Congress sends stopgap spending bill to Biden’s desk, averting shutdown for now
Jennifer Shutt, Alabama Reflector WASHINGTON — U.S. senators voted 87-11 to approve legislation Wednesday that would fund the government into next year, clearing the measure for President Joe Biden’s signature. The stopgap spending bill, sometimes called a continuing resolution or CR, would fund part of the government until mid-January and the rest of the programs within the annual appropriations process through early February. But many hurdles likely remain before a final deal is reached on full-year spending. Senate Appropriations Chair Patty Murray, a Washington state Democrat, said just before the bill passed that she’s already turned her attention to “what happens next.” “Because avoiding a shutdown is so very far from mission accomplished,” Murray said. “We have a lot of work to do after the dust settles and before the next shutdown deadline comes up. Now is not the time to pat ourselves on the back.” That conference process between the House and Senate, Murray said, will require “listening to the other side, making some tough decisions, leaving out partisan nonstarters, and writing a bill that can actually pass into law.” “That is going to make a difference for people we represent at home,” Murray said. The House voted 336-95 to approve the stopgap legislation on Tuesday, and Biden is expected to sign it before current funding expires Friday at midnight. House members abruptly canceled further votes and left D.C. for their Thanksgiving recess on Wednesday morning, after far-right members objected to advancing a different spending bill. More time needed The stopgap spending bill is intended to give the Republican House, Democratic Senate, and White House more time to reach agreement on the dozen full-year spending bills. Congress was supposed to finish its work by the start of the fiscal year on Oct. 1 but is relying on the stopgap spending bill to continue current funding levels until a deal is negotiated. Reaching agreement is a well-established practice for the four leaders of the Appropriations Committees — Senate Chair Murray; Senate ranking member Susan Collins, a Maine Republican; House Chair Kay Granger, a Texas Republican; and House ranking member Rosa DeLauro, a Connecticut Democrat. The four lawmakers have years of experience working out bipartisan deals on spending bills as well as other legislation, but they all often caution against politics or outside influences meddling in those negotiations. “Appropriators left to their own devices” can reach agreement, they often say. But they rarely are left to do their work. New faces in the talks Sign-off on the final dozen full-year bills also falls to the four congressional leaders. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, have plenty of experience negotiating spending bills and other consequential legislation with each other. Joining them at the table this year will be newly elected House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, of New York. Both are new to forging agreement on the annual appropriations bills, which last year totaled about $1.7 trillion. Congress will have until Jan. 19 to come to find compromise on the Agriculture-FDA, Energy-Water, Military Construction-VA, and Transportation-HUD spending bills. They’ll have until Feb. 2 to reach a deal on the Commerce-Justice-Science, Defense, Financial Services, Homeland Security, Interior-Environment, Labor-HHS-Education, Legislative Branch, and State-Foreign Operations appropriations bills. The Senate drafted its dozen spending bills to the total spending levels in the debt limit law that Congress approved this summer. But House Republicans wrote their bills more than $100 billion below those levels and added in dozens of hot-button policy proposals that stand no chance of becoming law. Collins said Wednesday that she met with Johnson last week to talk about total funding levels and the supplemental spending package that Congress could pass in the coming weeks to fund Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan, and U.S. border security. Ultimately, she said, congressional leaders will be the ones who decide whether to stick to the spending levels in the debt limit law or go in a different direction. “To me, it should be guided by the numbers in the (Fiscal Responsibility Act), plus the side agreement that was worked out between Speaker McCarthy and President Biden,” Collins said, referring to the debt limit deal from earlier this year and former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. In the meantime, she suggested, the Senate could take up a four-bill spending package that includes the Commerce-Justice-Science, Energy-Water, Defense, and Labor-HHS-Education spending bills. “That might be a good four-bill package that we could bring,” Collins said. A senior appropriator, speaking on background, said Wednesday that a proposal was circulating that would have the Senate turn to that exact four-bill spending package once it gets back from the Thanksgiving recess. The Senate has approved a three-bill package with a broadly bipartisan vote and the House has approved seven bills without Democrats’ support. House exit The House was set to vote on two additional spending bills this week, but Republican leaders announced late Wednesday morning the chamber was done until after the Thanksgiving break. The canceled votes came after the House was unable to adopt the rule that would have set up debate on the Commerce-Justice-Science spending bill, amid anger on the stopgap spending bill from far-right members of the party. Senate Republican Whip John Thune, of South Dakota, said Wednesday it will be difficult to work out agreements between the two chambers on the dozen appropriations bills before the new deadlines. “One of the biggest challenges, obviously, is there’s a difference in numbers between the House and the Senate,” Thune said, noting the two chambers will have to deal with that when they begin the conference process. “And I think we have to give that a chance,” Thune said. “You’ve got a new speaker over there. It seems like people want to cooperate a bit, so let’s see if they can move bills.” Alabama Reflector is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a
