Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., visited Greenville Friday afternoon as part of his yearly tour of Alabama counties.

The senator, running for re-election in November, commented on the ongoing war on terrorism, the new education bill No child left behind', and the senator's efforts to assist seniors with prescription drug costs.

Greenville Mayor Dexter McLendon cheered Sen. Sessions' efforts in Congress.

"Senator Sessions in Congress means funding and economic developement to Greenville. . . He's there to listen to us and he's there to help."

&uot;I am proud of President Bush's leadership. Al Qaeda no longer exists today thanks to our efforts,&uot; he said. &uot;We have taken many steps to improve our defenses.&uot;

The senator also noted that Alabama has a tremendous advantage with defense spending, saying the government spends more than $10 billion annually in the state.

Sessions also applauded President Bush's No child left behind' bill, and called for an increase in the testing of child education levels.

&uot;We want to test children and make sure they are progressing at a proper grade level,&uot; said Sessions.

Sessions also discussed plans for a prescription drug program designed to aid seniors and for hospital wage index reform.

&uot;This very day there are seniors out there who can't afford their prescriptions and we need to fix that,&uot; he said.

Sessions also pointed out that he was a firm believer that the words &uot;under God&uot; should not be removed from the Pledge of Allegiance.

&uot;I hope you have found my service beneficial. I try to stand firm in the values we share. . . . People ask me How do you vote on all those issues.' I just try to vote by how I was raised,&uot; he said.