{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where state = \"AL\" and year = 2014 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["http://roby.house.gov/press-release/found-wwii-pilot-be-laid-rest-montgomery-saturday", "Found WWII Pilot to be Laid to Rest in Montgomery Saturday", "2014-12-31", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Martha Roby", "R000591", "roby.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "MONTGOMERY, Ala. \u2013 An Alabama World War II pilot who was missing for decades after his plane went down on Guadalcanal Island will finally be laid to rest this week with full military honors.\nMaj. Peyton Mathis, Jr., commander of the 44th Fighter Squadron, will be buried in his hometown of Montgomery, Ala. Saturday, January 3rd. He was 28 years old on June 5, 1944 when the P-38J Lightning he was piloting went down over Guadalcanal Island after returning from a mission.\u00a0\nRescue and recovery attempts at the time of the crash were unsuccessful due to the heavy jungle. It wasn\u2019t until 2013, when local islanders informed Department of Defense crews of a nearby crash site, that the downed P-38 was found, Maj. Mathis still strapped into the cockpit.\u00a0\nWhen Peyton Mathis III, Maj. Mathis\u2019 nephew, learned his uncle\u2019s lost plane and remains had possibly been found, he contacted U.S. Representative Martha Roby\u2019s office for help expediting the identification and return process. Maj. Mathis\u2019 widow, Evelyn, is now in her 90s, and the family understandably wanted the remains to be identified and returned as soon as possible.\u00a0\nThe Pearl Harbor-based Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) is a special\u00a0Department of Defense division whose mission is to bring America\u2019s fallen soldiers home, no matter how long it takes and no matter the cost.\u00a0When JPAC learns of possible remains, it deploys a team of researchers and scientists. From the jungles of Vietnam, the deserts of North Africa, or the depths of the Pacific Ocean, \u00a0these recovery missions require complex diplomacy and can be difficult and dangerous.\nIn the case of Maj. Mathis, JPAC crews worked with local police to gain custody of the remains, which were sent to a special laboratory for DNA testing. Researchers used various forensic tools, including DNA provided by the family, to finally confirm Maj. Mathis\u2019 remains.\u00a0\nRep. Roby thanked the Mathis\u00a0family, JPAC, and all others who played a part in ensuring this fallen airman was returned home.\u00a0\n \n\t\u201c70 years ago, a brave pilot from Montgomery, Alabama went down in the\u00a0jungles of the Pacific trying to save the lives of his fellow airmen,\u201d Rep. Roby said.\u00a0\u201cThose who witnessed it said Maj. Mathis was circling the airfield, allowing the planes in his command to land safely, even though he was running low on fuel.\n\t\u201cIt has taken decades, but Major Mathis is finally returning home to Montgomery to be laid to rest alongside his father and brother.\u00a0I\u00a0appreciate the\u00a0diligent efforts of the Mathis family, JPAC, and local islanders to find, identify, and return Major Mathis, and\u00a0I was honored for my office to play a small role in seeing a fallen hero laid to rest.\n\t\u201cStories like this are what makes our country great, because no other country does this.\u00a0The United States is the only nation in the world that devotes such resources to the mission of bringing our lost servicemen home. No matter how long it takes, no matter how much it costs, we are going to bring our fallen home.\u00a0\n\t\u201cLike so many in his generation, Major Peyton Mathis, Jr. made the\u00a0ultimate\u00a0sacrifice fighting to defend this country and preserve the very freedom we enjoy today. This week, he will be laid to rest with the full military honors he deserves. I hope his story will serve as a reminder of the sacrifices our\u00a0military\u00a0personnel and their families have made over the years, and still make today.\"\u00a0\n \nMore information on Maj. Mathis is available from the Department of Defense Prisoner of War / Missing Personnel Office at\u00a0https://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/news/news_releases/2014/documents/release_mathis.pdf.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://byrne.house.gov//media-center/columns/year-in-review", "Year in Review", "2014-12-28", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Bradley Byrne", "B001289", "byrne.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "When I was elected to Congress last December, I vowed to hit the ground running from day one to make Southwest Alabama a better place to live, work and raise a family. In honor of the New Year, I wanted to take this opportunity to look back at some of the highlights from my first year in Congress.\nMy first legislative action was to cosponsor H.R. 3121, the American Health Care Reform Act, which repeals ObamaCare and replaces it with common-sense, market based reforms. Throughout the past year, I have repeatedly supported legislation designed to repeal and reform ObamaCare and actually make health care more affordable and accessible for middle class families.\nI received positions on two committees vitally important to our area: the Armed Services Committee and the Natural Resources Committee. These assignments were a victory for South Alabama jobs. After speaking with friends and neighbors in our community, we concluded that these were the two avenues where we could do the most good for our home.\nIn March, I voted in support of H.R. 3370, the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act. This bill slowed down the pace of rate hikes for coastal Alabama residents, allowing time to ensure that sound science is being used to create federal flood maps.\nA few weeks later, I accepted a position on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. Education is an issue that is a passion of mine, and I have seen firsthand how the federal government\u2019s intrusions can hamper student success. The Committee also put me on a strong position to promote job training programs and fight back against the activist National Labor Relations Board.\nIn April, after it was announced the Red Snapper season in federal waters would only last nine days, I introduced my first standalone piece of legislation: the SNAPR Act. The legislation would repeal Section 407(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, which mandates inflexible quotas on recreational and commercial fishermen in the Gulf of Mexico.\nIn May, following the heartbreaking scandal at VA medical facilities around the country, I joined many of my colleagues in calling on VA Secretary Eric Shinseki to resign. Weeks later, Secretary Shinseki resigned and was replaced by Robert McDonald. Around the same time, Congress passed the Veterans\u2019 Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act. Most importantly, the bill included reforms to increase veteran access to private care, but more work is certainly needed.\nIn June, I held my 25th town hall meeting in Lillian. Since then, we have held even more town hall meetings brining to the total number to over 30. In addition to holding the in-person town hall meetings, I also held telephone town halls and answered questions from constituents during a Facebook town hall.\u00a0\nIn response to many outrageous executive overreaches by President Obama and his administration, I supported a lawsuit against the President in July. Everywhere I go, I hear the same thing over and over again: This President will not stay within the bounds of the Constitution of the United States or the laws passed by this body and the Senate. I wish a lawsuit wasn\u2019t necessary, but I believed it was one of the best ways to rein in the out-of-control executive.\nAlso in July, the Federal Highway Administration finally released the draft Environmental Impact Statement on the I-10 Mobile River bridge project. This step was almost ten years in the making, and it represented a significant breakthrough in the process of getting a bridge built. I will continue pushing for this project which is critically important to our entire region.\nIn August, in response to a dangerous influx of illegal immigrants crossing our southern border, I voted for legislation that would boost border security and end one of President Obama\u2019s amnesty programs. President Obama\u2019s continued threat of executive action has only exacerbated the problem of illegal immigration, and I look forward to a serious debate early next year on the immigration issue.\nThis fall, I traveled to the Middle East to meet with United States military personnel and visit with foreign leaders. During the trip, I made stops in Israel, Jordan, Egypt, and Morocco. One common theme I picked up on during the trip was the lack of United States leadership and a clear strategy in the region. Whether it is ISIS in Iraq, Hamas in Gaza, the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, Boko Haram in Africa, or al-Qaeda throughout the Middle East, Islamic extremists are on the rise.\nMost recently, we were able to secure funding for the construction of four new Littoral Combat Ships, which are built in part by Austal in Mobile. The same week, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel announced that the current LCS variants will be modified instead of creating a new ship design. This means the Navy will continue building ships in Mobile for a long time.\nThere is no doubt many challenges remain, but I am proud of the many accomplishments from my first year in Congress. As we head into the New Year, I will continue advocating for our shared conservative values and fighting for Alabama jobs. It is an honor to represent you in Congress.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://byrne.house.gov//media-center/columns/be-sure-to-give-back-this-christmas", "Be Sure to Give Back This Christmas", "2014-12-21", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Bradley Byrne", "B001289", "byrne.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "If you are like me, you likely spend precious time around Christmas trying to decide on the perfect gift for your loved one. For those of us with children and grandchildren, we often search high and low to find the latest trendy toy or item.\nThrough all the time spent searching for the perfect gift, it is especially important that we take time to reflect on what Christmas is really about and count our many blessings.\u00a0 As it is written in Isaiah 9:6, \u201cFor to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.\u201d\nSo often during the holidays we forget about those around us who are struggling in different ways.\u00a0 Whether it is due to a medical condition, a loss of work or something else, there are many around us who are hurting this holiday season. To many of these people, the holidays are a time of darkness and despair.\u00a0\nAs Christmas signifies the birth of Jesus, I hope we can all emulate the giving spirit of the Beloved Son.\u00a0 This Christmas, I encourage you to give of your time or resources to help those in need because, to me, giving back is what the holidays are all about. \u00a0\nChristmas is about individuals like Citronelle Mayor Al McDonald who gives part of his salary each month to community schools, churches and civic organizations.\nChristmas is about religious organizations like St. Stephen\u2019s Episcopal Church in Brewton, who opened a thrift shop to increase their community outreach and better the lives of people in the community.\nChristmas reminds us of individuals like the late Harry McCall Read from Flomaton who was a long-time scoutmaster with a true servant\u2019s heart.\nChristmas is when local schools, organizations and businesses partner to make a positive impact, like the Great Toy Drive in Mobile which is organized by local TV station WKRG.\nChristmas is a special time when groups like those at Grace Fellowship in Atmore assemble special boxes for children in need all around the globe.\nChristmas is about students, like those in the City of Jackson, who collected more than 2,000 items during their annual canned food drive.\nA few weeks ago, my wife Rebecca and I volunteered at Christian Life Church\u2019s food pantry in Orange\u00a0 Beach. Just last weekend, I volunteered with the Salvation Army \u201cBell Ringer\u201d program to help collect money to benefit those in need. It brought a smile to my face to see children and adults of all ages dropping money, from a small as a quarter to as big as a handful of cash, into the red kettle.\nChristmas is about the countless others from our area and across the nation who have set time aside to make a difference. No matter how much or how little, Christmas is time to give back to those who need it most.\nLet\u2019s also not forget our military men and women who are away from their families this Christmas. Each of us should say a special prayer for the safety and security of these dedicated individuals and for the comfort of their loved ones.\nThrough all the hustle and bustle, let us not forget that the best gift you can give this Christmas is your time and resources to help those in need. So this holiday season, and every day, let\u2019s remember what is written in John 1:5, \u201cthe light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.\u201d I encourage each of you to be a shining beacon of hope this Christmas season.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://byrne.house.gov//media-center/press-releases/byrne-responds-to-college-rating-system-framework", "Byrne Responds to College Rating System Framework", "2014-12-19", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Bradley Byrne", "B001289", "byrne.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Bradley Byrne (AL-1), a member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, today issued the following statement in response to the Obama administration\u2019s release of the framework for their college rating system.\nByrne said: \u201cDo we really want to set higher education policy, and have students and their parents make their college plans, based upon a rating system devised by the same people that gave us ObamaCare and Healthcare.gov?\u00a0 This is another part of American life which the federal government has no business meddling in. \u00a0\n\u201cI want higher education to be affordable and accessible for all Americans, but imposing subjective ratings on colleges is not a productive way to achieve that goal. I intend to use my position on the House Education and the Workforce Committee to fight this tooth and nail.\u201d\nMore information on the college rating system framework can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://roby.house.gov/column/appropriations-plan-passes-congress", "Appropriations Plan Passes Congress", "2014-12-19", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Martha Roby", "R000591", "roby.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "This past week, Congress passed a comprehensive Appropriations plan that:\n funds critical government operations;\n\tincludes strong, important, conservative policy provisions; and\u00a0\n\tallows Congress the best opportunity to reverse President Obama\u2019s unilateral immigration actions when Republicans have dual House and Senate majorities in January.\n This Appropriations plan brings the federal deficit to half what it was in 2010, slashes funding for the Internal Revenue Service by $345 million, prevents federal authorities from regulating farm ponds and irrigation ditches under the Clean Water Act, and provides critical military funding, including for new Lakota Helicopters to enhance the aviation training mission at Fort Rucker and for the Navy\u2019s Mobile-built Littoral Combat Ship and Joint-High Speed Vessel.\nAs a Member of the House Appropriations Committee, I have been directly involved in the work to write new spending bills that reflect more responsible, conservative\u00a0principles. Though the process was at times contentious, Congress made significant progress throughout the year toward the proper appropriation of government funding, as required by the Constitution. However, as you probably know, last month President Obama announced plans to\u00a0unilaterally act to give de facto legal status to millions of illegal immigrants by using\u00a0executive orders. Congressional leaders then set out to find ways to block this egregious overreach of executive\u00a0authority.\u00a0\nI\u00a0support blocking such action through the appropriations process,\u00a0using the\u00a0\u201cpower of the purse\u201d to\u00a0prohibit federal funds from being used to implement his orders. Used effectively, the appropriations process is one of the most powerful checks on the Executive Branch. Many of my\u00a0colleagues\u00a0agreed, and we eventually coalesced around a proposal from Rep. Tom Price (R-GA) that would give Congress the best chance to reverse the President\u2019s actions.\u00a0\nThe plan included passing an Appropriations bill that funds 11 of the 12 government divisions through the remainder of Fiscal Year 2015. The exception was Homeland Security, which is where immigration enforcement funding is contained. For Homeland Security, the plan included a Continuing Resolution, short-funding the agency temporarily so that Congress can\u00a0more effectively utilize the \u201cpower of the purse\u201d to rein in President Obama\u2019s immigration actions in three weeks when Republicans take the Majority in the Senate.\u00a0\nThis is the best strategy for defeating\u00a0executive amnesty. Given the way the American public feels about his reckless immigration policies and our ability to focus their attention on this single issue, I like our chances.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://roby.house.gov/column/sharing-blessing-hope-christmas", "Sharing the Blessing of Hope this Christmas", "2014-12-19", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Martha Roby", "R000591", "roby.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "I just wanted to take this opportunity to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a wonderful holiday season. This is such a special time of year \u2013 a time of joy, a time of hope, a time of giving.\nIt is easy to get distracted in all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season \u2013 the family to visit, the food to cook, the gifts to buy. But Christmas is a time to celebrate the coming of Jesus Christ and to share His message of hope in a troubled world.\nHere is an account of the shepherds\u2019 reaction to seeing Jesus from the Book of Luke:\nAnd it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, \"Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.\"\nAnd they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.\nWhen they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,\u00a0and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. \u00a0But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.\u00a0\nThe shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.\nWhat a blessing to recall this Holy Night as told in the Bible. Despite the distractions the holidays can bring, let\u2019s remember the \u201creason for the season\u201d and share it with others\u00a0just\u00a0like the\u00a0shepherds did.\nChristmas is also a time when we should make sure to remember those who are struggling and do our part to lend a helping hand. Many are having a hard time financially, are battling an illness, or have emotional struggles. And for some, the holiday season can be the loneliest time of all.\u00a0\nLet's remember to give back this year by helping those in need. Whether it is giving of your time by volunteering or giving of your money to help a worthy cause, let\u2019s share the joy of this Christmas season with those less fortunate.\u00a0\nI hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday. May we all share the joy and hope of this special season.\u00a0\nMerry Christmas!", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://byrne.house.gov//media-center/press-releases/byrne-launches-redesigned-congressional-website", "Byrne Launches Redesigned Congressional Website", "2014-12-18", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Bradley Byrne", "B001289", "byrne.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "In anticipation of the 114th Congress, Congressman Bradley Byrne (AL-1) today unveiled his redesigned Congressional website. The website can be found at Byrne.House.Gov.\nThe website, which serves as a digital office, provides constituents with detailed information about the various services offered by Congressman Byrne. On the website, constituents can schedule a tour of Washington, DC landmarks, order a flag flown over the US Capitol, get help with federal agencies, apply for a Congressional internship, send the Congressman an email, sign up for the Congressman\u2019s weekly e-newsletter and much more.\nByrne said: \u201cMy redesigned website is an important step toward remaining accessible and accountable to the people I represent. When we were discussing what changes to make, my top priority was to create a website that is easy to navigate and reflects our area\u2019s unique culture. The new website includes information on legislation scheduled for a vote in Washington as well as various resources for students, seniors and businesses.\u00a0 I encourage all my constituents to log on to Byrne.House.Gov and see the exciting changes for themselves.\u201d\nIn addition to the digital office, Congressman Byrne maintains three physical offices in Mobile, Summerdale and Washington, DC.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://brooks.house.gov/media-center/news-releases/federal-judge-declares-obamas-amnesty-unconstitutional-opposition", "Federal Judge Declares Obama's Amnesty Unconstitutional, Opposition to Executive Action Rising", "2014-12-17", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Mo Brooks", "B001274", "brooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.U.S. District Court Judge Arthur Schwab, sitting on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, this week entered an order declaring that President Obama's prosecutorial discretion executive amnesty order is unconstitutional. Judge Schwab stated, President Obama's unilateral legislative action violates the separation of powers provided for in the United States Constitution as well as the Take Care Clause, and therefore, is unconstitutional. Brooks stated, In America, the judicial branch has the constitutional authority and duty to determine the lawfulness of a president's executive action. Although this ruling is subject to appeal and has no immediate effect on executive amnesty for illegal aliens, it is reassuring, from a constitutional standpoint, that the first federal judge to rule on this issue recognizes the illegality and unconstitutional nature of President Obama's actions. Brooks added, America's founding fathers insisted on a system of checks and balances, a separation of powers, that prevents one branch of government from becoming too powerful or dictatorial. In this case, the executive branch's action to change the law'to use President Obama'swordsis a direct and unconstitutional subversion of powers expressly delegated to Congress by the United States Constitution. While this Administration systematically seeks to undermine anyone and any part of government that stands in its way, it is important that those who support the rule of law continue to stand and defend constitutional order. Brooks concluded, I believe this court's opinion is a harbinger of what lies ahead for the President's transgressions against the Constitution. I'm hopeful that thelawsuitfiled by 24 states, including Alabama, will result in a restoration of constitutional balance in our government. The health of our constitutional republic is at stake. The text of the opinion can be foundhere.  ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.shelby.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/articles?ContentRecord_id=fab77183-77cf-49ad-bc04-f565d11fe276", "Tuscaloosa News: Senate bill passed this weekend includes funding for Tuscaloosa water center", "2014-12-16", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Richard Shelby", "S000320", "www.shelby.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The omnibus appropriations bill passed this weekend by the U.S. Senate includes $4 million for the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration's National Water Center in Tuscaloosa.\r\n\r\nThe center, which is at a 60,000-square-foot building on Hackberry Lane, Center is designed to serve as a central location for collaboration between academic institutions across the country and the more than 20 federal agencies involved in critical water research.\r\nFederal officials have called the National Water Center the national \u201cnerve center\u201d for water research\r\nSen. Richard Shelby, R-Tuscaloosa, said in a news release that while he opposed the omnibus appropriations bill, he has long supported funding for the water center.\r\n\u201cThe research conducted at the National Water Center at the University of Alabama is critical to gaining an increased understanding of our vital water resources,\u201d Shelby said. \u201cThis center allows our nation to better predict and manage various water-related ecological problems while fostering nationwide collaboration on water issues. I am pleased that the bill includes this critical language.\u201d\r\nThe bill has been sent to the White House to be signed into law.\r\nhttp://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20141215/NEWS/141219777/0/search", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.shelby.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/articles?ContentRecord_id=ff08105c-7b0d-4c72-be11-520f4014b5bd", "AL.com: Dr. Vivek Murthy confirmed as U.S. surgeon general despite gun control concerns, Alabama senators vote 'no'", "2014-12-16", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Richard Shelby", "S000320", "www.shelby.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Dr. Vivek Murthy was named the next U.S. Surgeon General today, despite Congressional concerns over his gun control stance and without the support of Alabama's two Senators.\r\nDr. Murthy, 37, is a physician at Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital and an instructor at Harvard Medical School. He won confirmation on a 51-43 vote, with Alabama Sens. Richard Shelby and Jeff Sessions voting against the appointment.\r\nRepublicans have been vocal against his nomation after comments surfaced where he said gun violence is a public health issue, as well as his involvement with Doctors of America. Murthy co-founded the group, which supports Obama's Affordable Healthcare Act.\r\nThe National Rifle Association has fought Murthy's nomination, citing a letter he wrote following the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. In that letter, Murthy called for new gun control measures, drawing the ire of NRA.\r\nMurthy becomes the nations' first Senate-confirmed surgeon general since July 2013. He replaces interim Surgeon General Boris Lushniak, who took over the position following the resignation of\u00a0Alabama native Regina Marcia Benjamin.\r\nhttp://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2014/12/dr_vivek_murthy_confirmed_as_u.html", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.shelby.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/inthenews?ContentRecord_id=fab77183-77cf-49ad-bc04-f565d11fe276", "Tuscaloosa News: Senate bill passed this weekend includes funding for Tuscaloosa water center", "2014-12-16", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Richard Shelby", "S000320", "www.shelby.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The omnibus appropriations bill passed this weekend by the U.S. Senate includes $4 million for the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration's National Water Center in Tuscaloosa.\r\n\r\nThe center, which is at a 60,000-square-foot building on Hackberry Lane, Center is designed to serve as a central location for collaboration between academic institutions across the country and the more than 20 federal agencies involved in critical water research.\r\nFederal officials have called the National Water Center the national \u201cnerve center\u201d for water research\r\nSen. Richard Shelby, R-Tuscaloosa, said in a news release that while he opposed the omnibus appropriations bill, he has long supported funding for the water center.\r\n\u201cThe research conducted at the National Water Center at the University of Alabama is critical to gaining an increased understanding of our vital water resources,\u201d Shelby said. \u201cThis center allows our nation to better predict and manage various water-related ecological problems while fostering nationwide collaboration on water issues. I am pleased that the bill includes this critical language.\u201d\r\nThe bill has been sent to the White House to be signed into law.\r\nhttp://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20141215/NEWS/141219777/0/search", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.shelby.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/inthenews?ContentRecord_id=ff08105c-7b0d-4c72-be11-520f4014b5bd", "AL.com: Dr. Vivek Murthy confirmed as U.S. surgeon general despite gun control concerns, Alabama senators vote 'no'", "2014-12-16", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Richard Shelby", "S000320", "www.shelby.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Dr. Vivek Murthy was named the next U.S. Surgeon General today, despite Congressional concerns over his gun control stance and without the support of Alabama's two Senators.\r\nDr. Murthy, 37, is a physician at Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital and an instructor at Harvard Medical School. He won confirmation on a 51-43 vote, with Alabama Sens. Richard Shelby and Jeff Sessions voting against the appointment.\r\nRepublicans have been vocal against his nomation after comments surfaced where he said gun violence is a public health issue, as well as his involvement with Doctors of America. Murthy co-founded the group, which supports Obama's Affordable Healthcare Act.\r\nThe National Rifle Association has fought Murthy's nomination, citing a letter he wrote following the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. In that letter, Murthy called for new gun control measures, drawing the ire of NRA.\r\nMurthy becomes the nations' first Senate-confirmed surgeon general since July 2013. He replaces interim Surgeon General Boris Lushniak, who took over the position following the resignation of\u00a0Alabama native Regina Marcia Benjamin.\r\nhttp://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2014/12/dr_vivek_murthy_confirmed_as_u.html", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://mike-rogers.house.gov/press-release/rogers-keep-pressure-putin", "Rogers:  Keep Pressure on Putin", "2014-12-15", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Mike Rogers", "R000575", "mike-rogers.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(WASHINGTON, DC)\u2014 East Alabama Congressman Mike Rogers (R) announced today that he will continue in 2015 as Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee\u2019s Strategic Forces subcommittee.\nRogers says as Chairman he plans to keep up the pressure on foreign leaders like Russia\u2019s president Vladimir Putin, who continues his aggressive push into European territory like Crimea and Ukraine, including illegally seizing the territory of Crimea. Rogers said the panel\u2019s work is critical for keeping the nation\u2019s defenses strong in a dangerous world.\n\u201cI am honored to be continuing my work as Chairman of this subcommittee and plan to make sure we have the strategic capabilities in place and available to provide for our national security and that of our allies. It is Congress' responsibility under our Constitution to provide for the armed forces, and I intend to see that ours remain the best trained and equipped in the world,\u201d Rogers said.\nThe Strategic Forces subcommittee has jurisdiction over the nation\u2019s nuclear weapons and missile defense and space programs, as well as Department of Energy national security programs.\nAs the panel\u2019s Chairman, Rogers says he has been the leading advocate in the House for the nation\u2019s nuclear forces. Many of these space and missile programs, so critical to our national defense, are important elements to Alabama\u2019s defense based economy.\nIn addition, Rogers has been a strong critic of Russia\u2019s violations with the INF Treaty and will continue to press on this issue in the next Congress. He has also been leading efforts to introduce public-private partnerships in areas such as commercial satellite communications acquisitions, which could achieve significant cost-savings for the Department of Defense and the U.S. taxpayer.\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 -###-", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.shelby.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/articles?ContentRecord_id=09180d0d-99df-4182-96f2-51a940f6dae4", "Yellowhammer: Sessions and Shelby blast \"CRomnibus,\" vote no citing its funding of \"executive amnesty\"", "2014-12-15", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Richard Shelby", "S000320", "www.shelby.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2014 The $1.1 trillion \u201cCRomnibus\u201d passed the U.S. Senate Saturday night, concluding an usually active day of of political maneuvering by dissenting senators on both ends of the political spectrum. The bill, which got its name because it combined an omnibus of 11 appropriations bills to fund the government through next September with a continuing resolution (CR) funding the Department of Homeland Security through Feb. 27, passed on a final vote of 56-40.\r\nBoth of Alabama\u2019s senators voted against the bill, citing its funding of the president\u2019s executive action on immigration as the primary reason.\r\n\u201cWhile I support funding the government, as well as several conservative priorities and provisions important to Alabama in the omnibus, I opposed the overall bill,\u201d said Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.). \u201cThe omnibus fails to properly address President Obama\u2019s action to grant amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants through executive fiat. I remain firmly opposed to providing amnesty to those who have broken our laws and I stand ready to fight against the President\u2019s executive overreach when Republicans control both the House and the Senate next Congress.\u201d\r\nShelby was, however, one of the architects of the appropriations portion of the CRomnibus, and noted that while he did not support the full bill, he was pleased to see several items of particular importance to Alabama\u2019s economy included in the legislation.\r\nIn addition to the three Alabama-built Littoral Combat Ships that were previously included in President Obama\u2019s budget, the CRomnibus included an additional $80 million, which Shelby said will allow for \u201clong-lead procurement in order to maintain shipyard capacity and cost savings.\u201d The bill also contained $200 million over and above the President\u2019s Budget Request for an additional Alabama-built Joint High Speed Vessel. Both ships are made at the Port of Mobile by Austal USA.\r\n\u201cThis bill funds defense-related programs that play a vital role in providing our nation\u2019s military with the resources that they need to strengthen our national security,\u201d said Shelby. \u201cI am pleased that this bill includes funding to enhance Alabama\u2019s national defense capabilities and continue our state\u2019s commitment to serving our armed forces.\u201d\r\nSessions spent most of the day demanding a vote on language to block funds for the implementation of the President\u2019s \u201cillegal and unconstitutional amnesty.\u201d Although his efforts ultimately fell short on Saturday, his consistent and articulate arguments against the President\u2019s executive actions will continue to impact the debate going into the next sessions of Congress when Republicans will control both the House and Senate.\r\n\u201cWho is looking out for American workers?\u201d an exasperated Sessions rhetorically asked on the Senate floor. \u201cWho is looking out for their interests, fighting to help them get better jobs and pay, working to help their communities climb out of poverty? The immigration debate in our nation\u2019s capital is always centered on the needs of illegal immigrants, foreign workers, or large employers. Isn\u2019t it time, after decades of open immigration, to focus on how we can help Americans?\u201d\r\nhttp://yellowhammernews.com/politics-2/sessions-shelby-blast-cromnibus-vote-no-citing-funding-executive-amnesty/", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.shelby.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/inthenews?ContentRecord_id=09180d0d-99df-4182-96f2-51a940f6dae4", "Yellowhammer: Sessions and Shelby blast \"CRomnibus,\" vote no citing its funding of \"executive amnesty\"", "2014-12-15", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Richard Shelby", "S000320", "www.shelby.