Dale Strong begins building congressional staff
On Monday, newly elected Congressman Dale Strong announced two senior staff appointments. The Yellowhammer News reported that Strong has hired veteran congressional staffer Payne Griffin and Yellowhammer News editor Dylan Smith to serve on his congressional staff. Payne Griffin is a former Sen. Jeff Sessions staffer. He has served in policy roles since 2014 in Congress and, with President Donald Trump’s administration, will serve as Strong’s chief of staff. “I am thrilled to have Payne Griffin leading my team in Washington,” said Strong. “His experience on Capitol Hill and in the Trump administration will be invaluable as I assemble my staff and work to protect and grow north Alabama.” Dylan Smith has been named as Strong’s district director. “Dylan Smith is one of our great young conservative leaders and, through his work in the media, he understands the issues that drive our local economies and affect north Alabama families,” said Strong. “I want my district staff to be proactive, and team with local leaders and businesses to help our communities achieve their full potential, and Dylan is the right guy to lead that effort.” Griffin most recently served as the deputy legislative director for U.S. Sen. Mike Braun. Prior to that, he was the deputy chief of staff at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative during the Trump administration. Griffin worked for Sessions on trade policy and other economic issues. He has also previously worked for former Congressman Spencer Bachus and Rep. Mike Rogers. Prior to his joining the Yellowhammer News, Smith was the chairman of the Mountain Lakes Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Smith also sat on the former Jackson County Health Care Authority Board of Directors. Smith was the founding managing editor of the Jackson Blaze and a contributor to The Daily Caller. Smith served as vice chair of the Jackson County Republican Executive Committee, chairman of the Young Republicans of Northeast Alabama, and as a member of the Alabama Republican Party State Executive Committee. Dale Strong was recently elected to Congress, representing Alabama’s Fifth Congressional District. Strong is the longtime chairman of the Madison County Commission. CD5 was an open seat due to incumbent Congressman Mo Brooks’ decision to run for U.S. Senate – where he was defeated in the Republican primary runoff by Katie Britt, who ultimately won the Senate Seat. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
U.S. service academies nomination deadline is Thursday
U.S. Representative Mike Rogers released a statement reminding high school seniors who are graduating in 2023 and are interested in receiving a Congressional nomination to attend one of the U.S. Service Academies to complete an online application. The application can also be mailed to one of his district offices. The deadline for receipt of these applications is December 15, 2022. To be considered for a nomination for appointment to any of the service academies, including the U.S. Military Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the U.S. Merchant Marines Academy, seniors must complete application material and submit it online or mail the completed packet to one of Rogers’ district offices. The U.S. Coast Guard Academy does not require a Congressional nomination. The applications can be sent to: Congressman Mike Rogers Attn: Service Academy Application 701 Avenue A, Suite 300 Opelika, AL 36801 Or Congressman Mike Rogers Attn: Service Academy Application 149 E. Hamric Drive, Suite D Oxford, AL 36203 The service academy allows students to get four years of high-quality college instruction in exchange for a period of service as an officer in the U.S. armed forces. Generations of our country’s senior military leaders have begun their careers through service academies. Congressman Mike Rogers was recently elected to his eleventh term representing Alabama’s Third Congressional District. Prior to his congressional service, Rogers represented Calhoun County in the Alabama House of Representatives, where he was the House GOP Minority Leader. He also previously served on the Calhoun County Commission. He is an attorney and resides in Saks. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
House passes the National Defense Authorization Act
On Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 7900, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023 with bipartisan support. The NDAA has been passed annually by Congress since 1961. It authorizes funding levels for the Department of Defense. This legislation allows the Armed Forces to pay, train, and equip U.S. service members, support America’s allies around the world, and carry out essential national security operations. U.S. Representative Mike Rogers is the Lead Republican on the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) and is expected to chair the HASC Committee next month when the next Congress begins. HASC is the committee that prepares the NDAA each year in the House of Representatives. “The U.S. Constitution tasked Congress with our nation’s most important responsibility – to provide for our national defense – the National Defense Authorization Act is a vital part of this responsibility,” Rogers said in a statement. “This year’s NDAA makes critical investments in our military to maintain overmatch with China – from boosting deterrence to securing our supply chain this legislation demonstrates strength in the face of China’s threats. I am also proud that this year’s NDAA supports our servicemembers by repealing the COVID-19 