Alabama Memorial Day messages
Today, families across Alabama and the country pause to honor and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice to secure our safety, security and freedom. We honor and mourn those, who generation after generation, coming from every corner of our great Nation, have shed their blood in this country and in foreign lands across the globe so that we may have our liberty still today. On this Memorial Day we honor and remember the fallen – these selfless and heroic men and women. Here are some Memorial Day messages from elected officials in Alabama: Governor Robert Bentley: Today we honor the service men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for this country. Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey: Today and everyday, we remember and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. #MemorialDay2016 Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange: Remembering those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom. We are forever grateful for their sacrifice and the sacrifice of their families. Have a safe and wonderful Memorial Day weekend. Alabama 1st District Rep. Bradley Byrne: Freedom is not – and has never been – free. May we never forget those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in defense of freedom, and may we each work every day to uphold the very freedoms they fought so hard to protect. God bless those who serve our great nation! Alabama 2nd District Rep. Martha Roby: When we remember the sacrifice of those who gave their lives fighting for this country, it is impossible not to feel a deep, humbling sense of gratitude for a debt we cannot pay. I hope you’ll take a moment to reflect on those brave men and women and the sacrifices they made to keep this nation free. Please also take time to share what this day means with children so that they may grow up understanding that gratitude and that debt we owe. Blessings to you and your family this #MemorialDay. Alabama 4th District Rep. Robert Aderholt: This Memorial Day Weekend I hope that you will take time to remember the true cost of our freedom. The men featured in this video are all from the 4th Congressional District and are listed by the Department of Defense as being killed in action since the September 11th attacks in 2001. This is the true sacrifice that keeps us free. We can’t and we won’t forget them or the others who have died serving our country since 1776. Alabama 5th District Rep. Mo Brooks: Proclaimed on May 5, 1868, Memorial Day is an opportunity for Americans to reflect on our nation’s history and on the great sacrifices made by the men and women of the U.S. military to protect and defend our way of life. This weekend, I encourage every American to observe in your own way a moment of remembrance for those who have given their lives in service to our great nation. Alabama 6th District Rep. Gary Palmer: As has been said, we cannot expect to be the land of the free unless we are the home of the brave. Our veterans will not be forgotten. Alabama 7th District Rep. Terri Sewell: As we prepare for cook-outs and family gatherings, we must stop and recognize that Memorial Day is so much more than a three-day weekend – especially to the families and friends who still mourn for the love ones lost in battle and those who have returned home, but still face challenges ahead. We must never forget these patriotic individuals who swore an oath to defend this nation. Their sacrifices live on through the freedoms they fought to secure for all of us. So too must we stay vigilant in the fight to ensure that all citizens are able to enjoy the rights and protections our country was founded on.
Martha Roby ‘not amused’ by VA secretary’s Disney comments
When Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald compared wait times for veterans’ medical treatment to the lines at Disney theme parks, Republican U.S. Rep. Martha Roby was “not amused.” Roby is sick and tired of vets — particularly in Alabama, where care was recently reported to be among the worst in the U.S. — being left sick and tired at the hands of the VA. “Comparing the wait times veterans experience for health care to lines at Disneyland is beyond absurd, and I’m really not amused,” said Roby. “Wait times do matter, and the VA shouldn’t be able to hide them.” “This is exactly why my bill makes VA Medical Center performance data public on the federal register. By requiring key VA health metrics to be published for everyone to see we can ensure that severely failing facilities receive the attention and corrective action they require.” Roby referred to her proposed VA Medical Center Recovery Act, which passed the House in February but has not been taken up by the Senate. The bill currently sits on the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Roby has a history of taking up veterans’ causes, not only by introducing the above legislation but by working with whistleblowers who revealed massive systemic problems in the Central Alabama VA. “Sometimes I wonder, what would have happened if our courageous whistleblowers hadn’t stepped up? Or if the reporters we worked with didn’t think it was a story?” asked Roby. “What if the truth about the missing X-rays, the manipulated pulmonology records, or the crack house never came out?” “What if we hadn’t exposed all that? Would our veterans in Central Alabama still be subject to the worst health care in the country? Would we even know?”
