1. Congress returns with work to do.

• That disaster aid package still isn’t finished, thanks to the objections of a few malcontents in the House;
• The nation’s debt limit is about to be reached and needs suspending or lifting or something, unless we want to default on payments (that’d be bad);
• It’s time to mark up and pass the National Defense Authorization Act, which sets military spending levels and policy;
• And appropriations season is about to begin in earnest, though there is no budget framework to work from. Also on that front, the Budget Control Act budget caps are set to expire on October 1, which would trigger about $120 billion of across-the-board cuts to military and non-defense programs (that’d also be bad).

2. From DOC to DOJ.

• The Alabama Department of Corrections turned over documents to the Department of Justice for an ongoing investigation related to “use of force and sexual abuse by staff,” according to a court document filed last week.
• DOJ said in April it believes the state is violating the constitutional rights of male inmates by housing them in violent and unsanitary prisons. The findings were released in a letter to the state after the completion of a Justice Department investigation.
• However, DOJ indicated that one area of its investigation is ongoing.
• “There are still areas of the Department’s investigation which have not been completed, specifically related to use of force and sexual abuse by staff,” Justice Department lawyers wrote in the court filing.
• U.S. Attorney Jay Town, who is handling negotiations between the Justice Department and the state, said in a statement this week that the department is working with Alabama to see if it can correct the “constitutional deficiencies.”
• Those ongoing negotiations are why the big push on prison reform was punted until a likely special session in late September/early October. It would be difficult for Gov. Kay Ivey and lawmakers to adequately address the problem to DOJ’s satisfaction if they don’t have a full picture of what the expectations are.
• Read more HERE.

3. Tariffs on Mexico?

• Last week, President Donald Trump threatened to impose a 5% tariff on imported goods from Mexico if the Mexican government could not do more to stop the flow of migrants across the border into the United States.
• On Sunday, Trump made clear he was serious about the tariff threat, and announced that Mexican and American officials would be meeting starting today.
• On Monday, Mexican Economy Minister Graciela Marquez plans talks with Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. Then on Wednesday, delegations led by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Foreign Relations Secretary Marcelo Ebrard will also meet in Washington.
• Mexico has struggled to stymie the annual caravans of migrants from poverty and violence-plagued countries like Honduras and Guatamala from pouring across its southern border and making their way to the U.S. border.
• If Trump were to follow through on the tariff threat, the move would have real consequences, including for Alabama.
• Mexico is one of our largest trading partners, and we import more goods from Mexico that any country but China.
• Our largest import by far is automotive parts and components, which are used in American auto factories. We have a few of those, as you know.
• Republicans on Capitol Hill and GOP allies in the business community have expressed serious unease with the tariffs. Some see this latest threat as a play for leverage and doubt Trump will follow through. Earlier this year Trump threatened to seal the border with Mexico only to change course.
• GOP Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana, said it was unlikely Trump would impose them.
• The president “has been known to play with fire, but not live hand grenades,” Kennedy said on CBS’s “Face the Nation.”
• “It’s going to tank the American economy,” he said. “I don’t think the president’s going to impose these tariffs.”
• Full story, including the president’s tweets and the FTN exchange, HERE.

4. Matthew Stokes: A positive step for reading.

• As the session was winding down, one significant but often overlooked piece of legislation was moving through.
• House Bill 388, dubbed the Alabama Literacy Act, would require schools to hold back any students who aren’t reading proficiently by the third grade. There are exceptions for special needs children and no student could be held back more than twice.
• Bill sponsor Rep. Terri Collins said the is aimed to improve student literacy and prevent the practice of promoting students up through elementary school even though they can’t read. It requires additional reading resources, including summer programs.
• ADN Columnist Matthew Stokes was paying attention, and he argues this bill marks a big step forward for education, and specifically, reading.
• Here’s an excerpt from his Monday column:

• Read Matthew Stokes’ full column HERE.

5. In Case You Missed It…

• No one could be blamed for going off line after Friday’s end to the 2019 Regular Session and unplugging from the grind.
• It was a doozy of a session, and a grueling four-day legislative week to end it all.
• If that’s you, we have you covered.
• Read all about what passed, what didn’t, and what lawmakers thought about it all from the ADN News Team HERE.
• Long-serving State Sen. Jabo Waggoner said it was No. 1 session of his career in terms of “high profile issues,” and that’s really saying something.
• Others had similar reactions in the moments after Sine Die, recalling the laundry list of items lawmakers tackled.
• I think the average grade was around a B+, but it’s kind of hard to grade yourself.
• Anyway, full story HERE.

Headlines.