Alabama leaders commemorate Victory over Japan Day
On September 2, 1945, representatives of the Empire of Japan formally surrendered to the U.S. and the Allies aboard the Battleship U.S.S. Missouri, formally ending World War II. The United States was forced into World War II on December 7, 1941, when the Japanese bombed the U.S. Navy base at Pearl Harbor. The Allies had defeated Nazi Germany months earlier. German Chancellor Adolf Hitler was dead, and the Nazi leadership was in custody: but Japan fought on alone, still holding large portions of China, Korea, Indochina, and Formosa (today Taiwan). On August 6 and 9, the U.S. dropped atomic bombs on the Cities of Nagasaki and Hiroshima. On August 15, Japan announced its surrender, with the formal signing of the surrender paper coming on September 2. General Douglas MacArthur signed the surrender papers on behalf of the Allies. This date is remembered in the U.S. as Victory over Japan Day (VJ-Day). The British commemorate August 15 as Victory over Japan Day. U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) remembered the veterans who won World War II. “On September 2, 1945, Japan officially surrendered aboard the U.S.S. Missouri, ending one of the bloodiest wars in history,” Sen. Tuberville wrote on Twitter. “78 years later, we remember the courage, selflessness, and sacrifices of all our World War II veterans.” Congressman Barry Moore (R-AL02) acknowledged the historical significance of the date on Twitter. “On this 78th Anniversary of the Victory over Japan, we celebrate the Japanese surrender to allied forces, marking the end of World War II,” Rep. Moore said on Twitter. “Let us never forget those who sacrificed everything to defend our country and protect our freedom.” Sen. Katie Britt (R-Alabama) also honored the World War II vets. “Today, we remember the service and sacrifice of the heroic Americans who won the victory in the Pacific and brought an end to the largest war the world has ever seen,” Sen. Britt wrote on Twitter. World War II was the largest, bloodiest war in the history of the world and second only to the Civil War in American deaths. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Gov. Kay Ivey saddened by Jimmy Buffett’s death
Singer and songwriter Jimmy Buffett’s death was announced early on Saturday. The nationally known singer had a long relationship with Alabama, and hundreds of thousands of Alabamians know the lyrics to his songs. Buffett died from Merkel cell carcinoma, an aggressive and relatively rare skin cancer that eventually metastasized into lymphoma. Buffett was diagnosed with the condition, and it caused him to cancel concerts in 2022. In May, he canceled a performance in South Carolina and was hospitalized. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey expressed her condolences on Twitter Saturday. “Like many Alabamians, I am saddened to learn of Jimmy Buffett’s passing,” Gov. Ivey said on Twitter. “Truly, the stars fell on Alabama’s shores with his music, and there will never be another quite like him who can capture the spirit of our Gulf Coast. Rest easy, Jimmy.” U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Alabama) also expressed her condolences on Twitter. “Jimmy Buffett lived an incredible life— his music epitomizing the fun in the sun culture of his native Gulf Coast,” Sen. Britt said on Twitter. “We are fortunate that his star fell on Alabama. Our prayers are with his loved ones.” Buffett was a native of Pascagoula, Mississippi, but his family moved to Mobile, and many of his songs are influenced by the culture of his laid-back Gulf Coast upbringing. Buffett was a student at Auburn University when a fellow fraternity member taught him to play the guitar. Buffett took up music as his calling and soon found that he loved performing more than he loved academics. He never graduated from Auburn but is one of the University’s best-loved alumni. After a period that included performing on the streets of New Orleans, Buffett eventually earned a degree in history from the University of Southern Mississippi. Buffett had a five decades-long career that produced 29 albums and favorite singles, including Margaritaville, One Particular Harber, A Pirate Looks at Forty, Why Don’t We Get Drunk, Volcano, Cheeseburger in Paradise, He Went to Paris, Fins, Son of a Son of a Sailor, Changes in Latitudes – Changes in Attitudes, and Come Monday. Buffett’s condition worsened over the course of the summer, so his passing was not a surprise to his family and close friends. He entered hospice on August 28. He died surrounded by his family, friends, and dogs. British musician Paul McCartney visited Buffett and his family a week earlier. Buffett songs were played at both the Auburn and Alabama home football games on Saturday. Buffett has not yet been inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Farmers are disappointed with Biden Administration revisions to water regulation rules
