Government & Public Affairs

The Chamber represents the business interests of the Huntsville/Madison County area in all levels of government, promoting policies and legislation that enhance the economic prosperity of the region. Federal spending on Defense, Space, and Homeland Security accounts for over half of the Huntsville Metro GDP. As a result of the importance of this sector to our economy, much of the Chamber’s government and public affairs efforts are focused on the growth and protection of Redstone Arsenal and these related activities.

 

Federal Government Engagement

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Washington DC Trip draws record crowd!

The Chamber’s 2024 Washington DC broke attendance records with over 190 people registered to attend. The April 7-9 trip included excellent presentations from the US Army, FBI, PSC, SBA, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, National counterintelligence leaders, the US Chamber, and the FAA Commercial Space Division. The group also heard from several members of the Alabama Congressional delegation including Senators Tuberville and Britt and House members Sewell, Carl, Strong and Aderholt. The trip also included presentations from Majority Whip Emmers and the Speaker of the US House of Representatives Johnson, thanks to Rep. Strong. Travelers were also able to enjoy the solar eclipse from the Capitol. We are very grateful to the members of the Alabama Delegation for all of their support for this trip!
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Washington Update with Sen. Britt


The Washington Update Breakfast with Senator Katie Britt was re-scheduled for March 19, 2024 at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, after it became apparent that authorizing federal funding would require votes on March 1. The event was sold out with over 900 people attending.
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Washington Update with Congressman Strong


Ove 1,000 people attend the Chamber’s Washington Update with Congressman Dale Strong on August 19.
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Washington Update with Sen. Tuberville


On September 30, the Chamber hosted our inaugural Washington Update with U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville, with over 900 people attending.

Other highlights


Senator Tuberville’s staff hosted their FY25 National Defense Authorization Act kick-off briefing for local companies at the Chamber

  • On February 18, Military Legislative Assistant Samantha Power and District Director Brian Naugher briefed local companies about the process of submitting NDAA requests to the Senator.

Chamber leadership team meets with Congressional Delegation

  • The Chamber’s senior volunteer leadership and staff met with the members of the Congressional Delegation on March 12, to brief them on the Chamber’s priorities, as reflected in the Chamber’s 2024 Federal Agenda.

Alabama Government

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Legislative Update


The Legislative Update was re-scheduled to January 22 at the Jackson Center as a result of the winter weather the prior week. Speakers included the new Speaker of the Alabama House, Nathaniel Ledbetter; Minority Leader Anthony Daniels; General Fund Committee Chair Rex Reynolds; Senate Majority Leader Clay Scofield and Senator Arthur Orr, chair of the Education fund committee.
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Montgomery Trip


The Chamber’s Montgomery Trip was held March 5-6. We had 128 people on the participant list for this year’s trip, breaking the all-time high registration record. Thanks to State Committee Chairs Tracy Doughty and Heather Wilson for their support. We were joined by the Madison Chamber of Commerce.
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Alabama Update with Governor Ivey


Governor Kay Ivey addressed a record crowd of over 1,000 people at her Alabama Update with the Chamber on May 13 at the VBC.

Other highlights


Chamber hosts State Agenda meeting with local Delegation

  • The Chamber hosted a luncheon meeting with the members of the Madison County legislative delegation on Feb. 2 to review the Chamber’s State Agenda.

Chamber support for NASA and Space Policy


Chamber supports human space exploration DC advocacy efforts

  • For over 30 years, the Chamber has supported the Citizens for Space Exploration, a national coalition of communities supporting human space exploration. In partnership with the National Space Club, the Chamber sponsors UAH graduate students to attend the DC fly-in. Over the course of two days, 10 teams of 3-4 people will meet with over 350 congressional offices, advocating for policies supporting human space exploration.

