HUNTSVILLE — For U.S. Rep. Dale Strong, it has been a very busy and productive first eight months in office.
During his short time in Washington, D.C., he has become a major advocate and voice for North Alabama – fulfilling one of his “jobs.”
“Job one for my team was to secure committee assignments that matched my priorities and that put me in the right place to fight for the issues most important to North Alabama,” Strong said today at the Huntsville-Madison County Chamber Washington Update. “My wife Lauren asked during this process, during most of those votes that were on C-SPAN from the gallery she watched, and said later every time she saw me that I was sitting beside someone else.
“Two words: Committee assignments.”
Strong is on three committees he considers the “trifecta” for a representative from North Alabama.
“I was one of just a few freshmen to secure three top committee assignments,” he told a packed Von Braun Center North Hall. “Armed Services, Homeland Security, and Science Space and Technology.
“These committees put me in the center of the fight for both the security of our nation and to protect the programs at Redstone Arsenal and Marshall Space Flight Center that are critical to our local economy.”
Strong specifically then mentioned one committee and its relation to Redstone Arsenal.
“House Armed Services works everyday to ensure that our war fighters have what they need to protect our nation and prepare to face any adversary,” he said. “The work happening today at Redstone Arsenal is critical to those efforts. We recently passed the National Defense Authorization Act and I’m proud to say we accomplished these goals.
“Chairman (Mike) Rogers and I have been able to ensure that the programs here at Redstone remain strong and continue their mission to serve our soldiers.”
The congressman then turned his attention to the subject of SPACECOM.
“Let me be clear, while I support Redstone and Huntsville the most important factor in making a decision about a location for Space Command needs to be what is best for our nation and our national security,” Strong said. “The Air Force conducted a very detailed study. Our community and many others participated in it. All of those studies led to the same conclusion: Redstone Arsenal was the best choice in a 21-category evaluation.
“Why did he pick Colorado? It’s clear. The only category Colorado wins is the number of votes for Joe Biden.”
Strong then said that drug cartels at the southern border are using drones to conduct their operations.
But, he said, the Rocket City can play a role in disrupting that.
“It is a growing problem all along the border,” Strong said. “I quickly let them (Homeland Security Committee) know that our companies and commands right here in Huntsville have developed a lot of tools to counter those drones, to protect our soldiers on the battlefield. I assured them that we stand ready to use those same technologies to protect the southern border.”
“It is just another example how I’ve seen in Washington where the technologies developed right here in our community in North Alabama play an elite role in keeping our nation safe.”
The native of Madison County then closed with a message of optimism.
“As you can see I have been busy these last eight months,” Strong said. “Yes, I sometimes miss the slower pace of Alabama.”
“I’m proud to represent this community in Washington. I won’t lie to you. Our nation has some big challenges we must face but I do believe that with your help and guidance from our lord and savior it will be without reservation that I state this, North Alabama and the Rocket City’s finest days are still ahead.”
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