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2014 The $1.1 trillion \u201cCRomnibus\u201d passed the U.S. Senate Saturday night, concluding an usually active day of of political maneuvering by dissenting senators on both ends of the political spectrum. The bill, which got its name because it combined an omnibus of 11 appropriations bills to fund the government through next September with a continuing resolution (CR) funding the Department of Homeland Security through Feb. 27, passed on a final vote of 56-40.\r\nBoth of Alabama\u2019s senators voted against the bill, citing its funding of the president\u2019s executive action on immigration as the primary reason.\r\n\u201cWhile I support funding the government, as well as several conservative priorities and provisions important to Alabama in the omnibus, I opposed the overall bill,\u201d said Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.). \u201cThe omnibus fails to properly address President Obama\u2019s action to grant amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants through executive fiat. I remain firmly opposed to providing amnesty to those who have broken our laws and I stand ready to fight against the President\u2019s executive overreach when Republicans control both the House and the Senate next Congress.\u201d\r\nShelby was, however, one of the architects of the appropriations portion of the CRomnibus, and noted that while he did not support the full bill, he was pleased to see several items of particular importance to Alabama\u2019s economy included in the legislation.\r\nIn addition to the three Alabama-built Littoral Combat Ships that were previously included in President Obama\u2019s budget, the CRomnibus included an additional $80 million, which Shelby said will allow for \u201clong-lead procurement in order to maintain shipyard capacity and cost savings.\u201d The bill also contained $200 million over and above the President\u2019s Budget Request for an additional Alabama-built Joint High Speed Vessel. Both ships are made at the Port of Mobile by Austal USA.\r\n\u201cThis bill funds defense-related programs that play a vital role in providing our nation\u2019s military with the resources that they need to strengthen our national security,\u201d said Shelby. \u201cI am pleased that this bill includes funding to enhance Alabama\u2019s national defense capabilities and continue our state\u2019s commitment to serving our armed forces.\u201d\r\nSessions spent most of the day demanding a vote on language to block funds for the implementation of the President\u2019s \u201cillegal and unconstitutional amnesty.\u201d Although his efforts ultimately fell short on Saturday, his consistent and articulate arguments against the President\u2019s executive actions will continue to impact the debate going into the next sessions of Congress when Republicans will control both the House and Senate.\r\n\u201cWho is looking out for American workers?\u201d an exasperated Sessions rhetorically asked on the Senate floor. \u201cWho is looking out for their interests, fighting to help them get better jobs and pay, working to help their communities climb out of poverty? The immigration debate in our nation\u2019s capital is always centered on the needs of illegal immigrants, foreign workers, or large employers. Isn\u2019t it time, after decades of open immigration, to focus on how we can help Americans?\u201d\r\nhttp://yellowhammernews.com/politics-2/sessions-shelby-blast-cromnibus-vote-no-citing-funding-executive-amnesty/", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://byrne.house.gov//media-center/columns/red-snapper-debate-a-microcosm-of-government-incompetence", "Red Snapper Debate a Microcosm of Government Incompetence", "2014-12-14", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Bradley Byrne", "B001289", "byrne.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "If you are like me, you probably enjoy spending some of your free time fishing. We are blessed to live in a place so close to one of our world\u2019s great natural treasures: the Gulf.\n\t\t\t\t\tWhile some of us enjoy fishing as a hobby or for sport, others depend on the industry as their source of income or way of life. The fishing industry is a huge component of our coastal economy touching many areas including hotels, gas stations, bait and tackle shops, restaurants, condos, boat dealers, charter boat companies, and much more. All told, the value of only recreational fisheries for saltwater areas in Alabama is $797 million. The full economic impact certainly even larger.\n\t\t\t\t\tThat is why it is so frustrating the federal government continues to mismanage our Red Snapper stock in the Gulf. \u00a0This year, the federal Red Snapper season was only nine days, and next year it could be even worse. The federal regulators consistently underestimate the amount of Red Snapper in the Gulf and overestimate the number of Red Snapper caught each year.\n\t\t\t\t\tAs a member of the House Natural Resources Committee, I recently had the opportunity to question Mr. Samuel Rauch, a bureaucrat from the National Marine Fisheries Service, about the federal government\u2019s mismanagement of the Red Snapper fishery in the Gulf. As you may know, the National Marine Fisheries Service is a division of the larger National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).\n\t\t\t\t\tMy question to Mr. Rauch was very simple: despite having a budget of over $900 million dollars, why can\u2019t your agency better manage the Red Snapper fishery in the Gulf? Mr. Rauch struggled to answer that question or adequately explain the federal government\u2019s inability to get an accurate count of the Red Snapper stock in the Gulf.\n\t\t\t\t\tThe most apparent reason the federal regulators can\u2019t get the stock assessment right is because they don\u2019t sample for Red Snapper on reefs. That is absurd considering Red Snapper are reef fish. Mr. Rauch said they can\u2019t sample along reefs because their \u201ctrolling nets\u201d get caught on the reefs.\n\t\t\t\t\tHere is the problem with that excuse: Just earlier this year, I went on a scientific fishing trip with Dr. Bob Shipp from the University of South Alabama. In order to get an accurate count, Dr. Shipp actually had hi-definition cameras mounted on submersible vehicles to look at the actual reefs. Dr. Shipp and South Alabama do great work, but there budget is significantly less than the $900 million given to NOAA. I just don\u2019t understand how a major federal agency is using trolling nets to find a fish that you can only find on a reef while Dr. Ship and South Alabama are doing much better research with fewer resources.\n\t\t\t\t\tNOAA also overestimates the number of Red Snapper caught each year. Alabama Marine Resources Division Director Chris Blankenship testified at the hearing about this very issue. Despite NOAA estimating that 1,000,041 pounds of Red Snapper were landed (or caught) last year, Director Blankenship estimated the number was actually 418,000 pounds. That is a remarkable difference.\n\t\t\t\t\tNOAA depends solely on unreliable telephone surveys to count the number of landings while Alabama uses a much more complete and sound system, including cameras at major boat ramps and a mandatory reporting system. Once again, with less money the state is able to do a better job.\n\t\t\t\t\tI have advocated for a solution that would solve this problem once and for all. First, we need to shift the data collection and stock assessment responsibilities from NOAA and give those responsibilities to the Gulf State Marine Fisheries Commission. My solution also calls for the repeal of the inflexible quotas for the commercial and recreational sectors of the fishery and extending state water boundaries to nine nautical miles Gulf-wide.\n\t\t\t\t\tThis issue concerns us all, whether you fish or not, because it really speaks directly to the larger problem of government incompetence. This issue highlights the problems caused by a bloated, unaccountable federal government.\u00a0\n\t\t\t\t\tTrust me: it isn't just Red Snapper in the Gulf that could be better managed by the states or private citizens. I will continue fighting for our Red Snapper season, but also standing up to the culture of \"big government\" that plagues Washington.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.shelby.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/newsreleases?ContentRecord_id=1ae7a69e-6faa-4452-84f1-77c8cf450ae2", "Shelby Opposes Omnibus Bill", "2014-12-13", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Richard Shelby", "S000320", "www.shelby.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC, Saturday, December 13, 2014 \u2013 U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today released the following statement after the Senate\u2019s vote on the fiscal year 2015 omnibus appropriations bill:\r\n\u201cWhile I support funding the government, as well as several conservative priorities and provisions important to Alabama in the omnibus, I opposed the overall bill.\u00a0\r\n\u201cThe omnibus fails to properly address President Obama\u2019s action to grant amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants through executive fiat.\u00a0 I remain firmly opposed to providing amnesty to those who have broken our laws and I stand ready to fight against the President\u2019s executive overreach when Republicans control both the House and the Senate next Congress.\u201d \u00a0\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://roby.house.gov/column/wounds-we-cannot-see", "Wounds We Cannot See", "2014-12-12", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Martha Roby", "R000591", "roby.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Physical injuries are not the only ones endured in war. Many soldiers return home with wounds we cannot see. For some veterans, the psychological trauma endured on the battlefield affects them and their families long after the shots stop firing.\nOf the two million Americans who served in combat in Iraq or Afghanistan, as many as 300,000 meet criteria for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.\nSo, imagine being one of these soldiers who recently returned home with the lasting psychological effects that so commonly result from war. Now imagine that in seeking treatment from the VA, you go 67 days without an appointment.\nThat startling number is now the average wait time for new mental health patients at the Central Alabama VA. That average has gotten worse since May, when the wait time was 57 days.\nAdministrators tell me scheduling and labeling errors have contributed to making the problem appear worse on paper than it actually is. But, if after all this time, we haven\u2019t figured out how to properly schedule patients at the VA, we have worse problems than I thought. I don\u2019t expect it to magically improve overnight, but we shouldn\u2019t be moving in the wrong direction.\nA two-month wait for mental health patients at the VA is obviously a disservice veterans. But it is also a major safety concern \u2013 for veterans, their families and the public. We have an alarmingly high suicide rate for veterans \u2013 22 take their own lives every day.\nThis week the House passed the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention Act. This bi-partisan bill aims to increase access to mental health care for veterans, better meet the demand for mental health professionals and improve accountability of suicide prevention efforts through the Department of Defense and the VA.\nThe bill is named for Clay Hunt, a Marine veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, earning the Purple Heart. He was diagnosed with PTSD and worked diligently to raise awareness about the psychological effects of war. But, like many veterans, Clay ran into roadblocks in his efforts to access care. On March 31, 2011, at the age of 28, Clay took his own life.\nHis story is sad, disheartening, even infuriating. But it is not uncommon enough.\nWe have a long way to go as a nation in making sure veterans get the mental health care they need and deserve. But we started on the right track this week with the passage of the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention Act.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://roby.house.gov/press-release/roby-supports-house-appropriations-plan", "Roby Supports House Appropriations Plan", "2014-12-12", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Martha Roby", "R000591", "roby.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Representative Martha Roby (R-AL) Thursday voted to support a comprehensive Appropriations plan that:\n funds critical government operations,\n\tincludes strong, important, conservative policy provisions, and\n\tallows Congress the best opportunity to reverse President Obama\u2019s unilateral immigration actions when Republicans have dual House and Senate majorities in January.\n The bill funds 11 of the 12 Appropriations titles through the remainder of the Fiscal Year 2015, save for Homeland Security, which is where immigration enforcement funding is contained. The bill includes a temporary funding measure for Homeland Security, allowing Congress to use the \u201cpower of the purse\u201d to rein in President Obama\u2019s immigration actions in the new term.\nIn no way does the bill \u201cfund\u201d amnesty, as some have claimed. To the contrary, the bill puts Congress in the strongest position possible to stop the President\u2019s executive amnesty plans by waiting until Republicans control the Senate and have more votes in the House come January.\nRep. Roby outlined her thoughts on the immigration strategy in the following statement:\n \n\t\u201cI support the Appropriations plan for many reasons, including this important one: this plan puts us in the best position possible to address President Obama\u2019s plans for executive amnesty. \u00a0\n\t\u201cThere is no question about who is for amnesty and who is against it. The question is what is the best strategy for actually reversing the president\u2019s action?\u00a0This plan wisely allows us to focus on defunding\u00a0executive\u00a0amnesty in four weeks when\u00a0Republicans\u00a0have a Senate majority and even more votes in the House.\n\t\u201cI believe that the power of the purse should be used to defund President Obama\u2019s actions. I disagree with those who suggest otherwise.\u00a0\n\t\u201cThe truth is, right now there are the same number of Republican votes in the House and Senate as there were in October 2013, when the government shut down over health care. The brinksmanship tactic didn\u2019t work then and it won\u2019t work now. We won a lot of elections this year, enough to have significant\u00a0majorities in the House and Senate. But, those reinforcements don\u2019t arrive until January.\u00a0\n\t\u201cThe logical conclusion of going \u2018all-in\u2019 to insist on defund language now is that it will be defeated. Everyone knows that, including those who favor such a strategy. Setting aside the possibility of another shutdown, the most that strategy could accomplish is a short term Continuing Resolution. While some view a short term CR as a positive outcome, I do not.\n\t\u201cA short term CR leaves us with the whole range of government spending to work on in January. That means at a time when we should be focused solely on defunding amnesty in the Homeland Security title, Congress would be distracted by moving 11 other major spending bills in short order. Instead of controlling the debate by honing the nation\u2019s attention on President Obama\u2019s unlawful immigration orders, we would offer amnesty supporters and the media the gift of a continued shut down threat.\u00a0\n\t\u201cThe smart move is to pass our 11 appropriations bills along with a short-term CR on Homeland Security, and then take on immigration head on in four weeks when\u00a0Republicans\u00a0control the Senate.\"\n \nThe Appropriations plan contains critical military funding, including specific projects that are Alabama-based, including: \u00a0\n funding for new Lakota Helicopters to enhance the aviation training mission at Fort Rucker, and\n\tfunding for the Navy\u2019s Mobile-built Littoral Combat Ship.\n The bill also contains certain policy previsions Rep. Roby has been pushed for, such as:\n preventing federal authorities from regulating farm ponds and irrigation ditches under the Clean Water Act;\n\tinstilling transparency and accountability for OSHA enforcement activities;\n\taddressing the VA disability claims backlog;\n\trestricting taxpayer dollars being used to fund abortion.\n Below are other significant details of the Appropriations plan broken down by subject area.\nOverall Spending Levels\n Total spending in the omnibus bill is $1.013 trillion;\n\tComplies with spending caps put in place by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 at $521 billion for defense and $492 billion for non-defense;\n\tIn 2010 total federal discretionary spending was $1.399 trillion\n Emerging Threats and Contingencies\n Provides $73.7 billion for Overseas Contingency Operations, including the fight against ISIS;\n\t$5.4 billion in emergency funding to address the Ebola outbreak;\n\t$6.5 billion for disaster aid, such as hurricane and tornado responses;\n Agriculture \n Prevents federal authorities from regulating farm ponds and irrigation ditches under the Clean Water Act.\n Veterans Affairs\n Addresses issues related to the \u201cwait list\u201d scandal at the VA by increasing funding for the VA Office of Inspector General is by $5 million to provide the resources necessary for audits of hospital appointment scheduling and lapses in patient care.\n Military\n Funds a one percent pay raise for military personnel;\n\tProvides $215 million above the President\u2019s request to fully fund cost-of-living allowance shortfall for military retirees;\n IRS\n Slashes funding for the IRS by $345 million, bringing total IRS cuts to $1 billion since 2010\n\tStrictly prohibits the IRS from using funds to target groups based on ideological beliefs.\n School Lunches\n Reins in the Obama Administration\u2019s burdensome regulations on school lunch programs giving flexibility to local schools;\n Environmental Protection Agency\n Slashes funding for the EPA, meaning a total reduction of 21 percent since 2010;\n\tBrings EPA staffing down to its lowest level since 1989;\n\tProhibits the EPA from regulating the lead content in ammunition or fishing tackle;\n Education\n Eliminates funding for the U.S. Department of Education\u2019s \u201cRace to the Top\u201d program.\n Transportation\n Fully funds the Federal Aviation Administration\u2019s contract tower program to prevent local airports from shutting down.\n Foreign Affairs\n Increases and maintains U.S. Embassy security around the world;\n\tProhibits funding for the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty.\n For the full text of HR 83, The Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act for FY 2015 bill and bill reports, visit https://appropriations.house.gov/.\nBelow are links to summaries of the 11 Appropriations bills included in the omnibus plan.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.shelby.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/inthenews?ContentRecord_id=f7df86e3-09c6-4178-a598-65968ec044c2", "Yellowhammer: Secretary of Defense reaffirms Navys need for Alabama-built Littoral Combat Ship", "2014-12-12", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Richard Shelby", "S000320", "www.shelby.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel on Thursday released the Navy\u2019s long anticipated \u201cSmall Surface Combatant (SSC) Task Force\u201d report, and it contained good news for Alabama.\r\nWhile full details of the report likely won\u2019t be made available to the public for national security reasons, Secretary Hagel left no doubt that the Navy\u2019s need for the Alabama-built Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) remains strong.\r\nHagel indicated he agrees with the Navy\u2019s decision to update the current versions of the LCS, rather than designing a new ship, using a foreign design or repurposing another ship currently available in the fleet. He made it abundantly clear that the Navy\u2019s requirement for 52 Small Surface Combatants has not changed.\r\nThe LCS updates \u201cwill offer improvements in ship lethality and survivability, delivering enhanced naval combat performance at an affordable price,\u201d Hagel said. \u201cThe more lethal and survivable SSC will meet a broader set of missions across the range of military operations, and addresses the Navy\u2019s top war-fighting priorities.\u201d\r\nUpgrades to the LCS will include an over-the-horizon surface missile, upgraded air defense radar, electronic warfare capability, air defense counter measures, twin 25mm cannons to supplement the 57mm gun on the bow, anti-submarine capability (including a towed listening device and torpedo countermeasures), unmanned aircraft capabilities and additional armor protection, among other upgrades recommended in the SSC Task Force report.\r\nAlabama\u2019s congressional delegation applauded the report\u2019s findings and Secretary Hagel\u2019s comments.\r\n\u201cThe Littoral Combat Ship program is extremely important to the Navy\u2019s ability to respond to current and future threats,\u201d Sen. Richard Shelby told Yellowhammer. \u201cI am pleased to hear that Secretary Hagel reaffirmed the need for this critical capability. Today\u2019s report affirms the critical mission that the LCS program fulfills and is good news for national security, the warfighter, and south Alabama.\u201d\r\nSen. Jeff Sessions specifically touted the work being down on the LCS in South Alabama. The Independence-class LCS is built in the Port of Mobile by Austal USA, and provides 4,000 direct jobs.\r\n\u201cThe Task Force\u2019s findings are consistent with our long-standing assertion that the LCS is a cutting edge and versatile ship, with wide-ranging capabilities that has been supported by the last six Chiefs of Naval Operations,\u201d Sessions said in a statement. \u201cI commend the Task Force for their efforts and continue to recognize the outstanding work done at Austal in Mobile.\u201d\r\nRep. Bradley Byrne, who represents Alabama\u2019s 1st District, where Austal is located, hailed the LCS as the future of the U.S. Navy.\r\n\u201cSecretary Hagel\u2019s decision confirms what I have known all along: the Littoral Combat Ship represents the future of the Naval fleet,\u201d said Byrne. \u201cMy staff and I have worked hard from day one to build broad support for this important military program, and this report is a very positive development.\r\n\u201cI remain steadfastly committed to supporting the Navy in fighting for the LCS and the hard working men and women at the Austal shipyard in Mobile. At a time when we have such a wide range of threats, we need to make sure our military has all the tools in its arsenal to appropriately respond. The Littoral Combat Ship is a key piece to the puzzle.\u201d\r\nhttp://yellowhammernews.com/business-2/secretary-defense-reaffirms-navys-need-alabama-built-littoral-combat-ship/", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://byrne.house.gov//media-center/press-releases/byrne-moves-baldwin-county-office-to-summerdale", "Byrne Moves Baldwin County Office to Summerdale", "2014-12-11", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Bradley Byrne", "B001289", "byrne.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Bradley Byrne (AL-1) announced today that his Baldwin County office has relocated to a new location in Summerdale.\n\t\t\t\t\tThe new office is located at 502 West Lee Avenue in Summerdale. The phone number has also changed to 251-989-2669. The office was previously located in Foley.\n\t\t\t\t\tByrne said: \u201cI am very excited about our new Baldwin County office in Summerdale. Being right off Highway 59, the new office location is convenient for all constituents in Baldwin County and much easier to find. Feel free to give the office a call or stop by if my staff or I can ever be of assistance.\u201d\n\t\t\t\t\tA complete listing for each of Congressman Byrne\u2019s offices can be found below.\n\t\t\t\t\tBaldwin County Office:  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t(Serves all of Baldwin County)  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t502 West Lee Avenue  \n\t\t\t\t\t\tSummerdale, AL 36580  \n\t\t\t\t\t\tPhone: 251-989-2664  \n\t\t\t\t\t\tFax: 251-989-2669\n\t\t\t\t\tMobile Office:  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t(Serves Mobile, Washington, Clarke, Monroe, and Escambia counties)  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t11 North Water Street, Suite 15290  \n\t\t\t\t\t\tMobile, AL 36602  \n\t\t\t\t\t\tPhone: 251-690-2811  \n\t\t\t\t\t\tFax: 251-690-2815\n\t\t\t\t\tWashington, DC Office:  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t119 Cannon House Office Building  \n\t\t\t\t\t\tWashington, DC 20515  \n\t\t\t\t\t\tPhone: 202-225-4931  \n\t\t\t\t\t\tFax: 202-225-0562\n\t\t\t\t\tWebsite:\u00a0Byrne.House.Gov", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://byrne.house.gov//media-center/press-releases/byrne-navy-report-great-news-for-lcs-mobile", "Byrne: Navy Report Great News for LCS, Mobile", "2014-12-11", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Bradley Byrne", "B001289", "byrne.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Bradley Byrne (AL-1) responded today to Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel\u2019s decision on the future of the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program. The decision reaffirms the Navy\u2019s need for 52 ships in the fleet, up from 32 ships where Secretary Hagel had previously halted procurement of the current LCS variants.\nOn Thursday afternoon, Secretary Hagel announced details of the Navy\u2019s long anticipated \u201cSmall Surface Combatant Task Force\u201d report. While full details of the report are not available at this time and likely won\u2019t be made available due to the classified nature of the report, Secretary Hagel left no doubt the future of the LCS remains strong.\nSecretary Hagel indicated he agrees with the Navy\u2019s decision to update the current versions of the LCS, making them more lethal and survivable, rather than designing a new ship, using a foreign design or repurposing another ship currently available in the fleet. He made it abundantly clear that the Navy has a requirement for 52 Small Surface Combatants and that requirement has not changed.\nUpgrades to the LCS will include an over-the-horizon surface missile, upgraded air defense radar, electronic warfare capability, air defense counter measures, twin 25mm cannons to supplement the 57mm gun on the bow, anti-submarine capability (including a towed listening device and torpedo countermeasures), unmanned aircraft capabilities and additional armor protection, amongst other upgrades recommended in the SSC Task Force report.\nCongressman Byrne has been an outspoken supporter of the LCS and has advocated for updating the current models rather than pursuing a less capable or more costly alternative. The Independence-class LCS is built in the Port of Mobile by Austal USA, providing 4,000 direct jobs in Alabama\u2019s First Congressional District.\nByrne said: \u201cSecretary Hagel\u2019s decision confirms what I have known all along: the Littoral Combat Ship represents the future of the Naval fleet. My staff and I have worked hard from day one to build broad support for this important military program, and this report is a very positive development.\n\u201cOne of the main selling points of the LCS originally was the ship\u2019s adaptability. By upgrading the current LCS variants to improve lethality and survivability, the Navy is choosing to keep the industrial base in place and avoid the unnecessary costs of starting a new program.\n\u201cI remain steadfastly committed to supporting the Navy in fighting for the LCS and the hard working men and women at the Austal shipyard in Mobile. At a time when we have such a wide range of threats, we need to make sure our military has all the tools in its arsenal to appropriately respond. The Littoral Combat Ship is a key piece to the puzzle.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://byrne.house.gov//media-center/press-releases/funding-bill-includes-conservative-reforms-alabama-priorities", "Funding Bill Includes Conservative Reforms, Alabama Priorities", "2014-12-11", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Bradley Byrne", "B001289", "byrne.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Bradley Byrne (AL-1) called a government funding bill passed by the House of Representatives today \u201cgood news\u201d for Southwest Alabama and the best strategy for reining in President Barack Obama\u2019s recent executive action on immigration.\n\t\t\t\t\tA government funding bill must be passed by the House and the Senate and signed into law by President Obama in order to avoid a government shutdown. The current funding measure expires at midnight tonight.\n\t\t\t\t\tThe funding bill included a number of provisions of particular importance to Southwest Alabama:\n\t\t\t\t\t Littoral Combat Ship (LCS): fully funds the construction of 3 new ships and includes $80 million for the advance procurement of materials for a ship to be built in fiscal 2016\n\t\t\t\t\t\tJoint High Speed Vessel (JHSV): fully funds an additional vessel\n\t\t\t\t\t\tHarbor Maintenance Trust Fund: boosts funding for the Harbor Maintenance Fund, which is used to keep the Port of Mobile maintained and operating smoothly, by $100 million\n\t\t\t\t\t\tWaters of the US Rule: makes clear the proposed Waters of the US rule cannot apply to farm ponds and irrigation ditches. This is important to Alabama farmers and an issue Congressman Byrne has\u00a0spoken out on.\n\t\t\t\t\t Byrne\u00a0said:\u00a0\u201cThe government funding bill approved in the House of Representatives today includes some good news for families and businesses in Southwest Alabama. From fully funding three Littoral Combat Ships to easing a burdensome regulation on our local farmers, there are many positive reforms included in this bill. Additionally, the bill includes no new funding for ObamaCare, slashes the budgets of the EPA and IRS and includes strong 2nd Amendment and pro-life policies.\u201d\n\t\t\t\t\tThe bill funds most government agencies through October 1, 2015, but funding for immigration programs and the Department of Homeland Security only runs through February 27 of next year, giving the Republican controlled House and Senate a chance to rein in President Obama\u2019s recent executive action on immigration.\n\t\t\t\t\tByrne\u00a0said:\u00a0\u201cI have been perfectly clear about the harmful impact President Obama\u2019s executive action on immigration will have on our country, and I am committed to fighting it tooth and nail. That said, until Republicans take control of the Senate in January, any piece of legislation must be able to get through Harry Reid\u2019s Democrat controlled Senate.\n\t\t\t\t\t\u201cBy only funding the Department of Homeland Security through February, this strategy gives us the best chance to actually make meaningful attempts to rein in the President\u2019s ill-conceived executive action. With the help of a Republican-controlled Senate, that will be my top priority in the next year.\n\t\t\t\t\t\u201cMost importantly, passing this bill will allow Congress to return to \u2018regular order\u2019 and pass individual appropriations bills instead of relying on these large scale funding measures. I have made clear I won\u2019t make a habit of supporting these giant funding bills, and I don\u2019t consider this the best way to do the people\u2019s business. If Senate Democrats had followed \u2018regular order\u2019 earlier this year and passed individual funding bills, we wouldn\u2019t have been facing yet another fiscal crisis.\u201d\n\t\t\t\t\tIn addition to the funding provisions important to Southwest Alabama, the bill also included many conservative reforms:\n\t\t\t\t\t ObamaCare\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNo new funds for ObamaCare,\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRequires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Treasury Department to report to Congress on improper payments of ObamaCare tax subsidies\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCuts the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) by $10 million\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tPro Life\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMaintains all existing pro-life policy and funding provisions\u00a0\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBans public funding for abortions in the District of Columbia, within the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program and for federal prisoners\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThree new pro-life provisions: \u00a0\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tObamacare transparency - requires ObamaCare healthcare plans to tell customers if they provide abortion services\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tConscience protection - requires HHS Office of Civil Rights to address complaints of violations\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tProvides $12 million in unused abstinence education funds\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA)\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCuts EPA by $60 million (fifth consecutive year of cuts, totaling a 21% reduction since Fiscal Year 2010 and a decrease in 2,000 positions)\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSecond Amendment\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tProtects Second Amendment rights and prohibits EPA from regulating lead content in ammunition or fishing tackle\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tIRS\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCuts IRS funding $345.6 million ($1.5 billion below the president\u2019s request)\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tProhibits IRS targeting organizations based on their ideological beliefs or for exercising their First Amendment rights\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tProhibits the White House ordering review of tax-exempt status\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tProhibits IRS funds for inappropriate videos and conferences\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tIsrael\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFully funds the US-Israel Memorandum of Understanding at $3.1 billion\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tProhibits funds for the Palestinian Authority if it unilaterally seeks membership at the UN and does not counter incitement of violence\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tOther provisions\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tStops the National Labor Relations Board\u2019s (NLRB) regulations related to e-Card Check\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNo funds for high-speed rail\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t The House passed the bill by a vote of 219 to 206, with many liberal Democrats, including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, voting in opposition.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://brooks.house.gov/media-center/news-releases/brooks-spending-bill-undermines-proper-functioning-republic", "Brooks:  Spending Bill Undermines the Proper Functioning of a Republic", "2014-12-11", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Mo Brooks", "B001274", "brooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  On Thursday, Congressman Mo Brooks (AL-05) voted No on passage of H.R. 83, a $1.013 trillion, 1,600-page Continuing Resolution/Omnibus spending bill (nicknamed CROmnibus) that funds the President's lawless executive amnesty and further damages America's perilous long-term financial stability. The House passed the CROmnibus on a narrow 219-206 vote. Brooks stated, My vote on the CROmnibus was a difficult one. Anytime the government spends more than $1 trillion, there are a lot of good things that will be funded. Notwithstanding those good things, I voted No on the CROmnibus because of the cumulative effect of these and other reasons (in no particular order): The CROmnibus spends more than $1 trillion, almost half of which America does not have, must borrow to get, and cannot afford to pay back. America recently blew through the $18 trillion debt mark. The CROmnibus spending exceeds previous spending caps, is financially irresponsible, and is not up to the financial challenges America faces. As such, the CROmnibus worsens the risk of a debilitating American insolvency and bankruptcy. I cannot endorse a spending bill that sends us further down a perilous path of financial ruin.   The CROmnibus is over 1,600 pages long, was revealed just two days ago, and has not been read and fully understood by a single Senator or Congressman. The CROmnibus has thousands of line-items and hundreds of policy riders that require more deliberation and consideration than afforded by the process used by the Senate and House leaderships. Further, the CROmnibus procedure denies American citizens the opportunity to examine the legislation and participate in our democratic process by sharing their insight with their elected representatives in Washington. Congress should never be put in the position of having to pass legislation to find out what is in it. I decline to support this flawed process with my vote.  