Bradley Byrne ‘seriously considering’ challenging Doug Jones in 2020 Senate run
Alabama 1st District U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne confirmed on Wednesday he is “actively looking” at a 2020 U.S. Senate bid against Democratic U.S. Senator Doug Jones. Byrne has been mulling the possibility since July, but confirmed in an interview with WPMI that he is seriously considering the matter. “I know Senator Doug Jones, I have nothing personal bad to say about him, I like him personally and admire his work as a prosecutor,” Byrne said in the interview according to C2C Sinclair on Twitter. “I don’t think his political philosophy lines up with the average person in Alabama.” .@RepByrne on possible 2020 Senate run: “I know @SenDougJones, I have nothing personal bad to say about him, I like him personally and admire his work as a prosecutor. I don’t think his political philosophy lines up with the average person in Alabama” @mynbc15 pic.twitter.com/mj78dABSOw — C2C Sinclair (@SBGC2C) September 5, 2018 “I love what I’m doing, I’m not unhappy being in the house,” Byrne continued. “But we in Alabama have become accustom to having very strong U.S. Senators; going back decades. And we’re very fortunate to Senator Shelby right now. I just don’t think, and I don’t mean this in any way personal, I don’t think Senator Jones fits into that mold. And I need someone who fits into that mold in the Senate to be a partner with me along with Senator Shelby and if there’s not anybody else to do it…then yes I’m happy to do it.” Jones beat out former Chief Justice Roy Moore in the December 2017 special election to fill the U.S. Senate seat previously occupied by Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Since then, he’s caused a few controversies within the Alabama Legislature, to the point that the Alabama State Senate passed a resolution condemning his January vote against legislation banning late term abortions. Byrne himself is a conservative through and through. He was awarded the ACUF’s Award for Conservative Excellence based on his 92.15 percent conservative voting record and successfully 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.
Judge voids apartment complex: Fairhope ‘did not adhere to its own regulations’
Opponents of Fairhope’s Fly Creek apartment complex rejoiced on Tuesday as Baldwin County Circuit Court Judge Clark Stankoski effectively stopped work on the project, deeming its approval from the Planning Commission last year void. According to the Lagniappe Mobile, Judge Stankoski stopped the building of the complex “because the city did not adhere to its own regulations when green-lighting the project.” In April of 2016, Fairhope City Council members voted to change zoning ordinances in order to add a new 240-unit luxury apartment complex off of U.S. 98., and along Fly Creek. Many residents, and environmental groups opposed the project, “I am very mad,” long-time Realtor Dot Yeager told AL.com. “Apartments are not neighborhoods. Neighborhoods are what Fairhope has always wanted. We wanted families that come here who want backyards and fences.” The Fly Creek Watershed Preservation Association, a resident’s group opposing the project brought a lawsuit against the project, claimed the project violated the city’s ordinance by using inadequate storm water management techniques. Judge Stankoski agreed, saying “it does not comply with the governing ordinance’s requirements. The requirements were fairly specific, unique and required the use of a non-point discharge system utilizing a gabion wall that ran the entire of the wetland boundary near Fly Creek,” Stankoski noted in his ruling, according to the Lagniappe Mobile. “The ordinance’s drainage plan’s purpose was ‘to help protect the adjacent Fly Creek.’” The Fly Creek, and its preservation had been one of the main concerns of the group, and other groups like it; even Alabama 1st District U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne has weighed in on protecting the creek. Adam Milam, represented the plantiffs, and told the Lagniappe Mobile they were “very happy” with the ruling. “It’s a simple, correct ruling, and it finally it feels like [Mobile and Baldwin counties] are getting big enough where we have to look at the law and everyone has to comply,” Milam continued.
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.
