Two Israeli embassy staff members were killed by a pro-Palestinian assailant Wednesday evening while leaving an event held at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. The victims, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, were set to be engaged.
Hours after the homicides, law enforcement arrested Elias Rodriguez, 31, of Chicago. Upon Rodriguez being identified as the prime suspect, authorities learned of his affiliation with the Marxist, pro-Palestinian group, the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL).
Photos online reportedly show Rodriguez at a Black Lives Matter protest in 2017, marking the three year anniversary of an officer-involved shooting in Chicago. Additionally, Reuters is reporting that he was an oral history researcher at a nonprofit ‘dedicated to preserving African American stories.’
As the nation’s capitol and Jewish Americans grapple with the fallout from the targeted killings, Alabama’s Republican elected officials offered their prayers and reflections on the tragic act of antisemitic terrorism.
Democrats representing Alabama, U.S. Reps. Terri Sewell (D-Birmingham) and Shomari Figures (D-Mobile), have not made any public statements about the incident that the FBI says it is investigating as a possible hate crime and terror attack.
The Alabama Israel Legislative Caucus, a bipartisan group of state lawmakers, chaired by State Reps. David Faulkner (R-Mountain Brook) and Phillip Ensler (D-Montgomery), said in a statement on Thursday, “This is a hate crime and act of terrorism against innocent people on American soil.”
U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) labeled the murders ‘devastating’ and Rodriguez a ‘TERRORIST.’
Emergency crews arrived and attempted to save the couple following the shooting. Both were later pronounced dead at the scene.
Austen Shipley is the News Director for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @ShipleyAusten
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey reaffirmed her confidence in Huntsville as the future home of the U.S. Space Command headquarters, issuing a strong statement Wednesday to Yellowhammer News in response to recent comments by Congressman Mike Rogers.
“The facts are the facts, and we remain confident that for that reason, Space Command Headquarters will be in its rightful home in Huntsville, Alabama,” Ivey said. “Congressman Rogers, as well as Senators Tuberville and Britt and our entire delegation, have done yeomen’s work to ensure fairness returns to the process and that HQ comes home.”
Ivey’s statement comes on the heels of remarks from Rogers (R-Saks), chair of the House Armed Services Committee, who announced on Auburn University’s “Cyber Focus” podcast that a final decision on the headquarters location is expected this month.
The move to Huntsville has long been a topic of political debate, but recent momentum, including Rogers’ comments and broad support from Alabama’s congressional delegation, suggests the long-anticipated transition is nearing reality. Huntsville is already a major hub for space and missile defense programs.
Rogers also noted that the region is well-positioned to support a potential missile defense initiative modeled after Israel’s Iron Dome, dubbed the “Golden Dome.”
Sherri Blevins is a writer for Mountain Valley News and a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at sablevins@farmerstel.com.
Auburn University Regional Airport is set to receive a major upgrade in the form of a new air traffic control tower.
The construction of the building is being made possible through the recent approval of federal funding legislation which set aside $7.2 million for the task.
Bill Hutto, executive director of the Auburn University Regional Airport, explained some of the tower’s benefits and also thanked Rep. Mike Rogers, who represents the district, for securing the funding for the project.
“This project will significantly increase safety at the airport, which is the top priority,” Hutto said. “It also will make the airport more efficient for our many users, ranging from education to economic development. We thank Congressman Rogers for his continued support of aviation initiatives in our community.”
Recently, the airport has experienced record levels of operations because of the high number of flight training students at Auburn University and the continued increase in business, military, and recreational travelers to the Auburn-Opelika area. The airport also saw a record number of operations in 2023, second only to Birmingham International Airport in the state.
Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller, chairman of the Airport Advisory Board, noted the positive effect the tower will have on overall safety while also crediting Rogers for his role in the process.
“The construction of the air traffic control tower marks a transformative moment for the airport,” Fuller said. “This investment underscores our commitment to ensure our community is served with the utmost safety.
“We are grateful for the support of Congressman Rogers and look forward to the positive impact this project will have on our region’s aviation capabilities.”
Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.
Three of Alabama’s incumbent Congressman will be representing the Republican Party in the upcoming general election after handily winning their respective primaries over challengers on Tuesday.
Rep.’s Robert Aderholt, Gary Palmer, and Mike Rogers won in a convincing fashion with Aderholt claiming 79% of the vote in District 4, Palmer winning 83% of voters over in District 6, and Rogers securing 82% of the vote in the District 3.
Each expressed their appreciation for the strong show of support from Republican voters.
