>>> FROM OUR STATEHOUSE STUDIO IN MONTGOMERY, I'M TODD STACY.

WELCOME TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

DAY TWO OF THE LEGISLATURE'S SPECIAL SESSION ON FEDERAL RELIEF SPENDING IS IN THE BOOKS.

GOVERNOR KAY IVEY CALLED THE SPECIAL SESSION EARLIER THIS WEEK AND ASKED LAWMAKERS TO PUT THEIR ONGOING REGULAR SESSION ON HOLD TO FOCUS ALL THE ATTENTION ON A PLAN TO ALLOCATE $772 MILLION FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN.

THE IDEA WAS TO SEPARATE THIS ONE-TIME FUNDING FROM THE MYRIAD OTHER ISSUES THE LEGISLATURE HANDLES THAT COULD COMPLICATE THE TASK.

THE SPENDING PLAN ADVANCED THROUGH COMMITTEE TODAY IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE.

THE VOTES CAME QUICKLY AND WERE UNANIMOUS.

THAT HAS LAWMAKERS OPTIMISTIC THAT THE LEGISLATION WILL SAIL THROUGH THE REST OF THE PROCESS WITHOUT MUCH TROUBLE.

SENATE GENERAL FUND BUDGET COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN GREG ALBRITTON SAID THERE WERE MULTIPLE FACTORS IN THEIR FAVOR.

>> WORK AND TRANSPARENCY.

THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT WAS PUT INTO THIS OVER A NUMBER OF MONTHS, AMONG DIFFERENT GROUPS, WAS EXTENSIVE.

I'VE SPOKEN OF THAT BEFORE.

I THINK THAT CONTRIBUTED TO GETTING IT RIGHT.

THE SECOND, THE TRANSPARENCY, TRYING TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE, REVIEW AND UNDERSTAND AS MUCH AS SOME OF US DO, ALL RIGHT, AS MUCH AS ANYONE COULD TO HAVE A COMFORT THAT THEY KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON.

>> ABOUT 85% OF THIS ROUND OF FEDERAL MONEY IS BEING STEERED TOWARD THREE CATEGORIES: BROADBAND INTERNET EXPANSION, WATER AND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE AND HEALTH CARE.

A FOURTH CATEGORY IS ALSO BECOMING A BIG PRIORITY FOR LAWMAKERS -- SHORING UP THE STATE'S UNEMPLOYMENT TRUST FUND.

THE PLAN CALLS FOR PUTTING ALMOST $80 MILLION INTO THAT ACCOUNT.

THIS WILL HELP THE STATE AVOID AN AUTOMATIC TAX INCREASE ON BUSINESSES THAT OCCURS WHEN THE UNEMPLOYMENT TRUST FUND RUNS LOW.

IN FACT, LAWMAKERS SAY THIS PLAN WILL RESULT IN A 29% TAX CUT FOR BUSINESSES PAYING INTO THE FUND.

WITHOUT IT, MANY BUSINESSES WOULD SEE A 3% TAX INCREASE.

>> I THINK WE AGREE WE SORT OF HIT A SWEET SPOT HERE, PARTICULARLY WITH BROAD BAND, WATER, SEWER, HEALTHCARE, RELATED NEEDS.

THE ONE THING IS THE UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION FUND, 79.5 MILLION THERE.

THAT'S THE REALTIME-SENSITIVE ISSUE THAT WE REALLY NEED TO MOVE FORWARD ON.

WE NEED TO HAVE THAT IN PLACE BY JANUARY 31st SO THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR CAN FIGURE THE RATES FOR BUSINESSES TO PAY THEIR EMPLOYEES UNEMPLOYMENT TAX.

THIS IS GOING TO ENABLE THEM TO LOWER THAT TAX BY ABOUT 30%.

SO IT WILL REPLENISH THIS FUND TO WHERE THE FUND WAS IN JANUARY OF 2020, BEFORE ALL THE LAYOFFS TOOK PLACE AFTER PEOPLE HAD TO QUARANTINE.

