Reps. Mike Rogers and Robert Aderholt applaud passage of NDAA
On Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Congressmen Mike Rogers (R-AL03) and Robert Aderholt (R-AL04) released statements applauding the House passage of the FY24 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). “Our nation faces unprecedented threats – the National Defense Authorization Act has never been more vital,” said Rep. Rogers. “With today’s passage of the FY24 NDAA, Congress has sent a strong message to our adversaries. The FY24 NDAA provides our military with the vital authorities, resources, and capabilities that our warfighters need to stay ahead of our adversaries. The FY24 NDAA supports our servicemembers, guts Biden’s woke agenda, deters China, and strengthens our military. I urge President Biden to quickly sign this bill into law.” Rogers is the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, which is tasked with preparing the House version of the National Defense Authorization Act each year. “Today, I voted in favor of this year’s National Defense Authorization Act, the NDAA, authorizing critical funds for our nation’s military,” said Rep. Aderholt. “I am proud to support a 5.2% pay raise for our troops, directing the Department of Defense to help secure our Southern border, and scrutinizing the Biden Administration’s politicized basing decision that would deny the US SPACE COMMAND its rightful and preferred home in Alabama.” Aderholt said that the new NDAA contains a number of key priorities for Alabama. “On top of all of that, we’ve continued our support for hypersonics being built right here in the 4th District in Courtland and given a boost to domestic shipyards like the ones in Mobile,” said Aderholt. This bill also takes significant steps to counter the Chinese Communist Party at home by securing our supply chains and abroad by strengthening our deterrence capabilities in the Indo-Pacific.” Aderholt said that the NDAA also strengthens U.S. alliances. “This bill sends a much-needed message of leadership to our friends and allies,” said Aderholt. “I am particularly encouraged by the provisions that will facilitate the AUKUS partnership between the U.S., U.K., and Australia, as well as the timely provisions to assist Israel and Taiwan, respectively. Further, I am reassured by the establishment of additional safeguards for our security assistance to Ukraine in the form of the Special Inspector General dedicated to ensure American taxpayer dollars are not wasted.” An earlier House version of the NDAA contained several partisan Republican provisions that led to a political impasse over the bill with the Senate. Many of those GOP planks were ultimately removed in the final, more bipartisan version of the NDAA, including an amendment overturning President Biden’s controversial military abortion policy. “Despite our many policy wins, the reality of a divided government means that Republicans did not get everything we wanted,” Aderholt stated bluntly. ”I am deeply disappointed that Senate Democrats were able to strip out of a House-passed provision that would overturn President Biden’s unconstitutional policy of reimbursing servicemembers’ abortion travel costs. However, we were able to take an axe to the leftist, woke agenda that Democrats have been forcing on our military. We have put a hiring freeze for social justice warriors in the DoD, prohibited the use of federal funds to promote critical race theory, and undone the injustice done to our servicemembers who were wrongfully punished for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine.” The NDAA has already passed the United States Senate. It now goes to the President’s desk for his signature. With the NDAA passed, Congress can now go on its Christmas holiday. They will address the FY2024 budget bills in January. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Katie Britt salutes passage of the NDAA
On Wednesday, the U.S. Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Alabama) released a statement following her vote to support final passage of the bipartisan NDAA. “Today, I voted to support the Fiscal Year 2024 NDAA, which contains major wins for Alabama, for our national defense, and for conservatives,” said Sen. Britt. “This legislation includes a 5.2 percent pay raise for our troops, forces the Biden Administration to resume construction of the wall at our southern border, and ensures that all future military promotions are solely based on an individual’s performance and merit.” “We also know that Communist China is our greatest geopolitical and national security threat, and everything the Chinese Communist Party does is as our adversary,” Britt continued. “This NDAA continues to modernize our military capabilities and assets, so that our warfighters remain the best equipped, trained, and ready in the world. This bill provides our military with the resources it needs to keep pace with China when it comes to addressing the threats in the Pacific and bolsters deterrence across the globe, including to aggressors such as Iran. This legislation provides critical missile defense and military training to the Israelis as they defend themselves from barbaric Hamas terrorists in the wake of October 7.” “Thanks to the hard work of our Alabama delegation, this bill also completely freezes any funding that would be used to build or renovate a Space Command headquarters in Colorado until a full audit of the Biden Administration’s politically-motivated, reckless basing decision is complete and publicized,” said Britt. “In addition, this NDAA authorizes more than $316 million for improvements to Alabama’s military bases and National Guard facilities. This is imperative to our state’s ability to continue strengthening our national defense long into the future, and it supports tens of thousands of good-paying jobs in communities across Alabama.” “I’m also especially proud to have included a provision in the NDAA that represents a positive step forward as we continue to work to better support the wellbeing of our servicemembers and their families,” Britt stated. “This provision is aimed at ensuring our military families have expanded access and greater flexibility when it comes to mental health care, and I’ll continue to advance this important mission.