ballistic missiles and drones in the region. This has become apparent in their frequent attacks on Israel as well as U.S. partners and interests. “An ongoing posture of appeasement by the Biden Administration only emboldens the Iranian regime to continue its barbaric proxy attacks on innocent children, women, and men, and this is evidenced in the Houthi’s recent terrorist attacks that have been intercepted by defensive actions by the United States and Saudi Arabia,” said Senator Britt. “It is imperative that America sends a message of complete condemnation of Iran and its proxies’ violence, as well as unwavering support toward our allies in the region. The Houthis are a terrorist organization, and this Administration should treat them as such while reimposing a comprehensive, maximum pressure sanctions campaign on all Iranian terror proxies. In order to achieve peace, now is the time for strength.” Last week Sen. Britt joined Senator Steve Daines (R-Montana) and 12 of their Senate colleagues in introducing the Standing Against Houthi Aggression Act. This legislation would redesignate the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization and impose certain sanctions on the group. The legislation has also been cosponsored by Senators Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Marco Rubio (R-Florida), Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia), Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska), and John Kennedy (R-Louisiana). Katie Britt was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2022. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com
Tommy Tuberville votes against Joe Biden’s nominee for Director of the National Institutes of Health
Citing broken trust, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) voted against President Joe Biden’s nominee to head the National Institute of Health – Dr. Monica Bertagnolli. “The NIH used to be a universally respected, non-political organization before COVID, but that trust has been broken,” Tuberville said in a statement. The vote against was during a markup of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP). Tuberville (R-AL) voted no on the nomination of Dr. Bertagnolli for Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Last week, Senator Tuberville questioned Dr. Bertagnolli about what she would do to restore trust in the NIH after their mishandling of COVID. Senator Tuberville asked Dr. Bertagnolli, “Being an educator, this really touches me. The NIH funded a recent study about the psychosocial functioning in transgender youth after two years of hormones. According to the letter NIH sent to Ranking Member Cassidy and me, the research seeks to understand the physical and psychosocial effects of medical intervention to evaluate the effectiveness of existing medical treatments already in use among transgender youth. As you know, two young people committed suicide who were part of this study. That’s obviously a tragedy – but what concerns me even more is the fact that the NIH was funding this research. And beyond that, I believe the NIH even called the study a success. That’s sick. It sounds to me like the NIH totally dropped the ball on quality control and oversight. So, if confirmed, how will you make sure nothing like that ever happens on your watch?” Dr. Bertagnolli replied, “So first, Senator, I really thank you for your affirmation of the critical importance of NIH and what we are and that we are here to serve the American people and just how critical that is and how important this job is. And to that end, in response to your question, we have the greatest responsibility to ensure two things. First, that we serve all people, all people, all walks of life, and that we really are here to achieve the health of all. But that number two, any research that we do that involves human beings, people, is conducted according to the highest ethical principles so that we make sure that the research is intending to do no harm, to achieve benefit, and is done in ways that have maximum respect for the dignity of people. If confirmed as NIH director, I will affirm to you that that will be my mode of action and my highest priority for all human research.” Tuberville asked “Thank you. One more quick question, chairman. The NIH used to be a universally-respected, non-political organization before COVID, but that trust has been broken, especially in rural parts like my state of Alabama. You’re from rural Wyoming. So, you get the real perspective, and you understand just how much people in those parts of the country, in particular, have lost confidence in our public health institutions. They feel totally overlooked. What would you do as NIH Director to help gain back some of that respect in rural areas?” Dr. Bertagnolli answered, “Thank you so much for that question, and I’ll be very, very brief. Two things. Number one, I believe deeply in the doctor-patient relationship. That has incredible value that is trust. A patient comes and puts their life in the hands and their health in the hands of their doctors. And anything that we can do to strengthen the doctor-patient relationship is something that we should pursue to the fullest extent possible. And then second, I believe in education at all levels. […] Patients joining us in research to the fullest extent possible, not science here and people here, but people joining us to do science. I think that also engenders great trust in the process if it’s done in a respectful and appropriate way.” Dr. Monica Bertagnolli is currently serving as the director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) under