>> ALABAMA'S LATEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS 3.1%, WHICH IS LOWER THAN THE NATIONAL RATE OF 3.7%.

A NEW UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR ALABAMA IS SCHEDULED TO BE ANNOUNCED TOMORROW.

>> WELL, IF IT SOUNDS LIKE THE LEGISLATURE IS CONSTANTLY DEALING WITH FEDERAL INFUSIONS OF MONEY, YOUR EARS DON'T DECEIVE YOU.

THIS IS THE THIRD ROUND OF PANDEMIC RELIEF MONEY THEY'VE HAS HAD TO ALLOCATE - AND THERE'S MORE TO COME.

THIS MAY OR JUNE, THE STATE WILL RECEIVE THE REST OF ITS PORTION OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN WHICH AMOUNTS TO MORE THAN A BILLION DOLLARS.

LAWMAKERS ARE ALREADY THINKING ABOUT HOW TO SPEND THOSE FUNDS, ESPECIALLY AS IT CONCERNS NEEDS THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT INTO THIS CURRENT ROUND OF SPENDING.

>> I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE PROCESS WE'RE GOING THROUGH, AND ALL OF THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE ON THIS ARPA FUNDS ARE IN TWO.

WE ARE NOT APPROPRIATING ANY RESOURCES WE DON'T HAVE.

I'M ADAMANT ABOUT THIS.

WE AGREE ON THAT.

I THINK THE PROCESS WE'RE ENGAGED IN AND HOW DILIGENT THE SENATE AND LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN ON THAT IS BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE THERE'S MORE RESOURCE COMING.

THAT'S A POSITIVE THING, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE OUR PROCESS IS ONE WE CAN UTILIZE AGAIN AND LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTINUE TO HAVE WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED, DEBATED AND WORKED ON TO BE APPLICABLE IN THE FUTURE, AS WELL.

>> ABOUT $250 BILLION OF THE FEDERAL FUNDS ARE BEING DIRECTED AT WATER AND SEWER PROJECTS ACROSS THE STATE, PARTICULARLY IN AREAS THAT ARE LACKING SERVICE OR HAVE UNSANITARY CONDITIONS.

THIS NEED BECAME HIGH PROFILE AFTER A "60 MINUTES" FEATURE STORY THAT SHOWED UNSAFE SEWER AND WATER CONDITIONS IN LOWDNES COUNTY.

LANCE LEFLUER, DIRECTOR OF THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, SAYS THE STORY WOKE UP STATE LEADERS TO A NEED THAT HAS EXISTED FOR SOME TIME.

>> THIS FUNDING IS FOR A PURPOSE THAT WILL UPGRADE THEM, OPPOSED TO JUST REGULATE WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

IT WILL BE A CHALLENGE.

IT WILL DEFINITELY BE A CHALLENGE FOR OUR STAFF.

WE WILL BE INCREASING OUR STAFF.

YOU HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE FUNDING.

THIS FUNDING IS GOING TO BE SUPPLEMENTED BY OTHER FUNDING THAT'S COMING DIRECTLY TO THE DEPARTMENT THROUGH THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW.

>> I'LL TALK IN MORE DETAIL WITH MR. LEFLEUR LATER IN THE SHOW.

THE SPENDING BILL IS NOT THE ONLY ISSUE BEING TALKED ABOUT HERE IN THE STATE HOUSE.

SOME ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE ALABAMA FAMILIES AREN'T PENALIZED ON THEIR STATE INCOME TAXES FOR FEDERAL CREDITS THEY RECEIVED DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THIS PAST YEAR, MANY WORKING FAMILIES SAW AN INCREASED CHILD TAX CREDIT, OR DEPENDENT CARE CREDIT OR EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT.

BUT UNDER ALABAMA LAW, THAT'S ALL TAXABLE INCOME, MEANING FAMILIES RIGHT NOW OWE TAXES ON THE EXTRA BENEFITS THEY RECEIVED.

STATE SENATOR DAN ROBERTS OF BIRMINGHAM HAS FILED LEGISLATION TO UNTAX THESE BENEFITS SO THAT WORKING FAMILIES AREN'T PENALIZED.