“ “I thank my colleagues on both the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, particularly Chairman Mike Rogers, for their work to ensure that Congress was able to pass this critical legislation to support our military here at home and around the world,” Britt concluded. The NDAA has been passed annually by Congress since 1961. It authorizes critical functions such as funding for the military, outlining national security priorities, and setting targets for modernizing defense technologies and munitions. This year the bill includes a 5.2% pay raise for the troops including more than 37,000 active-duty service members in Alabama. It authorizes $316.6 million in Military Construction Projects, including: · $68M for a Ground Test Facility on Redstone Arsenal · $65M for Military Family Housing at Maxwell Air Force Base · $57M for a new Army Reserve Center in Birmingham · $41.2M for new Barracks at Ft. Novosel Britt secured passage of a key amendment in the legislation that would require the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to submit a report to Congress on the feasibility of allowing American servicemembers and their dependents to keep previously retained mental healthcare via telehealth services while transferring between postings. The bill also contains the FINISH IT Act, legislation co-sponsored by Senator Britt that would force the Biden Administration’s Department of Defense (DoD) to allow millions of dollars of unused border wall panels already owned by the U.S. government to be used to extend the wall along the U.S.-Mexico border that was started under the Trump Administration. The bill contains the MERIT Act, legislation co-sponsored by Senator Britt that will ensure that all military promotions are made on the basis of merit and performance rather than alternative factors. The final version of the NDAA stripped off a number of partisan provisions added by GOP House members. This is much closer to the bipartisan version of the NDAA that passed out of the Senate. This is the first NDAA that Katie Britt has been able to contribute to as a member of the United States Senate. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Rep. Mike Rogers optimistic about reaching NDAA agreement
On Wednesday, Congressman Mike Rogers (R-AL03), the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, expressed optimism that the conference committee can reach an agreement on the FY24 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan version of the NDAA. The House Armed Services Committee did the same, but when the bill got to the floor of the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, Republicans added a number of amendments, including one overturning President Joe Biden’s controversial Defense Department abortion policy. The conference committee is tasked with passing a compromise NDAA that both Houses can pass, and the President will sign. “I am honored to chair the conference committee on the FY24 National Defense Authorization Act,” Chairman Rogers said. “And I am very pleased we have returned to regular order and are holding a formal conference. I commend Chairman [Jack] Reed and Ranking Member [Roger] Wicker for getting a bill through the Senate for the first time in two years and for all the work they did to get us into conference.” “The NDAA is one of the most consequential bills Congress considers,” continued Rogers. “All Members should have an opportunity to have their proposals fairly considered. Regular order guarantees that. It also sends an important signal to the men and women defending our freedom that Congress can function and will prioritize their needs above all else.” “Enacting an NDAA has never been more vital than it is today,” Rogers stated. “America and our allies face unprecedented and rapidly evolving threats from China. As well as ongoing threats from Russia, Iran, North Korea, and terrorist organizations throughout the world. These threats are real. We all just witnessed terrorists act on their threats against one of our closest allies. We all pray for Israel as it counters the most vile attack on its people since the Holocaust. All of these adversaries are aligned in their desire to weaken our allies and end American dominance. To stay ahead of these threats, DoD comes to Congress each year requesting critical new authorities and changes to existing law.” “This year, both the House and Senate NDAAs include critical new authorities to ensure our warfighters have what they need to deter our adversaries and prevail on future battlefields,” Rogers said. “These include: Provisions to expedite the delivery of new capabilities to the warfighter and enable the DoD to better partner with innovators in private industry. Provisions in both bills to revitalize our industrial base, secure our supply chains, and distribute our logistics are vital to ensuring we prevail in conflict with our adversaries, especially China. Provisions that implement AUKUS and expand military cooperation and expedite weapons transfers to Israel, Taiwan, and other allies and partners are needed now to deter our adversaries. And important new authorities that increase servicemember pay and allowances and expand benefits available to military families.” “Over 50 percent of our discretionary budget is spent on defense,” Rogers explained. “The House bill includes several provisions to require accountability from this administration and to end the woke policies being forced on our servicemembers by left-wing bureaucrats. Everyone here appreciates that we have a divided government. That enacting legislation as critical as the NDAA will require compromise. But compromise means we both have to swallow some things that we may not like.” One of the key sticking points has been the Biden administration’s abortion policy. