Latest news with #R-AL
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Congressman says Space Command weeks away from moving to Alabama
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT) — Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL) says it could only be a matter of weeks before the decision to move the nation's Space Command headquarters to Huntsville's Redstone Arsenal becomes official. A report released by the Government Accountability Office stated the '…. Command's posture is not suitable long term…' in Colorado, among other findings. But Colorado lawmakers have vowed to fight moving the Space Command HQ to Alabama. Congressman Aderholt said that President Donald Trump has announced plans for Golden Dome — an effort to defend the U.S. against missiles. He said the President can't move forward with that project fully until a decision is made on Space Command. 'Without Space Command, President Trump really can't move forward in a meaningful way with Golden Dome,' said Aderholt. 'So, getting this to Huntsville, getting this set up, I think it is imperative for the President's mission with Golden Dome to move forward.' Completed Northern Beltline expected to increase business, save lives in Jefferson County Congressman Aderholt said he and his colleagues are in constant contact with the White House about Space Command. 'We feel like that the President made that commitment to move Space Command from Colorado, and it wasn't a political decision,' he said. 'It was a decision based on the facts.' State Rep. Andy Whitt (R-Harvest) said the move adds to the state's footprint on defense. 'Huntsville is known for its legacy in space exploration, its rockets, and the aerospace industry,' Whitt said. 'But, with our current innovation with the defense industry here in Huntsville, it's just a natural fit.' Whitt explained Huntsville is well prepared for the move, and its impact will be far reaching on the state overall. 'We have over four hundred defense contractors in our city here ready to go to work for the U.S., and our safety,' he said. 'So, we're very excited about it. I think it will bring jobs, an economic boom here for the town.' Congressman Aderholt said, ultimately, it will be President Trump's decision on where the headquarters will end up. He said to stay tuned. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Candidates vying for Senator Tommy Tuberville's seat in Washington
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT) — All eyes are on the race for U.S. Senate. This comes after Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) announced his run for Governor of Alabama Tuesday. Candidates on both sides of the aisle are preparing to campaign for his seat. There are several potential contenders, and some say they haven't made up their mind just yet. 'The question is whether or not there is broad-based support around the state for a run for me for Senate,' said Steve Marshall, Alabama Attorney General. 'And we're having conversations right now.' General Marshall is still finding out the answer to that question. He said he will make a decision soon on whether to run for U.S. Senate. Marshall said he wants to use his expertise in a role where he can best serve the state. 'The issues that we've been involved with as A.G. overlap greatly with what's going on in the Senate,' Marshall said. '[We] clearly have an interest in what's going on in D.C. and its impact on Alabama. And we'll be prepared to make an announcement in the coming days.' John Merrill discusses Alabama governor, U.S. Senate races Former Secretary of State John Merrill also has an interest in what's going on in D.C. He said he is considering a run for different roles, one being for U.S. Senator. 'That's one of the races that we're certainly considering at this point. It's not a race that we have decided we are going to enter at this particular time,' said Merrill. 'We're certainly weighing our options on what races we need to consider from this point forward.' On the Democratic side of aisle, Mobile native Kyle Sweetser is vying for the Senate seat. As a former Republican, he said he wants to fight against tariffs and cuts to federal programs. 'I think that Democrats have an excellent opportunity here to show everyone that we can get things done more than Republicans can,' he said. 'This infrastructure in these rural communities, I mean, they've done a terrible job.' Jared Hudson, a former U.S. Navy Seal from Jefferson County, has also announced he is running for the U.S. Senate seat. We are less than a year out from the primaries, which are on May 19, 2026. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Congressman Aderholt issues statement on Social Security Office changes in Alabama
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — Congressman Robert Aderhold (R-AL) issued a statement regarding changes taking place at Social Security offices throughout the state. You can read Aderholt's statement below: 'Recent reports about the closure of Social Security offices in Alabama do not tell the full story. While changes are being made, I want to reassure residents that these offices will remain open and continue serving the public as they always have. It's our understanding the adjustments involve the cancellation of lease agreements for hearing spaces, not the areas used for daily operations. Social Security hearings are now done virtually, and these spaces have not been used for some time, but tax payers were still paying the rent. These changes will not impact residents' ability to access Social Security services at these locations. It's also important to recognize that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) plays a necessary role in ensuring responsible management of federal resources. However, its actions are not aimed at cutting vital services like Social Security—programs that hardworking Americans have contributed to throughout their lives. My office remains in close contact with the Social Security Administration to ensure that essential services remain accessible to the people of Alabama. I will continue working to protect these critical programs and advocate for the services our communities rely on.' U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL) Congressman Aderholt is a member of the House Committee on Appropriations, which oversees federal government funding. Each year, he assists hundreds of constituents in Alabama's Fourth District with issues related to Social Security, veterans' benefits, passports, and other federal agencies. On January 3, 2025, Congressman Robert Aderholt took the oath of office to to serve another two-year term in Congress. He has represented Alabama's 4th congressional district since 1997. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
GOP Sens Worried About Trump's NIH Cuts Turn To Limp Public Negotiations With RFK, Trump
