MOBILE U.S. REP. JO BONNER TO RETIRE
U.S. Rep. Jo Bonner, R-Mobile, on Thursday said he will retire from Congress in August to accept a position at the University of Alabama System. His statement can be found here.
The 53-year-old Bonner, a member of Congress since 2003, said he plans to retire Aug. 15 and take the newly created position of Vice Chancellor for Government Relations and Economic Development at The University of Alabama System. Bonner is a 1982 graduate of the University of Alabama. Bonner said the opportunity to work for the University System was "both unexpected and certainly unsolicited." Bonner's sister is president of the University of Alabama, part of the three-campus system. He said his greatest joy other than his family has been representing the 1st Congressional District in southwest Alabama for 10 years. "At the outset, I trust you know that serving as your congressman this past decade has truly been one of the highest honors of my life," he said. "Although no list is complete, I hope you would agree that, together, we have made a positive difference in the life of South Alabama," Bonner said. He said highlights of his 10 years included the ThyssenKrupp steel mill in southeast Alabama, Austal shipbuilders, Airbus, the Port of Mobile, the University of South Alabama, and helping secure compensation for the damage caused by the BP-Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Praise for Bonner, who was elected to a sixth term in November, came from state and national circles. BCA President, William J. Canary, said "While I am sad to see one of the business communities strongest allies leave Congress, I am thrilled that Jo Bonner will be returning home to serve in a role that allows him to continue as a strong advocate for the private sector and free enterprise. I wish my friend all the best in this new opportunity of a lifetime." U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Mobile, who lives in Bonner's district, said Bonner is one of the most talented and hard-working members of Congress. "I have deeply valued the opinions and insights of 'my' Congressman," Sessions said. "He knows his district like the palm of his hand and personally knows an incredible number of constituents. He has served with wisdom, courage, and dedication, consistently supporting the highest Alabama values. "Jo will do a great job as Vice Chancellor of the University of Alabama system. His gifts will be a perfect fit for them. He loves the University and will love the work. We had a great partnership and I will certainly miss his counsel." U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell of Birmingham, the only Democrat in Alabama's seven-member House delegation, said it has been an honor to serve and work with Bonner. "Jo has always put the interests of his constituents ahead of partisan politics and I will miss the bipartisan town hall meetings we held together in Clarke County," Sewell said. "I know The University of Alabama System will greatly benefit from his leadership and that he will help the State of Alabama continue to move forward." Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard, R-Auburn, called Bonner a friend: "Jo Bonner is a first-class person and his strong voice and character will be greatly missed in the Alabama Congressional Delegation. He is highly respected by our Legislative Leadership and Members for his 10 years of loyal service to the state. He is a longtime personal friend of mine and I know he will serve as diligently in his new role as he has served the people of Alabama in Congress." Al.com lists potential Republican candidates as former state Sen. Bradley Byrne, a 2010 gubernatorial candidate; state Sen. Trip Pittman of Montrose; state Sen. Bill Hightower of Mobile; state Rep. Chad Fincher of Semmes; Mobile County Sheriff Sam Cochran; Baldwin County Commissioner Tucker Dorsey; Quin Hillyer, a conservative columnist from Mobile; Dean Young, Orange Beach businessman and 2012 congressional candidate; Mobile County Commissioner Connie Hudson; Mobile County Circuit Judge Ben Brooks; Baldwin County Circuit Judge Robert Wilters; Jessica James, Mobile real estate agent and former candidate for Alabama State School Board. Al.com said the only Democrat to express an interest so far is state Sen. Marc Keahey, D-Grove Hill. |
SESSIONS AMENDMENT ON FARM BILL
U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Mobile, commented about the Senate adopting his amendment to the Farm Bill that will help protect Alabama farmers during drought and promote increased production. Sessions is a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee. "Expanding irrigation in Alabama will help protect against drought and can also dramatically increase agricultural production in the state, which is why I supported the creation of the Agricultural Water Enhancement Program (AWEP) several years ago," Sessions said in a statement. He said the U.S. Department of Agriculture currently limits AWEP to farms that have been irrigated previously, a requirement that prevents most Alabama farmers from qualifying for the program. Sessions said less than 5 percent of Alabama farms are irrigated. "My amendment, which was accepted with unanimous agreement in the Senate yesterday, eliminates this unwarranted restriction and will help ensure that more Alabama farmers are eligible for USDA irrigation assistance programs," Sessions said. Here, "only about 5 percent of Alabama's farms have irrigated cropland," and this prior history requirement "has prevented the program from being more widely utilized" in Alabama.
This bill consolidates AWEP and other similar programs into a new Regional Conservation Partnership Program. Sessions' statement said that his amendment clarifies that when providing agricultural water enhancement assistance under the Farm Bill's new Regional Conservation Partnership Program the USDA cannot limit eligibility on the basis of "prior irrigation history." This important provision corrects the practice at the USDA that has prevented many Alabama farmers from being eligible for federal irrigation assistance programs, he said, and as modified and agreed to by the Senate, Sessions' provision applies in states where irrigation has not been used significantly for agricultural purposes.
