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Quick Facts
Personal Details

Caucuses/Former Committees

Co-Chair, National Lieutenant Governor's Association, State Strategies in Military Affairs Committee, 2011-present

Vice-Chair, Aerospace States Association

Education

  • Graduated, Auburn University, 1967

Professional Experience

  • Graduated, Auburn University, 1967
  • Director of Government Affairs, Alabama Commission on Higher Education, 1985-1998
  • Assistant Director, Alabama Development Office, 1982-1985
  • Reading Clerk, Alabama State House of Representatives, 1980-1982
  • Consultant, American Bankers Association, 1979
  • Assistant Vice President, Merchants National Bank/Regions Bank, 1970-1979

Political Experience

  • Graduated, Auburn University, 1967
  • Director of Government Affairs, Alabama Commission on Higher Education, 1985-1998
  • Assistant Director, Alabama Development Office, 1982-1985
  • Reading Clerk, Alabama State House of Representatives, 1980-1982
  • Consultant, American Bankers Association, 1979
  • Assistant Vice President, Merchants National Bank/Regions Bank, 1970-1979
  • Governor, State of Alabama, 2017-present
  • Candidate, Governor of Alabama, 2018
  • President of the Senate, Alabama State Senate, 2010-2017
  • Lieutenant Governor, State of Alabama, 2010-2017
  • Treasurer, State of Alabama, 2002-2010

Former Committees/Caucuses

Co-Chair, National Lieutenant Governor's Association, State Strategies in Military Affairs Committee, 2011-present

Vice-Chair, Aerospace States Association

Religious, Civic, and other Memberships

  • Graduated, Auburn University, 1967
  • Director of Government Affairs, Alabama Commission on Higher Education, 1985-1998
  • Assistant Director, Alabama Development Office, 1982-1985
  • Reading Clerk, Alabama State House of Representatives, 1980-1982
  • Consultant, American Bankers Association, 1979
  • Assistant Vice President, Merchants National Bank/Regions Bank, 1970-1979
  • Governor, State of Alabama, 2017-present
  • Candidate, Governor of Alabama, 2018
  • President of the Senate, Alabama State Senate, 2010-2017
  • Lieutenant Governor, State of Alabama, 2010-2017
  • Treasurer, State of Alabama, 2002-2010
  • Charter Trustee, Alabama Banking School
  • Member, Black Belt Initiative, Alabama Forestry Association
  • Member, Boy Scouts of America, Tukabatchee Council
  • Member, Business Council of Alabama
  • Member, Economic Developers Association
  • Member, Executive Board, National Association of State Treasurers, College Savings Plan Network
  • Member, First Baptist Church of Montgomery
  • Member, Future Farmers of America
  • Member, Future Homemakers of America
  • Chair, Job Creation and Military Stability Commission
  • Director, Montgomery Rotary Club
  • Board Member, Montgomery YMCA
  • President, National Association of State Treasurers, Southern Region
  • Member, National Speakers Staff, Daughters of the American Revolution
  • President, Alabama Young Bankers, 1976-1977
  • Education Committee Chair, Alabama Bankers Association, 1973-1975
Policy Positions

2020

Abortion

What is your stance on abortion?
- Pro-life

Gun Control

Should there be more restrictions on the current process of purchasing a gun?
- No

Gay Marriage

Do you support the legalization of same sex marriage?
- No

LGBT Adoption Rights

Should gay couples have the same adoption rights as straight couples?
- Yes, as long as they pass the same background checks as straight couples

Equal Pay

Should employers be required to pay men and women the same salary for the same job?
- No, there are too many other variables such as education, experience, and tenure that determine a fair salary

Stay At Home Order

Should the government enforce a "stay-at-home" order to combat the coronavirus?
- Yes

Climate Change

Should the government increase environmental regulations to prevent climate change?
- No

Planned Parenthood Funding

Should the government continue to fund Planned Parenthood?
- No

Trump Impeachment

Do you support the impeachment of President Donald Trump?
- No

Mandatory Vaccinations

Should the government require children to be vaccinated for preventable diseases?
- Yes, but only for deadly contagious diseases

Marital Rape

Should marital rape be classified and punished as severely as non-marital rape?
- Yes, and consentual sex with a spouse under the age of 18 should be classified as statutory rape

