State of Alabama Archives: on Technology
Bill Hightower:
10-year plan for infrastructure
I want to develop a road, bridge and waterway commission. Might even make it broadband. Tomorrow is broadband. And we have the fourth-most navigable waters in the nation. What I want to do is put a commission together that develops a 10-year plan,
and sticks to it, and therefore take the politicization of the roadbuilding process out. I also benefit my road and bridge builders, and waterway maintenance and broadband because they'll be able to maintain a workforce.
Source: Yellow Hammer News on 2018 Alabama Gubernatorial race
May 1, 2018
Doug Jones:
Urges Huntsville as HQ for Space Command
In a letter to Department of Defense leadership, Jones is urging the selection of Huntsville as the location for the new U.S. Space Command headquarters.
Jones laid out the rationale for selecting Redstone Arsenal in a letter to Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan, who he met with in Washington recently.
Source: Opelika Observer on 2020 Alabama Senate race
Jun 18, 2019
Doug Jones:
Improve infrastructure while creating jobs, like new Deal
Economy: Support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?Jones: Yes. New Deal "advancements were the result of U.S. government investments in the people of Alabama to improve the infrastructure of the state while creating jobs and
improving our standard of living."
Moore: No. "Lower taxes, smaller government, and less spending will reduce the deficit and enable economic growth and a truly "stimulated" economy."
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on 2017 Alabama Senate race
Nov 1, 2017
Kay Ivey:
$1 billion invested in Alabama's road and bridges
Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and Improvement Program (ATRIP) is the largest road and bridge improvement program in Alabama's history. ATRIP has provided the most comprehensive and significant improvements to highway infrastructure in our state
to date. On the ATRIP Advisory Committee Ivey reviews eligible projects submitted by cities and counties across the state. The committee makes funding decisions that has resulted in $1 billion being invested in Alabama's road and bridges.
Source: 2014 Alabama Lt. Governor campaign website KayIvey.org
Oct 30, 2014
Kay Ivey:
Make Alabama the Voice of Aerospace for the States
Alabama's aerospace and defense industry currently employs 83,000 people and is home to 400 aerospace companies from 30 different countries. Lt. Gov. Ivey chairs the Aerospace States Association, "the Voice of Aerospace for the States," a nonpartisan
organization of Lt. Governors, Governor-appointed delegates, and associate members from aerospace organizations and academia. ASA represents states' interests in federal aerospace and aviation policy development. Alabama has a long and proud history
in the aviation and aerospace industry, going back to 1910 when Wilbur and Orville Wright opened the nation's first civilian flying school just outside Montgomery.
Alabamians sent man to the moon. Dr. Wernher von Braun and his team of scientists
designed, built, and tested the Saturn moon rockets at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville. Today, the engineers at Marshall are working on the next generation of vehicles, the Space Launch System, which will take us to Mars and beyond.
Source: Alabama Lt. Gov. official website, "Initiatives"
Apr 7, 2017
Kay Ivey:
Create a sustainable climate for drone manufacturing
[In August 2016 I attended] the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International's (AUVSI) Pathfinder Chapter's Symposium in Huntsville. The AUVSI Pathfinder Chapter is the oldest and largest chapter in the country dedicated to the advancement of
Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). The AUVSI and ASA recently signed a memorandum of understanding to help transform the national economy with UAS.UAS, also known as drones, are a phenomenon that are currently used by individuals, companies, military,
law enforcement, farmers, utilities and real estate professionals to name a few. Although they can be disruptive technology, we must continue to promote innovation, development and advancement for utilization. Efforts are currently in place to create a
sustainable climate in Alabama for UAS.
The aerospace industry in Alabama is thriving and growing. Our growth can be attributed to the recruitment of aerospace and defense companies such as Airbus, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, GE Aviation and Raytheon.
Source: Alabama Lt. Gov. official website, "Initiatives"
Apr 7, 2017
Kay Ivey:
Help black students pursue STEM careers
We are continuing our efforts to enhance computer science education. Last year, I signed legislation establishing the Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering. We secured additional funding to create the Alabama Math and Science
Teacher Education Program, which provides a better pathway to certify future computer science teachers. Equipping our students with the proper skills and education to fill high-demand jobs is essential.
I am asking the Legislature to fund our new co-op program for Alabama's Historically Black Colleges and Universities. It is geared specifically toward students interested in pursuing careers in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics
fields. It is not only a win for these students; it's a win for these colleges and universities and for our employers who are gaining qualified individuals to strengthen the work of their company.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to the Alabama legislature
Mar 6, 2019
Kay Ivey:
Every Alabaman should have access to high speed broadband
It is a top priority to continue increasing the availability of high-speed Internet throughout the state, especially in rural Alabama, through the Broadband Accessibility Fund. While state government can't do it alone my budget will continue funding
to connect as many people as possible during the coming years. Currently, some 220,000 Alabamians do not have any wired Internet providers where they live. Our efforts will not end until every Alabamian has access through high speed broadband.