Alabama delegation votes for $610B defense bill, despite White House objections
After two days of debate, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a $610 billion defense spending bill by a 277-147 vote late Wednesday night, setting up a summer-long negotiation with their Senate counterparts over necessary military priorities and policy. The bill, H.R. 4909: the National Defense Authorization Act, authorizes spending for military personnel, weapons systems, national security programs, as well as foreign military operations for FY 2017. Additionally, it improves access to quality care for service members, retirees, and their families, while enhancing medical readiness. These reforms make no changes for the current force or retirees. U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell was the sole Alabama House Member to vote against the bill. She joined 147 of her Democratic peers, along with just five Republicans, in voting against the measure. The remainder of the seven-member Alabama delegation — Reps. Bradley Bryne, Martha Roby, Mike Rogers, Robert Aderholt, Mo Brooks and Gary Palmer — voted in support of the bill. Among its many provisions and reforms, the NDAA includes: Military Personnel and Pay: Supports a 2.1 percent pay raise for service members, which is higher than the President’s proposal of 1.6 percent. BRAC: Prohibits another round of base closings. Strengthens Military: Reverses cuts to troop strength; increases investments in training and maintenance programs; and rebuilds crumbling facilities like barracks, hangars, and airfields. Readiness: Makes vital investments in maintenance by including an increase of $597 million for the Navy and Marine Corps, $312 million for the Army, and $430 million more for the Air Force to ensure next-to-deploy units are mission capable. Deterring Russia: Provides funds for more troops and equipment in Europe to deter Russia, as well as additional funds to assist Ukraine. Fighting ISIS: Provides funds to train and equip Syrian fighters and assist Iraqis in retaking Mosul, and adds funds to make sure that Kurdish and Sunni allies can stay in the fight. Commissaries: Reforms the commissary system to preserve the benefit, while also making improvements to ensure continued saving for shoppers, good value for taxpayers, and ongoing support for morale, welfare, and recreational activities. Reforms Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ): Modernizes the Uniform Code of Military Justice to improve the system’s efficiency and transparency, while also enhancing victims’ rights and expands the statute of limitations for child abuse offenses and fraudulent enlistment. Before the vote, the White House issued a veto threat over the bill on Monday due to a number of provisions. A primary White House complaint is that the House bill leaves U.S. war-fighting obligations underfunded, setting the stage for the need of a potential midyear supplemental appropriation. “By gambling with war-fighting funds, the bill risks the safety of our men and women fighting to keep America safe, undercuts stable planning and efficient use of taxpayer dollars, dispirits troops and their families, baffles our allies, and emboldens our enemies,” the White House said in a statement. Meanwhile, House Republicans say the spending plan is critical to ensure the military has the resources it needs, as it wages wars in Afghanistan and against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria. Here’s what delegation members are saying about their votes: U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne (AL-01): It seems like every day a new report comes out about the dire situation our military is in. That’s why it is so important this year’s NDAA makes critical investments in boosting military readiness to ensure we can respond to the wide range of threats facing our country. The bill also makes long-needed reforms to ensure efficiency and accountability at the Pentagon. U.S. Rep. Martha Roby (AL-02): No comment available at this time. U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (AL-03): This is the 55th consecutive NDAA, legislation that authorizes funding for the Department of Defense and ensures that Congress fulfills its constitutional duty to make sure that our warfighters have the training and equipment that they need. In addition to setting the priorities for our national defense, this legislation also has language that could be important to folks across East Alabama. Rep. Robert Aderholt (AL-04): No comment available at this time. Rep. Mo Brooks (AL-05): In recent years, America’s national security capabilities have been hampered and hollowed out by the unwillingness of Congress and the President to properly fund America’s military. The FY17 NDAA takes a step toward restoring vital funding, modernizing equipment, and providing our warfighters with the personnel and weaponry needed to protect America. In addition, the FY17 NDAA improves accountability by reforming acquisition laws and enhancing cyber security. Rep. Gary Palmer (AL-06): No comment available at this time. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07): As a Member of Congress, I am fully committed to ensuring that our brave men and women in uniform have all of the support necessary to protect and defend our great nation from threats both foreign and domestic. My vote on the NDAA in no way undermines that unyielding commitment to preserving our national security, and ensuring our military has the resources that it needs to meet ongoing and emerging threats around the world. However, I am deeply concerned that this bill would set a dangerous precedent by promoting uncertainty for our military at a time when it desperately needs reliable support. … Ultimately, we must put partisan politics aside and pass a defense authorization bill to maintain the safety and security of all Americans. Since President Obama has already indicated his intention to veto this bill, I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass a national defense authorization bill which appropriately funds all necessary government services and military obligations.