Alabama politicians call for stronger laws following arrest of illegal immigrant in Mollie Tibbetts murder
The fact that the suspect in the death of Mollie Tibbetts, the University of Iowa student who disappeared on July 18, is an illegal immigrant has left Alabama lawmakers calling for stronger border security. Republicans U.S. Reps. Bradley Byrne (AL-01) and Mo Brooks (AL-05) have seized the opportunity to condemn their Democratic counterparts for their open border policies that have caused the murder of an American citizen. “Mollie Tibbetts would be alive today but for illegal aliens and Democrat insistence on open borders and amnesty. Mollie Tibbetts’ confessed illegal alien murderer never should have been in America and Mollie Tibbetts would be alive today if he wasn’t,” said Brooks. “America’s death toll from illegal alien murders, vehicular homicides, and drug overdoses rises as Democrats shamefully turn a blind eye to the carnage wrought as they clamor for open borders and even more illegal alien amnesty.” The suspect in the case is 24-year-old Christhian Rivera. He worked at a farm for the past several years not even three miles from where Tibbetts was staying the night she disappeared. Rivera was arrested Tuesday after leading authorities to the body of Tibbetts in a cornfield about 12 miles away from Brooklyn, Iowa, where she was last seen going for an evening run, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation special agent Rick Rahn said. “I can’t speak about the motive. I can just tell you that it seemed that he followed her, seemed to be drawn to her on that particular day, for whatever reason he chose to abduct her,” Rahn told reporters. Rivera has been charged with first-degree murder, and is being held on a $1 million cash bond. “This is an example of why I feel so strongly about securing our border, building the wall, and cracking down on illegal immigration,” Byrne posted on Facebook.” “It is a shame that some continue to block common sense border security measures. It is even more shameful for sanctuary cities in the U.S. to provide safe harbor for those in our country illegally.”
Bradley Byrne: Recognizing our Congressional interns
A Congressional internship is an incredibly rewarding experience that helps young people gain skills and knowledge that will serve them well in whatever career path they choose. I’m pleased my office offers internships to college students and recent graduates from Alabama throughout the year. This year, it was an honor to host eleven interns in my D.C. office and two interns in my Mobile office over the course of the summer. These were all high-quality individuals who helped our office function and served as great ambassadors for Southwest Alabama. During their internships, they assisted with legislative and administrative tasks including answering the phones, researching legislation, attending events throughout Southwest Alabama, observing Congressional hearings, and assisting constituents with various government agencies. This year’s summer interns were: Harrison Adams, a native of Selma, is a junior at the University of Alabama, where he is majoring in Economics and Finance with a minor in Social Innovation and Leadership. Anna Casteix, a Mobile native, is a junior at the University of Alabama, where she is majoring in Biology with a minor in Psychology. William Chandler, a native of Montgomery, is a junior at Sewanee, where he is double-majoring in Politics and English with a minor in Rhetoric. Emma Goodloe, a native of Mobile, is a senior at the University of Georgia, where she is majoring in Public Relations with a minor in Public Affairs Communication. Win Gustin, a Mobile native and Murphy High School graduate, is a rising junior and History major at Washington and Lee University. Summer Hinton, a native of Mobile, is a sophomore at the University of Alabama, where she is double majoring in Public Relations and Political Science. William Kelly, a native of Mobile, is a senior at Auburn University, where he is majoring in Finance. He is planning to graduate next May. John Loris, a Mobile native, is a junior at Belhaven College in Jackson, Mississippi. He is majoring in Sports Medicine and Exercise Science with a Sports Administration minor. Trinidad Miller, a native of Brewton, is a senior at the University of Alabama, where he is majoring in Marketing with a double specialization in Sales and Services Marketing. Casey Nelson, a native of Tuscaloosa, is a senior at the University of Alabama, where she is pursuing dual bachelor’s degrees in Public Relations and Political Science. William Newman, a native of Montgomery, is a senior at the University of Alabama, where he is majoring in Finance with a specialization in Investment Management. Aaron Seeley, a native of Fairhope, is a sophomore at Auburn University, where he is majoring in Political Science with a double minor in Economics and English. Jackson Tunks, a native of Fairhope, is a junior at Queens University of Charlotte, where he is majoring in History with minors in Business Leadership and Political Science. I sincerely appreciate all their help over this past summer, and I wish them each all the best as they conclude their studies and prepare for the next chapter of their lives. I have no doubt they have bright futures ahead. My office accepts interns all through the year, so I would encourage any interested students to contact my office and apply. If you want to learn more about internships in my Mobile and D.C. offices, simply visit Byrne.House.Gov/Services/Internships. We should all take great pride in helping develop the next generation of leaders for our communities, state, and nation. Congressional internships are just one way we can equip our nation’s young people with important life skills, and I am glad my office is able to offer such a productive internship program. • • • Bradley Byrne is a member of U.S. Congress representing Alabama’s 1st Congressional District.