Katie Britt and colleagues want to redesignate Iran-Backed Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization
On Monday, U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Alabama) joined in a letter urging the Biden Administration and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken to redesignate Ansarallah, more commonly known as the Houthis, as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO). Sen. Britt cited their longstanding acts of terrorism, actions to destabilize the Middle East, the security threat they pose to the United States, and most recently, their involvement in the ongoing conflict in Israel, including missile and rocket attacks on Israel last week. The Houthis control a large swath of war-torn Yemen. In 2021, the Trump Administration designated the Houthis as an FTO. However, the Biden Administration inexplicably reversed that following Biden’s inauguration. The Houthis are longtime Iranian clients who, thanks to that relationship, have amassed one of the most sophisticated arsenals of ballistic missiles and drones in the region. This has become apparent in their frequent attacks on Israel as well as U.S. partners and interests. “An ongoing posture of appeasement by the Biden Administration only emboldens the Iranian regime to continue its barbaric proxy attacks on innocent children, women, and men, and this is evidenced in the Houthi’s recent terrorist attacks that have been intercepted by defensive actions by the United States and Saudi Arabia,” said Senator Britt. “It is imperative that America sends a message of complete condemnation of Iran and its proxies’ violence, as well as unwavering support toward our allies in the region. The Houthis are a terrorist organization, and this Administration should treat them as such while reimposing a comprehensive, maximum pressure sanctions campaign on all Iranian terror proxies. In order to achieve peace, now is the time for strength.” Last week Sen. Britt joined Senator Steve Daines (R-Montana) and 12 of their Senate colleagues in introducing the Standing Against Houthi Aggression Act. This legislation would redesignate the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization and impose certain sanctions on the group. The legislation has also been cosponsored by Senators Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Marco Rubio (R-Florida), Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia), Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska), and John Kennedy (R-Louisiana). Katie Britt was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2022. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com
Katie Britt: “We want Hamas to be destroyed”
U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Alabama) held a bipartisan press conference in Israel, which is entering its third week of war with Hamas. The Sens., led by Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Ben Cardin (D-Maryland), discussed what they saw and heard while on the ground in Israel Sunday. The delegation of Senators visited Israel as part of an official trip to the Middle East to meet with key leaders, advocate for regional stability and long-term sustainable peace, and emphasize the United States’ unequivocal support for Israel in the wake of the brutal terrorist attacks by Hamas on October 7. Britt said, “I want to start by thanking Senator Graham. Thank you for getting this group together. You and Senator Cardin put together a group of bipartisan senators – each of us set foot in this country not as a Democrat or a Republican. We set foot here united as Americans, standing shoulder to shoulder with Israel.” The Senators met with the families of Israelis who were taken hostage by Hamas and are being held in Gaza. Israeli authorities say that Hamas has taken 222 hostages. “When we walked in the room today and talked to the families of these hostages, I listened as a mom, I listened as a wife, as a daughter, as a sister,” Sen. Britt said. “Thinking what these families are going through, thinking what each individual hostage is going through is absolutely unbearable.” Over 1,100 people were killed and 2,800 wounded when Hamas fighters came across the Gaza border on a murderous rampage October 7. “When we watched the videos and heard the stories today, the things that happened were unthinkable,” Britt said. “The loss of life – kids having to watch their parents be murdered. Parents having to watch their children be burned to death, women having to be raped, kids decapitated. It’s disgusting, it’s despicable, and it is pure evil.” Britt said that Israel has a right to defend herself. “Make no mistake, I believe that people of all faiths can coexist in peace and prosperity,” said Britt. “But I do not believe that good can coexist with evil. And when evil rears its head, we must look it in the eyes, and we must take it down – and Hamas is pure evil. Israel has every right to defend herself – and not only the right – they have the obligation, the obligation to their children and their children’s children. They have an obligation to the innocent. They have an obligation to the peace-loving people of this world. And that is ultimately what we want. We want Hamas to be destroyed, and we want peace to be restored.” “President Reagan said that ‘evil cannot exist if the good are unafraid,” said Britt. “Iran, Hamas – we stand here today to tell you that we are unafraid. We stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel. We will take you down.” In addition to Senators Britt, Graham, and Cardin, the delegation included Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-South Dakota), Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine), Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jack Reed (D-Rhode Island), and Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Chris Coons (D-Delaware), Cory Booker (D-New Jersey), and Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut). “Thank you all. Ten percent of the United States Senate is in Israel,” said Sen. Graham. “Ten percent of the United States Senate is in Israel because we care. Five Republicans and five Democrats. If I had a bigger plane, we probably would have brought the entire Senate.” “The goal going forward is to take from this horror and try to make this a better world,” Graham said. “I saw things today that I didn’t think were possible in 2023. I’ve seen grown men who’ve been fighting wars all of their lives be stunned by what they saw. The level of barbaric behavior here is beyond my ability to explain it.” Hamas released two American women, a mother and daughter. Hamas had taken hostages just before the Senators arrived in the war-torn country. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com