vaccine mandate as well as providing a boost in servicemember pay and allowances to counteract the effects of Biden’s inflation.” “The responsibility to ensure that our service members can keep our nation safe and free is one that I will never take lightly,” said Rep. Terri Sewel in a statement. “I’m thrilled that this year’s defense bill includes a hard-earned raise for our service members and authorizes millions of dollars for Maxwell Air Force Base and Montgomery Regional Airport Base. This NDAA will bolster America’s national security and advance our leadership on the world stage, and I was proud to vote for it.” “It is critical that we continue to fund and strengthen our military, especially at this crucial time when China, in particular, is an ever-growing threat,” said Rep. Gary Palmer. “This legislation repeals the unnecessary COVID vaccine mandate on our military which will help mitigate the slump in our recruitment and retention levels. The bill provides funding stability badly needed for our armed forces to prepare for future threats to our country. It also provides a nearly 5% pay raise for our soldiers, some of whom have been forced to use food stamps to make ends meet for their families during this record level of inflation. Additionally, this bill includes a provision which I authored that authorizes funding for the National Computer Forensics Institute (NCFI) based in Hoover for another five years. With an increasing number of state-sponsored attacks occurring online, NCFI will play a role in training those combating these actions. I am proud to see Alabama’s 6th District continuing to play an important role in our protecting our nation.” “I was proud to vote yes on the National Defense Authorization Act, NDAA, which authorizes funds for our military,” said Congressman Robert Aderholt. Even though Republicans are not yet in the majority in the House, we were able to strip the leftist, woke elements Democrats wanted to include. We were also able to put guardrails in to make sure the money Congress authorized for Ukraine is not wasted. But on top of all of that, we have increased funding for our military, we’ve continued our support for hypersonics, and we started the process of weaning our nation off of critical minerals that come from China and other unfriendly nations. This is crucial as China continues to strengthen its own military in the attempt to surpass us in strength and technology. I will continue to push for more spending on our military, because truly the most important vote members of Congress make is one to defend our nation.” “I’m thrilled the National Defense Authorization Act has passed the House,” said Rep. Jerry Carl (R-AL01) in a statement on Facebook. “My colleagues and I successfully fought back against President Biden’s reckless cuts to our national security and put an end to the COVID-19 vaccine mandate on all active and reserve servicemembers. This bill ensures our armed forces are fully funded to combat growing threats around the world, gives our servicemembers a much-needed pay raise to combat inflation, and modernizes our military, all while cutting waste to save taxpayers billions of dollars. This is a win for Alabama and the United States!” “This year’s NDAA also continues to bolster the crucial role that Alabama plays in our national defense by reversing President Biden’s dangerous cuts to our missile defense, supporting the work done at the Anniston Army Depot and expanding and modernizing our shipbuilding, among other initiatives,” Rogers added. “I also want to thank my Alabama colleague, Rep. Mike Rogers, the incoming Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, for his leadership in shepherding this bill through the House,” Aderholt said. “I look forward to working with him in the new Congress to continue to build and strengthen our nation’s defenses.” “I’m proud of the many provisions in this legislation that will fortify our national security and keep our nation safe,” Rogers said. Rogers listed several FY23 NDAA provisions that support Alabama’s defense industrial base. These include: · Community Funded Project for Anniston Army Depot DLA Warehouse. · Community Funded Project for Auburn University Battery Research Program. · Increase in authorized funds for AMPV procurement. · Increase in authorized funds for Stryker Upgrades. · Includes historic levels of investment to accelerate depot and shipyard maintenance projects and expedite facility improvements across all services. · Reverses President Joe Biden’s cuts to the procurement of new aircraft, combat vehicles, autonomous systems, missiles, and ammunition. · Authorizes $15.5 billion for military construction and military family housing projects throughout the United States and around the world. · Includes $1.03 billion to support expansion and modernization of the shipyard industrial base. · Improves the test and evaluation enterprise to expedite the fielding of advanced capabilities. · Establishes a National Hypersonic Initiative, to accelerate the development of hypersonic missiles and catch-up to Chinese and Russian programs. · Reverses President Biden’s cuts to missile defense. · Extension of a DoDEA pilot program at Maxwell AFB. · Vehicle Inspection Station Community Funded Project for Maxwell AFB. · Community Funded Project for Montgomery Regional Airport Base F-35
House passes defense bill scrapping COVID vaccine mandate