On Tuesday evening, Aderholt (R-Haleyville) issued a message of gratitude on social media shortly after the race was called in his favor.
Thank you for the overwhelming support to serve you for another two years in the U.S. House of Representatives. It’s the honor of my life to have your support and to work for you.
“The results represent that voters in our district believe that proven conservative leadership is what is needed for Alabama,” Palmer said. “Now that the primary and Super Tuesday are behind us, I will be focused on supporting other Republicans in their races so we can give President Trump a Republican majority when he is back in the White House. Thank you to the voters for their confidence in our vision and to those who supported our campaign.”
“I am looking forward to getting back to work for you!”
Rogers (R-Saks) gave thanks for the continued support of Republican voters in his district.
Thank you, #AL03 for your support in this primary! Now we move forward to November! Together, we will SAVE our nation 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/Sw8AlszqJE
— Mike Rogers Campaign (@MikeRogersCamp) March 6, 2024
Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.
U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers has joined a growing list of GOP lawmakers condemning the actions of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg over the possible arrest of former President Donald Trump.
Rogers (R-Saks), chair of the House Armed Services Committee, said the possible charges are illegitimate.
“I am deeply disturbed by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s pursuit of bogus charges against President Trump,” he said. “Should he choose to go through with indicting President Trump, it would be a slap in the face to the American judicial system and an absolute disgrace.”
He also said it was yet another attempt by the “radical left” to further persecute Trump.
“This drawn-out political witch hunt is another example of the radical Left’s weaponization of the law against President Trump and conservatives,” said Rogers.
In his statement, Rogers then drew attention to New York’s increasing crime rate since Bragg has taken office.
“Violent crime in New York has skyrocketed under Bragg’s watch, and one of America’s most richly historic cities has descended into mayhem,” he said. “Instead of pursuing sham charges, Bragg should either focus his time on protecting New Yorkers from violent criminals or resign immediately.”
Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.
After President Donald Trump announced the release of the Missile Defense Review (MDR) from the Pentagon Thursday, Congressman Mike Rogers (AL-3) released a statement saying the MDR “lays out smart and strategic policies” vital to national defense.
“Missile defense is vital to securing our homeland, our forces abroad and our allies, and will continue to be for the for seeable future,” Rogers said. “This Missile Defense Review lays out smart and strategic policies that will guide our missile defenses and posture to counter our adversaries through an increased focus on advanced technology.”
“I am also pleased to see it builds on many of the policies we have supported in the Strategic Forces Subcommittee for the last several years and look forward to continue working with President Trump to implement these policies,” he concluded. (more…)
On Monday, Republican Congressman Mike Rogers (AL-3) announced that he is cosponsoring the “Life at Conception Act of 2019,” a bill that declares life begins at conception and gives legal protection to unborn children from the very start.
In a statement, Rogers said, “As we approach the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision, I am always reminded of how precious life is.”
“As the father of three beautiful children, I never take for granted the gift of life and I will always stand up for the rights of the unborn. Those unborn babies can’t speak for themselves, but I will be their voice here in Congress,” he added. (more…)
Congressman Mike Rogers (AL-3) announced Monday that Chris Vieson will be the staff director for the Committee on Homeland Security when Rogers becomes the committee’s ranking member in January.
“I am thrilled that Chris will be joining the Committee as the Staff Director. His knowledge and leadership abilities are extraordinary and make Chris a perfect choice for this role,” Rogers said in a press release.
Vieson emphasized that he was “honored” and “thrilled” to lead the staff for this crucial committee.
“I am honored for the opportunity to work for Ranking Member Rogers and all the Members on the Committee,” Vieson outlined. “The Committee is at the forefront of vital issues facing the nation and I am thrilled that Rep. Rogers has placed his trust in me to help him lead.” (more…)
The 2018 Farm Bill received a conference report on Tuesday, with the United States Senate quickly turning around and passing the bill by a resoundingly bipartisan 87-13 vote the same day.
The bill is expected to be passed by the U.S. House of Representatives as early as this week, at which time the bill will go to President Donald Trump’s desk. Congressman Mike Rogers (AL-3) was on the conference committee of House and Senate members that reached a final compromise on the crucial legislation.
The 2018 Farm Bill improves the crop insurance program, helps expand rural broadband initiatives and includes many of the cotton industry’s priorities such as the continuation of the Seed Cotton program. It is also expected to provide some much-needed relief for farmers suffering from ongoing trade wars with China.