BETWEEN JULY 15th AND DECEMBER 15th, ALABAMA FAMILIES RECEIVED $2 BILLION.

OVER THAT TIME PERIOD.

THAT WAS FOR EXTRA COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH CHILDCARE, INCIDENTALS THEY HAD TO DO FOR CHILDCARE.

IT WAS MEANT TO HELP FAMILIES TAKE CARE OF CHILDREN.

AND FAMILIES ACROSS THE STATE GOT THOSE DOLLARS.

THE DECISION THEN IS WILL ALABAMA TAX THOSE DOLLARS?

I HAVE SUPPORT THAT WE WILL NOT TAX THOSE DOLLARS, BUT THE PROBLEM BECOMES W-2s WERE MAILED OUT THIS WEEK.

SO ALABAMIANS WILL START TO FILE THEIR TAX RETURNS.

IF THEY FILE NOW, AND WE DON'T PASS THIS BILL, THEY WILL BE TAXED ON THOSE CREDITS.

THAT'S WHY THE URGENCY TO PASS IT IN THIS SPECIAL SESSION SO THAT ALABAMIANS DON'T PAY $87.7 MILLION IN TAX.

>> ON A PERSONAL NOTE, WE AT "CAPITOL JOURNAL" SEND OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS TO SENATOR ROBERTS, WHOSE WIFE, ANN, IS HOSPITALIZED BATTLING COVID-19.

HOPE SHE GETS WELL SOON.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> YOU CAN WATCH PAST EPISODES OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" ONLINE AT VIDEO@APTV.ORG.

"CAPITOL JOURNAL" EPISODES ARE AVAILABLE ON APTV'S FREE MOBILE APP.

YOU CAN CONNECT WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL" AND LINK TO PAST EPISODES ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" FACEBOOK PAGE.

AND YOU CAN LISTEN TO PAST EPISODES OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING OR ON THE GO WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL" PODCASTS.

KEEP UP WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

♪ NEXT ON THE PROGRAM I'M JOINED BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

I'M PLEASED THAT YOU ARE NOW OUR HOST AND DOING A WONDERFUL JOB.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE'RE HAVING FUN.

I WANTED TO HAVE YOU ON THE PROGRAM BECAUSE WATER AND SEWER IS A BIG TOPIC RIGHT NOW.

EVER SINCE THE "60 MINUTES" RAN THEIR FEATURE STORY ON THE SEWAGE SITUATION IT'S BEEN A HIGH-PROFILE ISSUE.

NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN AND THE STATE CAN ALLOCATE $225 MILLION THE STATE WANTS TO ALLOCATE TO IMPROVING WATER AND SEWER, INCLUDING IN THE BLACK BELT.

IS THAT WHAT IT IS GOING TO TAKE?

IS THAT ENOUGH MONEY TO FIX ALABAMA'S WATER AND SEWER PROBLEMS?

>> THE QUICK ANSWER IS NO.

IT WILL MAKE A GOOD DENT IN SOME OF THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE HERE IN THE STATE BUT BY NO MEANS IT WILL SOLVE ALL OF THE ISSUES WE HAVE.

>> THE BILL GOING THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE RIGHT NOW HAS YOUR AGENCY'S NAME ON IT.

IT SAYS THAT YOU ARE CHARGED WITH BASICALLY ADMINISTERING THOSE FUNDS.

YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY ONE.

IT IS DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE, OTHER AGENCIES, BUT SPECIFICALLY ON WATER AND SEWER, YOU KNOW, ADMINISTERING THESE FUNDS, THAT SEEMS LIKE A MONUMENTAL TASK.

IS THAT SOMETHING YOUR AGENCY IS STAFFED AND RESOURCED AND CAN CARRY OUT?

>> WE HAVE ABOUT 579 DRINKING WATER SYSTEMS IN THE STATE AND 600 PUBLIC WASTE WATER SYSTEMS, PUBLIC DRINKING AND PUBLIC WASTE WATER.