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) has been holding up senior military promotions for nearly a year. Tuberville and Republicans hope that House GOP provisions overturning the President’s abortion policy remain in the final version of the NDAA that comes out of committee. Democrats and the Whitehouse would prefer a bill that does not address abortion. As chair of the conference committee, Rogers is under pressure from both sides. Mike Rogers has represented Alabama’s Third Congressional District since 2002. He is seeking a twelfth term but faces two GOP primary challengers. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
U.S. House passes stopgap spending bill in bipartisan vote, in crucial test for new speaker
Jennifer Shutt, Alabama Reflector WASHINGTON — The U.S. House took a broadly bipartisan vote Tuesday to fund the government into the new year, though the measure must pass the Senate by the end of the week if Congress is going to avoid a partial government shutdown. The 336-95 House vote was the first major legislative test for Speaker Mike Johnson, the Louisiana Republican who took on the role after the former speaker was ousted after passing a similar bipartisan short-term funding bill in late September. A total of 93 House Republicans voted against the bill, but enough Democrats supported it to send the measure to the Senate. In the Alabama delegation, U.S. Reps. Robert Aderholt, R-Haleyville; Terri Sewell, D-Birmingham, and Dale Strong, R-Madison, voted for the bill. U.S. Reps. Jerry Carl, R-Mobile; Barry Moore, R-Enterprise; Gary Palmer, R-Hoover and Mike Rogers, R-Saks, voted against it. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, said Tuesday that he and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, both agree the Senate needs to pass the bill quickly to avoid a funding lapse. “If the House should pass it, and I hope they do, Leader McConnell and I will figure out the best way to get this done quickly,” Schumer said. During a press conference prior to the vote, Johnson defended his decision to move the short-term spending bill, saying it would prevent Congress from passing an omnibus spending package in mid-December before the holiday break. Republicans have repeatedly said they oppose such massive packages, which wrap together all 12 government spending bills, often on short notice. He rejected criticism from fellow GOP lawmakers that he was making a mistake and taking the wrong approach to funding the government. “We’re not surrendering, we’re fighting. But you have to be wise about choosing the fights,” Johnson said. “You’ve got to fight fights that you can win, and we’re going to, and you’re going to see this House majority stand together on our principles.” Johnson said he was optimistic that Congress would be able to pass the dozen full-year appropriations bills before the new deadlines next year, avoiding the need for another stopgap spending bill. “Part of the reason I’m confident about this is, I’ve been drinking from Niagara Falls for the last three weeks. This will allow everybody to go home for a couple of days for Thanksgiving,” Johnson said. “Everybody can cool off.” During that time, Johnson said he would get a group together to “map out that plan to fight for” conservative principles in the final set of 12 spending bills. The current fiscal year ends on September 30, 2024. “I look forward to rolling that out,” he said. “You’ll see much more of that.” Two deadlines The 32-page short-term spending bill, sometimes called a continuing resolution or CR, would fund part of the federal government through January 19 and the remainder of the annual appropriations bills through February 2. The short-term funding measure is intended to give Congress and the White House more time to negotiate the dozen full-year spending bills. But there are several pitfalls along the way. Former GOP Speaker Kevin McCarthy was ousted from his leadership role after moving the short-term government funding bill in late September that will keep the federal government up and running through Friday. The decision by eight House Republicans and Democrats to vote to “vacate the chair” plunged the chamber into gridlock for weeks as GOP lawmakers debated who should lead the party. After nominating three Republicans who couldn’t get the votes on the floor to hold the gavel, the party finally coalesced behind Johnson. But some of the especially conservative members became frustrated this week with his decision to put the stopgap spending bill on the floor. The short-term spending bill would give the House and Senate until January 19 to work out an agreement on the Agriculture-FDA, Energy-Water, Military Construction-VA, and Transportation-HUD spending bills. The remaining eight spending bills — Commerce-Justice-Science, Defense, Financial Services, Homeland Security, Interior-Environment, Labor-HHS-Education, Legislative Branch, and State-Foreign Operations — would