March 2026 Update from Rep. Terri Sewell
From the office of Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell (D-AL-07)
From the office of Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell (D-AL-07)
Dear Bill,
March was a busy month for Team Sewell! We commemorated the 61st anniversary of Bloody Sunday, hosted a grants workshop, introduced new legislation, fought to make life more affordable, and took a stand against President Trump's disastrous policies.
Keep reading to learn about the progress we've made on your behalf.
Sincerely,
Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell
COMMEMORATING BLOODY SUNDAY
To mark the 61st anniversary of Bloody Sunday, we welcomed the world to Alabama for the annual civil rights pilgrimage through Birmingham, Montgomery, and my hometown of Selma.
Together, we retraced the footsteps of civil rights giants and paid homage to the sacrifices they made in the name of equality and justice.
In these troubling times, the events of Bloody Sunday serve as a reminder of the power of ordinary Americans to achieve extraordinary social change. We should draw inspiration from their courage as we fight off modern-day attacks on the right to vote.
FIGHTING TO PAY TSA AND REIN IN ICE
For more than six weeks, Republicans have held the paychecks of our TSA agents hostage, demanding that Democrats agree to give more money to ICE and help pass Trump's election takeover bill. This manufactured crisis has caused tremendous hardship for TSA workers and needless chaos for travelers at our nation's airports.
Democrats have put forward a proposal to fully fund TSA, FEMA, CISA, and the U.S. Coast Guard without providing additional funding for ICE. I refuse to give ICE a blank check to continue their campaign of cruelty, which has resulted in the deaths of two American citizens and the targeting of law-abiding immigrants.
Last week, Senate Republicans finally joined with Democrats and passed legislation to fund all DHS agencies, excluding ICE. However, Speaker Johnson has blocked us from voting on that deal in the House.
It's time for Speaker Johnson to let us vote on the Senate's bipartisan funding deal. Americans want Congress to end this Republican shutdown, pay TSA, and rein in ICE.
CHAMPIONING LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF ALABAMIANS
This month, I championed several important bills to improve the lives of Alabamians.
Our Maternal Vaccination Act protects the health of mothers and babies by increasing maternal vaccination rates and stopping the spread of preventable diseases. Women in America die from pregnancy-related causes at the highest rate in the developed world, and Alabama is among the deadliest states for pregnant women. Our bill would save lives and give every mother and baby a healthy start.
Our Rural Decentralized Water Systems Act, which I introduced with Rep. Mike Rogers, combats Alabama's wastewater crisis by providing grants to help families upgrade or maintain their septic tanks. This is especially important for families who live in areas that lack access to municipal wastewater lines.
I also joined my Alabama colleagues in supporting the Defending American Property Abroad Act, which passed the House with bipartisan support. The bill protects American companies—like Birmingham's Vulcan Materials Company—who have had their assets seized by foreign governments. I will always stand up for the workers in my district who have been harmed by the illegal trade actions of other nations.
OPPOSING TRUMP'S WAR ON IRAN
President Trump's reckless war on Iran is driving up prices, putting our troops in harm's way, and making America less safe. Already, 13 service members have been killed and at least 300 have been wounded. Gas prices have surpassed $4/gallon, and Republicans are now proposing more cuts to Americans' health care to fund this war.
Earlier this month, I voted YES on a resolution that would have terminated the use of U.S. Armed Forces in Iran, because only Congress has the power to declare war. While the regime in Iran has oppressed their people and supported terrorism in the region for decades, the President must still come before Congress and the American people with clear justifications for the use of military force at this scale.
I will continue to oppose this war and call on my Republican colleagues to join with me in standing up to President Trump.
2026 GRANTS WORKSHOP: PREPARING OUR COMMUNITIES FOR SUCCESS
On March 20, we hosted our 2026 Grants Workshop in Tuscaloosa, designed to help local officials leverage upcoming federal and regional funding opportunities. It is critically important that officials in our district are equipped with the knowledge and tools they need to compete successfully.
The workshop brought together municipal leaders, school officials, and community partners for a hands-on discussion about best practices in grant writing, project planning, and identifying funding streams. Participants had the chance to engage directly with experts and ask questions tailored to their community’s needs.
The goal was to demystify the grant-writing process and empower local leaders to pursue transformative projects with confidence. We look forward to continuing this work and helping local organizations turn great ideas into funded realities!
HONORING FALLEN ALABAMA AIRMEN
I spoke on the House Floor to honor the service members who lost their lives when a refueling aircraft crashed in Iraq.
Among them were three Birmingham-based airmen: Major Alex Klinner, Captain Ariana Savino, and Technical Sergeant Ashley Pruitt.
Our prayers are with their families as they grieve the loss of these brave American patriots. We will never forget their heroic service to our nation.
Watch my remarks here.
FIGHTING TO GET ANSWERS FOR TAXPAYERS
As the top Democrat on the Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee, I sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent requesting information about the numerous taxpayers who are experiencing delayed refunds.
As a direct result of President Trump's recent executive order, the refunds of more than 1.4 million taxpayers are on hold, and that number is rapidly growing each week. Maddeningly, the IRS has provided no process for these individuals to request a paper check, meaning many Americans could be forced to wait up to 10 weeks for their tax return.
The Trump Administration has refused to answer our questions, but I am continuing to demand answers. Americans cannot afford to wait months for money that is rightfully theirs!
Watch my remarks at a recent hearing here.
CONNECTING WITH CONSTITUENTS
This month, we continued our annual "Congress in Your Community Tour," connecting with people all across Alabama's 7th Congressional District.
To help constituents with their federal needs, my staff brought our mobile office to Pleasant Grove and Linden. If you are having trouble with a federal agency, contact one of my district offices or visit my website for assistance.
I also held a live Telephone Town Hall to share updates on my work in Congress and get your questions answered. Click here to listen.
THANK YOU
Want to learn more about my work? Check out my website and social media:
Also, I invite you to email me any of your thoughts and concerns here.
I am immensely proud to serve you in Congress and look forward to hearing from you soon!
