Alabama

June 19, 2009 -- MONTGOMERY - After an appeal by Alabama Governor Bob Riley, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced that federal disaster assistance to individuals has been made available to residents of Autauga, Elmore, and Montgomery counties affected by recent flooding.

The announcement is a reversal of FEMA’s original decision denying Alabama’s request for assistance for individuals, and was announced just hours after an appeal was filed by Governor Riley on Friday, June 19.    » read more »

Says Positive Attitude Abounds for Tanker Contest

June 18, 2009 -- PARIS, FRANCE - Alabama Governor Bob Riley today wrapped up the first leg of his Economic Development and Jobs Mission in France, where he attended the Paris Air Show, the world’s premiere aerospace and aviation exposition.

Among the top priorities for the Governor, and perhaps the hottest topic of the air show, was the ongoing competition between Northup-Grumman/EADS and Boeing to build the next generation of aircraft refueling tankers for the U.S. Air Force. The Air Force last year selected the Northrop tanker over the alternative offered by Boeing, but the deal was jettisoned by Defense Secretary Robert Gates after federal auditors found technical errors in the selection process.    » read more »

June 08, 2009 -- MONTGOMERY - Alabama Governor Bob Riley is going to three continents over 13 days this month on an economic development mission designed to attract new jobs and expand Alabama’s trade opportunities.

Joined by Dennis Richardson, the Australian ambassador to the U.S., at a news conference today Governor Riley announced he will be leading a delegation of Alabama business and government leaders to France, Singapore and Australia from June 12-24.    » read more »

June 3, 2009 -- The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Alabama and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, tornadoes, flooding, and straight-line winds during the period of May 6-8, 2009.

Federal funding is available to State and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms, tornadoes, flooding, and straight-line winds in the counties of Autauga, Bullock, Elmore, and Montgomery.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.    » read more »

June 03, 2009 -- PRATTVILLE - Alabama Governor Bob Riley visited several hundred teachers going through two weeks of training this summer so their students can benefit from the state’s math and science initiative.

More than 6,000 teachers from 273 schools are receiving training this summer in the Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative (AMSTI). The initiative stresses a hands-on approach to learning math and science, and schools that are part of the program receive kits that contain all the material needed to teach the lessons.

Governor Riley has championed AMSTI since he first came into office because the initiative has gotten results.    » read more »

Gov. Riley signs a bill expanding Alabama’s economy incentives to help recruit more industries as a group of state and local economic developers watch.

May 26, 2009 -- MONTGOMERY - Alabama Governor Bob Riley signed a new law Tuesday that will help the state recruit new jobs.

The bill enhances Alabama’s recruitment arsenal so that industries other than manufacturing are eligible for the state’s economic incentives. Current incentives are limited primarily to manufacturing jobs.

Signing the bill at the State Capitol surrounded by members of his Cabinet and economic developers from across the state, the Governor noted the state’s remarkable success in recruiting manufacturing jobs and “mega-projects.”    » read more »

May 22, 2009 -- WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL), a senior member of the Senate Budget Committee, made the following comments regarding the fiscal year 2010 federal appropriations process:

“I am pleased to lend my support to a number of meritorious projects in Alabama that should be given strong consideration for funding in this year’s appropriations process.    » read more »

Voluntary openness of Riley Administration now written into law

May 22, 2009 -- MONTGOMERY - Alabama Governor Bob Riley on Friday signed into law a bill he has been advocating for years that requires governors to report details of state aircraft usage and spending from the Governor’s Contingency Fund.

Since he came into office in 2003, Governor Riley has voluntarily posted on the Internet the flight logs of state aircraft he uses and expenditures from the contingency fund.

During a ceremony at a Department of Transportation hangar where the state keeps the jet used by Alabama governors, Governor Riley signed the bill and praised the measure as an important tool to promote accountability in state government.    » read more »

May 19, 2009 -- MONTGOMERY - Alabama Governor Bob Riley has signed a law aimed at helping children of military personnel transfer to new schools when their parents change assignments.

The new law makes Alabama the 19th state to join the Interstate Commission on Educational Opportunity for Military Children. The states work together to help transferring students from military families by reconciling variations in graduation requirements, school admissions, eligibility for extra-curricular activities and other education-related issues.    » read more »

Suggestions include restoring cuts to prisons, making full funding of earmarks contingent on money being available

May 14, 2009 -- MONTGOMERY - Alabama Governor Bob Riley on Thursday sent the Fiscal Year 2010 General Fund budget back to the Legislature with changes to restore some funding for the Department of Corrections and reduce funding for earmarks inserted by legislators.

The Governor’s proposed changes would restore $4.2 million the Legislature cut from the already cash-strapped Department of Corrections. Governor Riley’s proposed changes would also make half of the funding legislators earmarked for festivals or other projects in their districts contingent on the money being available.    » read more »

May 14, 2009 -- MONTGOMERY -- Alabama Governor Bob Riley on Thursday morning signed into law a bill that increases the number of people who can witness a state execution.

The new law increases from two to six the number of immediate family members of a crime victim who can witness the perpetrator’s execution. The bill also increases from two to six the number of immediate family members of the condemned inmate who can witness the execution.

The new law became effective with Governor Riley’s signature.

Source: Alabama Governor

May 13, 2009 -- MONTGOMERY - The Alabama Senate needs to pass an economic incentives bill before the end of the session to help Alabama compete for projects that could result in more than 7,000 new jobs, Neal Wade, Director of the Alabama Development Office, said.

The bill, which Governor Riley announced in his State of the State Address at the start of the session, passed the House 99-0 last week. It is in position to gain Senate approval before the end of the 2009 legislation session, which ends Friday.

“We’re actively competing today for 7,000 jobs connected to projects,” said Wade. “It would be a big boost to our efforts if the Senate will pass this bill. It could make the difference in winning or losing these jobs.”    » read more »

HUNTSVILLE, Ala., May 12, 2009 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] will relocate the headquarters for its Missile Defense Systems (MDS) division from Arlington, Va., to the company's facilities in Huntsville, starting immediately. The move will ensure MDS remains aligned with its government customers, while adding to Boeing's presence in the Huntsville community.

Initially, Boeing will shift division management and support functions, such as Human Resources and Finance, to Huntsville, and will evaluate moving other employees currently working on MDS programs in Arlington. Between 40 and 50 positions may be transferred by the end of this year.    » read more »

May 12, 2009 -- MONTGOMERY - Alabama Governor Bob Riley greeted the announcement by Boeing on Tuesday that the company is relocating the headquarters of its Missile Defense Systems division from northern Virginia to Huntsville with praise for Boeing and Alabama’s workers.

“By moving its missile defense headquarters to Huntsville, Boeing is making a powerful statement about its faith in Alabama’s future and the caliber of our highly skilled workforce,” Governor Riley said. “On behalf of all Alabamians, I thank Boeing for its continued commitment to Huntsville and to our state.”

Boeing announced on Tuesday that the relocation of the division’s headquarters starts immediately.    » read more »

May 05, 2009 -- MONTGOMERY - Alabama Governor Bob Riley thanked members of the House Tuesday for passing a proposal he announced in his State of the State Address to improve Alabama’s ability to recruit higher paying jobs.

The bill, House Bill 568, is sponsored by Representative John Knight and was approved 99-0.    » read more »