A bill to rescind the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for members of the U.S. military and provide nearly $858 billion for national defense passed the House on Thursday as lawmakers scratch off one of the final items on their yearly to-do list. The bill provides for about $45 billion more for defense programs than President Joe Biden requested, the second consecutive year Congress significantly exceeded his request, as lawmakers seek to boost the nation’s military competitiveness with China and Russia. The House passed the bill by a vote of 350-80. It now goes to the Senate, where it is expected to pass easily, then to the president to be signed into law. To win bipartisan support for the bill, Democrats agreed to Republican demands to scrap the requirement for service members to get a COVID-19 vaccination. The bill directs Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to rescind his August 2021 memorandum imposing the mandate. Only days earlier, he voiced support for keeping the mandate in effect. Rep. Adam Smith, Democratic chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, told colleagues that the decision to impose the vaccine mandate was the right call at the time. “It saved lives, and it made sure that our force was as ready as it could possibly be in the face of the pandemic,” Smith said. But, he said the directive only required the initial vaccination, and by now, that protection has worn off. “It’s time to update the policy,” Smith said. Republicans said the mandate hurt recruiting and retention efforts. Rep. Mike Rogers, top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, said he intends in the next Congress to examine who was adversely affected by the mandate, “so we can try to revisit that and make them whole to the extent desirable.” More than 8,000 active-duty service members were discharged for failure to obey a lawful order when they refused the vaccine. “Some of the folks who have moved on are not going to want to come back,” said Rogers, who will become chairman of the Armed Services Committee in the next Congress. Smith said he opposed efforts to reward those service members who disobeyed a military order. “Orders are not optional in the United States military,” Smith said. “And if Congress expresses the opinion that they are, I cannot imagine anything that would more significantly undermine the good order and discipline within our military.” Military leaders have argued that troops for decades have been required to get as many as 17 vaccines in order to maintain the health of the force, particularly those deploying overseas. Recruits arriving at the military academies or at basic training get a regimen of shots on their first day — such as measles, mumps, and rubella — if they aren’t already vaccinated. And they routinely get flu shots in the fall. Service leaders have said that the number of troops who requested religious or other exemptions to any of those required vaccines — prior to the COVID pandemic — was negligible. The politicization of the COVID-19 vaccine, however, triggered an onslaught of exemption requests from troops. As many as 16,000 religious exemptions have been or are still pending, and only about 190 have been approved. Small numbers of temporary and permanent medical exemptions have also been granted. While the rescission of the COVID-19 vaccine mandate has generated much attention, it takes up one paragraph of what is a 4,408-page bill. The defense policy legislation is critical in shaping the military’s future. It sets the maximum number of service members authorized to be in the various branches of the military. It authorizes money for specific major weapons programs, and it establishes pay and benefits. This year’s bill authorizes money to support a $4.6% pay raise for military members and the Defense Department’s civilian workers. The bill also authorizes $800 million in additional security assistance for Ukraine and calls for a report on whether any gaps exist in the oversight of aid to that country. That addresses the concerns of some Republicans who have been calling for a more detailed accounting of how the money has been spent. The legislation received broad support from House members of both political parties. Opposition came from 45 Democrats and 35 Republicans. Some Democrats said the bill authorized too much defense spending. “While working families are being crushed by inflation, we shouldn’t be spending $45 billion MORE than the President requested,” tweeted Rep. Mondaire Jones, D-N.Y. Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, said stripping the vaccine mandate did not go far enough. “We must rehire these heroes with mandatory backpay,” he said of those who were kicked out for refusing the vaccine order. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre defended the Pentagon’s COVID vaccination policy but said Biden would judge the bill “on its entirety.” “What we think happened here is Republicans in Congress have decided that they’d rather fight against the health and well-being of our troops than protecting them,” Jean-Pierre said. “And we believe that it is a mistake.” The defense policy bill also has a variety of environmental measures, such as legislation to boost healthy choral reefs, enhance marine mammal research and eliminate shark fin sales. Lawmakers failed in some instances to attach their priorities to the bill, such as an effort to prevent federal banking regulators from imposing penalties on banks that offer services to cannabis-related businesses. Also left out was legislation from Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.V.., to speed permits for natural gas pipelines and other energy projects, including a pipeline project in his home state and Virginia. Republished with the permission of The Associated Press.
