Congresswoman Martha Roby Addresses AAICU Board
03-Aug-2011
AAICU held its Annual Meeting on June 29, 2011 in Montgomery. College presidents and business board members from across the state attended. Guest speakers for the meeting included U.S. Congresswoman Martha Roby and Dr. Greg Fitch, Executive Director of the Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE). An informative round table discussion was held with Congresswoman Roby. Roby sits on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Committee on Agriculture, and also the House Education and Workforce Committee.
Roby, a Samford Cumberland Law alumnus began her talk by referencing all the ties she has to the private colleges in Alabama.
"I wake up every morning knowing the responsibility that you have given me," she told the AAICU board. "This is my ball to carry. I will do my best on your behalf to sustain the greatness of America."
She thanked the presidents for playing an important role in helping her make decisions for Alabama and said it was her job to "get the government out of their way." She co-sponsored the "Protecting Academic Freedom in Higher Education Act" that would prohibit the Department of Education from overreaching into academic affairs and program eligibility under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965. She realizes that more regulations expand burdensome administrative costs and ties the hands of the colleges and their ability to educate. Roby took questions from the AAICU board by asking them their concerns on the federal level. She gave the presidents the direct phone number to her legislative staff dedicated to education issues and added that she is counting on them to let her know their position on specific education legislation. She concluded by saying her first six months in Washington have been personally and politically rewarding and challenging. She thanked the presidents for their commitment to the state and children and providing a great workforce for Alabama.