Pre-Existing Conditions

Should health insurers be allowed to deny coverage to individuals who have a pre-existing condition?
- No, it is immoral to deny health insurance to people with pre-existing conditions

Police Body Cameras

Should police officers be required to wear body cameras?
- Yes, this will protect the safety and rights of police officers and citizens

Gun Buyback

Should the federal government institute a mandatory buyback of assault weapons?
- No

Religious Freedom Act

Should a business be able to deny service to a customer if the request conflicts with the owner’s religious beliefs?
- Yes, any business should be able to deny service for any reason

Drug Price Regulation

Should the government regulate the prices of life-saving drugs?
- Yes, and the government should regulate the price of all prescription drugs

Gender Identity

Should "gender identity" be added to anti-discrimination laws?
- No, there are only two genders which are genetically not psychologically determined

Armed Teachers

Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?
- Yes

Government Mandates

Should health insurance providers be required to offer free birth control?
- No

Immigrant Children

Should adults that are illegally attempting to cross the U.S. border be separated from their children?
- No, but immediately deport them and their children

Taxes

Should the U.S. raise taxes on the rich?
- No

Mental Health

Should the government increase funding for mental health research and treatment?
- Yes, but only increase funding for personalized care instead of subsidizing pharmaceutical companies

Stay-At-Home Order

When should your state end the "Stay at Home" order and reopen its economy?
- May 1st

Border Wall

Should the U.S. build a wall along the southern border?
- Yes

Immigration Ban

Should there be a temporary ban on all immigration into the United States?
- No, but we should spend more to increase our border security

Student Loans

Do you support increasing taxes for the rich in order to reduce interest rates for student loans?
- No

Minimum Wage

Should the government raise the federal minimum wage?
- No

Muslim Immigrants

Should Muslim immigrants be banned from entering the country until the government improves its ability to screen out potential terrorists?
- No, but we should ban immigrants from "high risk" countries

Muslim Surveillance

Should local police increase surveillance and patrol of Muslim neighborhoods?
- No, this decision should be based on crime rates instead of race or religion

Free College for All

Should the federal government pay for tuition at four-year colleges and universities?
- No

Gerrymandering

Should the redrawing of Congressional districts be controlled by an independent, non-partisan commission?
- Yes, switch to a multi-member, proportionally selected redistricting system

Women in Combat

Should the military allow women to serve in combat roles?
- Yes, as long as they can pass the same physical tests as men

Paid Sick Leave

Should businesses be required to provide paid leave for full-time employees during the birth of a child or sick family member?
- Yes, but only for maternity leave

Iran

Should the U.S. go to war with Iran?
- No, the U.S. should encourage Iran to disarm through diplomatic channels

Immigration Healthcare

Should illegal immigrants have access to government-subsidized healthcare?
- No

No-Fly List Gun Control

Should people on the "no-fly list" be banned from purchasing guns and ammunition?
- Yes, if the government considers you too dangerous to board a plane you should not be able to buy a gun

Immigration

Should children of illegal immigrants be granted legal citizenship?
- No

Mandatory Military Service

Should every 18 year old citizen be required to provide at least one year of military service?
- No, service should be a choice instead of an obligation

Deporting Criminal Immigrants

Should immigrants be deported if they commit a serious crime?
- Yes

United Nations

Should the U.S. remain in the United Nations?
- Yes, but scale back our current involvement

Drug Policy

Are you in favor of decriminalizing drug use?
- No

Foreign Lobbying

Should foreign lobbyists be allowed to raise money for American elections?
- No, foreign interests should not be able to buy the influence of our politicians

Medicaid

Should the federal government increase funding of health care for low income individuals (Medicaid)?
- No

Obamacare

Do you support the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare)?
- No

Term Limits

Should there be term limits set for members of Congress?
- Yes, term limits will increase performance and prevent corruption

Marijuana

Do you support the legalization of Marijuana?
- Yes, but only for medical use

Electoral College

Should the electoral college be abolished?
- No

Corporate Tax

Should the U.S. raise or lower the tax rate for corporations?
- Lower

Illegal Immigrant Detainment

Should local law enforcement be allowed to detain illegal immigrants for minor crimes and transfer them to federal immigration authorities?
- Yes, all illegal immigrants should be turned over to federal authorities and deported