WE ARE USED TO DEALING WITH THEM FROM AN ENVIRONMENTAL, REGULATORY FRAME, BUT THIS FUNDING IS FOR A PURPOSE THAT WILL UPGRADE THEM, AS OPPOSED TO JUST REGULATE WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

IT WILL BE A CHALLENGE.

IT WILL DEFINITELY BE A CHALLENGE FOR OUR STAFF.

WE WILL BE INCREASING OUR STAFF.

YOU HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE FUNDING.

THIS FUNDING IS GOING TO BE SUPPLEMENTED BY OTHER FUNDING THAT'S COMING DIRECTLY TO THE DEPARTMENT THROUGH THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW THAT WAS SIGNED INTO LAW.

THERE WILL BE A LOT OF MONEY GOING OUT.

GIVING MONEY AWAY IS NOT AS EASY AS SOME PEOPLE MAY THINK.

>> LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT THAT.

ONE OF THE CONCERNS.

ONE OF THE REASONS THEY ARE HURRYING UP WITH THIS LEGISLATION IS THE CONCERN THAT EVERY OTHER STATE HAS MONEY TOO AND THEY CAN SPEND IT.

ARE THERE GOING TO BE ENOUGH RESOURCES TO GO AROUND?

THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH PIPE AND CONTRACTORS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> YOU BRING UP AN EXCELLENT POINT.

THERE ARE GOING TO BE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF WASTE WATER AND DRINKING WATER SYSTEMS THROUGHOUT THE NATION THAT WILL BE UPGRADED.

THE SUPPLY OF ENGINEERS AND CONTRACTORS WILL BE FAR EXCEEDED BY THE DEMAND.

YOU ADD TO THAT THE SUPPLY CHAIN PROBLEMS THAT WE ARE RUNNING INTO WHEN WE START HAVING ORDERS GO INTO OUR MANUFACTURERS FOR THOUSANDS OF LARGE MOTORS AND PUMPS AND THINGS SUCH AS THAT.

THERE WILL BE DELAYS.

WE'RE HOPEFUL THE DEADLINES THAT ARE IN THESE FUNDING BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT OUT WILL BE EXTENDED TO ALLOW FOR THESE KINDS OF THINGS.

THERE WILL BE A LOGJAM.

THERE WILL BE A LOGJAM.

>> EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT ARPA BUT YOU STILL HAVE A GENERAL FUND.

WHAT IS YOUR BUDGET REQUEST TO LEGISLATURE?

WHAT ARE YOU ASKING FOR THIS YEAR?

>> OUR BUDGET, WE ARE UNLIKE A PRIVATE SECTOR ENTITY WHERE WE DO NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO RAISE ADDITIONAL FUNDS, EXCEPT THROUGH OUR EXISTING SOURCES.

54% OF OUR FUNDING COMES FROM FEES PAID BY REGULATED INDUSTRIES, 40% FROM EPA AND 6 TO 7% FROM THE GENERAL FUND, FAIRLY SMALL PORTION BUT IT IS AN IMPORTANT PORTION.

IT IS THE LOWEST PER CAPITA FUNDED PROGRAM IN THE NATION.

WE ARE BEHIND PUERTO RICO IN OUR FUNDING.

EVERYONE KNOWS THE PROBLEMS THAT PUERTO RICO HAS.

BUT NONETHELESS, WE ARE ABLE TO BE IN THE TOP TEN AS FAR AS EPA IS CONCERNED WITH COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT.

WE ARE RATED IN NATIONAL SURVEYS IN THE TOP FIVE AS FAR AS BUSINESS IS CONCERNED, ALL THAT WHILE WE ARE DEAD LAST IN PER CAPITA FUNDING, BUT WE ARE AT THE EDGE, WHERE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE PROPER FUNDING IN EACH OF THESE COMPONENTS.