On Tuesday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued a final rule amending the 2023 definition of “waters of the United States.” According to original reporting by the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, the amendments conform with the Supreme Court’s recent decision in Sackett v. EPA. The agencies had to amend their rule to conform to the U.S. Supreme Court decision while still following the law and implementing the Clean Water Act, which provides essential protections that safeguard the nation’s waters from pollution and degradation. The final action is intended to finally provide the clarity needed to advance these goals while moving forward with infrastructure projects, economic opportunities, and agricultural activities. Specifically, the amendments include: · Eliminates “interstate wetlands” from the list of jurisdictional waters. · Limits jurisdictional tributaries to features “that are relatively permanent, standing or continuously flowing bodies of water.” · Redefines “adjacent” as “having a continuous surface connection.” · The rule wholly removes the significant nexus test from consideration when identifying tributaries and other waters as federally protected. · It also revises the adjacency test when identifying federally jurisdictional wetlands. · It clarifies that interstate wetlands do not fall within the interstate waters category and clarifies the types of features that can be considered under the “additional waters” category. It is important to note that this amendment does not affect any other aspects of the 2023 rule, including agricultural exclusions. In the Sackett decision, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a [Joe] Biden rewrite of the waters of the U.S. rule (WOTUS) that would have given the federal government strict oversight over every creek, tributary, pond, or drainage ditch in the country. The Alabama Farmers Federation is still opposed to the Biden Administration’s rewrite. The Alabama Farmers Federation’s Mitt Walker said the revisions, while technically in line with a May Supreme Court ruling, are discouraging. “It’s disappointing to see the EPA again hamper farmers’ rights to manage water on their land,” said Walker, who leads national affairs for Alabama’s largest general farm organization. “We have been fighting for clear, concise rules since the 2015 WOTUS rule was released. This is a small step in the right direction, but EPA must make more changes to roll back regulatory overreach.” EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers made the revisions without public notice and comments in response to the Sackett v. EPA Supreme Court ruling. The rule will take effect upon publication in the Federal Register. The Sackett case concerned two Idaho landowners, Michael and Chantell Sackett, who contended wetlands on their property were not “adjacent” under the Clean Water Act. Zippy Duvall is the President of the American Farm Bureau Federation. “EPA had a golden opportunity to write a Waters of the U.S. Rule that’s fair to farmers and stands the test of time but instead chose to continue government overreach and revise only a small slice of the rule that was rejected by the Supreme Court,” said Duvall, a farmer from Georgia. “We’re pleased the vague and confusing ‘significant nexus’ test has been eliminated as the Supreme Court dictated. But EPA has ignored other clear concerns raised by the justices, 26 states, and farmers across the country about the rule’s failure to respect private property rights and the Clean Water Act. Farmers and ranchers share the goal of protecting the resources they’re entrusted with. They deserve a rule that respects farmers as partners in that effort.” The current WOTUS dispute has now spanned three presidential administrations, beginning with President Barack Obama. This will potentially have had enormous economic impact for farmers, ranchers, developers, and even many residential communities. Anyone who interacts with water in the country. The Obama administration originally rewrote the existing rule, that applied to only navigable bodies of water. The Trump Administration overturned the Obama Administration rule change. Biden then reversed the Trump rule and reinstated the Obama rule. “The Biden Administration in two years has racked up more regulations than the Obama Administration did in eight years,” U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Alabama) said of the Biden rule earlier in the year before the Supreme Court ruling. “They’re continuing their red tape regime with yet another reckless rulemaking decision that would prioritize their leftwing political agenda at the expense of hardworking Americans. This type of job-killing overregulation would strangle Alabama farmers, cattlemen, manufacturers, energy producers, builders, landowners, and small businesses.” “Alabamians have tended to our own land, waterways, and resources for generations, and we remain best positioned to preserve and utilize them for generations to come,” Britt said. