Martha Roby: House and Senate take important step to support our military
Thanksgiving is a special holiday because it offers us an opportunity to pause as a nation and thank God for all the ways He has blessed us. With all that is going on across our country and around the world, it can be easy to lose sight of just how much we have to be thankful for. As we gather with loved ones this Thanksgiving, I hope we can all take time count our many blessings. I’m thankful for the gift of family – for my husband Riley and our two wonderful children, Margaret and George; for our parents and all of our dear family and friends. I am thankful for the opportunity to serve my state and country in the United States Congress. It is an honor to be in a position to make a difference on behalf of those I represent and to fight to make this country great for all Americans. Thank you for allowing me to represent you. I am thankful for this great country and all the freedoms we enjoy as Americans. I’m abundantly grateful for the men and women of our Armed Forces who have put their lives on the line to defend these freedoms – especially those who are deployed and away from their families at this very moment. Just in time for the holiday season, Congress is saying “thank you” to all service personnel by authorizing the largest military pay raise in more than eight years. It’s part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which has now passed the House and Senate and is expected to be signed into law by President Trump. As you may know, the NDAA is an annual bill authorizing various programs and activities throughout the military, ranging from weapons systems and training to military base construction and the payment of troops. After years of harmful budget cuts, this NDAA aims to rebuild our military by authorizing nearly $700 billion for the Department of Defense, increasing the size of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Army Guard and Reserve, Naval and Air Reserve, and Air Guard. The bill authorizes an additional $4.4 billion to strengthen Missile Defense and an additional $1.9 billion for military facility maintenance over the President’s budget. It also makes permanent the special survivor indemnity allowance (SSIA) payments to more than 60,000 surviving military spouses. The NDAA includes strong funding for Alabama-based military missions, including Army Aviation at Fort Rucker and military education and cyber warfare at Maxwell Air Force Base. One of Congress’ most fundamental duties enumerated in the Constitution is to “provide for the common defense” of the nation. As your Representative in Congress, I take my responsibility to look out for our troops very seriously. It’s no secret that the world has seen increased threats in recent years, from the rise of ISIS in the Middle East and Africa to North Korean hostility. It is imperative that we provide the military with the tools they need to deter these threats, and I am confident this NDAA does just that. It is my great honor to serve a district that is home to two of our nation’s finest military installations in Maxwell Air Force Base and Fort Rucker, thousands of active duty and reserve personnel, and nearly 16,000 military retirees. I have always been a strong and vocal proponent of properly funding the military, and I will continue to fight to ensure that the men and women who protect us have all the tools and resources they need to be safe and successful when we send them into harm’s way. ••• Martha Roby represents Alabama’s Second Congressional District. She lives in Montgomery, Alabama with her husband Riley and their two children.
Thanksgiving in space: Turkey, green beans & even football
Turkey and football will be the main Thanksgiving headliners up on the International Space Station. NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough, the station’s commander, is serving as Thanksgiving chef for the six-person crew. He showed off the specialties he’ll be preparing in a video this week. “It’s going to be a little bit different for us up here in space,” he said, “but I’m going to try to make it as much like home as we can.” On Thursday – a regular workday for the crew – Kimbrough will warm up pouches of sliced smoked turkey, candied yams, and cherry and blueberry cobbler. He’ll also add water to the bags of freeze-dried cornbread dressing, green beans and mushrooms and mashed potatoes. “You can’t have a Thanksgiving meal without green beans,” he noted. Mission Control promises to beam up some live football games – “to complete the experience,” Kimbrough said. It will be the second Thanksgiving in space for Kimbrough, who’s one month into a four-month mission, and the third for American Peggy Whitson, who arrived at the orbiting lab Saturday for a six-month stay. One Frenchman and three Russians round off the crew. Kimbrough said he and the others will share what they’re thankful for this Thanksgiving. No 1 on the list, he said, is being safe in space. NASA, meanwhile, is sharing its recipe for “out of this world” cornbread dressing. It’s straight from Johnson Space Center’s food lab, “no freeze-drying required.” Republished with permission of the Associated Press.