Source: 2020 Alabama State of the State address
Feb 4, 2020
Kay Ivey:
$500 million investment over three years to expand broadband
Another place where COVID-19 exposed a weak link in our state's infrastructure was in the area of broadband and internet connectivity. Just last week, I partnered with
C-Spire for their $500 million dollar investment in Alabama over the next three years. This investment will provide broadband to one hundred thousand homes and businesses in our state and create 250 jobs.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Alabama legislature
Feb 2, 2021
Kay Ivey:
Slams Facebook for temporary removal of campaign page
Ivey took a hardline approach to Big Tech, blasting Facebook over the temporary removal of her gubernatorial campaign page and accusing it of working to stop conservatives from speaking out on opposition to federal coronavirus vaccine mandates.
By the same afternoon Ivey's campaign page had been reinstated, but she blamed Facebook for the removal, accusing it of being upset that she was protecting Alabamians from federal government overreach by "standing in the way" of Biden.
Source: FOX News on 2022 Alabama Gubernatorial race
Sep 28, 2021
Luther Strange:
Economy requires good roads & bridges
Strange cited tax relief and infrastructure improvements as issues he's interested in tackling. He said he's an advocate of tax reform because taxes affect every aspect of the economy.
He added that good roads and bridges are required to support the economy through the transportation of goods and to allow travel throughout the state.
Source: Shelby County Reporter on 2017 Alabama Senate race
Aug 1, 2017
Mike Durant:
Big Tech has censored the voices of conservatives
Big Tech has become an extension of the Democrat Party and censored the voices of conservatives across multiple platforms. They are Cancel Culture at its worst.
Mike will work to make social media companies subject to the Communications Decency Act and remove any special protections granted to them that allow the censorship of free speech.
Source: 2022 Alabama Senate campaign website MikeDurant.com
Mar 30, 2022
Robert Bentley:
$614M for ATRIP: Transportation Rehabilitation & Improvement
Last year, cities and counties across this state were finally able to begin much-needed improvements to their roads and bridges. We launched the largest road and bridge improvement program in Alabama's history. ATRIP--the Alabama Transportation
Rehabilitation and Improvement Program--allows counties to make much-needed repairs to roads and bridges. As of this week, 439 road and bridge projects have been approved. 61 of Alabama's 67 counties are seeing their roads repaired and bridges fixed.
$614 million in projects have been approved.Everyone benefits from ATRIP. When companies build new factories, they look for areas with good roads and bridges. ATRIP is giving them what they need.
Now, for those remaining six counties which have
not participated in ATRIP, help is on the way. We will soon announce details that will help those counties to participate in ATRIP. Every single county in Alabama will be given the opportunity to participate.
Source: 2013 State of the State address to Alabama Legislature
Feb 5, 2013
Robert Bentley:
Paperless agencies: online license & tag verification system
Let me tell you just a few things they've done to save money: By reducing energy costs in all state departments, last year, Alabama taxpayers saved over $4-million dollars.
Alabama became the first state to implement an online license and tag verification system. That's expected to save hundreds of thousands of dollars and decrease the number of uninsured motor vehicles on the road.
State agencies are switching to paperless methods, saving millions of dollars.
Taxpayers saved over $4-million dollars when Alabama became one of the first states to run a successful E-verify System as a governmental agency.
Source: 2013 State of the State address to Alabama Legislature
Feb 5, 2013
Robert Bentley:
$1 billion for ATRIP and RAMP infrastructure improvements
Each of Alabama's 67 counties has been given the opportunity to recruit more jobs, thanks to the largest road and bridge improvement program ever conducted in the state.
When companies look for places to build, expand and hire more people, they look for places that have good infrastructure.
The Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and Improvement Program, ATRIP--along with its companion program, the Rural Assistance Match Program, known as RAMP, are making over $1 billion available to
counties and cities, and allowing much-needed road and bridge projects to move forward. Today more than one thousand road and bridge improvement projects are underway or soon will be because of ATRIP and RAMP.
Source: 2014 State of the State Address to Alabama legislature
Jan 14, 2014
Tommy Battle:
Investment in education can lead to landmark technology
I then stopped by International Beams, where they're changing the face of the timber industry. They've created a new laminated wood product that's taking timber and interweaving it and laminating it to make a product as strong as steel but lighter.
It's just another example of the great innovations taking place, taking advantage of our engineering and advanced-manufacturing skills, and why we need to continue to improve our education system, to create graduates who are career- and college-ready.
Source: 2018 Alabama Senate campaign website TommyBattle.com
Mar 3, 2018
Walt Maddox:
Crumbling infrastructure threatens safety and job growth
Our roads and bridges are crumbling. Alabama has nearly 102K miles of public roadways, and yet so many are deficient with nearly 50% rated as fair, poor, or very poor. Unsafe roadways contribute to one-third of traffic deaths. There are 16,000 bridges
in Alabama and more than 20% are either structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. When our roadways and bridges are not safe, Alabamians are not safe, and new jobs will not come because they can't pass along our roads to develop the industry.
Source: 2018 Alabama gubernatorial campaign website WaltMaddox.com
Jul 4, 2018
Kay Ivey:
Big Tech & blue state liberals stole election from Trump
In April, during the Republican primary, incumbent Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey released an ad in which she falsely claimed, "The fake news, Big Tech and blue state liberals stole the election from President Trump." Challenged about the ad by
local television station WVTM 13, Ivey said she believes Trump was the rightful winner. (He lost.)The Ivey campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
Source: CNN on 2020 Election Denial in 2022 Alabama Governor race
Sep 9, 2022
Page last updated: Feb 18, 2023