Alabama politicians react to Obama administration’s new bathroom guidelines
President Barack Obama‘s Administration is telling every public school in the nation that they must allow students to use bathrooms and locker rooms corresponding to their gender identity rather than their biological sex. The formal guidance comes in the form an eight-page joint directive. Released Friday afternoon by the U.S. Justice Department and the U.S Department of Education instructing school administrators that, when it comes to bathrooms and locker rooms, “A school may provide separate facilities on the basis of sex, but must allow transgender students access to such facilities consistent with their gender identity. A school may not require transgender students to use facilities inconsistent with their gender identity or to use individual-user facilities when other students are not required to do so.” Here’s how Alabama politicians are reacting to the guidelines: Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange: The Obama Administration’s new guidance document is just one more example of the kind of federal overreach that we have come to expect from this White House. School bathroom use is an issue that should be decided by parents, teachers, and principals—not federal bureaucrats. The DOJ guidance document is also wrong on the law. Title IX allows schools to have separate facilities for separate sexes. The law says ‘sex,’ not gender identity. If the Obama Administration tries to enforce this absurd edict, I will work with other Attorneys General to challenge it. U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne (AL-01): I’ve been watching some of the reports on the Obama Administration’s new “bathroom guidance,” and I am pretty frustrated. Schools in Alabama or anywhere around the United States don’t need the federal government to dictate “bathroom policy” to them. Let’s get real here for a minute – this entire debate is executive overreach at its worst. Washington doesn’t always know best, and it has no business getting involved in a debate about where people go to the bathroom. U.S. Rep. Martha Roby (AL-02): They have lost their minds. This is a great example of an issue in which we need a lot less government and a lot more common sense. These are children. Eighth grade boys don’t need government-guaranteed access to the sixth grade girls’ bathroom, or vice versa. Schools can figure out how to accommodate students’ unique needs on an individual basis without federal bureaucrats’ tortuous redefinition of sex. Moreover, threatening to sue schools or withhold funding if they don’t conform to this backward application of law is an abuse of power that won’t stand. I look forward to hearings that will expose how ridiculous and unworkable such a policy is. U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt (AL-04): The U.S. Department of Education’s transgender directives just released reveal a new desperation by this administration to impose their liberal agenda on their way out the door. The Administration should not jeopardize the safety of our children in their efforts to force Americans to accept their LGBT political agenda. Threatening to cut off funding to public schools, which are diligently working to educate our children, is nothing short of blackmail. We must continue to push back against this Administration’s almost constant attempt to circumnavigate Congress and the Constitution. To that end, I will be joining several of my Congressional colleagues in signing a letter to the President, expressing great concern over these guidelines and reminding Mr. Obama that he cannot infringe upon the constitutional right of Congress to appropriate funds. U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer (AL-06): This is yet another example of overreach by the Obama Administration. The guidance purports to create an environment that is “supportive” and “safe”. It will do neither. In fact, it will create an environment with much more potential for sexual misconduct and harm. No reasonable person could conclude that forcing school children, particularly adolescents, to share bathrooms and showers with individuals of the opposite sex, no matter how they might self-identify, is a smart idea. The safety implications for sexual predation have been well documented, but this Administration apparently has no concern about the sexual predators. This guidance does not have the force of law and schools all over America should reject it. Alabama schools should reject it. The Obama Administration is engaging in an ideological war against our nation that not only is ripping our moral foundations apart, but now threatens our children’s safety and privacy. This action should cause all people of strong faith and moral convictions to come together across racial, religious and political lines to stop it. Members of Congress regardless of political affiliation who have the moral courage and conviction to do so, should stand to together and use every viable tool, including the power of the purse to stop the Administration from bullying states and local schools into adopting practices that the vast majority of Americans reject. This action should be seen for what it is, an act intended to force Americans to conform to the will of an increasingly extremist and provocative Administration. State Rep. Will Ainsworth Like many of you, I am outraged and disgusted by the Obama administration’s threat to withdraw federal funding from states that do not allow so-called “transgender” students to use the bathroom, locker room, and shower facilities of their choosing. Alabama will not succumb to Obama’s extremist extortion. Gender is not a choice. It is a fact that is determined by biology and by God, not by how masculine or feminine you feel when you wake up in the morning. Dressing like a pirate doesn’t make you a pirate, dressing like an astronaut doesn’t make you an astronaut, and dressing like the opposite sex doesn’t make you a man or a woman. In the next legislative session, I will be introducing a law to block Barack Obama’s insane demand from being implemented in Alabama and in the interim call upon the State School Board to immediately promulgate a policy clearly requiring public school students to use the facilities that comply with their biological gender. Our nation’s morals, our state’s values, and our children’s future are at stake, so we must take action now.