District work week roundup: what’s your representative up to?
The Alabama Congressional delegation was back in the Yellowhammer State this week, and Members have taken to social media to share the stories of those they have encountered while working within their districts. Here’s what your representative has been up to this week: Alabama 1st District U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne: Alabama 2nd District U.S. Rep. Martha Roby: Alabama 3rd District U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers: Thanks to all the folks in #Childersburg who came out today for our “Congress on Your Corner” event! #AL03 #TalladegaCo A post shared by Congressman Mike D. Rogers (@repmikerogersal) on Aug 3, 2018 at 10:46am PDT Thank you to the law enforcement officers in #Childersburg for all you do to keep folks safe! #AL03 A post shared by Congressman Mike D. Rogers (@repmikerogersal) on Aug 6, 2018 at 7:07am PDT We had a nice roundtable discussion in #Woodland last week! #AL03 A post shared by Congressman Mike D. Rogers (@repmikerogersal) on Aug 6, 2018 at 7:23am PDT Was great to be with Michael and Lee in #Sylacauga at #RadioAlabama! Thanks for letting me stop by the station to see the exciting things y’all are doing! #TalladegaCo #AL03 A post shared by Congressman Mike D. Rogers (@repmikerogersal) on Aug 6, 2018 at 9:33am PDT Thank you, Tammy, for the tour of The Mill Two-Eighty in #AlexCity! #TallapoosaCo #AL03 A post shared by Congressman Mike D. Rogers (@repmikerogersal) on Aug 6, 2018 at 9:52am PDT A post shared by Congressman Mike D. Rogers (@repmikerogersal) on Aug 6, 2018 at 10:36am PDT Thank you, Mayor Nabors, for taking time out of your day to let me stop by! #TallapoosaCo #AL03 A post shared by Congressman Mike D. Rogers (@repmikerogersal) on Aug 6, 2018 at 11:39am PDT It was an honor to spend time with this wonderful group of #Alabama #Veterans. #AL03 A post shared by Congressman Mike D. Rogers (@repmikerogersal) on Aug 8, 2018 at 7:16am PDT Enjoyed my visit to the #Opelika Fire Department today! Thank each of you for all you do to keep the city safe! #AL03 #LeeCo A post shared by Congressman Mike D. Rogers (@repmikerogersal) on Aug 8, 2018 at 1:16pm PDT Thanks, #Google, for inviting me to the Grow with Google tour stop in #Opelika! #AL03 #LeeCo A post shared by Congressman Mike D. Rogers (@repmikerogersal) on Aug 8, 2018 at 1:30pm PDT Thank you for the tour, Golden State Foods! #Opelika #AL03 #LeeCo A post shared by Congressman Mike D. Rogers (@repmikerogersal) on Aug 9, 2018 at 6:25am PDT Great start to the week with the ALFA meeting this morning in #ChambersCo! #AL03 #Ag A post shared by Congressman Mike D. Rogers (@repmikerogersal) on Aug 13, 2018 at 4:32pm PDT It was wonderful to be in #Anniston today to speak to Rotary! It was also an honor to present a Congressional Record statement recognizing the organization’s 100th Anniversary! #AL03 #CalhounCo A post shared by Congressman Mike D. Rogers (@repmikerogersal) on Aug 14, 2018 at 1:47pm PDT Listening to “Amazing Grace” this morning at the ceremony. I definitely felt blessed to hear one of my favorite hymns. #AL03 A post shared by Congressman Mike D. Rogers (@repmikerogersal) on Aug 15, 2018 at 2:14pm PDT Glad to be in #Moody today to discuss issues important to folks in #StClairCo! #AL03 A post shared by Congressman Mike D. Rogers (@repmikerogersal) on Aug 16, 2018 at 12:48pm PDT Enjoyed my visit at Red Diamond today! Thanks for having me! #Moody #StClairCo #AL03 A post shared by Congressman Mike D. Rogers (@repmikerogersal) on Aug 16, 2018 at 7:17pm PDT Alabama 4th District U.S. Congressman Robert Aderholt: Good morning