Both Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL) and Senator Doug Jones (D-AL) applauded the bill’s passage in the upper chamber as a win for Alabama farmers and this integral industry for the Yellowhammer State. (more…)
AUBURN – It was a perfect October morning on Saturday for Governor Kay Ivey’s campaign event in Auburn. The weather was crisp, an ideal temperature not quite reaching “cold,” and autumn leaves fell around the Big Red Barn, which sits picturesquely off of a pond across from the historic Edward L. Lowder Red Barn at the College of Agriculture’s Ag Heritage Park.
A crowd of approximately 100 steadily amassed, enjoying the fitting offering of steaming hot coffee, before the rally began at 9:00. Lee County GOP chair Gerald Knight kicked things off and served as master of ceremonies. He was followed by welcoming remarks from Revenue Commissioner Oline Price, who, in a moving tribute, told the crowd how Ivey had served as a role model and inspiration to her for decades.
Republican nominee for state senate district 13 Randy Price led the crowd in prayer, which was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. The governor’s Lee County coordinator, Tommy Heaton, then introduced Congressman Mike Rogers (AL-3), who in turn gave a warm introduction of Ivey.
In Rogers’ approximately two-minute remarks, he raved about Ivey’s job performance and proven record of conservative, steady leadership. (more…)
In separate interviews with NBC 13 posted this week, Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Saks) and his Democratic opponent, Mallory Hagan, offered opposing viewpoints on border security.
While Rogers supports building the wall proposed by President Donald Trump, his challenger does not, even going as far as to say, “I don’t really necessarily think that border security is our problem.”
As a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security since it was made permanent in 2005, Rogers has first-hand experience and in-depth knowledge of the subject.
“The only way we are going to … be able to stem the flow of bad actors into this country on the southern border is to build a barrier,” Rogers outlined. “You know, the wall is the term used, but it’s not technically a wall [in its entirety]. It’s a series of fences, electronic monitors – aerial and ground – as well as personnel.” (more…)
Jalen Drummond, who graduated from the University of Alabama this past May and is a native of the state, is facing racial abuse from the “tolerant left” after he interned for President Donald Trump over the summer.
In a recent viral post from from the liberal “comedy” website “Funny or Die,” Drummond’s picture was replaced with the fictional character from the movie “Get Out,” which won the Academy Award last year with its take on racism in modern America.
On Saturday, Drummond reaffirmed that he considered it “an incredible honor and privilege serving as one of [President Donald Trump’s] White House interns this summer,” while calling out the shameful behavior by Funny or Die and individuals who shared their original post. (more…)
As Alabama honored the 17th anniversary of September 11, 2001 with “Patriot Day” on Tuesday, Governor Kay Ivey spent time dedicating the Alabama Firefighter Memorial in Anniston, where she delivered a tribute to the fallen American heroes who perished on 9/11 and the first responders who are always there to serve selflessly when called upon.
In a video of the live speech posted by Jeff Eliasoph of WVTM 13 News, Ivey said after 9/11, “what emerged was the resiliency of the American patriot.”
“We will remember that day as the day first responders carried our nation on their back, and that day will always be remembered as the day that America refused to be shaken,” she said.
Monday in an appearance on Birmingham’s Talk 99.5 “Matt & Aunie Show,” Rep. Mo Brooks offered listeners an update on his status following the prostate cancer surgery he underwent last week.
Brooks seemed upbeat about his progress. He was asked by hosts Matt Murphy and Andrea Lindenberg about how difficult 2017 had been given the shooting at a congressional baseball practice in June, his failed bid for U.S. Senate that unfolded throughout the year and then his prostate cancer diagnosis.
While laying those difficulties out, Brooks took aim at Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) for his involvement in the primary.
“They still don’t get it,” Brooks said. “They don’t understand that they’re the ones who lost this Senate race. But for their intimidation tactics, [State] Sen. Del Marsh would have run. But for their intimidation tactics, Trip Pittman, the senator from the Mobile Bay area may have been able to get more funding and run a better campaign. Same with me. We had a number of candidates who would have easily have won in the special election of last Tuesday probably by 20 or more points. But for whatever reason, the strategy implemented by Mitch McConnell resulted in a runoff between two people who gave us the greatest challenge to win the general election with. And you know, we are where we are. And it’s because of Mitch McConnell. They had this script, and they didn’t do any independent thinking.”
He went on to reveal Rep. Mike Rogers had warned McConnell before the campaign about the possibilities of making the eventual GOP nominee vulnerable to a Democrat.