the NIH. Before this job, she was a cancer surgeon and researcher. In recent years, the NIH has come under scrutiny for the way the agency handled the COVID-19 pandemic. Lawmakers and members of the research community have continued to raise issues with different aspects of NIH research, including a recent study of a cohort of youth who identified as transgender or non-binary under age 18, where two of the minors committed suicide, and eleven reported experiencing suicidal ideations. Sens. Tuberville and Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana) wrote a letter to the NIH expressing concerns about the study and the response. In her hearing, Dr. Bertagnolli confirmed that she believes the NIH should be able to do research on this topic. She has not been able to guarantee the NIH would be able to ensure that all minors participating in these studies could consent to such therapies. Another issue that concerned Tuberville is that the NIH has financed multiple studies over the years using human fetal tissue (aborted or otherwise). Dr. Bertagnolli has performed research using human fetal tissue herself (in the 1980s) and said that she would maintain the current NIH policy of allowing this research – although she does believe it should be used only as a last resort. She was unable to explain how the NIH would navigate acquiring aborted fetal tissue in the wake of Dobbs, specifically from states where abortion is illegal. The NIH has funded many studies using embryonic stem cells. Dr. Bertagnolli has stated that she would maintain the current NIH policy and allow the continuation of this research. Tuberville is also concerned that the NIH-funded research in China on pathogens of concern – specifically, the contract made with the Wuhan Institutes of Virology, where many believe the COVID-19 virus originated. President Biden announced Dr. Bertagnolli’s nomination on May 15, 2023. The Committee voted to advance her nomination with bipartisan support, even though Tuberville and Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) voted against the nomination. It now moves to the full Senate. Ranking Member Cassidy voted in favor of her nomination in Committee. Chairman Sanders has held up Dr. Bertagnoli’s nomination for
Senators Katie Britt, Marco Rubio, and colleagues demand answers on Iran’s nuclear program violations following attacks on Israel
On Wednesday, U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Alabama) joined Senator Marco Rubio (R-Florida) and 13 colleagues in sending a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken requesting an update on U.S. action to hold Iran accountable for multiple violations of nuclear program restrictions. The letter comes after this weekend’s multi-pronged attacks on the people of Israel by Hamas fighters that killed over 1300 Israelis and wounded 3,200 more. According to Secretary Blinken, at least 25 Americans are among the dead. Hamas has taken well over 100 hostages, and the White House believes that Americans are among the hostages. Republicans believe that the government of Iran financed and likely helped plan those attacks. “We respectfully request that the U.S. Department of State provide information regarding the status of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) investigation into Iran following the recent IAEA’s Board of Governors meeting,” the Senators wrote. “The Iranian regime is intent on fomenting terror across the region, as evidenced by its proxies, Hamas and Hezbollah’s, brutal attacks this weekend on our ally, Israel. Now more than ever, you must ensure that you hold the regime accountable for its failure to comply with obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Further, we were disappointed that the administration did not call for a formal censure of Tehran given its continued non-compliance with the IAEA.” “The Biden Administration has failed to press for concrete action against Iran in Vienna,” the Senators continued. “We are especially disturbed by reports that the United States led efforts to oppose a censure of Iran. As Iran violates its commitments and refuses to comply with the IAEA, your business-as-usual approach to resolving the situation is tantamount to an endorsement of the Iranian regime’s activities.” “It is regrettable that the September 11-15, 2023, IAEA Board of Governors meeting achieved no progress in resolving key questions related to the Iranian regime’s nuclear program,” the Senators wrote. “Once again, Iran was able to escape any shred of accountability. As you know, since 2018, the IAEA has been investigating Iran’s undeclared nuclear material and activities related to a secret 2003 effort to produce atomic weapons called the Amad Plan. Despite the IAEA’s repeated requests to access several Iranian sites, it has not been able to determine whether Tehran retains covert nuclear weapons activities, nor has it investigated all sites, personnel, and documentation related to the Amad Plan and its successor entities, such as Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research (SPND).” Joining Senators Britt and Rubio in signing the letter were Senators Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), Rick Scott (R-Florida), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), Jerry Moran (R-Kansas), Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska), Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina), Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), Tim Scott (R-South Carolina), Mike Braun (R-Indiana), and Susan Collins (R-Maine). In 2015, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was