Death Penalty

Do you support the death penalty?
- Yes

Campaign Finance

1. Should there be a limit to the amount of money a candidate can receive from a donor?
- No

Fracking

Do you support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources?
- Yes

Foreign Elections

Should the government attempt to influence foreign elections?
- No, and we should not try to influence any other country’s elections or policy

NSA Domestic Surveillance

Should the NSA (National Security Agency) be allowed to collect basic metadata of citizen’s phone calls such as numbers, timestamps, and call durations?
- No, only with a warrant showing probable cause of criminal activity

Single-Payer Healthcare

Do you support a single-payer healthcare system?
- No

Immigrant Assimilation

Should immigrants be required to learn English?
- Yes

Israel Boycott

Should it be illegal to join a boycott of Israel?
- No, this is a violation of free speech

Immigrant Laborers

Should working illegal immigrants be given temporary amnesty?
- No

Sanctuary Cities

Should sanctuary cities receive federal funding?
- No, and we should ban the use of sanctuary cities

Transgender Athletes

Should transgender athletes be allowed to compete in athletic events?
- No

NATO

1. Should the U.S. remain in NATO?
- Yes, but NATO should focus more on counter-terrorism strategies

Gun Liability

Should victims of gun violence be allowed to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers?
- No, manufacturers and dealers should only be held liable for negligence

Alternative Energy

Should the government give tax credits and subsidies to the wind power industry?
- Yes, wind power is the best alternative to coal and natural gas

Military Congressional Approval

Should the President be able to authorize military force against Al-Qaeda without Congressional approval?
- Yes

Confederate Flag

Should states be allowed to display the Confederate flag on government property?
- Yes

Right of Foreigners to Vote

Should foreigners, currently residing in the United States, have the right to vote?
- No

Soleimani

Do you support the killing of Iranian Major General Qassem Soleimani?
- Yes

Torture

Should the military be allowed to use enhanced interrogation techniques, such as waterboarding, to gain information from suspected terrorists?
- Yes

In-State Tuition

Should illegal immigrants be offered in-state tuition rates at public colleges within their residing state?
- No, and all illegal immigrants should be deported

Social Media Regulation

Should the government regulate social media sites, as a means to prevent fake news and misinformation?
- No

Border Security

Should the U.S. increase restrictions on its current border security policy?
- Yes

Voter Fraud

Should a photo ID be required to vote?
- Yes

Gender Workplace Diversity

Should businesses be required to have women on their board of directors?
- No, board members should be the most qualified regardless of gender

Private Prisons

Should the government hire private companies to run prisons?
- No, private prisons will sacrifice quality of care and rehabilitation services for profit

Corporate Mega Mergers

Should the government prevent "mega mergers" of corporations that could potentially control a large percentage of market share within its industry?
- Yes, if the merged corporation would have more than 50% of the market share

Net Neutrality

Should internet service providers be allowed to speed up access to popular websites (that pay higher rates) at the expense of slowing down access to less popular websites (that pay lower rates)?
- No, this would allow them to remove competition, create artificial scarcity, and increase prices

Plastic Product Ban

Should disposable products (such as plastic cups, plates, and cutlery) that contain less than 50% of biodegradable material be banned?
- No

Welfare Drug Testing

Should welfare recipients be tested for drugs?
- Yes

Oil Drilling

Should the U.S. expand offshore oil drilling?
- Yes

Israel

Should the U.S. continue to support Israel?
- Yes

Citizenship Test

Should immigrants be required to pass a citizenship test to demonstrate a basic understanding of our country’s language, history, and government?
- Yes

Euthanasia

Should terminally ill patients be allowed to end their lives via assisted suicide?
- Yes, but only if there is no chance they will survive their illness

Candidate Transparency

Should political candidates be required to release their recent tax returns to the public?
- No

Paris Climate Agreement

Should the U.S. withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement?
- Yes

Government Spending

Should the government make cuts to public spending in order to reduce the national debt?
- Yes

Campaign Finance

1. Should corporations, unions, and non-profit organizations be allowed to donate to political parties?
- Yes

Skilled Immigrants

Should the US increase or decrease the amount of temporary work visas given to high-skilled immigrant workers?
- Decrease

Patriot Act

Do you support the Patriot Act?
- Yes

Medicaid Work Requirement

Should people be required to work in order to receive Medicaid?
- Yes

Universal Basic Income

Do you support a universal basic income program?
- No, this will encourage people not to work and harm economic growth

