Katie Britt votes against the Homeland Security Appropriations Act
On Thursday, U.S. Senator Katie Britt, the Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee for the Senate Committee on Appropriations, voted against advancing the Fiscal Year 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations Act to the full Senate. During the Appropriations Committee’s markup on Thursday, Senator Britt voiced her concerns with the legislation. “While I have no doubt this bill makes significant strides compared to President [Joe] Biden’s woeful budget request, there is still more that needs to be done to end – rather than manage – the ongoing border crisis,” said Sen. Britt. “On the heels of record encounters, I believe that we must complement the border security technology included in this bill with funding for a physical barrier system along our southern border. After several visits to the border, it is something that I personally believe is a critical tool to keep our homeland safe and secure.” “Despite the Administration admitting it urgently needs an additional 6,000 beds, this bill does not increase the number of ICE detention beds,” Britt continued. “As we all know, there (is $752 million) flowing to different groups – DHS, nongovernmental organizations included to house migrants and move them around the country, and we need answers as to how, and why, and where this money is being spent.” “As I watch the daily encounter numbers continue to increase day after day, yesterday – 6,883, I remain concerned that each of these issues serves as an incentive for people to continue to come here outside the legal pathways,” Britt added. There were some parts of the bill that Britt liked. “I am pleased that the bill funds an increase of more than 1,100 personnel across Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement,” said Britt. “It also includes significant funding for border security technology. “In addition, fentanyl is the leading cause of death, as you all know, for Americans ages 18 to 45. This bill appropriates over $800 million in new funding to combat the scourge of fentanyl that is poisoning our communities, schools, and families, and destroying too many American lives.” “This bill is a positive step forward in a whole-of-government approach to target the cartels and transnational criminal organizations engaged in fentanyl trafficking, child exploitation, and human smuggling,” Britt said. “Additionally, this bill provides necessary funding to allow the Coast Guard to continue to invest in critical programs like the Offshore Patrol Cutter and to acquire a Commercially Available Icebreaker that will expand our near-term presence in the Arctic to counter the ambitions of Russia and China.” “I remain thankful to Senator Chris Murphy for working with me to secure critical these priorities,” Britt said. This is the first time since 2018 when Richard Shelby chaired the Appropriations Committee, that the U.S. Senate has advanced all 12 of the appropriations bills out of committee and to the Senate floor. “There’s more to do: we still have to get these bills passed through the full Senate, and House, and signed into law—and that is our focus moving forward,” Sens. Patty Murray (D-Washington) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), chairwoman and vice-chairwoman of the committee, respectively, said in a joint statement. “However, what this committee has achieved over the last several weeks shows that it is possible for Congress to work together and work through real differences—to find common ground and produce serious, bipartisan bills that can be signed into law.” “It is a testament to the tremendous leadership and determination of both of you that today marks the milestone of this committee marking up twelve out of twelve appropriations bills,” Britt said during her comments. “This is a significant accomplishment, and no doubt a win for the American people that the appropriations process is proceeding in this fashion. That would not have happened without the leadership of the two of you.” The United States has been operating on a series of often hasty continuing resolutions and omnibus spending bills since 2019. Doing budget deals with House Republicans could prove more difficult than moving them in the Senate. Katie Britt was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2022. Britt has made the border crisis and its role in the drug overdose and human smuggling crisis a key focus of her tenure in the Senate. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Tommy Tuberville, Katie Britt, and colleagues urge President Joe Biden to strengthen U.S. submarine industrial base
U.S. Senators Tommy Tuberville and Katie Britt joined Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), the Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and 21 Senate and House colleagues in a letter to President Joe Biden calling on the president to take immediate action to strengthen the U.S. submarine industrial base. This is particularly important with the U.S. working to fulfill the terms of the Australia-United Kingdom-United States (AUKUS) partnership. In the letter, the legislators emphasized their support for the AUKUS deal and argued that the U.S. submarine industrial base would require major new investments and a comprehensive plan of action to meet the needs of both the United States and Australia. “We urge you to send Congress immediately an AUKUS-specific request for appropriations and authorities alongside a multi-year plan to increase U.S. submarine production to a minimum of 2.5 Virginia-class attack submarines per year,” the Senator wrote in the letter. “It is time to make generational investments in U.S. submarine production capacity, including supplier and workforce development initiatives.” “AUKUS has broad support because of its potential to improve the national security of all three countries,” the Senators wrote. “Implementing this deal will require a historic degree of cooperation and trust among the three countries, and here at home, between the executive and legislative branches of our government.” “The U.S. Navy’s military requirement is 66 nuclear attack submarines,” the Senators wrote. “Today, there are only 49 in the fleet. Further, as older nuclear submarines retire faster than they are replaced, the Navy projects the inventory will decline to 46 by 2030. Under the current AUKUS plan to transfer U.S. Virginia-class