Dear John,

January was a month of big changes. We began a new year, kicked off a new Congress, and witnessed the peaceful transfer of power from one administration to the next.

Through it all, my commitment to you has remained the same. I have continued working to bring more resources and better opportunities to the people of Alabama's 7th Congressional District.

Keep reading for an update on the progress we have made in January 2025.

Sincerely,

Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell

BEGINNING A NEW CONGRESS

On January 3, 2025, my colleagues and I were officially sworn in to the 119th Congress.

I was especially excited to welcome the newest member of Alabama's congressional delegation—Congressman Shomari Figures of District 2!

I look forward to having him as a partner in Congress as we work to move Alabama forward.

LOWERING PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS FOR SENIORS

Earlier this month, the Biden-Harris Administration announced that Medicare will have the power to negotiate lower prices for 15 more prescription drugs that treat obesity, diabetes, COPD, cancer, and more.

That means more money in the pockets of Alabama seniors!

These cost saving were made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act which I helped pass in 2022. The law has already led to a 40% to 80% price reduction for 10 of the most used drugs in Medicare.

More than 165,000 Alabama seniors will pay less for their prescription drugs as a result of this program. Please know that I will strongly oppose any effort by President Trump and Congressional Republicans to repeal it.

Click below to learn about which drugs are included.

$44 MILLION GRANT FOR BIRMINGHAM

This month, our office announced a monumental federal grant of $44 million for the Birmingham Biotechnology Hub. It is a big victory for the City of Birmingham and the entire State of Alabama!

Birmingham is already leading the nation in the biotechnology sector. This funding will help us remain at the forefront of cutting-edge research and innovation.

Specifically, this grant will help our scientists harness the power of artificial intelligence to make strides toward greater representation for African Americans and other minority communities in clinical trials.

I was proud to help create the federal Tech Hub program and I'm grateful to the Biden-Harris Administration for recognizing and investing in our city's potential.

Click below to watch my video message and follow me on YouTube!

MAKING HISTORY ON THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE

After being officially sworn in to the 119th Congress, I was selected by my Democratic colleagues to serve as Ranking Member of the Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee. The Ways and Means Committee was established in 1789, and I am honored to be the first Black woman to hold a leadership role.

Since joining the Committee in 2017, I have championed efforts to protect Social Security and Medicare benefits, deliver tax relief to working families, and ensure our tax system benefits ALL Americans, not just billionaires and big corporations.

As I step into this new role, I will strive to work with my Republican colleagues where possible and I will not hesitate to hold the new administration accountable when necessary.

HONORING DR. KING'S LEGACY

As Americans paused to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., my staff spent MLK Day attending some of the numerous events throughout our district—from Birmingham to Tuscaloosa and the Black Belt.

We have come a long way since the America that Dr. King fought to improve, and we still have much work to do. Let's recommit to the ideals Dr. King stood for—especially equality and justice for all.

“If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.”

- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

SALUTING TUSCALOOSA NATIVE DR. CHARLES STEELE, JR.

This month, I spoke on the House Floor to honor the retirement of Tuscaloosa native Dr. Charles Steele, Jr. after 17 years as President and CEO of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

I join the Tuscaloosa community in saluting Dr. Steele for his accomplished career in public service and civil rights advocacy!

CONNECTING WITH CONSTITUENTS

In January, I kicked off my annual "Congress in Your Community" tour with two meet and greets in Jefferson County. We were thrilled to welcome the residents of Pleasant Grove and Hueytown to Alabama's 7th Congressional District.

Every year, my team and I visit each of the counties in our district to hear about the concerns of Alabama families and share updates on my work in Congress.

Stay tuned as we bring our Congress in Your Community tour to a town near you!

DEFENDING THE SERVICES YOU RELY ON

Within days of taking office, the Trump Administration issued a reckless and illegal memo attempting to cut off all federal funding to our communities.

While the administration provided no details, we know that such a freeze would have immediate and devastating impacts on our district and EVERY community in America. Families could be cut off from food assistance. Student loan disbursements halted. Community health centers unable to serve patients. TRIO and Head Start programs starved of funding. Infrastructure projects halted. Universities without research funding. This list goes on!

I want to thank everyone who contacted our office to express your concerns. Thankfully, after 24 hours of chaos, the Trump Administration rescinded its memo. Going forward, we will need to remain especially vigilant against attempts to take away vital federal dollars.

While we may have won this battle, to be clear, Trump’s executive orders remain in place that could withhold critical funds from our communities, including infrastructure dollars that were already approved by Congress.

That's why my colleagues and I sent a letter to the Trump Administration demanding a list of the frozen infrastructure projects. Alabama communities are counting on these funds to fix our roads and bridges, expand broadband, and prepare for natural disasters.

Regardless of how this administration proceeds, I want you to know that I will always fight to defend the services you and your families rely on.

CONGRATULATIONS ANNA, MEIHUA, SAISHA AND SOPHIE!

The Congressional App Challenge offers students across the nation and our district the opportunity to explore their interest in STEM and showcase their coding skills by building an original app. 

Once again, I was completely blown away by the thoughtfulness and creativity displayed by each of our participants.

This year, Anna Mrug, Meihua Qu, Saisha Sahoo, and Sophie Zou of the Alabama School of Fine Arts won first place with their app, Core.

The app enables patients with chronic diseases to track and manage their pain levels.

Way to go, ladies!

To keep up with my work, please be sure to check in regularly with our website and social media pages (Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram). If you'd like to share your thoughts or concerns, you can email me here.

It is an honor to serve you in Congress. I look forward to hearing from you soon!