Senators Katie Britt, Marco Rubio, and colleagues demand answers on Iran’s nuclear program violations following attacks on Israel
On Wednesday, U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Alabama) joined Senator Marco Rubio (R-Florida) and 13 colleagues in sending a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken requesting an update on U.S. action to hold Iran accountable for multiple violations of nuclear program restrictions. The letter comes after this weekend’s multi-pronged attacks on the people of Israel by Hamas fighters that killed over 1300 Israelis and wounded 3,200 more. According to Secretary Blinken, at least 25 Americans are among the dead. Hamas has taken well over 100 hostages, and the White House believes that Americans are among the hostages. Republicans believe that the government of Iran financed and likely helped plan those attacks. “We respectfully request that the U.S. Department of State provide information regarding the status of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) investigation into Iran following the recent IAEA’s Board of Governors meeting,” the Senators wrote. “The Iranian regime is intent on fomenting terror across the region, as evidenced by its proxies, Hamas and Hezbollah’s, brutal attacks this weekend on our ally, Israel. Now more than ever, you must ensure that you hold the regime accountable for its failure to comply with obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Further, we were disappointed that the administration did not call for a formal censure of Tehran given its continued non-compliance with the IAEA.” “The Biden Administration has failed to press for concrete action against Iran in Vienna,” the Senators continued. “We are especially disturbed by reports that the United States led efforts to oppose a censure of Iran. As Iran violates its commitments and refuses to comply with the IAEA, your business-as-usual approach to resolving the situation is tantamount to an endorsement of the Iranian regime’s activities.” “It is regrettable that the September 11-15, 2023, IAEA Board of Governors meeting achieved no progress in resolving key questions related to the Iranian regime’s nuclear program,” the Senators wrote. “Once again, Iran was able to escape any shred of accountability. As you know, since 2018, the IAEA has been investigating Iran’s undeclared nuclear material and activities related to a secret 2003 effort to produce atomic weapons called the Amad Plan. Despite the IAEA’s repeated requests to access several Iranian sites, it has not been able to determine whether Tehran retains covert nuclear weapons activities, nor has it investigated all sites, personnel, and documentation related to the Amad Plan and its successor entities, such as Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research (SPND).” Joining Senators Britt and Rubio in signing the letter were Senators Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), Rick Scott (R-Florida), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), Jerry Moran (R-Kansas), Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska), Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina), Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), Tim Scott (R-South Carolina), Mike Braun (R-Indiana), and Susan Collins (R-Maine). In 2015, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was signed by the Obama Administration. Iran and other countries agreed to place restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. One condition included the JCPOA tasking the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to ensure the regime in Tehran adheres to nuclear restrictions. The Senators claim that even with the signed agreement, Iran has remained non-compliant and continues its nuclear programs. Senator Britt has been an outspoken critic of the Biden Administration’s controversial decision to free up $6 billion of seized illicit oil sales revenue to Iran to facilitate a prisoner exchange with Iran. The five Iranian-Americans appear to have been wrongfully jailed solely because they were American citizens. Britt warned at the time that the ransom payments would only result in more Americans being taken hostage. When the Administration formally notified Congress of the deal on September 11th, Britt warned, “This irresponsible, weak appeasement sends a terrible message across the globe and only incentivizes further hostage taking in the future.” Today, countless Israeli hostages have been taken into Gaza by Hamas. Senator Britt this week joined a letter led by Senator Blackburn (R-Tennessee) calling on the Biden Administration to re-freeze the $6 billion. Sen. Britt was elected to the Senate in 2022. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Tommy Tuberville addresses potential government shutdown; “What a mess we are in”