Alabama’s 2016 Congressional Art Competition winners announced
Each spring, high school students from across the state submit their artwork to the annual Congressional Art Competition for a chance to represent their congressional district in the U.S. Capitol with their artistic talents. Sponsored by the Congressional Institute to recognize and encourage artistic talent in each congressional district, more than 650,000 high school students have participated in the competition since it began in 1982. Winners are recognized both in their district and at an annual awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. The winning works are displayed for one year at the U.S. Capitol. Here are the winners from across the Yellowhammer State this year: Alabama’s 1st Congressional District Winner: Leah Brown Piece: “Full Capacity” High School: St. Paul’s Episcopal School “The Congressional Art Competition gives us an opportunity to put the impressive artistic talents of students in Southwest Alabama on full display,” said Rep. Bradley Byrne (AL-01). “I am especially proud of Leah Brown, this year’s winner, and I look forward to seeing her artwork on display in the U.S. Capitol. “I am constantly amazed by the high-quality of artwork produced by students in our area high schools. This year was no different, and I applaud each student, as well as the teachers, for their participation and commitment to the arts.” Click “1” below to see Alabama’s 2nd District winner
Martha Roby: Next generation of military leaders
Each year I have the honor of nominating young men and women for an appointment to our nation’s military academies. The 2016 appointments have now been finalized, and I’m pleased to announce those who have received these prestigious selections. Our service academies are some of the most distinguished institutions in the world. Appointments are highly sought after and require high academic, character and leadership standards. Those appointed must commit to serve in the military for a minimum of five years upon graduation. My office conducts a rigorous process by which applicants from throughout Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District are reviewed and interviewed by an independent panel of service academy alumni, who recommend the nominations. Once a nominee has been officially appointed, I have the privilege of calling to personally inform them of the good news. It is a special privilege to be the first to thank these exceptional students for their willingness to serve their country and to wish them the best on their exciting endeavors. Listed below are students who were nominated through my office and have received appointments to U.S. military academies for 2016. I join their families, teachers and friends in congratulating them on such a special honor. Jaemin Francis Ashley: U.S. Military Academy (West Point). Jaemin, son of Eunhee and Thomas Ashley, is from Montgomery and attends Loveless Academic Magnet Program (LAMP). Elizabeth Sullivan Brakefield: U.S. Air Force Academy. Elizabeth, daughter of Jill and Lacy Brakefield, is from Dothan and attends the University of Alabama. Joshua Devon Dye: U.S. Military Academy (West Point). Joshua, son of Gary and Gwen Dye, is from Midland City and attends Northview High School. Nicholas Burke Forti: U.S. Naval Academy. Nicholas, son of John and Brenda Forti, is from Daleville and attends Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts. Justice Cheylynn May: U.S. Naval Academy. Justice, daughter of Boyd and Brandy May, is from Enterprise, a graduate of Enterprise High School and currently attends the Naval Academy Preparatory School. Cory James Philpott: U.S. Air Force Academy. Cory, son of Karen Sue and Luke Francis Philpott, is from Andalusia and attends Straughn High School. William Watson Thomas: U.S. Military Academy (West Point) and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. William, son of Peyton and Jane Thomas, is from Midland City and attends Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville, Georgia. William Patrick Vincent: U.S. Naval Academy. William, son of Vincent and Leigh Vincent, is from Dothan and attends Houston Academy. Han David Zhang: U.S. Air Force Academy. Han, son of Ti and Cari Zhang, is from Dothan and attends Northview High School. Congratulations to each of these students on this significant achievement. If you or someone you know is interested in seeking a nomination to a service academy, please visit my website at www.Roby.House.gov to learn more. The deadline for submitting a 2017 application is Friday, November 4. ••• Martha Roby represents Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District. She lives in Montgomery, Alabama with her husband, Riley and their two children.