have funding until February 2. The House and Senate would need to reach an agreement well before those deadlines on the total amount of spending for the current fiscal year that began back on October 1. The leaders of the Appropriations committees would then determine how much of the money goes to each of the dozen bills. Democrats have said the total spending level should match what Congress and President Joe Biden agreed to in the debt limit law this summer. But some Republicans have pressed for lawmakers to go below that level. Lawmakers sound off on spending Idaho Republican Rep. Mike Simpson, chair of the Interior-Environment spending panel, said that leaders need to clarify the total spending number, though he expects that will ultimately match the debt limit law. “I think it will end up being that, but leadership needs to tell us,” Simpson said. Georgia Rep. Sanford Bishop Jr., the top Democrat on the Agriculture spending panel, said the total spending level for the final slate of bills that the House and Senate will negotiate in the coming weeks and months needs to adhere to the number in the debt limit law. “Some of them, particularly the MAGA Republicans, pretty much don’t agree with it. They want to cut much more drastically than is beneficial for the American people,” Bishop said. “The moderate, reasonable minds of that side think that we probably should do something that is reasonable.” Maryland Rep. Steny Hoyer, the top Democrat on the Financial Services spending panel, said a key challenge to getting full-year bills agreed to is that “Republicans have been unable for eight or nine months to get their act together on fiscal issues.” “And we’d lost a speaker over that,” Hoyer said. “They were unable to elect speakers for some period of time, and there is still no guarantee that we know what the overall spending levels are.” Ohio Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur, ranking member
Mike Rogers urges Senate to go to conference on the NDAA
On Friday. Congressman Mike Rogers (R-AL03) released a statement urging the Senate to go to conference on the FY24 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Rogers is the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. “For the first time in two years, we have the opportunity to return to regular order and hold a conference to work out the differences between the House and Senate bills,” Chairman Rogers said. “Unfortunately, for over seven weeks, the Senate has refused to agree to a conference and name their conferees. It’s vital that Congress come together to enact an NDAA that will build the ready, capable, and lethal fighting force we need to defend our nation. The House is ready to get to work – I urge the Senate to join us.” Rogers explained that the NDAA is 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. The Senate passed a largely bipartisan NDAA with no controversial political planks. The House Armed Services Committee did the same, and the NDAA passed out of committee with wide bipartisan support. However, once the NDAA got to the floor of the Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives, the Republican majority added a number of GOP priorities to the bipartisan version of the NDAA. One of these is a plank overturning President Joe Biden’s military abortion policy. Congresswoman Terri Sewell (D-AL07) voted against the NDAA due to the Republican changes on the floor. “I did not take this vote lightly,” Sewell said. “I have proudly voted in favor of the annual defense bill every year since coming to Congress. But I cannot and will not support a bill that would rip basic health care away from our service members and make bigotry and discrimination a centerpiece of our defense policy. Republicans need to stop playing politics with our national security.” If the NDAA goes to a conference committee, a bipartisan committee of Senators and Representatives will produce a compromise version of the NDAA. The Senate’s Democratic Party leadership does not want to go into conference committee with any of those Republican planks even being a negotiating point and has thus far resisted even going to conference on the differences between the two bills. Weeks that could have been spent on the NDAA and the budget were instead wasted in a mindless battle for power between squabbling Republican House members over which one of them was allowed to hold the Speaker’s gavel – two weeks were also wasted on this same pettiness back in January. The annual NDAA should have been passed and signed by the President by September 30. Mike Rogers represents Alabama’s Third Congressional District. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Mike Rogers to Chinese President Xi Jinping: “U.S. will not be intimidated”
Last week, the White House announced that President Joe Biden (D) will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping face-to-face in San Franciso this week. On Monday, Congressman Mike Rogers (R-AL03) released a statement ahead of the meeting saying, “Xi needs to understand that the United States will not be intimidated.” Rogers is the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. “President Biden needs to clearly lay out the steep consequences China will face if their aggressive behavior in the South China Sea continues. Xi needs to understand that the United States will not be intimidated, and we will continue to support our allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific,” Rogers said. “President Biden must also stand up for our military’s ability to freely operate in the South China Sea – China’s dangerous harassment of our pilots and sailors needs to come to an end.” The two world leaders