Robert Bentley encourages support of Alabama small businesses on Saturday
Tis the season for holiday shopping. From Black Friday to Cyber Monday, retailers across the country are geared up for the busiest shopping weekend of the year. And this year, Governor Robert Bentley is encouraging Alabamians to shop local to support Small Business Saturday. On Monday, Bentley signed a proclamation formally declaring November 26th as Small Business Saturday in Alabama. Already a national initiative, Small Business Saturday is designed to celebrate and support the often-overlooked sector of the economy, encouraging consumers to patronize small, local, brick-and-mortar stores. “Small Business Saturday is a great opportunity for Alabamians to support local businesses on the first Saturday after Thanksgiving,” Bentley said. “Small businesses are the engines of job growth and a vital part of a stimulated economy. By recognizing Small Business Saturday, we can choose to support the small businesses that contribute to our economy and our communities. As we begin the holiday shopping season, I encourage Alabamians to shop at local small businesses throughout Alabama.” According to the latest state profile from the U.S. Small Business Administration, there are 382,524 small businesses in Alabama, accounting for 96.7% of Alabama businesses. Small businesses employ 47.7% of the state’s private sector workforce. “Small business represents 99.7 percent of all U.S. employers, and they provide jobs for 58 million Americans,” Rosemary Elebash, State Director for the National Federation of Independent Business chairs theAlabama Small Business Commission and Advisory Committee said. “For many local retail businesses, the holiday shopping season is a make-or-break time, and Americans who want to support their communities and the economy should remember to shop small.”
Donald Trump auditions Cabinet prospects high above Manhattan
Donald Trump held court from his perch high above Manhattan on Monday, receiving a line of former rivals, longtime allies and TV executives while overseeing a presidential transition that at times resembles a reality show like the one he once hosted. Trump met with nearly a dozen prospective hires, all of whom were paraded in front of the cameras set up in the Trump Tower lobby as they entered an elevator to see the president-elect. Out of public view himself, he fell back on his TV star roots by filming a video that touted his legislative goals once he takes office. Trump; did not immediately announce any appointments after the meetings, which came on the heels of a two-day whirlwind of interviews at his golf course in Bedminster, New Jersey. Unlike his predecessors, who often spoke with Cabinet candidates under a cloud of secrecy, Trump has turned the search into a very public audition process. The extraordinary exercise took on a routine feel on Monday: First, former Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown stepped off the gold-plated elevator into the marble-coated lobby after his meeting to declare to waiting reporters that he was “the best person” to become Veterans Affairs secretary. Next, Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin, a candidate for interior secretary, did much the same, striding off the lift to say she had “a wonderful discussion” with Trump. Former Texas Governor Rick Perry declined to speak to reporters, but he did take time for a photo with the Naked Cowboy, the underwear-sporting, guitar-strumming New York institution who is normally a fixture at Times Square but has spent recent days camped out at Trump Tower singing about the president-elect. Democratic Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who resigned her post on the Democratic National Committee after endorsing Bernie Sanders over Hillary Clinton, also met with Trump but entered and exited out of sight. She later defended crossing party lines to meet with Trump about U.S. involvement in Syria, saying in a statement she would never “play politics with American and Syrian lives.” Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, a longtime Trump ally, also arrived with his wife, Callista, and told reporters that he indicated to Trump that he was interested in being a “senior planner” to coordinate long-term political efforts among the Republicans in control of all three branches of government. Senior adviser Kellyanne Conway said of the visitors, “Not all of them will be in his Cabinet and his federal government, but they are all incredibly important in offering their points of views, their experience and certainly their vision of the country.” No one was saying whether Trump would announce more appointments before heading to Florida for Thanksgiving. He was planning to leave Tuesday or Wednesday to spend the holiday at his Mar-a-Lago estate, while Vice President-elect Mike Pence will spend Thanksgiving in Mississippi, where his Marine son is stationed. Trump has largely remained out of sight since winning the election, save for a flurry of brief public appearances over the weekend, often with Pence at his side, to flash thumbs-ups and provide quick updates on his progress in building a government. He remained in the