Martha Roby: Ensuring proper mental health, substance abuse treatment for veterans
The Veterans Affairs saga has had many chapters over the last two years, both on the national and local level. Sensational incidents like missing X-rays, manipulated waiting lists, and a veteran being taken to a crack house grabbed headlines and helped us build the case for overhauling the Central Alabama VA. However, many might not remember that the very first “red flag” indicating there could be a big problem at the Central Alabama VA was a May 2014 report showing that 52 percent of mental health patients waited more than 14 days for a doctor visit. That alarming statistic was emblematic of how the Department of Veterans Affairs has struggled in recent years to keep up with the rising need for mental health care and substance abuse treatment for veterans. There are several reasons why: increased demand from veterans returning from war, a national shortage of mental health professionals and an ongoing prescription drug abuse epidemic. We have made progress combatting these problems. Congress has boosted funding for mental health services and enacted legislation making it easier for the VA to attract mental health professionals. The VA has rightly focused its attention on making sure veterans seeking immediate mental health treatment are seen right away. In Central Alabama, the latest reports show the average VA wait time for a mental health appointment is down to five days. While I’m glad progress is being made, I believe we can do better. I also believe that we owe it to our veterans to look beyond traditional means and bring all available resources to bear in ensuring access to proper mental health care and substance abuse treatment. That’s why this past week I introduced the “Protection and Advocacy for Veterans Act.” This bill would engage our proven Protection and Advocacy agencies to directly investigate the quality of mental health care and substance abuse treatment provided to veterans and to advocate for patients who receive inadequate care from the VA. For 40 years, Protection and Advocacy agencies in Alabama and around the country have provided a critical service by monitoring the quality of care in state-operated hospitals, clinics, psychiatric wards, prisons, and other facilities. They have the authority to inspect medical records, provide recommendations to health care providers, and – when necessary – take legal action on behalf of patients. Americans’ right to mental health care largely stems from Alabama’s famous Wyatt v. Stickney court case, the landmark 1972 ruling that established baseline care requirements for people with mental illness. The expertise Protection and Advocacy agencies have gained ensuring those rights in state facilities could be put to use helping veterans who need mental health care or substance abuse treatment at the VA. We still have a long way to go in improving health services for veterans. That’s why it remains a top priority for me in Congress. • • • Martha Roby represents Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District. She lives in Montgomery, Alabama, with her husband, Riley and their two children.
