Alabama legislators urge Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall to support congressional investigation into Space Command decision
On Tuesday, a bipartisan group of legislators in the Alabama House of Representatives sent a letter to U.S. Airforce Secretary Frank Kendall supporting the congressional investigation led by U.S. House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers and Congressman Dale Strong. The letter was signed by Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter, House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels, House Majority Leader Scott Stadthagan, and Speaker Pro Tem. Chris Pringle, as well as Reps. Joe Lovvorn, Danny Garrett, Wes Kitchens, Laura Hall, Parker Moore, David Cole, Rex Reynolds, Andy Whitt, James Lomax, Ritchie Whorton, and Phillip Rigsby. An NBC news report released on May 15 claimed that President Joe Biden will intervene to keep the Pentagon from moving Space Command from Colorado to Huntsville. The President’s objections to the state of Alabama are reportedly due to the state’s ban on abortion. Many speculate that the real reason could be political in that Colorado voted for Biden in 2020, while Alabama did not. Below is the text included in the attached letter: “Dear Secretary Kendall, “As members of the Huntsville and Madison delegations of the Alabama House of Representatives, and as House leadership, we are writing to you in support of the House Committee on Armed Services’ investigation into the delay in implementing the recommendation to place U.S. Space Command (SPACECOM) Headquarters at Redstone Arsenal, which is being led by U.S. House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers and Congressman Dale Strong.” “As you are aware, it has been made clear through multiple U.S. Air Force recommendations that the most strategic location for the U.S. Space Command headquarters is Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. The Government Accountability Office and Department of Defense Inspector General have both confirmed this recommendation was made through a sound process. Huntsville has the infrastructure, the workforce, the education system, engineering base, existing military and defense apparatus, and quality of life to be the ideal location for U.S. Space Command. This is why this site has received the unanimous number one recommendation from the U.S. Air Force.” “As representatives of the communities surrounding Redstone Arsenal in the Alabama House of Representatives, we felt the need to respectfully encourage you to support and comply with the congressional investigation into the delay of this critical national security decision. We are also concerned to learn the U.S. Department of Defense was not aware, and not involved, in this change. The people of Alabama and the United States of America need and deserve transparency on the apparently revised mission requirements of SPACECOM as it relates to its decision to locate its headquarters.” “A lengthy delay in making a decision this important to national security deserves Congressional oversight, and we are thankful that Congressmen Rogers and Strong recognized this need and are taking action by launching this investigation. We greatly appreciate your service to our nation and the role that the U.S. Air Force has in keeping our country, and the world, safe from threats, and we believe that you also appreciate the need for transparency and Congressional oversight.” On Friday, Fox News published a story detailing an announcement from Rogers that he is opening an investigation into the continued delays in the selection of a permanent base for the U.S. Space Command (SPACECOM) Headquarters. “Today, I launched an investigation into the continued delays in the SPACECOM Headquarters basing decision,” said Chairman Rogers. “The fact is, the Air Force already made the correct decision well over two years ago. That decision was affirmed by the GAO and the DoD Inspector General over a year ago. This decision was based on multiple factors, and Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, was the clear winner in the Evaluation and Selection phase. I am deeply concerned that the continued delays in making this move final are politically motivated and damaging to our national security.” “I have requested that House Armed Services Committee Chairman, Mike Rogers, open a formal investigation into the Biden Administration’s failure to announce a permanent location for U.S. Space Command (SPACECOM) Headquarters,” said Rep. Strong.“The Administration’s delay risks politicizing a process which must remain fact-based. Injecting politics into America’s basing decisions serves to do unprecedented harm to our national security. American men and women in uniform must be given the very best, not the third or fourth choice. Redstone Arsenal was chosen as the preferred location after a years-long process. The decision was later confirmed not just once, but twice with the results of the Government Accountability Office and Department of Defense Inspector General investigations. It is plain and simple: Redstone Arsenal is the best possible location to host U.S. Space Command headquarters. The Air Force’s basing process established this, and it was confirmed. I thank Chairman Rogers for agreeing to this investigation. The members of the House Armed Services Committee, and our service members awaiting a final basing decision, deserve answers and swift action from the Air Force.” The letter by the State Representatives followed the announcement of the investigation by Rogers. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