The Senate and House Leadership barred Congressmen and Senators from offering amendments to the CROmnibus, thus making it a take it or leave it bill that undermines the democratic process and stifles the voices of Senators and Congressmen who have good ideas on how to improve the CROmnibus via the amendment process.  A vote for the CROmnibus is a vote supporting President Obama's unconstitutional executive amnesty. President Obama has unilaterally and unconstitutionally ordered the granting of quasi-legal status, work permits and Social Security numbers to illegal aliens. In a Senate floor speech this week, Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) revealed that the second phase of President Obama's illegal alien amnesty plan involves giving illegal aliens a path to citizenship with accompanying voting rights, thereby diluting the voting power of American citizens while costing struggling American families jobs and lost wages. Not only does the CROmnibus fail to block President Obama's unconstitutional executive amnesty for illegal aliens, it affirmatively appropriates at least $948 million in support of illegal aliens. House leadership promises to fight the President tooth and nail' on his unconstitutional executive amnesty, stating that 'this is the wrong way to govern.' However, the CROmnibus is a tacit surrender to the President's unilateral action and a missed opportunity to stop it. Sadly, to use a football analogy, leadership decided to punt on a first down without even running a play.   The separation of powers set forth in the Constitution between the Executive and Legislative branches is made more porous by the CROmnibus. America's Founders knew firsthand the dangers of centralized government power. In Federalist #51, James Madison wrote that the best security against a gradual accumulation of powers by the executive branch is to give each branch of government the necessary constitutional means . . . to resist encroachments of the others.' The Legislature, with its power of the purse, has not only the ability, but the duty under our Constitution to resist encroachment of the Executive.By not acting today to defund executive overreach, the House committed a disservice not only to the American people, but to the Constitution itself. Brooks continued, While there are necessary NASA and defense programs that I support and which are included in this bill, we must remember what Admiral Mike Mullen, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated numerous times: the greatest threat to our national security is our national debt. Congress has the power of the purse. We not only have the ability to rein in America's disastrous spending habits, we have the duty to. Yet, once again, instead of acting in the best interests of the American people, the House failed to be financially responsible concerning America's out-of-control national debt. The omnibus spending bill now heads to the Senate floor and, if passed, then to the President's desk for enactment into law.  ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://sewell.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-sewell-votes-fund-government-and-provide-economic", "Congresswoman Sewell Votes to Fund the Government And Provide Economic Certainty for the American People", "2014-12-11", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "AL", "Terri Sewell", "S001185", "sewell.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC  Tonight, Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell (D-AL7) voted in favor of H.R. 83, the FY2015 Funding Bill and issued the following statement:\n\n\tAfter much consideration, I voted in favor of the 2015 funding bill notwithstanding my serious objections to several provisions in the bill. Ultimately, my vote for this bill was a vote to keep the federal government operating. While flawed, this bipartisan bill avoids another government shutdown at the hands of political brinkmanship and reflects a compromise between Democrats and Republicans. The bill provides increased funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs, support for needed infrastructure projects, expands funding for childcare and special education grants, and ensures emergency funding to combat Ebola. Alabamians deserve the certainty that comes with federal funding of the programs and services they depend upon.\n\n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://byrne.house.gov//media-center/press-releases/byrne-challenges-obama-immigration-action-in-speech-from-house-floor", "Byrne Challenges Obama Immigration Action in Speech from House Floor", "2014-12-09", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Bradley Byrne", "B001289", "byrne.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "In a speech from the floor of the House of Representatives, Congressman Bradley Byrne (AL-1) urged President Barack Obama to abandon his \u201cill-conceived executive action\u201d on immigration.\nCongressman Byrne also used the example of a Republican President unilaterally suspending enforcement of the Clean Air Act to demonstrate the dangerous precedent President Obama\u2019s executive action sets.\nByrne said: \u201cMr. Speaker, I want to ask for a moment that my colleagues imagine a situation. Imagine a few years down the road, a Republican President announces he has instructed the Justice Department to no longer enforce the Clean Air Act. That he has told the Justice Department to no longer prosecute violations of the Clean Air Act.\nMy colleagues on the other side of the aisle for rise up with frustration and indignation. They would say the President has failed to faithfully execute the laws passed by Congress as he is Constitutionally required to do. And they would be right to do so.\nWell Mr. Speaker, that is exactly what is happening in our country today. President Obama has chosen unilaterally not to enforce our nation's long standing immigration laws. He has made this decision without any consultation with Congress and entirely own his own.\nThink for a moment about the precedent this action sets. That a President can alter long standing law simply through an executive memo and his words. A President can simply say that he is not going to enforce the law. That would be frightening to all Americans regardless of political belief.\nLet's be clear what this action is not. It is not prosecutorial discretion. No one doubts that the President has prosecutorial discretion, but this goes far behind that power and enters into new territory that frankly, has never before been touched.\nI believe this issue was settled long ago, before our country was even founded. You see in the 17th Century in Britain during this big fight between the Kings of England and Parliament, the King said that he had prerogative powers to override Parliament. And there were battles, wars in Britain about how this was going to be settled. Parliament determined in consultation with the Courts that the King couldn\u2019t own his own do that. The King could not simply say that he would dispense with the laws or suspend their operations for a period of time.\nOur Founding Fathers knew this history well, and when they put together the Constitution of our country and Article II, they had that in their mind when they gave to the President the obligation, not the option, to faithfully execute the laws. All the laws of the United States, regardless of if the President agrees with them or not.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\nI would say this type of executive action is clearly not what the founders had in mind when they drafted our Constitution. The main overriding goal of our forefathers was to prevent the Executive from becoming too powerful, and they went to great effort to ensure a strong system of checks and balances. President Obama\u2019s executive action runs in the face of how our government was designed to operate.\nLet's also remember that this year, President Obama said his policies, all of them, were on the ballot in the midterm elections. And the American people went to the polls and soundly rejected the President's policies. They made clear they were not supportive of more unilateral, executive action. They wanted us to work together.\nAnd as a Congress, we warned the President not to go forward with this executive action.\nMr. Speaker, we need a solution to our nation's immigration problem. But by using Executive Action the President has made finding common ground far more difficult.\nI believe the House should rise above the actions of the President, and early next year we should send the President real border security legislation, similar to legislation passed this past summer yet the Senate wouldn\u2019t even take up.\nThe House should pass legislation to update and fix the worker VISA program.\nThe House should pass legislation to put in place E-Verify for all employers.\nThe House should pass legislation to tighten internal security.\nThen, and only then, should we have a discussion about what to do with the millions of people in this country illegally.\nSee Mr. Speaker, the more the President acts outside the bounds of his powers, the harder it becomes to actually achieve a solution.\nIt leads me to wonder. Does President Obama actually want a long-term, lasting solution to immigration? His actions imply otherwise.\nSo Mr. Speaker, I ask the President to rethink his approach to the immigration debate. I urge him to abandon this ill-conceived executive action and instead to come to the table and work with Republicans and Democrats in Congress to find commonsense solutions that we need to find for these problems. We are capable of doing that.\nThat is how our Founders intended our government to operate and anything other than that is a disservice to the American people.\nAnd I yield back.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://sewell.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-sewell-partners-congressman-byrne-joint-town-hall-meeting", "Congresswoman Sewell Partners With Congressman Byrne for Joint Town Hall Meeting in Clarke County", "2014-12-09", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "AL", "Terri Sewell", "S001185", "sewell.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "JACKSON, AL On Monday December 15th, Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell (D-AL) in conjunction with Congressman Bradley Byrne (R-AL) will host a joint town hall meeting. The event will take place in the City of Jackson's auditorium. Both Rep Sewell and Rep. Byrne represent parts of Clarke County and will come together to provide legislative updates and allow their constituents to share their concerns.\n\n\tI am thrilled to continue this tradition which began with former District 1 Congressman Jo Bonner. Despite the gridlock in Washington, I am committed to working with Congressman Byrne to build a strong collaborative partnership to meet the needs of those we serve. Most importantly, this event will serve as a catalyst for dialogue on the issues that matter to our constituents, Rep. Sewell said.\n\n\tCongressman Byrne echoed the importance of bipartisan partnership to better serve Clarke County residents.\n\n\tThe citizens of Clarke County are in the unique position of having two Members of Congress represent them in Washington, and I look forward to joining Congresswoman Sewell for a productive conversation about important issues facing our country. At a time when there is far too much partisan bickering in Washington, I am glad to have such a strong relationship with Congresswoman Sewell as we work to make Southwest Alabama a better place to live, work and raise a family, Rep. Byrne said.\n\n\t\n\n\tWho:      Congresswoman Terri Sewell\n\n\tCongressman Bradley Byrne\n\n\t\n\n\tWhat:      Joint Town Hall Meeting\n\n\t\n\n\tWhen:     Monday December 15, 2014\n\n\t\n\n\tTime:       3 p.m.\n\n\t\n\n\tLocation:   City of Jackson Auditorium\n\n\t  400 Commerce St.\n\n\t Jackson, AL 36545", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://sewell.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-sewell-partners-local-agencies-host-aca-enrollment-event", "Congresswoman Sewell Partners With Local Agencies to Host ACA Enrollment Event in Selma", "2014-12-09", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "AL", "Terri Sewell", "S001185", "sewell.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "SELMA, AL On Sunday December 14th, Congresswoman Terri Sewell (D-AL) in conjunction with the Dallas County Office of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, the Tombigbee Healthcare Authority, Enroll Alabama, and Healthy Connections will host an Affordable Care Act (ACA) enrollment event at the Selma Convention Center. During the event, trained counselors will assist with enrollment as well as tips on navigating the health insurance marketplace. If you are already covered through the Marketplace, you can also get help updating your information, reviewing plan options and choosing your plan for 2015. The event is free and open to the public. Registration is not required.\n\n\t My office is pleased to partner with the Dallas County Office of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, the Tombigbee Healthcare Authority, Enroll Alabama, and Healthy Connections to continue our efforts to educate Alabamians on the benefits of the ACA and the various options available to them, Rep. Sewell said. I am also thrilled that these agencies have committed their time to providing various resources to our attendees as we work to ensure that the residents of the 7th Congressional District get covered.\n\n\t Those interested in attending should contact Lydia Chatmon at the Dallas County Office of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System at (334) 875-3200.\n\n\t\n\n\tWho:Congresswoman Terri Sewell\n\n\tDallas County Office of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System\n\n\tTombigbee Healthcare Authority\n\n\tEnroll Alabama\n\n\tHealthy Connections\n\n\tWhat:      ACA Enrollment Event\n\n\t\n\n\tWhen:Sunday December 14, 2014\n\n\t\n\n\tTime:       3 p.m.- 5 p.m.\n\n\t\n\n\tLocation:   Selma Convention Center\n\n\t  211 Washington St.\n\n\t Selma, AL", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://byrne.house.gov//media-center/columns/bipartisanship-isn-t-dead-in-washington", "Bipartisanship Isnt Dead in Washington", "2014-12-05", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Bradley Byrne", "B001289", "byrne.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The One Hundred Thirteenth United States Congress is the next meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It is scheduled to meet in Washington, D.C. from January 3, 2013 to January 3, 2015.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://byrne.house.gov//media-center/press-releases/byrne-smith-make-friendly-wager-on-sec-championship-game", "Byrne, Smith Make Friendly Wager on SEC Championship Game", "2014-12-05", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Bradley Byrne", "B001289", "byrne.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Bradley Byrne (AL-1) today announced that he had made a friendly wager on the SEC Football Championship game with one of his Missouri colleagues in the House of Representatives, Congressman Jason Smith (MO-8).\u00a0\nByrne attended law school at the University of Alabama while Smith graduated from the University of Missouri. Under the terms of the wager, if Alabama wins the SEC Championship, Congressman Smith will provide Missouri BBQ to Congressman Byrne. If Missouri wins the SEC Championship, Congressman Byrne will provide Gulf Coast seafood to Congressman Smith.\nByrne said: \u201cI am so proud of our student-athletes at each of the colleges and universities in our state, especially considering an Alabama team has played for the National Championship in each season since 2009 . There is no doubt Alabama is the college football capitol of the world.\n\u201cWhile I fully expect to be enjoying some Missouri BBQ, I never miss a chance to share our great Gulf Coast seafood with Members of Congress from other states. That said, I look forward to a big Alabama victory on Saturday.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://byrne.house.gov//media-center/press-releases/byrne-smith-make-friendly-wager-on-sec-championship-game-0", "Byrne, Smith Make Friendly Wager on SEC Championship Game", "2014-12-05", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Bradley Byrne", "B001289", "byrne.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Bradley Byrne (AL-1) today announced that he had made a friendly wager on the SEC Football Championship game with one of his Missouri colleagues in the House of Representatives, Congressman Jason Smith (MO-8).\u00a0\nByrne attended law school at the University of Alabama while Smith graduated from the University of Missouri. Under the terms of the wager, if Alabama wins the SEC Championship, Congressman Smith will provide Missouri BBQ to Congressman Byrne. If Missouri wins the SEC Championship, Congressman Byrne will provide Gulf Coast seafood to Congressman Smith.\nByrne said: \u201cI am so proud of our student-athletes at each of the colleges and universities in our state, especially considering an Alabama team has played for the National Championship in each season since 2009 . There is no doubt Alabama is the college football capitol of the world.\n\u201cWhile I fully expect to be enjoying some Missouri BBQ, I never miss a chance to share our great Gulf Coast seafood with Members of Congress from other states. That said, I look forward to a big Alabama victory on Saturday.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://mike-rogers.house.gov/press-release/look-ahead-strategic-forces-subcommittee", "A Look Ahead for the Strategic Forces Subcommittee", "2014-12-05", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Mike Rogers", "R000575", "mike-rogers.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(WASHINGTON, D.C.) \u2013 The House Armed Services Strategic Forces subcommittee, chaired by Congressman Mike Rogers (R-AL), will hold a joint subcommittee hearing with Chairman Ted Poe (R-TX) of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade titled \u201cRussian Arms Control Cheating and the Administration\u2019s Response.\u201d\u00a0 It will take place Wednesday, December 10th at 2:00p.m. in 2118 Rayburn House Office Building.\nThe purpose of this hearing is to conduct oversight on Administration responses to Russia\u2019s record of violation and noncompliance with its arms control obligations.\u00a0 Earlier this year, after years of pressure from Congress, including by Chairman Rogers, the Administration finally acknowledged Russia is violating the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty.\u00a0 The FY15 National Defense Authorization Act, recently passed by the House of Representatives, included legislative provisions authored by Chairman Rogers to begin to deal with that violation and to ensure U.S. national security and to assure our allies.\nChairman Rogers said: \u201cFor the Obama Administration, making agreements with Russia has been the easy part.\u00a0 Compelling Vladimir Putin to abide by these agreements has been a different matter altogether.\u00a0\n\u201cIf the Administration seriously confronts Russia\u2019s cheating on agreements like the INF treaty, Chemical and Biological Weapons Conventions and the agreements related to halting nuclear testing, they will have my support and the support of the Armed Services Committee.\u00a0\n\u201cIf, however, the Administration continues to choose to ignore Putin\u2019s dangerous and aggressive behavior, they\u2019re going to have a very uncomfortable last two years.\u201d\n\u00a0\nChairman Poe said: \u201cRussia\u2019s clear violation of the INF Treaty and blatant disregard for international norms is the new status quo. Putin cannot be allowed to continue to violate landmarkarms control treaties without severe consequences. I hope that we can move past the finger-wagging stage and finally show the Russians that their actions will have serious repercussions. I look forward to hearing what option this Administration has drawn up to punish Putin.\u201d\n\u00a0\nWHAT:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Joint Subcommittee Hearing: \u201cRussian Arms Control Cheating and the Administration\u2019s Responses\u201d\nWHEN:\u00a0Wednesday, December 10th at 2:00 p.m.\nWHERE: 2118 Rayburn House Office Building\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\n\u00a0\nWitness List: \nThe Honorable Rose Gottemoeller\nUnder Secretary for Arms Control and International Security\nU.S. Department of State\n\u00a0\nThe Honorable Brian McKeon\nPrincipal Deputy Under Secretary for Policy\nU.S. Department of Defense\n\u00a0\n*Note:\u00a0 Witnesses may be added\n-###-", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://roby.house.gov/column/rising-costs-stagnant-wages-continue-squeeze-middle-class", "Rising Costs, Stagnant Wages Continue to Squeeze Middle Class", "2014-12-05", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Martha Roby", "R000591", "roby.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "You\u2019ve probably heard me talk before about the \u201csqueeze\u201d facing middle class families in this economy. A recent front page Wall Street Journal article laid out what is behind that squeeze - the combination of rising costs for basic needs and largely stagnant incomes.\nAmericans are spending more for everyday necessities: 12.5 percent more on groceries, 26 percent more on rent and 42 percent more on health insurance. Those are staggering numbers!\nMany factors affect these rising costs, and flawed federal policies are among them. Energy costs directly affect grocery prices, particularly high-priced Diesel fuel that is used in farming and trucking. Yet, President Obama is more focused on radical environmentalist goals than commonsense energy proposals like the Keystone Pipeline. The labyrinth Dodd-Frank housing regulations shocked the market and forced more would-be homeowners into rentals, increasing demand and prices. And, of course, the ill-conceived and woefully-implemented ObamaCare law has jacked up insurance premiums and copays for families across the country.\nBut costs are only half the equation. Take home pay is the other half. Unfortunately, the disappointing Obama economy has seen incomes remain largely stagnant. When families are forced to spend significantly more on basic necessities, yet aren't bringing home more income, they get squeezed.\nNaturally, families are spending less on non-essentials like family vacations, restaurants, movies, furniture, cars and a wide-range of other goods and services. That has a detrimental effect on those industries, on our overall economy and on state and local governments that depend on such consumer spending to derive revenue.\nSo what\u2019s the takeaway? Instead of helping middle class Americans in the wake of a recession, \u201cBig Government\u201d made things worse. While I am eager to work with a more conservative Senate when it takes office in January, we aren\u2019t waiting to get to work turning things around. We are setting the table for an agenda focused on commonsense solutions that improve the economy and reduce costs for the middle class. Among them are ideas to reform our complicated and costly tax structure, create infrastructure to help enable an American energy boom, increase transparency in government to cut wasteful spending, reform welfare to help recipients find jobs and lift their families out of poverty, restore the 40-hour work-week and write sensible health care policies that are patient-centered and competition based.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://byrne.house.gov//media-center/press-releases/byrne-defense-bill-offers-sound-policy-good-news-for-lcs-program", "Byrne: Defense Bill Offers Sound Policy, Good News for LCS Program", "2014-12-04", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Bradley Byrne", "B001289", "byrne.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Bradley Byrne (AL-1), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, today voted in support of the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The bill sets the policy and authorizes funding for our nation\u2019s military.\nOf particular interest to Southwest Alabama, the legislation authorizes the funding of three Littoral Combat Ships (LCS), consistent with the Navy\u2019s request. Congressman Byrne has been a tireless advocate of the LCS program and the men and women who work at the Austal shipyard in Mobile.\nByrne said: \u201cThere is no greater responsibility of the federal government than providing for the national defense. Currently, our nation\u2019s military men and women face a wide range of challenges around the globe. From radical terrorists in the Middle East to aggressive behavior from Russia to an ever hostile China, we must make sure our Armed Forces have the resources to be successful in keeping the American people safe.\n\u201cI am especially pleased the NDAA authorizes funding for three Littoral Combat Ships, which is good news for the hardworking men and women at Austal shipyard in Mobile. While this bill authorizes the new ships, the actual funding must come in an appropriations bill. I have made clear that any appropriations bill should fully fund three ships, and I expect the House to consider an appropriations measure next week.\u201d\nOther notable provisions in the bill include provisions which:\n Authorize $521.3 billion in base discretionary spending for national defense;\n\tReject President Obama\u2019s request for a Base Closure and Realignment Commission (BRAC);\n\tEliminate the \u201cgood soldier defense\u201d in case of sexual assault in the military;\n\tStrengthen religious liberty protections for service members;\n\tProvide for the training and equipping of Iraqi and Kurdish security forces while extending the current train and equip authorization for moderate Syrian forces who are fighting the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL);\n\tProvides incremental funding for a new San Antonio Class Amphibious Ship which will be built in Pascagoula, MS;\n\tSupport our active duty troops with a military pay increase;\n\tEncourage many reforms to the defense acquisition progress; and\n\tProhibit the transfer of detainees from Guantanamo Bay to the United States.\n The House passed the 2015 NDAA by a bipartisan vote of 300 to 119. More information on the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://brooks.house.gov/media-center/news-releases/brooks-supports-compromise-fy15-national-defense-authorization-act", "Brooks Supports Compromise FY15 National Defense Authorization Act", "2014-12-04", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Mo Brooks", "B001274", "brooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. Today Congressman Mo Brooks (AL-05) voted for the House and Senate compromise F.Y. 2015 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that provides necessary authorities and funding for America's military. The NDAA authorizes $521.3 billion for the Department of Defense base budget and $63.7 billion for Overseas Contingency Operations. The NDAA passed the House on a 300 to 119 bipartisan vote. Congressman Brooks' statement: Today the House passed the FY15 National Defense Authorization Act, thereby providing for America's national security and helping our men and women in uniform successfully accomplish their missions. President Obama's FY15 NDAA base budget request cut national security funding by $31 billion from his FY14 budget, thereby forcing Congress to make numerous, difficult funding decisions. I'm pleased Congress, in a bipartisan effort, came together to both fund national defense while minimizing the military family compensation and benefits cuts sought by the Obama Administration. The NDAA underscores the importance of North Alabama's contribution to national securityby providing increased priority to ballistic missile defense, modernization of Army National Guard UH-60 helicopters, and body armor allocations (a potential economic boost for 3M Decatur which provides technologies to make lighter body armor). In addition, this legislation authorizes $220 million in funding for the development of a new rocket propulsion system that will reduce America's dependence on Russian rocket engines. The NDAA also supports an agreement between Israel and the United States for co-production of Iron Dome, thus helping with security needs for the Israeli populace while increasing the likelihood of Iron Dome interceptor production and jobs in the Tennessee Valley. Congressman Brooks is a member of the House Armed Services Committee, sitting on the Strategic Forces and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittees. He is the founder and co-chair of the Army Aviation Caucus.  ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://byrne.house.gov//media-center/press-releases/byrne-supports-bipartisan-bill-to-aid-disabled-americans", "Byrne Supports Bipartisan Bill to Aid Disabled Americans", "2014-12-03", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Bradley Byrne", "B001289", "byrne.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Bradley Byrne (AL-1) today voted in support of legislation to give disabled Americans a new option for handling financial struggles.\nH.R. 647, the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act, allows for disabled Americans to have tax-free savings accounts to cover certain qualified expenses including education, housing and transportation.\nThe bill is widely seen as \u201cfirst major piece of legislation affecting Americans with disabilities in nearly 25 years.\u201d The legislation is co-sponsored by 380 of the 435 members of the House of Representatives, including Congressman Byrne. A companion bill in the Senate is co-sponsored by 74 of the 100 Senators.\nByrne said: \u201cToo often here in Washington we let politics get in the way of finding bipartisan, commonsense solutions. The ABLE Act is just that: a solution that I am pleased to have cosponsored and voted for.\n\u201cWhat the ABLE Act does is allow people with disabilities to have certain savings accounts that they can use to help take care of themselves. Just as we have tax-free savings accounts for our children\u2019s education, the ABLE Act sets up similar savings-accounts for disabled individuals to allow them to save for qualified expenses without jeopardizing their eligibility for disability benefits.\n\u201cThis type of bipartisan bill, which was co-sponsored by 380 of the 435 members of the House of Representatives, demonstrates what happens when Washington puts politics aside and focuses on making a real difference in the lives of Americans. I look forward to continuing to advance commonsense solutions, just like the ABLE Act, in the 114th Congress.\u201d\nThe ABLE Act passed by a vote of 404 to 17. More information on the ABLE Act can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://byrne.house.gov//media-center/press-releases/house-committee-to-hold-hearing-on-red-snapper-mismanagement", "House Committee to Hold Hearing on Red Snapper Mismanagement", "2014-12-03", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Bradley Byrne", "B001289", "byrne.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Bradley Byrne (AL-1) and other members of the House Natural Resource Committee will hold a hearing on Thursday to examine the management of the Red Snapper fishery in the Gulf of Mexico.\nThe Natural Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans & Insular Affairs hearing will include a witness from Alabama. Chris Blankenship, the Director of the Marine Resources Division of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, will testify before the Committee at the request of Congressman Byrne.\nByrne said: \u201cI am pleased the Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing on the Red Snapper issue this week. I think it is very important that we keep up the pressure on this issue, which has been a top priority of mine since coming to Congress.\n\u201cWe have made some real progress on finding a solution to this issue over the past year, including having my language included in the Magnuson\u2013Stevens Reauthorization Act, which passed out of the committee earlier this year.\n\u201cI\u2019m especially pleased the hearing will include testimony of a witness from Alabama, Chris Blankenship. It is really important that Alabama voices continue to be heard on this issue, and I am pleased Mr. Blankenship will speak on behalf of Alabamians before the United States Congress.\u201d\nCongressman Byrne has been an outspoken critic of the mismanagement of the Red Snapper fishery in the Gulf of Mexico. The first piece of standalone legislation Congressman Byrne introduced in Congress was the Supporting New Avenues to Protect our Fisherman\u2019s Resources (SNAPR) Act. Congressman Byrne has advocated for repealing Section 407(d) of the Magnuson\u2013Stevens Act, which mandates quotas on Red Snapper fishing. Byrne also supports extending Alabama\u2019s state water boundary to 9 nautical miles from shore, effectively giving the state more control over its resources.\nThe hearing will take place Thursday, December 4th, at 9:00 AM CT.\u00a0 The hearing is open to the public and a live video stream will be broadcast at http://naturalresources.house.gov/live.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://mike-rogers.house.gov/press-release/giving-back-across-east-alabama-1", "Giving Back Across East Alabama", "2014-12-03", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Mike Rogers", "R000575", "mike-rogers.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(WASHINGTON, DC)\u2014 Folks across East Alabama are in the Christmas spirit, giving both tangible gifts and the gifts of their time to those in need.\nDuring the Holiday season, I like to highlight some of the generosity of people across the Third District. The following examples are just a few of the inspiring people and organizations we have in East Alabama.\nFor some families, the back to school season brings the financial stress of buying school supplies. In Ragland, Ms. Eleanor Clinkscales helps ease the pain for some students in need by partnering with local church groups to outfit 100 students with all of their school supplies.\nIn Cleburne County, the Heflin-based group Helping Every Area Resident to Succeed along with Wedowee-based Reaching Out International provided 600 families with much-needed groceries \u2013 all in one day!\nOpelika\u2019s Storybook Farm opened a new riding arena in October. The organization serves more than 800 special needs participants every year by allowing the children to participate in games and activities at no cost. The activities aren\u2019t just fun for the children \u2013 they also build muscle strength, strengthen fine motor skills and teach compassion.\nOne Saturday in October, over 500 volunteers from Way 2 Serve Ministries served Lee and Macon Counties through an event called My Jerusalem. My Jerusalem was composed of 31 different projects, including repairing front decks, building wheelchair ramps and throwing block parties. The event is held twice a year.\nIn Montgomery and Macon Counties, HandsOn River Region, is gearing up for their 34th year of Christmas Clearinghouse. Christmas Clearinghouse allows individuals, businesses and organizations to adopt families in need. Through this program, area families are ensured they don\u2019t have to go without at Christmas.\nRandolph Park Elementary students used the Iron Bowl as inspiration to collect canned food for the Anniston Soup Bowl. The students donated in the name of their favorite team, and the winning team got to wear regular clothes for a day! The students collected a total of 650 cans of food.\nMay these examples remind us how we should live our lives every day. Merry Christmas to you and your families!\nPlease sign up for my e-Newsletter at www.mike-rogers.house.gov, like me on Facebook at Congressman Mike D. Rogers, follow me on Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram at RepMikeRogersAL, on Tumblr at www.repmikerogersal.tumblr.com and subscribe to my YouTube page at MikeRogersAL03.