submarines to a partner nation before meeting the Navy’s own requirements, the number of available nuclear submarines in the U.S. submarine fleet would be lowered further. This is a risk we should not take.” The full letter to President Biden is here. “The United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom formed a pact in 2021 to boost the three nations’ collective deterrence in the Indo-Pacific,” Sen. Wicker wrote recently in the Wall Street Journal. “That Aukus agreement is vital, but there is more work to do: The U.S. should double its submarine production.” “Under the first pillar of the Aukus agreement, the U.S. would sell our attack submarines to Australia,” Wicker continued. “In exchange, Australia would expand basing for U.S. submarines. In the second pillar, all three nations would share advanced technology.” “Attack submarines are among our most effective weapons and the crown jewels of U.S. military power,” Wicker continued. “Undersea warfare is one of the few areas in which we retain a competitive advantage over the Chinese military.” “Worse still, demands on our submarine maintenance capabilities have also stretched our military’s readiness,” Wicker wrote. “Nearly 40% of U.S. attack submarines cannot be deployed because of maintenance delays. For example, the USS Connecticut had an accident in the South China Sea in 2021 and likely won’t be operational until 2026.” U.S. Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro recently told reporters that the U.S. cannot compete with China’s ability to build warships. They have more shipyards and are building ships at a faster pace than American shipyards are capable of building ships. Del Toro said that the Chinese Navy is the largest in the world, with 340 ships, and could be fielding up to 400 ships in the coming years. The U.S. meanwhile has fewer than 300 ships and is struggling to maintain the readiness of that fleet. According to the U.S. Navy’s Navigation Plan 2022, released last summer, the Pentagon’s goal is to have 350 manned ships by 2045, but it is unclear if that target will or can be met. “They have 13 shipyards; in some cases, their shipyard has more capacity – one shipyard has more capacity than all of our shipyards combined. That presents a real threat,” Del Toro said. Tommy Tuberville was elected to the Senate in 2020, while Katie 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 votes to advance water projects bill
U.S. Senator Katie Britt, a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, joined her colleagues in advancing the Fiscal Year 2024 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act. The bill appropriates more than $72 million in direct investments Senator Britt secured for projects across Alabama. “From the rivers that wind across Alabama to Mobile Harbor, our state’s waterways are critical connectors that drive opportunity, recreation, and economic growth in every corner of our great state,” said Sen. Britt. “These investments would help ensure Alabama remains beautiful and a sweet home to do business long into the future.” In the bill, Britt prioritized investing in key Alabama priorities, including the following: · $20.6 million to revitalize and repair the George W. Andrews Lock and Dam on the Apalachicola, Chattahoochee, and Flint Rivers at Columbia, Alabama. · $18.4 million for dredging, maintenance, and operations on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. · $12.1 million for dredging, maintenance, and operations on the Black Warrior and Tombigbee Rivers · $11.2 million for dredging, maintenance, and operations in Mobile Harbor. · $10.5 million for dredging, maintenance, and operations on the Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa River System Senator Britt also supported programmatic language in the bill that would set aside $200 million for the Appalachian Regional Commission, which serves 37 counties in Alabama, and $30.1 million for the Delta Regional Authority, which serves 20 counties across the state. The Fiscal Year 2024 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act provides $58.095 billion in total funding for the Department of Energy, Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation, and independent agencies. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-California) Chairs the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development. “Our energy and water infrastructure need significant investment to meet the needs of Americans throughout the country, particularly in the West,” said Sen. Feinstein. “This bill will help modernize our water systems to improve and increase dam safety, water storage, water recycling, desalination projects, and more. And as we experience new heat records, our bill also makes key investments in expanding clean energy and fighting against climate change. I want to thank Ranking Member [John] Kennedy for being a partner in moving forward this important bipartisan legislation.” Senator Patty Murray (D-Washington) Chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee. “This is a strong bipartisan bill that keeps America’s lights on and water flowing to our farms, propels cutting-edge scientific research, ensures nuclear security, and advances key environmental cleanup efforts,” said Chairwoman Murray. “These investments are key to making sure communities have the water resources they need to grow crops, strengthening our competitiveness globally, furthering clean energy research and capacity, and so much else. I’m also glad we are able to provide new resources to maintain our ports and harbors, which are so critical to trade, tourism, and even people’s daily commutes.” The bill provides $8.934 billion in total funding for the Corps of Engineers. The bill provides a historic $2.77 billion for the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund to improve navigation through dredging ports, maintain waterways, and ensure efficient water transport. The bill also includes funding for critical inland waterways navigation projects. The bill continues investments in critical construction projects to protect communities from extreme weather events and more frequent flooding. The bill also expands the Water Infrastructure Financing Program to include levees, allowing low-interest loans for communities to make improvements and increase protection from flood events. The Bureau of Reclamation receives $1.921 in funding to deliver reliable