Terri Sewell

Since John Lewis led a march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge 58 years ago, Alabama’s 7th Congressional District has led our nation in the fight for voting rights. Today, our battle for the ballot is far from over.

Across the country, state and local lawmakers are using new voter suppression strategies to keep working families and historically marginalized people from having a fair voice in our elections. From strict ID requirements, to gerrymandering, to polling place closures, these tactics are designed to silence the voices of American voters.

Our elections should be free and fair, which is why I am leading the fight to restore the protections of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA). In the House, I am the author and lead sponsor of the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, a bill to restore the VRA, which has the support of more than 200 representatives as well as citizen groups across the country. As co-chair of the Commission to Protect American Democracy, I have also worked to expose Trump’s fake claims of voter fraud in the 2016 elections for what they are.

Generations of Alabamians fought, bled and died for our right to vote, and we have an obligation to remember and honor their story. I was honored that my first piece of successful legislation recognized the “Four Little Girls” who tragically lost their lives during the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in 1963. The Congressional Gold Medal bill I introduced passed unanimously in both houses of Congress and was signed into law by President Barack Obama on May 24, 2013. I also sponsored a successful Congressional Gold Medal bill honoring the Foot Soldiers, whose courageous march from Selma to Montgomery led to passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. My bill honoring our Civil Rights and Voting Rights Foot Soldiers was signed into law by President Obama on March 18, 2015.

To support the highest number of good jobs for our district and our state, I have led initiatives to help our largest job creators like Alabama Power, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, International Paper, Westrock and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) grow, thrive and expand.

I have used my position on the Ways and Means Committee to drive new economic development in underserved parts of our district with tax incentives, smart federal investments, favorable trade policies and small business support. Since I was first elected, I have helped cut the average unemployment rate in Alabama’s 7th District by more than half, from 13.9% in 2011 to 6.6% in 2017.

It is essential that we begin preparing our workforce for the jobs of tomorrow. I have led efforts on rural broadband investment and measures to encourage greater private investment in apprenticeships and our workforce development pipeline.

I will continue to work to expand technology deployment to close the digital divide in our rural areas and increase investment in workforce development so Alabamians will be prepared to take advantage of new economic opportunities.

As the proud product of Selma’s public schools and the daughter of lifelong educators, I have made our fight for public education a top national priority. No investment is more fundamental to our future than our investment in our schools, our teachers and our students.

We need to make sure kids get the right start by investing in early education programs. In Alabama’s 7th District, I have fought for local control of Head Start and full funding for our Head Start centers.

In Congress, I have introduced legislation to close tax loopholes used by wealthy donors to turn a profit off donations to private academies. At a time when our public schools and teachers are struggling to come up with the funds they need to run our classrooms, there is no room for tax giveaways that divert taxpayer dollars away from our public schools.

Alabama’s 7th District is also home to some of the most prominent Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the country. These historic institutions are a modern-day pipeline for minority leaders in the public and private sectors. As Vice Chair of the bipartisan HBCU Caucus, I have fought tirelessly for funding to strengthen and preserve our HBCUs.

I am a strong believer that healthcare is a right, not a privilege. As extremists continue their assault on the Affordable Care Act, our fight for access to affordable, quality care is more important than ever.

Over the past year, I have met with patients, doctors, hospital administrators and constituents to hear about the challenges they face and to find common sense solutions for strengthening our healthcare system. Constituents and providers agree that we can’t go back on the promise of the Affordable Care Act. Instead, Congress should focus on improving our healthcare system by reducing costs and increasing coverage.

In 2022, we did just that. With my support, Congress successfully capped the cost of insulin at $35 per month for seniors. For the first time in history, we beat the special interests and allowed Medicare to negotiate lower prescription drug prices for our seniors. In the coming months, our provisions to cap out-of-pocket prescription drug prices will take effect, helping our seniors afford the medications they rely on.

There is lots more work to be done. In the House of Representatives, I’m leading legislation to expand access to cancer screenings, save rural hospitals in the Black Belt, and ensure seniors can access Telehealth services. I am also an advocate for permanently funding the Children’s Health Insurance Program, one of the most important healthcare programs for families in our state.

From Birmingham to Selma to Montgomery and the Black Belt, I believe that every family deserves access to care they can afford.

If we want to build a competitive workforce in today’s economy, we have to bring our national infrastructure up to speed by making smart investments in our housing, transportation, water, energy and internet infrastructure.

Throughout my time in Congress, I have helped secure a $20 million TIGER Grant for Birmingham and the BJCTA Bus Rapid Transit system. Just this year, I helped secure a $50 million CHOICE Communities Grant to build more affordable housing in the Smithfield, College Hills, and Graymont neighborhoods. And in Alabama’s rural Black Belt, I have helped communities win tens of millions of dollars for water and sewer improvements.

In 2021, I was proud to be the only Member of Congress from Alabama to vote in favor of President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the largest investment in our nation’s infrastructure in nearly a century to rebuild our roads and bridges, improve our public transportation, and so much more.

As a Member of the Ways and Means Committee, I fought hard to ensure that the infrastructure law included targeted investments to clean up our water and sewer systems throughout the Black Belt and expand access to high-speed internet for every Alabamian.

By making the right investments, we can connect students, workers, doctors, farmers and all Americans with the resources and opportunities they need for success.

An essential part of the American Dream is being able to have a stable and comfortable retirement. I believe that should be within reach for every Alabamian.

That is why I am a co-chair of the Expand Social Security Caucus, a group of Democrats who have committed to protecting and expanding Social Security benefits. Social Security is a promise to our nation’s workforce that no one gets left behind, and millions of Americans rely on Social Security to better support themselves in retirement.

I also use my position on the Ways and Means Committee to protect Medicare benefits for our seniors and to look for ways to secure private retirement savings for those that have invested a lifetime working toward financial security.

I am committed to ensuring that every veteran, service member, and military family has access to the support they have earned through their service to our country. That is why, each year, I host a Veterans Resource Fair, where veterans can find assistance with VA benefits, transportation resources, health screenings, housing options, mental health services, and more. Whether our veterans need assistance receiving benefits at the VA or they’re simply looking for opportunities to engage with the community, my annual resource fair is an opportunity to connect them with organizations and service officers who are ready to help.

In Congress, I have fought for bipartisan legislation to reform the Veterans Administration, including solutions that increase transparency at the VA and allow veterans access to private doctors. No veteran who has put his or her life at risk for the security of our nation should be denied timely and quality care by the VA. In addition to supporting bipartisan legislative reforms like the Veterans’ Access, Choice and Accountability Act, I have offered my own legislative amendments specifically focused on delivering cutting-edge care to veterans living in rural communities.

With my support, Congress passed the historic Honoring Our PACT Act which President Joe Biden signed on August 10, 2022. The law provides the largest expansion in veterans health care benefits in three decades, ensuring that veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances during their service can access the treatment they need.

While these legislative victories take an important step forward in our work to reform the VA, I believe we still have work to do ensuring that our veterans and military families have access to the care and benefits they have earned. I promise to keep fighting for all those who have bravely served our country.