When Robin and I were 25, we took our hard-earned savings and started our own construction business. I’m sure my wife, Robin, would agree that it was tough growing a business while we raised our young family, but with a lot of hard work, we were able to follow our dream and successfully grow our own construction company. Under our old tax system, however, many small businesses had barriers to growth; the tax code was complex, burdensome and oftentimes a roadblock to success. It is hard enough to...
Read more
In this column, U.S. Rep. Rick Allen, R-Evans, explains his support for school choice and his intention to work with new Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos to expand the option. By Rep. Rick Allen At the heart of our American values is the belief that each of us, no matter our circumstances, can pursue our own success and happiness through hard work. That’s how a small-town farm boy, the son of two educators, wound up a businessman in Augusta and later a congressman. The value of education canno...
Read more
AUGUSTA (WJBF) — President Donald Trump is hoping to increase defense spending by $54 billion next year. If Congress approves his proposed budget, Fort Gordon would see a dramatic impact from the nearly 10% hike. Fort Gordon is already booming, in fact, the post has grown 20% since 2012. As other military bases around the country are dwindling in size, Fort Gordon is expected to grow by 3% every year. With talk of $54 billion extra in funding for the Department of Defense, there is a lot of buzz...
Read more
The House Armed Services Committee held a conference Wednesday, focused on the threats, challenges and opportunities in 21st Century cyber warfare, including capabilities and resources coming to the Augusta area. The Congressional Committee questioned and heard testimony from several cyber warfare and cyber security experts. The committee characterized the cyber landscape as the preferred target for U.S. adversaries because of American strength on conventional battlefields. Jason Healy, nonresi...
Read more
WASHINGTON — In the lead up to Donald Trump’s speech Tuesday, several of Georgia’s Republican congressmen said they were looking for concrete policy specifics from the new president on issues like health care and infrastructure. They got relatively little of that, especially by way of new details — such presidential speeches to Congress are designed, after all, to be broad and sweeping — but the state’s Republicans were still dazzled by Trump’s address. “It was certainly beyond my expectations,”...
Read more
WASHINGTON, D.C. (WFXG) - Right after President Trump's address to Congress, Georgia Congressman Rick Allen gave some of his reaction. Congressman spoke with our Dawn Baker last night, saying "Well, obviously his energy, and I think he talked to all Americans about his vision for the country, the American spirit and the fact that if we can work together, we can accomplish anything." Congressman Allen's office issued a statement following the address. “Tonight, Americans everywhere heard the Pres...
Read more
Rep. Rick Allen hopes to vote for a bill to replace the Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare, before Easter, he said Friday. Republicans in Congress have been trying to repeal the ACA since it was enacted in 2010. But unlike previous efforts, a successful House bill now would go not only to a Republican-majority Senate, but potentially to the desk of President Donald Trump, another Republican who has vowed to replace Obama’s legacy health insurance legislation. Actual repeal and repla...
Read more
AUGUSTA, GA (WJBF) – U.S. Representative Rick Allen visits Fort Gordon in a 3-hour briefing on cyber commands and more. “I don’t mind telling you it’s like drinking from a fire hose, we have a lot going on here,” said Congressman Rick Allen. US Representative Rick Allen says he is very proud of what is happening at Fort Gordon and calls it the ‘new frontier of warfare’. “I want to thank the community, the community has been a big support,” said Congressman Rick Allen. Allen met with Fort Gordon ...
Read more
Fort Gordon welcomed Congressman Rick Allen on Wednesday for an up-close look at the Army’s cyber operations as cyber command continues to move into its new Augusta headquarters. “Every time I am out here I just say, ‘Wow!’ I don’t mind telling you, it’s like drinking from a fire hose. We have a lot going on out here,” said the Republican from Augusta. He called cyber battlefields the new frontier in warfare and said the mission at Fort Gordon and in Augusta is very important. Allen spent about ...
Read more
our of the military’s highest ranking officials testified before the House Armed Services Committee earlier this week, outlining equipment, personnel and financial shortfalls threatening the military readiness of the nation’s forces. Fort Gordon is the Augusta area’s largest employer with over 24,000 military, civilian and contractor employees. The Fort Gordon Alliance estimates the annual economic impact from the Army base at around $2.4 billion a year. That number is likely to grow as U.S. Arm...
Read more