On Wednesday, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) spoke with the Alabama press about the growing possibility that Congress will not get a budget passed in time to prevent a government shutdown at midnight on Saturday. “What a mess we are in,” Sen. Tuberville said. “I don’t like shutdowns. No Republican wants to shut the government down. Senator [Susan] Collins and Senator Pattie Murray of the Appropriations Committee did their job. They want regular order, and so do I. Regular order means that you have 12 bills, and you do each one of them individually. We haven’t done that in a long time. It is time for the Senate to have an amendment process on each one of these bills. It gives everybody an opportunity to express their thoughts, but (Senate Majority Leader) Chuck Schumer, he doesn’t want to do that. He is doing everything he can to prevent the Senate from acting on any of these bills. That will eventually lead to a shutdown if we’re not careful. You have got to remember Chuck Schumer controls the floor, so this will be a Schumer shutdown. If a continuing resolution gives us time to consider all 12 of these bills, then I am for it, but we will have to see what the House does also.” Tuberville responded to a reporter’s question about criticism of the Senate by Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-California). “It is hard to compare both the House and the Senate, to be honest with you,” Tuberville said. “They have got different personalities over there – as me. I didn’t vote for a supplemental for Ukraine. We are spending somewhere around $260 million a day, somewhere in that range in Ukraine. We are spending it for their farmers, helping them plant their crops. We are spending it for their borders when we have farmers here who need money. We have a border that needs to be shut down. There is a lot of things going on behind the scenes. I am real interested in how McCarthy handles this. He has got not just a division between Democrats and Republicans but also division in his own caucus, so we will see what happens. We have done our 12 bills over here. We have got them out of committee. If we would do them one at a time like Chuck Schumer should, I think we could really encourage the House to do the right thing, but right now, we are in the middle of the road with no way to get this thing going.” Sen. Tuberville and Sen. Katie Britt (R-Alabama) both have cosponsored legislation to end the repeated government shutdowns and force Congress to pass the budget. Tuberville was asked about why that legislation did not pass. “First of all, there is a lot of people up here that when they do a budget, they just want to jam this thing full of pork, and that has gotten us $33 trillion in debt,” Tuberville responded. “We need to spend what we need to spend. Take care of all of our bills. Get that done. Take care of the American taxpayers, but we need an opportunity to tell everybody: OK, here is the deal: we run out of money at the end of September every year. We have got all year long – eight, nine months to put these bills together and get it passed. I think we need a bill that says we run up to a time restraint, which, at the end of this week, we are basically done. We do not go home. We stay here seven days a week until we get a budget passed for the American citizens and the taxpayers of this country. There is no reason that we need to keep kicking this can down the road and give people up here an opportunity to jam-pack this thing full of pork with things that we shouldn’t spend money on, but take care of the people of this country. That is what we are here for.” Alabama Today asked why the Alabama Legislature can pass two budgets months ahead of the same deadline and roll a surplus over into the next fiscal year while Congress having a budget crisis is almost expected. “Yea, you know there has been a lot of shutdowns,” Tuberville admitted. “A lot of people say this is a terrible thing to do to shut the government down, but sooner or later, we need to wake up and say we are $33 trillion in debt. But we have got to be more competent on understanding what we can and we can’t spend money on. Every year, we just bump it up. If you look at what happened after 2019 in COVID, there is trillions of dollars that we spent then that we don’t need to spend now, but the Democrats want to leave it in the budget. It makes no sense. We should go back to the 2019 budget and look and see where we are at, but you have so many people up here from different states that say, hey, let’s push it all the way to the end where we have to do a budget so we can do whatever we need to do. That’s the reason we want to get to regular order. Really, the Senate Appropriations Committee did their job. Susan Collins really pushed the Republicans to get this done the right way. They are done. We are done with the Senate version. We just can’t get it to the floor where Chuck Schumer will vote on them one at a time. He wants to control this process because he wants to get pork in there for New York. He wants to spend more of the taxpayer money than we should, so it is unfortunate that we have got people who try to do things to benefit themselves rather than the country. That is what we are seeing now. We are $33 trillion headed to 34.” Tuberville was elected to the Senate in 2020 – defeating
Bill would require federal agencies to buy American flags made in U.S.
A bipartisan bill that would require the U.S. government to buy American flags that are made in the U.S. would have little effect on federal spending, according to a new report. The Congressional Budget Office, a nonpartisan federal agency that produces hundreds of cost estimates for proposed legislation each year, reported the cost of implementing the All-American Flag Act would be “insignificant.” “Using information from the General Services Administration and flag vendors, CBO expects that many vendors already meet the bill’s requirements,” according to the agency’s analysis. “CBO estimates that the costs of implementing S. 1973 would be insignificant.” The measure, Senate Bill 1973, would require that all U.S. flags acquired by the federal government be manufactured in the United States from materials grown, produced, or manufactured domestically. U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, Susan Collins, R-Maine, Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Gary Peters, D-Mich., introduced the bill in June. “American flags should be made in America, period,” Brown said in a statement when he introduced the bill. “Today, half of the materials that our women and men in uniform fight under can be made in China.” Brown first introduced the legislation in 2011. Many U.S. flags are made in China. Republished with the permission of The Center Square.
