FAIRHOPE — State Reps. Frances Holk-Jones (R-Foley), Jennifer Fidler (R-Silverhill) and Donna Givens (R-Loxley) gave legislative updates Thursday at the Eastern Shore Republican Women's (ESRW) luncheon.
Givens said her desire to do the right thing was tested last week when she had to vote against a Gov. Kay Ivey-supported bill to shift the hiring and firing of the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs (ADVA) commissioner to the governor.
"In my heart I knew it was the right thing to do, and as I said I won't waver from that," Givens said.
Givens announced that the state's next baby box will be placed in Foley. It would be the 16th box in the state. Baby boxes are placed in cities to allow mothers to surrender their newborns, no questions asked, for up to 45 days. Givens previously championed a bill to allow the boxes in Alabama.
As a member of the General Fund Committee, Givens said she has pushed for funds to go to the Port of Alabama, USA Health and USA Trauma Center and Gulf Coast Safety flights.
Fidler spoke about immigration issues. She said the federal government did not keep up with where immigrants were and where they were going, which caused concern.
"The fact of the matter is, there were a lot of people coming to this state in Albertville and Sylacauga and some of these Haitians were being dropped off and were paid to live in homes and go to work at poultry farms," Fidler said. "And there were a lot of communication issues and cultural issues."
After doing extensive research, Fidler said she worked with local and federal authorities to ensure changes would be made. A bill she is co-sponsoring to make change is the international wire transfer fee bill, which would charge 4% to transfers where a licensed, legitimate bank is not involved. Proceeds from those fees would go to fund programs to agencies that deal with immigration issues, including law enforcement and healthcare.
Holk-Jones took the podium to speak about her bill to require Medicaid to cover education and screening for post-partum depression.
She also said she is proud of her vote against the Ivey-backed ADVA bill.
"I make many a mistake, but that was one that, you know, I'm happy about," Holk-Jones said. "I'm trying to remind myself that I have to listen to people because y'all are the ones walking in those shoes."
Holk-Jones said she was thankful to have a local delegation that works together to make a difference in Montgomery.
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