Education
Education is a passion of mine, and I want to see Alabama students lead the nation in academic success. In Congress, I am pushing for policies that return decision-making authority back to the state and local entities. We should empower teachers, administrators, and parents on the front lines to make decisions that fit the needs of each individual child while focusing on lasting reforms that reduce duplicative and ineffective programs.
More on Education
Over the last few weeks, reporters with television cameras have stood watch in the lobby of Trump Tower in New York City to see who is coming and going from meetings with President-elect Donald Trump.
Most of the visitors are there to talk to the President-elect about opportunities to serve in his administration, and based on the announcements so far, it is safe to say that President-elect Trump is putting together a great team.
There is something really fun and exciting about visiting with students in our local schools. From the elementary student who just wants you to read a book with them to the high school student looking for college advice, the visits are always special.
With the House out of session for the month of October, I had the pleasure to spend quality time in a number of our local schools. I visited Clarke County High School in Grove Hill to talk with students and learn more about their new workforce training center.
What do dehydrated fruits and vegetables, a new workforce training center, six town hall meetings, and the University of Alabama have in common? They were all a part of my busy week on the road in Southwest Alabama.
Some of my most valuable time is spent traveling across the First Congressional District talking directly to the people I represent in Congress. With the House out of session until after the upcoming election, there have been many great opportunities to listen to the ideas and concerns of my constituents.
If you turn on the national news, it is easy to grow discouraged. From ongoing terrorism issues to the sluggish economy, our nation continues to face a wide range of serious challenges.
That said, here in Southwest Alabama, we have had a decent run of positive news lately. I want to highlight some of the encouraging developments that impact every community in our area.
Congressman Bradley Byrne (R-AL), a member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, today voted in favor of legislation to boost and reform our nation’s career and technical education (CTE) programs.
The House passed H.R. 5587, the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act, by a vote of 405 to 5. As an original co-sponsor, Congressman Byrne helped write and introduce the legislation.
The House is back in session for the month of September, and there are a number of issues on our plate. I wanted to give you a quick preview of some of the items Congress may tackle this month.
The current government funding bill expires on October 1st, so action must be taken to address funding for the entire federal government. The most likely scenario is that Congress will pass something known as a Continuing Resolution.
Anxious. Excited. Nervous. Intrigued. Those are just a few of the emotions students feel as they head back to school.
As a parent, we share many of those same emotions. Excitement for our child and their ability to grow and learn. Nervousness about the challenges each school year brings.
These feelings aren’t restricted to just parents and students. Teachers and administrators go through similar emotions as they prepare for a new school year.
The House of Representatives approved a bipartisan bill introduced by Congressman Bradley Byrne (R-AL) and Congresswoman Alma Adams (D-NC) that would help improve infrastructure for our nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU).
Is it really as bad as it seems? That is a question I get all the time. People want to know if the partisanship and gridlock in Washington is actually like what they see on television.
The short answer is no. The reality is Republicans and Democrats often work together on bipartisan legislation to address serious issues, but it just doesn’t always make the front page of the newspaper or the evening news because it isn’t “exciting” enough.
From health care to national security, people are worried about the direction our country is headed. That is certainly what I hear at my town hall meetings in Southwest Alabama, but the same is true all around the United States. According to Real Clear Politics, 65% of Americans believe our country is headed in the wrong direction.
When you are frustrated, it is simple to spend all your time complaining about what is wrong. In other words, it is easy to be against something.
Office Locations
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Washington, DC Office
119 Cannon House Office BuildingWashington, DC 20515phone: (202) 225-4931
fax: (202) 225-0562
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Baldwin County Office
Baldwin County Office502 West Lee AvenueSummerdale, AL 36580Phone: 251-989-2664
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