5 years later, Alabama politicians reflect on the 2011 tornado outbreak
Wednesday marks the 5th anniversary of the second largest, most deadly tornado outbreaks in Alabama’s history. On April 27, 2011 a series of 62 tornadoes tore through 35 counties and 80 cities across northern and central Alabama, leaving devastation in its wake — killing more than 250 people, amassing more than a billion dollars in damages. Five years later, the vortex’s destruction still lingers across the Yellowhammer State as the reality of lost loved ones, friends, businesses and belongings hits a little too close to home for all too many Alabamians. Today, Alabama politicians from across the state look back on that fateful day: Gov. Robert Bentley: Alabama will never forget the more than 250 people who lost their lives on April 27, 2011. Today, five years later, Alabama is better prepared to face the next natural disaster due to the lessons learned in how we prepare and respond. I am proud of the efforts state agencies made to help communities recover. U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions: Today we remember the lives tragically claimed by the storms of April 27, 2011. The tornadoes which ripped through the Southeast five years ago did unprecedented damage in Alabama, tearing apart not just our homes and businesses but countless families. However, in those darkest of days, the people of our state united in a common purpose to reveal their true nature. The love and service shown in the following days and weeks through the giving of time, aid, and prayer brought our communities together like never before. U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby: Five years ago today, the most powerful long-track tornado in Alabama history struck Tuscaloosa and surrounding communities. Please join me in remembering the lives that were tragically lost on that day as well as the generosity, strength, and resilience of the people of Alabama. U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne (AL-01): April 27th, 2011 is a day that forever changed our state. Over 250 Alabamians lost their lives that day as tornado after tornado tore through the state. In difficult times like this, I always try to think about the positive things. We learned a lot about Alabama on that day and the weeks that followed. The resiliency of our state and the caring spirit of our people were on full display. So on this anniversary, let us remember those we lost while also taking great pride in how far we have come. U.S. Rep. Martha Roby (AL-02): Today marks five years since an unprecedented outbreak of tornadoes ripped through the State of Alabama killing 252 people and leveling whole communities. We can all remember where we were that day and how time stood still as we realized just how devastating these storms were and how Alabama would never be the same. There are countless stories from that day and its aftermath: stories of loss and devastation, but also stories of heroism and hope. People in our state came together in a very special way to help their neighbors in need, protect people they had never met, and serve each other as never before. We remember the those we lost that awful day. We ask prayers of comfort for their families on what must be a difficult anniversary for them. And, we recommit ourselves to serving and looking out for our neighbors just as we did after April 27, 2011. God bless you and God bless our state. U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (AL-03): Today marks the fifth anniversary since a super storm of tornadoes swept through the Southeast. These tornadoes were some of the deadliest in U.S. history and Alabama was hit the hardest. Over 200 lives were lost and thousands were changed forever. As a community, we rebuilt or homes, schools and businesses. It is that strength and resilience that we prayed for to keep us moving forward. U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt (AL-04): It is hard to imagine that is has already been five years since that dark day in our state’s history. Having been traveling in the 4th District that day, I was able to see first-hand the destruction that took place. Quite honestly, I didn’t know where the next tornado was going to touchdown. … Five years later, while many of the physical scars have healed, homes have been rebuilt and businesses have reopened, the emotional scars remain. 249 people died across Alabama with half of those deaths occurring inside the 4th District. I encourage everyone to continue to pray for those who lost loved ones and to remember them on this anniversary. U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks (AL-05): Five years ago today, North Alabama faced one of the worst natural disasters in our history. In the wake of a seemingly unending string of tornado trails, I saw firsthand the compassion and resilient spirit of neighbors, churches, family members, emergency personnel, and local law enforcement as they came together to help and comfort those in need. Shortly after the tornadoes struck, my family and friends joined hundreds of other volunteers in the severely damaged Anderson Hills neighborhood to help cut and haul destroyed trees and other debris to the streets for removal. I will never forget how our spirits were uplifted when Alabama’s Governor and numerous other elected officials unexpectedly appeared and promised to help people recover from the widespread destruction. While the Tennessee Valley has largely recovered from the physical destruction and most homes have been rebuilt or replaced, many of our friends and neighbors lost loved ones who will never come back. Today, please take a moment and keep them in our thoughts and prayers. U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer (AL-06): Today we remember the 252 people who lost their lives 5 years ago when 62 tornados ripped through Alabama destroying homes, communities, and families. The tornados severely damaged my hometown of Hackleburg, and our community lost 18 friends and neighbors that day. In one of our state’s darkest hours, we saw neighbors come together to rebuild the place they call home, not because they had to but because that’s who the people of Alabama are. As we look back,
Martha Roby: VA funding bill seeks progress on payments