Medicare Drug Prices

Should the federal government be allowed to negotiate drug prices for Medicare?
- Yes

Safe Spaces

Should universities provide "trigger warnings" and "safe spaces" for students?
- No, college is meant to challenge students thoughts and opinions so they are prepared for real life

Flag Burning

Should it be illegal to burn the American flag?
- Yes

Lobbyists

Should there be a 5-year ban on White House and Congressional officials from becoming lobbyists after they leave the government?
- Yes, and make it a lifetime ban

North Korea Military Strikes

Should the U.S. conduct military strikes against North Korea in order to destroy their long-range missile and nuclear weapons capabilities?
- No, we must use every diplomatic option first

Minimum Voting Age

Should the minimum voting age be lowered?
- No

Welfare

Should there be fewer or more restrictions on current welfare benefits?
- More, but increase benefits for the elderly and disabled

Labor Unions

Do you believe labor unions help or hurt the economy?
- Hurt

Whistleblower Protection

Should the government pass laws which protect whistleblowers?
- Yes, but only if releasing the information does not threaten our national security

Yemen

Should the U.S. provide military aid to Saudi Arabia during its conflict with Yemen?
- No, Saudi Arabia has more than enough money to fund their own wars

Niqab

Should women be allowed to wear a Niqab, or face veil, to civic ceremonies?
- Yes, but their identity must be privately verified by a female staff member

Military Spending

Should the government increase or decrease military spending?
- Increase

Supreme Court Reform

Should the Supreme Court be reformed to include more seats and term limits on judges?
- No

Solitary Confinement for Juveniles

Should prisons ban the use of solitary confinement for juveniles?
- No

Free Tax Filing

Should the IRS create a free electronic tax filing system?
- Yes

Syrian Refugees

Should the U.S. accept refugees from Syria?
- No

Affirmative Action

Do you support affirmative action programs?
- No

Common Core

Do you support Common Core national standards?
- No

Foreign Assassination

Should the US assassinate suspected terrorists in foreign countries?
- Yes

First Amendment

Should the government support a separation of church and state by removing references to God on money, federal buildings, and national monuments?
- No, religion is an important aspect of our country’s history

Capital Gains Tax

Should the government increase the tax rate on profits earned from the sale of stocks, bonds, and real estate?
- No

Animal Testing

Should researchers be allowed to use animals in testing the safety of drugs, vaccines, medical devices, and cosmetics?
- Yes

Safe Haven

Should cities open drug "safe havens" where people who are addicted to illegal drugs can use them under the supervision of medical professionals?
- No, this would encourage drug use and lower funding for rehabilitation centers

Dakota Access Pipeline

Should the government stop construction of the Dakota Access pipeline?
- No

Foreign Aid

Should the US increase or decrease foreign aid spending?
- Decrease

ISIS Ground Troops

Should the U.S. send ground troops into Syria to fight ISIS?
- No, conduct targeted airstrikes instead

Overtime Pay

Should the government require businesses to pay salaried employees, making up to $46k/year, time-and-a-half for overtime hours?
- No

Eminent Domain

Should the government be allowed to seize private property, with reasonable compensation, for public or civic use?
- No

Drones

Should the military fly drones over foreign countries to gain intelligence and kill suspected terrorists?
- Yes

Terrorism

Should foreign terrorism suspects be given constitutional rights?
- No

Economic Stimulus

Should the government use economic stimulus to aid the country during times of recession?
- Yes, but in the form of tax breaks for all citizens

VA Privatization

Should there be more or less privatization of veterans’ healthcare?
- More

Social Security

Should the government raise the retirement age for Social Security?
- No, eliminate the income cap on taxable earnings and stop spending current funds on other programs instead

GMO Labels

Should producers be required to label genetically engineered foods (GMOs)?
- Yes, consumers have a right to know what is in their food

Universal Pre-K

Should the federal government fund Universal preschool?
- No

Criminal Voting Rights

Should convicted criminals have the right to vote?
- No

Afghanistan

Should the United States pull all military troops out of Afghanistan?
- No

Dual Citizenship

Should immigrants to the United States be allowed to hold dual citizenship status?
- Yes, but they should not be able to claim citizenship status of more than two nations

Mandatory minimum prison sentences

Do you support mandatory minimum prison sentences for people charged with drug possession?
- Yes