WE ARE ASKING FOR $4 MILLION OUT OF OUR $60 MILLION BUDGET FROM THE GENERAL FUND AND THEN A ONE-TIME APPROPRIATION TO ALLOW US TO FINISH A FACILITY IN OUR MOBILE OFFICE THAT WILL BE THE LAST STEP IN OUR PROGRAM TO UPGRADE THE FISCAL PLAN THAT WILL SET US UP FOR THE NEXT 20 OR MORE YEARS.

>> OUR AGENCY HAS HAD HIGH PROFILE ENFORCEMENTS THE LAST FEW YEARS, THE BLACK WARRIOR FISH, THE 3M PLANT IN DECATUR.

THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL HIGH PROFILE.

I WANTED TO ASK YOU, OF COURSE YOU DON'T WANT THESE INCIDENTS TO EVER TAKE PLACE BUT THEM BEING HIGH PROFILE, IN THE NEWS, DOES THAT HELP YOU IN TERMS OF CONVINCING OTHERS TO -- OTHER BUSINESSES TO SHAPE UP AND BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS.

>> THE OBJECTIVE IS TO HAVE COMPLIANCE WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL RULES AND REGULATIONS, AND THOSE ARE LAID OUT IN THE PERMIT CONDITIONS.

NOW, WE REGULATE 35,000 FACILITIES IN THE STATE.

SOME OF THEM ARE GOING TO HAVE UPSET CONDITIONS.

IT'S JUST A FACT OF LIFE.

WE HAVE A VERY LOW LEVEL OF VIOLATIONS THAT COME, BUT WHEN THEY DO COME WE HAVE TO TAKE VIGOROUS ENFORCEMENT ACTION.

OUR OBJECTIVE IS TO AVOID THE NEED FOR ENFORCEMENT ACTION.

RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT ENFORCEMENT COMES FIRST OF ALL THROUGH INSPECTIONS.

WE ARE HEAVILY FOCUSED ON INSPECTIONS.

AFTER THAT, WE HAVE EDUCATION TO MAKE SURE THEY UNDERSTAND THE REQUIREMENT AND A THIRD LEG IS THE PENALTIES ASSESSED.

WHEN WE DEAL WITH THE INDUSTRY OUT THERE, THIS HAS BEEN A PHILOSOPHY FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

WE WILL NOT BEND.

WE WILL NOT BREAK.

WE WILL NOT GO AROUND ANY ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS, LAW OR REQUIREMENT.

HOWEVER, WE WANT TO ADMINISTER THESE LAWS AND REGULATIONS IN A WAY THAT PEOPLE ARE GLAD THEY ARE DOING BUSINESS IN ALABAMA.

THE RESULTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.

WE HAVE HIGH LEVELS OF COMPLIANCE, LOW LEVELS OF VIOLATIONS AND VERY HIGH MARKINGS EPA AND BUSINESS.

>> WE WANT TO FOLLOW WHAT IS GOING ON WITH WATER AND SEWER AND WOULD APPRECIATE ANY UPDATES FROM THE MONUMENTAL TASK THAT YOU HAVE GOING FORWARD.

>> WE ARE GEARING UP AND IT'S GOING TO BE AN INTERESTING RIDE.

>> THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>>> YOU CAN WATCH PAST EPISODES OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" ON LINE ANYTIME AT ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION'S WEBSITE, APTV.ORG.

CLICK ON THE ONLINE VIDEO TAB ON THE MAIN PAGE.

YOU CAN ALSO CONNECT WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL" AND LINK TO PAST EPISODES ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" FACEBOOK PAGE.

♪ BIRMINGHAM NATIVE NELL CARTER CAME TO PUBLIC ATTENTION AS A BROADWAY PERFORMER BUT ACHIEVED HER MOST LASTING FAME AS THE STAR OF "GIMME A BREAK."

SHE HAD A SUCCESSFUL CAREER AS A SINGER AND DANCER IN THEATER PRODUCTIONS IN NEW YORK DURING THE '70s, INCLUDING HER MOST ACCLAIMED SHOW "AIN'T MISBEHAVIN'."

SHE RECEIVED A TONY AND TWO EMMYS DURING HER SIX SEASONS ON "GIMME A BREAK."