previously met in Bali, Indonesia. “We spent a lot of time together and — back in the days when we were both vice presidents, and it’s just great to see you,” Biden said to Xi when the two previously met in Bali. “And you and I have had a number of candid and useful conversations over the years and since I became President as well. You were kind enough to call me to congratulate me, and I congratulate you as well. And I believe there’s little substitute, though, for — to face-to-face discussions.” “As the leaders of our two nations, we share a responsibility, in my view, to show that China and the United States can manage our differences, prevent competition from becoming anything ever near conflict, and to find ways to work together on urgent global issues that require our mutual cooperation,” Biden continued. “And I believe this is critical for the sake of our two countries and the international community.” “The world expects, I believe, China and the United States to play key roles in addressing global challenges, from climate changes to food insecurity, and to — for us to be able to work together,” Biden said. “The United States stands ready to do just that — work with you — if that’s what you desire. So, President Xi, I look forward to our continuing and ongoing open and honest dialogue we’ve always had. And I thank you for the opportunity.” “Since you assumed the presidency, we have maintained communication via video conferences, phone calls, and letters,” Xi told Biden through an interpreter. “But none of them can really substitute for face-to-face exchanges. And today, we finally have this face-to-face meeting. From the initial contact and the establishment of diplomatic relations to today, China and the United States have gone through 50-plus eventful years. We have gained experience, and we’ve also learned lessons.” “As leaders of the two major countries, we need to chart the right course for the China-U.S. relationship,” Xi continued. “We need to find the right direction for the bilateral relationship going forward and elevate the relationship. A statesman should think about and know where to lead his country. He should also think about and know how to get along with other countries and the wider world.” Rogers represents Alabama’s Third Congressional District. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Rep. Mike Rogers warns that China and Russia are working together to weaponize space
On Wednesday, Congressman Mike Rogers (R-AL03) released a statement following reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for greater cooperation between Russia and China on the development and deployment of military space weapons. “Our adversaries are working to rapidly weaponize space,” said Rep. Rogers. “The possibility of Russia and China joining forces against us in space is only the latest example of why we must continue our efforts to strengthen and expand our space capabilities. We must ensure freedom of action in space and counter efforts by those like China and Russia who seek to attack our forces in and through space.” Mike Rogers is the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. On Wednesday, Putin met with Chinese General Zhang Youxia, China’s second-ranking military official and vice chairman of the Central Military Commission. In his televised remarks, Putin emphasized the importance of developing closer military links, noting that cooperation in high-tech spheres now takes priority. “I mean space, including high-orbit assets, and new prospective types of weapons that will ensure strategic security of both Russia and the People’s Republic of China,” Putin said without elaboration. Putin emphasized that while “Russia and China aren’t building any military alliances based on Cold War patterns,” their cooperation is a “serious factor in stabilizing the international situation.” Space weapons have the potential to greatly impact the next major war. Communications, weather forecasting, navigation, global surveillance, early warning systems, and even weapons guidance all rely on a sophisticated network of satellites. An adversary who was capable of killing their opponent’s satellite network would quickly make their enemy blind and with limited command and control of their forces – particularly those forces on other continents. It could prove to be a decisive advantage in a major conflict. China has already tested an antisatellite weapon, and all major powers are rushing to gain mastery of the space battlefield. A bipartisan commission on the strategic posture of the United States recently prepared a report warning that the U.S. must be prepared to deter a future nuclear war against both China and Russia at the same time. “For the first time in history, the United States must deter two near-peer nuclear adversaries at the same time,” Rogers said in a statement on Thursday. “The goal of the Strategic Posture Commission was to examine the long-term strategic posture of the United States. The results of their report detailed the gravity of the situation we face and emphasized that the current trajectory of the U.S. nuclear deterrent is insufficient to deter the looming Chinese and Russian threat. I want to thank the commission for producing a clear-eyed, sobering consensus report. The details of this report should serve as a wakeup call for our strategic posture – we need to rapidly make changes now if we want to deter tomorrow.” Rogers is in his 11th term representing Alabama’s Third Congressional District and has qualified with the Alabama Republican Party to run for a twelfth term. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Robert Aderholt joins letter demanding answers about new gun restrictions