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://brooks.house.gov/media-center/news-releases/brooks-commends-states-lawsuit-challenging-obamas-lawless-executive", "Brooks Commends States' Lawsuit Challenging Obama's Lawless Executive Overreach", "2014-12-03", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Mo Brooks", "B001274", "brooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Today, seventeen states, including Alabama, filed a lawsuit challenging President Obama's lawless executive action on immigration, stating that the President acted outside the scope of his Constitutional authority. Alabama is one of seventeen plaintiff states in the suit, along with Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Congressman Brooks stated, I commend these seventeen states, including our own state of Alabama, for taking the initiative to rein in Obama's illegal and unconstitutional executive overreach. As the complaint states, This lawsuit is not about immigration. It is about the rule of law, presidential power, and the structural limits of the U.S. Constitution.' This is not a partisan issue. When one branch of the government usurps the powers of another, it affects all Americans, because it threatens the very core of our system of checks and balances that has served our government, and America, so well for so long. If the President can change the law' as he says he can, what, then, is the purpose of Congress? Congressman Brooks continued, Thankfully, our system of government has a judicial branch to remedy Constitutional abuses. I am proud to see Alabama's Attorney General, Luther Strange, along with others, stand up against this shattering of America's lawmaking process. The lines separating our branches of government are not blurry, nor are they flexible; they are clearly defined by our Constitution, and it is our duty as Americans to challenge actions that undermine them. Congressman Brooks continued, Instead of acting against the law, the President, pursuant to his Constitutional duties of chief law enforcer, should be enforcing the lawacting in the interest of, not to the detriment of, the American family. Adding millions of illegal aliens to the pool of lawful workers will hurt already-struggling American families' ability to find jobs that pay enough to make ends meet. It is unfathomable that a United States President, who takes an oath to preserve, protect, and defend our Constitution, not only acts to undermine the Constitution, but does so in a way that hurts all Americans regardless of ethnicity, race, or sex. Congressman Brooks concluded, I strongly support the states' challenge to Obama's lawless executive overreach. I urge House Leadership to do the same. Too much is at stakeindeed the very fabric of our Republicto sit idly by while the Executive branch usurps authority granted solely to Congress by the U.S. Constitution. We must be as steadfast in defending our Constitution as our Founders were in creating it. In response to President Obama's executive amnesty, Brooks introduced House Resolution 757 to authorize the House of Representatives to seek a declaratory judgment action in federal court to determine whether President Obama's amnesty executive order violates the Constitution and federal immigration law duties, and, if so, to obtain injunctive relief and a writ of mandamus to compel President Obama and the Executive Branch to obey immigration laws as passed by Congress, signed into law by presidents, and interpreted by federal judges. The complaint by the 17 states can be found here. ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://roby.house.gov/press-release/va-mental-health-wait-times-worsen-central-alabama", "VA Mental Health Wait Times Worsen in Central Alabama", "2014-12-01", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Martha Roby", "R000591", "roby.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "MONTGOMERY, Ala. - New data from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs shows the already-long wait times for veterans seeking mental health services has gotten worse in Central Alabama.\nNew veteran patients seeking mental health care must wait an average of 67 days, up from the 56 day average reported in May. Such a digression represents a disservice to veterans and a serious public safety issue, U.S. Representative Martha Roby (R-AL) said.\n \n\t\u201cThe latest data shows we still have a major problem with mental health services at the Central Alabama VA, and it is actually getting worse,\u201d Rep. Roby said.\n\t\u201cI hope people understand how serious a problem it is for veterans in need of mental health care to have to wait more than two months for an appointment. That is obviously a disservice to veterans, but it is also a major public safety issue for Central Alabama. To think that a soldier returning from Afghanistan with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder has to wait two months for an appointment to get care he needs and deserves\u00ad \u2013 it's a disgrace.\n\t\u201cWe know it's going to take time to fully reform the VA, but we should not be moving in the wrong direction.\u201d\n \nRep. Roby has long advocated for greater utilization of the outside health providers to cut down on wait times at the VA. The VA reform law passed this summer included specific requirements and funding for VA medical centers to refer patients to outside providers when demand exceeds capacity.\n \n\t\u201cWe passed a law that gave veterans forced to wait more than 30 days for an appointment guaranteed access to outside care. So, I want to know how many mental health patients CAVHCS has referred to outside providers in light of these numbers.\u201d\n \nData showing the 67-day average wait time for new mental health patients at the Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System is available here: https://www.va.gov/HEALTH/docs/pending_access_data_using_CD_and_DD_11202014.pdf\nThe June report, which includes the May wait time average of 56 days, is available here: https://www.va.gov/health/docs/VISN7FACTSHEET140609.pdf.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141206043642/http://byrne.house.gov/media-center/columns/rural-hospitals-face-many-challenges", "Rural Hospitals Face Many Challenges", "2014-11-29", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Bradley Byrne", "B001289", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "As the old adage goes, you can\u2019t fully understand something until you experience it yourself. That is why I committed earlier this year to visit each hospital in Alabama\u2019s First Congressional District. From Monroe County Hospital in Monroeville to North Baldwin Infirmary in Bay Minette, I am proud to have now visited sixteen hospitals in total.\nAt each hospital, I was sincerely impressed by the knowledge, dedication, and compassion of the doctors, nurses, and administrators I met. There is no doubt our local communities are well served by these medical facilities. That said, this is a challenging time for hospitals all across the United States. In Alabama alone, ten hospitals have been forced to close their doors over the past few years.\nPrior to the passage of the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as ObamaCare, hospitals were already facing serious challenges in both compliance and funding. Since the passage of ObamaCare, the number of challenges has only increased. These challenges impact each and every hospital, but they have a real impact on our more rural hospitals.\nIt is important to note that in most of these rural communities, the hospital is more than just a medical facility: it is often the lifeblood of the local economy. Most hospitals employ up to 200 people with great wages and benefits, and many have foundations which provide critical funding to community projects.\nThe number one comment I heard at each of the hospitals, regardless of the size, was that the patient count has gone up but the revenue has gone down. Anyone with a basic understanding of economics knows this is an unsustainable business model.\u00a0 The top culprit for this problem is ObamaCare. \u00a0Under the law, many people have higher deductibles which most simply can\u2019t afford. In turn, hospitals and doctors are having to eat the cost from these patients.\u00a0\nLet\u2019s not forget: ObamaCare was designed to make health care more affordable and more accessible. The opposite is happening. Health care costs are on the rise. Physicians are being driven into retirement. Possibly worst of all,\u00a0many hospitals are being forced to shut their doors.\nAnother serious issue plaguing our hospitals are low Medicare reimbursement rates. One of the major issues regarding reimbursement rates for hospitals in Alabama is the Medicare Area Wage Index formula, which associates reimbursement levels to salary levels. Hospitals update their wage information each year to reflect the salaries of staff, but the index is budget neutral across the country so that when wages in one area go up payments to other areas go down, unfairly penalizing hospitals in mostly rural areas.\u00a0\nAlabama has particularly suffered under the Medicare Wage Index and has one of the lowest levels of reimbursement. We need to recalculate the Wage Index to remove the inherent inequalities and provide reasonable payment to all hospitals for the services they provide. That\u2019s why I was proud to cosponsor legislation this year that would apply budget neutrality on a state-specific basis, helping to level the playing field for hospitals across the country.\nMany of our rural hospitals are attempting to respond to these cuts by exploring innovative care options and partnering with metro hospital organizations. In Washington County for example, the hospital has been utilizing telemedicine, which local officials believe holds great promise. Other rural hospitals are creating partnerships with larger hospitals. Atmore Community Hospital has partnered with Infirmary Health to broaden service offerings and split resources.\nIn Washington, D.C., we must do more to limit the heavy regulatory burden and help promote a climate where these hospitals can continue to provide critical services. To start, we need to repeal ObamaCare and replace it with patient-centered reforms that aren\u2019t bogged down by overly burdensome federal regulations. We must reform the regulatory process to limit the impact federal bureaucrats, who are not accountable to the people, can have in the process.\nNow is an incredibly critical time for the medical community, and I intend to work with my colleagues in Congress to protect our local hospitals and improve health care in our country.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141203063740/http://www.sessions.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=7B9C24CB-9257-45C5-B6F2-3E5B3A3113D6", "Sessions Outlines Priorities For New Defense Secretary", "2014-11-25", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Jeff Sessions", "S001141", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON\u2014U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL), a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, outlined his priorities for a new Defense Secretary following the abrupt departure of Secretary Chuck Hagel:\n\u201cI have great respect for Secretary Hagel personally. His combat experiences gave him insight into war that others lack and a special loyalty to those in harm\u2019s way. His abrupt departure highlights the floundering status of our ISIS strategy. Now, the central question the nation, Congress and the American people face is: what is our policy concerning ISIS and terrorism?\u00a0 A second related question is: who will the President look to in order to help him make that decision?\nIt seems clear that a small but growing group in the White House, close to the President and his agenda, have had too much influence. They base decisions, unacceptably, on politics. We know this because President Obama\u2019s previous Secretaries of Defense\u2014Sec. Robert Gates and Sec. Leon Panetta\u2014have documented this fact shockingly in their books.\u00a0 When national security and the lives of our soldiers on the battlefield hang in the balance, politics cannot rule the day.\nCertainly, President Obama has zero personal experience with military policy. He has made colossal errors that have placed the nation at risk. One of the most dramatic errors was the complete withdrawal of our forces from Iraq in 2011, against the advice of military leaders and common sense. Now we are paying the price.\nThe President must nominate a Secretary of Defense with strength, ability, experience, and integrity. One in whom the military, Congress, and the American people can place full trust. Congress must insist on it.\nAs it stands now, we continue to stumble along with no clear strategy. Much of this is the direct consequence of the President\u2019s indecision. It cannot continue. Too much is at stake.\nFortunately, we have a large number of highly qualified leaders with great experience in Iraq and Afghanistan and the region from whom to select. An ideological or political insider will not meet the requirements.\u00a0 Mr. President, give us a Secretary of Defense in the mold of Gates and Panetta that will speak the truth and not acquiesce to political pressure.\nCareful observers of defense and national security developments have watched anxiously as more and more power, control, and influence has been collected within a circle of insiders in the White House. They have too often shut out or rejected sound military and defense advice from leaders of wisdom and experience.\nThat day is over. We must restore the basic decision making process that serves the national interest, not political interests. And we must establish a policy that all Americans can believe in and rally behind.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141206072301/http://byrne.house.gov//media-center/columns/much-to-be-thankful-for-this-year", "Much to Be Thankful For This Year", "2014-11-25", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Bradley Byrne", "B001289", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "In many ways, Thanksgiving marks the official start of the holiday season. With it comes all the hustle and bustle: making sure we have the right gift for our loved ones, cooking family-favorite meals, and traveling to visit old friends and family members.\nThrough all the pomp and circumstance, we shouldn\u2019t forget the whole reason for the holiday: to give thanks.\nPersonally, this year has been full of highlights for me and my family. First, all the thanks must go to God for the countless blessings he has bestowed on us. As is written in Pslam 107: 1, \u201cO give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good: for His mercy endureth forever.\u201d\nI\u2019m thankful for my family. My wife, Rebecca, is a remarkable woman who continues to amaze me with her compassion and dedication to our family and the local community. Patrick, Kathleen, Laura, and Colin, my four children, also bring so much joy to my life. They are each incredibly successful in their line of work, but most importantly, they are great people. I am so proud of them.\nI\u2019m especially thankful for the birth of my first grandson, MacGuire. They say there is no joy quite like that of being a grandparent, and now I know exactly what that means. Just seeing MacGuire brings a smile to my face, and I am so grateful for his life and good health.\nI\u2019m thankful for my dedicated staff who perform great work behind the scenes. My team in Southwest Alabama works tirelessly every day to help our local veterans and seniors navigate cumbersome \u00a0federal programs. My staff in Washington is dedicated to advancing conservative, fiscally-responsible policies to make life easier for families.\nI\u2019m thankful for the opportunity to make a difference for Southwest Alabama. Don\u2019t get me wrong, this is a very challenging time for our country, but I feel blessed to be in a position to make a positive impact on behalf of the people I deeply care about and a place I am proud to call home.\nI\u2019m thankful for the men and women who have given so much in defense of the freedoms we enjoy as a nation. Last week, I had the opportunity to visit Walter Reed National Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Walter Reed is our nation\u2019s largest medical center for military personnel, and many of the patients I met had serious injuries, including amputations and brain damage.\nIt was incredibly touching to be able to shake their hand and tell them how much we appreciate their service to our country. I can say with confidence that I got more out of the visit than the men and women there did.\nSo join me this Thanksgiving in taking time to say what you are thankful for. We each face our own challenges in our personal and professional lives, but this holiday allows us to set those challenges aside and realize our many blessings. As the playwright Thornton Wilder said, \u201cWe can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://byrne.house.gov//media-center/press-releases/byrne-statement-on-hagel-resignation", "Byrne Statement on Hagel Resignation", "2014-11-24", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Bradley Byrne", "B001289", "byrne.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Bradley Byrne (AL-1), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement in response to Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel\u2019s resignation announcement today.\nByrne said: \u201cI sincerely appreciate Secretary Hagel\u2019s loyal service to his country both as a member of the armed forces and as a public servant. We need more veterans to be involved in public service, not less.\n\u201cSecretary Hagel was dealt a bad hand due to the lack of leadership from the White House. Ultimately, it won\u2019t matter who the Secretary of Defense is as long as the current White House remains more concerned with political optics than long-term strategic results. President Obama\u2019s weak and indecisive approach to foreign policy is frankly a disservice to all the men and women who serve in the armed forces.\u201d \u00a0\nByrne also pointed out that the Secretary of Defense is very important to the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program, which is built in part by Austal USA in Mobile. According to media reports, the Secretary of Defense is currently considering the path forward for the LCS based on the Navy\u2019s Small Surface Combatant Task Force report, which makes recommendations on the future of the LCS program.\nByrne said: \u201cWe will have to wait and see exactly what this announcement will mean to the LCS program. Like our nation\u2019s naval leaders, I hope our next Secretary of Defense is strongly committed to the LCS program. I remain confident that the LCS represents the future of our naval fleet, and I firmly believe the current ship design can be upgraded to meet all of the Navy\u2019s requirements.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://byrne.house.gov//media-center/press-releases/byrne-time-to-abandon-iran-nuclear-talks", "Byrne: Time to Abandon Iran Nuclear Talks", "2014-11-24", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Bradley Byrne", "B001289", "byrne.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Bradley Byrne (AL-1) issued the following statement in response to Secretary of State John Kerry\u2019s announcement that talks over Iran\u2019s nuclear program will be extended for seven months. This marks the second time the talks have been extended.\nByrne said: \u201cIt is far past time the United States abandon nuclear talks with Iran and move forward with new sanctions. For over a year now, Secretary of State Kerry has attempted to work out a deal with Iran but very little progress has been made. It seems that Iran is only interested in continuing the talks to buy time while they expand their nuclear capabilities. For the United States, continuing these talks is nothing more than the Obama administration trying to save face from yet another foreign policy failure.\n\u201cI strongly believe preventing a nuclear Iran is one of the most important national security priorities of our time, but these talks are proving useless. We should move forward with crippling sanctions that leave Iran with no choice but to abandon their nuclear program. In my work on the House Armed Services Committee, I will continue to advocate for harsher sanctions and an end to this failed attempt at diplomacy.\u201d\nAccording to Reuters, one official close to the negotiations expressed doubt that a deal will ever be reached. The report quotes the official as saying, \u201cI am skeptical that even if we (do) extend we will be able to reach a deal.\u201d\nIn July, the United States and five other world powers extended the talks with Iran through November 24. Following that decision, Congressman Byrne announced his opposition to continuing the talks. With this latest continuation, Iran will continue to benefit from almost $700 million a month in sanctions relief.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://mike-rogers.house.gov/press-release/rogers-reminds-college-students-about-available-summer-internships-0", "Rogers Reminds College Students about Available Summer Internships", "2014-11-24", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Mike Rogers", "R000575", "mike-rogers.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rogers Reminds College Students about Available Summer Internships              \n      \n      \n      \n      \n      \n        \n        \n                                                  \n              Nov 24, 2014      \t\t        \t    \n               \n      \t                   \n                                            \n          \n        \n        \n          \n  \n    \n    \n    (WASHINGTON, DC)---Congressman Mike Rogers announced today that the deadline for applying for summer internships in his offices will be February 13, 2015. The internship program is designed to offer select college students a hands-on opportunity to learn about the legislative process, as well as the day-to-day operations of a Congressional office.\nTo be considered for an internship, students must submit a current resume, cover letter and short writing sample to the Congressman\u2019s intern coordinator.\nPlease visit http://mike-rogers.house.gov/constituent-services/internships for more information, or call Rogers\u2019 Washington, D.C. office at 202.225.3261.\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 -###-", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://roby.house.gov/column/obamas-amnesty-unconstitutional-harmful-unfair", "Obama's Amnesty Unconstitutional, Harmful, Unfair", "2014-11-24", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Martha Roby", "R000591", "roby.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "As President Obama was set to address the nation on his immigration plans, I had hoped he would commit to executing the law faithfully, just like he swore an oath to do as president. Instead, we heard the opposite.\nHe announced that he would take unilateral, executive action to grant status and work permits to as many as five million illegal immigrants. To put it in perspective, that\u2019s more than the population of Alabama.\nThis development is troubling on a number of levels. First, it is a blatant overreach of executive authority. Article I of the Constitution gives Congress, not the President, authority to \u201cestablish an uniform Rule of Naturalization.\u201d Unfortunately, President Obama believes he is above the law - above our Constitution - and that he alone can rule this country. That ideology is not just wrong, it\u2019s dangerous. Every American who believes in our system of checks and balances ought to be very concerned.\nSecond, executive amnesty isn\u2019t going to fix our immigration system as the president suggests. It will break the system even further by inviting even more illegal immigrants to cross our borders and by poisoning any progress Congress might make toward real, lasting immigration reform.\nFinally, granting amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants is fundamentally unfair. It is unfair to those who have played by the rules and immigrated to the United States legally. It is unfair to working Americans whose wages are undercut by condoning this lawlessness. This action erodes the very rule of law we depend on to protect our rights and ensure fairness.\u00a0\nDespite President Obama\u2019s ill-advised decision, the American people need to know that Congress is working to make it right. We are currently looking at ways to stop the president before he does permanent damage to this country.\nI\u2019m against offering amnesty to illegal immigrants. I believe our first order of business on immigration must be to truly secure the border. And I will fight to ensure American taxpayers aren\u2019t forced to pay for the addition of millions of illegal immigrants to the rolls of our assistance programs.\nCongress is going to fund the government, but we are not going to endorse or enable President Obama\u2019s unconstitutional amnesty.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://roby.house.gov/press-release/roby-ready-hit-ground-running-114th-congress", "Roby: Ready to Hit the Ground Running in 114th Congress", "2014-11-24", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Martha Roby", "R000591", "roby.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Representative Martha Roby (R-AL) today announced her Congressional staff for the 114th Congress. Several new staff members have been hired, and others promoted, all to enhance legislative efforts and constituent services, Rep. Roby said.\n \n\t\u201cI\u2019m proud of what we have accomplished thus far, and I\u2019m optimistic the new Republican majority will present more opportunities for legislative success under regular order. As such, I have been pleased to bring on new staff members, promote current ones and organize our team in a way that can expand our legislative capabilities.\n\t\u201cSince first being elected to Congress, I\u2019ve tried to surround myself with top-notch staff members who add value to our legislative efforts and demonstrate a commitment to serving the people of Alabama\u2019s 2nd District. I\u2019m confident our new staff members will contribute greatly to our ability to get results on behalf of my constituents, and we are eager to hit the ground running in the 114th Congress.\u201d\n \nRep. Roby maintains a Capitol Hill office in Washington D.C. where legislative, scheduling and communications staff are based. Rep. Roby also operates three District offices in Andalusia, Dothan and Montgomery, where staff specialize in constituent services and community\u00a0outreach.\u00a0\nSenior Staff\n Chief\u00a0of Staff: Stephen E. Boyd\u00a0\n\t\tBoyd has served as Rep. Roby\u2019s chief of staff the last four years. In this role, Boyd serves as Rep. Roby\u2019s top adviser, leads the team of 15 staff members, and manages all aspects of the Congressional office. Boyd previously worked more than six years on the staff of U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions, serving as senior advisor and Communications Director. He is a native of Birmingham and a graduate of the University of Alabama and the University of Alabama School of Law.\n  District Director:\u00a0Joe Williams\n\t\tWilliams has served as Rep. Roby\u2019s District Director the last four years. In this role, Williams manages Rep. Roby\u2019s district staff, oversees a range of constituent services, and serves as the primary liaison to state and local elected officials and business and community groups. Williams is a native of Headland, Ala., and a graduate of Auburn University, the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He previously served on the staff of former Congressman Terry Everett for more than ten years.\n  Executive Assistant: Jessica Fuller Hamilton \u00a0\n\t\tHamilton has served the last four years as Rep. Roby\u2019s Executive Assistant, being the point of contact for all of Rep. Roby\u2019s scheduling requests and managing the office\u2019s intern program. Hamilton served on the staff of U.S. Senator Richard Shelby for nearly four years before joining the Roby office. A native of Mobile, Ala., Hamilton received her undergraduate degree from the University of Alabama and graduate degree in Communication Management from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.\n  Communications Director: Todd Stacy\n\t\tA Prattville, Ala.\u00a0native and\u00a0Auburn University graduate, Stacy has been Rep. Roby\u2019s Communications Director since September 2012. In this role, Stacy manages Rep. Roby\u2019s external communications, acts as her spokesman and is the point of contact for media inquiries. Prior to coming to Rep. Roby\u2019s office, Stacy worked as Communications Director for Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard and\u00a0as Press Secretary for former Alabama Governor Bob Riley.\u00a0\n  Legislative Director: Mike Albares\n\t\tAlbares was recently promoted to Legislative Director in the Roby office. He will lead Rep. Roby\u2019s legislative team, overseeing her work on the House Committee on Appropriations while continuing to personally handle agriculture issues. The\u00a0Dothan native and University of Richmond graduate has worked on Rep. Roby\u2019s legislative staff the last four years as Legislative Correspondent and Legislative Aide. Prior to his time with Team Roby, Albares worked on the staff of former Ohio Republican Senator George Voinovich.\n Washington D.C. Staff\n Military\u00a0Legislative\u00a0Assistant:\u00a0Andrew Ashley\n\t\tAshley was recently hired\u00a0as Military Legislative Aide for Rep. Roby. A native of Northern Virginia and graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, Ashley previously worked for Honeywell International in defense procurement and currently serves in the Reserves Congressional Affairs division. He received his MBA from the University of South Carolina and is a combat veteran of Southern Afghanistan. In the Roby office, Ashley\u2019s responsibilities include defense policy, veterans issues, foreign affairs and homeland security. He fills the vacancy created when Mac Tolar moved from the Roby office to the Select Committee on Benghazi.\n  Legislative Assistant: Sophie Trainor\n\t\tTrainor was recently hired as Legislative Assistant for Rep. Roby, specializing in\u00a0health,\u00a0education,\u00a0workforce and financial services issues.\u00a0Trainor previously worked for Senator Jeff Sessions and Congressman Lee Terry (R-NE).\u00a0 Trainor graduated from the University of Alabama, where she studied Human Environmental Sciences.\n  Legislative Correspondent: David Wellen\n\t\tWellen has been\u00a0promoted to Legislative Correspondent. Wellen hails from\u00a0New Orleans and is a graduate of Louisiana State University, where he studied political science. He previously worked as Staff Assistant in Rep. Roby\u2019s office.\n  Staff Assistant:\u00a0Margaret Virden\n\t\tVirden was hired\u00a0this Summer as Staff Assistant in Rep. Roby\u2019s office. A native of Montgomery, Ala., Virden is a recent graduate of Mississippi State University where she studied business management. In Summer 2013, she interned in Rep. Roby\u2019s office, leading tours of the U.S. Capitol and assisting with constituent services. Virden fills the vacancy created by the promotion of former Staff Assistant David Wellen.\u00a0\n  Press\u00a0Assistant:\u00a0Lindsee Gentry\n\t\tGentry was\u00a0hired this Summer as Press Assistant in Rep. Roby\u2019s office. Gentry is originally from Southaven, Miss., and a recent graduate of the University of Alabama, where she studied journalism. In the Washington office, Gentry assists the communications director and Rep. Roby with a wide range of press activities, including interaction with media organizations. Gentry fills a vacancy created when Seth Morrow left the Roby office to become Communications Director for Congressman Bradley Byrne.\n Alabama District Staff\n Field Representative: Lori Ward Williams\n\t\tWilliams, of Clio, Ala., has transitioned to the role of Field Representative for the Montgomery District Office. She had previously served as the Field Representative in the Wiregrass Area, and assumed the Montgomery role after the departure of Ronda Walker, who Governor Bentley appointed to the\u00a0Montgomery\u00a0County Commission. Her regional focus now includes Autauga, Bullock, Butler, Crenshaw, Elmore, Montgomery and Pike Counties. Williams also coordinates the military academy nomination process, as well as submissions to the Congressional Art Competition. She is a graduate of Auburn University Montgomery and previously worked on the staffs of former Alabama Governor Bob Riley and former South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford.\n  Field Representative: Cindy Pate\n\t\tPate was recently hired\u00a0as a Field Representative for the Wiregrass area. Pate, of Birmingham, and a graduate of Samford University, previously worked for U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions and U.S. Representative Spencer Bachus (R-AL). She is the field representative for the Wiregrass counties including: Conecuh, Covington, Geneva, Coffee, Dale, Henry and Barbour.\n  Constituent Services Representative (Montgomery): Charlotte Wood Bent\n\t\tBent, of Montgomery, has served as Rep. Roby\u2019s Montgomery Constituent Services Representative the last four years. Prior to her time in the Roby office, she served eight years on the staff of former Congressman Terry Everett and also worked for the Social Security Administration. Bent is a graduate of Troy University.\n  Constituent Services Representative (Dothan): Barbara Hulse Light\n\t\tA native of Virginia, and graduate of James Madison University (BA) and Troy State University (MS), she first moved to the Wiregrass in 1996 with her husband when he was stationed at Fort Rucker. Prior to joining Rep. Roby\u2019s staff, she served on the Dale County Board of Registrars. \u00a0\u00a0\n  Constituent Services Representative (Andalusia):\u00a0Amelia McMahon\n\t\tMcMahon, a native of Covington County, has worked in the Roby office since January 2014. Prior to her time in the Roby office, she worked seven years in Congressman Jeff Miller's (R-FL) Fort Walton Beach district office and at Crestview Aerospace. She is a graduate of the University of West Florida with a degree in elementary education.\u00a0\n Office locations\nCapitol Hill Office  \n\t442 Cannon House Office Building  \n\tWashington, D.C. 20515  \n\t202-225-2901 (phone)  \n\t202-225-8913 (fax)\nCovington County Office  \n\t505 East Three Notch Street  \n\tAndalusia City Hall, Room 322  \n\tAndalusia, AL\u00a036420  \n\t334-428-1129 (phone)  \n\t334-222-3342 (fax)\nDothan Office  \n\t217 Graceland Drive  \n\tSuite 5  \n\tDothan, AL 36305  \n\t334-794-9680 (phone)  \n\t334-671-1480 (fax)\nMontgomery Office  \n\t401 Adams Avenue  \n\tSuite 160  \n\tMontgomery, AL 36104  \n\t334-277-9113 (phone)  \n\t334-277-8534 (fax)", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://sewell.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/statement-congresswoman-terri-sewell-response-grand-jury-decision-death", "Statement from Congresswoman Terri Sewell in Response to the Grand Jury Decision in the Death of Michael Brown", "2014-11-24", "2014", "2014-11", "Democrat", "House", "AL", "Terri Sewell", "S001185", "sewell.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "BIRMINGHAM, AL  Today, Congresswoman Sewell issued the following statement in response to the grand jury's decision in the death of Michael Brown:\n\t\t\n\t\t\tWhile this is not the outcome many felt was warranted given the low standard of proof required to indict, I believe that this tragedy has awakened our Nation to the reality that we must collectively work to create communities that value the lives of young men of color. We must address the common stereotypes that perpetuate unwarranted fear while furthering racial divides within our communities. My thoughts and prayers are with the family of Michael Brown and all the citizens of Ferguson. Violence in any form is never the answer. It is my hope that the community in Ferguson will work peacefully to move forward. We as a Nation must not neglect the lessons learned from this tragedy.\n\t\t\n\t\t\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141206161005/http://sewell.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=750", "Statement from Congresswoman Terri Sewell in Response to the Grand Jury Decision in the Death of Michael Brown", "2014-11-24", "2014", "2014-11", "Democrat", "House", "AL", "Terri Sewell", "S001185", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "How to use: Insert <span class=\"EXACT_VALUE_LABEL_AS_ENTERED_BELOW\"> </span> where you'd like the value to be populated.  Non-breaking space within span tags -   - is required for WYSIWYG.     Label (no spaces or special characters)   Value   Comments (optional)    repName  Terri Sewell  \u00a0    helpWithFedAgencyAddress  Office of Congresswoman Terri Sewell Attn: Constituent Services Two 20th Street North, Suite 1130 Birmingham, AL 35203 Phone: (205) 254-1960 Fax: (205) 254-1974 \u00a0  \u00a0    district  7th District of Alabama  \u00a0    academyUSCitizenDate  July 1, 2014  \u00a0    academyAgeDate  July 1, 2014  \u00a0    academyApplicationDueDate  October 20, 2014  \u00a0    repStateABBR  AL  \u00a0    repDistrict  7  \u00a0    repState  Alabama  \u00a0    repDistrictText  7th  \u00a0    repPhoto    \u00a0    SponsoredBills  Sponsored Bills  \u00a0    CoSponsoredBills  Co-Sponsored Bills", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://mike-rogers.house.gov/press-release/rogers-obama-executive-amnesty-%E2%80%9Cunprecedented-presidential-overreach%E2%80%9D%C2%A0", "Rogers: Obama Executive Amnesty Unprecedented Presidential Overreach", "2014-11-21", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Mike Rogers", "R000575", "mike-rogers.