>> WE ARE JOINED BY THE DIRECTOR AND CEO OF THE U.S. SPACE AND ROCKET CENTER IN HUNTSVILLE.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE.

>> YOU HAVE A REALLY COOL JOB.

THE U.S. SPACE AND ROCKET CENTER IS A JEWEL IN THE CROWN FOR OUR STATE.

I REMEMBER GOING AS A KID IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, JUST LIKE A LOT OF KIDS DID.

WHAT'S THE FUTURE LOOK LIKE FOR THE SPACE AND ROCKET CENTER HERE IN THE A YEAR 2022?

>> FIRST OF ALL, I KNOW WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH A TUMULTUOUS TIME BECAUSE WE WERE CLOSED FOR A PERIOD OF TIME DURING THE PANDEMIC.

WE HAVE BEEN IN AN ACTIVE RECOVERY FROM THAT BUT I WILL TELL YOU WE ARE STILL EXTREMELY BRIGHT ON THE FUTURE.

WE THINK THAT IT LOOKS BETTER THAN EVER.

WE ARE ENTERING WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE A GOLDEN AGE OF SPACE EXPLORATION WITH SO MANY NEW PLAYERS ON THE SCENE AND SO MANY MISSIONS INCLUDING THE ARTEMIS MISSION THAT NASA IS TAKING.

WE ARE LOOKING TO BE MORE IMMERSIVE AND ENGAGING IN HOW WE TELL THE STORIES.

>> I UNDERSTAND IT WILL BE THE 40th ANNIVERSARY OF SPACE CAMP, WHICH IS A REALLY COOL PART OF THE U.S. SPACE AND ROCKET CENTER.

HOW ARE YOU ALL MARKING THE 40th ANNIVERSARY OF SPACE CAMP?

>> WE ARE HOPING TO HAVE A VERY BIG BANG IF YOU WOULD FOR MARKING OUR 40th ANNIVERSARY THIS SUMMER IN JUNE.

WE WILL HAVE SOME THROWBACK DAYS AND SOME FOLKS DRESSING LIKE MAYBE 40 YEARS AGO.

I HEAR THERE ARE A LOT OF KNEE SOCKS INVOLVED AND SOME SPECIAL GUESTS WILL BE COMING TO PAY TRIBUTE AND WE WILL BE TELLING THE STORY FOR PRETTY MUCH BEFORE THE MONTH BEFORE HOW WONDERFUL SPACE CAMP HAS BEEN.

WE HAVE HAD A MILLION ALUMNI AND MORE THAN A DOZEN HAVE BECOME ACTUAL ASTRONAUTS INCLUDING RECENTLY TWO NAMED.

AND WE HAD SEVERAL FLY THIS SUMMER ALONE.

WE ARE ACTIVELY ENGAGED WITH SPACE CAMP.

IT'S SOME OF OUR MOST ENGAGING PROGRAMMING AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING THAT WE HAVE.

UNDER THE SPACE CAMP UMBRELLA, WE RUN A NUMBER OF CAMPS AT DIFFERENT LEVELS, INCLUDING NOT ONLY SPACE, WHICH IS WELL KNOWN BUT AVIATION, CYBER AND ROBOTICS.

>> I DIDN'T KNOW THAT.

THAT IS REAL INTERESTING.

YOU MENTIONED COVID.

THE LAST TWO YEARS HAVE BEEN CHALLENGING FOR A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS AND YOUR OWN.

WHAT HAS IT BEEN LIKE NAVIGATING THE PANDEMIC.

IS THE CENTER AND SPACE CAMP FULLY OPEN?

ARE YOU CLOSE TO GETTING BACK TO NORMAL FROM COVID?

>> WE STILL HAVE A WAYS TO GO.

WE WERE OFFICIALLY CLOSED FOR A NUMBER OF MONTHS AND WE WERE OPERATING AT 25% CAPACITY WENT WE FIRST CAME BACK.

WE WERE NOT ALLOWING INTERNATIONALS TO ATTEND AND THAT REDUCED WHAT WE COULD DO.

