Aderholt Visits Blount County
From the Blount Countian:
U.S. Congressman Robert Aderholt made a stop in Blount County Monday morning, meeting with county and community leaders in Oneonta’s Little Brick Church. Aderholt represents Alabama’s Fourth Congressional District. All of Blount County now falls within that district after federal courts approved the state’s redistricting plan last fall.
“It feels good to be back in Blount County,” Aderholt said. “Blount County truly is a special place. It is better suited for this district. It just makes sense.”
Aderholt has been serving the Fourth Congressional District since 1997. Last January, Aderholt took the oath of office to serve his 14th term. His 28 years in Congress have earned him a seat on the powerful House Committee on Appropriations, which has jurisdiction over funding the operation of the federal government.
He is the chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health & Human Services, and Education. This subcommittee is responsible for the largest non-defense portion of spending in the federal budget.
Aderholt also serves as a member of the Commerce, Justice, and Science Subcommittee and the Defense Subcommittee, as well as chair of the Values Action Team (VAT), which s a registered Congressional Member
Organization in the House of Representatives focused on promoting families, communities, and religious freedoms.
Outside of his congressional committee assignments, Aderholt serves as a commission member of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (commonly known as the Helsinki Commission). Founded in 1976, the Helsinki Commission is comprised of 56 countries around the world that together monitors human rights in Europe and Central Asia.
“In addition to all Aderholt does in Congress, he also stays very connected to his people,” Blount County Commission Chairman and Probate Judge Chris Green said. “We are excited to be back in the Fourth District.”
In his comments, Aderholt spoke of issues with the country’s southern border, the national debt, and the conflicts in Israel and Ukraine. Aderholt, who recently traveled to the border, said, “We have to get control of the border. We need a secure border.”
Of the country’s national debt, Aderholt said, “Thirty-four trillion dollars is mind-boggling. And, that number is growing every day. We have to start dealing with it. We can’t pretend that it doesn’t exist.
“I think everyone in congress agrees that we have to reduce spending. The problem is everyone has their own ideas on how to make that happen. ”
Speaking on conflicts in Israel and Ukraine, Aderholt stated, “We live in dangerous times. There are times when we do need to mind our own business, but sometimes we have to stand up for what is right. We have to be supportive of Israel and we have to be supportive of Ukraine. Both conflicts present real challenges.”
Before closing, Aderholt was asked about the possibility of federal funds to four-lane U.S. Highway 278. He answered, “I can’t tell you how much I’d love to see 278 four-laned. The problem is all federal road money goes to the state who determines where that money will ultimately go, but there may be some opportunities to appropriate the money. That’s a way I can help locally. Hopefully we can get some funds earmarked to expand 278.”
In Aderholt’s closing comments, he shared, “Despite our issues, we are still the greatest nation. But, this nation isn’t great because we are an economic powerhouse, this nation is great because it was built upon the premise that we are one nation under God.
“We are still one nation under God. We are a light of freedom and a beacon of hope. I pray we always keep that in mind. We must continue to be one nation under God.”