From ou statehouse studio in Montgomery.

I'm Todd Stacy.

Welcome to Capitol Journal.

We start this week's coverage in the nation's capital, where AP Washington correspondent Alex Angle sat down for an exclusive interview with U.S.

Senator Katie Britt.

Now in her third year in office, Britt has carved out a unique role in the Senate as an appropriator.

And while a strong supporter of President Donald Trump, she has found herself confronting administration officials and agencies to release cut or frozen funding meant for Alabama.

Funding, she says, is in lin with the president's priorities.

Alabama's a junior senator Katie Britt has emerged at the center of ke spending fights between Congress and the executive branch.

When Trump administration officials have threatened federa funding that Alabama relies on.

Britt has sometimes stepped in.

Recently, that was ove $70 million for Alabama schools.

We heard from communities across Alabama, particularly about let's start with the education funding, about the importance of that and the effects of it not being released.

That money was unfair.

In after ten GOP senators, including Britt, sent a letter to the white House Budget Office urging the release of those funds.

Then it happened again, this time with the slow disbursement of National Institutes of Health funding.

So when you're looking at NIH it is my belief where there are life saving and life changing research, we need to see that through to fruition.

This is about cures.

Britt led a letter with other Republican senators about the NIH money, and soon after, the funds were also released.

Having personal connections with the administration appears to be helping.

Was really pleased to have a conversation with President Trump where he reiterated his strong support for finding those cures.

But that support doesn't appear to be so clear cut throughout the administration, as agencies have canceled and frozen NIH grants in the first si months of Trump's second term.

As an appropriator, Britt also has the chanc to make her mark on government spending for the next fiscal year.

The Senate Appropriations Committee recently rebuked Trump's proposed budget cuts in their most recent spending bills.

Now, lawmakers are under a tight deadline to pass all 12 bill before the October 1st deadline.

It is critically important that we do our job because, number one, it's what's best for the American taxpayers.

It cost them less when w actually work and work on time.

A CR absolutely does not work.

And if Congress ends up with a long term continuing resolution, millions of dollars earmarked for Alabama could also be in jeopardy.

28 million for Fort Rucker, about over 50 million.

There for, Redstone Arsenal.

Same thing.

Really significant investment for Anniston Army Depot.

Others in the Alabama delegation have also secured funding for multiple projects across the state.

Lawmakers will take the spending bills back up when they return to Washington after August recess.

Reporting on Capitol Hill Alex Engle, Capitol Journal.

Thank you, Alex, and we'll be speaking more with Senator Britt next week on Capitol Journal.

As part of our on location coverage from the Business Council of Alabama's annua Government Affairs conference.

One of the key ongoing issues facing Alabama is workforce development, and specifically finding ways to improve the state's workforce participation rate.

Capital journal's Randy Scott traveled to North Alabama to visit one school that is focused on giving students the skill they need to land solid careers.

Someday, starting to change.

To fall.

And with that, a new school year is also getting started.

Through 12 schools as well as colleges are starting a new school session.

Excitement can be felt at Northeast Alabama Community College in Gainesville thanks to new workforce development programs.

Workforce development in in just a few short words, is preparing students to be successful in high wage, high demand career paths.

Kari Wright is the dean o workforce development at Enoch and says the course covers a wide range of subjects.

It covers areas that directly put people to work in manufacturing jobs, jobs and building construction, and jobs and health care.

When you're looking at the biggest tool on the campus of Northeast Alabama Community College, this is their workforce Skills Training Center is designed to give the next workforce for this country, prepared by offering them courses in dual enrollment and also giving them hands on training in thing such as heavy equipment repairs, CDL license, robotics, and even electronic repair.

It's going to get the next workforce prepared for the real world.

Our intent is to get more into workforce training.

And this facility permits us to do that.

It's a 55,000ft state of the art facility that provides training with, in jobs and programs that are needed in our area and the region.

40 years ago, Skilled Trades was leaving Alabama.

And in recent years, there has been an inflow of manufacturers from, you know, automotive, fabrication jobs.

Wright says the times are changing and those skills are once again in demand.

Everywhere you look, there i someone manufacturing a product.

And with all those manufacturing, jobs and companies comes the need for, you know, the skilled worker the machining, the, the drafter, the welder, the maintenance technicians, the carpenters, the plumbers.

He adds it's created a shortage problem.

All these areas are being, really drawn thin because of the added number of jobs and how we're having to catch up educationally.

We're preparing students to go into to fields that are nontraditional.

Wright says they can now focus on future targets for the students they serve.

The emphasis and focus on workforce development now is to attract that group of students, that is, in searching out a field where they can g and make a living for themselves and their families, you know, for years to come.

In Rainsville, Randy Scott, Capital Journal.

Thank you, Randy.

Students across the state ar headed back to school this week.

If you need any proof of that just go on Facebook or Instagram and see the flood of back to school photos.

We get it.

Governor Kay Ivey this week took the opportunity to welcome students back to school, and encouraged them to reach for the stars.

This school year.

Then she'll be bold enough to raise your hand.

Be kind enough to lift someone up and be brave enough to fail.

Then try again.

Because one day someone just might look back and say, that's state changed Alabama.

And I wouldn't be a bit surprised at that.

State of Tennessee.

Now let's get to work and let's make this school year the strongest one yet.

Coming up after th break, I'll sit down with State Superintendent Eric Mackey to talk more about the start of this new school year, including some new policies going into effect after that.

State Senator Chris Elliott joins me to discuss some concerns over dredging in the port and the special treat later in the show, I'll visit with Luke Lawso and Nick Frazier, Alabama boys state participants who were recently elected president and vice president of Boys Nation.

An amazing accomplishment.

You won't want to miss that interview.

Stay with us.

You can watch past episodes of Capital Journal online any time at Alabama Public Television's website.

Appy tv.org.

Click on the online video tab on the main page.

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The Alabama Department o Archives and History was founded in 1901,