“I’ll give you an example – Congressman Mike Rogers met with Mitch McConnell and told him that if he persisted in this plan, he was about to unfold, that the result would be a runoff between Luther Strange and Roy Moore. Roy Moore would be our nominee. And because of some public hesitancy with some of the positions that Roy Moore has taken over the years – that would be a real dogfight in the general election. And that’s a congressman who has been highly successful in the state of Alabama. You would think that Mitch McConnell would give that some weight. But Mitch McConnell just totally disregarded it. Same thing with the insight that I tried to share with the senators. They just could not conceive that the incumbent had some major weaknesses that would make vulnerable not only in a runoff, even with $30 million pumped down to try to help him – not only make him vulnerable in a runoff, but also make him an underdog in a general election against someone like Doug Jones.”
Yellowhammer News reached out to Rogers’ Washington, D.C. office but it did not offer an on-the-record comment about Brooks’ claim of the meeting between Rogers and McConnell.
Rogers endorsed Brooks for the Republican nomination during the GOP primary.
Listen here:
Jeff Poor is a graduate of Auburn University and works as the editor of Breitbart TV.
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At a speech given in Indiana on Wednesday, President Trump announced his administration’s plan for sweeping tax reform across all income brackets. According to the GOP, the new tax plan was created with three major goals in mind: more jobs, fairer taxes, and bigger paychecks. Republicans plan to do this by lowering tax rates for businesses both large and small, eliminating special-interest loopholes in the current tax code, and cutting excessive and costly taxes on individuals.
Some highlights of the GOP’s plan for tax reform include:
Lowers rates for individuals and families by shrinking the seven current tax brackets into three: 12%, 25%, and 35%
Doubles the standard deduction and increases the Child Tax Credit so that families can keep more of their paychecks
Repeals unfair taxes such as the Death Tax and the Alternative Minimum Tax
Limits the maximum tax rate for small businesses to 25%, and lowers the corporate tax rate to 20%
Allows businesses to write off the cost of new investments for a period of five years
Republicans believe that this reform is what the nation needs to rid ourselves of the current burdensome tax code. In fact, Republicans have even included 31 reasons why we need tax reform in their plan.
Immediately following the President’s announcement, the Alabama delegation made their support of the plan known. Congressman Mike Rogers believes that this reform is a much-needed shot in the arm to the American economy. In a press release, he stated, “I strongly support the tax reform framework outlined today by President Trump and the House Republican Leadership. Tax reform is the single best way to grow our economy. Hard working Americans are due a fairer and simpler tax code.”
Representative Bradley Byrne stressed the urgency of-of getting tax reform through Congress saying, “I am committed to joining with President Trump to advance real tax reform before the end of the year. Now is the time to fix our broken tax code, and we must get the job done.”
Representative Martha Roby took to Twitter to highlight the importance of putting the American people first when it comes to tax reform. “When it comes to using money wisely to take care of everyday needs, I trust the people far more than I trust the government,” Roby said.
Major tax reform could be the measure that sends Alabama’s already growing economy through the roof. The Yellowhammer state has seen some of its lowest unemployment rates in a decade, and manufacturing and textile companies continue to invest billions of dollars in the state and its workers. A simpler tax code just might let hard-working Alabamians keep more of their paycheck and have more money in their pockets.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. House of Representatives passed the 2018 version of the National Defense Authorization Act on Friday, which will fund and set the policy goals for the country’s armed forces. Although it passed by a margin of 344 to 81, it still must be reconciled with the Senate version of the bill.
For Alabama, the bill funds the construction of three additional Littoral Combat Ships, which are manufactured by Austal in Mobile. The Littoral Combat Ship is a class of vessels used in operations close to shore (the littoral zone). They have been compared to Corvettes, built to swiftly move in fights with other vessels, as well as to hunt and destroy enemy submarines and mines. Most of the ships are constructed at a specialized production facility located in Mobile.
Congressman Bradley Byrne (R-AL1), represents the district where the ships are built. He is pleased that the bill continued to fund the program that he believes is instrumental to America’s national defense, but he wants to make sure the Senate’s bill does the same.
“As the Littoral Combat Ships spend more time deployed across the globe, more and more Members of Congress are realizing the important role the ships plan in the Navy’s overall mission,” Byrne said in a release. “I will always continue to be a strong advocate for the men and women at the Austal shipyard as we work to build toward a 355 ship Navy.”
In addition to paying for more LCS, the bill would fund a 10 percent increase in military spending, a 2.4 percent pay raise for the troops, new investments in missile defense systems, an increase in the the size of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Army Guard and Reserve, Naval and Air Reserve, and Air Guard, and improvements to military facilities with a focus on restoration.