Terri Sewell wins re-election to seventh term
Congresswoman Terri Sewell was re-elected to her seventh term representing Alabama’s Seventh Congressional District. Sewell cruised to victory even though the Seventh Congressional District became much more diverse after 2021’s redistricting and reapportionment by the Alabama Legislature. “To the great people of Alabama’s 7th Congressional District, thank you,” said Rep. Sewell. “Representing you in Congress is my greatest honor, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve another term. This victory belongs to you!” Rep. Sewell won 63.5% percent of the vote (123,060 votes). Republican challenger Beatrice Nichols received 67,353 votes (34.77%).00 Libertarian Party Chairman Gavin Goodman received 3,207 votes (1.66%). “Regardless of how you voted, I pledge to continue listening, learning, and fighting for the values we share. We as a nation face many challenges, but I am confident that working together, we can continue to deliver more resources and better opportunities for our communities. I look forward to the work that lies ahead!” Sewell campaigned tirelessly in this election, traveling all over the district, often bringing checks, emphasizing her ability to bring home money for the district. Sewell is the first Democratic woman elected to Congress from Alabama in state history. She is the only Black woman to ever serve in the Alabama Congressional delegation. Sewell ran for Congress when then-incumbent Congressman Artur Davis ran for Governor. Before her congressional service, Sewell was an attorney in Birmingham. Sewell has held several leadership positions, including Freshman Class President in the 112th Congress. This current term, she was selected by Democratic leadership to serve as a Chief Deputy Whip and sits on the prestigious Steering and Policy Committee, which sets the policy direction of the Democratic Caucus. Sewell is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, where she is Co-Chair of the Voting Rights Task Force. She is a member of the New Democrat Coalition, Co-Chair of the Congressional Voting Rights Caucus, Vice-Chair of the Congressional HBCU Caucus, and Co-Chair of the Rural Caucus. Sewell is a native of Selma, where she was the first Black valedictorian of Selma High School. She has degrees from Princeton University and Oxford University in England, as well as a law degree from Harvard Law School. Sewell is the only Democrat in the Alabama Congressional Delegation. Republican incumbents, U.S. Representatives Mike Rogers, Robert Aderholt, Jerry Carl, Barry Moore, and Gary Palmer, were re-elected by large margins. Madison County Commissioner Dale Strong, as expected, easily won the open Alabama’s Fifth Congressional District. While all of Alabama’s congressional races went as expected, that could change in the 2024 election as that 2021 redistricting is being challenged in federal court. The U.S. Supreme Court has already heard one of those suits, and a decision is expected this spring. The Court could potentially order the entire congressional redistricting may be redrawn. As of press time on Wednesday, it is still not known whether Democrats have held on to their razor-thin majorities in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate. An expected “Red Wave” did not materialize on election day, so whichever party controls Congress will have very low majorities to work with. Sewell is a member of House leadership. The Biden Administration is saying that the better-than-unexpected results are a vindication of Joe Biden’s policies. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Dale Strong wins Alabama’s 5th Congressional District seat
Republican Dale Strong has been elected to the north Alabama congressional district being vacated by U.S. Rep Mo Brooks. Strong on Tuesday defeated Democrat Kathy Warner-Stanton and Libertarian P. J. Greer to win Alabama’s 5th Congressional District, the state’s only open congressional seat this year. Brooks did not seek another term, choosing instead to run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby. The six-term congressman lost the Republican primary runoff to former business lobby leader Katie Britt, who was elected. Strong is chairman of the Madison County Commission and a volunteer firefighter and emergency medical technician. He won the GOP nomination after defeating Casey Wardynski, a former Huntsville school superintendent, in a primary runoff. The state’s six other congressional districts also were decided: — In the 1st Congressional District of southwest Alabama, incumbent Republican Rep. Jerry Carl defeated Libertarian Alexander Remrey. ADVERTISEMENT — In the 2nd Congressional District in southeast Alabama, incumbent Republican Rep. Barry Moore was reelected, defeating Democrat Phyllis Harvey-Hall and Libertarian Jonathan Realz. — In east Alabama’s 3rd Congressional District, incumbent Republican Rep. Mike Rogers defeated Democrat Lin Veasey Democrat, Libertarian Thomas Sickofdc Casson and independent Douglas A. Bell. — In the 4th Congressional District of north-central Alabama, incumbent Republican Rep. Robert Aderholt was reelected, defeating Democrat Rick Neighbors and Libertarian Johnny C. Cochran. — In the 6th Congressional District of central Alabama, incumbent Republican Rep. Gary Palmer defeated Libertarian Andria Chieffo. — In west Alabama’s 7th Congressional District, Incumbent Democratic Rep. Terri Sewell was reelected. She defeated Republican Beatrice Nichols and Libertarian Gavin Goodman. Sewell was the only Democrat in Alabama’s congressional delegation. Republished with the permission of The Associated Press.