water and hydroelectric power to the western United States. The bill includes $186 million for Western drought programs under the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act, which supports long-term drought strategies, including water storage, water recycling and reuse, and desalination. The bill includes funding to support rural water supply projects and critical grant programs that invest in research and innovative applications of water-saving technologies. The bill provides $17.3 billion for the Department of Energy’s non-defense programs. The bill provides $8.43 billion in new directed funding—$330 million over fiscal year 2023—for the Office of Science. This funding will help implement the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act of 2022. The Office of Science is the largest federal sponsor of basic research in the physical sciences and supports 22,000 researchers at 17 national laboratories and more than 300 universities. The bill provides $3.5 million in new funding for industrial emissions and technology coordination to coordinate clean industrial research, development, demonstrations, and deployment across the Department of Energy. The bill provides $3.686 billion for energy efficiency and renewable energy programs, $227 million above fiscal year 2023. This includes increases in wind energy, water technologies, and advanced manufacturing. The bill provides $200 million for Cybersecurity. The bill provides $1.55 billion for Nuclear Energy research and development, including funding for microreactor development and accident-tolerant fuel important for nuclear reactor safety. The bill provides $75 million for the Indian Energy Policy and Programs and updates the Tribal Loan Guarantee Program to help Tribal Nations deploy clean energy. The bill also provides $32.8 billion for atomic energy defense activities for the Department of Energy, including Nuclear National Security, and $18.8 billion for Weapons Activities, $1.7 billion above fiscal year 2023, including $142 million above the request for Savannah River plutonium pit production, and a nearly $400 million or 110 percent increase above fiscal year 2023 for the Uranium Processing Facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The Fiscal Year 2024 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act now moves to the full Senate for consideration. Katie 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 votes in favor of funding bill that includes funding for Alabama projects
U.S. Senator Katie Britt, in her role as a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, joined her colleagues last week in voting to advance the Fiscal Year 2024 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill. The FY2024 includes nearly $40 million secured by Sen. Britt to modernize and upgrade transportation infrastructure in communities across Alabama. “Our local roads, highways, and airports connect Alabama’s families, small businesses, industries, and communities with not only each other but the world,” said Sen. Britt. “Every child – regardless of their zip code – should have the opportunity to work hard and seize their American Dream, and investing strategically and responsibly in our state’s 21st-century infrastructure needs is key to making this a reality. I look forward to continuing to work on the Appropriations Committee to bring Alabamians’ hard-earned taxpayer dollars back home, so that every community across our state can reach its full potential.” In the bill, Katie Britt prioritized investing in key Alabama priorities, including improvements to roads in rural communities, regional airports, and inland port infrastructure, that would improve safety while also empowering economic development and creating jobs in local communities. She also supported programmatic language in the bill that would set aside $20 million for the National Scenic Byways program and $350 million for the Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS), which includes funds for the long-delayed Birmingham Northern Beltline. Alabama has the most uncompleted miles remaining of any state in the system and should get approximately $30 million out of the total ADHS appropriation. The Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies bill provides a discretionary total of $90.243 billion. That is $8.633 billion (8.7%) below what President Joe Biden asked for in his Budget Request. The Subcommittee’s spending level is still $2.91 billion above the Fiscal Year 2023 allocation. The FY 2024 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill now moves to the full Senate for consideration. The U.S. national debt is over $32.6 trillion. The U.S. government spends $1.57 trillion a year more than it takes in revenues. Katie Britt was elected to the Senate in 2022. She previously was the President and CEO of the Business Council of Alabama and an attorney. Before that, she served as Chief of Staff for former U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Alabama). Britt is a native of Enterprise. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Will Ainsworth: Alabama congressional delegation fights Joe Biden’s efforts to corrupt Space Command HQ selection
31 That is the number of months that have elapsed since Alabama was officially announced as the location for U.S. Space Command headquarters. 3 That is the number of independent studies conducted by the Department of Defense Inspector General and the Government Accounting Office that rate Huntsville’s Redstone Arsenal as the best place for U.S. Space Command headquarters. 5 That is where President Joe Biden’s preferred state of Colorado ranks on the list of states qualified to house U.S. Space Command. 