Reps. Terri Sewell and Adrian Smith introduce bipartisan legislation to protect access to home health care services
Congressmembers Terri Sewell (D-AL07) and Adrian Smith (R-Nebraska) introduced the Preserving Access to Home Health Act of 2023. This bipartisan legislation would help preserve access to home health services for seniors and Americans with disabilities by preventing proposed cuts to home health payment rates from taking effect. “Home health services are a lifeline for so many Alabama seniors and people with disabilities, allowing patients to receive the treatment they need in the comfort of their own homes,” said Rep. Sewell. “I am very concerned about the impact that proposed cuts to Medicare’s home health program would have on these patients and their families. It is imperative that we prevent such cuts from taking effect, which is why I’m introducing the Preserving Access to Home Health Act in the House of Representatives. I want to thank Rep. Smith for his collaboration in this bipartisan effort, and I urge my colleagues to join us.” “Home health can lower the cost of care for patients and help hospitals to safely transition patients back to home living,” said Rep. Smith. “I have serious concerns these planned cuts to Medicare would result in worse outcomes for seniors and higher costs burdens in the long run. This bill would halt the counterproductive payment cuts and increase transparency in Medicare payment policy calculations. I thank my Senate colleagues and Rep. Sewell for their collaboration on this bill.” Approximately 3.5 million Medicare beneficiaries receive home health care services. This allows them to be treated in the cost-effective setting they prefer most—their homes. Home health services are a lifeline for seniors, people with disabilities, and those with limited mobility, and it became even more essential during the COVID-19 public health emergency. In June, Medicare announced plans to implement 9.36% cuts to its home healthcare program starting in 2024. This follows a 3.9% cut that began going into effect in 2023. These new cuts could total up to $20 billion over the next ten years, making it harder for patients to leave the hospital and go home with care that helps them recover and rehabilitate. The Preserving Access to Home Health Act would address the deep cuts made to home health that began this year and will continue until at least 2028. The legislation: · Restricts CMS from making any cuts to home health. · Requires MedPAC, which advises Congress on payment policy, to gain a full understanding of the economics of the home healthcare system, including how the Medicare program, the Medicaid program, and the Medicare Advantage program all contribute to a system. Joanne Cunningham is the CEO of the Partnership for Quality Home Healthcare. “Patients leaving the hospital need a smooth transition home, but are finding it increasingly difficult to find Medicare home health providers, signaling an immediate need for Congress to intervene and block Medicare from making such strident cuts to home health again this year,” said CEO Cunningham. “Data suggest that Medicare’s continued cuts to home health are restricting patient access to the safest and lowest-cost care setting following a hospital stay.” William A. Dombi is the President of the National Association for Home Care & Hospice. “The Medicare home health community strongly supports this legislation and thanks Representatives Sewell and Smith for their leadership on a Medicare issue that truly threatens access to care for the more than 3 million beneficiaries who rely on this care,” said President Dombi. “The home health community calls on Congress to ensure the stability that patients and providers urgently need. Since Medicare has again proposed deep cuts to home health in 2024, Congress must act to protect the care their constituents prefer and want.” Barbara Jacobsmeyer is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Enhabit Home Health & Hospice. “We commend Congresswoman Sewell for her commitment to home health and for leading this bipartisan legislation to help ensure Medicare’s invaluable home health care services are available when patients need them most,” said President Jacobsmeyer. “Congresswoman Sewell has been a true champion for home health issues during her time in Congress, and she understands how home health helps patients and families transition from hospital to home with compassionate, patient-centered care. Whether patients are recovering from surgery or managing a chronic illness or recent injury, Medicare home health is an essential part of the care continuum. We are grateful for the support from the Congresswoman and look forward to working with others in Congress to help protect Medicare’s home health benefit.” Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-Michigan) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. Senate on June 22. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) says that home health agency payments have exceeded projections every year since 2020 when it implemented a new home health payment system, the Patient Driven Groupings Model (PDGM). CMS sets home health payment and operational rules annually. The agency says it made the cuts to comply with a federal budget-neutrality mandate. Sewell is in her Seventh term representing Alabama’s Seventh Congressional District. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Katie Britt votes against the Homeland Security Appropriations Act
On Thursday, U.S. Senator Katie Britt, the Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee for the Senate Committee on Appropriations, voted against advancing the Fiscal Year 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations Act to the full Senate. During the Appropriations Committee’s markup on Thursday, Senator Britt voiced her concerns with the legislation. “While I have no doubt this bill makes significant strides compared to President [Joe] Biden’s woeful budget request, there is still more that needs to be done to end – rather than manage – the ongoing border crisis,” said Sen. Britt. “On the heels of record encounters, I believe that we must complement the border security technology included in this bill with funding for a physical barrier system along our southern border. After several visits to the border, it is something that I personally believe is a critical tool to keep our homeland safe and secure.” “Despite the Administration admitting it urgently needs an additional 6,000 beds, this bill does not increase the number of ICE detention beds,” Britt continued. “As we all know, there (is $752 million) flowing to different groups – DHS, nongovernmental organizations included to house migrants and move them around the country, and we need answers as to how, and why, and where this money is being spent.” “As I watch the daily encounter numbers continue to increase day after day, yesterday – 6,883, I remain concerned that each of these issues serves as an incentive for people to continue to come here outside the legal