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Steve Flowers: Summer Political Happenings
As the long, hot summer ends and Labor Day approaches, let’s take a look back at what occurred over the last three summer months politically. First of all, it was one of the hottest summers on record. Temperatures soared into the hundreds as early as late June. On one of those late June days, one of the hottest political events of the year occurred. The annual Tomato Sandwich Lunch event hosted by Alabama Agriculture Commissioner Rick Pate was the biggest yet. The twentieth annual Tomato Sandwich Lunch held at the Ed Teague Arena near the Garrett Coliseum was a must-be event for Alabama political elite. The Tomato Sandwich Lunch promotes produce from local farmers and encourages people to eat Alabama-grown products. Alabama-based vendors donate all of the food for the event. Commissioner Rick Pate was a master host to over 500 attendees. In attendance were U.S. Senator Katie Britt, State Treasurer Young Boozer, and Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth. PSC member Jeremy Oden came from Cullman, and State Board of Education President Wayne Reynolds came from Athens. State Judges in attendance were Supreme Court Judge Greg Cook, Criminal Appeals Court Judge Bill Cole, and Civil Appeals Court Judges Matt Friday and Bill Thompson. Legislators spotted were State Senators Josh Carnley and Will Barfoot, as well as Representatives Jerry Starnes, Margie Wilcox, Van Smith, and Ed Oliver. There were dozens of local County Commissioners from all over the state. Many of the state’s most prominent lobbyists were there, along with many of the Governor’s Cabinet members. Alabama Power Government Affairs guru Houston Smith and Alfa Executive Director Paul Pinyan were prominent. In fact, most of Alfa’s governmental affairs folks were at this very fun and political event. During the summer, everybody and their brother, or at least everyone who ever won a 4-H speaking contest, entered the race for the Republican nomination for President. There must be 20 people running against Donald Trump for the GOP nomination. This is just what Trump was hoping for. It splinters the anti-Trump vote to such a degree that it virtually assures him the nomination. During the summer, the U.S. Supreme Court decided that Alabama’s Congressional districts were gerrymandered to keep Black voters from being able to elect a second Black Democrat to Congress. Alabama currently has six white Republican Congressmen and one Black Democratic Congresswoman, Terri Sewell. In July, former Alabama Supreme Court Justice Mike Bolin won a special election to fill a seat on the five-member Jefferson County Commission. His election was like manna from Heaven for the Jefferson County Republican Party. The commissioner, who departed this important seat, was a Republican. The commission had a three to two Republican majority. Therefore, it was an important election for the state’s largest and most important county. Mike Bolin had just retired from the Alabama Supreme Court after 18 years on the state’s high tribunal. He had been Probate Judge of Jefferson County for 16 years prior to his service on the Supreme Court. He only retired from the Supreme Court due to a state law that prevents judges from running for reelection after age 70. Bolin is Jefferson County through and through and one of the most respected gentlemen and public servants in Jefferson County and Alabama. The imperial county of Jefferson is fortunate that Judge Mike Bolin was available and ready to serve. His swearing-in ceremony occurred on a sweltering hot July 31. The large Jefferson County Courthouse commission chambers was overflowing. It was a congregation of who’s who of Jefferson County politics. Hope you had a good summer. Happy football season and happy Labor Day! See you next week. Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in the state legislature. Steve may be reached at www.steveflowers.us.
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.