NAFTA

Should the U.S. continue to participate in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)?
- Yes

Estate Tax

Should the current estate tax rate be decreased?
- Yes

Nuclear Energy

Do you support the use of nuclear energy?
- Yes

Drug Trafficking Penalties

Should drug traffickers receive the death penalty?
- No, sentence them to life in prison without parole instead

Space Exploration

Should the government fund space travel?
- Yes

War on ISIS

Should the U.S. formally declare war on ISIS?
- Yes

Cuba

Do you support President Obama’s move to lift the trade and travel embargo on Cuba?
- No

Tariffs

Should the government add or increase tariffs on products imported into the country?
- Yes

China Tariffs

Should the U.S. increase tariffs on imported products from China?
- Yes

Ukraine

Should the U.S. provide military assistance to defend Ukraine from Russia?
- Yes, the Russian invasion of the Ukraine threatens the balance of power in the region

Domestic Jobs

Should the President offer tax breaks to individual companies to keep jobs in the U.S.?
- Yes, and drastically increase taxes and import tariffs on outsourcing businesses

Tech Monopolies

Should the government break up Amazon, Facebook and Google?
- No

NATO

1. Should the U.S. defend other NATO countries that maintain low military defense budgets relative to their GDP?
- Yes, and refusing to defend other NATO countries sets a dangerous precedent for the balance of global power

Federal Reserve

Should the Federal Reserve Bank be audited by Congress?
- Yes, we deserve to know who the bank gives money to

Farm Subsidies

Should the government subsidize farmers?
- Yes, but only small local farms instead of large corporations

Political Advertising on Social Media

Should social media companies ban political advertising?
- No

Property Taxes

Would you favor an increased sales tax in order to reduce property taxes?
- No, but decrease tax rates for senior citizens

NSA Surveillance

Should the U.S. continue NSA surveillance of its allies?
- Yes

Pension Reform

Should pension plans for federal, state, and local government workers be transitioned into privately managed accounts?
- Yes

Offshore Banking

Should U.S. citizens be allowed to save or invest their money in offshore bank accounts?
- Yes

Edward Snowden

Should the U.S. government grant immunity to Edward Snowden?
- No

Charter Schools

Do you support charter schools?
- Yes

Russian Airstrikes in Syria

Should the U.S. prevent Russia from conducting airstrikes in Syria?
- No

Prison Overcrowding

Should non-violent prisoners be released from jail in order to reduce overcrowding?
- Yes, but place them under house arrest using an electronic bracelet

Trans-Pacific Partnership

Do you support the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)?
- No

Government Pensions

Should pension payments be increased for retired government workers?
- No

Public Transportation

Should the government increase spending on public transportation?
- No

Jerusalem

Should Jerusalem be recognized as the capital of Israel?
- Yes

Online Sales Tax

Should an in-state sales tax apply to online purchases of in-state buyers from out-of-state sellers?
- No

School Truancy

Should the government decriminalize school truancy?
- No

Hong Kong Fugitive Extradition

Should the Chinese government be able to extradite fugitives from Hong Kong?
- No

Corporate Subsidies

Should cities be allowed to offer private companies economic incentives to relocate?
- Yes

F-35

Should the government cancel production of the F-35 fighter?
- No

Bitcoin

Should the government classify Bitcoin as a legal currency?
- No

State Ownership

Should the government acquire equity stakes in companies it bails out during a recession?
- No