signed by the Obama Administration. Iran and other countries agreed to place restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. One condition included the JCPOA tasking the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to ensure the regime in Tehran adheres to nuclear restrictions. The Senators claim that even with the signed agreement, Iran has remained non-compliant and continues its nuclear programs. Senator Britt has been an outspoken critic of the Biden Administration’s controversial decision to free up $6 billion of seized illicit oil sales revenue to Iran to facilitate a prisoner exchange with Iran. The five Iranian-Americans appear to have been wrongfully jailed solely because they were American citizens. Britt warned at the time that the ransom payments would only result in more Americans being taken hostage. When the Administration formally notified Congress of the deal on September 11th, Britt warned, “This irresponsible, weak appeasement sends a terrible message across the globe and only incentivizes further hostage taking in the future.” Today, countless Israeli hostages have been taken into Gaza by Hamas. Senator Britt this week joined a letter led by Senator Blackburn (R-Tennessee) calling on the Biden Administration to re-freeze the $6 billion. Sen. Britt was elected to the Senate in 2022. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Katie Britt and Bill Cassidy introduce legislation to prevent administrative actions to shut down offshore energy development
On Monday, U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-Alabama) and Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) joined Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana) in introducing legislation to prevent the Biden administration from using administrative actions to shut down offshore energy development. Britt and colleagues recently joined Sen. Cassidy and four of her Senate colleagues in introducing the Warding Off Hostile Administrative Lease Efforts (WHALE) Act to prevent the U.S. Departments of Commerce and the Interior from issuing maritime rules related to the Rice’s whale that would impede offshore energy development and military activities. “The Biden Administration is continually putting a leftwing agenda ahead of common sense and the wellbeing of hardworking American families,” Sen. Britt said. “Prioritizing partisan activism over economic opportunity and domestic energy dominance is irresponsible and further fueling persistent inflation. I’ll continue to fight back against President Biden’s reckless regulatory regime.” “At the last minute, the Biden administration imposed additional mitigation measures the Department of the Interior previously said were unnecessary and removed six million acres offshore for Rice’s whales at the request of their environmental donors. Is there really no way for the whale to swim away from and around the area?” Senator Cassidy said. “We can protect wildlife, military activities, and vital energy production in the Gulf of Mexico at the same time.” Joining Senators Britt, Tuberville, and Cassidy in cosponsoring this legislation are Senators Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi), and Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi). The WHALE Act prevents the Secretaries of Commerce and Interior from issuing rules or offshore oil and gas lease requirements or recommendations that establish vessel speed or vessel operational restrictions. The legislation is partially in response to administrative actions to reduce the speed of ships to protect endangered whales from collisions. The WHALE Act would require the Departments to complete a study demonstrating that any mitigation protocols developed to protect Rice’s Whales (RWs) in the Gulf of Mexico will not hurt supply chains, United States offshore energy production and generation, military activities, including readiness, and United States commercial and recreational fishing or maritime commerce. Sen. Tuberville has already spoken out on this issue. “Designating a Critical Habitat for the Rice’s whale throughout this expansive area will impose undue burdens and restrictions on all vessel traffic, especially in and out of the Port of Mobile in Mobile, AL,” said Sen. Tuberville. “The Port of Mobile covers over 4,000 acres, generates nearly 313,000 jobs, provides approximately $2 billion in state and local tax impacts, and $85 billion in economic value to Alabama as a whole.” The legislation also requires the Secretary of Commerce to develop mitigation protocols that make use of real-time location monitoring and location information, prohibits mitigation protocols, and forbids evening transit or vessel speed or vessel operational restrictions. Environmentalists have filed a petition with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish year-round vessel speed restriction zones and other mitigation measures for Rice’s whales—a species of whale that was only recognized by NOAA as a distinct species two years ago. NOAA also proposed a rule to establish critical habitat for the species where they acknowledged critical oil and gas and military activity occurs. The Senators are also concerned by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) reaching a sue and settle agreement with environmentalist groups to establish vessel transit restrictions and other obligations for offshore oil and gas leaseholders only, including removing millions of unleased acres from leasing. Although a federal district court recently ruled that BOEM could not do so, it’s expected these stipulations and the effort to withdraw acreage will appear in the next 5-year offshore oil and gas leasing plan. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Katie Britt cosponsors bipartisan bill to permanently end budget brinkmanship