pathways,” Britt added. There were some parts of the bill that Britt liked. “I am pleased that the bill funds an increase of more than 1,100 personnel across Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement,” said Britt. “It also includes significant funding for border security technology. “In addition, fentanyl is the leading cause of death, as you all know, for Americans ages 18 to 45. This bill appropriates over $800 million in new funding to combat the scourge of fentanyl that is poisoning our communities, schools, and families, and destroying too many American lives.” “This bill is a positive step forward in a whole-of-government approach to target the cartels and transnational criminal organizations engaged in fentanyl trafficking, child exploitation, and human smuggling,” Britt said. “Additionally, this bill provides necessary funding to allow the Coast Guard to continue to invest in critical programs like the Offshore Patrol Cutter and to acquire a Commercially Available Icebreaker that will expand our near-term presence in the Arctic to counter the ambitions of Russia and China.” “I remain thankful to Senator Chris Murphy for working with me to secure critical these priorities,” Britt said. This is the first time since 2018 when Richard Shelby chaired the Appropriations Committee, that the U.S. Senate has advanced all 12 of the appropriations bills out of committee and to the Senate floor. “There’s more to do: we still have to get these bills passed through the full Senate, and House, and signed into law—and that is our focus moving forward,” Sens. Patty Murray (D-Washington) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), chairwoman and vice-chairwoman of the committee, respectively, said in a joint statement. “However, what this committee has achieved over the last several weeks shows that it is possible for Congress to work together and work through real differences—to find common ground and produce serious, bipartisan bills that can be signed into law.” “It is a testament to the tremendous leadership and determination of both of you that today marks the milestone of this committee marking up twelve out of twelve appropriations bills,” Britt said during her comments. “This is a significant accomplishment, and no doubt a win for the American people that the appropriations process is proceeding in this fashion. That would not have happened without the leadership of the two of you.” The United States has been operating on a series of often hasty continuing resolutions and omnibus spending bills since 2019. Doing budget deals with House Republicans could prove more difficult than moving them in the Senate. Katie Britt was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2022. Britt has made the border crisis and its role in the drug overdose and human smuggling crisis a key focus of her tenure in the Senate. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Tommy Tuberville, Katie Britt, and colleagues urge President Joe Biden to strengthen U.S. submarine industrial base
U.S. Senators Tommy Tuberville and Katie Britt joined Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), the Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and 21 Senate and House colleagues in a letter to President Joe Biden calling on the president to take immediate action to strengthen the U.S. submarine industrial base. This is particularly important with the U.S. working to fulfill the terms of the Australia-United Kingdom-United States (AUKUS) partnership. In the letter, the legislators emphasized their support for the AUKUS deal and argued that the U.S. submarine industrial base would require major new investments and a comprehensive plan of action to meet the needs of both the United States and Australia. “We urge you to send Congress immediately an AUKUS-specific request for appropriations and authorities alongside a multi-year plan to increase U.S. submarine production to a minimum of 2.5 Virginia-class attack submarines per year,” the Senator wrote in the letter. “It is time to make generational investments in U.S. submarine production capacity, including supplier and workforce development initiatives.” “AUKUS has broad support because of its potential to improve the national security of all three countries,” the Senators wrote. “Implementing this deal will require a historic degree of cooperation and trust among the three countries, and here at home, between the executive and legislative branches of our government.” “The U.S. Navy’s military requirement is 66 nuclear attack submarines,” the Senators wrote. “Today, there are only 49 in the fleet. Further, as older nuclear submarines retire faster than they are replaced, the Navy projects the inventory will decline to 46 by 2030. Under the current AUKUS plan to transfer U.S. Virginia-class submarines to a partner nation before meeting the Navy’s own requirements, the number of available nuclear submarines in the U.S. submarine fleet would be lowered further. This is a risk we should not take.” The full letter to President Biden is here. “The United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom formed a pact in 2021 to boost the three nations’ collective deterrence in the Indo-Pacific,” Sen. Wicker wrote recently in the Wall Street Journal. “That Aukus agreement is vital, but there is more work to do: The U.S. should double its submarine production.” “Under the first pillar of the Aukus agreement, the U.S. would sell our attack submarines to Australia,” Wicker continued. “In exchange, Australia would expand basing for U.S. submarines. In the second pillar, all three nations would share advanced technology.” “Attack submarines are among our most effective weapons and the crown jewels of U.S. military power,” Wicker continued. “Undersea warfare is one of the few areas in which we retain a competitive advantage over the Chinese military.” “Worse still, demands on our submarine maintenance capabilities have also stretched our military’s readiness,” Wicker wrote. “Nearly 40% of U.S. attack submarines cannot be deployed because of maintenance delays. For example, the USS Connecticut had an accident in the South China Sea in 2021 and likely won’t be operational until 2026.” U.S. Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro recently told reporters that the U.S. cannot compete with China’s ability to build warships. They have more shipyards and are building ships at a faster pace than American shipyards are capable of building ships. Del Toro said that the Chinese Navy is the largest in the world, with 340 ships, and could be fielding up to 400 ships in the coming years. The U.S. meanwhile has fewer than 300 ships and is struggling to maintain the readiness of that fleet. According to the U.S. Navy’s Navigation Plan 2022, released last summer, the Pentagon’s goal is to have 350 manned ships by 2045, but it is unclear if that target will or can be met. “They have 13 shipyards; in some cases, their shipyard has more capacity – one shipyard has more capacity than all of our shipyards combined. That presents a real threat,” Del Toro said. Tommy Tuberville was elected to the Senate in 2020, while Katie Britt was elected to the Senate in 2022. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Sen. Katie Britt supports bipartisan bills capping insulin prices