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(WASHINGTON, D.C.)\u2014Congressman Mike Rogers made the following remarks in response to President Obama\u2019s primetime address to the nation on his plans for an Executive Order regarding amnesty.\n\u201cPresident Obama\u2019s decision to essentially legalize up to five million illegal immigrants by Executive Order is nothing short of an unprecedented presidential overreach. This immigration crisis is of the president\u2019s own making, and in signing this order, he has significantly escalated it further.\n\u201cPresident Obama blames Congress for allegedly forcing him to take this extreme step because Congress did not pass his proposed comprehensive immigration reform bill. This is nonsense. The American people want the president to work with Congress to solve our immigration crisis, first, by securing our borders \u2013 not to govern by executive action.\n\u201cOur nation faces many challenges, including an economy that simply is not creating enough good paying jobs. With today\u2019s executive action, the president has made finding common ground on so many of those issues all the more difficult.\u201d\nRogers serves as a senior member on the Committee on Homeland Security in Congress, as well as the Armed Services Committee and Committee on Agriculture. \u00a0\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 -###-", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://brooks.house.gov/media-center/news-releases/brooks-obama-defies-constitution-abandons-american-people", "Brooks: Obama Defies the Constitution, Abandons the American People", "2014-11-21", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Mo Brooks", "B001274", "brooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. President Obama's executive amnesty plan seeks to unlawfully legalize millions of illegal aliens in America. As shown by his previous statements, President Obama acknowledges that his executive amnesty plan is illegal and unconstitutional, yet has done it anyway in response to pressure from national Democratic Party open borders and pro-amnesty special interest groups, despite the economic damage done to struggling American families. Congressman Brooks' Statement: On January 20, 2009, and again in 2013, President Obama, in taking the oath of office, swore that he would preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States. In dictating his executive amnesty plans, President Obama plainly rejected the authority of America's founding document, disavowed his oath of office, repudiated the office of the Presidency, and abandoned the interests of the American people. Last night's announcement is bait for further illegal immigration. President Obama's executive amnesty plan is a proclamation to the world that the rule of immigration law in America is defunct. As America learned in 1986, amnesty does not solve illegal immigration problems and, to the contrary, is a catalyst for even more illegal immigration. We must uphold the rule of law and embrace a fair immigration process. Granting amnesty to millions of law-breakers is not fair, and supporting illegal conduct is not American. President Obama claims he acts because Congress has not. However, Congress has passed numerous laws to address our immigration system thatthe president chooses to ignore. There is one and only one cause for America's immigration mess: a White House that adamantly defies the American people by refusing to uphold the Constitution and enforce immigration law. Congress must work to rein in the Administration's tyrannical attack on America's Republic. Although I hoped it would not come to this point, earlier this week I introduced a resolution to authorize the House of Representatives to seek a declaratory judgment action in federal court to determine whether President Obama's amnesty executive order violates the Constitution and federal immigration laws, and, if so, to obtain injunctive relief and a writ of mandamus to compel President Obama and the Executive Branch to obey immigration laws as passed by Congress, signed into law by presidents, and interpreted by federal judges. While presidents may use executive orders to implement federal statutes, it is well established that the executive order will only have the effect of law if the underlying power is vested in the president by the Constitution, or delegated to him by Congress. The president does not have the authority to implement policy decisions that are not authorized by law. And in the case of immigration policy, that falls squarely in the realm of the legislature. In fact, the United States Supreme Court has repeatedly emphasized that over no conceivable subject is the legislative power of Congress more complete than it is over immigration. Oceanic Navigation Co. v. Stranahan, 214 U.S. 320, 339 (1909); accord, Kleindienst v. Mandel, 408 U.S. 753, 766 (1972). Therefore, President Obama's rash, unilateral amnesty decree is not an appropriate use of executive authority and is illegal. The federal courts have the power, and indeed the duty, to reverse this unconstitutional action, lest our nation of laws become one of lawlessness. Under our system of government, legal disputes of this nature are for the courts to decide. My resolution empowers the U.S. House of Representatives to do that. As another approach to block executive amnesty, I joined more than 60 House Republicans last week in sending a letter to the House Appropriations Committee, requesting they use FY 2015 appropriations legislation to preemptively bar funds from being used to illegally grant amnesty and work permits to illegal aliens via executive orders. In addition, I cosponsored the Executive Amnesty Prevention Act, another bill introduced in the House which states that the Executive Branch does not have the authority to exempt categories of persons unlawfully present in the U.S. from deportation laws. It also makes clear that any executive action seeking to exempt these categories of persons is a violation of the law and thus has no legal effect. President Obama should be held to his own words and bound by the United States Constitution he swore to preserve, protect, and defend. Under America's Constitution, we elect presidents, not dictators or tyrants.   ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141207033253/http://brooks.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=1256", "Brooks: Obama Defies the Constitution, Abandons the American People", "2014-11-21", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Mo Brooks", "B001274", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u2013 President Obama's executive amnesty plan seeks to unlawfully legalize millions of illegal aliens in America.\u00a0 As shown by his previous statements, President Obama acknowledges that his executive amnesty plan is illegal and unconstitutional, yet has done it anyway in response to pressure from national Democratic Party open borders and pro-amnesty special interest groups, despite the economic damage done to struggling American families.\n\n\tCongressman Brooks\u2019 Statement:\n\n\t\u201cOn January 20, 2009, and again in 2013, President Obama, in taking the oath of office, swore that he would preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.\u00a0 In dictating his executive amnesty plans, President Obama plainly rejected the authority of America's founding document, disavowed his oath of office, repudiated the office of the Presidency, and abandoned the interests of the American people.\n\n\t\u201cLast night\u2019s announcement is bait for further illegal immigration.\u00a0 President Obama's executive amnesty plan is a proclamation to the world that the rule of immigration law in America is defunct.\u00a0 As America learned in 1986, amnesty does not solve illegal immigration problems and, to the contrary, is a catalyst for even more illegal immigration.\u00a0 We must uphold the rule of law and embrace a fair immigration process.\u00a0 Granting amnesty to millions of law-breakers is not fair, and supporting illegal conduct is not American.\n\n\t\u201cPresident Obama claims he acts because Congress has not.\u00a0 However, Congress has passed numerous laws to address our immigration system thatthe president chooses to ignore.\u00a0 There is one and only one cause for America's immigration mess:\u00a0 a White House that adamantly defies the American people by refusing to uphold the Constitution and enforce immigration law.\u00a0\n\n\t\u201cCongress must work to rein in the Administration's tyrannical attack on America's Republic. Although I hoped it would not come to this point, earlier this week I introduced a resolution to authorize the House of Representatives to seek a declaratory judgment action in federal court to determine whether President Obama\u2019s amnesty executive order violates the Constitution and federal immigration laws, and, if so, to obtain injunctive relief and a writ of mandamus to compel President Obama and the Executive Branch to obey immigration laws as passed by Congress, signed into law by presidents, and interpreted by federal judges.\n\n\t\u201cWhile presidents may use executive orders to implement federal statutes, it is well established that the executive order will only have the effect of law if the underlying power is vested in the president by the Constitution, or delegated to him by Congress.\u00a0 The president does not have the authority to implement policy decisions that are not authorized by law.\u00a0 And in the case of immigration policy, that falls squarely in the realm of the legislature. In fact, the United States Supreme Court has repeatedly emphasized that \u201cover no conceivable subject is the legislative power of Congress more complete than it is over\u201d immigration.\u00a0 Oceanic Navigation Co. v. Stranahan, 214 U.S. 320, 339 (1909); accord, Kleindienst v. Mandel, 408 U.S. 753, 766 (1972).\n\n\t\u201cTherefore, President Obama's rash, unilateral amnesty decree is not an appropriate use of executive authority and is illegal.\u00a0 The federal courts have the power, and indeed the duty, to reverse this unconstitutional action, lest our nation of laws become one of lawlessness.\u00a0 Under our system of government, legal disputes of this nature are for the courts to decide.\u00a0 My resolution empowers the U.S. House of Representatives to do that.\n\n\t\u201cAs another approach to block executive amnesty, I joined more than 60 House Republicans last week in sending a letter to the House Appropriations Committee, requesting they use FY 2015 appropriations legislation to preemptively bar funds from being used to illegally grant amnesty and work permits to illegal aliens via executive orders.\n\n\t\u201cIn addition, I cosponsored the Executive Amnesty Prevention Act, another bill introduced in the House which states that the Executive Branch does not have the authority to exempt categories of persons unlawfully present in the U.S. from deportation laws. \u00a0It also makes clear that any executive action seeking to exempt these categories of persons is a violation of the law and thus has no legal effect.\n\n\t\u201cPresident Obama should be held to his own words and bound by the United States Constitution he swore to preserve, protect, and defend.\u00a0 Under America\u2019s Constitution, we elect presidents, not dictators or tyrants.\u201d\n\n\t\u00a0\n\n\t\u00a0\n\n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://byrne.house.gov//media-center/press-releases/executive-action-on-immigration-is-the-wrong-approach-byrne-says", "Executive Action on Immigration is the Wrong Approach, Byrne Says", "2014-11-20", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Bradley Byrne", "B001289", "byrne.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Bradley Byrne (AL-1) tonight issued the following statement in response to President Barack Obama\u2019s decision to go forward with executive action on immigration.\nByrne\u00a0said:\u00a0\u201cTonight, President Obama moved forward with executive action on immigration, the same type of action that he previously said would be\u00a0\u2018very difficult to defend legally\u2019\u00a0and that\u00a0\u2018violated our laws.\u2019\u00a0Of course this action will be difficult to defend; it raises serious legal questions and flies in the face of how our Founding Fathers intended our government to operate.\n\u201cWe are a nation of laws, and there would never have been a right time for executive amnesty. In the elections earlier this month, the American people indicated they want the President to work with Congress to advance solutions, not act unilaterally through executive action.\n\u201cWe need a deliberate discussion on securing our borders and dealing with illegal immigrants already in the United States, but executive action from a \u2018lame duck\u2019 President is entirely the wrong approach. I encourage the President to come down from the White House and work with Congress on the immigration issue and many of the other serious issues impacting American families.\n\u201cThis type of executive action is not the way our government is supposed to operate. I am committed to working with my colleagues in the House of Representatives to push back against this action in a meaningful and constructive manner. We will not stand by idly and allow the President to continue to act against the intentions of the Constitution and the will of the American people.\u201d\nDuring his first month in office, Congressman Byrne declared that he was opposed\u00a0\u201cto any legislation that would grant amnesty to people who are here in violation of our laws.\u201d\u00a0Earlier this year, Congressman Byrne\u00a0voted for legislation\u00a0which would boost border security, expedite deportations, and prohibit the expansion of President Obama\u2019s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.\nLast week, Congressman Byrne\u00a0signed a letter\u00a0to House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers seeking to \u201cprohibit funding for the president\u2019s reported intentions to create work permits and green cards for undocumented immigrants living in the United States.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.shelby.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/newsreleases?ContentRecord_id=c1811cb9-8406-4609-90b5-f6c9d1e2c60b", "Shelby Strongly Opposes President Obama's Executive Amnesty", "2014-11-20", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Richard Shelby", "S000320", "www.shelby.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC\u00a0\u2013 U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) today issued the following statement in response to President Obama\u2019s announcement that he is granting executive amnesty to millions of undocumented immigrants:\r\n\u201cPresident Obama\u2019s plan to unilaterally grant amnesty to millions of individuals who have broken our nation\u2019s immigration laws is unconstitutional and must not be tolerated.\u00a0 If the President truly believed that this approach was in the best interest of the American people, he would not have waited until after the election to make this long-anticipated announcement.\r\n\u201cI strongly oppose providing amnesty to those who have entered our country illegally.\u00a0 Border security, enforcement, and removal must be the first response to illegal immigration.\u00a0 President Obama\u2019s failure to enforce our nation\u2019s immigration laws has led us to where we are today and his decision to reward lawlessness with amnesty places additional undue burdens on the American people.\u201d\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://sewell.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/statement-congresswoman-sewell-support-president-obamas-executive-action", "Statement from Congresswoman Sewell in Support of President Obama's Executive Action on Immigration", "2014-11-20", "2014", "2014-11", "Democrat", "House", "AL", "Terri Sewell", "S001185", "sewell.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC  Tonight, Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell (AL-07) released the following statement following President Obama's address to the nation where he outlined the Immigration Accountability Executive Actions he will be taking, within his executive authority, to improve our nation's broken immigration system.\n\n\tTonight, President Barack Obama laid out the actions his administration will take to fix our nation's deeply broken immigration system while urging Congress to do its job by acting through legislation. The President's Immigration Accountability Executive Actions will secure our borders, prioritize deporting felons not families and require certain undocumented immigrants to pass criminal background check and pay taxes.\n\n\tFor the past half century, every PresidentDemocratic or Republicanhas used his legal authority to act on immigration. President Obama is now taking an important commonsense step forward to fix our broken immigration system. These executive actions ensure accountability and that everyone plays by the same rules. While legislative action is always preferable, House Republicans have ignored this dire problem for too long while our families, communities, and local and national economies have paid a steep price for this reckless inaction.\n\n\tWhile the nation waits for Republicans to pass comprehensive immigration reform, President Obama is doing the right thing by acting within the constitutional confines of his authority to make practical steps to prioritize enforcement and provide a way forward for hard-working immigrant families. \n\n\t###\n\n\tClick here to learn more about President Obama's Immigration Accountability Executive Actions", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141203061848/http://www.sessions.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=A913472F-0EEA-48A2-9272-18F8482C47E5", "Sessions: Time To Stand Strong For The American People", "2014-11-20", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Jeff Sessions", "S001141", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON\u2014U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee and a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, in response to the President\u2019s speech on immigration executive action.\u00a0Sessions outlines a plan for Congress to use the power of the purse to ensure no funds are available for the President to implement his unlawful scheme:\n\u201cPresident Obama\u2019s executive amnesty violates the laws Congress has passed in order to create and implement laws Congress has refused to pass.\u00a0 The President is providing an estimated 5 million illegal immigrants with social security numbers, photo IDs and work permits\u2014allowing them to now take jobs directly from struggling Americans during a time of record immigration, low wages, and high joblessness.\u00a0\nThis amnesty plan was rejected by the American people\u2019s Congress.\u00a0 By refusing to carry out the laws of the United States in order to make his own, the President is endangering our entire Constitutional order.\u00a0\nThe President\u2019s plan will apparently also allow many illegal immigrants to receive green cards and become legal permanent residents\u2014meaning they can access almost all U.S. welfare programs, have lifetime work authorization, obtain citizenship, and sponsor foreign relatives to join them in the U.S.\nLaw enforcement has warned this unprecedented amnesty will unleash a \u2018tidal wave\u2019 of new illegal immigration flooding into American neighborhoods at taxpayers\u2019 expense.\nThe President\u2019s plan also calls for boosting foreign worker programs for IT companies that experts tell us displace U.S. workers and keep wages low.\nThe President\u2019s unconstitutional action is a direct threat to our Republican system of government and will have catastrophic consequences for the American people.\u00a0 It must be stopped.\u00a0 And the way to stop it is by using Congress\u2019 power of the purse.\nThe House should send the Senate a government funding bill which ensures no funds can be spent for this unlawful purpose.\u00a0 If Reid\u2019s Senate Democrats vote to surrender their own institution to an imperial decree and block the measure, then the House should send a short-term funding measure so the new GOP majority can be sworn in and pass a funding bill with the needed language.\nCongress has no higher duty than to protect the American people and our Constitution.\u00a0 The President\u2019s action is a threat to every working person in this country\u2014their jobs, wages, dreams, hopes and futures.\u00a0 For years, the American people have begged and pleaded for a lawful system of immigration that serves the nation and makes us proud\u2014but the politicians have refused, refused, refused. \u00a0\nIt is time to stand strong for the American people.\u00a0 It is time to champion the interests of those constantly neglected on the question of immigration: the men and women and children we represent\u2014the citizens of this country to whom we owe our ultimate allegiance.\u00a0 Every American must ask their Senator where they stand.\u201d\n\u00a0\nBACKGROUND:\nLegal Immigration:\nThe U.S. currently provides green cards to an additional 1 million permanent residents each year (who are eventually able to attain citizenship) in addition to about 700,000 temporary guest workers and 200,000 relatives of those guest workers. The inflow of guest workers includes a large number of STEM workers that are displacing American STEM-trained college graduates and recent immigrants.\u00a0 Since the year 2000, the U.S. has issued nearly 30 million visas for permanent immigrants or temporary guest workers.\u00a0 As reported by the Pew Research Center, the total number of immigrants in the U.S. has reached a record 41.3 million. The share of the U.S. population that was born in another country, per the Census Bureau, has quadrupled.\nAccording to Harvard labor economist Dr. George Borjas, high immigration rates during the last two decades of the 20th century reduced wages for lower-skilled U.S. workers by more than 7 percent.\u00a0\nThe President\u2019s plan to unilaterally and massively expand the labor supply through illegal amnesty and expanded foreign worker programs would, of course, mean yet lower wages and higher unemployment (as CBO confirmed). \u00a0(Click here to read Civil Rights Commission Member Peter Kirsanow\u2019s letter to the President about how this executive amnesty would be disastrous for black workers in the United States.)\nIllegal Immigration: \nSince taking office, President Obama has engaged in a sustained and calculated campaign to dismantle the immigration laws of the United States.\u00a0 As his own former ICE Director, John Sandweg explained: \u201cif you\u2019re a run-of-the-mill immigrant living here illegally, your odds of getting deported are close to zero.\u201d\u00a0 ICE officers report that their agency caters to special interests and open borders activists, while they are ordered to ignore their oaths and the laws of the United States.\nPresident Obama has plunged our immigration system into a state of lawless chaos.\u00a0 People merely show up at the border and are released into the United States.\u00a0 People overstay their visas without consequence.\u00a0 The asylum system is racked with fraud.\u00a0 Every month seemingly brings some new order further reducing the integrity of our immigration system.\u00a0 In recent months President Obama unilaterally increased guest worker admissions by 100,000; removed restrictions on the admissions of foreign nationals with limited terror-ties; unilaterally expedited chain migration from Haiti; extended amnesty provisions for Honduran and Nicaraguan nationals; attempted to recruit illegal immigrants for military positions even as Americans servicemembers are being laid off; and released more than 100,000 illegal immigrants into the interior of the United States; and released last year 36,000 convicted criminal aliens back into American communities.\u00a0\nThe effective policy of the United States now is that anyone in the world who illegally manages their way into the interior of the United States\u2014whether by overstaying a visa or coming across the border\u2014can remain and work in the United States.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141203064734/http://www.sessions.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=04CABF5A-13C1-426C-B760-72D36C6D1F87", "Sessions Leads Bipartisan Effort To Delay New Job-Crushing Regulations", "2014-11-20", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Jeff Sessions", "S001141", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON\u2014U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions, Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee and Subcommittee on Clean Air & Nuclear Safety, led a bipartisan, bicameral letter to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy requesting a one-year compliance timeline for upcoming regulations on warm air furnaces. EPA initially proposed a 60-day compliance timeline that would have imperiled many small manufacturers, including in Alabama. EPA is due to finalize the regulations by February 3, 2015:\nA full text of the letter follows. To view it as a PDF, please click here.\nNovember 19, 2014\n\u201cThe Honorable Gina McCarthy\nAdministrator\nU.S. Environmental Protection Agency\n1200 Pennsylvania Ave NW\nWashington DC 20460\nRE:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The EPA\u2019s proposed New Source Performance Standards for warm air furnaces\nDear Administrator McCarthy:\nIn reviewing the proposed New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for warm air furnaces, we found that the proposal departs from prior regulations for similar sources under Section 111(b) of the Clean Air Act (CAA), and the timeline for compliance threatens unreasonable economic damage to furnace manufacturers in the United States.\u00a0\u00a0 The proposed rule, which under the provisions of the CAA must be finalized by EPA by February 3, 2015, would prohibit the manufacture or sale of any warm air furnace that is not certified by EPA within 60 days of the final rule\u2019s publication in the Federal Register.\u00a0\u00a0 That timeline is impossible to achieve without undue harm to market participants.\u00a0 We ask EPA to ensure the compliance timeline for warm air furnaces is at least one year in length.\nPrior to this proposal, EPA has never required emissions controls on warm air furnaces, and manufacturers will now be required to modify and submit their models to costly tests prior to certification.\u00a0 Mandating only 60 days to complete the necessary research and development, testing, and retooling of their manufacturing operations is beyond the capacity of many manufacturers.\u00a0 Additionally, EPA\u2019s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA)\u00a0 has informed industry that certification may be unavailable until the 60-day period has expired, and the certification and testing process for manufacturers is further complicated by EPA\u2019s drive to transition from crib to cordwood testing, a development that significantly complicates the testing process for these manufacturers.\u00a0 This situation leaves manufacturers no choice but to cease production during the period between the rule\u2019s finalization and availability of EPA certification.\u00a0\nMany of the warm air furnace models manufactured are sold to retail home-improvement and hardware stores, which purchase stock several months in advance.\u00a0 Because of their purchasing decision timeline, these stores will now be stuck with non-certified inventory, and under the proposed rule, it appears they will be prevented from selling it.\u00a0 Because the content of the final rule remains in flux, inventory stocked for sale throughout 2015 may have to be repurchased by manufacturers at the same time that they are undertaking costly research and development, testing, and certification work.\u00a0\nThe \u201cstandards of performance\u201d described in Section 111 of the CAA require a consideration of the cost of achieving the associated emission reductions.\u00a0\u00a0 In this instance, the 60-day timeline for compliance exacerbates the cost.\u00a0 The financial burden that the proposed rule threatens to places on warm air furnace manufacturers \u2013 in the form of uncertain certification resulting in production halts as well as manufacturers having to buy back furnaces from retailers \u2013 will force many out of business, decreasing consumer choice in the marketplace and increasing unemployment.\u00a0 This stands in contrast to EPA\u2019s first NSPS for woodstoves, promulgated in 1988, which allowed small manufacturers a year to attain compliance\u00a0 and staggered effective dates for all other manufacturers.\u00a0\u00a0 This year-long compliance timeline was set to explicitly ensure that manufacturers could surmount the financial and logistical challenges to certification.\nWe urge EPA to follow past precedence and ensure the compliance timeline for warm air furnaces is at least one year in length to give consumers, retailers, and manufacturers the certainty necessary to develop and manufacture compliant furnaces.\u00a0 Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.\nSincerely,\nU.S. Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL),\nU.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA),\nU.S. Senator Mark Warner (D-VA),\nU.S. Senator Dan Coats (R-IN),\nU.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-ID),\nU.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA),\nU.S. Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO),\nU.S. Senator Richard Burr (R-NC),\nU.S. Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK),\nU.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR),\nU.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN),\nU.S. Senator David Vitter (R-LA),\nU.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH),\nU.S. Senator Al Franken (D-MN),\nU.S. Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA),\nU.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN),\nU.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-TN),\nU.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV),\nU.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH),\nU.S. Senator John Thune (R-ND),\nU.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID),\nU.S. Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO),\nU.S. Senator Joe Donnelly (D-IN),\nU.S. Representative Scott DesJarlais (R-TN),\nU.S. Representative Mike Rogers (R-AL),\nU.S. Representative Brett Guthrie (R-KY),\nU.S. Representative Vicky Hartzler (R-MO),\nU.S. Representative Ann Wagner (R-MO),\nU.S. Representative Sean Duffy (R-WI),\nU.S. Representative Sam Graves (R-MO),\nU.S. Representative Billy Long (R-MO),\nU.S. Representative Peter DeFazio (D-OR),\nU.S. Representative Mo Brooks (R-AL),\nU.S. Representative Collin Peterson (D-MN),\nU.S. Representative Jason Smith (R-MO),\nU.S. Representative Robert Latta (R-OH),\nU.S. Representative Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO)\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141206161206/http://sewell.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=749", "Statement from Congresswoman Sewell in Support of President Obama's Executive Action on Immigration", "2014-11-20", "2014", "2014-11", "Democrat", "House", "AL", "Terri Sewell", "S001185", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC \u2013 Tonight, Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell (AL-07) released the following statement following President Obama\u2019s address to the nation where he outlined the Immigration Accountability Executive Actions he will be taking, within his executive authority, to improve our nation\u2019s broken immigration system.  \u201cTonight, President Barack Obama laid out the actions his administration will take to fix our nation\u2019s deeply broken immigration system while urging Congress to do its job by acting through legislation.\u00a0 The President\u2019s Immigration Accountability Executive Actions will secure our borders, prioritize deporting felons not families and require certain undocumented immigrants to pass criminal background check and pay taxes.  For the past half century, every President\u2014Democratic or Republican\u2014has used his legal authority to act on immigration.\u00a0 President Obama is now taking an important commonsense step forward to fix our broken immigration system. These executive actions ensure accountability and that everyone plays by the same rules. While legislative action is always preferable, House Republicans have ignored this dire problem for too long while our families, communities, and local and national economies have paid a steep price for this reckless inaction.  While the nation waits for Republicans to pass comprehensive immigration reform, President Obama is doing the right thing by acting within the constitutional confines of his authority to make practical steps to prioritize enforcement and provide a way forward for hard-working immigrant families. \u00a0  ###  Click here to learn more about President Obama\u2019s Immigration Accountability Executive Actions", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.shelby.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/inthenews?ContentRecord_id=df530d64-9f08-478f-823c-a8c0a07b1915", "Yellowhammer: Shelby: Democrats blocked 'tens of thousands of new jobs' by opposing Keystone XL pipeline", "2014-11-19", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Richard Shelby", "S000320", "www.shelby.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Senate Democrats on Tuesday evening blocked the approval of the Keystone XL pipeline, a project supported by conservatives and business groups but staunchly opposed by environmental activists.\r\nFourteen Democrats crossed party lines to join all 45 Republicans in voting in favor of the bill, leaving it just one vote shy of the 60-vote threshold needed to assure passage.\r\nIf approved, the pipeline would transport oil from Canada to the U.S. Gulf coast, which advocates say would create tens of thousands of jobs. But for the past six years, approval of the $8 billion project has been at the mercy of the Obama administration because it crosses international borders.\r\n\u201cFor far too long, Senate Democrats have blocked legislation to approve construction of the Keystone XL pipeline \u2013 a commonsense measure that would decrease energy bills for American families and boost our nation\u2019s energy independence,\u201d Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby told Yellowhammer after the vote. \u201cThis unnecessary inaction has delayed the creation of tens of thousands of new jobs across the nation.\u201d\r\n\u201cDelayed\u201d may be the operative word in all of this, because the same bill that Democrats blocked on Tuesday will very likely pass with ease under Republican control in January. The only question is whether President Obama will veto the bill, which he has threatened to do.\r\n\u201cUnfortunately, Senate Democrats and President Obama chose to obstruct this important job-creating project once again,\u201d Shelby continued. \u201cToday\u2019s vote underscores the importance of a Senate Republican Majority that will listen to the American people.\u201d\r\nThe Senate\u2019s inaction on Keystone XL stands in stark contrast to the House, which on Friday\u00a0passed a bill approving the pipeline with bi-partisan support\u00a0that included every member of Alabama\u2019s congressional delegation, including Democrat Terri Sewell, who was one of 31 Democrats who broke ranks to vote in favor of the bill.\r\nRepublicans don\u2019t take control of the senate until January, but Keystone XL will likely be near the top of their priority list once the new sessions begins.\r\nhttp://yellowhammernews.com/politics-2/shelby-democrats-blocked-tens-thousands-new-jobs-opposing-keystone-xl-pipeline/", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141122011352/http://www.sessions.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=E06532D6-FAA1-4DC8-9A3A-F310B2CB72CE", "Sessions Comments On Presidents Impending Executive Amnesty Announcement", "2014-11-19", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Jeff Sessions", "S001141", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON\u2014U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee and a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement today after the White House announced that President Obama will lay out his unilateral immigration actions tomorrow, which are expected to provide legal status and work permits to 5 million illegal immigrants:\n\u201cPresident Obama previously said he could not issue an executive amnesty because \u2018I\u2019m the President of the United States, I\u2019m not the emperor of the United States. My job is to execute laws that are passed.\u2019 Well, apparently we now have an \u2018Emperor of the United States.\u2019 President Obama\u2019s immigration order would provide illegal immigrants with the exact benefits Congress has repeatedly rejected: Social Security numbers, photo IDs and work permits\u2014which will allow them to now take jobs directly from struggling Americans in every occupation. Congress must not allow this unconstitutional action. That means Congress should fund the government while ensuring that no funds can be spent on this unlawful purpose.