upper floors of his skyscraper Monday, seeking counsel on the phone and interviewing candidates all while keeping an eye on the cable news coverage of the day’s events. He appeared in a two-and-a-half minute video released late Monday in which he pledged to the American people that he was appointing “patriots” to his administration and reiterated a number of his campaign promises, including plans to renegotiate trade deals, scrap excessive regulations and institute a five-year ban on executive officials becoming lobbyists. The video — which made no mention of key pledges to build a border wall with Mexico or repeal the Affordable Care Act — continues the president-elect’s practice of trying to go over the heads of the media and take his case directly to the American public. Since Election Day, he has twice ditched the group of reporters designated to follow his movements and has so far eschewed the traditional news conference held by the president-elect in the days after winning. Trump has not held a full-fledged news conference since July. But the media were clearly on his mind as he met with executives and on-air personalities from TV networks. He frequently singled out the media — declaring them “so dishonest” — for criticism during the campaign, but it’s not unusual for presidents to hold off-the-record meetings with journalists when trying to promote policies or programs. Among the attendees were NBC anchor Lester Holt and “Meet the Press” host Chuck Todd, ABC’s “Good Morning America” host George Stephanopoulos and anchor David Muir, CBS’ “Face the Nation” host John Dickerson, CNN’s Wolf Blitzer and several executives at the networks. None of the attendees would discuss the meeting with reporters in the lobby, though Conway said it was “very cordial, very productive, very congenial.” Those Trump met with over the weekend included former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, a former critic now being considered for secretary of state; retired Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis, who Trump dubbed an “impressive” prospect for defense secretary, and billionaire investor Wilbur Ross, who is under consideration for Commerce secretary. “We’ve made a couple of deals,” Trump said Sunday. He gave assurances that “incredible meetings” would be bringing “incredible people” into the government. Republished with permission of the Associated Press.
The Alabama delegation celebrates Thanksgiving
As Alabamians gather across the state to celebrate this truly American holiday of Thanksgiving, the Alabama Congressional delegation has taken to social media and email messages to spread the message of Thanksgiving and all that they’re thankful for. Here’s what they’re saying this Thanksgiving: U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions: On this Thanksgiving Day, let us give thanks to God for the blessings in our lives and reflect on our gratitude to the men and women who came before us and carved out this magnificent nation upon this beautiful continent. I wish all of you a special time with those dearest to you, and let us also keep in our hearts those brave souls serving under our flag in distant lands far away from family and home. God bless, and happy Thanksgiving to one and all. U.S. Rep. Bradley Bryne (AL-01): With all the negative things going on in the world today, it would be easy to lose site of all the blessings in our lives. Personally, I am thankful for my loving wife, four children, grandson, and entire family. They bring so much joy and happiness to my life. I am thankful to live in such a beautiful part of the country with truly amazing friends and neighbors who would do anything for one another. I am thankful for our local churches and charity organizations who go out of their way to support and provide for those who are less fortunate during the holidays. I am thankful for the men and women who serve in the United States military to help keep our nation safe and secure. I am equally thankful for our veterans who have devoted and sacrificed so much in defense of the freedoms we hold dear. I am thankful to live in the greatest country on the face of the earth where every person, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to achieve the American dream. Finally, I am thankful for an all-loving God through whom all blessings flow. U.S. Rep. Martha Roby (AL-02): I hope you and your family are having a wonderful Thanksgiving. This is such a special holiday to me because it is a time when we as a nation take time to pause from our hectic schedules and thank God for all that he has blessed us with. As we gather with family and friends, let’s all take time to count our many blessings. I’m thankful for the blessing of family; for my husband, Riley and our two children, Margaret and George; for my parents; for my sweet grandmother and all of our dear family and friends. I’m thankful for the blessing of freedom, to live in the United States and for the rights we enjoy as Americans. I’m keenly aware that we only have those rights and freedoms because brave Americans were willing to fight for them, and I’m so grateful for those who have served in uniform to protect our nation, our communities