U.S. Senator Katie Britt announced that she is cosponsoring two pieces of bipartisan legislation to help all Alabamians access insulin. This includes the Affordable Insulin Now Act of 2023, which would cap the price of insulin for all patients, including those who are uninsured, at $35 for a 30-day supply. “For many, insulin is essential for their long-term health and survival. Alabamians should not have to make the unthinkable choice about whether to purchase life-saving insulin or another basic necessity like food simply due to the drug’s prohibitive cost,” said Sen. Britt. “Additionally, these pieces of legislation would help support our healthcare system by increasing access to insulin for diabetic Alabamians, keeping them healthy so they do not require more costly treatments and extensive medical care down the road. I’ll continue to fight to ensure that every Alabamian, no matter their zip code, can live the American Dream.” The bill was introduced by U.S. Senators John Kennedy (R-Louisiana) and Raphael Warnock (D-Georgia). “I’ve long been focused on strengthening access to affordable health care and lowering costs for Georgians, and that’s why I am proud to lead the effort in the Senate to cap patients’ out-of-pocket costs for insulin,” Sen. Warnock said. “Georgians should never have to choose between paying for life’s basic essentials or life-preserving medicines.” The Affordable Insulin Now Act would cap out-of-pocket costs of insulin products at $35 per month for people with private health plans and Medicare Part D plans, including Medicare Advantage drug plans. For commercial plans, this applies to one of each dosage form (ie. vial, pump, inhaler) of each different type of insulin (rapid-acting, short-acting, intermediate-acting, long-acting, ultra-long-acting, and premixed). For Medicare plans, this applies to all covered insulin products, and copays are capped at $35 for all preferred and nonpreferred products included on plan formularies. Require private group or individual plans to cover one of each insulin dosage form (i.e. vial, pen) and insulin type (i.e. rapid-acting, short-acting, intermediate-acting, and long-acting) for no more than $35 per month. The legislation requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a program to reimburse qualifying entities for covering any costs that exceed $35 for providing a 30-day supply of insulin to uninsured patients. “We need to stop nibbling around the edges,” Sen. Kennedy said. “We need to be smart enough to figure this out. And the cost? I think it can be done for $250 million a year, and I’m not talking about taking out a reverse mortgage on Alaska and borrowing more money. I’m talking about finding it in our budget. The federal budget is 6,000 billion dollars every year—and we can’t find $250 million to cap the price of insulin? Let’s do it right.” Sen. Britt says that she is bringing awareness to the devastating impact of diabetes across Alabama and fighting to ensure that all Alabamians are able to access the life-saving benefits of affordable insulin. Senator Britt this week discussed the topics during a hearing of the Senate Committee on Appropriations with medical experts and youth diabetes advocates. Dr. Griffin Rogers is the Director of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases at the National Institutes of Health. During the questioning of Rogers, Senator Britt noted the high rate of diabetes among Alabamians. Approximately 568,000 people in Alabama, or almost 12% of the state’s population, have been diagnosed with diabetes. In Alabama, direct medical expenses total an estimated $4.2 billion a year for those who are diagnosed with diabetes. Sen. Britt has also signed on as a co-sponsor of the Improving Needed Safeguards for Users of Lifesaving Insulin Now (INSULIN) Act of 2023, which would comprehensively address the skyrocketing costs of insulin, removing barriers to care and making it more accessible for millions more Americans. This bipartisan legislation was introduced by U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.). The INSULIN Act of 2023 would limit out-of-pocket costs for patients with diabetes by ensuring that group and individual market health plans must waive any deductible and limit cost-sharing to no more than $35 or 25% of the list price per month for at least one insulin of each type and dosage form. Additionally, the legislation forbids pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) would be prohibited from placing utilization management tools – prior authorization, step therapy, etc. – on products with capped out-of-pocket costs. Mandate PBMs pass through 100% of insulin rebates and other discounts received from manufacturers to plan sponsors, reducing perverse incentives in the insulin market that encourage high list prices and helping patients in the form of reduced premiums. It also promotes generic and biosimilar competition to lower costs to patients by creating a new expedited FDA approval pathway for biologic drugs lacking adequate biosimilar competition, similar to FDA’s current Competitive Generic Therapies pathway. This will improve the timeliness of resolving regulatory barriers slowing down market entry of lower-cost products; ensuring adequate oversight of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) citizen petition process, easing approval of generic and biosimilar drugs; allowing Medicare Part D plans to place biosimilar drugs on formulary immediately after entering the market, identical to other generic drugs; and, requiring a report to Congress on issues and market dynamics delaying or restricting biosimilar insulin competition. The Cardinal Institute opposes price caps on insulin. They argue that there is a growing idea that the government should create ceilings for drug pricing, manufacturing, and marketing, but that fundamental economics teaches that such restrictions fail to create an ethical, accessible healthcare system. The Cardinal Institute argues that when governments create price limits on goods and services, they always initiate scarcity. When supply is low, and demand is high, prices rise, or, in this case, where businesses are constrained, profits must be funneled away from research and innovation. They claim that numerous economic studies indicate price caps reduce the number of new drugs being brought into the market. Thus, temporary relief creates disastrous long-term effects. Katie Britt was elected to her first term in the U.S. Senate in 2022. To connect with the author of this story or to comment,
Tommy Tuberville and colleagues introduce bipartisan legislation to encourage Americans to pursue skills training and credentialing programs
