FPSS slide image

Congressman Bright meets with town officials in Babbie, AL.

FPSS slide image

Congressman Bright discusses economic survival strategies with small business owners at Small Business Survival Seminar in Dothan.

FPSS slide image

Congressman Bright participates in Reach Out and Read Program.

FPSS slide image

Congressman Bright discusses veterans health care with members of his veterans advisory council.

FPSS slide image

Congressman Bright and his wife Judge Bright with Auburn University mascot Aubie at a Auburn University Women’s Soccer game where Congressman Bright’s daughter is the play-by-play commentator.

FPSS slide image

Congressman Bright discusses issues important to Fort Rucker before he takes a tour on a helicopter.

FPSS slide image

Congressman Bright takes a tour of the Montgomery Primary Health Care Center.

FPSS slide image

Congressman Bright meets with U. S. Army General Stanley McChrystal, commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, during recent fact finding trip to Afghanistan and Pakistan.

FPSS slide image

Congressman Bright with Linnie and Debbie Dickson, winners of the Angels in Adoption Award for the Second District.

FPSS slide image

Congressman Bright, wearing his new veterans biker vest, discusses veterans issues with a member of his veterans advisory council.

FPSS slide image

Congressman Bright discusses economic survival strategies with small business owners at Small Business Survival Seminar in Dothan.

FPSS slide image

Congressman Brights meets with civic activists in Banks, AL during a recent Congress on Your Corner.

FPSS slide image

Congressman Bright meets with residents of Petrey, AL.

FPSS slide image

Congressman Bright touring flood damage in Montgomery with Alabama EMA.

FPSS slide image

Congressman Bright and Brigadier General Barclay present the Silver Star to Ben Reynolds, a local Vietnam Veteran.

FPSS slide image

Congressman Bright discusses agriculture issues at Benton Farms.

FPSS slide image

Congressman Bright reads the Sermon on the Mount with fellow Congressmen at the Mount of Beatitudes during his recent trip to the Holy Land.

FPSS slide image

Congressman Bright discusses the biofuel process with Dr. Okeke of Auburn University at Montgomery.

FPSS slide image

Congressman Bright hosts a Congress on Your Corner in McKenzie.

FPSS slide image

Congressman Bright holds a citizen round table in Madrid.

FPSS slide image

Congressman Bright discusses issues with constituents at the Fort Deposit Citizen's Roundtable.

FPSS slide image

Congressman Bright speaks about legislation to aid law enforcement at Law Enforcement day in Hayneville.

FPSS slide image

Congressman Bright prepares care package for the military through the USO at the Capitol.

FPSS slide image

Technical Sergeant Jennifer Laufer visits with Congressman Bright while she is in Washington, DC to accept her Outstanding Airman award.Technical Sergeant Laufer was one of 12 recipients nationwide.

FPSS slide image

Congressman Bright discusses education policy with teachers at Jefferson Davis High School

FPSS slide image

Congressman Bright addresses the crowd at the Wiregrass Memorial Day Service in Dothan.

FPSS slide image

Congressman Bright speaks with veterans Ozzie Osepchook and Martin Price about veterans issues at the World War II Memorial during the Wiregrass Honor Flight.

FPSS slide image

Congressman Bright congratulates the winner of the Second Congressional District art competition, Sarah Morriss.

FPSS slide image

Congressman Bobby Bright and his wife, Judge Lynn Bright, discuss national security with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his recent visit to The Holy Land.

FPSS slide image

Congressman Bright speaks with nurses about health care at the Blackbelt Eyecare Consortium.

FPSS slide image

Congressman Bright meets with constituents at the Bakerhill Community Roundtable

FPSS slide image

Congressman Bright speaks with volunteer firefighters about federal fire safety grants at the Rehobeth Fire Department.

FPSS slide image

Congressman Bright hosts a Congress on Your Corner in Mosses.

FPSS slide image

Congressman Bobby Bright with Astronaut and United States Senator John Glenn at a Congressional Reception honoring the Apollo 11 crew and the 40th anniversary of man walking on the moon.

FPSS slide image

Congressman Bright discuess legislation with a constituent while volunteering at the Montgomery Area Food Bank Mobile Pantry in Coosada.

Congressman Bright's Thanksgiving Week District Work Schedule
11/23/09

MONTGOMERY, AL – Congressman Bright will be in the district over the Thanksgiving Day District Work Period and will attend events and meet with constituents.  Congressman Bright will be attending the Turkey Day Parade in Montgomery on Thursday, November 26th as well as the Christmas Parade in Repton on Saturday, November 28th.

Bright Votes to Prevent Severe Cuts in Medicare, Tricare
11/19/09

WASHINGTON, DC Congressman Bobby Bright voted today to prevent a severe cut in Medicare and Tricare, ensuring that seniors and veterans will continue to have access to the doctors of their choice. The Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act will permanently reform the Medicare payment system to doctors, repealing a 21% cut in payments to physicians scheduled to occur in January.  Doctors treating veterans covered under Tricare are subject to the same payment rates.  The bill passed by a 243 – 183 margin and now goes to the Senate for consideration.