This week the House Appropriations Committee marked up and approved the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill, advancing the annual legislation funding veterans services and military installations for consideration by the full House. While funding is the primary purpose, appropriations bills also offer an opportunity to effect needed policy changes. In this case, my colleagues and I on the Appropriations Committee sought to bring to light and repair some of the problems with the Department of Veterans Affairs‘ (VA) unwieldy Choice Program. With the VA reform and accountability law enacted in late 2014, Congress set up and funded the Choice Program to allow veterans who live far away from VA facilities or experience especially long waits to access health care from outside providers. However, implementation of Choice has been anything but smooth. I hear from veterans all the time who have tried to take advantage of this new option, only to face more delays, red tape and runaround. There are many reasons for the troubles with Choice, but funding should not be one of them. In fact, the $73.5 billion this appropriations bill directs toward the VA is the Department’s highest level of discretionary funding ever. Despite historic funding levels, the VA has had trouble following through on reimbursements to outside health providers. This problem has existed in Central Alabama for some time. As you may know, I am working to build a Veterans Community Health Network in Alabama in which community hospitals and other health providers will partner with the VA to deliver care for veterans in remote areas or those who need specialty care. I believe this hybrid system is the future of veterans care and can be a model for other areas. One of the primary hurdles we have faced is the complicated and tiresome reimbursement process. Hospitals, clinics and other health providers in Alabama want to be a part of the solution to improving veterans’ access to healthcare. However, they can’t be expected to do it for free. No veteran should be denied access to care because the VA hasn’t paid its bills. That’s why I worked to include language in the Committee Report calling attention to the problem and directing the VA to (1) comply with federal “prompt pay” requirements, and (2) account to Congress all the outstanding reimbursements owed to outside providers. My goal here is to prompt VA officials to settle outstanding debts and fix the reimbursement process so that providers can have full confidence in partnering with the VA. In Alabama, communication between the VA and local providers has definitely improved, which is a good first step. My office will continue to work through these issues on the local level so that our Veterans Community Health Network can be a success. As we do, I intend to use my influence in Congress to demand the VA pay its debts. • • • Martha Roby represents Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District. She lives in Montgomery, Alabama with her husband, Riley and their two children.
Martha Roby: Web of regulations can ensnare business, cost jobs
This past week I met with the National Federation of Independent Business’s (NFIB) Alabama Leadership Council in Montgomery. As you probably know, the NFIB is a member organization made up of small and independent businesses, and this particular group represents small business operators from all across Alabama. I’m proud to support homegrown Alabama businesses and the jobs they sustain. Small businesses employ as many as 50 percent of all private sector employees. Yet, talk to just about any business owner and they’ll tell you how difficult it can be to operate in today’s regulatory environment. That’s especially true for small and medium-sized businesses that lack the resources it takes to put toward compliance. You may remember President Obama announcing how he would use his “pen” to sign executive orders mandating policies he could not successfully pass through Congress. The most high profile of these was his order seeking to offer de facto amnesty to certain classes of illegal immigrants, which is currently being challenged as unconstitutional in federal court. However, many lesser known rules and regulations put forward by agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Labor could have a much more significant effect on the private sector. A recent study by the Regulatory Studies Center at George Washington University found 392 “major” regulations have been issued during the Obama presidency so far. And, according to the Wall Street Journal, the Administration is now “racing to make final a flurry of regulations affecting broad swaths of the economy” before the term is finished. I strongly oppose this kind of “backdoor legislating,” in which government agencies decide single-handedly to impose new, aggressive regulations. The U.S. Constitution separated the powers of government among the three branches and set up a system of checks and balances. Our laws have legitimacy because they are passed by representatives elected by and accountable to the people. That system is undermined when this “fourth branch” of unelected bureaucrats in federal agencies is allowed to unilaterally impose major, binding regulations with impunity. President Obama is certainly not the first president to expand the reach of the Executive Branch by imposing rules and regulations. However, he has been notably more aggressive than most, and that should continue down the final stretch of his presidency. Congress has a responsibility to fight back against Executive Branch overreach, whether through exposing potentially harmful regulations, passing legislation to set strict limits or using the “power of the purse” to rein in agencies. I also believe the Judicial Branch must step in and reaffirm the separation of powers. Listening directly to the concerns of those who operate businesses affords me a better understanding of just what they deal with on a daily basis from federal regulators. I will continue to work on their behalf in Congress to expose and fight against unnecessary regulations that hinder their ability to create and sustain jobs. • • • Martha Roby represents Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District. She lives in Montgomery, Alabama with her husband, Riley, and their two children.