On Tuesday, Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-AL04) joined a letter by Congressman Mark Green, Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, to the Biden Administration demanding answers on restrictions on civilian firearm exports. Chairman Green’s letter to the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), an agency of the Department of Commerce, was signed by 86 other lawmakers. “President Biden has made it clear through his actions that he has no desire to uphold the Second Amendment,” said Rep. Aderholt. “He has previously moved to restrict hunting and archery programs in schools, and now he is he is prohibiting law-abiding businesses from selling their firearms overseas.” “First, President [Joe] Biden tried to strip funding from hunting and archery programs in our schools because of his antipathy for the Second Amendment,” said Rep. Green. “Now, he is prohibiting law-abiding businesses from selling their firearms overseas. This administration must explain itself.” In the letter, the lawmakers wrote, “As long as evil persists, there will always be a need for good people to defend themselves and their loved ones. The need for the Second Amendment was not limited to the American Revolution nor the American Republic. Every person has a right to self-defense. Not only does BIS’s pause on firearms export licenses leave people even more vulnerable, but it will also push buyers to look elsewhere to meet their customers’ demands.” “Belligerent actors are becoming more aggressive and emboldened; regimes like Iran and China are posturing toward force and increasing their military capabilities,” the members of Congress continued. “The surprise attacks against Israel should dispel any notion that BIS can justly or accurately assess who needs firearms for defense and who does not.” The lawmakers conclude: “We demand that the Department end this ridiculous hypocrisy and continue the issuance of export licenses for firearms, related components, and ammunition. Continuing this pause will only weaken law-abiding civilians and hand criminal actors a monopoly of force. We also urge that BIS’s final assessment not deprive innocent people of the means for self-defense.” Congressmen Mike Rogers (R-AL03), Barry Moore (R-AL02), and Gary Palmer (R-AL06) were also cosigners. This letter was endorsed by The National Rifle Association (NRA), National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), Gun Owners of America (GOA), American Suppressors Association (ASA), the Firearms & Ammunition Import/Export Roundtable, and Heritage Action. Robert Aderholt has represented Alabama’s Fourth Congressional District since 1996. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Rep. Mike Rogers calls for 50-year-old missiles to be replaced
Last week’s test of a Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) ended in failure. On Friday, Congressman Mike Rogers (R-AL03) released a statement in which he said that the failed test shows that the United States should begin developing a long-term replacement for the legacy missiles which have served this country as its primary nuclear deterrent for over a half-century. “Minuteman III was initially designed in the 1960s and deployed in the 1970s, with an expected service life of a decade,” Rep. Rogers said. “It has served our country well and we will continue to depend on it to deter nuclear war until the 2030s, but this week’s test is a stark reminder that nothing lasts forever. Despite this fact, the far-left disarmament community has continued their push to delay the recapitalization of the land-leg of our triad and life-extend these legacy systems instead of replacing them. This debate has grown increasingly detached from reality; further life extension is simply infeasible, and 50-year-old missiles are not the answer to China and Russia’s expanding nuclear arsenals. We must modernize our aging nuclear deterrent and replace the Minuteman III missile – as well as the rest of our nuclear enterprise – with modern systems.” The U.S. Air Force and Space Force had to terminate the test of the Minuteman missile over the Pacific Ocean after an anomaly occurred with the craft. The missile was launched from Vanderberg Space Force Base in California. Dramatic increases in what the United States spends on nuclear weapons had been part of the bipartisan plan for 2024, but partisan disagreements over Ukraine, the size of the deficit, IRS agents, abortion, border security, and other topics, as well as petty internal GOP squabbling over House leadership has delayed passage of both the defense budget and the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for nearly six weeks and there is no sign that either gets done any time soon. The United States nuclear deterrent is based on a triad system. ICBMs, primarily the aging Minuteman III missiles, are one leg of that triad. The second is 25 Ohio class ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs). Those will be replaced with the new Columbia class starting in the 2030s. The third leg are bombers comprised of the aging B-52s, increasingly obsolescent B-1s, and the stealth B-2s. A new stealth bomber – the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider, is under development. The deployment of anti-satellite weaponry combined with nuclear warheads on hypersonic missiles launched from ground launchers, bombers, and submarines is potentially a technological game changer that could alter the global balance of power, particularly if the major powers break out of the START III treaty – as appears increasingly likely. Rogers is serving in his eleventh term representing Alabama’s Third Congressional District. Rogers has qualified for reelection. At this point, Rogers is facing one qualified primary challenger but no general election opponent. The deadline for 2024 major party qualifying is Friday at 5:00 p.m. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Rep. Mike Rogers and colleagues comment on Russia’s de-ratification of Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