31…3…5 Those three simple numbers are all the evidence you need to demonstrate that the Biden administration has fully politicized the most important long-term strategic decision that Pentagon officials have made in decades. During his more lucid moments, Biden has made no secret that he prefers to place U.S. Space Command in a blue state like Colorado, which aligns more closely with his own ultra-liberal views, rather than a red state like Alabama that fiercely embraces conservative principles and strongly supported President Donald Trump’s candidacy in both 2016 and 2020. But with space serving as the newest battlefield in potential conflicts with hostile nations like Russia, China, and North Korea, politicizing what should be a decision based solely upon military advantage harms our defensive posture and puts the lives of roughly 335 million residents of the United States at risk. The members of Alabama’s congressional delegation, even those whose districts are located at the opposite extreme of the Tennessee Valley, are currently fighting a tremendous battle against Biden’s politicization in the corridors, committee rooms, and chambers of the U.S. Capitol building. Both U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville and Senator Katie Britt recently met with General James Dickinson, the commanding general of U.S. Space Command, and publicly reported they received his assurance that Alabama remains the unequivocal choice for the agency’s headquarters among members of the nation’s military leadership. Congressman Dale Strong, whose district includes Huntsville, received the same affirmation from Dickinson. House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers, a veteran congressman from the Anniston area with more than two decades of service, has inserted a provision in legislation that bans any construction related to Space Command headquarters from taking place until the Air Force confirms Alabama as the permanent location. The Rogers amendment also freezes half of the Air Force secretary’s travel budget until a permanent announcement is forthcoming. Likewise, Congressman Robert Aderholt of Haleyville and Congressman Jerry Carl of Mobile both serve on the House Appropriations Committee and have also inserted clauses pausing Space Command construction and other military development until an official announcement that is “in alignment” with the independent selection process is made. And after the Air Force leadership obliquely suggested that the criteria for locating Space Command may have secretly “changed” without public notice, Rogers opened an Armed Service Committee investigation into the delay surrounding the headquarters, and every email, memo, letter, note, and other material that touches upon the topic is becoming subject to congressional subpoena. Congressman Gary Palmer of Birmingham, Congressman Barry Moore of Enterprise, and even Congresswoman Terri Sewell of Birmingham, a fellow Democrat with Biden, have also communicated with the Air Force secretary and are equally committed to championing Redstone Arsenal’s cause. With the 2024 presidential election fast approaching, the stench of politics surrounding Space Command becomes exponentially stronger with each day that passes. A final, firm, and committed Pentagon announcement that Redstone Arsenal secured the selection was supposed to occur in December, but openness and accountability have been replaced with silence and stonewalling. Despite Biden’s ongoing efforts to corrupt a fair and independent process, Alabamians can remain secure in the knowledge that our congressional delegation is working hard every day to fight the smoke-and-mirrors approach being pushed by the White House and return honesty and fairness to the Space Command headquarters selection. For that, we can all be thankful. Will Ainsworth has served as lieutenant governor of Alabama since 2019.
Sen. Katie Britt and colleagues urge CMS to adjust proposed payment update in final rule
U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Alabama) recently joined a bipartisan coalition of 33 Senators in a letter led by Bob Menendez (D-New Jersey) and Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota) requesting that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator, Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, use the agency’s special exceptions and adjustments authority to update the proposed payment update in the final inpatient prospective payment system rule. “I’m glad to join this bipartisan letter urging CMS to adjust its Medicare fee-for-service payment rate to more accurately reflect costs incurred by hospitals in our current inflationary economy,” said Sen. Britt. “It is vital to our hospitals and healthcare system that the most up-to-date information is used to support the important care they provide to Medicare patients. I’ll continue to fight to ensure that every American and Alabamian has the opportunity to receive quality health care, regardless of their zip code.” Sen. Tommy Tuberville also joined the letter. “We write today to express our concern regarding the proposed payment updates included in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) proposed rule for fiscal year (FY) 2024,” wrote the senators to Administrator Brooks-LaSure. “We are concerned that the proposed payment updates do not fully account for the current cost of care and will result in an overall payment reduction for hospitals in FY2024.” The senators highlighted their view that during the FY2024 proposed rule, CMS relies on historical data that does not predict the impact of the current elevated cost of providing care and the increased growth in expenses due to labor and supply chain costs. They also pointed out that the productivity update included in the proposed rule assumes hospitals can replicate the general economy’s productivity gains when in fact, hospitals and health systems continue to face productivity declines. “Conditions like the ones currently facing hospitals require a heightened review of payment policy. We respectfully request that CMS consider using its special exceptions and adjustments authority to make a retrospective adjustment to account for the difference between the market basket update that was implemented for FY 2022 and what the market basket actually is for FY 2022,” added the senators. “These important changes will ensure Medicare payments for acute care services more accurately reflect the cost of providing hospital care today and for the coming year. On behalf of our hospitals and health systems nationwide, we appreciate your attention to these concerns.” This effort is supported by the American Hospital Association and the Alabama Hospital Association. “The American Hospital Association (AHA) thanks Senators Menendez and Cramer for leading this important bipartisan effort urging CMS to ensure hospitals and health systems have the resources they need to continue delivering high-quality care to their patients and communities,” said Lisa Kidder Hrobsky, AHA Senior Vice President, Advocacy and Political Affairs. “This support is more needed than ever as the hospital field continues to confront rising inflation, workforce shortages, and surging costs for supplies and drugs.” Katie Britt was elected to her first term in the Senate in 2022. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com