Alabama Gulf Coast residents watch Tropical Storm Idalia
On Sunday, a tropical storm, Idalia, entered the Gulf of Mexico. It is not expected to have a significant impact on the state of Alabama, but given the extremely high water temperatures that we have experienced this year and the propensity for tropical weather systems to not be unpredictable, Gulf Coast residents are keeping an eye on Idalia’s movements. U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Alabama) warned Gulf Coast residents in Mobile and Baldwin counties to be weather aware. “While Tropical Storm Idalia is currently projected to have very minimal impacts in our state, I want to encourage Alabamians to keep a close eye on the forecasts and review their severe weather plan to keep their home, family, and business safe,” Sen. Britt said on Twitter. Sen. Britt shared a post by Birmingham meteorologist James Spann. Based on the current forecast, Alabama residents who have plans for a Panama City trip this week should reschedule their beach excursion. Be aware that tropical storms can and do change paths, and a Cat 1 hurricane that seems to be of minimal consequence can gain strength quickly as it moves inland. Have a hurricane plan for preparing your property and an evacuation plan to implement if that should become necessary. A four-day excursion to Birmingham to visit the zoo and the art and motorcycle museums is a preferable option to being trapped in a coastal or low-lying area facing severe weather. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Billy Taylor: Federal legislation needed to prevent corporate hospitals from raising the cost of care
The exorbitant cost of health care is a well-known issue for countless families across the country. Patients, health care professionals, and lawmakers alike need to work overtime to bring problematic practices in our healthcare system to light. When it comes to lowering healthcare costs, ensuring fair medical billing must be part of the discussion. In recent years, there has been an uptick in major hospitals acquiring independent community health care practices. When looking closer at this trend of consolidation of medical practices, a concerning pattern emerges new corporate hospital owners will raise the cost of care even though there is no change in services delivered. The vehicle to increase patient expenses? Tacking on hospital facility fees. These high prices are problematically added to medical invoices by hospitals when services are administered at so-called hospital outpatient departments, which are facilities owned and operated by big hospitals. More times than not, these extra charges are added without the knowledge of the patient. Our neighbors, family members, and friends need to be aware of this issue, as do our elected leaders who are in positions of power to address it. In Alabama, it is no secret that many of our communities deal with critical health issues. An array of chronic health conditions exist across Alabama, with concerning projections showing that the total cost of managing chronic disease in our state will be a whopping $671 billion from 2016-2030. With this outlook in mind, any opportunity to lower healthcare costs should be a top priority when our leaders come to the policymaking table. For these reasons, I urge my federal representatives, Senator Katie Britt, Senator Tommy Tuberville, Congresswoman Terri Sewell, and the entire Alabama delegation, to support legislation that would make a meaningful impact on health care costs for state residents. Fortunately, there are measures before Congress right now that would ensure fair hospital billing and implement site-neutral payments to benefit both patients and taxpayers supporting the Medicare program. The Site-based Invoicing and Transparency Enhancement Act (SITE) in the Senate and the Facilitating Accountability in Reimbursements Act (FAIR) in the House of Representatives would be crucial steps towards ensuring medical bills are more reasonable – regardless of where care is delivered. Site-neutral billing is a solution that would prevent hospitals from charging exorbitant prices for medical procedures. This would also benefit the Medicare program by ensuring costs remain consistent across the board. I am encouraged to see the significant bipartisan momentum to address these facility fees through the SITE and FAIR Acts. The potential impact of the site-neutral payment reform legislation is significant, with projections indicating a possible reduction of $153 billion in Medicare spending and a corresponding decrease of $94 billion in healthcare costs for Medicare beneficiaries. The site-neutral savings go even further by reducing national health expenditures by as much as $672 billion. With high inflation and everyday expenses growing daily, that money can go back into the pockets of hard-working Americans. Something as critical as health care for ourselves and our loved ones should not be an uphill financial battle. Surely, fair medical billing is something all of our elected leaders can get behind in Washington to make an impact on the daily lives of every American. Making meaningful changes to bring healthcare costs down often seems insurmountable. But it all starts with small steps, and fair billing reform is part of the way forward. Billy Taylor is the Founder and CEO of Hometown Lenders.