“This bill is about ensuring the safety and security of the American people,” Byrne said. “The bipartisan defense authorization bill reforms, repairs, and rebuilds the United States military. The bill addresses the realities of the dangerous threat environment facing our nation and ensures our troops and their families have the necessary resources and benefits.”
Provisions of the bill will also help employees of the Anniston Army Depot in Rep. Mike Rogers’ (R-AL3) district. Rogers helped shape language in the NDAA that will extend the authority of the Department of Defense to pay depot employees deployed to combat zones an additional allowance and benefits due to the dangerous nature of their locations. Another provision would allow the Depot’s leadership to consider temporary and term employees for permanent positions when they become available, which allows for more flexibility to hire the best possible workers.
“The NDAA still has to go to conference committee with the Senate, but I am pleased with the legislation that passed the House and will continue to fight to make sure America’s military is robust and fully equipped,” Rogers said in a press release.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspects a sub-unit under KPA Unit 1344 in this undated photo released by North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang November 9, 2016.
Our Nation’s Best Defense System Must Remain In Place (News Analysis)
As Yellowhammer has reported in recent weeks, when North Korea attempts a nuclear attack on the United States, they will do so using an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). Over the past year, they’ve launched scores of failed ICBM trial runs. Yesterday, however, as Americans celebrated our independence, North Korea pulled off its first ever successful ICBM test launch.
According to Fox News, North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un called the test a “brilliant victory” adding that “gift packages” will be coming to the “American bastards” soon.
Nuclear weapons are the worst military threat that America faces. A single 500-kiloton warhead exploded over a major U.S. city would destroy or heavily damage all buildings to a radius of three miles, and cause widespread fires to a radius of six miles. Electric grids and other fragile infrastructure would fail for tens of miles in every direction. If it was a big city like New York or L.A., prompt and delayed fatalities would likely exceed a million people. Radiation would render much of the damaged area uninhabitable for years.
At this point, no one seems to question whether or not Kim will attempt a nuclear attack on the U.S., but simply when he will do so. Yesterday’s actions no doubt energized the deeply disturbed dictator. In light of this growing threat, now is not the time to reorganize the country’s only defense system against such attacks, the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD).
The outgoing head of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA), Vice Adm. James Syring, moved to bring the GMD under the functional control of the U.S. government just before he lost his job in the Pentagon, and reportedly did so without consulting his replacement, Lt. Gen. Samuel Greaves. Boeing is the prime contractor responsible for developing the GMD, and if carried out, Syring’s move would result in the loss of invaluable institutional knowledge at the program’s most critical stage of development. This action would no doubt destabilize this vital defense program—the only one we have against North Korea’s ICBMs.
Thankfully, Alabama Congressman Mike Rogers introduced legislation in his House Armed Services subcommittee that should slow this process down. At the end of the day, however, it remains to be seen whether or not the GMD will be “disaggregated” by the U.S. government. As Congressman Rogers noted in a previous article, doing so would be a mistake.
With the growing threats from North Korea and Iran, the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) has plenty on its plate. Our missile defense systems have suffered uner the ravages of the last eight years under the Obama Administration. Now is not the time to complicate our homeland defense by introducing unnecessary uncertainty and disrupting the management of the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) program.
Rather than having one team manage the whole GMD effort, there would be different groups working various pieces of the missile-defense puzzle. The Missile Defense Agency itself would become the “system integrator” for the overall effort.This is a really bad idea, left over from the Obama years when policymakers thought that bureaucrats were better at managing tech projects than people from the private sector. Nobody has said Boeing is doing a bad job, the agency just wants more control over the program’s technical baseline and day-to-day management. It sounds reasonable, but past experience with other such initiatives suggests it won’t work.
In light of yesterday’s successful test by the North Koreans, breaking up the GMD now seems even more harmful—especially if the rationale is cost savings. While most everyone appreciates the need to cut spending by the federal government, Thompson cogently expressed why doing so is terrible for our national security:
We are talking here about the only program the government funds that could stop a North Korean warhead from reaching Los Angeles or Houston or New York. Ground-based Midcourse Defense should have gotten more robust funding than it did during the Obama years — the administration eventually woke up to the threat — but the May 30 test demonstrates the program is achieving its goals despite the shoestring budget. So where’s the case for reorganizing how it is managed?
The new head of the Missile Defense Agency, Lt. Gen. Samuel Greaves of the Air Force, needs to rethink his contracting strategy for the future. At the very least, he needs to advance a clear explanation as to why the change of course is necessary before a new administration has even stated what his agency’s priorities will be. The more you look at other efforts the federal government has undertaken to be a system integrator, the more you will wonder how this dubious plan ever got launched in the first place.