Katie Britt votes for appropriations bill that funds the space program
U.S. Senator Katie Britt, as a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, joined her colleagues in voting to advance the Fiscal Year 2024 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. The appropriations bill provides key funding for space exploration and research, including directly supporting important efforts at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville (MSFC). “The Marshall Space Flight Center is second-to-none,” said Sen. Britt. “As the incredible men and women at NASA, along with their partners in the private sector, continue to make historic leaps that broaden our understanding and expand the limits of human achievement, we must ensure that their groundbreaking work is supported. I am proud of the work that Alabamians accomplish every day to fuel a new age of American excellence in space exploration, and I am continually impressed at how our capabilities in Huntsville lead innovation crucial to our national priorities.” In the bill, Senator Britt secured $110 million for the development of Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP) based at MSFC to ensure that the United States has an NTP system capable of performing cislunar and deep space science missions, as well as potentially enabling future crewed missions to Mars. This legislation also appropriates $2.5 billion for NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS), which NASA hopes will put Americans back on the Moon with the Artemis missions before the end of the decade and be the rocket that launches Americans to Mars in the 2030s. The SLS program is managed at Marshall. This critical funding requested by Sen. Britt would also ensure future Artemis missions remain on schedule. The SLS is the most powerful rocket that has ever been built. The bill would also fully fund the Human Landing System (HLS) program at $1.88 billion. Britt said that this funding ensures maintained progress for Artemis 3 and continued development of the two crewed lunar landers to provide services from the Gateway lunar space station. NASA’s recent selection of a second HLS team will ensure redundancy and competition as our nation returns astronauts to the moon. The HLS program is also managed at Marshall. This legislation also supports NASA’s efforts as they evaluate multi-purpose habitation and life support systems for Mars transit and lunar surfaces currently involved in the Artemis missions, including in assembly facilities, to manufacture the mock-up and eventual habitats for these missions. Earlier this year, in a Senate Committee on Appropriations subcommittee hearing, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson reaffirmed that MSFC has the expertise and the workforce to establish a habitat and life support office that integrates and manages NASA’s efforts. The FY2024 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act passed out of committee in the Senate. It now moves to the full Senate for consideration. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Steve Flowers: If Alabama loses Space Command, it is because we lost Richard Shelby
Make no mistake about it; the decision as to where the heralded National Space Command Headquarters will be located is political. If you think otherwise, you are politically naïve. Senator Richard Shelby is the reason, and only reason, that the federal military officials even considered moving Space Command from Colorado to Huntsville, Alabama, in the first place, period. Folks, you are just beginning to see Senator Shelby’s retirement’s impact on the State of Alabama. Our freshman congressional members and even state and Huntsville leaders are continually referring to the results of a commission study that supposedly analyzed the qualifications and best locations for the Command Center, and Huntsville was the best choice. Commissions and studies like that are created every day of the week by Washington’s most powerful senators to justify what they want to accomplish. Guess what? Shelby wanted the study to say that Huntsville was the place. The bottom line is the only reason there was any consideration towards moving the facility from Colorado to Alabama was Richard Shelby, and the only reason that it might not be moving is because he is gone. I knew at the time of the announcement that Space Command Headquarters might move to Alabama, that if Shelby did not get it moved before he retired, it would probably never happen. Our two new senators, Tommy Tuberville and Katie Britt, do not have the power to impact the final decision on Space Command’s location. Seniority is omnipotent in the U.S. Senate. Britt is 99th out of 100, and Tuberville is 93rd. They have a vote, and that is it. Huntsville even has a freshman congressman in Dale Strong. He is less than irrelevant as a new face in the 435-member House. It will be ten years before they know he is even there. Strong and Britt have been in the House and Senate less than six months. If truth be known, with us having this little clout in Washington, I doubt that Huntsville is even on the radar screen for the headquarters. Huntsville should not feel so badly about the Biden Administration leaving Space Command in Colorado; it was crumbs compared to what Shelby loaded Huntsville up with in the last decade, anyway. This Space Command deal is more for prestige than it is for jobs and dollars. Shelby brought most of the high-tech and aerospace dollars in the country to Huntsville, which is what matters. Much more importantly, he moved most of Washington to Huntsville, including the FBI Headquarters. Folks, that is real power. It is unlikely that Alabama or any other state in the nation will ever see the power wielded by Richard Shelby in the nation’s history. King Shelby was more powerful than the President, whether it be Donald Trump or Joe Biden. As Chairman of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Armed Services Appropriations, he called the shots when it came to the U.S. Military. When he spoke, the generals listened. Unfortunately, when Britt and Tuberville speak, the military generals are cordial, but they could not care less what Britt and Tuberville say. In