U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) joined a group of bipartisan colleagues to reintroduce the Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act. The legislation would support economic growth and workforce development by allowing Americans to use ‘529’ education savings accounts for skills training, credentialing, and certification programs. Under current law, workers and their families can only use ‘529’ accounts to pay for college, university, and vocational school expenses. “During my four decades as a coach and educator, I met many students with unique skills they learned and applied outside of a traditional classroom setting,” said Sen. Tuberville. “Our economy cannot grow without skilled workers, and it’s important we incentivize Americans to pursue careers that both align with their interests and fill crucial gaps in our workforce. Not all of those valuable careers require college degrees. This legislation allows savings accounts set aside for education to be applied to other forms of training and certification.” The legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota), Mike Braun (R-Indiana), Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Dianne Feinstein (D-California), Joe Manchin (D-West Virginia), Martin Heinrich (D-New Mexico), and Peter Welch (D-Vermont). “Skills training and development programs help provide people with the tools and resources they need to succeed in our economy,” said Sen. Klobuchar. “By allowing workers to use their ‘529’ educational savings to pay for additional training and certification, our bipartisan legislation will enable more Americans to access and benefit from these valuable programs.” “Every high school student in America needs to know that you don’t necessarily have to go to college to have a great career,” said Braun. “By expanding opportunities and access to skills training programs, and letting Americans use their ‘529’ education savings to pay for it, we can address the nationwide skills shortage and fill American jobs,” said Braun. Tuberville spent four decades working with young adults as a coach and educator. Now he is a vocal advocate for improving workforce development and skills training throughout the United States. Tuberville has argued that career and technical education programs like dual enrollment and apprenticeships should be considered respectable paths to opportunity, not second-rate. As the baby boomers leave the workforce, many industries, including trades, are struggling to fill the void. According to a study by the American Action Forum, over the next decade, the USA could face a shortage of about 765,000 needed workers with the skills that come from an associate degree or some college. The figure for workers needing a bachelor’s degree or higher is about 8.62 million. This translates to about 5.6 percent of the estimated 2029 labor force. According to their report, Alabama has a projected shortage of 43,000 credentialed/associate degree workers and 129,000 four-year college graduates and higher. The health sector is already feeling shortages of 2-year nursing graduates (ADNs), 4-year nursing graduates (RNs), doctors, and specialists. Tommy Tuberville is in his first term representing Alabama in the United States Senate following a successful coaching career. He is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans Affairs, and HELP Committees. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Sen. Katie Britt named Ranking member of Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee
U.S. Senator Katie Britt was confirmed on Wednesday as the Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on the powerful Senate Committee on Appropriations. Britt has also been appointed to serve on the Appropriations subcommittees for Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies; Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies; Energy and Water Development; and Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies. Britt wrote on Twitter, “I am honored to be named the Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee for @AppropsGOP. Together, we can – and we must – take real action to defend our homeland, protect our children, strengthen their future, and preserve the American Dream for generations to come.” “I am excited to serve on these important subcommittees, which will strongly position me to fight for Alabama’s people, values, and interests through the Appropriations process,” said Sen. Britt. “From NASA to NOAA, the Army Corps of Engineers to CMS, FEMA to the Coast Guard, CBP to the U.S. Forest Service, and much more, these subcommittees cover a wide range of unique jurisdictions that impact every corner of our state. These assignments will give me a powerful oversight platform over federal spending to ensure bureaucrats are accountable to the public and taxpayer funds are not wasted. I look forward to championing priorities that help strengthen Alabama families and communities and preserve the American Dream for our children and our children’s children.” “Homeland Security’s jurisdiction covers a wide range of federal agencies, departments, and programs, all with an eye towards keeping American families safe and communities strong,” Britt added. “This includes the federal entities responsible for border security, which is going to be a top focus for me throughout the Appropriations process. There is no doubt that we have an unprecedented humanitarian and national security crisis at our southern border. We must invest strategically and intentionally in solutions to secure our border and end this crisis. I look forward to working with my colleagues as we undertake this critical task. Together, we can – and we must – take real action to defend our homeland, protect our children, strengthen their future, and preserve the American Dream for generations to come.” The Appropriations subcommittee assignments were announced Wednesday morning by Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), the Chair and Vice Chair, respectively, of the committee. “There are so many critical challenges our country faces right now, and we are glad to have this capable and committed group of Senators to lead our subcommittees this Congress and work to solve problems in people’s lives through our appropriations bills,” said Chair Murray and Vice Chair Collins. Britt is also a member of the Committees on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs and Rules and Administration. The Ranking Member on a Senate committee or subcommittee is the ranking member of the minority party serving on that particular committee or subcommittee – not necessarily the most senior. Britt was only sworn in last month, so it is an honor to already be a ranking member on any committee, particularly on one as powerful as Appropriations. Her predecessor, Sen. Richard Shelby, also served on that subcommittee. Homeland Security has several installations in Alabama, including the FBI facility in Huntsville that employs 1350 Alabamians, FEMA’s Center for Domestic Preparedness in Anniston, and the Coast Guard Station in Mobile To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