In addition to all of the compelling reasons for leaving the GMD alone, Thompson also points out (to flip the phrase) that the best offense is a good defense:
Although Washington is poised to spend over $600 billion on defense during the fiscal year beginning October 1, not much of that money is allocated to protecting the American homeland from intercontinental missiles launched by Russia or other hostile nuclear powers. About one-fourth of one-percent, to be precise. Instead, policymakers have chosen a strategy of deterrence to defend the homeland, meaning that any nuclear attacker would be met with overwhelmingly destructive retaliation. The assumption is that no rational leader will launch nuclear weapons if he or she knows it would be tantamount to committing national suicide. Unfortunately, not all leaders are rational. And some are accident-prone. Sometimes even rational people can’t think clearly during a crisis.
In the case of Kim Jong Un, everyone knows he’s anything but rational. Therefore, it’s our hope that the completion of the GMD’s development will be left to the 336 capable men and women at Boeing, and the hundreds of subcontractors who support them, right here in Alabama. We also hope the administration will make GMD funding a top priority so that we may destroy ICMB’s aimed at our shores. After yesterday’s North Korean test, we need the GMD now more than ever.
WO1 Dan Kennedy, a flight student assigned to B Co. 1st Battalion, 145th Aviation Regiment, waits for a thumbs up from his instructor pilot to approach the AH-64D Apache helicopter on which he will train May 22, 2013. Photo c/o Fort Rucker
A newly passed defense spending bill that would provide $577.9 billion to the military has Alabama’s representatives doing a happy dance. That’s because, for a state with a heavy military presence, the new bill will bolster armed services personnel and industries at home.
In Central Alabama, the defense spending bill provides $187 million for 28 new Lakota helicopters, which are heavily used at Fort Rucker’s Army Aviation Center of Excellence. It also directs $450 million toward cyber security efforts like the one located at Maxwell Air Force Base. Additionally, the legislation provides funding for 74 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, which could go to Montgomery’s 187th Fighter Wing.
Prior to the bill’s passage, Congresswoman Martha Roby- a member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee- urged her colleagues to advance the bill. Her district alone houses Fort Rucker and Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base.
“For the last six years we have been in almost constant tension with an administration whose sequestration policy threatened to hollow out our military,” Roby said. “Providing for the common defense of our nation is one of the most fundamental duties of Congress under the Constitution.”
Rep. Bradley Byrne pointed to the bill’s approval for three more Littoral Combat Ships, which are built by Mobile’s Austell USA.
“Ensuring our military men and women have the funding and resources to do their job is a fundamental responsibility of Congress,” Rep. Byrne said. “These ships are a key component of the Navy’s fleet, and the additional funding is vital to the future of the Austal shipyard in Mobile.”
In the Huntsville area, Rep. Mo Brooks touted funding boosts that are included to the Redstone Arsenal.
“I’m very pleased key priorities for the Redstone Arsenal community have been increased – notably high energy laser research, cybersecurity research for a variety of Army platforms and integration of systems, and the Army’s important continued investment in Future Vertical Lift,” Brooks said.
“The number one responsibility of Congress is to give our warfighters the resources and support needed to carry out their missions,” he added.
Congressman Mike Rogers serves on the Armed Services Committee. His East Alabama District will also see benefits from the spending plan, but he added that the U.S. military will need continued support going forward.
“This is a great start but there is still more work to be done to rebuild of military and to ensure readiness in our Armed Forces after years of neglect by the Obama Administration,” Rep. Rogers said.
Following the peaceful transfer of power from President Barack Obama to President Donald Trump on Saturday, one Alabama Congressman’s call for the U.S. to withdraw from the United Nations is gaining renewed attention.
Rep. Mike Rogers has again introduced the “American Sovereignty Restoration Act,” which seeks to repeal the United Nations Participation Act of 1945. It would prohibit federal dollars to be given to the U.N. for any purpose and would terminate any military or peacekeeping mission agreements. Additionally, the proposal would force the U.N. to relocate out of the country.
Currently, the diplomatic body is headquartered in New York.
“The United Nations (including any organ, specialized agency, commission or other formally affiliated body of the United Nations) may not occupy or use any property or facility of the United States Government,” the resolution says.
President Donald Trump has referred to the U.N. as “a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time,” and promised that American involvement in the organization would look vastly different under his presidency. As he has already begun taking quick action on many of his campaign promises, some believe that Rogers’ bill could gain momentum soon.