New Alabama Aerospace and Defense Council

  • The Chamber supported an effort to create a new Alabama Aerospace and Defense Council, under the umbrella of the Manufacture Alabama organization. This Council will take responsibility for preparing a Statewide agenda for the aerospace industry and for organizing the Alabama Aerospace Day. The Council debuted on September 11, in conjunction with the Manufacture Alabama Government Affairs Conference. Chamber SVP Mike Ward serves as an Ex-Officio member of the Executive Committee.

Chamber Supports Armed Forces

 

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Annual Outing


The Chamber hosted our Annual Outing on Oct. 22 with over 300 people attending, and the weather could not have been nicer! The Outing was well attended by Redstone guests and elected and community leaders.   
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Redstone Update: Briefings


The Chamber’s Redstone Update was held on December 11. The Update included briefings from Redstone’s Garrison, NASA, the FBI, SMDC, RCCTO, Contested Logistics Cross Functional Team, and a panel discussion called “Driving Innovation Together with AI and Advanced Analytics.” 
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Redstone Update: Luncheon


Our luncheon featured a presentation from MG Gavin Lawrence, who covered key developments for Team Redstone over the last year. The event was very well attended and received excellent media coverage.
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Armed Forces Celebration

MG (Ret.) Jim Myles, Chairman of the Chamber’s Military Affairs Committee, and CSM (Ret.) Bill Counts, co-chair of the Committee, led the effort to coordinate a number of events to celebrate the community’s Armed Forces Celebration the week of June 10. The week kicked off on June 8 with a Gold Star Family appreciation event held in conjunction with the Huntsville City Football Club game. Other events held during the week which the Chamber helped to coordinate included:

• Proclamation Signing on June 10
• Concert in the Park, also on June 10
• Armed Forces Celebration Luncheon on June 11
• Community vs Redstone Softball Game on June 12
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Proclamation Signing


The Proclamation Signing was held on June 10 at the Huntsville Madison County Veterans Memorial. Pictured left to right: Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, Madison Mayor Paul Finley, LTG Sean Gainey of U.S. Army Space & Missile Defense Command, and Madison County Commission Chairman Mac McCutcheon.
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Concert in the Park


The Concert in the Park, also on June 10, was held at Big Spring Park. The Maneuver Center of Excellence Band from Fort Moore, Georgia performed on the steps of the Huntsville Museum of Art. This event always brings a huge crowd! An estimated at 4,000 people attended the concert.
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AFC Luncheon


The Armed Forces Celebration Luncheon was held on June 11 in the VBC Saturn Ballroom, featuring LTG Chris Mohan, with nearly 600 people in attendance.
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Community vs. Redstone Softball Game


Our annual Community vs. Redstone Softball Game was held on June 12 at Toyota Field with over 1,200 people attending! For the first time since we moved the game to Toyota Field, the community team beat Team Redstone by a healthy margin. Thanks to Claire Aiello for her terrific organizational effort with the game.

Other highlights


Chamber hosts Reception for new Redstone leadership

  • The Chamber hosted a reception for several of Team Redstone's new leaders on February 13 at the Chamber. The event was well attended and marked the first time we have hosted such an event since the pandemic.  

Chamber hosts reception for the Assistant Secretary of Defense – Aprille Ericsson

  • The Chamber hosted a reception for Assistant Sec. of Defense for Science and Technology, Aprille Ericsson on November 20.  

Chamber Support for Local Government Events


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Madison City Update


The Chamber co-hosted the Madison City Update with the Madison Chamber on June 5. The event was well attended, with over 600 people attending. Mayor Paul Finley provided an excellent program.
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State of the City: Huntsville


A capacity crowd of 1,200 people attended the Chamber’s State of the City of Huntsville with Mayor Tommy Battle on September 10. The Mayor gave an excellent update on his 16 years in office and the progress and challenges that the City has faced and is facing.
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State of Madison County


Over 800 people attended the Chamber’s State of the County Update with Chairman Mac McCutcheon on November 13 in the VBC Saturn Ballroom. Chairman McCutcheon gave an excellent presentation, addressing the roles of the Commission, the work of each of the Commissioners and his expectations regarding new facilities for the County Judicial system and County Administrative offices.