and our families. As you know, many military personnel are serving right now in faraway places where they can’t be with their families. I hope you’ll join me in taking a moment to remember them and say a special prayer of protection. U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt (AL-04): I hope and pray that all of you have a blessed Thanksgiving. I also hope that you will take time to truly give thanks to God for the blessings we all have. U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks (AL-05): Today we pause to reflect on everything for which we are truly grateful. Wishing you and yours a happy and safe Thanksgiving! U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer (AL-06): Happy Thanksgiving to all! U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) “Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer. And let faith be the bridge you build to overcome evil and welcome good.” — Maya Angelou
Greg Reed: Gratitude, happiness, and America’s founding
Thanksgiving is a great time for catching up with family members, watching football, and eating turkey, dressing, and pumpkin and pecan pies. The food is so good, you might even excuse your Uncle Jim’s fifth monologue on why Verne and Gary are the worst sportscasters since the dawn of television, as your family prepares for the Iron Bowl on Saturday. It is a wonderful time of year. But have you ever wondered how Thanksgiving came to be? You might have a vague recollection of some early American settlers (the Pilgrims) with shoe buckles and big black hats celebrating a Thanksgiving with Native Americans, but your memory may go foggy after that. The story of Thanksgiving indeed began with the early harvest celebrations of the Pilgrims at Plymouth Colony near Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The Pilgrims were an interesting mix of adventurers and preachers, but most were committed Protestant Christians who split from the established Church of England in their homeland. In 1609, this group had been driven from England by religious persecution and landed on the shores of the Netherlands. The Dutch culture proved similarly inhospitable, however, so the Pilgrims sailed in the Mayflower to North America in 1620, where a Native American named Squanto helped this band of European settlers. Even with Squanto’s aid, nearly half the group perished from disease and famine in the first winter. But the survivors reasonably saw the unexpected help of Squanto as a divine blessing, without which they might all have died, and therefore celebrated God’s mercy with a harvest festival. In 1776, at the start of the Revolutionary War, the Continental Congress set aside two days for solemn prayer and fasting, and in 1777, Samuel Adams helped draft a resolution calling for a “day of Thanksgiving” on December 18th to celebrate the colonists’ victory over the British at Saratoga. In 1778, the Congress approved a resolution setting aside December 30th for a day of thanksgiving, as it “pleased Almighty God through the Course of the present year to bestow great and manifold Mercies on the People of these United States.” After the Revolutionary War, presidents George Washington, John Adams, and James Madison all issued proclamations setting aside certain days for thanksgiving to God during the early years of our Republic. Typical was the language of Washington’s proclamation in 1789: “I do recommend… the 26th of November next to be devoted by the People of these States… in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions– to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually–to render our national government a blessing to all the people.” In 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt signed legislation officially marking the fourth Thursday in November as the national holiday of Thanksgiving, enshrining in law a practice our nation has carried on since the days of the Pilgrims. This year, I am deeply thankful for the Christian heritage our ancestors left to the people of America. Despite what the “politically correct” crowd might tell you, the Founding Fathers never intended our country to be free from religion. We are a nation founded explicitly on Judeo-Christian notions of law. As the Declaration of Independence says, we are “endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” This Thanksgiving, I encourage you to slow down and consider how God has blessed your “pursuit of happiness.” We live in a land of material and spiritual abundance, secured by the hard work of men like George Washington and protected now by the bravery of our American soldiers. It is a tremendous honor to serve the people of Alabama in the State Senate. Yet the essential parts of my “pursuit of happiness” in life are found in the blessings of my dear wife and three sons, who keep me humble in the best of days and laughing in spite of the hardest hours, while my faith in Christ is the bedrock of everything. As G.K. Chesterton wrote, gratitude is indeed happiness doubled by wonder. Greg Reed is the Alabama Senate Majority Leader and represents Senate District 5, which is comprised of all or parts of Winston, Walker, Tuscaloosa, Jefferson, and Fayette counties.