Rep. Rogers has long criticized the nation’s commitment to the institution and has worked for years to facilitate an exit. He recently pointed to the United Nations’ actions against Israel as further validation for the move.
“The U.N. has attempted a number of actions which aimed to encroach on the rights granted to U.S. citizens under our Constitution,” Rogers told AL.com. “Most recently, the U.N. Security Council sided with Palestine and passed a resolution condemning Israel’s settlements in Jerusalem. Attacks against one of the United States’ greatest allies are just the most recent chapter in the U.N.’s dangerous agenda. I believe our involvement in the U.N. is a waste of taxpayer dollars.”
So far, the bill has received six other co-sponsors, including including Arizona Rep. Andy Biggs, North Carolina Rep. Walter B. Jones, Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz , Missouri Rep. Jason Smith, Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie, and Tennessee Rep. John Duncan, Jr.
Removal from the United Nations has also garnered the support of other key lawmakers on Capitol Hill, like Kentucky Senator Rand Paul.
“I dislike paying for something that two-bit Third World countries with no freedom attack us and complain about the United States,” Paul once said. “There’s a lot of reasons why I don’t like the U.N., and I think I’d be happy to dissolve it.”
Alabama Congressman Mike Rogers has emerged as one of the nation’s leading advocates for space defense technology. During a panel discussion hosted by the Reagan Presidential Library, he pressed the need for stronger research and development that could lead to greater military power. According to him, a commitment to space is an important component of the effort to bolster America’s strength.
Rogers, who serves as the chair of the House Armed Services strategic forces subcommittee, was joined by other leading defense experts like General David L. Goldfein, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force, and former Congresswoman Ellen Tauscher, who chairs the California Governor’s Military Council.
During the event, Rep. Rogers said that space is often viewed as the “red-headed stepchild” of the armed services, but added that it was an important component of our nation’s defense strategy.
“What we have got to recognize is that our adversaries know that we cannot fight and win a war without using space,” he said. “And they have developed offensive capabilities that we have not done a good enough job of being prepared to respond to.”
He added that adversaries of the United States need to understand that if they go after our space-based assets, that our country will issue a “severe response.”
“We have to remember that the world is watching,” he said. “When our allies and our adversaries see us flying 52 year-old B-52 bombers, openly acknowledging that we intend to fly it until they’re 80 years-old… That is not showing a commitment to nuclear deterrent that our enemies need to see.”
On a lighter note, Rogers concluded his appearance with a prediction about Alabama football.
“I do think Alabama’s going to win the SEC Championship. And in January the national championship.”
Rep. Mike Rogers, R-AL03 (Photo: Facebook)
Rogers sticks with Trump, says stakes are too high to elect Hillary
Alabama Congressman Mike Rogers says he isn’t getting distracted by the narrative of a Clinton-friendly media. Come November, he’s sticking with his commitment to cast a vote for Donald Trump.
“I plan to vote for Donald Trump for president,” Rep. Rogers said. “I have pledged from the beginning to support the Republican presidential nominee even if it was not one of the candidates I initially preferred.”
He’s referring to the primary election, of course. Prior to Trump winning the Republican nomination, Rep. Rogers had supported Florida Governor Jeb Bush’s campaign. He told Alabamians in May that he would support the voters choice for the GOP ticket.
However, following released audio that found Trump making lewd comments toward women, some Republican Representatives across the country have begun to question their own support of the GOP nominee. Rep. Rogers maintains that the stakes are too high to allow Hillary Clinton into the White House.
Other leaders agree. This week, a stream of leaked emails from Hillary Clinton’s campaign has revealed hostilities toward Christians, Catholics, Southerners, and other conservative-leaning voter groups. As a result, dozens of religious leaders have blasted the Democrat candidate for “Christophobic” behavior.
The Alabama Congressman points to Clinton’s record, and acknowledges significant legislative battles ahead as reasons why Republicans should consider supporting the nominee.
“The fact of the matter is Hillary Clinton is the wrong choice for our nation,” he said. “A Supreme Court under Mrs. Clinton would be destructive to everything we hold dear in Alabama from protecting the rights of unborn children to our Second Amendment rights. Additionally, we must repeal and replace Obamacare and start to roll back some of the overly burdensome EPA and Dodd-Frank financial regulations that are destroying our economy.”
“Only a Trump presidency can make these possible,” he added.
Alabama Representatives that have put forth a similar position include Senators Jeff Sessions and Richard Shelby, along with Representatives Mo Brooks, Gary Palmer, and Bradley Byrne. All have affirmed they would vote for Trump in November.