Earlier this month, the Trump administration took a sledgehammer to a key way in which the National Institutes of Health funds major research institutions across the country. As the country has scrambled to understand the implications of the directive, many Republicans are hearing from their constituents — and walking a tight rope: They're publicly expressing concerns about the damage the cuts will do to crucial medical research in their home states while also praising Donald Trump and RFK Jr., the newly confirmed Health and Human Services secretary, for halting funding in the first place. NIH announced on Feb. 7 that the agency would be making cuts to grants that support major research institutions by limiting the amount of indirect funding — which covers expenses like equipment, operations, maintenance, accounting and personnel — for research projects. The Trump administration's move to limit already agreed-upon funding that universities and health institutions receive to bolster research was immediately met with lawsuits — one filed by nearly two dozen state attorneys general and another brought by a group of university associations and major research centers — aiming to halt the cuts. A federal judge in Boston issued a temporary restraining order last week pausing the policy as the cases move forward, but if the cuts are successfully implemented, it would significantly cripple the ability to continue crucial research in key states and even slow down scientific breakthroughs. The widespread outcry over the NIH cuts marks one of the first bipartisan points of resistance — albeit, from Republicans, tepid resistance — to the Trump administration's destructive effort to shrink the federal government, as Elon Musk and his DOGE cronies bust in to federal agencies and freeze spending. Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL) was the first Republican to express concerns about the impact the cuts will have on major medical research in her state. The University of Alabama Birmingham and Huntsville are both major employers and have received at least a billion dollars in NIH funding in recent years. After the cuts were first announced, Britt went to a statewide newspaper, promising to negotiate with now-HHS Secretary RFK Jr. and the Trump administration to ensure Alabama doesn't lose all of its funding. 'Every cent of hard-earned taxpayer money should be spent efficiently, judiciously, and accountably — without exception,' Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL) told earlier this month. 'While the administration works to achieve this goal at NIH, a smart, targeted approach is needed in order to not hinder life-saving, groundbreaking research at high-achieving institutions like those in Alabama,' she added. Other Senate Republicans have found themselves in a similar position of attempting to publicly negotiate back crucial funding for medical research in their states through the only tactic that has been shown work: praising Trump and Musk for their supposed ingenuity in imposing the cuts, while subtly acknowledging the devastating impact it'll have on major medical research in their states. Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) told TPM in a conversation last week that he thinks funding that might help crack the code for diseases like Alzheimer's and ALS is particularly 'important.' 'There's so many things that the government does that they don't need to do, in my opinion. But there are a few things that if the government didn't do it, they wouldn't be done,' Cramer said, referring to investments in medical research. But, in the meantime, he hastened to add that he is not worried that important research and even possible cures might be delayed due to lack of funding. Cramer said he thinks 'it's worth taking a pause and getting it restarted the right way.' 'My hope is, once this is all rebalanced, that we would dare to imagine that with the collective resources of the generous taxpayers of the country and private enterprise and others that we could actually really, really invest in the type of research that solves big health care problems,' he told TPM. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), who is the chairman of the Senate committee overseeing the NIH, walked a similar line in discussing his unease with the Trump administration plan. He told STAT News he has 'heard loud and clear' that 'Louisiana will suffer from these cuts' and that 'research that benefits people in Louisiana may not be done.' But, Cassidy added, some reform might still be necessary. 'I do not want all the NIH money to be going to Massachusetts and California. I want it to as well come to Louisiana,' he said. 'So, that said, there might be some areas to reform.' Democrats are, of course, locked out of power and increasingly vocal about the dire situation Musk and Trump are creating with the ongoing purge of federal staff and resources. 'I'm obviously opposed,' Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) told TPM when asked about the cuts to NIH funding. 'I've long been an advocate of health research. Dollar for dollar, NIH is one of the best investments we make.' Wyden added he was 'struck by how many Republicans' were vocal and making 'comments reflecting their concern.'
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Bill to mandate AM radio installations in vehicles moving through U.S. Senate
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT) — Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL) is co-sponsoring a bill that would require auto manufacturers to keep installing AM radios. It's called the AM Radio For Every Vehicle Act. Some say there are better ways to get emergency alerts. But advocates argue it saves lives. The static of an AM radio is a sound some have forgotten, but not all. 'Out in those rural communities, radio stations are still carrying high school football and basketball and baseball,' said Sharon Tinsley, president of the Alabama Broadcasters Association. 'They're still reporting what's going to be served at school for lunch today.' She said people still count on AM radio. 'They're still gonna cover the local city council. They're still gonna tell you what's going on with the fire department. And road closures,' she said. 'And any kind of crime reports. That sort of stuff still comes across AM and FM radio across the state.' Proposed bill would make getting controversial medication easier But not all agree. Several auto-groups wrote a letter to Congress against an AM radio mandate. They said it's 'an unnecessary action in the modern communication era and has no bearing on the ability of drivers to receive emergency alerts…' Autauga County Emergency Management Agency director David Bagley said AM radios interfere with new technology. This is why manufacturers want to do away with them. 'And that's understandable,' said Bagley. 'There's dollars associated there. And we understand that. But, for emergency management, and me as an emergency management director, I need to be able to communicate with people.' And that means using all forms of communication. 'Hurricane Helene, Hurricane Katrina- if we had some type of national event- military event, where we wipe out communications. We know AM radio is an efficient and effective medium that we can use.' The bill passed out of the Senate Commerce Committee and now heads to the Senate floor for a vote. Sen. Katie Britt said Alabama communities rely on AM radio for life-saving information. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