Tommy Tuberville to hold informational session on service academies in Homewood today
U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville, along with Sen. Katie Britt, Congressman Jerry Carl, and Congresswoman Terri Sewell, will be hosting an informational session about attending one of the four service academies in Homewood on Tuesday night. Sen. Tuberville wrote on Twitter: “Interested in applying to a U.S. Service Academy? This week my office will be hosting three info sessions across the state. August 22 – Homewood August 24 – Troy August 27 – Montgomery Sen. Tuberville has been hosting service academy informational sessions throughout the month of August. Some of the dates have changed since the publication of an earlier press release. The events have already been held in Madison and Mobile. Congressman Jerry Carl (R-AL01) wrote on Twitter, “My team and I joined staff from the offices of @SenTuberville & @SenKatieBritt to host a U.S. Service Academy info session at the Battleship. We had a great turnout, and I’m so encouraged for the future of our country!” The Homewood event will be at the Homewood Public Library—Round Auditorium at 6 pm on Tuesday, August 22. Both U.S. Senators and all seven Alabama Congress members can make appointments to the nation’s service academies: Army (Westpoint), Navy (Annapolis), Air Force (Colorado Springs), and Merchant Marine. Acceptance to a service academy means four years of the highest quality college instruction without debts and a career serving the nation in the armed forces. With increasing threats from Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea, recruiting the best and the brightest to serve as officers in America’s armed forces. To be eligible to receive a service academy appointment, applicants must: · Be a United States Citizen at the time they enter the Service Academy and a legal resident of Alabama; · Be at least 17 years of age but not yet 23 by July 1 of the year they are admitted to the Service Academy (the upper age limit is 25 for Merchant Marine Academy); · Meet the minimum requirements of the Academy to which they are applying. The last date to submit the application is Monday, October 16, 2023. 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 opposes paying $6 billion ransom to Iran
According to multiple media reports, the Biden Administration has negotiated a deal with Iran to swap five “unjustly detained” Americans in exchange for several jailed Iranians and access to approximately $6 billion in sanctioned oil revenue that’s being held in South Korea. When the news broke last week, U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Alabama) expressed her concerns that the $6 billion being paid to Iran was “ransom” paid to Iran in exchange for the five captive Americans: “While I will always join my fellow Americans in welcoming home our citizens held hostage around the world, I’m deeply troubled by the naive ‘deal’ the Biden Administration reportedly struck,” Sen. Britt said in a statement. “Handing $6 billion to the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism is a reckless and dangerous decision that threatens the lives of Americans and our allies across the globe. This appeasement will only embolden our adversaries and invite hostile actors to take more American hostages in the future, as they know doing so could score them massive payouts from this Administration. As we near the anniversary of his disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, President [Joe] Biden has once again shown the world that his failed foreign policy is built on a foundation of weakness. It’s time to get back to achieving peace through strength.” The agreement comes after at least two years of negotiations, according to CNN and the New York Times, which first reported various elements of the negotiations. The five Americans all are dual citizens of Iran. They have reportedly been transferred from Iran’s notoriously harsh Evin Prison to a hotel in Tehran, where they will be held for a few weeks under house arrest before being allowed to leave the country. National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said that the detained individuals are: · Siamak Namazi · Emad Sharghi · Morad Tahbaz · and two Americans whose families don’t want their identities made public. The ongoing negotiations are considered very dynamic and far from a done deal. The U.S. maintains that these U.S. citizens should have never been detained in the first place. The Iranian regime has a 43-year history of using hostage-taking to advance its foreign policy. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) also opposed the deal. “While we always welcome the release of American hostages − if they are in fact released after President Biden pays Iran $6 billion in ransom − this craven act of appeasement will only embolden the ayatollahs to take more hostages and use these ill-gotten gains to attack our troops, fund terrorism and arm Russia,” said Sen. Cotton. “This cycle will continue until President Biden stops dancing to Iran’s tune and starts responding firmly and decisively to their aggression.” Some conservatives have questioned whether these negotiations with Iran are part of a broader effort to revive the failed Iran nuclear deal negotiated during the Obama administration. 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.