defense of Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville, they are giving it their all as freshman senators. The liberal writers in Alabama have castigated Tommy Tuberville for losing Space Command because of his position on abortion. He is no more the reason than Katie Britt or Dale Strong. All three are representatives of Alabama’s conservative Republican policy towards abortion. The Biden administration is using this decision to win two political points. First of all, if you are a liberal Democratic president and Space Command is in a liberal Democratic state like Colorado, would you move it to one of the reddest Republican states in America? Secondly, Biden is promoting the notion that since conservative ruby-red Alabama has enacted a very restrictive anti-abortion law, he is going to keep Space Command in Colorado. Most Democrats are for abortion on demand. He wins approval and points from both sides of the deal. By the way, he is running for reelection as a Democrat. That is Politics 101. Politics prevails, especially in an election year. 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 votes for appropriations bill with funding to upgrade South Alabama’s severe weather detection system
U.S. Senator Katie Britt, as a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, voted for a fiscal year 2024 appropriation that included additional funding to modernize severe weather detection equipment and forecasting technology to save lives across Alabama. She voted last week to advance the FY 2024 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, which includes significant measures secured by Sen. Britt to accomplish her goal of modernizing the system. “Across Alabama, families have had to make split-second, life-or-death decisions in the face of tornadoes,” said Sen. Britt. “I know firsthand that funding severe weather detection equipment and putting accurate data in the hands of our meteorologists will allow more people to prepare and get to safety. As a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, I am proud to fight for this critical funding, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure that we continue investing in these essential programs.” At Senator Britt’s request, the legislation would appropriate $3 million for the expansion and upgrade of the South Alabama Mesonet, a network of automated weather stations located in Mobile, Baldwin, Escambia, Conecuh, Covington, Coffee, Geneva, and Houston Counties, in addition to southeastern Mississippi and northwest Florida. The South Alabama Mesonet provides information to meteorologists to ensure accurate forecasts and adequate severe weather warnings to residents. The expansion is expected to lead to better monitoring and forecasts of weather and severe weather conditions, particularly in Southwest Alabama. The bill would block the Biden Administration’s proposed Fiscal Year 2024 cuts to the VORTEX program and dedicate $12 million to the initiative, which works to reduce the loss of life and economic damage of tornadoes. Through this program, experts at the University of Alabama in Huntsville work to improve tornado forecasts and warnings, and this funding would ensure the program continues to improve tornado forecasts and warnings. The Biden Administration has asked that Congress defund the program. Earlier this year, Britt raised her concerns with the Biden Administration’s proposed cuts to both the South Alabama Mesonet and the VORTEX program with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo during her testimony before the committee. Britt is a native of Enterprise. Enterprise drew national headlines sixteen years ago when an EF4 tornado struck the city, with Enterprise High School taking a direct hit – killing nine. Since the U.S. first began keeping accurate records in the late 1940s, more Alabamians have been killed by tornadoes than people in any other state. Texas, with a much bigger population, is second. In 2022, Alabama recorded 98 tornadoes, the second-highest year on record. Since 1993 the USA has averaged 71 tornado deaths per year – Alabama has averaged 14 – more than any other state. Missouri is second with 8. Sixty-three Americans have already died from tornados this year. The FY 2024 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act now moves to the full Senate for consideration. Britt was elected to the Senate in 2022. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Jody Singer announces retirement from NASA
Monday, Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) in Huntsville Director Jody Singer announced her retirement. Joseph Pelfrey will take over as the interim Director of the MSFC while the National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA) searches for a permanent center director. “From becoming the first female center director at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville to leading her team through the successful Artemis I mission, Jody Singer’s leadership has taken space exploration to new heights,” said U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama). “Jody has been a driving force in putting Alabama at the forefront of launch innovation and human spaceflight advancement, continuing a legacy in Huntsville that spans the globe. Alabama is grateful for her 38 years of service and I wish her the very best in her next chapter.” “I know that Marshall Space Flight Center will be in good hands with Joseph Pelfrey as NASA conducts a search for a new center director, and I look forward to the center’s continued contributions to our space exploration under his leadership,” Tuberville added. “During a trailblazing 38-year career at @NASA, Jody Singer has reached for the stars every single day,” said U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Alabama) on Twitter. “Alabama is grateful for her service to our nation and her leadership at @NASA_Marshall. Please join me in wishing her all the best in her well-deserved retirement!” “Congratulations, Jody, on a 38-year long career dedicated to servant leadership, innovation, and the future of space exploration,” said Congressman Dale Strong on Twitter. “Your legacy at @NASA_Marshall will continue to inspire generations to come!” Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville) congratulated Singer on her retirement. “I want to congratulate Jody on her retirement and immense contribution to the State of Alabama,” Ledbetter said on Twitter. “Under her guidance, we’re on the cusp of sending more astronauts to the moon, and we are sincerely thankful for her service to our country and our state.” “I wish Jody well during her retirement. And I know individuals at the beginning of their career at NASA – and members of the Artemis Generation who dream of working here – will be inspired by Jody’s service, knowing their contributions can help return NASA astronauts to the Moon and prepare us for crewed missions to Mars,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “And Joseph Pelfrey is no stranger to Marshall, having joined the center two decades ago as an aerospace engineer. Today, he helps guide Marshall’s broad portfolio of human spaceflight, science, and technology development, which supports missions across NASA. We are confident Joseph is prepared to guide Marshall through this transition.” Singer has served as Director of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center since September 2018. Singer is a native of Hartselle, Alabama native, and a University of Alabama graduate who has worked for NASA for four decades. Singer had been the interim Director of MSFC for three months before her appointment by then NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine as MSFC’s 14th Director and the first woman to ever hold that position. MSFC is one of NASA’s largest field installations, with nearly 7,000 on- and near-site civil service contractor employees and an annual budget of approximately $4.5 billion. Before being named the interim Director, she served as deputy director since February 2016, assisting former Director Todd May with the daily management of the center’s workforce operations. Singer first went to work for NASA in 1985 as an intern. Over her career, she has worked in the Space Shuttle program, the canceled Ares program, and the Space Launch System, which will return man to the moon for the first time in over 50 years. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Sen. Katie Britt supports bipartisan bills capping insulin prices
U.S. Senator Katie Britt announced that she is cosponsoring two pieces of bipartisan legislation to help all Alabamians access insulin. This includes the Affordable Insulin Now Act of 2023, which would cap the price of insulin for all patients, including those who are uninsured, at $35 for a 30-day supply. “For many, insulin is essential for their long-term health and survival. Alabamians should not have to make the unthinkable choice about whether to purchase life-saving insulin or another basic necessity like food simply due to the drug’s prohibitive cost,” said Sen. Britt. “Additionally, these pieces of legislation would help support our healthcare system by increasing access to insulin for diabetic Alabamians, keeping them healthy so they do not require more costly treatments and extensive medical care down the road. I’ll continue to fight to ensure that every Alabamian, no matter their zip code, can live the American Dream.” The bill was introduced by U.S. Senators John Kennedy (R-Louisiana) and Raphael Warnock (D-Georgia). “I’ve long been focused on strengthening access to affordable health care and lowering costs for Georgians, and that’s why I am proud to lead the effort in the Senate to cap patients’ out-of-pocket costs for insulin,” Sen. Warnock said. “Georgians should never have to choose between paying for life’s basic essentials or life-preserving medicines.” The Affordable Insulin Now Act would cap out-of-pocket costs of insulin products at $35 per month for people with private health plans and Medicare Part D plans, including Medicare Advantage drug plans. For commercial plans, this applies to one of each dosage form (ie. vial, pump, inhaler) of each different type of insulin (rapid-acting, short-acting, intermediate-acting, long-acting, ultra-long-acting, and premixed). For Medicare plans, this applies to all covered insulin products, and copays are capped at $35 for all preferred and nonpreferred products included on plan formularies. Require private group or individual plans to cover one of each insulin dosage form (i.e. vial, pen) and insulin type (i.e. rapid-acting, short-acting, intermediate-acting, and long-acting) for no more than $35 per month. The legislation requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a program to reimburse qualifying entities for covering any costs that exceed $35 for providing a 30-day supply of insulin to uninsured patients. “We need to stop nibbling around the edges,” Sen. Kennedy said. “We need to be smart enough to figure this out. And the cost? I think it can be done for $250 million a year, and I’m not talking about taking out a reverse mortgage on Alaska and borrowing more money. I’m talking about finding it in our budget. The federal budget is 6,000 billion dollars every year—and we can’t find $250 million to cap the price of insulin? Let’s do it right.” Sen. Britt says that she is bringing awareness to the devastating impact of diabetes across Alabama and fighting to ensure that all Alabamians are able to access the life-saving benefits of affordable insulin. Senator Britt this week discussed the topics during a hearing of the Senate Committee on Appropriations with medical experts and youth diabetes advocates. Dr. Griffin Rogers is the Director of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases at the National Institutes of Health. During the questioning of Rogers, Senator Britt noted the high rate of diabetes among Alabamians. Approximately 568,000 people in Alabama, or almost 12% of the state’s population, have been diagnosed with diabetes. In Alabama, direct medical expenses total an estimated $4.2 billion a year for those who are diagnosed with diabetes. Sen. Britt has also signed on as a co-sponsor of the Improving Needed Safeguards for Users of Lifesaving Insulin Now (INSULIN) Act of 2023, which would comprehensively address the skyrocketing costs of insulin, removing barriers to care and making it more accessible for millions more Americans. This bipartisan legislation was introduced by U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.). The INSULIN Act of 2023 would limit out-of-pocket costs for patients with diabetes by ensuring that group and individual market health plans must waive any deductible and limit cost-sharing to no more than $35 or 25% of the list price per month for at least one insulin of each type and dosage