On Tuesday, Russia announced that Russia has de-ratified the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CNTBT). Congressman Mike Rogers (R-AL03) and senior GOP Armed Services Leadership members released a statement in response to the Russian announcement. “Russia’s ‘de-ratification’ of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty lays bare Putin’s disdain for anything that might interfere with his nuclear ambitions,” Rogers and the other Congress members wrote. “The CTBT, rejected by the Senate in 1999, is a hollow, fatally-flawed regime. Despite this obvious truth, the Biden administration continues to waste time and money looking for ways to prop up this irrelevant treaty in hopes of reducing the role of nuclear weapons in U.S. defense. The administration should not allow a single additional U.S. taxpayer dollars to go towards implementing ineffective agreements. Instead, it should focus on holding our adversaries accountable for their actions and modernizing an aging nuclear deterrent that is increasingly not fit for the growing 21st-century threats.” In addition to Rogers, the letter was also signed by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas), Senate Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Jim Risch (R-Idaho). The House Armed Services Committee said Russia’s “de-ratification” of the CTBT is the latest in a series of Russian moves that demonstrate just how ineffective the treaty has been in curbing Putin’s nuclear ambitions. Rogers claims that Russia consistently ignores the primary purpose of the agreement, conducting multiple nuclear tests at the Novaya Zemlya Test Site to inform its development of new and novel nuclear weapons. Rogers also accused Moscow of exploiting its control of the CTBT’s International Monitoring System by deactivating radiation sensors to hide evidence of a failed test of its dangerous SKYFALL nuclear-powered cruise missile. Rogers claimed that even with these actions, the Biden administration continues to waste taxpayer money looking for ways to prop up the treaty, which failed Senate ratification in 1999. Rogers claims that these efforts have amounted to nothing more than attempts to undercut support for our Department of Defense and Department of Energy efforts to rebuild our aging deterrent as well as signal to our adversaries that we will ignore their violations of arms control agreements to the detriment of our own national security. Rogers said that the administration’s actions come at a uniquely dangerous time, highlighted by the bipartisan Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States’ conclusion that the U.S. faces “the unprecedented existential challenge of facing two nuclear-armed peer adversaries.” Rogers is in his eleventh term representing Alabama’s Third Congressional District. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Bryan Newell is running for Congress in Alabama’s Third Congressional District
Bryan Newell qualified with the Alabama Republican Party last week to run in Alabama’s Third Congressional District, challenging incumbent Congressman Mike Rogers (R-AL03). Newell served five years in the U.S. Army Infantry. After five years, he was discharged and went to college. After 9/11, Newell reenlisted and deployed multiple times to Iraq and Afghanistan. In his military career, he served as a drill Sergeant, Platoon Sergeant, Aviation Maintenance Supervisor, Battalion Flight Operations NCOIC, Battalion S3 Future Operations NCOIC, Brigade SPO Forward Aviation Liaison, and Aviation Senior Instructor. After retiring, he returned to Alabama to care for his aging parents. Newell said he was shocked as he watched his country go to waste. He had complained enough about his elected officials sitting on their hands as the country crumbled beneath their feet. It was “time to put up or shut up.” He believes that serving in Congress is a dream that God has placed in his head. Newell has been married to his wife Lourdes for 20 years, and they have three children and two grandchildren. “It’s amazing how some elected officials get elected and a few terms later they are multimillionaires, and yet they can’t balance the budget or fix the deficit,” Newell said. “They say it’s from sound investments. In the real world, they call it insider trading. Ask Martha Stewart. That’s why I support the Pelosi Act or any bill preventing elected leaders from owning securities and investments.” Newell said that he favored listing drug cartels as terrorist organizations. “Over 100,000 people have died from the drugs pouring across the border,” Newell said. “The trafficking of children in the sex trade. Cartel coyotes escorting immigrants across the border for over $6000 a person. Children walking carrying a bag of day-after pills because she knows she will be raped along the way. These cartels should be destroyed, but until then, we should seize their assets and find and shut down money laundering operations. We should lock them down so tight that the cartels would be applying for asylum and food stamps. It was reported in 2018 that the cash-rich cartels are believed by the Mexican government to generate well over $21 billion each year. What do you think it’s up to now?” Newell continued, “We have a house full of career establishment