Hello,

Over the past month, I hit the road with my team and visited 15 counties across Alabama, meeting with folks to listen to their ideas and talk about how we can continue to make Alabama a great place to call home.

One of the best parts of serving as your U.S. Senator is having the opportunity to hold town halls where I can hear directly from Alabamians about issues they’re facing every day. Throughout August and early September, I held town halls across the state for folks in Marion, Pickens, Jackson, and DeKalb counties as well as student town halls at Troy University in Troy, Miles College in Fairfield, and Alabama A&M University in Huntsville. I’ll take their ideas and concerns with me back to Washington this week as the Senate goes back into session. If I’m headed to your area for a future town hall, I’ll send you an email to let you know!

READ: Birmingham Times: Sen. Doug Jones visits Miles College for student-led town hall

WATCH: WAAY 31: Senator Doug Jones Meets With Huntsville College Students to Discuss Debt

   
In August, I toured around the state and held town halls for folks in DeKalb and Jackson counties (top left),
Troy University in Troy (top right), Alabama A&M University in Huntsville (bottom left), and Pickens County (bottom right).

Promoting Alabama’s Leadership in National Security and Space

Last month, I attended the Space and Missile Defense Symposium in Huntsville with my good friend Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island, who I serve with on the Senate Armed Services Committee. It was an honor to have him down in Alabama for the symposium, especially given his role as the Ranking Member on the Senate Armed Services Committee and a former Army Ranger. The incredible work being done at Marshall Space Flight Center and Redstone Arsenal is truly cutting edge, and those installations are just one part of Alabama’s immense contribution to our nation’s security.

READ: Alabama Political Reporter: Jones speaks to Space and Missile Defense Symposium

Senator Jack Reed and I visiting with defense industry representatives at the Space
and Missile Defense Symposium in Huntsville.

Finding Solutions for Issues Impacting Alabama

Health Care

In Montgomery, at Alabama State University, I hosted a health care forum and invited local health care leaders to discuss the racial disparities in maternal health outcomes across Alabama. Alabama is still one of 14 states that has yet to expand Medicaid. Our state is losing dollars and more rural hospitals are closing, which means more Alabamians are losing access to health care. By refusing to expand, we have turned away $14 billion of our own taxpayer dollars – dollars that could have helped keep hospitals open, support jobs, and provide health coverage. Right now, expanding Medicaid is the most important thing we can do as a state to guarantee the best health outcomes for Alabamians.  

Maternal health care roundtable in Montgomery at Alabama State University. 

Teacher Shortage

Many school districts around our state are facing a teacher shortage—particularly in our most rural communities—so I wanted to bring some of our brightest minds in education to talk about what we can do. I convened a roundtable discussion with top Alabama education experts at the University of Montevallo to talk about ways we can retain, recruit, and pay for qualified teachers. Our students are our next generation of leaders and we have a responsibility to provide all of Alabama’s children a quality education. My team is already getting a head start on federal legislation to address the teacher shortage, which I’ll be sharing more about in the coming months.

READ: AL.com: Sen. Doug Jones: Teacher shortage is 'very complicated'

Teacher shortage roundtable at the University of Montevallo.

Engaging Alabama’s Business Community

I had the opportunity to meet with both the Huntsville and Montgomery Chambers of Commerce. My Huntsville Chamber visit was a great opportunity to meet with hundreds of North Alabama business leaders at the “Washington Update” Luncheon to discuss critical business, defense, and education issues. At the Montgomery Chamber’s “Eggs and Issues” Breakfast, I spoke on a wide variety of topics such as health care, defense expansion, and civil rights. I always enjoy the opportunity to meet with local business leaders and provide updates of what we are doing in Washington, as well as hearing first-hand what can be done to best serve state and local communities and economies.

Speaking at the Huntsville Chamber of Commerce Washington
Update Luncheon

Last week, I also joined the North Alabama International Trade Association’s (NAITA) Conversation on Trade Breakfast in Huntsville. Over the past year, I’ve had the opportunity to meet with local business owners across the state and hear directly from them about the negative impacts the President’s trade war is having on their businesses. Unfortunately, Alabama has been caught in the crossfire amid the ongoing trade war. Because of our state’s large agricultural and manufacturing industries, we are uniquely vulnerable to the negative effects of this trade dispute.

READ: WHNT 19: Sen. Doug Jones gives Washington Update at the VBC

WATCH: WHNT 19: Sen. Doug Jones talks about China trade war with North Alabama business owners

North Alabama International Trade Association’s “Conversation on Trade” Breakfast

While there is truly nothing better than being home in Alabama, I am glad that Congress is back in session. Even though I’m back in Washington this week, I still want to hear from you about the issues you care about and ways you think the government could work better for all our families. Feel free to contact my office with any issues, questions, or comments. My team and I look forward to hearing from you!

Sincerely,
Doug

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