Oakman! A post shared by Congressman Robert Aderholt (@robert_aderholt) on Aug 17, 2018 at 7:11am PDT I’m so glad that my friend and former colleague, Jim Bridenstine, who is now the administrator of NASA, was able to visit Huntsville and the Marshall Space Flight Center today. A post shared by Congressman Robert Aderholt (@robert_aderholt) on Aug 15, 2018 at 2:49pm PDT Alabama 5th District U.S. Congressman Mo Brooks: Alabama 6th District U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer: Alabama 7th District U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell:
Alabama politicians respond to Andrew Cuomo saying America ‘was never that great’
Two-term New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo sparked a firestorm when he criticized President Donald Trump and his famous and his “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) campaign slogan. “We’re not going to Make America Great Again,” Cuomo said in Manhattan Wednesday. “It was never that great. We have not reached greatness. We will reach greatness when every American is fully engaged.” Backlash quickly ensued as his remarks went viral online with Alabama politicians quickly jumping on the comment. They suggested Cuomo’s remarks were outrageous and that he should apologize. Here’s what Alabama politicians have to say about Cuomo’s remarks: Alabama 1st District U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne | via Twitter “Governor Cuomo should tell those who survived the Depression and fought in World War II, like my dad, that America was never a great country. Frankly, he should apologize for such an outrageous comment.” Governor Cuomo should tell those who survived the Depression and fought in World War II, like my dad, that America was never a great country. Frankly, he should apologize for such an outrageous comment. https://t.co/krEtM5XyuA — Rep. Bradley Byrne (@RepByrne) August 16, 2018 Alabama 3rd District U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers | via Twitter “Not sure about New York, but here in Alabama we believe America is great and becoming even GREATER! #MAGA #ALPOLITICS.” Not sure about New York, but here in Alabama we believe America is great and becoming even GREATER! #MAGA #ALPOLITICShttps://t.co/7tFLNOJrj5 — Mike Rogers Campaign (@MikeRogersCamp) August 15, 2018 4th District U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt | via Twitter “There is not a country on earth that has done more good for more people than America. This country most definitely has been great, and thanks to President Trump, we are going to be great again.” There is not a country on earth that has done more good for more people than America. This country most definitely has been great, and thanks to President Trump, we are going to be great again. https://t.co/f1CwKNzeUV — Rep. Robert Aderholt (@Robert_Aderholt) August 15, 2018 Terry Lathan | Chairman of the Alabama Republican Party “Hey @andrewcuomo I will pay for your air fare to Normandy, France if you will go to the beaches that the greatest generation stormed and say that America “never was that great”. Maybe you can stand by NY’s Theodore Roosevelt Jr’s grave and say it… #AndrewCuomo #alpolitics“ Hey @andrewcuomo I will pay for your air fare to Normandy, France if you will go to the beaches that the greatest generation stormed and say that America “never was that great”. Maybe you can stand by NY’s Theodore Roosevelt Jr’s grave and say it… #AndrewCuomo #alpolitics pic.twitter.com/RDiVjooPeg — Terry Lathan (@ChairmanLathan) August 16, 2018
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:
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.