politicians with no teamwork experience, no leadership experience, and no passion for developing solutions for the problems that arise on their watch. They sit up there 20, 30, 40, 50 years, running on problems they help create year after year. I’m tired of our so-called representatives acting as if they are the royalty and we are the peasants. I want term limits. Six terms for Congress, two terms for Senate.” Newell said that he opposes gun control. “Guns don’t kill people. People kill people,” Newell said. “Over 46,000 people died in the United States last year due to vehicle accidents. You don’t see the government trying to ban vehicle manufacturing.” “When I’m elected, I will have a weekly open Zoom conference call from 6 pm to 8 pm one night of the week where anyone can walk into my local Alabama office and talk to me one-on-one and explain their problem and see what I can do for them,” Newell said. “That is what I call being your voice in Congress. Our country declared its independence and went to war over taxation without representation. What do you have right now? Your voice in Congress. It’s a horrible thing to waste.” Newell said that he opposes biological men being allowed to play in women’s sports. “What happened to Title 9? What happened to allow girls to participate in sports, get scholarships, attempt the Olympics, and attempt greatness? Allowing biological men in women’s sports is a slap in the face to all women,” Newell said. “20 years ago, we were disgusted to find out 31 countries practicing female genital mutilation on the news. We wanted these countries to stop. Most were religious reasons; some were traditions. Either reason, it was horrible. Today, we have the same thing here. Not because of religion or tradition but because of social issues. Why did transgender spike in GEN-Z in America and not so much in other countries? Why is it mostly men who are transgender?” The major party primaries are on March 5. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Mike Rogers says attacks on Americans will not be tolerated
On Friday, the U.S. launched airstrikes on two targets in Syria. Following the air strikes, Congressmen Mike Rogers (R-Alabama) and Adam Smith (D-Washington), the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, released a joint statement affirming their support for sending a message to Iran and avenging the U.S. service members attacked by Iranian backed terrorists in Syria. “Last night, we were informed that the U.S. military conducted strikes against facilities used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and their proxies in Syria,” Rogers and Smith said. “These strikes come after recent attacks that injured 21 U.S. servicemembers and resulted in the death of one U.S. contractor. We stand united in sending a message to Iran and their terrorist proxies that attacks on Americans will not be tolerated as we continue to work with our partners in the region to avoid escalation of the current conflict.” The two facilities were in eastern Syria and are reportedly used by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards and its proxy militias. The Pentagon says that the strikes were in response to attacks against U.S. troops in the region, the Pentagon announced late Thursday. President Joe Biden ordered U.S. military forces to carry out “self-defense airstrikes” on a weapons storage facility and an ammunition storage area reportedly used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and affiliated groups in eastern Syria. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said in a statement, “Today, at President Biden’s direction, U.S. military forces conducted self-defense strikes on two facilities in eastern Syria used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and affiliated groups. These precision self-defense strikes are a response to a series of ongoing and mostly unsuccessful attacks against U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria by Iranian-backed militia groups that began on October 17. As a result of these attacks, one U.S. citizen contractor died from a cardiac incident while sheltering in place; 21 U.S. personnel suffered from minor injuries, but all have since returned to duty. The President has no higher priority than the safety of U.S. personnel, and he directed today’s action to make clear that the United States will not tolerate such attacks and will defend itself, its personnel, and its interests.” “The United States does not seek conflict and has no intention nor desire to engage in further hostilities, but these Iranian-backed attacks against U.S. forces are unacceptable and must stop. Iran wants to hide its hand and deny its role in these attacks against our forces,” Sec. Austin continued. “We will not let them. If attacks by Iran’s proxies against U.S. forces continue, we will not hesitate to take further necessary measures to protect our people. These narrowly tailored strikes in self-defense were intended solely to protect and defend U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria. They are separate and distinct from the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, and do not constitute a shift in our approach to the Israel-Hamas conflict. We continue to urge all state and non-state entities not to take action that would escalate into a broader regional conflict.” The U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan has not lessened tensions with Iran. Over the weekend, Iran ominously threatened massive attacks if “red lines” are crossed. Mike Rogers is in his 11th term representing Alabama’s Third Congressional District. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