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://byrne.house.gov//media-center/press-releases/byrne-honors-grove-hill-mayor-levon-hicks", "Byrne Honors Grove Hill Mayor Levon Hicks", "2014-11-18", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Bradley Byrne", "B001289", "byrne.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "During a speech this morning, Congressman Bradley Byrne (AL-1) honored the life of Grove Hill Mayor Levon Hicks, who passed away last week after a lengthy illness.\nByrne called Mayor Hicks a \u201cloyal community servant\u201d and recognized his years of service to Grove Hill as an elected official, church member and volunteer firefighter.\nByrne said: \u201cMr. Speaker, I rise today to remember a loyal community servant, Grove Hill Mayor Levon Hicks.\n\u201cMayor Hicks passed away on November 14 after an extended illness.\n\u201cHe devoted his life to serving his family, church, and local community. He was a dedicated member of the Jackson Church of Christ for more than 50 years, serving as an elder and attending several mission trips over the years.\n\u201cHe served two terms on the Grove Hill Town Council before becoming Mayor. He also served around 40 years as a volunteer fireman and was an active member of the Lions Club.\n\u201cHe worked tirelessly for the betterment of the Grove Hill community and enjoyed fishing, traveling, and Alabama football.\n\u201cMr. Speaker, to Mayor Hicks\u2019 wife, Helen, and his children and grandchildren: thank you for sharing Levon with us. We will miss him greatly.\n\u201cI yield back the remainder of my time.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://brooks.house.gov/media-center/news-releases/brooks-courts-should-determine-if-obama-right-when-he-denied-authority", "Brooks: Courts Should Determine if Obama Right When He Denied Authority to Grant Executive Amnesty, Stating:  \"That's Not How Our Constitution is Written\"", "2014-11-18", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Mo Brooks", "B001274", "brooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  The media reports President Obama has plans to make \"changes to the immigration enforcement system\" that \"could offer legal documents to as many as five million immigrants in the country illegally.\" In 2011, when open borders and amnesty groups pressed President Obama to grant executive amnesty, President Obama replied, \"Believe me, the idea of doing things on my own is very tempting, ... not just on immigration reform, but that's not how  that's not how our system works. That's not how our democracy functions. That's not how our Constitution is written.\" Again, in September 2011, President Obama stated that he lacked authority to unilaterally grant executive amnesty, \"This notion that somehow I can just change the laws unilaterally is just not true. ... We are doing everything we can administratively. But the fact of the matter is, there are laws on the books that I have to enforce.\" In response to President Obama's promised executive amnesty, Monday night Congressman Brooks introduced House Resolution 757 to authorize the House of Representatives to seek a declaratory judgment action in federal court to determine whether President Obama's amnesty executive order violates the Constitution and federal immigration law duties, and, if so, to obtain injunctive relief and a writ of mandamus to compel President Obama and the Executive Branch to obey immigration laws as passed by Congress, signed into law by presidents, and interpreted by federal judges. Congressman Brooks said, \"As his own words reflect, President Obama knows he lacks legal authority to grant executive amnesty to millions of illegal aliens. Yet, in response to special interest group pressures, President Obama says he will grant executive amnesty anyway. President Obama should be held to his own words and bound by the United States Constitution. Thankfully, our system of government grants courts the authority to resolve legal disputes. The federal courts are best suited to determine if Obama is exceeding his authority, and, if so, how to reverse it. Under America's Constitution, we elect presidents, not dictators or tyrants. Under our system of government, legal disputes of this nature are for the courts to decide. My resolution empowers the U.S. House of Representatives to do that.\" Brooks continued, \"Seeking judicial guidance is not partisan. It is not Republican nor Democrat. There is a bigger issue at stake. Can future Congresses, regardless of party, force a president, regardless of party, to adhere to his Constitutional duty to take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed?' Can future Congresses force future presidents to obey federal law? The overarching issue in this litigation is the delicate balance of power that our nation's founders embodied in our Constitution. Embodied in that overarching issue is one question: Is America based on tyranny or democracy?\" Brooks concluded, \"I appreciate the support of my fellow Members of Congress in holding this Administration accountable. Although filed just last night, H.Res. 757 has already been cosponsored by Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner (WI-05), Congressman John Culberson (TX-07), Congressman Steve King (IA-04), Congressman Tom McClintock (CA-04), Congressman Paul Gosar (AZ-04), Congressman Michele Bachmann (MN-06), Congressman Steve Stockman (TX-36), and Congressman Lee Terry (NE-02).\" In another attempt to block executive amnesty, last week Brooks joined more than 60 House Republicans last week in sendinga letter to the House Appropriations Committee, requesting they use FY 2015 appropriations legislation to preemptively bar fundsfrom being used to illegally grant amnesty and work permits to illegal aliens via executive orders.  ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141207033455/http://brooks.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=1254", "Brooks: Courts Should Determine if Obama Right When He Denied Authority to Grant Executive Amnesty, Stating: \"That's Not How Our Constitution is Written\"", "2014-11-18", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Mo Brooks", "B001274", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 The media reports President Obama has plans to make \"changes to the immigration enforcement system\" that \"could offer legal documents to as many as five million immigrants in the country illegally.\"\n\n\tIn 2011, when open borders and amnesty groups pressed President Obama to grant executive amnesty, President Obama replied, \"Believe me, the idea of doing things on my own is very tempting,\u00a0 ...\u00a0 not just on immigration reform, but that\u2019s not how \u2014 that\u2019s not how our system works. That\u2019s not how our democracy functions. That\u2019s not how our Constitution is written.\"\n\n\tAgain, in September 2011, President Obama stated that he lacked authority to unilaterally grant executive amnesty, \"This notion that somehow I can just change the laws unilaterally is just not true.\u00a0 ...\u00a0 We are doing everything we can administratively. But the fact of the matter is, there are laws on the books that I have to enforce.\"\n\n\tIn response to President Obama\u2019s promised executive amnesty, Monday night Congressman Brooks introduced House Resolution 757 to authorize the House of Representatives to seek a declaratory judgment action in federal court to determine whether President Obama\u2019s amnesty executive order violates the Constitution and federal immigration law duties, and, if so, to obtain injunctive relief and a writ of mandamus to compel President Obama and the Executive Branch to obey immigration laws as passed by Congress, signed into law by presidents, and interpreted by federal judges.\n\n\tCongressman Brooks said, \"As his own words reflect, President Obama knows he lacks legal authority to grant executive amnesty to millions of illegal aliens.\u00a0 Yet, in response to special interest group pressures, President Obama says he will grant executive amnesty anyway.\u00a0 President Obama should be held to his own words and bound by the United States Constitution.\u00a0 Thankfully, our system of government grants courts the authority to resolve legal disputes.\u00a0 The federal courts are best suited to determine if Obama is exceeding his authority, and, if so, how to reverse it.\u00a0 Under America\u2019s Constitution, we elect presidents, not dictators or tyrants.\u00a0 Under our system of government, legal disputes of this nature are for the courts to decide.\u00a0 My resolution empowers the U.S. House of Representatives to do that.\"\n\n\tBrooks continued, \"Seeking judicial guidance is not partisan.\u00a0 It is not Republican nor Democrat.\u00a0 There is a bigger issue at stake.\u00a0 Can future Congresses, regardless of party, force a president, regardless of party, to adhere to his Constitutional duty to \u2018take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed?\u2019\u00a0 Can future Congresses force future presidents to obey federal law?\u00a0 The overarching issue in this litigation is the delicate balance of power that our nation\u2019s founders embodied in our Constitution.\u00a0 Embodied in that overarching issue is one question:\u00a0 Is America based on tyranny or democracy?\"\n\n\tBrooks concluded, \"I appreciate the support of my fellow Members of Congress in holding this Administration accountable. Although filed just last night, H.Res. 757 has already been cosponsored by Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner (WI-05), Congressman John Culberson (TX-07), Congressman Steve King (IA-04), Congressman Tom McClintock (CA-04), Congressman Paul Gosar (AZ-04), Congressman Michele Bachmann (MN-06), Congressman Steve Stockman (TX-36), and Congressman Lee Terry (NE-02).\"\n\n\tIn another attempt to block executive amnesty, last week Brooks joined more than 60 House Republicans last week in sending\u00a0a letter to the House Appropriations Committee, requesting they use FY 2015 appropriations legislation to preemptively bar fundsfrom being used to illegally grant amnesty and work permits to illegal aliens via executive orders.\n\n\t\u00a0\n\n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://byrne.house.gov//media-center/press-releases/byrne-announces-november-staff-community-office-hours", "Byrne Announces November Staff Community Office Hours", "2014-11-17", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Bradley Byrne", "B001289", "byrne.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Staff members from the Office of Congressman Bradley Byrne (AL-1) will hold office hours in each of the six counties that make up Alabama\u2019s First Congressional District from November 18-20.\nThe staff members will be on hand to help constituents with problems they may be experiencing with federal agencies including the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Medicare, and Social Security. Staff members can also assist constituents who need help applying for or receiving a United States passport.\nBaldwin County  Tuesday, November 18  \n\t8:30 \u2013 9:30 am: Orange Beach City Hall  \n\t10:00 \u2013 11:00 am: Gulf Shores City Hall  \n\t1:00 \u2013 1:45 pm: Summerdale City Hall  \n\t2:00 \u2013 3:00 pm: Robertsdale City Hall  \n\t3:30 \u2013 4:30 pm: Bay Minette City Hall\nWednesday, November 19  \n\t9:00 \u2013 10:00 am: Magnolia Springs Town Hall  \n\t10:30 \u2013 11:30 am: Fairhope City Hall  \n\t1:30 \u2013 2:30 pm: Daphne City Hall  \n\t3:00 \u2013 4:00 pm: Spanish Fort City Hall\nClarke County  Wednesday, November 19  \n\t10:00 \u2013 11:00 am: Grove Hill Town Hall  \n\t11:30 am \u2013 12:30 pm: Jackson City Hall\nEscambia County  Tuesday, November 18  \n\t9:30 \u2013 10:30 am: Atmore City Hall  \n\t11:00 \u2013 12:00 pm: Brewton City Hall\nMobile County  Thursday, November 20  \n\t11:00 am \u2013 12:00 noon: Citronelle Town Hall  \n\t3:00 \u2013 4:00 pm: Bayou La Batre Town Hall\nMonroe County  Tuesday, November 18  \n\t2:00 \u2013 3:00 pm: Monroeville City Hall\nWashington County  Wednesday, November 19  \n\t2:30 \u2013 3:30 pm: Washington County Public Library, Chatom\nThursday, November 20  \n\t9:30 \u2013 10:30 am: McIntosh Town Hall\nFor more information on visits to Clarke, Escambia, Mobile, Monroe, and Washington Counties, constituents should contact Congressman Byrne\u2019s Mobile office at 251-690-2811.\nFor more information on visits to Baldwin County, constituents should contact Congressman Byrne\u2019s Baldwin County office at 251-972-8545.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://byrne.house.gov//media-center/columns/it-s-time-to-get-to-work", "Its Time to Get to Work", "2014-11-14", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Bradley Byrne", "B001289", "byrne.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The next two years are shaping up to be very interesting on Capitol Hill.\u00a0 As you have probably heard by now, for the first time since 2006, Republicans will control both the United States House of Representatives and the Senate.\nOn Election Day, voters across the country went to the polls and elected the largest Republican majority in the House since Harry Truman was President. In the Senate, Republicans have already captured eight new seats.\nThe elections are now over, and it\u2019s time to get down to governing.\nThe voters sent a clear message to their elected officials: they are tired of the stagnation in the Washington and want to see results. I believe the Republican majority should make it our top priority to offer solutions to the problems Americans face every day. From higher energy costs to unnecessary regulations, we should be focused on making life work for more Americans.\nOver the past four years, the House of Representatives passed bipartisan legislation aimed at reducing the regulatory burden, expanding domestic energy production, connecting Americans with good-paying jobs, and getting the federal government out of the way.\u00a0 Over 3oo bills still languish in the Democrat-controlled Senate. Starting next year, these bills should be at the top of the list.\nUnfortunately, it seems President Obama is tone deaf to the mandate for effective governance and is instead content to continue his \u201cmy way or the highway\u201d approach to running our country. In fact, since the election, the President has only moved further to the extremes, pushing his radical climate change agenda and new regulations on the Internet. Worst of all, President Obama has continued to push ahead with his plans for executive amnesty.\nUltimately, we must push forward with our agenda of projects important to lower Alabama like building a new I-10 bridge and reforming Red Snapper regulations, and we should also promote commonsense solutions that impact all Americans. I sincerely hope President Obama will put politics aside and work across the aisle over the next two years. If he chooses to stand in the way of legislation which would make life easier for American families, then the burden will be on him.\nWe must push forward with legislation to end the ill-conceived sequestration cuts to national defense. At a time when we face multiple conflicts abroad, the last thing we need to do is cut our military. There are certainly smarter areas of the federal budget worthy of cuts.\nWe must push forward on dismantling ObamaCare. We should push back against the employer and individual mandate, which place unnecessary burdens on American families and businesses. If a full repeal of the law doesn\u2019t work out, we should also repeal the innovation stifling medical device tax.\nWe must push forward on policies that help connect Americans with good-paying jobs. A great example is the REINS Act, which requires Congressional approval of new regulations that have a major impact on the economy. We should also continue to put an emphasis on career and technical education programs in our schools and colleges.\nFinally, we must push forward on reining in our national debt. We should get serious about making real reforms to mandatory spending programs, which are the true driver of our debt. Making the tax code simpler and fairer would also be an important step toward fiscal stability.\nAt the end of the day, the people in Southwest Alabama and all across the country don\u2019t want to see more partisan bickering and political gimmicks, they want to see leadership and results that get Americans back to work. That\u2019s been my priority from day one and will continue to be my priority in the new Congress.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://mike-rogers.house.gov/press-release/rogers-welcomes-nuclear-enterprise-review-results-highlights-need-long-term-commitment", "Rogers Welcomes Nuclear Enterprise Review Results, Highlights Need for Long-Term Commitment and Investment", "2014-11-14", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Mike Rogers", "R000575", "mike-rogers.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(WASHINGTON, D.C.)\u2014Congressman Mike Rogers (R-AL), Chairman of the House Armed Services Strategic Forces subcommittee, commented today on the Department of Defense\u2019s release of the results of its Nuclear Enterprise Review, saying, \u201cThe commitments made today by Secretary Hagel to finally bring our nuclear forces the attention and resources they so sorely need is a very positive step. As other nuclear powers around the world have continued to grow and modernize their nuclear forces, the U.S. has taken a 25 year nuclear hiatus. I welcome Secretary Hagel's commitment to put U.S. nuclear forces\u2014and the sailors and airmen who operate them\u2014at the top of our defense priority list.\u201d\nRogers also expressed caution that the new focus must be reinforced with long-term action and investment, saying, \u201cWe\u2019ve seen commitments to reinvigorate our nuclear forces before. Unfortunately, those efforts were not sustained or fully implemented. As Chairman of the Strategic Forces subcommittee, I will ensure we do not lose focus again; my subcommittee will work with Secretary Hagel to make sure this review is different. Our airmen and sailors who work this mission everyday deserve nothing less.\u201d\nRogers also highlighted the continued dysfunction and deficiencies in the other part of the nation\u2019s nuclear enterprise within the Department of Energy, saying, \u201cWhile this is a welcome focus from the Secretary of Defense, the Department of Energy\u2019s nuclear enterprise continues to suffer from chronic mismanagement, dysfunction and bureaucracy. We cannot fix the pointy-end of the spear and let the handle continue to rot. I hope the Administration will undertake a similar bottom-to-top review of the Department of Energy\u2019s nuclear enterprise and develop a long-term plan to get it the attention and resources it needs to delivery for the military.\u201d\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 -###-", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://roby.house.gov/column/audacity-hoax-obamacare-architect-admits-deceiving-voters", "Audacity of Hoax? Obamacare Architect Admits Deceiving Voters", "2014-11-14", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Martha Roby", "R000591", "roby.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Five years after its passage, the Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare, is as unpopular as ever \u2013 only 37 percent of Americans view it favorably. Throughout Alabama and around the country, this ill-conceived mandate has led to\u00a0cancelled insurance policies, dramatic spikes in premiums and copays, reduced work hours for wage earners and tax increases that affect middle class families.\nAdding insult to injury this week was Jonathan Gruber, an MIT economist and one of the\u00a0chief architects of the Obamacare law.\u00a0Videos surfaced of Gruber acknowledging the lack of transparency and outright deceit it took to pass Obamacare through Congress five years ago. From one of the tapes:\n \n\t\u201cIf you had a law that said healthy people are going to pay in, that made it explicit that healthy people pay in and sick people get money, it would not have passed. Okay?\u00a0\n\t\u201c\u2026Lack of transparency is a huge political advantage. And basically, call it the stupidity of the American voter or whatever, but basically that was really, really critical to getting the thing to pass.\u201d\n \nYou read that correctly: the crafters of Obamacare thought you were too stupid to understand why your taxes went up, hours at work got cut, health care policy got cancelled, or premiums skyrocketed. In fact, they were counting on it. Because, by Gruber\u2019s own admission, even a Democratic Majority in Congress would not have passed a bill that truthfully explained what the effects of Obamacare would be. \u00a0\nI\u2019m not surprised, really. Obamacare was built on a foundation of lies. Remember \u201cif you like your health plan, you can keep your health plan\u201d?\u00a0\nWhat this revelation lays bare is the Administration\u2019s contempt and disrespect for the American voters. To be so willing to obfuscate, distract, and outright lie about a proposal that would negatively affect millions of Americans takes next-level hubris and callousness; an \u201cAudacity of Hoax.\u201d\nOf course, Administration officials and Democratic leaders are trying to walk back Gruber\u2019s statements. In fact, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi-- who repeatedly touted Gruber\u2019s analysis when passing the law-- has gone so far as to claim that she doesn\u2019t know who Gruber is.\nFacts are\u00a0stubborn things, and the camera doesn\u2019t lie. Not only did Obamcare\u2019s designers craft intentionally deceptive legislation, they considered that deception and the\u00a0gullibility of Americans central to their ability to pass it.\u00a0\nI\u00a0believe\u00a0most Americans see through such\u00a0political\u00a0games. My conservative colleagues and I remain committed to dismantling Obamacare and replacing it with sensible health reforms that are patient-centered, competition-driven and actually work to reduce costs.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://brooks.house.gov/media-center/news-releases/brooks-joins-colleagues-urging-appropriators-prevent-executive-amnesty", "Brooks Joins Colleagues in Urging Appropriators to Prevent Executive Amnesty", "2014-11-14", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Mo Brooks", "B001274", "brooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. - President Obama states he intends to illegally grant amnesty and work permits to illegal aliens via executive orders that violate the U.S. Constitution and federal law. This week, Congressman Mo Brooks (AL-05) joined more than 60 House Republicans in sending a letter (attached hereto) to the House Appropriations Committee, requesting they use FY 2015 appropriations legislation to preemptively bar funds from being used to implement an executive amnesty program. The letter states, We respectfully request that as you work to finalize the year-end funding legislation that language be included in all relevant appropriations legislation for FY 2015 to prohibit the use of funds by the administration for the implementation of current or future executive actions that would create additional work permits and green cards outside of the scope prescribed by Congress. Congressman Brooks said, The president does not have the lawful authority to disregard federal law and unilaterally declare that illegal aliens are lawfully in the United States. As evidenced by recent elections, Americans oppose amnesty for illegal aliens. As a direct result of a huge surge in the supply of illegal alien labor, American families too often face difficulty finding jobs, and too often the jobs they find do not provide the income necessary to support a family. I will continue to stand with leaders such as Senator Jeff Sessions and do everything in my power to protect lawful, American workers. Click here to view the letter. ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141115040622/http://brooks.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=1253", "Brooks Joins Colleagues in Urging Appropriators to Prevent Executive Amnesty", "2014-11-14", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Mo Brooks", "B001274", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. - President Obama states he intends to illegally grant amnesty and work permits to illegal aliens via executive orders that violate the U.S. Constitution and federal law.\u00a0 This week, Congressman Mo Brooks (AL-05) joined more than 60 House Republicans in sending \u00a0a letter (attached hereto) to the House Appropriations Committee, requesting they use FY 2015 appropriations legislation to preemptively bar fundsfrom being used to implement an executive amnesty program.\n\n\tThe letter states, \u201cWe respectfully request that as you work to finalize the year-end funding legislation that language be included in all relevant appropriations legislation for FY 2015 to prohibit the use of funds by the administration for the implementation of current or future executive actions that would create additional work permits and green cards outside of the scope prescribed by Congress.\u201d\n\n\tCongressman Brooks said, \u201cThe president does not have the lawful authority to disregard federal law and unilaterally declare that illegal aliens are lawfully in the United States.\u00a0 As evidenced by recent elections, Americans oppose amnesty for illegal aliens.\u00a0 As a direct result of a huge surge in the supply of illegal alien labor, American families too often face difficulty finding jobs, and too often the jobs they find do not provide the income necessary to support a family.\u00a0 I will continue to stand with leaders such as Senator Jeff Sessions and do everything in my power to protect lawful, American workers.\u201d\n\n\tClick here to view the letter.\u00a0\n\n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://mike-rogers.house.gov/press-release/rogers-obama-climate-deal-china-bad-alabama", "Rogers: Obama Climate Deal with China Bad for Alabama", "2014-11-13", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Mike Rogers", "R000575", "mike-rogers.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(WASHINGTON, DC)\u2014Congressman Mike Rogers made the following remarks today after the announcement of a deal to cut carbon emissions was made between President Obama and China\u2019s President Xi Jingping.\n\u201cPresident Obama\u2019s plan could put thousands of jobs on the line in Alabama\u2019s coal industry. The president\u2019s latest agreement with China could further hurt our state\u2019s economy, destroy more of these good-paying jobs and increase energy rates for working families and small businesses. This agreement forces the U.S. into draconian cuts while China is asked to do almost nothing for the next 16 years. President Obama needs to focus his efforts on policies that help create jobs and work with Republicans in the United States Congress instead of the Communist government in China. This recent agreement with China is just not good for Alabama,\u201d Rogers said.\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 -###-", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://mike-rogers.house.gov/press-release/time-leadership", "Time for Leadership", "2014-11-13", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Mike Rogers", "R000575", "mike-rogers.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(WASHINGTON, D.C.)\u2014As Congress works to wrap up its work for this year and prepares for Republican control of the House and Senate next year, you can guarantee there will be new and refreshed leadership on many of the issues folks are most concerned about.\nOver the past several years, so many important pieces of legislation that would have helped hard-working families just collected dust in the Senate, such as H.R. 3, the Northern Route Approval Act, which would approve construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline.\nSoon, it\u2019s going to be time for conservatives to work to make things happen on issues folks care about. As I made my way across East Alabama late this fall, I kept hearing the same concerns: for example, folks are worried about Obamacare and how it will affect their small businesses and their families.\nI also heard a lot of folks ask about immigration reform. People are concerned that not enough good-paying jobs are being created. Many folks are also uncertain about America\u2019s leadership around the world, including how the terrorist group known as the Islamic State or ISIL continues to threaten Americans and our allies.\nI also hear ongoing concerns about the constant threats toward Israel, one of our strongest allies. These issues, like so many others that weigh on the minds of folks across the Third District, have only been made worse by the lack of leadership. I don\u2019t blame them for worrying one bit, but I am optimistic about our future.\nWith renewed opportunities to bring about real change and a stronger than ever desire from Americans for a leaner, more efficient and effective Federal government, I plan to continue to fight for the interests of East Alabamians \u2013 all East Alabamians, even if we don\u2019t agree, just as I always have.\nEarlier this month on November 11th, we honored our nation\u2019s brave men and women who have served our country in uniform. Veterans Day is an example of what makes this country great \u2013 supporting and working on behalf of the Veterans across East Alabama is something we all believe in. We all want to ensure our Veterans receive the care they need and deserve. Making sure our Veterans receive that care, like so many of these other concerns, is about leadership.\nThat\u2019s what\u2019s been lacking from the very top in Washington.\nAnd that\u2019s why our Constitution guarantees our right to vote, so Americans can make their voices heard. America is the greatest country on earth and we are lucky to be its citizens. I am deeply grateful for the honor to continue to fight for your interests, and look forward as always to hearing from you.\nPlease sign up for my e-Newsletter at www.mike-rogers.house.gov, like me on Facebook at Congressman Mike D. Rogers, follow me on Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram at RepMikeRogersAL, on Tumblr at www.repmikerogersal.tumblr.com and subscribe to my YouTube page at MikeRogersAL03.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://mike-rogers.house.gov/press-release/rogers-honoring-our-veterans", "Rogers: Honoring Our Veterans", "2014-11-12", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Mike Rogers", "R000575", "mike-rogers.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(WASHINGTON, DC)\u2014Congressman Mike Rogers made the following remarks today in honor of November 11th - Veterans Day.\n\u201cThe brave men and women who have served our country in uniform are honored today. These Veterans have selflessly served and sacrificed for our everyday freedoms and our gratitude goes out to them and their families.\n\u201cToday, as a country, we honor our Veterans, remembering those who\u2019ve paid the ultimate sacrifice and praying for their families. God bless our Veterans and God bless America.\u201d\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 -###-", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.shelby.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/newsreleases?ContentRecord_id=fb5bb498-27e7-4499-bc32-adac0d9dfec7", "Shelby Statement at Full Committee Hearing on Ebola Outbreak", "2014-11-12", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Richard Shelby", "S000320", "www.shelby.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC, Wednesday, November 12, 2014 \u2013 U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today delivered opening remarks at a Full Committee hearing on the U.S. Government response to the Ebola outbreak.\r\nThe full text of Shelby\u2019s remarks, as prepared, is below. \u00a0\u00a0\r\nThank you Madam Chair.\r\nToday, we will discuss the administration\u2019s $6 billion request to address the Ebola outbreak, both domestically and in West Africa.\r\nGiven the size of the request, the slow progress in detailing plans for how the money will be spent, and some of the missteps made so far, it deserves our careful oversight and scrutiny.\r\nAs we have seen in recent weeks, the vast majority of American health care professionals have little to no experience with this virus.\u00a0 Therefore, the appearance of the disease on our shores can have devastating consequences for our health care system and our society at large.\u00a0\r\nConsequently, it is the fundamental responsibility of the federal government to respond effectively to this crisis.\u00a0 Every prudent step must be taken to protect the American people.\r\nInstead of an effective response, however, what we have witnessed these past few months from various agencies has been confusing and at times contradictory.\r\nFor example, the CDC\u2019s guidance to hospitals has been a moving target.\u00a0 This uncertainty may have exposed health care professionals to unnecessary risks.\r\nThe administration has also sent mixed messages on the issue of quarantine.\u00a0 While the President has discouraged strict quarantine rules, Defense Secretary Hagel has prudently put in place a 21-day mandatory quarantine for troops returning from West Africa.\r\nIn addition, the administration did not call for enhanced airport screenings for travelers entering the U.S. from West Africa until months after the epidemic became severe.\u00a0 It still remains to be seen whether these cursory screenings will be effective.\r\nNot surprisingly, Americans have been frustrated by the lack of clarity and coordination within their government.\u00a0\r\nEven though the President has named a so-called Ebola \u201cczar\u201d to coordinate our response, all reports indicate that he has no actual authority to direct government agencies.\r\nFrom the beginning of this outbreak, the administration has appeared to be preparing for only the best-case scenario.\u00a0 Competent crisis planning, however, must include contingencies for the worst-case scenario as well.\r\nTherefore, we should not rule out any reasonable options to prevent the reintroduction of Ebola in the U.S., including travel and visa restrictions.\r\nIf the history of disease outbreaks has taught us anything, it is that things can change quickly and without warning.\u00a0 Therefore, our federal agencies must be ready to aggressively implement a clear and organized strategy.\r\nIt is my hope that today\u2019s witnesses can assure this committee that the President has a plan and that the funds he has requested are necessary to execute it.\r\nThank you.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://sewell.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-sewell-sends-letter-house-judiciary-committee-urging", "Congresswoman Sewell Sends Letter to House Judiciary Committee Urging an Investigation into the Impeachment of U.S. District Court Judge Mark Fuller", "2014-11-12", "2014", "2014-11", "Democrat", "House", "AL", "Terri Sewell", "S001185", "sewell.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC  Today, Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell (AL-07) sent a letter urging House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte and Ranking Member John Conyers to commence an investigation into whether Congress should impeach U.S. District Court Judge Mark Everett Fuller. On August 9, 2014, Judge Fuller was arrested in Atlanta, Georgia on charges of misdemeanor battery, after attacking his wife in an Atlanta hotel room. On September 10, Congresswoman Sewell called for the resignation of Judge Fuller and on September 16, she released a statement expounding upon her initial call for his resignation. Congresswoman Sewell was subsequently joined by Alabama Senators Richard Shelby and Jeff Sessions and nearly all other members of the Alabama Congressional delegation in calling for Judge Fuller's resignation.  Today, I am urging the House Judiciary Committee to commence an investigation into whether Congress should impeach Federal Judge Mark Fuller. In my opinion, Judge Fuller's recent arrest and subsequent plea to domestic violence is an indefensible violation of the public trust. The integrity of the federal court has already been severely compromised and I no longer have confidence in Judge Fuller's ability to sit in the judgment of others.  While I believe the findings and recommendations of the Judicial Council of the 11th Circuit are an important part of due process, we in Congress have our own obligations to the American people. Only Congress can remove a sitting Federal Judge. Now that Congress is back in session, I am urging the House Judiciary Committee to waste no time in conducting its own investigation into impeaching Judge Mark Fuller. This a necessary first step in beginning impeachment proceedings. During the waning days of the 113th Congress, the House Judiciary Committee can lay the groundwork for impeachment by evaluating the facts of Judge Fuller's behavior that led to his arrest for domestic violence.  