Congress passes legislation to lessen burdensome occupational licensing
In late July, Congress passed the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act aimed at helping states begin long overdue occupational licensing reforms. As describes in an article by the Washington Examiner, the bill includes the New HOPE Act, “which allows governors to use existing federal funds for technical education to review licenses or certifications that pose an unwarranted barrier to entry into the workforce and do not protect the health, safety, or welfare of consumers.” Alabama 1st District U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne was a co-sponsor of the bill and instrumental in its passing. In a floor speech Byrne told his fellow representatives, “we have a skills crisis in our country. We actually have more job openings than we have unemployed Americans. This is keeping our economy from reaching full potential. “So how we do solve this problem? Well, a big way is through expanding career and technical education programs. As the demands of the workforce continue to change and become more complex, these programs are critical to building the workforce of the 21st Century,” Byrne continued. The original purpose of these licenses was to protect consumers from those who would offer them a bad or unsafe product or service; but over time license requirements became more extensive, costly, and now cover a numerous amount of vocations. The Alabama Policy Institute (API) released a report in January detailing how detrimental, and costly occupational licensure is to Alabama. According to the report, ”Alabama licenses a total of 151 occupations, covering over 432,000 Alabama workers, which represents over 21 percent of the state’s labor force.” “We estimate the total initial costs of occupational licensure, excluding the educational costs, to be $122 million. Annual license renewal costs both workers and consumers (who often pay for these costs in increased prices) $45 million total,” the report continued. “This bill won’t get nearly the attention it deserves, but this is a huge, bipartisan victory for students, businesses of all sizes, and the American people,” Byrne said in a press release. “By improving our nation’s career and technical education programs, we can better meet the demands and realities of the 21st Century economy and put more Americans to work.”
Bradley Byrne: Report from the world’s largest naval exercise
Imagine the scenario: a massive earthquake strikes an impoverished island country. It is followed up by multiple aftershocks and a tsunami. Countless lives are lost and thousands more are injured. The United States and partner nations are called in to respond and help get the nation back on its feet. In this instance, this was a scenario as part of the Rim of the Pacific exercise, also known as RIMPAC, military training exercise in the Pacific Ocean. While this time the scenario was just an exercise, it most certainly could become a reality. The question becomes would our country, as well as partner nations, be prepared to respond. That’s where RIMPAC comes into play. As the world’s largest naval exercise, RIMPAC allows the United States and partner nations to train together and learn more about each nation’s capabilities. Since it was started in 1971 by the United States, Australia, and Canada, RIMPAC has allowed for critical training and relationship-building across the Pacific region. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to attend RIMPAC this year to talk with our military leadership, observe some of the exercise, and interact with our servicemen and women. As Vice-Chairman of the House Seapower and Project Forces Subcommittee, the trip continued my understanding of the challenges facing our naval fleet, as well as provided a general overview of the overall capabilities of the world’s navies. The theme for this year’s exercise was “Capable, Adaptive, Partners.” The formal objective was to “enhance the operability of the combined RIMPAC forces across the full spectrum of military operations in the maritime environment.” Admiral John Alexander, the Commander of U.S. Third Fleet and the person in charge of the RIMPAC exercise, put it best when he said “it’s hard to say no to a friend.” That is why RIMPAC is so important. This year, RIMPAC runs from June 27th to August 2nd. 25 nations participated this year, bringing 46 ships, five submarines, 17 national land forces, over 200 aircraft, and over 25,000 total personnel. Those numbers demonstrate just how large and impressive this exercise is. During my trip, we had the opportunity to go aboard both a U.S. and an Australian Navy ship. That speaks to the nature of RIMPAC. It is all about partnerships and gaining a better understanding for each other. The Australians were incredibly welcoming and took great pride in showing off their ship and their ability to successfully operate with U.S. military personnel. One of the highlights of my RIMPAC trip was being able to meet with some sailors from Mobile, Brewton, Spanish Fort, and Tuscaloosa. In the small time I spent with them, I could tell these were high quality individuals who love serving their country. I made sure to convey our deep appreciation for service and sacrifice. You see, the U.S. Navy is always impressive, but leading 25 nations in a joint naval exercise underscores just how impressive it is. No other navy in the history of the world has ever done that, but the reasons for doing it are even more important. We are using our hard power to achieve a soft power goal – attaching each of these countries closer to the United States and creating relationships across our militaries which not only serves us all well in times of peace, as when there is a natural disaster, but just as importantly also lowers the chance of war. Hopefully the lessons learned at RIMPAC never have to be used, but I have greater confidence in our Navy and our partners following another successful exercise in the Pacific. • • • Bradley Byrne is a member of U.S. Congress representing Alabama’s 1st Congressional District.