Spring Recess: What your Member of Congress has been up to
It’s the week after Easter, and that means the Alabama Delegation has been back home in the Yellowhammer state for Spring Recess, and will resume business in Washington, D.C., next week. But don’t let the name fool you, the “recess” is designed to give members of Congress an opportunity to reconnect with the constituents they represent. Here’s a quick peek at what the Alabama Delegation has been up to during Spring Recess: U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne (AL-01): Wednesday, April 6: Chatting with Sean Sullivan on FM Talk 1065 about the Obama administration’s failure to put forward a strategy to defeat ISIS as well as the ongoing fight for a longer Red Snapper season. Thursday, April 7: Captain Hal Pierce for stopping Byrne’s my Mobile office to update him on some issues important to the Navy League of the United States and local veterans. Click “2” below to see what Rep. Martha Roby has been up this week.
Martha Roby: New commander at Fort Rucker
Fort Rucker this week will host a change of command ceremony, a time honored military tradition marking a transition of leadership. Major General William Gayler will officially assume command of the Army Aviation Center of Excellence at Fort Rucker taking the place of the departing commander, Maj. Gen. Michael Lundy. I want to thank Maj. Gen. Lundy for his exemplary leadership at Fort Rucker for the past two years. Fort Rucker is an important post, not just for the Wiregrass region and the State of Alabama, but for our nation and its defense. Every Army aviator is trained at Fort Rucker. Despite the changing landscape of the modern battlefield, Army aviation has remained an essential component of warfare, and Fort Rucker has dutifully delivered the best-trained aviators for assignments all over the world. Commanders like Maj. Gen. Lundy have an enormous responsibility of fulfilling that vital mission while dealing with any number of challenges. Maj. Gen. Lundy’s command of the Army Aviation Center of Excellence came during an especially difficult time, as budget cuts forced military leaders to make tough decisions. It was about this time last year when many feared steep reductions by the Army would significantly affect the post and the surrounding community. Thankfully, the Army’s force reduction had minimal impact on Fort Rucker, and particularly the aviation student load and flight training hours. I can tell you that having Maj. Gen. Lundy’s steady leadership during such moments of uncertainty has been invaluable. The Army has not yet announced Maj. Gen. Lundy’s next assignment. Wherever it is, that organization will be gaining an exceptional leader. Fort Rucker’s new commander, Maj. Gen. William Gayler is a Georgia native who most recently served as the Deputy Commanding General for the U.S. Army in Europe and Commander of U.S. Army NATO. Maj. Gen. Gayler is a Master Army Aviator and has a distinguished service career that includes deployments in Desert Storm, Bosnia conflict, Iraq and Afghanistan. He is also no stranger to Fort Rucker, having previously served in multiple assignments including Aide-de-Camp to the commanding general. On behalf of Alabama’s Second Congressional District, I am pleased to welcome Maj. Gen. Gayler back to our state and wish him the best as he begins his command of Fort Rucker. I look forward to working with him as I have past commanders in supporting the important mission at the Army Aviation Center of Excellence. It is my great honor to serve a district that is home to two of our nation’s finest military installations: Fort Rucker in the Wiregrass and Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base in Montgomery. Supporting our military and serving veterans remain top priorities for me in Congress and some of the most rewarding parts of my job. • • • Martha Roby represents Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District. She lives in Montgomery, Alabama with her husband, Riley, and their two children.