House passed legislation banning employers from requiring that employers be microchipped
On Thursday, the Alabama House of Representatives passed legislation that would prohibit employers from requiring that their employees have microchips inserted in their bodies. House Bill 4 (HB4) is sponsored by State Representative Prince Chestnut. Chestnut said that this bill’s purpose is “preventing the microchipping of employees by employers.” State Rep. Kenneth Paschal said, “I love your original bill as written, but I have a problem with an amendment in the committee substitute.” Chestnut said, “My plan is to table the committee substitute and pass the original bill.” “What are we doing?” Rep. Laura Hall (D-Huntsville) asked. “What is the intent?” “I read a lot, and one of the things that concerned me is a push in certain areas to microchip people in some places in the workplaces,” Chestnut said. “It is really catching on in Europe. It is taking place in parts of this country.” Hall asked where it was being done. “I did find where it is happening at a tech company in Wisconsin,” Chestnut said. “Wisconsin passed legislation after the fact. Nevada has passed legislation prohibiting it, and Arkansas has passed legislation.” Hall asked if it was occurring in Alabama. Chestnut said that it wasn’t happening in Alabama to his knowledge, but this legislation is being proactive rather than waiting until it does happen and legislating after the fact. “If somebody wants to voluntarily get microchipped, you still can,” Chestnut stated. Chestnut explained that the technology exists so people can access a secure building by having a microchip implanted into the body or the hand. There are even applications where people are getting a microchip installed in their body that functions as a debit or credit card; you just put your hand in front of the scanner, and the funds for your purchase are deducted from your purchase account electronically. This bill does not prevent people from voluntarily being microchipped. “What I want to do is stop it from being mandated,” Chestnut said, “That is everyone’s personal body integrity.” Chestnut explained that the committee substitute would “allow prisoners in the Department of Corrections can be microchipped. I talked with Mr. (Cam) Ward at Pardons and Paroles, and he said that the surveillance in place is sufficient. They don’t want it. I don’t want to see it on inmates because sooner or later, it will work its way up to us.” Rep. Matt Simpson said, “I am completely in support of taking off the committee amendment.” Simpson said that the whole Judiciary Committee favored tabling the committee substitute. Rep. Thomas Jackson said, “I understand microchipping a pet so that if it gets lost that it can get back to its master. How does microchipping an inmate ever make sense?” The House voted 105 to 0 to table the House Judiciary Committee substitute and consider HB4 as originally introduced. Rep. Ritchie Whorton said, “I agree with you that we should have a right to decide what goes in our bodies. My bill, HB31, the Healthcare Freedom Act, would have prevented an employer from requiring that employees take vaccines against their will.” Violating this act would be a Class D felony in Alabama. Whorton said that business interests in Alabama blocked his bill and asked where they were on Chestnut’s bill. Chestnut said, “I don’t know who is against it, but I had to work it really hard to get it to the floor.” HB4 passed the Alabama House of Representatives 104 to 0. The legislation now goes to the Alabama Senate for their consideration. It has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Tuesday will be day 16 of the 2023 Alabama Regular Legislative Session. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Here’s everyone the NRA has endorsed in the 2018 election cycle
An endorsement from the NRA‘s Political Action Committee, the NRA Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF), can be a game changer for many candidates. “When provided with the facts, the nation’s elected officials will recognize that “gun control” schemes are an infringement on the Second Amendment and a proven failure in fighting crime” says the fund. “The importance of this premise lies in the knowledge that, as one U.S. Congressman put it: ‘The gun lobby is people.’” The NRA-PVF makes its decisions based on voting records, public statements and their responses to their NRA-PVF questionnaire. Here are the candidates who the NRA has endorsed, who they believe will stand up for Alabamian’s Second Amendment rights: Statewide races Governor: Kay Ivey Attorney General: Steve Marshall Agricultural Commissioner: Gerald Dial State Senate Races District 4: Paul Bussman District 6: Larry Stutts District 8: Steve Livingston District 10: Mack N. Butler District 12: Del Marsh District 21: Gerald H. Allen District 22: Tom Butler State House Races District 10: Mike Ball District 12: Corey Harbison District 14: Tim Wadsworth District 16: Kyle South District 22: Ritchie Whorton District 23: Tommy Hanes District 31: Mike Holmes District 33: Ronald G. Johnson District 45: Dickie Drake District 48: Jim Carns District 49: April Weaver District 65: Elaine Beech District 88: Jeremy Arthur District 105: Chip Brown