form. Additionally, the legislation forbids pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) would be prohibited from placing utilization management tools – prior authorization, step therapy, etc. – on products with capped out-of-pocket costs. Mandate PBMs pass through 100% of insulin rebates and other discounts received from manufacturers to plan sponsors, reducing perverse incentives in the insulin market that encourage high list prices and helping patients in the form of reduced premiums. It also promotes generic and biosimilar competition to lower costs to patients by creating a new expedited FDA approval pathway for biologic drugs lacking adequate biosimilar competition, similar to FDA’s current Competitive Generic Therapies pathway. This will improve the timeliness of resolving regulatory barriers slowing down market entry of lower-cost products; ensuring adequate oversight of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) citizen petition process, easing approval of generic and biosimilar drugs; allowing Medicare Part D plans to place biosimilar drugs on formulary immediately after entering the market, identical to other generic drugs; and, requiring a report to Congress on issues and market dynamics delaying or restricting biosimilar insulin competition. The Cardinal Institute opposes price caps on insulin. They argue that there is a growing idea that the government should create ceilings for drug pricing, manufacturing, and marketing, but that fundamental economics teaches that such restrictions fail to create an ethical, accessible healthcare system. The Cardinal Institute argues that when governments create price limits on goods and services, they always initiate scarcity. When supply is low, and demand is high, prices rise, or, in this case, where businesses are constrained, profits must be funneled away from research and innovation. They claim that numerous economic studies indicate price caps reduce the number of new drugs being brought into the market. Thus, temporary relief creates disastrous long-term effects. Katie Britt was elected to her first term in the U.S. Senate in 2022. To connect with the author of this story or to comment,
Mitch McConnell and other Republican Senators denounce White nationalism after Tommy Tuberville’s refusal to denounce White nationalists as racists
U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) is being widely criticized for his comments on White nationalists in a recent CNN interview. On Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) responded, saying there is no place for White nationalists in the military or the country. “White supremacy is simply unacceptable in the military and in our whole country,” McConnell told reporters. The number two Republican in the Senate, Minority Whip John Thune (South Dakota), said there’s no room for white nationalists in the GOP or the military. “I just think there isn’t any place for it,’ Thune said. “We are a country obviously that has built around a set of principles that’s welcoming.” “Ethnic nationalism is un-American, and I think it would be problematic in the military,” said Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Florida). “My definition of a White nationalist is someone that believes that America belongs to white people. That’s not American, that’s un-American, and that would be a problem in the military,” “White supremacy and racism have absolutely no place in our country. Period. The end,” Sen. Katie Britt (R-Alabama) told reporters. This controversy began during an NPR interview in Alabama when Tuberville was asked if White nationalists should be able to serve in the military. “Well, they call them that. I call them Americans,” Tuberville answered. Tuberville followed those comments with an interview Monday on CNN. CNN host Kaitlan Collins said a White nationalist is “someone who believes that the white race is superior to other races.” “Well, that’s some people’s opinion,” Tuberville responded. “My opinion of a White nationalist, if someone wants to call them a White nationalist, to me, is an American. It’s an American. Now, if that White nationalist is a racist, I’m totally against anything that they want to do because I am 110 percent against racism.” Tuberville said White nationalism is “just a cover word for the Democrats now where they can use it to try to make people mad across the country.” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) chastised Tuberville for his opinion, “The senator from Alabama is wrong, wrong, wrong. The definition of White nationalism is not a matter of opinion. “For the Senator from Alabama to obscure the racist nature of white nationalism is indeed very, very dangerous,” Schumer said. “He is fanning the flames of bigotry and intolerance.” “I don’t think Senator Tuberville is in any way racist,” said Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) when asked about Tuberville. “I am totally against anything racist,” Tuberville emphasized. “My opinion of a White nationalist, if you want to call them that, is an American.” Tuberville chastised Democrats for dividing this country and making it weaker. This is not the first gaffe that Tuberville has made on the national stage. Tuberville was criticized in October when he seemed to be saying those Americans who want reparations for slavery are responsible for committing crimes. “They’re not soft on crime. They’re pro-crime. They want crime,” Tuberville said of Democrats. “They want crime because they want to take over what you got. They want to control what you have. They want reparations because they think the people that do the crime are owed that. Bulls**t. They are not owed that.” Tuberville was in Nevada campaigning for GOP Senate candidate Adam Laxalt. Laxalt lost to incumbent Sen. Catherine Cortez-Masto 48.9 to 48.0% a month later. Tuberville has also been widely criticized for his hold on military promotions over the Pentagon’s controversial abortion policy. Tuberville has refused to vote yes on unanimous consent to the promotions over his opposition to the Biden administration’s efforts to thwart pro-life state laws for military members and their families. Despite the criticism from Washington, the Hill reports that Tuberville remains overwhelmingly popular in Alabama, with a commanding majority of Alabamians holding favorable views of the senior Senator from Alabama. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