Jerry Carl, Mike Rogers urge border wall be built
On Monday, Congressman Jerry Carl and Mike Rogers took to social media to urge the Biden administration to act forcefully to slow border crossings. “Nearly 2.4 million illegal immigrants have attempted to cross our southern border this fiscal year,” Rep. Carl said on Facebook. “We need to build the wall and put an end to this crisis!” That is the highest number of border crosses that the Department of Homeland Security has ever encountered. Rep. Carl posted a graphic showing that the number of border encounters during the fiscal year 2022, which ended on September 30, was up considerably from FY2021. The 227,534 encounters with border crossers was a significant increase from September 2021, where there were 192,001 migrant encounters. That is markedly up from the crossings during the Trump administration, where Border agents encountered 57,674 migrants in September 2020 and 52,546 in September 2019. “20 suspected terrorists were arrested at the southern border in September alone,” Rep. Rogers said on Facebook. “We need to secure our border and finish building President [Donald]Trump’s wall.” Rogers referenced a Fox News report that 20 suspected terrorists were arrested along with the 227,000 migrants that the Border Patrol and Customs Enforcement encountered in its record September. Sixty-six people on the FBI’s terror watch list had already been captured trying to get into this country through July. U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville said on Twitter, “BOTTOM LINE: Democrats have created a humanitarian crisis at our nation’s Southern border, and they don’t care to stop it.” Tuberville referenced a report by Fox News showing that 856 migrants have already died on the Southern border with Mexico. Earlier this month, Congressman Gary Palmer said on Twitter, “Joe Biden’s disregard for the law has left our southern border in a crisis. This is an unsustainable path for our country. Americans deserve a nation that’s safe.” Republicans have made the chaos on the southern border a significant election issue in the approaching midterm elections, while Democrats have largely ignored the border issue. Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy wrote on his website, “America is the greatest nation on earth. It wasn’t founded on ethnicity but a creed. Every day our broken immigration system gets worse and worse. It’s time to secure the border, enforce our laws, and find a real solution. We are a nation of immigrants but also a nation of laws. Securing the border has to be the first step in developing a realistic solution to our country’s broken immigration system. Immigration reform must take a common-sense approach that focuses on a long-term solution that is clear, concise, understandable, and enforceable.” Eleven of the last twelve polls show that nationally voters prefer Republicans on a generic congressional ballot over Democrats. According to the most recent poll by Emerson, voters prefer Republicans 46% to 41% for Democrats. If this is an accurate representation of what voters are thinking and what they will do on election day, then Republicans likely will take control of the House of Representatives in the November 8 general election. There is also a strong possibility of Republicans taking control of the U.S. Senate. The GOP has not controlled both Houses of Congress since 2018. If that happens, then Republicans will have to decide what immigration reform and enhanced border security look like to them – something they failed to agree upon even though they controlled both Houses of Congress and the presidency. If Republicans take control of Congress, they will still have to deal with the Biden White House on these issues. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Democrats’ letter urges amendment to National Defense Authorization Act
Vetting human rights security cooperation programs is the focus of a letter sent to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees by a pair of Democrats. California Congresswoman Sara Jacobs, Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen, and 13 other federal legislators are urging the committees to include their amendment that would require vetting of human rights in cooperation programs within the fiscal year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act conference pact. According to the letter sent to Chairman Jack Reed, D-RI; Chairman Adam Smith, D-WA; Ranking Member Jim Inhofe, R-OK; and Ranking Member Mike Rogers, R-AL, members are pushing for House-ratified provisions of the Upholding Human Rights Abroad Act that would, if enacted, close loopholes in the Leahy Laws that would “guarantee human rights vetting” of U.S. security assistance that would prevent taxpayer funds from aiding human rights abusers. “This provision would strengthen the U.S. commitment to human rights by increasing vetting measures to ensure that recipients of U.S. support have not committed human rights violations or violations of international humanitarian law,” the members wrote in the letter. “Consistent with the Department of Defense Leahy Law, this provision allows for the use of a national security waiver.” The members wrote that the provisions would give the flexibility that would “continue to address U.S. national security priorities” that would allow the State Department to “undertake this additional vetting.” “This provision would help prevent civilian harm, ensure partner compliance with human rights, and improve intended long-term outcomes toward good governance, rule of law, peace, and human rights promotion,” the members wrote. The letter was also signed by Senators Dick Durbin, D-Ill; Patrick Leahy, D-VT; and Richard Blumenthal, D-CT; and Representatives Jason Crow, D-CO; Chrissy Houlahan, D-PA; Tom Malinowski, D-NJ; Joaquin Castro, D-TX; Albio Sires, D-NJ; Dina Titus, D-NV; Ted Lieu, D-CA; Colin Allred, D-TX-32; Gerry Connolly, D-VA; and Dean Phillips, D-MN. Republished with the permission of The Center Square.