On Wednesday, U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Alabama) joined a bipartisan group of 11 colleagues as a co-sponsor of Senator James Lankford’s (R-Oklahoma) Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2023. This legislation would permanently end the practice of shutting down the federal government and disrupting critical services if Congress fails to enact spending bills by the start of the next fiscal year. Under the bill’s provisions, if Congress does not enact all 12 appropriations on time, an automatic 14-day Continuing Resolution (CR) would be triggered and keep funding at the previous fiscal year’s levels. If there is no resolution at the end of two weeks, automatic 14-day CRs would go into effect on a rolling basis until either all appropriations bills are enacted or a long-term CR is enacted. “The American people are tired of seeing critical government services being held hostage while Congress irresponsibly pushes to pass massive spending bills at the last minute,” said Sen. Britt. “Taxpayers shouldn’t be forced to keep paying the price for this budgetary political brinksmanship. This commonsense bill would ensure we have a fail-safe mechanism in place that will take these drastic options off the table, so members of the Senate and the House have time to draft the best bills possible in a transparent, accountable, and judicious manner.” While the federal government is operating under the automatic CRs, the legislation would require Congress to meet every day, including weekends, and members of Congress could not use any official funds for travel. They also could not consider any other measures other than appropriations bills. The travel restrictions would also apply to congressional staff and officials from the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Lankford said that restraint is needed to balance the budget. Lankford said, “To put this in context, with the record revenue that’s coming in this year at about $4.8 trillion, if we were spending the same this year as we did in 2018, a short five years ago. If we were spending the same this year as we were in 2018 prior to COVID, we would have a $700 billion surplus this year rather than an almost $2 trillion deficit—this year—because the record amount of revenue coming in this year compared to what our spending was five years ago, we would have been in surplus this year. But we’re not, and it’s at $1.5 trillion over that. We have a very serious issue. We should have very hard conversations about our revenue, about our spending, about the direction that we’re actually heading, and about how do we get out of a $33 trillion debt.” In addition to Senator Britt, co-sponsors of Senator Lankford’s bill include Senators Maggie Hassan (D-New Hampshire), Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin), Angus King (I-Maine), Rick Scott (R-Florida), Mark Kelly (D-Arizona), Steve Daines (R-Montana), Kyrsten Sinema (I-Arizona), Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), Mike Braun (R-Indiana), John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), and Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming). Senator Britt is also a co-sponsor of Senator Braun’s No Budget, No Pay Act. That legislation would bar members of Congress from getting paid until they passed a budget. President Joe Biden has not submitted a balanced budget since entering the White House. Katie Britt was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2022. She serves on the Appropriations Committee tasked with passing each of the 12 appropriations bills. CRs go around the committee by a handful of powerful Senators who craft the CR with the White House to keep the government funded. Often, those CR writers are able to insert earmarks and other language into a CR or omnibus spending bill that is never vetted by committee. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Katie Britt and colleagues demand answers after Biden Administration hands over $6 billion to Iran
On Monday, U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Alabama) joined a letter by Sen. Tim Scott (R-South Carolina), the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and 24 of her Republican colleagues in demanding answers from the Biden Administration about the approximately $6 billion reportedly paid to Iran in exchange for Americans wrongfully being held as political hostages by the Iranian regime. “Handing $6 billion to the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism is a reckless and disastrous decision that threatens the lives of Americans and our allies across the globe,” said Senator Britt. “Once again, the Biden Administration has chosen to appease our adversaries and set a dangerous precedent. President [Joe] Biden’s weakness will only embolden hostile actors to engage in further aggression around the world. We must achieve peace through strength, and I will always fight to hold this Administration accountable for putting American families at risk.” In a letter to Secretaries Antony Blinken and Janet Yellen, the senators wrote, “When the Obama administration released $400 million in liquidated assets to Iran in 2016, we warned that this dangerous precedent would put a price on American lives. Seven years later, the current administration is providing a ransom payment worth at least fifteen times that amount to the world’s largest state sponsor of terror, in yet another violation of the United States’ long-standing ‘no concessions’ policy. In the release of Executive Order 14078 on July 19, 2022, the White House admitted that ‘terrorist organizations, criminal groups, and other malicious actors who take hostages for financial, political, or other gain—as well as foreign states that engage in the practice of wrongful detention, including for political leverage or to seek concessions from the United States—threaten the integrity of the international political system and the safety of United States nationals and other persons abroad.’ The release of such a significant sum to the Iranian regime runs entirely counter to that claim and will only serve to encourage additional hostage-taking for financial or political gain.” Joining Senators Britt and Scott on the letter were Senators Jim Risch (R-Wisconsin), Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Steve Daines (R-Montana), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Ted Budd (R-North Carolina), J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska), John Hoeven (R-North Dakota), Todd Young (R-Indiana), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina), John Kennedy (R-Louisiana), John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), and Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia) After more than two years of quiet negotiations, Iran has released five Iranian American dual citizens into house arrest, according to original reporting by the New York Times – quoting officials at the State Department and the National Security Council. “This is just the beginning of a process that I hope and expect will lead to their return home to the United States,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday. “There’s more work to be done to actually bring them home. My belief is that this is the beginning of the end of their nightmare.” The prisoners are Siamak Namazi, Emad Sharghi, and Morad Tahbaz, who had all been jailed on unsubstantiated charges of spying, as well as two others whose families have withheld their names. One of the unnamed Americans is a scientist, and the other is a businessman, according to sources. In addition to releasing the $6 billion in seized oil funds, the U.S. has agreed to hand over imprisoned Iranians as part of the prisoner swap. Britt and her colleagues had objected to paying the ransom before the deal had been finalized. Britt was elected to the Senate in 2022. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Katie Britt and Roger Wicker introduce resolution to designate August as National Catfish Month
U.S. Senators Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville recently joined Senator Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi) and 10 colleagues in introducing a resolution to designate August 2023 as National Catfish Month. This resolution recognizes the importance of the U.S. catfish to our economy and praises catfish farmers and industry workers for their contributions. “Nearly 33% of all catfish produced in the United States comes from right here in sweet home Alabama,” said Sen. Britt. “Catfish is a vital part of our state’s economy, and I will always support our hardworking farmers and processors. I’m proud to join my colleagues in bringing forward this resolution to recognize the catfish industry’s contributions to our state and country.” “Mississippi is recognized across the country for our farm-raised catfish production, which helps provide American families with a fresh, local, and delicious source of fish,” Wicker said. “Designating the month of August as National Catfish Month would recognize catfish producers for their work to support this industry that contributes almost $2 billion to our national economy.” Sens. Britt, Tuberville, and Wicker were joined on the resolution by Sens. Raphael Warnock (D-Georgia), Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), John Kennedy (R-Louisiana), Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Mike Braun (R-Indiana), John Boozman (R-Arkansas), and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi). The full text of the resolution states: “Whereas the Catfish Institute recognizes August to be National Catfish Month; Whereas the States of Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas recognize August to be National Catfish Month; Whereas the States of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Tennessee embody the Channel Catfish as their State Fish; Whereas the farm-raised catfish industry in the United States employs over 9,000 people and contributes almost $2,000,000,000 to the economy of the United States; Whereas the United States has 55,855 surface water acres used for catfish production in 2023, and catfish growers in the United States had $447,039,000 in sales during 2022; Whereas the average catfish farmer produces 6,800 pounds of catfish per acre; Whereas 99 percent of all United States farm-raised catfish are grown in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, and Texas; Whereas catfish is the largest farm-raised seafood product, by weight, in the United States, representing more than 50 percent of the food fish produced by the United States aquaculture industry; Whereas United States farm-raised catfish are consistently high quality and, unlike ocean-caught fish, are available all year long; Whereas United States farm-raised catfish are a sustainable and environmentally friendly seafood product; Whereas catfish is a lean fish and an excellent source of protein; and Whereas catfish is a versatile fish in cuisine of the United States, with a myriad of regional and national recipes to be enjoyed by all people of the United States: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate— (1) designates August 2023 as ‘‘National Catfish Month’’; (2) recognizes the contributions of all workers, past and present, that produce, process, and provide catfish for the people of the United States; and (3) recognizes that purchasing United States farm-raised catfish supports farmers, jobs, and the economy of the United States.” Over the last 25 years, American catfish farmers have faced increasing pressures from foreign competitors as imports of foreign catfish and catfish-like products have increased exponentially in the U.S. Katie Britt was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2022. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Katie Britt, Rick Scott and colleagues urge Biden Administration to address passport delays
On Monday, U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Alabama) announced that she has joined Senator Rick Scott (R-Florida) and 12 of their colleagues in a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging him to take immediate action to resolve the backlog of passport applications. “Given the sheer number of Alabamians who have recently requested help with a passport issue, I’m concerned that action has not been taken sooner to address this concern, which clearly affects a great number of Alabamians,” said Sen. Britt. “As record levels of Americans continue to book flights across the globe, we request this matter be dealt with immediately and transparently to prevent further backlog.” More Americans are seeking passports, and there are growing delays in obtaining or renewing a passport. According to a recent report, it can take 17 weeks to get a passport renewed. This turnaround time has grown several weeks just since February. In the letter, the Senators note countless reports from Americans in their respective states regarding issues and concerns with delayed wait times, lack of available in-person appointments, and an inability to communicate with passport agencies. The Senators charge that this is an unacceptable failure from a federal government that should be focused on serving American taxpayers and their needs. Joining Senators Britt and Scott were U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Ted Budd (R-North Carolina), Marco Rubio (R-Florida), JD Vance (R-Ohio), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), and Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska). “As summer begins and families across the nation are finalizing their travel plans, we have heard countless reports from constituents in our states about the massive backlogs in processing passport applications,” the Senators wrote to Sec. Blinken. “While we appreciate the hard work of Passport Agency employees across the nation, this backlog and the unresponsiveness to many passport inquiries is unacceptable.” “Since January 2023, our offices have observed a massive increase in passport-related inquiries from our constituents,” the Senators continued. “We understand that the Department of State is experiencing an unprecedented number of passport applications and renewals, but the strategies put in place to address this unprecedented demand appear to need additional attention.” “These backlogs have resulted in many American families being forced to cancel their travel plans because of increased wait times, a lack of available in-person appointments, and an inability to communicate with passport agencies,” wrote the Sens. “Furthermore, the delay many Americans are experiencing in receiving their passport could potentially be detrimental to their livelihood. The Department of State must address these issues promptly to remedy the situation. As our offices continue to work each and every day to assist constituents with their passport needs.” Many countries require a passport to be valid six months after your trip ends. These include India, Kenya, Morocco, Peru, Singapore, Thailand, Turks and Caicos, and Zimbabwe. All 27 European Union member countries require passports to be valid for at least three months beyond the date of departure. Some countries are more visitor-friendly and only require your passport to be valid. These include Argentina, Australia, Dominican Republic, Japan, and the United Kingdom. For travel to Hong Kong, the requirement is one month beyond the trip. Since renewing a passport can take four months, plan accordingly if you have plans to travel or work in a field where foreign travel may be required at some point. Katie Britt was elected to the Senate in 2022 after a career as a lobbyist, attorney, and Sen. Richard Shelby’s chief of staff. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Representatives Barry Moore and Kim Schrier introduce Forest Data Modernization Act