Alabama Congressman Mike Rogers says the country is past due for a conversation on the role that space plays in our national security. That’s why he’s leading an effort in Congress that would force the Department of Defense to more proactively prepare for threats that could emerge from space-led warfare. While it’s not a current reality, addressing a glaring shortcoming early is a necessary measure that he believes could protect future generations from preventable tragedy.
Rogers, who serves as the chair of the House Armed Services strategic forces subcommittee, held a hearing on Tuesday to lay the foundation for “major reform” that will lead up to the FY18 National Defense Authorization Act.
During the meeting, he warned that national leaders must “resist the temptation of bureaucrats to wait for a disaster to fix this known failure.”
“For those that shy away from reform, I ask if it is better to wait for a crisis to motivate those to change, or to instead build a better system in a thoughtful and deliberate manner in order to avert such a crisis in the future?” Rep. Rogers asked.
Tuesday’s hearing featured testimony from John Hamre, a former deputy secretary of defense, former director of the National Reconnaissance Office Martin Faga, and retired Navy admiral Jim Ellis. All officials acknowledged that America must make make space a national defense priority.
“We’re failing to see what’s obvious to us now, that our opponents know quite well what they can do to change our entire posture, and we’re not responding in a very effective way,” said Dr. Hamre.
One reform that Rep. Rogers and his committee seems to be eyeing is the need to create a transparent and streamlined space defense structure. Currently, action on space-related security issues face a massive bureaucratic web of 60 stakeholders.
Rep. Mike Rogers, R-AL03 (Photo: Facebook)
WASHINGTON — In a letter to Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and Secretary of State John Kerry Thursday, Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL03) urged the military and diplomatic leaders to respond more assertively to Russia’s threats to deploy nuclear weapons in Crimea.
“You don’t deal with a thug like Vladimir Putin by asking nicely,” Rogers said. “He breaks treaties, he invades countries and then stations his nuclear forces on their soil, and he cozies up to terrorist regimes like Assad’s, North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, and the mullahs in Tehran.”
After being reappointed chairman of the Armed Services Committee’s Strategic Forces subcommittee late last year, Rogers said he planned to use his leadership role to “keep pressure” on Putin. Thursday’s statement indicates that will indeed be his approach.
But Rogers also expressed frustration with the Obama administration’s unwillingness to work with his committee to push back on Putin’s aggressive moves in Ukraine.
“I have said repeatedly that I will work with the Administration if they show me they are taking these matters seriously,” he said. “For months I’ve been asking the Administration how they will prevent Putin from stationing his nuclear forces on Ukrainian soil in Crimea. The Administration has no plan; the security of our allies cannot afford a continued delay.”
With Thursday’s letter, Rogers is seeking answers on how the Obama Administration plans to defend the U.S. and its allies against an increasingly bold Putin regime.
“The US must immediately take action to respond to Russia’s threats to European security and to change President Putin’s calculus,” he said.
Rogers requested a “detailed and written” response by February 1st.
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Congressman Rogers(Washington, DC) The Chairman of the Congressional panel that has jurisdiction over the Department of Defense today named Alabama Congressman Mike Rogers the next Chairman of the panel’s Strategic Forces subcommittee.
As Chairman, Rogers will oversee our nation’s strategic weapons, ballistic missile defense, space programs, and most of the Department of Energy national security programs. Alabama is home to much of the research and development that many of these programs rely upon, pumping millions into Alabama’s economy every year.
Rogers’ East Alabama Congressional district is home to several key defense installations, all of which will benefit from Rogers’ increased role.
“I am deeply honored that Chairman McKeon chose me to lead this important Subcommittee,” Rogers said. “The Third District is home to critical military installations like the Anniston Army Depot and Fort Benning, and Maxwell Air Force Base is right in the Montgomery area. This is an incredibly important role, and I hope to use this chairmanship to further ensure these vital facilities are strengthened and protected in the years to come, while advocating for common sense defense policies that provide for our warfighters and help protect our nation.”
“I asked Congressman Rogers to serve as the Chairman of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee because he is a proven leader, a subject matter expert, and one of the hardest working Members I know,” said House Armed Services Committee Chairman Buck McKeon (R-CA). “He will serve our nation and his district well in this leadership role.”
Considered one of the most important assignments on the House Armed Services Committee, Rogers will be at the forefront of policymaking as the U.S. seeks to upgrade its strategic arsenal and face down growing threats from countries like China, North Korea and Iran, all within a tighter fiscal environment. Rogers said he will also maintain his seat on the Readiness Subcommittee.