We must not and cannot tolerate domestic violence in any form whether committed by an NFL player or a federal judge. No one should get a pass. If a football player can lose his job, surely a federal judge should not be allowed to keep his job. The fact that Judge Fuller has not resigned is the height of arrogance and suggests he believes his actions are above reproach. Judge Fuller is sadly mistaken because his personal conduct has already irreparably damaged his integrity and led to a loss of confidence in his ability to effectively serve as a federal judge. I will continue to call for the resignation of Judge Fuller and urge my colleagues in Congress to support impeachment if he does not resign.  ###  A copy of Congresswoman Sewell's letter to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte and Ranking Member John Conyers can be viewed here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141113070151/http://www.sessions.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=A785DD09-D030-4541-B5F6-9DFBC1FE9697", "Sessions Comments On U.S.-Chinese Leaders Climate Agreement, Negative Impact For American Workers", "2014-11-12", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Jeff Sessions", "S001141", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON\u2014U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL), a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, issued the following statement today after President Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping reached an agreement on carbon emissions limitations:\n\u201cThe President has made a habit of circumventing Congress to unilaterally fulfill his agenda. Despite holding commanding Democrat majorities in the House and Senate in 2009 and 2010, the President\u2019s cap-and-trade agenda was rejected. Under this new agreement, China, our largest trading competitor, is allowed to emit carbon dioxide unabated until 2030. This will cement a huge economic advantage for them while saddling American businesses and employees with new, high-cost regulations. This action places the President\u2019s ideology over the needs of struggling American workers. These are policies that will cost jobs, lower wages, and needlessly spike utility rates, while hurting vital industries that are often pillars of the local economy.\u201d\n\u00a0\nBACKGROUND:\nOn November 11, 2014, President Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to new restraints on carbon emissions.\u00a0The agreement requires the U.S. to emit between 26 and 28 percent less carbon in 2025 than was emitted in 2005 while China must produce 20 percent of its total energy from carbon-free sources by 2030 and not increase net carbon emissions after that year.\u00a0Following the announcement, EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy stated that this goal will be met using executive orders by the President, preventing any input from Congress. The Obama Administration is already developing Executive branch regulations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 30 percent below 2005 levels by 2030.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141113102616/http://sewell.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=748", "Congresswoman Sewell Sends Letter to House Judiciary Committee Urging an Investigation into the Impeachment of U.S. District Court Judge Mark Fuller", "2014-11-12", "2014", "2014-11", "Democrat", "House", "AL", "Terri Sewell", "S001185", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell (AL-07) sent a letter urging House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte and Ranking Member John Conyers to commence an investigation into whether Congress should impeach U.S. District Court Judge Mark Everett Fuller. On August 9, 2014, Judge Fuller was arrested in Atlanta, Georgia on charges of misdemeanor battery, after attacking his wife in an Atlanta hotel room. On September 10, Congresswoman Sewell called for the resignation of Judge Fuller and on September 16, she released a statement expounding upon her initial call for his resignation. \u00a0Congresswoman Sewell was subsequently joined by Alabama Senators Richard Shelby and Jeff Sessions and nearly all other members of the Alabama Congressional delegation in calling for Judge Fuller\u2019s resignation.  \u201cToday, I am urging the House Judiciary Committee to commence an investigation into whether Congress should impeach Federal Judge Mark Fuller. In my opinion, Judge Fuller\u2019s recent arrest and subsequent plea to domestic violence is an indefensible violation of the public trust. The integrity of the federal court has already been severely compromised and I no longer have confidence in Judge Fuller\u2019s ability to sit in the judgment of others.  While I believe the findings and recommendations of the Judicial Council of the 11th Circuit are an important part of due process, we in Congress have our own obligations to the American people. Only Congress can remove a sitting Federal Judge.\u00a0 Now that Congress is back in session, I am urging the House Judiciary Committee to waste no time in conducting its own investigation into impeaching Judge Mark Fuller. This a necessary first step in beginning impeachment proceedings. During the waning days of the 113th Congress, the House Judiciary Committee can lay the groundwork for impeachment by evaluating the facts of Judge Fuller\u2019s behavior that led to his arrest for domestic violence.  We must not and cannot tolerate domestic violence in any form whether committed by an NFL player or a federal judge. No one should get a pass. If a football player can lose his job, surely a federal judge should not be allowed to keep his job. The fact that Judge Fuller has not resigned is the height of arrogance and suggests he believes his actions are above reproach. Judge Fuller is sadly mistaken because his personal conduct has already irreparably damaged his integrity and led to a loss of confidence in his ability to effectively serve as a federal judge.\u00a0 I will continue to call for the resignation of Judge Fuller and urge my colleagues in Congress to support impeachment if he does not resign.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0  ###  A copy of Congresswoman Sewell\u2019s letter to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte and Ranking Member John Conyers can be viewed here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://sewell.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/statement-congresswoman-sewell-observance-veterans-day-0", "Statement from Congresswoman Sewell in Observance of Veterans Day", "2014-11-11", "2014", "2014-11", "Democrat", "House", "AL", "Terri Sewell", "S001185", "sewell.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC  Today, Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell (AL-07) released the following statement in observance of Veterans Day. This holiday will be observed on Tuesday, November 11, 2014.\n\n\tToday we pay tribute to our nation's brave service men and women for their immeasurable contributions. Across generations, our veterans are bound together by their willingness to lay their lives on the line to fight for liberty around the world and freedom and democracy here at home. They represent the very best of what our country has to offer. In return, we must fulfill our sacred obligation to take care of them and their families.\n\n\tIt is a grave injustice when one who fights for our country returns home to fight for affordable housing, quality healthcare, or a good paying job. We must work together to eradicate the systematic hurdles faced by many of our veterans as they try to attain the benefits they have so courageously earned. Today, may we recommit ourselves to expressing the gratitude of a grateful nation.\n\n\tWe must also express our solemn gratitude to the troops and reservists who are currently serving in our armed forces. These brave men and women and their families remain in our thoughts and prayers as they risk their lives in the name of liberty and freedom.\n\n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://sewell.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/statement-congresswoman-sewell-observance-veterans-day-1", "Statement from Congresswoman Sewell in Observance of Veterans Day", "2014-11-11", "2014", "2014-11", "Democrat", "House", "AL", "Terri Sewell", "S001185", "sewell.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC  Today, Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell (AL-07) released the following statement in observance of Veterans Day. This holiday will be observed on Tuesday, November 11, 2014.\n\n\tToday we pay tribute to our nation's brave service men and women for their immeasurable contributions. Across generations, our veterans are bound together by their willingness to lay their lives on the line to fight for liberty around the world and freedom and democracy here at home. They represent the very best of what our country has to offer. In return, we must fulfill our sacred obligation to take care of them and their families.\n\n\tIt is a grave injustice when one who fights for our country returns home to fight for affordable housing, quality healthcare, or a good paying job. We must work together to eradicate the systematic hurdles faced by many of our veterans as they try to attain the benefits they have so courageously earned. Today, may we recommit ourselves to expressing the gratitude of a grateful nation.\n\n\tWe must also express our solemn gratitude to the troops and reservists who are currently serving in our armed forces. These brave men and women and their families remain in our thoughts and prayers as they risk their lives in the name of liberty and freedom.\n\n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141112074950/http://sewell.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=746", "Statement from Congresswoman Sewell in Observance of Veterans Day", "2014-11-11", "2014", "2014-11", "Democrat", "House", "AL", "Terri Sewell", "S001185", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell (AL-07) released the following statement in observance of Veterans Day. This holiday will be observed on Tuesday, November 11, 2014.  \u201cToday we pay tribute to our nation\u2019s brave service men and women for their immeasurable contributions. Across generations, our veterans are bound together by their willingness to lay their lives on the line to fight for liberty around the world and freedom and democracy here at home. They represent the very best of what our country has to offer. \u00a0In return, we must fulfill our sacred obligation to take care of them and their families.  It is a grave injustice when one who fights for our country returns home to fight for affordable housing, quality healthcare, or a good paying job. We must work together to eradicate the systematic hurdles faced by many of our veterans as they try to attain the benefits they have so courageously earned. Today, may we recommit ourselves to expressing the gratitude of a grateful nation.  We must also express our solemn gratitude to the troops and reservists who are currently serving in our armed forces. These brave men and women and their families remain in our thoughts and prayers as they risk their lives in the name of liberty and freedom.\u201d  ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141112075153/http://sewell.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=747", "Statement from Congresswoman Sewell in Observance of Veterans Day", "2014-11-11", "2014", "2014-11", "Democrat", "House", "AL", "Terri Sewell", "S001185", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell (AL-07) released the following statement in observance of Veterans Day. This holiday will be observed on Tuesday, November 11, 2014.  \u201cToday we pay tribute to our nation\u2019s brave service men and women for their immeasurable contributions. Across generations, our veterans are bound together by their willingness to lay their lives on the line to fight for liberty around the world and freedom and democracy here at home. They represent the very best of what our country has to offer. \u00a0In return, we must fulfill our sacred obligation to take care of them and their families.  It is a grave injustice when one who fights for our country returns home to fight for affordable housing, quality healthcare, or a good paying job. We must work together to eradicate the systematic hurdles faced by many of our veterans as they try to attain the benefits they have so courageously earned. Today, may we recommit ourselves to expressing the gratitude of a grateful nation.  We must also express our solemn gratitude to the troops and reservists who are currently serving in our armed forces. These brave men and women and their families remain in our thoughts and prayers as they risk their lives in the name of liberty and freedom.\u201d  ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://roby.house.gov/column/use-new-majority-properly-fund-military", "Use New Majority to Properly Fund Military", "2014-11-10", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Martha Roby", "R000591", "roby.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Recent gains by Republicans in the Senate have many people wondering what is in store the 114th Congress. My hope is that we will be able to utilize this New Majority to finally move meaningful legislation.\nThere are many House-passed proposals that I would like to see revived: pro-growth jobs bills, federal spending reforms, sensible heath care policy, help for veterans, and energy infrastructure improvements, just to name a few.\nBut, there is another key responsibility for the new Congress to address: beginning to repair the damage to the military brought on by sequestration. Restoring military funds and setting better spending priorities must be a goal of the New Majority these next two years.\nAs I\u2019ve said before, there is a smarter way to reduce government spending than to slash the military budget and hurt service families. Cutting our defense budget again and again has hollowed out our forces and threatened military readiness.\nGeneral Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, recently used a basketball metaphor to describe how cuts are affecting our state of readiness. A basketball team, he said, needs 12 trained and practiced players: a team of five starters, a team of five backups, and two reserve players. The military needs the same kind of depth to be able to address current threats abroad and be ready to respond to new ones if the need arises. But, if our military was a basketball team, cuts have taken our roster down to only six players, General Dempsey said. \u00a0\nEvery American should be concerned about how budget cuts are affecting our Armed Forces and what that means for our national priorities. We have fought sequestration for two years, and I have been pleased to get incremental victories in a divided Congress. Now, we finally have an opportunity to repair some of the damage done by these ill-conceived military cuts and restore needed funding.\nCongress took a small step in the right direction late last year by passing the Bipartisan Budget Act, which restored some military funding and made modest reforms to mandatory spending. I hope that we can use that step and the new Republican majority in the Senate to build momentum for more long-term reforms that help get our fiscal house in order and allow us to set better spending priorities.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.shelby.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/inthenews?ContentRecord_id=eb6c6432-7965-4add-b170-8d510498ae02", "Yellowhammer: Shelby: Obama's AG nominee should not be considered by lame duck Congress", "2014-11-10", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Richard Shelby", "S000320", "www.shelby.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2014 The newly elected Republican U.S. Senate majority does not take office until January of next year, but Republicans are expressing concerns that President Obama may attempt to take advantage of the upcoming lame duck session of Congress to push through his Attorney General nominee while Democrats are still in control.\r\nObama recently nominated Loretta Lynch, currently the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, to succeed Eric Holder as the nation\u2019s top lawyer. The nomination is subject to confirmation by the U.S. Senate.\r\nSen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) said Monday that considering the drubbing Democrats just took at the polls last week, it would be unwise for them to rush the Senate approval of such a high profile and important position.\r\n\u201cAfter the American people roundly rejected the agendas of Harry Reid and President Obama last week, we should not allow the president\u2019s nominee for Attorney General to be pushed through during the lame-duck session,\u201d Shelby told Yellowhammer. \u201cInstead, the nominee for Attorney General should be considered by the new Republican Majority through regular order next Congress.\u201d\r\nShelby is not alone in his assessment. A chorus of Republican lawmakers released statements on Monday urging the nomination to be done through \u201cregular order\u201d when the new Congress is seated in January.\r\n\u201cMs. Lynch will receive fair consideration by the Senate. And her nomination should be considered in the new Congress through regular order,\u201d said Minority Leader \u2014 soon-to-be Majority Leader \u2014 Mitch McConnell.\r\nSenators from the Tea Party wing of the GOP echoed that sentiment, as well.\r\n\u201cPresident Obama\u2019s Attorney General nominee deserves fair and full consideration of the United States Senate, which is precisely why she should not be confirmed in the lame duck session of Congress by senators who just lost their seats and are no longer accountable to the voters,\u201d Sens. Ted Cruz and Mike Lee said in a joint statement. \u201cLoretta Lynch deserves the opportunity to demonstrate those qualities, beginning with a statement whether or not she believes the President\u2019s executive amnesty plans are constitutional and legal.\u201d\r\nPresident Obama has asked for Lynch to be confirmed \u201cwithout delay,\u201d but White House aides\u00a0say\u00a0he will defer to Senate leaders with regard to whether they should wait until January.\r\nAccording to\u00a0Politico, \u201cSenior Democratic aides, meanwhile, said no final decision on timing has been made, but they are strongly leaning towards moving in the lame duck.\u201d\r\nRegardless of when the confirmation hearings take place, it will likely be a hard-fought battle.\r\nAccording to\u00a0analysis by FiveThirtyEight, attorney general nominees have historically faced the most contentious confirmations of any cabinet position.\r\n\u201cAttorney general nominees are by far the most likely to face serious resistance,\u201dexplained\u00a0FiveThirtyEight\u2019s Harry Enten. \u201cThe average number of \u2018no\u2019 votes for all Cabinet position is just 4.5. AG nominees average 13 more than that \u2014 17.4 \u2018no\u2019 votes \u2014 far ahead of labor secretary nominees at No. 2, who have averaged 10.3 votes.\u201d\r\nhttp://yellowhammernews.com/politics-2/shelby-obamas-ag-nominee-considered-lame-duck-congress/", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://byrne.house.gov//media-center/columns/are-we-doing-enough-for-our-nation-s-veterans", "Are We Doing Enough for our Nations Veterans?", "2014-11-09", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Bradley Byrne", "B001289", "byrne.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Last Wednesday morning, I made my way through a packed auditorium at Perdido School in north Baldwin County to shake the hands of veterans who had admirably served our nation. The veterans were present for a ceremony in their honor organized by the teachers and students at the school.\nThe students waved flags and held up handmade signs. It was great to see young people so enthusiastic in recognizing and honoring our veterans who have served their country. Everyone in that auditorium had a special veteran in their life who immediately came to mind during the ceremony.\nFor me, it is my brother Dale, who served a lengthy career in the Alabama National Guard. Dale rose from the rank of Private to Command Sergeant Major and served in various conflicts, including the Gulf War. Dale was well respected by his comrades and received many honors including the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Expedition Medal. He passed away last October after a lengthy illness, but I will forever remember his dedication and sacrifice for our country.\nThere are countless other American heroes, just like Dale, who the ceremony at Perdido School was designed to honor. But the ceremony led me to wonder: are we doing enough as a nation to support and protect those who have given so much to our nation?\nWe all remember earlier this year when abuse and mismanagement in the VA system was brought to the forefront. Veterans were being placed on secret waiting lists, VA staff was forging medical records, and leadership was severely lacking. The VA scandal hit home right here in Alabama with some of the most egregious activity taking place at the Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System in Montgomery.\nThis series of stories opened our eyes to a real culture of complacency which plagues the entire VA system from top to bottom. VA Secretary Eric Shinseki was forced out and replaced with former Procter & Gamble CEO Robert McDonald. Secretary McDonald has serious challenges ahead of him, but he has made some progress at restoring trust in the VA system.\nCongress also got involved to help ensure that our veterans receive the medical care and attention they deserve. We increased funding to allow for the hiring of more medical staff and much-needed improvements to VA facilities. More importantly, we passed legislation that allows veterans to receive medical care at local, non-VA facilities when the wait time is more than 30 days or the nearest VA facility is more than 40 miles away. We improved accountability to make it easier to fire senior VA officials and ended unmerited bonuses to VA employees.\nThe recent reforms alone will not fully address all the challenges facing our veterans. From countering veterans\u2019 homelessness to helping veterans overcome post-traumatic stress disorder to promoting veterans education programs, more work is certainly needed.\nIn fact, every day my staff assists veterans who are struggling with their healthcare or who need help receiving their earned benefits. I consider this one of the most important and rewarding parts of my job. If you or someone you know is having problems with the VA, please encourage them to contact my office.\nThose young children at Perdido School recognized the great sacrifices veterans made and continue to make in defense of the freedoms we all hold dear. It\u2019s now my job to never yield in our efforts to improve the quality of care and programs for those who have served our nation. The federal government must work for our nation\u2019s veterans, not against them.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://byrne.house.gov//media-center/press-releases/byrne-president-tone-deaf-to-mandate-from-tuesday-s-elections", "Byrne: President Tone Deaf to Mandate from Tuesdays Elections", "2014-11-07", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Bradley Byrne", "B001289", "byrne.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Following Tuesday\u2019s overwhelming victory for the Republican Party in the midterm elections, Congressman Bradley Byrne (AL-1) expressed a desire to work with the new Senate majority to advance bipartisan, commonsense legislation.\nDespite the optimism for legislative cooperation with the Senate, Congressman Byrne worries that President Barack Obama failed to fully comprehend the mandate for new leadership and bipartisan cooperation brought on by Tuesday\u2019s elections.\nByrne said: \u201cTuesday\u2019s elections sent a clear message that the American people are tired of stagnation in Washington, and they want to see Congress advance real, commonsense solutions to problems Americans face every day. Unfortunately, it seems President Obama is tone deaf to that message and is content to continue his failed governing strategy of \u2018my way or the highway.\u2019\n\u201cDid the President not learn anything from Tuesday\u2019s results? Take his rhetoric on immigration for example. The day after historic electoral losses, the President remained defiant and insistent on pushing forward with executive amnesty. More unilateral executive action flies in the face of Tuesday\u2019s election results and will only make it harder to reach bipartisan consensus.\u201d\nEven with the defiance President Obama expressed in his press conference at the White House yesterday afternoon, Congressman Byrne outlined some key areas where he hopes the Republican-controlled Congress can make a real impact.\nByrne said: \u201cOver the past four years, the House of Representatives has continued to pass bipartisan legislation aimed at reducing the regulatory burden, expanding domestic energy production, connecting Americans with good-paying jobs, and getting the federal government out of the way. These bills, which only\u00a0 languished in the Democrat-controlled Senate, should be at the top of the list when the new Congress convenes in January.\n\u201cI look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to address real issues like ending the ill-conceived sequestration defense cuts, lowering energy costs, promoting career and technical education, reforming the tax code, and making a real difference in people\u2019s lives. I sincerely hope President Obama will put politics aside and work across the aisle over the next two years.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://roby.house.gov/press-release/roby-focus-results-wake-election", "Roby: Focus on Results in Wake of the Election", "2014-11-06", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Martha Roby", "R000591", "roby.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "MONTGOMERY, Ala. \u2013 The focus of the new Republican majority in Congress should be responsible governing to get positive results, U.S. Representative Martha Roby (R-AL) said Thursday.\nRep. Roby was re-elected to a third term in the House of Representatives Tuesday in an election that also saw Republicans win a significant majority in the U.S. Senate. Utilizing that majority to move meaningful legislation will be key over the next two years, she said.\n \n\t\u201cWe have work to do getting this country back on track, and the time to start is now,\u201d Rep. Roby said. \u201cOver the past two years, my colleagues and I in the House of Representatives have worked to pass dozens of commonsense, bi-partisan bills, only to see them die in a gridlocked Senate. Now, we have an opportunity to send those bills to President Obama and put the onus for progress on him.\u201d \n \nAmong the House-passed proposals Rep. Roby would like to see revived and moved in the 114th Congress are:\n Responsible budgeting and spending policies based on conservative principles\n\tHealth care law repeals and rewrites, including restoring the 40-hour work week by repealing the Obamacare employer mandate tax;\n\tThe hire of veterans and improved programs to help those returning from war to find good-paying jobs;\n\tNew education tax credits and the making the existing child tax credit more efficient and workable for families;\n\tReforms to help welfare recipients find jobs and lift their families out of poverty;\n\tImprovements to America\u2019s energy infrastructure to boost domestic production and create tens of thousands of jobs;\n\tAnd Rep. Roby\u2019s own bill to give private sector employees the same \u201ccomp time\u201d choices at work that government employees enjoy.\n  \n\t\"The time for politics is over. It\u2019s time for responsible governing. Elected leaders must return to Washington ready to listen to the people, uphold the Constitution, and govern responsibly. I will strive to do just that in the new Congress.\"\n \nAnother key responsibility for the new Congress will be repairing the damage to the military brought on by sequestration, Rep. Roby said. Restoring military funding specifically, and setting better spending priorities generally, must be done.\n \n\t\u201cWe have fought sequestration for two years, and were pleased to get incremental victories in a divided Congress. Now, we have an opportunity to repair some of the damage done by these ill-conceived military cuts and restore needed funding. Sequestration has hollowed out our forces and eroded military readiness to a point that is dangerous. \n\t\u201cWe took a small step in the right direction late last year by passing the Bipartisan Budget Act, which restored some military funding cut by sequestration and made modest reforms to mandatory spending. I hope we can use that step and the new Republican majority in the Senate to build momentum for more long-term reforms that help get our fiscal house in order and allow us to set better spending priorities.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141105235008/http://www.sessions.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=6210503A-F53D-4228-AF09-F6AF38B05DD2", "Sessions: GOP Will Fight Exec Amnesty, Surrendering To Illegality Is Not An Option", "2014-11-05", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Jeff Sessions", "S001141", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON\u2014U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee and senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following comments after President Obama reiterated his plans to issue a unilateral executive amnesty:\n\u201cLast night, the American people rebelled against the President's executive amnesty and rallied behind GOP candidates who promised to put the needs of the American people first. It is shocking then that the President would declare that the only way \u2018those executive actions go away,\u2019 is to \u2018send me a bill that I can sign.\u2019 Otherwise, the President warned, he would \u2018act in the absence of action by Congress.\u2019\nOf course, Congress has acted, and so have the American people. Republicans, and the voters who sent us here, rejected the Obama-Democrat legislation to give work permits to illegal immigrants and to surge already-record immigration rates. The President cannot, having had his policies defeated at the ballot box, impose them through executive decree.\nA Republican Congress will defend itself and our citizens from these lawless actions.\u00a0Surrendering to illegality is not an option. Democrats will have to choose sides: protect the President's agenda, or protect your constituents.\nAmericans do not want their borders erased. What they have asked for is an agenda that promotes higher wages, reforms government, eliminates failed programs, balances the budget, increases energy production, and protects their sovereignty.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://roby.house.gov/column/time-governing", "Time for Governing", "2014-11-01", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Martha Roby", "R000591", "roby.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "\u201cTo everything there is a season,\u201d Ecclesiastes reads. The end of the campaign season is a relief to those who tire of hearing all the political ads.\u00a0\n\u00a0\nIt also brings the beginning of a new, more important season: a season for governing. We have work to do getting this country back on track, and the time to start is now.\u00a0\n\u00a0\nOver the past two years, my colleagues and I in the House of Representatives have worked to pass dozens of commonsense, bi-partisan bills. Among them:\u00a0\n\u00a0\n- Restoring the 40-hour work week and repealing the Obamacare employer mandate tax;\n- Incentivizing the hiring of veterans and improved programs to help those returning from war to find good-paying jobs;\u00a0\n- Providing new education tax credits and the making the existing child tax credit more efficient and workable for families;\n- Implementing reforms to help welfare recipients find jobs and lift their families out of poverty;\n- Improving America\u2019s energy infrastructure to boost domestic production and create tens of thousands of jobs.\u00a0\nUnfortunately, these bills and hundreds more have gone on to die in the Senate. Why? Politics.\u00a0\nThe Senate has been dominated by partisan politics, and Majority Leader Harry Reid has stopped popular, bi-partisan bills from even coming up for debate. I can understand ideological differences on policy, and allowing the civil discussion of those differences is part of what our deliberative legislative system is all about. But blocking the Senate from even debating bills that don\u2019t fit your radical agenda is outrageous. The American people are tired of these kinds of political games, and it\u2019s time for them to end.\u00a0\nIt\u2019s time for governing. As the political season ends, elected leaders must return to Washington ready to listen to the people, uphold the Constitution, and govern responsibly. As your representative in Congress, I will strive to do just that.\n\u00a0\nAs always, please do not hesitate to let me know if I can be of assistance to you or your family. You can contact my office online at www.Roby.House.gov or find me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RepresentativeMarthaRoby.\u00a0\n\u00a0\nThank you for the honor of serving you in Congress.\u00a0\n\u00a0\n-Martha", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://byrne.house.gov//media-center/columns/big-issues-await-congress-in-the-coming-months", "Big Issues Await Congress in the Coming Months", "2014-10-31", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Bradley Byrne", "B001289", "byrne.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "It\u2019s called the \u201cLame Duck,\u201d but the last two months of the 113th Congress are shaping up to be anything but \u201clame.\u201d Important issues ranging from national security to funding the government must be addressed before the start of the new year.\nAs you may know, every two years the entire House of Representatives is up for re-election. Even though the election takes place on November 4th, the new Members of Congress won\u2019t take office until early January. That means the current Members of Congress will still meet in Washington during November and December, and the last two months of the year are going to be filled with important legislative decisions.\nOne of the top items on the to-do list is a new National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Even in an era of political brinkmanship, the NDAA, which sets the policy and direction for our nation\u2019s military, has usually been a bipartisan achievement. While the House passed our version of the NDAA back in May, the Senate has failed to act, setting up unnecessary drama. There is no greater Constitutional responsibility of Congress than to provide for the national defense, and I hope the House and the Senate can come to a quick consensus.\nThe NDAA is particularly important for the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), which is built in part at Austal Shipyard in Mobile. The Navy has requested funding for three LCS in the upcoming fiscal year, and I am going to continue to insist that our ships be bought and paid for. As I\u2019ve said before, I don\u2019t just support the LCS because it is built in Alabama; I believe the LCS represents the future of our naval fleet.\nCongress must weigh in on an appropriate path forward in the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). In September, Congress passed legislation that allowed the Department of Defense to start arming and training Syrian rebels to provide ground forces in the fight against ISIL, but that authorization expires in December. I voted for the initial authorization because it was limited in time and scope, and I wanted to give the Administration the opportunity to fashion and implement a full strategy. Unfortunately, the Administration has failed to provide such a strategy, a result of their timidity which endangers our soldiers and airmen and will end in failure.\u00a0 So, I'm presently disinclined to provide further support unless the Administration changes course.\nI\u2019ve also made clear my belief that President Obama should ask Congress for a new Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) specific to the fight against ISIL. The current AUMFs are outdated and simply not applicable to this conflict. By asking Congress for a new AUMF, President Obama would have to put forward a clear strategy for defeating the Islamic extremists. Currently it seems the President is more interested in saying what we won\u2019t do instead of outlining what he actually plans to do.\nCongress must also address a number of issues important to the economy including passing a bill to fund the federal government. The current government funding legislation expires on December 11.