 

Bright Co-Sponsors Job Training Legislation
11/19/09

WASHINGTON, DC – In an effort to grow American jobs, Congressman Bobby Bright co-sponsored the American Manufacturing Efficiency and Retraining Investment Collaboration Act (AMERICA Works).  Bright joined Rep. Walt Minnick (ID) in introducing H.R. 4072, which directs existing public job training funds to be used in developing nationally portable and industry-recognized credentials for workers in technical fields such as health care, energy, and construction, to name a few.  This is especially helpful for workers entering the job market for the first time, transitioning into a new job, currently unemployed but in the job market, and for military men and women entering the civilian workforce.

Coming Soon!
Weekly Columns
11/23/09

 

Last week the House took a very important vote to protect Medicare and Tricare for millions of veterans and seniors.  The Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act will permanently reform the Medicare payment system to doctors (also used for Tricare), and prevents a 21% cut in payments to physicians that is scheduled to occur in January.  A countless number of physicians in the Second District have told me that such a severe cut could have forced them to limit treatments for Medicare and Tricare patients.  Passed by a 243 – 183 margin, H.R. 3961 now heads to the Senate for consideration.

 

 

Passing the Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act is absolutely essential for seniors and veterans across the country.  It is unconscionable that we could consider a 21% cut to the Medicare physician payment rate and endanger seniors’ choice of doctor.  Doctors and seniors have long expressed their support and a sense of urgency for reforming the payment rate and the House-passed bill will both prevent any cuts and permanently solve this problem.  This will ensure stability for seniors, veterans, doctors, and other health care professionals. 

 

Over the last six years, Congress has been forced to address significant cuts to the Medicare physician payment rate, as determined on an annual basis by the Sustainable Growth Rate.  In years past, these one-time “fixes” were very expensive, but absolutely necessary for the millions who depend on Medicare and Tricare.  The bill passed last week moves us forward in a better way by not only halting the scheduled cut, but establishing a new rate that will not be subject to future, unsustainable cuts.

 

Reforming the Sustainable Growth Rate has long been cited as one of the top priorities for numerous medical and seniors’ organizations.  As a result, the Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act is supported by American Medical Association (including the Medical Association of the State of Alabama, or MASA), the AARP, the Military Officers Association of America, the American College of Physicians, the Center for Medicare Advocacy, the Medicare Rights Center, and the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare.

 

Referencing the bill, MASA said “[Congressman Bright’s] vote today ensures that doctors in Alabama can continue to deliver the same high quality of care to Medicare and Tricare patients across the state that they deserve and have come to expect.

 

Without question, reforming doctors’ Medicare and Tricare payments is costly, and I would have preferred to see the fix fully paid for, but there is no doubt in my mind that this was the right thing to do because quality health care for seniors and veterans should never fall victim to partisan politics.  For too long now, previous Congresses have kicked the can down the road and refused to fully address the Medicare physician payment rate, forcing this Congress to take a tough vote on this issue.  But we are elected to make difficult decisions and I don’t shy away from a challenge, especially when the end result gives seniors, veterans, and doctors needed peace of mind about their health care decisions.

 

Wishing You and Your Family a Very Happy Thanksgiving

 

I would like to wish you and your loved ones a very happy Thanksgiving.  This truly American holiday gives us a chance to celebrate our countless blessings.  Many also take the time to volunteer with their churches or other organizations dedicated to helping the less fortunate, a sign of our generosity as a people and as a nation.

 

Regardless of how you spend your Thanksgiving holiday, I hope it is a joyous one in the spirit of the first Thanksgiving celebrated nearly 400 years ago.  The Pilgrims at Plymouth Plantation certainly understood the value of faith, family, and friends and that’s why we continue to observe the holiday each and every fourth Thursday in November.

 

As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call our offices in Montgomery at (334) 277-9113, Dothan at (334) 794-9680, Opp at (334) 493-9253, or Ozark at (334) 445-4600.  You can also visit the website at www.bright.house.gov to sign up for the e-newsletter.  It is my great pleasure to serve you and the entire Second District of Alabama.

Click on the the links below to view Congressman Bright's past Weekly Columns.

Weekly Column 1-12-2009

Weekly Column 1-26-2009

Weekly Column 2-09-2009 

Weekly Column 2-23-2009

Weekly Column 3-02-2009

Weekly Column 3-16-2009

Weekly Column 3-30-2009

Weekly Column 4-17-2009

Weekly Column 4-27-2009

Weekly Column 5-4-2009

Weekly Column 5-11-2009

Weekly Column 5-18-2009

Weekly Column 5-25-2009

Weekly Column 6-01-2009

Weekly Column 6-08-2009

Weekly Column 6-15-2009

Weekly Column 6-22-2009

Weekly Column 6-29-2009

Weekly Column 7-8-2009

Weekly Column 7-15-2009

Weekly Column 7-22-2009

Weekly Column 7-27-2009

Weekly Column 8-3-2009

Weekly Column 8-10-09

Weekly Column 8-17-2009

Weekly Column 8-24-2009

Weekly Column 8-31-2009

Weekly Column 9-7-2009

Weekly Column 9-14-2009

Weekly Column 9-21-2009

Weekly Column 9-28-2009

Weekly Column 10-5-2009

Weekly Column 10-12-2009

Weekly Column 10-19-2009

Weekly Column 10-26-2009

Weekly Column 11-2-2009

Weekly Column 11-9-2009

Weekly Column 11-16-2009

 

Please click the image above to view my latest video