THIS SUMMER, WE WERE ABLE TO OPEN AT A 50% CAPACITY AND RUN IT SAFELY WITH SOCIAL DISTANCING AND USING THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH GUIDELINES.

WE HOPE AND WE ARE WORKING TO OPERATE AT LEAST 75% THIS UPCOMING SUMMER.

WE JUST HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE.

WE HAVE A ONE STEP -- TWO STEPS FORWARD AND ONE STEP BACK.

WITH OMNICRON VARIANT, WE HAVE BEEN MASKED, UNMASKED AND BACK TO MASKING.

WE LIKE MANY AROUND THE STATES HAVE BEEN ROLLING WITH THE PUNCHES WITH WHAT IS COMING DOWN AND FIGURE IT OUT AS WE GO ALONG.

>> FOLKS MAY NOT KNOW THE U.S. SPACE AND ROCKET CENTER IS NOT FUNDED BY THE STATE OR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

IT IS LARGELY THROUGH PRIVATE DONATIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

HAS IT BEEN DIFFICULT TO KEEP THAT GOING THROUGH THE PANDEMIC?

AND ARE THERE PLANS RAMP IT UP IN FOR THE ANNIVERSARY?

>> YES.

WE ARE.

BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR 50 SOME ODD YEARS NOW, JUST LIKE ANYTHING THAT HAS BEEN AROUND 50 YEARS, IT NEEDS TO BE UPDATED.

WE ARE LOOKING AT A CAMPUS-WIDE REIMAGINATION OF WHAT WE ARE DOING AND WE ARE TRYING TO TURN A BRIGHT SPOTLIGHT INTO WHAT IS GOING ON IN SPACE TODAY.

NOT JUST LOOKING BACKWARDS BUT ALSO CONSIDERING THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE.

WE WILL BE MAKING UPDATES AND UPGRADES AND WE HOPE TO START A CAPITAL CAMPAIGN TO DO THAT.

BEFORE THAT, WE ARE STILL IN COVID RECOVERY AND ACTIVELY SEEKING ARPA RELIEF FUNDING AND TRYING TO GET OUR OPERATIONS BACK UP AND RUNNING.

WE LOST 90% OF OUR STAFF DURING COVID.

WE HAVE BEEN OFF TRYING TO GET MONEY TO HIRE THEM BACK AND GET BACK TO MORE NORMAL OPERATIONS.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE FUTURE OF SPACE FLIGHT.

THAT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE SO MUCH OF WHAT I REMEMBER FROM THE U.S. SPACE AND ROCKET CENTER WAS FOCUSED IN THE '80s AND '90s, THE SHUTTLE AND LOOKING BACK WARD.

BUT THERE IS SO MUCH GOING ON.

BASED RIGHT IN HUNTSVILLE, MANAGED THROUGH MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER.

>> WE WANT TO TELL THE STORY OF AMERICA'S SPACE PROGRAM AND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN ALABAMA.

ROCKETS THAT WENT TO THE MOON WERE MADE IN ALABAMA AND IT CONTINUES TODAY.

THE LARGE ARTEMIS PROGRAM IS PART OF A -- WE WILL HAVE A ROCKET MADE IN ALABAMA THAT IS PART OF IT.

WE ARE EXCITED TO CONTINUE OUR PREMIER SPACE PRESENCE AND TO GO ON TO CONTINUE TO TELL THE STORIES AND ENTHRALL MORE AND MORE PEOPLE TO CONTINUE TO BE -- TO PAY TRIBUTE TO OUR PAST AND LEGACY AND TO HONOR THOSE THAT CAME BEFORE AND ALSO TO PROJECT OUT OF WHAT THE FUTURE COULD LOOK LIKE.

>> THAT'S EXCITING.

WHEN I WAS LOOKING AT YOUR BACKGROUND, PREPARING FOR THIS INTERVIEW I FOUND IT INTERESTING, YOUR EXPERIENCE.

YOU ARE NOT A MUSEUM CURATOR.