Last week, Rep. Barry Moore introduced the bicameral, bipartisan Forest Data Modernization Act with cosponsor Congresswoman Kim Schrier (D-Washington). The sponsors say that this legislation modernizes the technologies and data collection methods used by the Forest Inventory and Analysis Program (FIA) to meet growing market demand and support sustainable forest management decisions. “Alabama foresters deserve updated technology and easily accessible data to help meet the demands of a rapidly growing market,” said Rep. Moore. “I am grateful to Rep. Schrier for joining me to introduce legislation that ensures foresters, forestry stakeholders, and the American public have access to standardized, high-quality data to support their decisions.” “Mitigating risk in our forests has become ever more important with increasing intensity of wildfires and lengthening wildfire season throughout the West,” said Rep. Schrier. “Land managers and fire chiefs need reliable information about forest health to effectively work to prevent fire, mobilize wildland firefighters during fire, and perform forest restoration work afterward. This legislation will strengthen the FIA program to provide critical data needed to prevent and fight fire more effectively.” United States Senators Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana) and Jon Ossoff (D-Georgia) have introduced S.1743, the Senate version of this legislation. The Forest Data Modernization Act specifically provides: Dave Tenny is the President and CEO of the National Alliance of Forest Owners (NAFO). “We applaud Representatives Schrier and Moore on the introduction of The Forest Data Modernization Act, which will support private working forests, the communities that depend on them, and the environmental benefits they provide,” said President Tenny. “This bipartisan bill is a significant stride towards bolstering the U.S. Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program, ensuring that private working forest owners receive the accurate and pertinent forest and forest-carbon data they require. Investing in modernizing the FIA program will support the forest stewardship, market innovation, and rural job creation while also promoting the economic, environmental, and climate benefits private working forests provide. The National Alliance of Forest Owners (NAFO) eagerly anticipates collaborating with Representatives Schrier and Moore, as well as the entire Congress, to strengthen forest stewardship through the successful passage of the Forest Data Modernization Act.” This legislation is endorsed by the National Alliance of Forest Owners, National Association of State Foresters, Society of American Foresters, American Forest Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, Washington State University, Vermont Woodlands Association, Appalachian Mountain Club, Enviva, National Woodland Owners Association, L&C Carbon, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, and Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition. Over 70% of Alabama is forested – the vast majority of which is under private land ownership. Forestry and forest products, along with agriculture, remain the state of Alabama’s largest industries. Alabama wood is used for products such as paper, lumber, power line poles, plywood, shavings for the poultry and equine industries, particle board, furniture, charcoal, and other construction materials. Alabama’s forests also trap carbon from the atmosphere while providing habitat for a vast cornucopia of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, insects, and more including some endangered species. Barry Moore is in his second term representing Alabama’s Second Congressional District. He previously served the people of Coffee County in the Alabama House of Representatives from 2010 to 2018. He and his wife operate a small waste management company in Enterprise, where they are natives. Moore is a veteran and a graduate of Auburn University. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Sen. Tommy Tuberville to participate in press conference on student loans and skyrocketing tuition costs
U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville on Wednesday led the introduction of the Graduate Opportunity and Affordable Loans (GOAL) Act. Sen. Tuberville was joined at Wednesday’s press conference by Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), and John Cornyn (R-Texas) in a joint press conference. “I spent almost 40 years in this business of education,” Sen. Tuberville said. “In that time, I have seen the cost of college go up, and the quality of education go down.” Tuberville said that the growing student debt is having a crippling effect on students. “Many are putting off owning a home and starting a family,” Tuberville said. “Debt is a problem.” Tuberville and the other Senators said that unlimited federal student loans have allowed colleges and universities to raise tuition, gaming the system. “All they have done is raise the cost for students whether they have loans or not,” Tuberville said. Tuberville explained that the legislation would tell student borrowers the likelihood of graduation from a program at that school, the amount of debt that program will cost, and the likely salary of the position that they will get once they finish the program. Tuberville said that this would force schools to bring down costs and compete for students. “This is just one step in restoring sanity,” Tuberville stated. The Republican Senators introduced a package of five bills, including Tuberville’s. “We need to pass all of this legislation today,” Tuberville said. “We are here today to lower costs for students, parents, and taxpayers.” “We could name this the Save College Education for the Middle-Class Act,” Tuberville said. “Education is not free. We have to pay for it,” “Education should not be a big business, but it is,” Tuberville. “We should put our nose to the grindstone, and everyone should have to pay for their own,” Tuberville said. Tuberville represents Alabama on the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, where he is the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Children and Families. Sen. Tuberville says that he is committed to lowering costs for students, parents, and taxpayers. Tuberville has repeatedly called on the Biden administration to address the root causes of rising tuition costs and the student