St. Clair County honors Paul Manning on his retirement from county commission
On Thursday, over three hundred attended a retirement party at the St. Clair Arena in Odenville for long-time St. Clair County Commission Chairman Paul Manning. Manning lost re-election to long-time rival Stan Bateman in the May Republican primary. Manning was first elected to the county commission in 1978 and has served on the commission in 36 of the last 44 years. Manning, who has a disability, also ran two businesses: a barbecue restaurant and a gas station while he served on the commission. Prominent Real estate broker Lyman Lovejoy said, “He has been an asset, he and Marie, for so many years. They have been a force.” Sonny Brasfield is the executive director of the Association of County Commissions of Alabama (ACCA). “It is great to be with you in support of the career of Paul Manning,” Brasfield said. “A measure of whether you have touched people’s lives is how many people are willing to sit out in the cold in honor of you. In all my thirty years with the Association, I have never seen anything like this before. It is a measure of what this man and this family have done for this country.” Brasfield said that the ACCA honored Manning at their summer convention. “It is one thing to come when people want something from you, but the real friends are here where you are leaving office and can’t do anything for them anymore,” Brasfield said. “The Association of County Commissions of Alabama represents the county employees and commissioners of the state. It has been my pleasure to be working with the Association and these commissioners for the last 34 years. The Association of County Commissions of Alabama was created in 1929.” Wayne Johnson with the St. Clair County Veterans Association presented Manning with a framed U.S. flag that had flown over the U.S. Capitol at the request of Congressman Mike Rogers. Former St. Clair County Circuit Clerk Annette Manning presented Paul Manning with a letter from U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville honoring Manning on his retirement. “I would like to extend my congratulations to you on your time as St. Clair County Commissioner,” Tuberville wrote. “St. Clair County has experienced great economic growth during these years. This economic expansion was in no small part due to you and your abilities. You have served your state and county well.” “Thank you for letting me stay around for 36 years,” said Paul Manning. “I see Mayors here, I see Councilmembers here, but I also see the other people. I was always honored to represent the people that did not think that they had representation otherwise.” State Rep. Jim Hill presented Manning with a letter of commendation from Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth and a framed state of Alabama flag that has flown over the state capital.” “I am a retiree from Alabama Power, so I have been on the other side of things where I had to get along with politicians, and some were easier to get along with than others,” said St. Clair County Commissioner Tommy Bowers. “I love Paul and the family to death.” Bowers also reminisced about former County Commissioner Jimmy Roberts, who died after 28 years of service on the commission. Bowers announced that the commissioners had named both chambers where the commission meets after Paul Manning and presented the plaque and Manning portrait that will hang in both chambers. Due to the mountain ridge that divides St. Clair County and the difficulty of driving a wagon over that ridge, St. Clair County is the only county in the state to have two county seats: Ashville and Pell City. Prominent Pell City attorney Billy Church said, “Paul, most people have to die to get all these accolades; but all you had to do was to lose an election.” St. Clair County Commissioner Bob Mise presented Manning with a framed St. Clair County flag that has flown over both of the St. Clair County courthouses. Logan Glass is the Vice Chairman of the St. Clair County Republican Party and the Chairman and founder of the St. Clair County Young Republicans. “He was the first to recognize that we were a force in St. Clair County and the first to put his money behind us,” Glass said of Manning. “Paul is a true statement; we don’t have enough of them today. It is no secret that I want to run for office someday, and if I am, I can only hope that I will be as much of a statesman as Paul Manning.” “I appreciate every year that I served, and I appreciate all the people that I have worked with,” Manning said. Manning was also honored by his wife, children, and grandchildren. Manning is married to Marie Manning. Marie Manning is a career educator who has served St. Clair County as a teacher, principal, as well as the elected St. Clair County school superintendent. She is presently ending her tenure on the St. Clair County Board of Education. Marie Manning is the Republican nominee for State school board district 6. She is running unopposed in the November 8 general election. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Barry Moore endorses Beatrice Nichols for Congress
On Wednesday, the Beatrice Nichols campaign announced that Nichols has received the endorsement of Republican Congressman Barry Moore. Nichols is challenging incumbent Democratic Congresswoman Terri Sewell in Alabama’s Seventh Congressional District. Republicans are hopeful that they can win control of the U.S. House of Representatives in this year’s midterms, and Alabama’s Seventh Congressional District is the only district in Alabama represented by a Democrat. “The November 8th election is quite possibly the most important one of my lifetime,” Moore said. “It’s this simple, our country is at a tipping point. We have an opportunity to take back the House and Senate to stop the insanity in Washington DC and start to take our country back. We need every Republican we can get. Alabama is a conservative state. We believe in the value of hard work, the value of life, and the vital importance of freedom from government overreach. We believe our rights are given by God and not government. Because Bea Nichols