YOU ARE A NASA SCIENTIST AND ENGINEER WITH EXPERIENCE IN ARTEMIS AND SPACE LAUNCH SYSTEM AND ALL OF THAT.

I FOUND IT INTERESTING.

BEING THAT PLUGGED INTO NASA AND WHAT'S GOING ON, DOES THAT HELP YOU CHART OUT A FUTURE AND A VISION FOR THE SPACE AND ROCKET CENTER?

>> I THINK IT DOES.

HAVING BEEN STEEPED IN SPACE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF IT AND WHAT IT MEANS AND HOW IT CAN CHANGE LIVES IS SUPER IMPORTANT, I THINK, AND I BRING THAT ASPECT TO IT.

WHEN I WAS INTERVIEWING FOR THE JOB I DID MENTION I WAS NOT A MUSEUM CURATOR OR GIFT SHOP OPERATOR OR CAMP SUPERVISOR.

WHAT I BRING TO THE JOB IS 31 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AT NASA.

MOSTLY BEING A PROJECT MANAGER.

I WAS TRAINED TO BE A PROJECT MANAGER, ASSISTANT ENGINEER, DESIGN ENGINEER.

SO I HAD EXCELLENT TRAINING BOTH THROUGH FORMAL TRAINING, GETTING A PH.D. AND ON-THE-JOB TRAINING AND THROUGH THE TRAINING THAT NASA PROVIDES.

I SAT CONSOLE FOR SEVEN DIFFERENT SHUTTLE MISSIONS.

I LEARNED TO BE COOL UNDER PRESSURE AND EVALUATE THINGS ON MY FEET, TO WORK WITH LIMITED RESOURCES AND TO UNDERSTAND WE HAVE A LOT OF CONSTITUENCIES AND TO HAVE STEWARDSHIP OF NATIONAL ASSETS.

SO, I BROUGHT THOSE SKILL SETS TO BEAR ON THIS.

SINCE OUR SPACE SHUTTLE -- OUR SPACE CAMP PROGRAM IS LIKE TRAINING ASTRONAUTS, I HAD THAT EXPERIENCE OF TRAINING ASTRONAUTS IN THE PAST, I UNDERSTAND THAT AND I WANTED TO BE AN ASTRONAUT TO BEGIN WITH AND I UNDERSTAND THE APPEAL IT HAS FOR PEOPLE AND HOW YOU CAN TAKE SOMETHING LIKE A DESIRE TO BE AN ASTRONAUT AND TURN IT INTO A JOB IN THE S.T.E.M.

FIELD IN ENGINEERING, SCIENCE OR OTHERS TO BECOME A VALUABLE MEMBER OF SOCIETY, CONTRIBUTING TO LARGE TEAM GOALS AND NATIONAL GOALS AND TO JUST HAVE A WORTHY CAREER.

I THINK I CAN BRING THAT TO THE PEOPLE THAT WALK THROUGH THE DOOR AS WE CONTINUE TO TELL THE STORIES ABOUT SPACE EXPLORATION.

>> SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE TREATING IT LIKE A MISSION.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU BACK AND WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> YOU CAN WATCH PAST EPISODES OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" ONLINE ANYTIME AT A TV.ORG.

>>> AS THE FIRST INCORPORATED TOWN IN ALABAMA HUNTSVILLE PLAYED AN IMPORTANT PART IN THE BIRTH AND GROWTH OF THE STATE.

SETTLED IN 1805, THE FERTILE LANDS LURED PIONEERS.

IT BECAME THE CENTER OF EARLY STATE POLITICS AND SERVED AS THE FIRST CAPITAL OF THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

PRESENT DAY HUNTSVILLE IS BEST KNOWN AS ONE OF THE LEADING TECHNOLOGY HUBS OF THE SOUTH.

>> AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

DON'T FORGET TO TUNE IN TOMORROW FOR OUR WEEK IN REVIEW ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL. "

THAT'S FRIDAY AT 7:30 RIGHT HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

FOR OUR "CAPITOL JOURNAL" TEAM, I'M TODD STACY.