Air Force One

Should the military upgrade Air Force One?
- Yes

Sports Betting

Should sports betting be legal?
- Yes

Endorsements
Joey Johnson endorsed
Speeches
Articles

Montgomery Advertiser - Kay Ivey: This is our time, Alabama

Jul. 2, 2020

By Gov. Kay Ivey My fellow Alabamians: In a few days, America will celebrate her 244th birthday. Traditionally, many towns and cities around the country light up the night with fireworks and music festivals. In 1776, John Adams predicted that Independence Day would be "celebrated by succeeding generations" with "pomp and circumstance…bonfires and illuminations." However, largely because of COVID-19, this year's observance of our country's birth will likely be a bit more subdued than previous years. While unfortunate, this is certainly understandable. Today -- and very likely in the days that will follow -- instead of talking about what unites us as one nation -- other conversations will occur that are, quite frankly, a bit more difficult and challenging. My personal hope -- and prayer -- for this year's 4th of July is that the marvel of our great country -- how we started, what we've had to overcome, what we've accomplished and where we are going -- isn't lost on any of us. We are all searching for "a more perfect union" during these trying and demanding days. Over the past several weeks, our nation has been having one of those painful, yet overdue, discussions about the subject of race. The mere mention of race often makes some people uncomfortable, even though it is a topic that has been around since the beginning of time. Nationally, a conversation about race brings with it the opportunity where even friends can disagree on solutions; it also can be a catalyst to help total strangers find common ground and see things eye-to-eye with someone they previously did not even know. Here in Alabama, conversations about race are often set against a backdrop of our state's long -- and at times -- ugly history on the subject. No one can say that America's history hasn't had its own share of darkness, pain and suffering. But with challenge always comes opportunity. For instance, Montgomery is both the birthplace of the Civil Rights Movement, as well as the cradle of the Confederacy. What a contrast for our Capital City. The fact is our entire state has, in many ways, played a central role in the ever-evolving story of America and how our wonderful country has, itself, changed and progressed through the years. Ever since the senseless death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, thousands of Alabamians -- of all races, young and old -- have taken to the streets of our largest cities and smallest towns in protest to demand change and to seek justice. These frustrations are understandable. Change often comes too slowly for some and too quickly for others. As only the second female to be elected governor of our state in more than 200 years, I can attest to this. Most of us recognize that our views on issues such as race relations tend to grow out of our own background and experiences. But, fortunately, our views can change and broaden as we talk and learn from each other. As a nation, we believe that all people are created equal in their own rights as citizens, but we also know that making this ideal a reality is still a challenge for us. Even with the election of America's first African American president 12 years ago, racial, economic and social barriers continue to exist throughout our country. This just happens to be our time in history to ensure we are building on the progress of the past, as we take steps forward on what has proven to be a long, difficult journey. Folks, the fact is we need to have real discussions -- as an Alabama family. No one should be under the false illusion that simply renaming a building or pulling a monument down, in and of itself, will completely fix systemic discrimination. Back in January, I invited a group of 65 prominent African American leaders -- from all throughout Alabama -- to meet with me in Montgomery to begin having a dialogue on issues that truly matter to our African American community in this state. This dedicated group -- known as Alabama United -- is helping to bring some very legitimate concerns and issues to the table for both conversation and action. As an example, Alabama will continue to support law enforcement that is sensitive to the communities in which they serve. We have thousands of dedicated men and women who put their lives on the line to protect our state every single day. But we can -- and must -- make certain that our state's policies and procedures reflect the legitimate concerns that many citizens have about these important issues. I am confident all these conversations -- and hopefully many more -- will lead to a host of inspirational ideas that will lead to a more informed debate and enactment of sound public policy. We must develop ways to advance all communities that lack access to good schools, jobs, and other opportunities. As governor, I will continue to make education and achieving a good job a priority -- it distresses me that some of our rural areas and inner cities face some of the greatest challenges in education. There are other critical issues that must be addressed, and I will continue to look for solutions along with you. Everyone knows government cannot solve these problems alone. Some of the greatest solutions will come from private citizens as well as businesses, higher education, churches and foundations. Together, we can all be a part of supporting and building more inclusive communities. In other words, solving these problems comes from leaning on the principles that make us who we are -- our faith -- which is embodied in the Golden Rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." My beliefs on how to treat people were shaped in Wilcox County and my faith was developed at the Camden Baptist Church. The Bible tells us over and over that our number one goal is to love God with all of one's heart and then to love our neighbor as we love our self. That is what I strive to do every day. When anyone feels forgotten and marginalized, compassion compels us to embrace, assist and share in their suffering. We must not let race divide us. We must grow and advance together. Being informed by our past, let us now carefully examine our future and work towards positive change. Together, we can envision an Alabama where all her people truly live up to the greatness within our grasp. We cannot change the past or erase our history… But we can build a future that values the worth of each and every citizen. So, in closing, my hope and prayer for our country as we pause to celebrate America's 244th birthday, is that we make the most of this moment. As for our state, let's make this a time to heal, to commit ourselves to finding consensus, not conflict, and to show the rest of the nation how far we have come, even as we have further to go. These first steps -- just as we are beginning our third century as a state -- may be our most important steps yet. This is our time, Alabama. May God continue to bless each of you and the great state of Alabama.