believes this, too, it is my honor to endorse her for Congress. She will fight for the unborn and for our 2nd Amendment rights. She will fight for Alabama values in Washington. I ask the people of district 7 to please send Bea Nichols to DC to help me and other Republicans fight the progressive agenda. Together we can save our nation.” Nichols is married and a mother of three. She graduated from Hale County High School. She attended community college, where she received a nursing license. After graduating, she worked in Tuscaloosa for a local doctor. She went back to school and graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree in elementary and special education. They then taught second grade at a local private school for six years. While teaching and raising children, Nichols earned a master’s degree in special education. After graduation and having a third child, she went to work at a local public school as a self-contained special education teacher. Currently, she is enrolled at the University of Alabama pursuing a doctorate in special education. The Seventh Congressional District is the poorest in Alabama. “Our district is plagued with poverty, unemployment, and crime, especially in places like Perry, Greene, Lowndes, Wilcox, and Dallas counties,” Nichols said on her website. “In some of these counties, children do not have clean drinking water. The schools are closing because people are leaving in search of jobs and good schooling for their children. Throughout the district, our small towns are crumbling before our eyes. There are no opportunities for our young adults, and they are having a very hard time finding work in the area they live. Our current representative for the 7th district comes and speaks at the entrance of a historic bridge about all the good things that are happening in our district – using the Edmond Pettis bridge as a backdrop for publicity when not more than 50 yards away there is unimaginable poverty where living conditions are paralleled to some third world countries.” Nichols also recently received the endorsement of the Americans for Legal Immigration PAC. “Americans for Legal Immigration PAC is endorsing and asking voters to support, volunteer for, and donate to the campaigns of J.R. Majewski (R-OH-9) and Beatrice Nichols (R-AL-7) for US Congress because both candidates have completed ALIPAC’s 2022 federal candidate survey indicating they oppose licenses, in-state tuition, and DACA Amnesty for illegals while supporting the full enforcement of America’s existing immigration laws,” the group wrote on their website. ALIPAC has also endorsed incumbent Republican Congressman Barry Moore in Alabama’s Second Congressional District and incumbent Republican Congressman Mike Rogers in Alabama’s Third Congressional District. Sewell is the only Democrat in the Alabama congressional delegation. Her district is majority-minority, but after 2021’s redistricting and reapportionment by the Alabama Legislature, the Seventh District has become considerably more White and Republican than it was during the 2020 election. Some Republicans are hopeful that a large turnout of Republican voters on November 8 could flip the district to GOP control. Sewell was hosted on Wednesday by former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones for a fundraiser in Huntsville. Nichols, Sewell, and Libertarian nominee Gavin Goodman are all on the November 8 general election ballot for Alabama’s Seventh Congressional District. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Robert Aderholt and Republican leadership urge Joe Biden to invest in American energy
Congressman Robert Aderholt joined House Republican Whip Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana), HEAT Co-Chairs Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-South Carolina) and Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma), and 126 other members in a letter led by Whip Scalise to President Joe Biden urging the President to reverse what the GOP calls “his anti-American energy policies. “President Biden has no plans, or desire, to lower energy costs for the long term,” Rep. Aderholt warned on social media after Biden made his pre-election final release of America’s Strategic Petroleum Reserves. “Instead, he releases oil from our emergency supply to try and bring them down ahead of the election. Basically, a gimmick. We need more American energy and a real energy plan. Not an election gimmick.” Congressman Mike Rogers agreed with Aderholt’s assessment of the release four weeks before the election. “Biden is depleting our Strategic Petroleum Reserve (which is reserved for emergency situations) for political gain,” Rogers wrote on Facebook. The GOP members of Congress urged Biden to issue a five-year offshore oil and natural gas leasing plan after Interior Secretary Deb Haaland let the previous five-year plan expire. “We write to express our deep concern with your ongoing war on American energy. Unfortunately, since taking office, you have fulfilled your campaign promises to shut down American oil and gas production,” Scalise et. al. wrote. “As a result, America is no longer energy independent, and our nation is less secure. In order to reduce the dramatically higher energy costs your actions have placed on hard-working families, we strongly request you reverse course and work with us to unleash American energy. Specifically, we ask you to take immediate action by issuing a five-year leasing plan that includes regular annual lease sales in America’s offshore areas.” “Undermining oil and gas production has severe consequences,” the GOP Congressmembers wrote. “For example, Europe is in a full-blown energy crisis, and we are seeing the same issues manifest in California with their governor telling people to turn thermostats above 78 degrees, avoid using appliances, and limit charging electric vehicles when they get home from work, all while he mandated a ban on fossil-fuel cars. Europe and California should both serve as a cautionary tale against the devastating anti-fossil fuel policies your administration is currently pursuing. To be clear, already sky-high