On August 16 at 12 p.m., Congressman Dale Strong, representative of the fifth congressional district, spoke at a Washington Update Luncheon at the Von Braun Center. Presented by the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber, topics of Congressman Strong’s talk included his work, the Biden Administration, national security and conservative Christian values.

In a video preceding his speech, Strong said, “When I first got to DC, I knew what priorities I was bringing with me: bolstering national security, supporting the local economy and upholding conservative, Christian values.

“Whether in DC or in the district, people are my priority with the Republican House majority,” Strong said. “The House of Representatives is working to stop the Biden Administration from wrecking our economy. In my first eight months in Washington, I have voted to curb wasteful government spending, repeal Biden’s regulatory agenda and rebuild America’s energy independence, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.”

Acknowledging Huntsville and Madison County’s renown for being home to Redstone Arsenal, Strong discussed his role on the Armed Services Committee though the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

“This year, the NDAA process was tough, but I fought for our community,” Strong said.

According to Strong, over 50% of his initial submissions were accepted outright. Seventy five percent of submissions in his 32-mark-up amendment were adopted.

After those submissions were adopted, Strong was invited to be in the House Lead for the FINISH IT Act, which would require the DoD to “deploy or transfer a huge Southern border wall material to state governments who will use them for wall construction.” The FINISH IT Act has passed both the Senate and the House meaning that it will make it to the White House.

Focusing on the border wall issue, Strong said that during his visit to the United States/Mexico border he saw many attempting to cross the border without documentation as well as a large drug shipment, which was confiscated.

“I learned people coming across the border were from places like Iran and China that are our enemies, and they hate America,” Strong went on to claim.

Addressing “the rising threat of China,” Strong said “As I continued to ask questions about this threat, I discovered that China and entities controlled by the Chinese Communist Party own or lease more than 308,000 acres of land across America. To be honest, I was shocked by how much; we have already found several cases where this land is close or adjacent to military installations and sensitive facilities.”

Strong expressed seeing that property as a threat to the United States’ military and food supply. He has since introduced legislation to prohibit the Chinese Government from owning land in the United States, which has 32 cosigners.

Strong finished his speech in touting future goals and success for Rocket City.

“Our nation has some big challenges we must face, but I do believe that with your help and guidance from our Lord and Savior, it will be without reservation that I say this: ‘North Alabama and the Rocket City’s finest days are still ahead.’ It is an honor to serve as your United States congressman. Thank you.”

This is Strong’s first term in Congress. So far, he has had appointments with the Armed Services Committee, the Homeland Security Committee and the Cyber Space and Technology Committee. Strong was first elected to the county commission in 1996, at that time being the youngest elected county commissioner in the State of Alabama at age 27. He has strong ties to Madison County as he graduated from Sparkman High School in 1988, with family roots stretching several generations.

Other guests seated at the event’s head table with Strong were Gary Bradley, Pastor of the Mayfair Church of Christ; Paul Finley, Madison Mayor; Mac McCutchen, Chairman of the Madison County Commission; Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle; James Lack, co-chair of the Chamber’s National Government Committee; Ronnie Chronister the Chamber’s vice chair for Government Affairs; David Cook, the Chamber’s Chair of the National Government Committee and Sameer Singhal, president and CEO of CFD Research, which was the event’s presenting sponsor.

Local leaders including members of the Alabama State Legislature, Madison County Commission, Huntsville City Council, Madison City Council and Madison County School Board were also in attendance.