Columns
Last week, I joined officials from throughout Alabama at the Farnborough International Airshow outside of London, England. I was accompanied by representatives from the city of Mobile, members of the Mobile and Baldwin County Commissions, Senators Jeff Sessions and Richard Shelby, Governor Bentley, and other officials from across our state.
From Brewton to Monroeville and Grove Hill to Loxley, I often talk to Alabamians who simply want to find a good paying job, but they don’t know where to turn. I believe a priority of Congress should be to support programs that help connect Americans with jobs.
The 4th of July is a time to visit with family and friends while grilling out and watching fireworks. Many of you might spend the 4th of July on one of the Gulf Coast’s beautiful beaches or boating on one of our area’s special waterways.
Actions always speak louder than words. President Obama has talked a lot about lowering energy costs, but in reality his policies only make things worse. From shutting off land for energy production to his continued stalling on construction of the Keystone Pipeline to his self-declared war on coal, President Obama’s energy policies are hitting families where it hurts: their pocketbook.
If there is one thing that frustrates hardworking Americans more than anything, it is the idea that those in government are above the rule of law. It seems too often that some in Washington forget that government is supposed to work for the people, not the other way around.
Two weeks ago, five mid to high-ranking Taliban officials were exchanged for U.S. Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, who had been held captive in Afghanistan for the past five years. I don’t blame President Obama for wanting to bring home an American prisoner of war, but I do have serious concerns about how it happened.
The crisis at the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) is a tragedy. Brave men and women died waiting for care that never came from the country they sacrificed so much to defend. But the problems represented at this agency are longstanding.
So often, it seems that Washington operates outside of the realm of common sense. The Red Snapper issue is no different, with the federal government refusing to sample on reefs for this reef fish, hurting our coastal communities.
Last week was National Transportation Week – an excellent opportunity for our community to have a discussion about transportation needs in Southwest Alabama. Most of us agree that our most pressing need is to build a new I-10 bridge that is able to handle increased vehicle traffic as we continue to attract more businesses to relocate to our community.
Last week, the House Armed Services Committee considered the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), legislation that the committee passes every year to authorize funding and set policy for the military. The scope of this legislation is so wide, it typically takes well over 12 hours to complete committee consideration of the bill.