energy prices will likely worsen unless you immediately reverse course and drastically increase exploration, leasing, and production of oil and natural gas here at home. And keep in mind your extremist policies are hurting low and middle-income families the hardest.” The letter urges President Biden to immediately announce a new offshore leasing plan and unleash American energy production. The GOP lawmakers claim that driving more investment into United States’ energy sector would lower gas and electricity prices for struggling families and guarantee a steady flow of American energy into the future. “We’ve seen the future of Biden and [Nancy] Pelosi’s reckless Green New Deal policies play out in Europe with mushrooming energy costs, and allowing the same devastating fate for American families would be unconscionable,” Scalise said in a statement. “Instead of begging OPEC and Russia to increase oil production, I have called on President Biden to look to places like offshore Louisiana and Port Fourchon in my district so we can unleash American energy, create good jobs, and lower costs for hard-working families.” Democrats and some environmentalists claim that increased exploration and production of American fossil fuels could have deleterious effects on the world’s climate. The letter was also signed by Republican Policy Committee Chairman Gary Palmer and Alabama Reps. Jerry Carl and Barry Moore. Aderholt has represented Alabama’s Fourth Congressional District since 1996. He faces Democratic nominee Rick Neighbors and Libertarian Johnny Cochran in the November 8 general election. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Steve Flowers: Congressional delegation reelected in November
Our Alabama Congressional delegation will all be reelected next month, as usual. We are no different than any other state when it comes to the incumbency advantage of being a congressperson. When someone is elected to the U.S. Congress, they are usually there for life unless they run for higher office. They probably would not be defeated unless they killed someone, and that probably would not be enough. It would probably depend on who they killed. The Congress is so divided and acrimonious along party lines that if they killed another member of Congress from a different party, it would probably help them and enshrine them in their seat for life. The reelection rate for members of the U.S. Congress is over 93%. That is similar to the Communist Russian Politburo. Our Congress is more akin to the British parliament, where they quasi-own their seat. Our delegation will have one new member. Dale Strong will take the Republican seat of Mo Brooks in the 5th District, Huntsville-Tennessee Valley area. He started early and stayed late. He began the campaign as the favorite and remained the frontrunner throughout the two-year campaign to capture the open seat. Strong has been a popular chairman of the Madison County Commission. He is a native Huntsvillian and was even educated grade school through college in the Madison County area. He was backed strongly by the Huntsville/Madison business community. They realize the importance of having a pragmatic, pro-business conservative who will be a GOP team player in Washington. It is imperative for the Redstone Arsenal to have a workhorse in that seat. They will miss Richard Shelby, who has done all the heavy lifting for federal growth. They are glad and fortunate to swap Mo Brooks for Dale Strong. Strong is relatively young and will probably be a long-termer. Jerry Carl will be reelected to his first district Mobile/Baldwin GOP Seat next month. He has taken to Congress like a duck to water. He also has long-term workhorse written all over him. Barry Moore will be reelected to his second term as the congressman from the 2nd District, which encompasses the Wiregrass and east Montgomery. It is a very Republican district. Mike Rogers of Anniston will be reelected to his eleventh term in November. He is gaining seniority and power. If the GOP takes over control of the U.S. House, as is expected next month, he is in line to possibly be chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. Robert Aderholt of the 4th District is the dean of the delegation, thus under the entrenched seniority system, he is our most powerful Congressman. Aderholt got to Congress at a very early age. He will be reelected to his 14th two-year term. He serves on the important and prestigious Appropriations Committee. Gary Palmer will begin his fourth term representing the Jefferson/Hoover/Shelby GOP district. Gary is a policy and issues guy. The GOP leadership recognized this early, and he has advanced as a policy leader in the House. The lone Democrat in our delegation is Congresswoman Terri Sewell of Birmingham. She will be reelected to her seventh term in the U.S. House in a few weeks. She has emerged as a leader within the Democratic House Caucus. She is very well respected in Washington. She is a native of Selma and holds Ivy League undergraduate and law degrees. Hopefully, for Alabama, she is a long-timer. She has a large, sprawling district that covers most of Birmingham, Montgomery, and all of the Black Belt, including her hometown of Selma. Sewell, being the only African American Democrat in our seven-member Congressional district, is the subject of a case pending in the U.S. Supreme Court. Democratic leaders contend that Alabama could and should have two majority-minority districts in the state rather than one. The argument is that Sewell’s 7th District contains only 14% of the Black voters in the state. Alabama’s African American population is 27%. If the Supreme Court rules in favor of the plaintiffs, then our delegation may go from six Republicans and one Democrat to five Republicans and two Democrats. The two prominent, powerful, young African American mayors of Birmingham and Montgomery, Randall Woodfin and Steven Reed, would both be eyeing the new Democratic Congressional Seat. See you next week. Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. Steve served 16 years in the state legislature. Steve may be reached at: www.steveflowers.us.