\u00a0 As I\u2019ve said all along, I want Congress to stop governing from crisis to crisis and instead get serious about real, targeted spending reforms. \u00a0\nOther issues relating to the economy include extending a number of tax credits and deductions in areas ranging from education to research and development to charitable donations. Congress must also pass an extension of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act and the Internet Tax Freedom Act.\u00a0 Of course, the House of Representatives is also likely to consider a number of smaller issues, but these are the major legislative challenges facing us.\nOn each of these issues, just like every issue, I welcome your feedback and opinion. You can always send me an email on my website, Byrne.House.Gov, or give my office a call at 202-225-4931 to share your input. You can also follow me on Twitter (@RepByrne) or like my page on Facebook (Representative Bradley Byrne). I look forward to hearing from you.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://sewell.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-sewell-announces-connected-grant-funding-schools-7th", "Congresswoman Sewell Announces ConnectED Grant Funding for Schools in the 7th Congressional District", "2014-10-27", "2014", "2014-10", "Democrat", "House", "AL", "Terri Sewell", "S001185", "sewell.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Birmingham, Alabama  Today, Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell (AL-07) announced that in support of President Obama's ConnectED initiative, Apple has pledged grant funding to equip two schools in Alabama's 7th Congressional District with cutting-edge technologies including devices, teacher professional development and content. Albert Turner Sr. Elementary School in Marion, Alabama and J.E. Hobbs Elementary School in Camden, Alabama will be receiving an iPad for every student, a Mac and iPad for every teacher and administrator, an Apple TV for every classroom, additional Apple software and an Apple support team to provide ongoing professional development and support.\n\n\tFor too long schools across Alabama's 7th Congressional District have suffered from inadequate access to the most basic resources, including advanced technologies in the classroom. A lack of equal access to technology has placed entire communities and states at a competitive disadvantage. Through the ConnectED initiative, President Obama has laid out a vision for reversing these trends by equipping America's students and teachers with access to next-generation connectivity, as a foundation for transformation in the classroom and ultimately, in our communities. I am proud that through Apple's support of that vision, Albert Turner Sr. Elementary School and J.E. Hobbs Elementary School are receiving transformational technologies for their students, teachers and classrooms. The support provided through this funding will provide every teacher with the products and support they need to inspire and motivate their students and empower every student with the learning tools and opportunities they need to realize and achieve their full potential. I am confident that these investments will transform outcomes for children and families in Perry and Wilcox Counties, said Rep. Sewell.\n\n\tAlbert Turner Sr. Elementary School is a proud recipient of an Apple grant through the White House ConnectEd initiative. By giving students access to the latest technology and powerful learning tools, we are working to transform the classroominto a place of deeper exploration and creativity. Together, we can unlock the potential of the world's future investors, dreamers and leaders, said Marshae Madison-Pelt, the Principal of Albert Turner Sr. Elementary School. \n\n\tWe are elated to be a recipient of the ConnectED Apple Grant. Receiving this grant is huge for our teachers, students, and the community of Wilcox County. It will provide the technology and resources needed to improve instruction and student learning. In addition, it gives us the support we need to effectively implement Dr. Bice's PLAN 2020, which is aimed at preparing our students for college or a career, said Roshanda Jackson, the principal of J.E. Hobbs Elementary School.\n\n\tPrincipals Madison-Pelt and Jackson, along with their faculty, staff, and students are beyond deserving of these grants. I look forward to seeing the untapped potential that will be revealed as a result of the installation of this historic initiative in Alabama's 7th Congressional District, concluded Rep. Sewell.\n\n\t###\n\n\tBackground on President Obama's ConnectED Initiative can be found here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/education/k-12/connected\n\n\tBackground on Apple's commitment to ConnectED can be found here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/education/k-12/connected", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141030072936/http://sewell.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=744", "Congresswoman Sewell Announces ConnectED Grant Funding for Schools in the 7th Congressional District", "2014-10-27", "2014", "2014-10", "Democrat", "House", "AL", "Terri Sewell", "S001185", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Birmingham, Alabama \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell (AL-07) announced that in support of President Obama\u2019s ConnectED initiative, Apple has pledged grant funding to equip two schools in Alabama\u2019s 7th Congressional District with cutting-edge technologies including devices, teacher professional development and content. Albert Turner Sr. Elementary School in Marion, Alabama and J.E. Hobbs Elementary School in Camden, Alabama will be receiving an iPad for every student, a Mac and iPad for every teacher and administrator, an Apple TV for every classroom, additional Apple software and an Apple support team to provide ongoing professional development and support.  \u201cFor too long schools across Alabama\u2019s 7th Congressional District have suffered from inadequate access to the most basic resources, including advanced technologies in the classroom. A lack of equal access to technology has placed entire communities and states at a competitive disadvantage. Through the ConnectED initiative, President Obama has laid out a vision for reversing these trends by equipping America\u2019s students and teachers with access to next-generation connectivity, as a foundation for transformation in the classroom and ultimately, in our communities. I am proud that through Apple\u2019s support of that vision, Albert Turner Sr. Elementary School and J.E. Hobbs Elementary School are receiving transformational technologies for their students, teachers and classrooms. The support provided through this funding will provide every teacher with the products and support they need to inspire and motivate their students and empower every student with the learning tools and opportunities they need to realize and achieve their full potential. I am confident that these investments will transform outcomes for children and families in Perry and Wilcox Counties,\u201d said Rep. Sewell.  \u201cAlbert Turner Sr. Elementary School is a proud recipient of an Apple grant through the White House ConnectEd initiative. By giving students access to the latest technology and powerful learning tools, we are working to transform the classroom\u00a0into a place of deeper exploration and creativity. Together, we can unlock the potential of the world's future investors, dreamers and leaders,\u201d said Marshae Madison-Pelt, the Principal of Albert Turner Sr. Elementary School. \u00a0  \u201cWe are elated to be a recipient of the ConnectED Apple Grant. Receiving this grant is huge for our teachers, students, and the community of Wilcox County. It will provide the technology and resources needed to improve instruction and student learning. In addition, it gives us the support we need to effectively implement Dr. Bice\u2019s PLAN 2020, which is aimed at preparing our students for college or a career,\u201d said Roshanda Jackson, the principal of J.E. Hobbs Elementary School.  \u201cPrincipals Madison-Pelt and Jackson, along with their faculty, staff, and students are beyond deserving of these grants. I look forward to seeing the untapped potential that will be revealed as a result of the installation of this historic initiative in Alabama\u2019s 7th Congressional District,\u201d concluded Rep. Sewell.  ###  Background on President Obama\u2019s ConnectED Initiative can be found here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/education/k-12/connected  Background on Apple\u2019s commitment to ConnectED can be found here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/education/k-12/connected", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://byrne.house.gov//media-center/columns/economic-downturn-can-t-become-the-new-normal", "Economic Downturn Cant Become the New Normal", "2014-10-24", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Bradley Byrne", "B001289", "byrne.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "You may have seen some good news recently. The September jobs report for the United States showed the unemployment rate dropping to 5.9% with 248,000 new jobs being added. That\u2019s the lowest unemployment rate in a year.\nThe problem is, if you look closer at the numbers, you will find that our economic recovery is still falling flat. The topline numbers don\u2019t tell the whole story. Consider this: 9.1 million Americans are still looking for work. Clearly, the current economic policies aren\u2019t working.\nThe labor force participation rate, which is the total number of working-age Americans who are employed plus those actively looking for work, is around 62 percent. That is the lowest rate in 37 years. To put that in perspective, 37 years ago gas was 65 cents a gallon and Saturday Night Fever was at the top of the box office.\nAlmost as many Americans have either left the workforce, or never entered, in this recovery than have found a job. The problem is people are simply giving up on trying to find work, which in turn has only fueled the dangerous culture of government dependency. Too many Americans are adding their name to the welfare roll instead of finding work.\nThe bad news doesn\u2019t stop there. 7.1 million Americans have had to settle for part-time jobs even though they would prefer full-time employment. In 1968, 13.5 percent of the workforce was in part-time jobs. Today, that number is up to 18.7 percent. While that may not seem much higher, the Federal Reserve called the number of part-time workers \u201cunusually high.\u201d\nWith new hires, one would expect wages to grow, but that isn\u2019t happening. This year, wages are only up a little over two percent. That\u2019s almost half the rate of increase we were seeing prior to the Great Recession. After adjusting for inflation, today\u2019s average hourly wage has almost the same purchasing power as it did in 1979. That\u2019s unacceptable.\nIt\u2019s not just statistics that show the reality of our sluggish economic recovery. According to a recent survey, 56 percent of Americans say they are \u201cfalling behind financially.\u201d A recent poll my office conducted of constituents in the First District showed that over 80 percent of people believe the economy is stuck in place or getting worse.\nNow, President Obama and some of his economic advisors insist that these numbers are the \u201cnew normal\u201d in our modern economy, but I refuse to accept that answer. You might call me an optimist, but I believe we can do better.\nWe need to reform our tax system to make it simpler and less complicated for Americans. We need better and more strategic skill and workforce training. We need to lower the corporate tax rate to be more competitive on the world stage. We need to reduce costly regulations and red tape, which make it harder for businesses to grow. We need to invest and improve our nation\u2019s infrastructure. We need to repeal ObamaCare and the burdensome mandates that come with the law. We need an \u201call-of-the-above\u201d energy strategy that keeps energy costs low for families and businesses.\nI don\u2019t want these economic statistics to be the \u201cnew normal\u201d in America. We need to grow our economy the right way, with less government influence. Ultimately, Washington doesn\u2019t need to do more to turn our economy around. In fact, Washington needs to do less.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://roby.house.gov/column/preparing-and-preventing-spread-ebola-home", "Preparing for and Preventing the Spread of Ebola at Home", "2014-10-24", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Martha Roby", "R000591", "roby.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Like many Americans,\u00a0I am seriously concerned about the effectiveness of our country\u2019s\u00a0response to the Ebola outbreak and how it will affect our ability to protect Americans from this threat.\u00a0I recently wrote President Obama a\u00a0letter calling on him to take more decisive action\u00a0to prevent American citizens from further exposure.\u00a0Specifically,\u00a0I am calling for the United States to:\n institute a temporary travel ban by immediately restricting travel visas for individuals from the West African counties hardest hit by Ebola;\n\tenhance airport screening for all U.S. airports; and\n\tinstitute a mandatory quarantine of individuals who have been in direct contact with the Ebola virus.\n We need to approach the Ebola outbreak like a mission and fight it aggressively. Several experimental drugs exist to combat symptoms and treat the infected. Health officials are making concerted efforts to expedite further production and to send available vaccines to the affected areas. The Department of Defense has deployed military advisors to Western Africa to oversee medical facility construction and provide medical expertise. Additionally, the CDC is working in conjunction with many other federal agencies to train officials to identify and prevent sick passengers from traveling internationally. These efforts include coordination with U.S. Customs and Border Patrol and the Department of State.\nOur nation's actions to contain this disease and prevent it from spreading further should ensure the safety of all involved, including the members of the military. The Pentagon has ensured that Department of Defense\u00a0personnel are outfitted with the proper equipment while working to prevent sick passengers from boarding planes and ships.\nOur state officials and hospital network are proactively preparing to handle cases, should they occur. I appreciate the leadership of the Dr. Don Williamson and his team at the Alabama Department of Public Health in keeping the public aware of the latest information.\nMy office remains in close contact with the agencies involved in combating this threat.\u00a0Federal agencies have a critical job to do in such times of crisis, and it is\u00a0important that they get it right. \u00a0As a member of the House Committee on Appropriations, and the Subcommittee overseeing the budget for the CDC and the National Institutes of Health, I am closely monitoring this situation as Congress considers agency funding bills for Fiscal Year 2015.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://roby.house.gov/press-release/roby-comments-va-termination", "Roby Comments on VA Termination", "2014-10-24", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Martha Roby", "R000591", "roby.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "MONTGOMERY, Ala. \u2013 U.S. Representative Martha Roby today commented on the Department of Veterans Affairs action to terminate former Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System Director James Talton.\u00a0\nTalton was placed on administrative leave in August and then \u201cproposed\u201d for termination pending review earlier this month, all while continuing to be paid. On Friday, termination action became official.\nPer the recently-enacted VA reform law, Talton may still appeal the decision, but will no longer receive pay.\u00a0According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, Talton\u2019s is the first full termination decision taken under the new law.\n \n\t\u201cThose who presided over the misconduct, negligence and systemic fraud in Central Alabama must be held accountable,\u201d Rep. Roby said.\n\t\u201cResponsibility for what has taken place at the Central Alabama VA doesn\u2019t rest with one person. I don\u2019t expect the director to be the last one fired, nor should he be.\n\t\u201cA key reason a culture of complacency has festered for years at the Central Alabama VA is the consequence-free environment it has been. It is what happens when employees see clear misconduct and even criminal behavior repeatedly go unpunished.\n\t\u201cThe work here isn\u2019t done. Last week, Deputy VA Secretary Sloan Gibson told me he would be personally involved in overseeing reforms in Central Alabama. I believe direct oversight from the senior level at the VA enhances accountability and improves our ability to get real change in Central Alabama. \n\t\u201cInstilling accountability at the VA is a monumental task, but it is essential to ensuring a health care system that doesn\u2019t leave veterans behind.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://mike-rogers.house.gov/press-release/rogers-deadline-approaching-apply-congressional-nomination-us-military-service", "Rogers: Deadline Approaching to Apply for Congressional Nomination to U.S. Military Service Academies", "2014-10-22", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Mike Rogers", "R000575", "mike-rogers.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(WASHINGTON, DC)---Congressman Mike Rogers reminded any graduating high school seniors for 2015 interested in receiving a Congressional nomination to attend one of the U.S. Service Academies should be completing applications, which are available at http://mike-rogers.house.gov/constituent-services/academy-nominations, and mailing them to one of his district offices soon.\nTo be considered for a nomination for appointment to any of the service academies, including the U.S. Military Academy, the Naval Academy, the Air Force Academy, the Coast Guard Academy and the Merchant Marines Academy, seniors must complete Rogers\u2019 application materials and mail the completed packets to one of Rogers\u2019 district offices.\nThe applications can be sent to:\nCongressman Mike Rogers\nAttn: Service Academy Application\n1129 Noble Street, Suite 104\nAnniston, AL 36201\nor\nCongressman Mike Rogers\nAttn:\u00a0 Service Academy Application\n1819 Pepperell Parkway, Suite, 203\nOpelika, AL 36801\nThe deadline for receipt of these applications is December 15, 2014. Please visit www.mike-rogers.house.gov/constituent-services/academy-nominations with any questions, or call Rogers\u2019 Washington, D.C. office at 202.225.3261.\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 -###-", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://brooks.house.gov/media-center/news-releases/brooks-questions-cdc-enterovirus-d68-origins-0", "Brooks Questions CDC on Enterovirus D68 Origins", "2014-10-22", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Mo Brooks", "B001274", "brooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Today Congressman Brooks (AL-05) joined with Congressman Scott Garrett (NJ-05) in asking questions of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding the respiratory illness known as enterovirus D68 (EV-D68). Congressman Brooks stated, This week I joined with Congressman Scott Garrett in sending a letter to the CDC requesting answers to explain the recent rise of those infected with EV-D68. There is conflicting information about whether this recent and unusually deadly outbreak of EV-D68 is related to America's porous southern border, unrelated but historical andnaturally occurringoutbreaks in America, or some other cause. Congressman Brooks continued, \"The latest data from the CDC states that 922 people in 46 states and Washington, D.C., are infected with EV-D68, including in Alabama, which is far more than have been infected in previous years. There's no antiviral and no vaccine for this virus, and children are at a higher risk than adults. In order to minimize deaths, paralysis, and other effects of future outbreaks of EV-D68, it is important to first understand and know the cause of the current outbreak. This necessarily includes the origins of EV-D68 as well as what the CDC and other agencies are doing to address this deadly virus. For more information about EV-D68, visit the CDC's What We Know page here: https://www.cdc.gov/non-polio-enterovirus/outbreaks/EV-D68-outbreaks.html.  The full text of the letter is below.   October 21, 2014 Dear Director Frieden: We are writing to inquire about the recent spread of the respiratory illness known as enterovirus D68 (EV-D68). We are deeply concerned about the growing number of children becoming ill with EV-D68 and the severity of these reported cases. Since August, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed that 922 people in 46 states and the District of Columbia have become ill with EV-D68, and at least seven children testing positive for EV-D68 have died. Most recently, a 21-month-old girl in Michigan died of the virus on October 10th, and a four-year-old boy from New Jersey died on September 25th. Has the CDC identified how the seven children who died while infected with EV-D68 contracted this illness? If so, how and when did these children contract this illness? Additionally, Denver area hospitals have reported children experiencing muscle weakness or paralysis in the neck, back or, limbs after testing positive for EV-D68. Has the CDC been able to identify if the EV-D68 illness caused the muscle weakness and paralysis in these children? Furthermore, what measures are in place to ensure that health officials are properly identifying and testing suspected cases of EV-D68? Although this disease was first identified in California in 1962, there have only been small numbers of reported cases in the U.S. over the past thirty years. What has the CDC done to identify the origin of this most recent outbreak? Moreover, has the CDC been able to identify why this outbreak has been more severe than previous years' cases of EV-D68? Given that this issue is of great importance to the health of our nation's children and their families, we look forward to your timely response. Thank you for your consideration in this matter. ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141024113002/http://brooks.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=1251", "Brooks Questions CDC on Enterovirus D68 Origins", "2014-10-22", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Mo Brooks", "B001274", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today Congressman Brooks (AL-05) joined with Congressman Scott Garrett (NJ-05) in asking questions of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding the respiratory illness known as enterovirus D68 (EV-D68).\n\n\tCongressman Brooks stated, \u201cThis week I joined with Congressman Scott Garrett in sending a letter to the CDC requesting answers to explain the recent rise of those infected with EV-D68. There is conflicting information about whether this recent and unusually deadly outbreak of EV-D68 is related to America's porous southern border, unrelated but historical and\u00a0naturally occurring\u00a0outbreaks in America, or some other cause.\u201d\u00a0\n\n\tCongressman Brooks continued, \"The latest data from the CDC states that 922 people in 46 states and Washington, D.C., are infected with EV-D68, including in Alabama, which is far more than have been infected in previous years.\u00a0 There\u2019s no antiviral and no vaccine for this virus, and children are at a higher risk than adults.\u00a0 In order to minimize deaths, paralysis, and other effects of future outbreaks of EV-D68, it is important to first understand and know the cause of the current outbreak.\u00a0 This necessarily includes the origins of EV-D68 as well as what the CDC and other agencies are doing to address this deadly virus.\u201d\n\n\tFor more information about EV-D68, visit the CDC\u2019s \u201cWhat We Know\u201d page here:\u00a0 http://www.cdc.gov/non-polio-enterovirus/outbreaks/EV-D68-outbreaks.html.\n\n\t\u00a0\n\n\tThe full text of the letter is below. \n\n\t\u00a0\n\n\tOctober 21, 2014\n\n\tDear Director Frieden:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\n\n\tWe are writing to inquire about the recent spread of the respiratory illness known as enterovirus D68 (EV-D68).\u00a0 We are deeply concerned about the growing number of children becoming ill with EV-D68 and the severity of these reported cases.\n\n\tSince August, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed that 922 people in 46 states and the District of Columbia have become ill with EV-D68, and at least seven children testing positive for EV-D68 have died. Most recently, a 21-month-old girl in Michigan died of the virus on October 10th, and a four-year-old boy from New Jersey died on September 25th. Has the CDC identified how the seven children who died while infected with EV-D68 contracted this illness? If so, how and when did these children contract this illness?\n\n\tAdditionally, Denver area hospitals have reported children experiencing muscle weakness or paralysis in the neck, back or, limbs after testing positive for EV-D68.\u00a0 Has the CDC been able to identify if the EV-D68 illness caused the muscle weakness and paralysis in these children? Furthermore, what measures are in place to ensure that health officials are properly identifying and testing suspected cases of EV-D68?\n\n\tAlthough this disease was first identified in California in 1962, there have only been small numbers of reported cases in the U.S. over the past thirty years. What has the CDC done to identify the origin of this most recent outbreak? Moreover, has the CDC been able to identify why this outbreak has been more severe than previous years\u2019 cases of EV-D68?\n\n\tGiven that this issue is of great importance to the health of our nation\u2019s children and their families, we look forward to your timely response. Thank you for your consideration in this matter.\n\n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://byrne.house.gov//media-center/columns/steady-leadership-needed-to-address-ebola-crisis", "Steady Leadership Needed to Address Ebola Crisis", "2014-10-20", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Bradley Byrne", "B001289", "byrne.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "People in Southwest Alabama and across the country are worried about the outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus. According to a recent survey by the Washington Post, nearly two-thirds of Americans are concerned about a widespread Ebola epidemic. I can\u2019t blame them.\nThe Obama administration has failed to put forward a clear message on how to respond to Ebola. President Obama said for weeks it was unlikely that Ebola would reach the United States, but now we know that is not the case. The head of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said procedures were in place at local hospitals to deal with Ebola patients, but days later the CDC said a hospital in Dallas, Texas, mishandled an Ebola patient resulting in two nurses contracting the virus. \u00a0The mixed messages go on and on.\nThe outbreak of the Ebola virus in west Africa, where over 4,300 have died, is a humanitarian and national security crisis that calls for serious action and steady leadership from our nation\u2019s leaders. I can think of a few actions the United States could take to help combat the deadly virus.\nFirst, I want to make clear, while very deadly, Ebola is very difficult to transmit. In order to become infected, an individual would need to have direct contact with the bodily fluids of a symptomatic Ebola victim. The virus spread so quickly in west Africa as a result of the poor quality of medical care and unique burial practices. The threat of a widespread Ebola outbreak in the United States remains very low.\nThat said, we should be taking every measure necessary to ensure an outbreak does not occur in our country. A commonsense step would be to place a temporary ban on air travel to the United States from countries in western Africa, including Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea. In fact, the first case of Ebola in the United States was brought over on a flight from Liberia. A travel ban would help to halt new cases of Ebola from entering our country and allow our medical community to focus on stopping the spread based on our current cases.\nWhile a travel ban would be a good first step, we must continue to implement intensive screenings of air passengers to limit the spread and quarantine any potential cases. The CDC announced recently they would conduct screenings on international passengers at most of the large airports in the United States. We must have screenings here in the United States in addition to screenings done abroad at the departing airport. Any potential cases should be quarantined until testing for Ebola can be completed.\nWe must also ensure that local hospitals understand the correct procedures for dealing with a potential Ebola case. The CDC should continue to share information and provide hands-on training for local hospitals, especially in metropolitan areas. If a patient is confirmed to have Ebola, he or she should be transported to one of four special isolation facilities in the United States. These facilities would allow the patient to receive the best care possible in a safe, secure environment.\nI also believe we must commit resources to halting the Ebola outbreak in west Africa, but I strongly condemn the use of American military personnel for this medical challenge. Our military men and women are stretched too thin already with multiple threats of Islamic extremists in the Middle East and in Africa. Our military is not adequately trained for this medical mission, and there are better suited organizations, like the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations (UN), to address this unique medical challenge.\nI remain confident that with these steps and more serious action we can prevent a major Ebola outbreak from occurring in the United States. In order to do that, tough choices must be made and steady leadership will be required. I urge President Obama and his administration to show leadership and put forward a bold strategy to combat this deadly virus.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://mike-rogers.house.gov/press-release/rogers-focuses-education-jobs-and-local-economy-tallapoosa-county", "Rogers Focuses on Education, Jobs and the Local Economy in Tallapoosa County", "2014-10-17", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Mike Rogers", "R000575", "mike-rogers.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(WASHINGTON, DC)\u2014Congressman Mike Rogers visited Tallapoosa County today speaking to the Alexander City Kiwanis Club, touring the Edward Bell Career Tech Center and meeting with the Lake Martin Economic Development Alliance. Rogers also met with Dadeville Mayor Joe Smith.\nAt Kiwanis, Rogers spoke about issues our country faces both here and abroad. These included the illegal immigration crisis at our Southwest border and the ongoing threats to Americans posed by the Islamic State terrorists, also known as ISIL.\n\u00a0Rogers in particular advocated for a consistent, clear and long term plan to destroy ISIL.\u00a0 \u201cWe must defeat this evil terrorist group as they continue to extend their reach and threaten more Americans.\u00a0 What these terrorists have done thus far is unconscionable, and America must have a focused and long-term military strategy to annihilate this radical movement,\u201d Rogers said after the Kiwanis meeting.\nPivoting to issues like education and the economy, Rogers said he was pleased to tour the Edward Bell Tech Center and reiterated how important the training offered is for our young people.\u00a0 \u201cPrograms like those offered at Edward Bell keep our communities and young people focused on education and jobs and I was proud to see what a great job the faculty there does. This is another shining example of ways we can help prepare our young leaders of the future,\u201d he said.\nRogers also met with the Lake Martin Economic Development Alliance to get an update on Lake Martin\u2019s role in driving the local economy. This afternoon, Rogers also visited with Dadeville Mayor Joe Smith and Clerk Mike Gardner to discuss issues facing the city.\u00a0 Rogers thanked Mayor Smith for hosting him and taking time out of his busy day to meet.\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Rogers serves as a senior member of the House Agriculture, Armed Services and Homeland Security Committees.\n-###-", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://roby.house.gov/column/real-war-women", "The Real War on Women", "2014-10-17", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Martha Roby", "R000591", "roby.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "For about four years now, the Professional Left in\u00a0Washington has been engaged in a desperate\u00a0campaign to convince the American people that conservatives are engaged\u00a0in a\u00a0\u201cWar on Women.\u201d\u00a0 You've probably seen the political ads or heard the rhetoric from television commentators. Their goal is to label anyone who is pro-life and believes taxpayer money shouldn\u2019t be spent funding abortions is \u201canti-woman.\u201d\nWell, I'm a pro-life conservative, and I'm a woman. But, I haven't declared war on myself.\nHonestly, I find this whole line of attack pretty insulting on a few levels. First, they assume that reproductive issues are the only ones that matter to women. That is obviously not true. I care about issues that all Americans - men and women - care about: our economy and job growth, affordable food and energy, health care policy that makes sense. Actually, as a mom who buys the groceries, puts gas in the car, and takes kids to the doctor, I see the real-life impact of these policies.\nBut, this tactic is also offensive because there really is a \u201cWar on Women\u201d going on today, but it isn\u2019t a political one. It is a real war raged in countries like Afghanistan and Pakistan and others where women and girls have been subjugated to brutal oppression for generations.\nAmber Barno, who served as a combat helicopter pilot in Afghanistan and Iraq, makes this very point in a thoughtful piece published in The Federalist this week (https://thefederalist.com/2014/10/16/malala-is-what-the-real-war-on-women-looks-like/#.VD_w94-PXp8.twitter). She details the acute instances over the last several months of women being sexually exploited and even enslaved in Iraq and Syria by the unrelenting terrorist group, ISIS. Over the years, we\u2019ve heard too many stories of women being persecuted for simply trying to attain an education, with the most recent being the Nigerian girls abducted by Boko Haram.\nJust last week, 17-year-old Malala Yousafzai was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. You may recall Malala was shot in the face by Taliban militants for promoting education rights for girls in Pakistan. She survived and has persevered in her pursuit of education rights for girls despite threats that she and other Pakistani women face daily.\nI hope Malala winning the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize is a reminder to all of us about what the real \u201cWar on Women\u201d is, and what it is not. Instead of playing political games with such loaded terms, we should find ways to help truly oppressed women and girls across the globe.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 866, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"state\" = :p0 and \"year\" = :p1 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "AL", "p1": "2014"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=AL&year=2014", "results": [{"value": "Republican", "label": "Republican", "count": 761, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=AL&year=2014&party=Republican", "selected": false}, {"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 105, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=AL&year=2014&party=Democrat", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=AL&year=2014", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 866, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=AL&year=2014&chamber=House", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=AL&year=2014", "results": [{"value": "AL", "label": "AL", "count": 866, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?year=2014", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=AL&year=2014", "results": [{"value": "2014", "label": "2014", "count": 866, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=AL", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2014-10-17,http~3A~2F~2Froby~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fcolumn~2Freal-war-women", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=AL&year=2014&_next=2014-10-17%2Chttp~3A~2F~2Froby~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fcolumn~2Freal-war-women&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 166.33149096742272, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}