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MEMBER OF CONGRESS INTRODUCES STATE DEFENSE OF EDUCATION BILL
U.S. Rep. Martha Roby, R-Montgomery, has introduced the "Defending State Authority Over Education Act." Roby said it will restore and affirm state authority over education by prohibiting the federal government from influencing or coercing state participation in specific education programs, standards, or curriculums. Roby said there is concern over federal endorsement of a multistate education plan to standardize curriculum and education standards. "By threatening eligibility for needed federal funding and coveted regulatory waivers, the Administration is unfairly pressuring states into adopting its preferred education standards," Roby said. Business Council of Alabama President and CEO William J. Canary commented: "Congresswoman Roby's bill is a common-sense proposal in support of high education standards that challenge students. It is not the Federal Government's job to dictate state standards or curriculum, especially through a carrot and stick approach," Canary said. "The role of determining Alabama's standards should remain with the State Board of Education and their collaboration with local school systems, parents and the business community. Alabama's ability to set high standards gives our students the greatest opportunity to compete in a 21st century global workforce that requires highly-skilled workers." Roby, a parent of a public school student, said her bill will ensure that local parents, teachers, and education leaders are in the best position to educate local children. She said Washington is making awards of federal grants or waivers from burdensome federal regulations contingent on whether a state has adopted the educational standards endorsed by the Administration. Roby said her bill does not pass judgment on Alabama's Common Core or curriculum status. Roby said her bill would empower Alabama and other states to set their own education policies free from federal intrusion by removing the U.S. Department of Education from the equation. Roby earned the support of the A Plus Education Partnership that said Alabama's education standards should be determined locally. "It is Alabama educators and parents, not federal bureaucrats, who are the most qualified to determine how we can do that," A Plus said. "That is why A+ and a broad coalition of business, military and education leaders across Alabama strongly support Alabama's College and Career Ready Standards based on the Common Core State Standards that Alabama voluntarily adopted in 2010 after a thorough review process."
Roby's Montgomery Advertiser Op-Ed piece is on the Web here.
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EPA seeks new toxic chemicals authority
POLITICO, (Martinson 5/23) "A bill unveiled by Sens. Frank Lautenberg and David Vitter on Wednesday would give the Environmental Protection Agency new authority to take action on dangerous chemicals and require more scrutiny of chemicals before they reach the market. That would expand the current law, which allows EPA to require safety testing only after there is evidence that a chemical is dangerous. 'As a result, EPA has only been able to require testing for roughly 200 of the more than 84,000 chemicals currently registered in the United States, and has been able to ban only five dangerous substances since [the Toxic Substances Control Act] was first enacted in 1976,' the senators said in a statement.
"Based on information from Lautenberg and Vitter's offices, changes from current law proposed in the bill include: All chemicals currently in the market must be evaluated for safety and prioritized as 'high' or 'low' risk to human health and the environment. EPA would do further safety evaluations for high-priority chemicals. EPA would be granted authority to take action on unsafe chemicals, including labeling requirements, phasing out use and bans. New chemicals would have to be screened for safety before entering the market, and EPA would have the authority to ban their use. EPA would be required to evaluate risks to vulnerable populations, such as pregnant women and children. The legislation includes measures to protect trade secrets and intellectual property.
"Meanwhile, Cal Dooley, president and CEO of the American Chemistry Council, said that 'this bipartisan compromise legislation will put safety first while also promoting innovation, economic growth and job creation - goals that are critical to our industry, to our nearly 800,000 employees and to the many other industries that rely on the products of chemistry. Achieving sound, balanced TSCA reform that enhances public confidence in the safety of chemicals and enables America to remain the world's leading innovator is our top priority'."
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Bachus signs letter demanding probe of tax targeting
Bachus' office 5/24 - Congressman Spencer Bachus (AL-6) made the following comment on a letter that Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee today sent to Attorney General Eric Holder demanding a thorough investigation into the targeting of conservative groups by the Internal Revenue Service. "What the IRS did was outrageous and this threat to the civil liberties of all Americans can never be allowed to happen again. Attorney General Holder was not able to provide answers to many of our questions during his appearance in front of the Judiciary Committee last week, making the need for a full and transparent investigation all the more critical. There must be full accountability for this travesty," Congressman Bachus said.
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Sewell-Bachus sponsored resolution, ceremony draws relatives of girls
al.com (Bryant, 5/23) "Relatives of the four girls killed in the 1963 bombing of Birmingham's Sixteenth Street Baptist Church were at the U.S. Capitol Wednesday afternoon to witness a House vote for a Congressional Gold Medal honoring their sisters. The resolution passed with 420 votes and no objections. It now heads to the senate. The medal would honor Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley, Carole Robertson and Denise McNair. Robertson's sister, Diane Braddock and McNair's sister, Lisa McNair, watched the vote from the house gallery and were recognized by members of Congress.
"This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Sunday morning bombing along with other major events of the civil rights era. The resolution sponsored by Reps. Terri Sewell and Spencer Bachus had gained 296 cosponsors. A companion resolution is also moving in the Senate. Both Sewell and Bachus stood on the floor and urged the passage. Several other bipartisan members followed with remarks on the signficance of bestowing the honor. A poster of the girls sat in the background.
"This medal will serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of the many sacrifices made and the great achievements obtained so that this nation can live up to its ideals of equality and justice for all," Sewell said in a statement earlier. "The presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal would be a fitting commemoration of the legacy of these four young girls and of a landmark event in the civil rights movement that led to permanent change for the better in our society," (Bachus) said in a statement.
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