loan crisis. From 1980–2020, the average cost of college attendance nearly tripled, rising 169%, much faster than inflation overall, which rose by just 26%. At the same time, federal student aid increased by 57%. According to a 2017 study conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, expanding student loans increased college tuition by roughly the same amount: 60%. Tuberville has steadfastly opposed President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan. Earlier this year, Senator Tuberville cosponsored and voted for legislation to stop the U.S. Department of Education’s rule to cancel $10,000 in student loan debt for every borrower making less than $125,000 per year. Borrowers who received federal Pell Grants would receive an additional $10,000 in debt transference from President Biden’s Executive Order. “Joe Biden’s student loan giveaway is illegal,” Coach Tuberville said. “It’s bad economics. It’s bad education policy, and it’s just plain wrong. It encourages our students to take out more debt, and it encourages colleges and universities to raise prices. Joe Biden’s student debt handout costs taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars and drives up inflation. This is an absolutely reckless policy, and I’m going to do everything I can to stop it.” The plan, which Congress voted to overturn via Congressional Review Act resolution, is expected to cost American taxpayers $400 billion. President Biden vetoed the bipartisan resolution. The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to issue a decision in a case challenging the Biden administration’s unlawful student loan cancelation scheme later this month. Tuberville’s office pointed out that the vast majority of the American people do not have graduate degrees or even college degrees. Nearly nine in ten Americans have no student debt, and the majority of all student debt is held by Americans in the top 60% of income. Tommy Tuberville was elected to the Senate in 2020. He is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans Affairs, and HELP Committees. Tuberville spent four decades as an educator and coach – most notably as the head football coach at the University of Mississippi, Auburn University, Texas Tech University, and the University of Cincinnati. He was also the defensive coordinator at the University of Miami, and at Texas A&M. Prior to his political campaign, he was a sports broadcaster. Tuberville is a native of Arkansas and resides in Auburn. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Katie Britt and colleagues introduce the Back the Blue Act
On Monday. U.S. Senator Katie Britt joined U.S. Senator John Cornyn, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville, and 37 Republican colleagues to introduce the Back the Blue Act. The announcement coincided with the annual observance of Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week. This legislation will strengthen existing laws that protect police officers, increase the criminal penalties for individuals who target law enforcement, and expand the tools that police can use to protect themselves. “Today, we honor the courageous law enforcement officers who have valiantly made the ultimate sacrifice,” Sen. Britt said. “Every single day, the brave men and women of law enforcement go above and beyond to serve and protect our communities. It is essential that we not only support our police, but we respect the rule of law in our country. I’m proud to join Senator Cornyn and my colleagues in introducing the Back the Blue Act, and I will always stand with our police officers in Alabama and across the country.” “The Back the Blue Act adds stiff, mandatory penalties and makes it a federal crime to kill – or attempt to kill – a law enforcement officer, a federal judge, or a federally funded public safety officer,” Sen. Cornyn said. “We must make it absolutely clear that violence against them will not be tolerated. In honor of National Police Week, we honor the brave men and women who protect us, we pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice, and we commit to doing everything in our power to ensure that they have all the resources they need to keep our people safe.” “Today marks the start of National Police Week,” Sen. Tuberville said on Twitter. “America’s brave men and women in blue wake up every day prepared to sacrifice their own safety in service to their fellow Americans. It is more important than ever that we show our support. To all who protect and serve, thank you.” In addition to Senators Britt, Tuberville, and Cornyn, this legislation is cosponsored by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky), Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), and Senators Ted Cruz, Thom Tillis, Rick Scott, Jerry Moran, Mike Braun, Kevin Cramer, Marsha Blackburn, John Boozman, Deb Fischer, Shelley Moore Capito, Mike Crapo, Marco Rubio, Jim Risch, Pete Ricketts, Steve Daines, John Barrasso, James Lankford, Cindy Hyde-Smith, John Kennedy, Tom Cotton, John Thune, John Hoeven, Ted Budd, Josh Hawley, Tim Scott, Bill Hagerty, Roger Marshall, Bill Cassidy, Joni Ernst, Chuck Grassley, Todd Young, Eric Schmitt, Cynthia Lummis, and Roger Wicker. The Back the Blue Act has been introduced in Congress multiple times since 2017. Senator Britt is also a cosponsor of Senator Braun’s Thin Blue Line Act, which expands the list of statutory aggravating factors in capital punishment determinations to also include killing or targeting a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or other first responders. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com
