U.S. Congressman Shomari Figures, D-AL, made a stop in Troy on Tuesday to speak to the Troy Kiwanis Club at its June 17 meeting. 

Figures is in his first term representing District 2 in Alabama, which Pike County is a part of along with Mobile, Montgomery, Clarke, Barbour, Bullock, Butler, Conecuh, Crenshaw, Macon, Monroe, Montgomery, Russell, and Washington Counties. 

Figures told the Troy Kiwanis Club that he focuses his time and energy on the issues that directly impact his district.

“I view the role of congressman almost like a city councilman,” Figures said. “I view it very district specific. The first question I ask with any issue – I ask my team and myself – does this impact District 2? If it’s not an issue that is relevant to our district, you don’t see me on TV screaming and shouting about it.

“As bad as things are right now, and as much as Democrats are in the minority, we still have to figure out a way to be as effective as we possibly can be for a district that still needs federal resources.” 

One issue that Figures has been vocal in opposition to is the “Big Beautiful Bill,” which recently passed through the House of Representatives and is in the Senate now. 

“It’s a package of tax breaks for the ultra wealthy,” Figures flatly said of the bill. “When I explain this bill, we’re not talking about regular rich people, we’re talking about some of the wealthiest earners in the United States. At the same time, it also makes cuts to things like SNAP and things like Medicaid and other programs that we need in the State of Alabama and in this district.

“There will be cuts to Medicaid and there will be people that lose healthcare coverage because of this bill and there will be people kicked off SNAP benefits because of this bill. There will be grant programs that will not be funded because of this bill. Jobs will continue to be lost and not replenished because of this bill.” 

Figures is also concerned with some of the policy positions in the bill, which he said will likely be stripped during the reconciliation process ongoing in the Senate.

“The silver lining is the version that passed out of the House will not be the version that passes through the Senate,” he said. “The Senate will make changes that will be beneficial. Overall, it’s still a bad bill. They put a lot of rough policy pieces in there, like removing federal funding for courts to be able to enforce contempt orders, which if you really think about how extreme that is it’s scary.

“Literally, our entire system of democracy hinges on the ability of a federal court to be able to hold people accountable for refusing to do what the law tells you to do. Without that, you have no ability to enforce federal law.”

Figures is also very passionate about the Rural Hospital Stabilization Act, a bipartisan bill that Figures introduced earlier this year alongside Georgia Republican Brian Jack. Figures said he believes this bill will ultimately pass both chambers of Congress and says it is much-needed, especially in District 2.

“District 2 is the worst healthcare district in America and I don’t just say that,” Figures emphasized. “When you add up our overall healthcare outcomes – and life expectancy – in this district is among the lowest in the nation. The stability of our hospital systems in this district is at the bottom. We’ve had four hospitals in the last 18 months to close.”

While Figures acknowledged that Pike County is not one of the hospitals in danger of closing, he said any more closings of rural hospitals would put more pressure on the hospitals in the district like Troy Regional Medical Center. 

“We have six hospitals in this district that are essentially month to month,” he said. “Many of those hospitals are having to go to city councils and county commissions every month to make payroll. Pike County is not in that position but almost every other county in the district is.” 

Figures’ bipartisan bill would make available federal grants for rural hospitals, something that is not currently available. 

“If (Troy) Regional Medical Center found out tomorrow they have to shut their doors in 30 days, there is no federal help out there for them right now,” said Figures. “There is no one they could call and get emergency funding from and there is no grant application they could apply for. It doesn’t exist to help struggling rural hospitals when they face those situations.”

Social Security is another issue that Figures is paying close attention to. If no action is taken, the Social Security Trust Fund will become solvent by 2035. If that happens, Social Security recipients will only be able to receive 80 percent of the pay their due. The issue, though, is not a concern for Figures’ colleagues.

“I would have thought this would be a pressing, burning issue when I got to Washington,” he said. “It is not a priority of leadership in Congress or the Senate, as sad as that is to say. We have a money problem and you have three solutions; raise more money, spend less money or you have to do a combination of the two.”

Figures said that he is not in support of making cuts to Social Security – or raising the age of eligibility – and said that would negatively affect Alabamians. 

“I am supportive of raising more revenue,” he continued. “I get it, it’s a tax, but it’s the most worthy tax we pay to make sure our seniors and the truly disabled are taken care of in the richest nation that has ever been known.”