Today marks two-year anniversary of U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan
The United States withdrew from Afghanistan two years ago. U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Alabama) and Congressman Jerry Carl (R-AL01) marked the occasion with statements on their Twitter accounts. The frantic evacuations of civilians, many of whom had worked for the Allied forces during the war, were halted when 13 U.S. service members were killed by a terrorist bomber. President Joe Biden was widely criticized both for his decision to abandon the war effort and the poorly planned withdrawal from the country. “Today is the two-year anniversary of the Biden Administration’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan,” said Sen. Katie Britt on Twitter. “Despite losing 13 brave Americans and surrendering control of the country to the Taliban, the President continues to push foreign policy built on a foundation of weakness.” “Two years ago today marks President Biden’s botched withdrawal from Afghanistan which resulted in 13 American servicemembers losing their lives,” said Rep. Carl on Twitter. “May we honor the lives of those brave 13 servicemembers and pray for their families during this time.” The war against the Taliban began on September 11, 2001, when terrorists seized control of three large passenger jets and flew them into the two towers of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. A fourth jet crashed into a field in Pennsylvania when the passengers attempted to take back control of their plane. The attacks were planned and orchestrated by the terrorist group Al Qaeda, who had the protection of the Taliban government in Afghanistan. Nineteen years of war followed, with the U.S. and its allies having a lot of early success but with Taliban insurgents continuing to control wide swaths of the country. Biden, like Donald Trump before him, vowed to get the United States out of Afghanistan. Biden signed a treaty with the Taliban for the U.S. to withdraw by September 11. 2021. The phased withdrawal of U.S. forces resulted in senior Afghan government and military leaders fleeing the country ahead of the withdrawal, and the Afghanistan national army crumbled before U.S. forces had even withdrawn. The Taliban forces picked up hundreds of millions of dollars of U.S. military hardware from the retreating Americans and the fleeing Afghan army. The Taliban had occupied the presidential palace in Kabul. At the same time, the U.S. was still frantically trying to evacuate American civilians in the country, Afghan intellectuals, Afghans who had worked with the allies, citizens of U.S. allies, and Afghan civilians terrified of a return to life under the harsh rule of the Taliban. That evacuation of civilians ended when those 13 soldiers were killed. The Taliban are now entering their third year in power. Taliban official Zabihullah Mujahid recently spoke with the Associated Press about their rule. Mujahid said that the ban on female education will remain in place. A flurry of restrictions now keeps Afghan girls and women from classrooms, most jobs, and much of public life. The Taliban celebrated Tuesday as a public holiday. Women were prohibited from celebrating as their movements outside their homes are strictly limited. Much of the power over the nation now resides in Kandahar, the spiritual capital of the Taliban, where supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada lives, rather than the Taliban-led government in Kabul. Mujahid said that Taliban rule is open-ended because it draws legitimacy from Sharia law. “There is no fixed term for the Islamic government,” Mujahid explained. “It will serve for as long as it can and as long as the emir (the supreme leader) isn’t removed for doing something that goes against Sharia.” “There is no need for anyone to rebel,” Mujahid said, claiming that Afghans are united. “Everything will be under the influence of Sharia.” When asked why the Taliban aren’t enlisting Muslim-majority countries with Sharia-based systems to restart female education, he said the Taliban don’t need the help of others. Akhundzada, the supreme leader, is believed to be the leading force behind the classroom ban, which was issued unexpectedly in March 2022. Mujahid acknowledged disagreement among religious scholars on female education and suggested that maintaining harmony among them was more important than getting girls and women back into classrooms. World Vision said the number of people in need of assistance has increased by around 5 million. It said 15 million people will face “crisis” levels of food insecurity this year, with 2.8 million in the “emergency” category, the fourth highest globally. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Cam Lanier: Reform the permitting process to support a stronger economy for Alabama
A broken, dysfunctional, and entirely too slow federal permitting process is holding back Alabama businesses, our energy potential, and our entire economy. It is well beyond time for our leaders in Washington to pass bipartisan permitting reform, just as they did with infrastructure. In fact, reforming our inefficient permitting process is the only way to move vital infrastructure projects forward and continue growing a stronger economic future for our state. As CEO of ITC Capital Partners, I know all too well the frustrating delays that are part of trying to obtain a federal permit these days. The entire process is wrapped up in bureaucratic formalities that can add years to a given project timeline. That is true not only for rural broadband service providers, but for an array of energy, infrastructure, and economic development efforts. Alabama’s congressional delegation, including Senator Katie Boyd Britt, should push their colleagues to pass federal permitting reform to help ensure critical infrastructure projects—whether that’s rural broadband deployment, repairing our aging roads and bridges, or water safety improvements—can move forward in a timely manner. As they work to address permitting reform, Alabama’s lawmakers should also fight to advance policies that will help our state continue to strengthen energy innovation by advancing an all-of-the-above energy strategy that includes clean energy. Communities in East Alabama are ready to embrace a more diverse array of energy resources, but that all relies on Congress funding and deploying new technologies that will help reduce our environmental impact. Reforming our broken federal permitting process will help move critical infrastructure projects forward in our state while enabling us to build a cleaner, more sustainable economy. Congress should seize this opportunity and pass permitting reform without delay. Cam Lanier is the CEO of ITC Capital Partners.
