7 Things: Trump to hold a post-primary rally in Alabama, Literacy Act delay is on Gov. Ivey’s desk and more …

7. Student loan payments won’t restart until at least September

• Student loan payments were put on hold by the federal government during the pandemic and had been set to restart on May 1, but President Joe Biden’s administration is planning to extend the delay in payments until at least August 31, 2022.
• This delay impacts $1.6 trillion in student loan debt for about 43 million individuals, with 7 million of those who have defaulted on their loans. With the extended delay, there will also not be any interest applied to the loans. This comes as there has been a continued push from Democrats to cancel student loan debt for most individuals.

6. Counter-terrorism efforts becoming ‘more difficult’ due to Afghanistan

• After President Joe Biden ordered the sudden withdrawal from Afghanistan, U.S. General Richard Clarke, as the commander of the United States Special Operations Command, told the U.S. Senate that counter-terrorism efforts are now “more difficult.”
• Clarke was asked by U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) to “describe the challenges of conducting over-the-horizon CT [counter-terrorism] operations without reliable partners on the ground, without basing access in neighboring countries, and without reliable access to airspace?” Clarke replied, “[I]t’s more difficult. And I’m not going to sit in front of this committee and say it’s not. I would also on the same hand, though, say that over the last 20 years we have developed exquisite capabilities, and we can conduct counterterrorism missions over the horizon. We have exhibited that in the past.”

5. Marshall suing the Biden White House

• A lawsuit has been filed against President Joe Biden and his administration for the catch and release program used at the southern border by Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall. Florida and Georgia have joined Marshall in the suit.
• Marshall outlined, “Congress was justifiably concerned that deportable criminal aliens who are not detained continue to engage in crime and fail to appear for their removal proceedings in large numbers.” He added, “The Biden administration cannot ignore law, nor should it place American lives in jeopardy by allowing criminal aliens to escape the long arm of justice.”

4. Prayers over PA will stop in Jefferson County Schools after Wisconsin groups sends a letter

• At high school football games in Jefferson County Schools, prayers were held over the PA system, but it’s been announced that these prayers will stop after complaints from the Freedom From Religion Foundation.
• Staff attorney Chris Lane sent a letter to the district stating that the public prayers were “inappropriate and unconstitutional,” adding, “Not only is the district endorsing these prayers by allotting time for them at the start of games, but it is also providing the prayer-giver with the public address system needed to impose these prayers on all students and community members.”

3. Ivey now has a two-year Literacy Act delay to decide on

• The Alabama Legislature in 2019 passed a bill called the Alabama Literacy Act which sought to help large portion of Alabama school children that could not read at grade level up to speed. Despite the fact that the bill was passed, praised and deemed to be pretty effective, the issue of holding back failing kids seems to be one that the legislature is unwilling to see go into effect. 
• Last year, Governor Kay Ivey beat back an attempt to delay the retention piece but signaled support for a single-year delay after two years of a pandemic. Now, she has a chance to sign a two-year delay or veto the legislature’s decision again. If implemented this year, 23% of kids in Alabama’s public schools’ 3rd-grade classes will be held back.

2. Governor Ivey’s campaign confuses many

• Governor Kay Ivey has made her position on the 2020 presidential election clear in a new campaign ad where she says that the election was stolen from former President Donald Trump. In the ad, Ivey blames “the fake news, big tech and blue state liberals.”
• Ivey goes on to say, “We have not, and will not, send absentee ballots to everyone and their brother. We banned corrupt curbside voting, and our results will always be audited. I’m Kay Ivey. The left is probably offended – so be it. As long as I’m governor, we’re going to protect your vote.” Recently, Ivey’s opponent, Lindy Blanchard released an ad saying that Ivey believed that Trump lost the election, but that claim seems questionable.

1. Trump to hold a rally in Birmingham

• It’s been reported that former President Donald Trump will be holding a rally in Birmingham on June 18. The event has been listed on the America Freedom Tour website, with guests Donald Trump, Jr., Kimberly Guilfoyle, Sheriff Mark Lamb and Dinesh D’Souza.
• Trump has not yet announced which of the U.S. Senate candidates, Katie Britt or Mike Durant, he will be endorsing after pulling his support from U.S. Representative Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville). The primary runoff, if necessary, is scheduled for June 21, 2022.