April 2009 Archives

The Wayne Shackelford Excellence in Public Service Award recognizes a former county official who also has served or is serving the citizens of Georgia in a state or national office.  

“This is a truly singular honor from my colleagues and friends in the ACCG, and I humbly thank you,” Johnson told the crowd. “As county commissioners, I know you are always on the front lines, and the federal government should be a partner in helping you do your jobs effectively and efficiently.”

Past recipients of the award include former U.S. Rep. Mac Collins, U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, former Georgia Supreme Court Justice Norman Fletcher and Wayne Shackelford, formerly of the Georgia Department of Transportation.

The award is in honor of Shackelford, who was executive assistant in Gwinnett County for many years before serving as commissioner of the Georgia Department of Transportation from 1991 until his retirement in 2000.
 

David Kurth of Burlington, Wis., was also denied the ability to sue after his father died as a result of alleged poor care he received in a nursing home. The nursing home claimed the paperwork a family member had signed when the father was admitted required the matter to go to binding arbitration.

It is cases such as these and thousands of others that prompted Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04) to introduce H.R. 1020, the Arbitration Fairness Act of 2009 in February. 

And it is also the reason he is pleased to announce he will participate in Arbitration Fairness Day on Wednesday, April 29 at the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

Johnson’s bill, which he first introduced in the 110th Congress, has set the standard in its attempt to protect consumers from business practices that require them to cede their rights to a jury trial as a condition of service. 

Johnson will join Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) in Dirksen Senate Office Building for a 12:15 p.m. press conference on April 29 to bring public awareness to the issue. The event is being sponsored by a consortium of advocacy groups, including Public Citizen and the American Association of Justice.

Today, many businesses rely on mandatory and binding pre-dispute arbitration agreements that force consumers, employees and franchisees to settle any dispute with a company providing products or services without the benefit of a jury trial.

“This is not an anti-business bill, but a pro-consumer bill,” said Johnson. 

“One of our indelible rights is the right of a jury trial.  Guaranteed by the Constitution, this right has been gradually ceded by citizens every day as they purchase a new cell phone, buy a home, place a loved one in a nursing home, or accept a new job.  Once used as a tool for businesses to solve their disputes, arbitration agreements have found their way into employment, consumer, franchise and medical contracts.”

The Judiciary Committee, on which Johnson serves, held hearings on the bill in 2007 and 2008. Sen. Feingold introduced similar legislation in the Senate in 2007.
 

HR 1626 passed by a voice vote in the House on April 22.

Judges and attorneys have been complaining for years that the unclear and confusing rules for computing court deadlines can cause criminal defendants and parties to litigation to lose their rights based on procedural error rather than the merits of a case.

Under HR 1626, deadlines will not fall on weekends and every calendar day will be counted when calculating deadlines, a rational “days are days” approach as opposed to the “business-day” model.  

“Both this bill and the rules changes are widely supported by judges and the lawyers who advocate for people’s rights in court every day,” said Johnson.  

“I am looking forward to getting this Act passed so that we can make our court system more efficient and accessible, and so that courts are able to make the best possible determinations based on the substantive portions of a case rather than on procedure.”

If signed into law, the common five-day periods will be extended to seven days, and 10-day periods will be extended to 14 days. Deadlines involving shorter time periods will continue to be calculated by excluding weekends and holidays when counting days.  

“As anyone who has practiced law knows, calculating court deadlines can be extremely confusing,” said Johnson. “This legislation would also make filing deadlines for federal courts in banking, civil and criminal cases uniform, which will make things much more practical.”

Johnson introduced HR 1626 along with Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (MI-14), Howard Coble (NC-06) and Lamar Smith (TX-21).

The first bill authorizes EPA to award grants to reduce the environmental impact of discarded electronic devices and promote the recycling of these devices. 

The second authorizes grants to support graduate education in the area of clean energy and high-performance building design – not unlike Arabia Mountain High School in Lithonia, the first LEED certified school in Georgia history, which will open in August.

The Congressman said he is likely to support both pieces of legislation.

Johnson, who appeared at an Environment Georgia town hall last week in Decatur, spoke to attendees about his TIRE Act of 2009 and efforts to reform the way the U.S. military uses energy.

“More than 280 million tires are manufactured in this county every year,” said Johnson. “Of that 270 million are thrown away annually – that’s about one tire per person, per year. If the TIRE Act becomes law, as a nation we can save up to 750 million gallons of oil per year.”

That is the equivalent of saving nearly 18 million barrels of oil a year.

Designed to motivate companies through tax incentives to use truck tires with recycled rubber, the Act [HR 1888] aims to curb the number of tires thrown in landfills while at the same time cut back on the amount of fossil fuels needed to produce them.

As a member of the Armed Services Committee, Johnson is also is drafting language for the Fiscal Year 2010 National Defense Authorization Act, which will accelerate and expand the use of electric vehicles, make buildings more energy efficient and increase the use of alternative fuels in all branches of the U.S. military. 

Johnson encouraged residents of the Fourth District to conserve by reducing their consumption of natural resources and recycling as much as possible.

“Each one of us can make a difference,” said Johnson. “The path to clean air, water and reduced emissions and a healthier planet will only take hold if everyone does his or her part.”

On Saturday, April 18 at the Porter Sanford Center for the Performing Arts from 4 to 7 p.m., Rep. Johnson will present certificates of Congressional recognition to both arts students and students applying to the service academies.

The Arts Competition, which was open to all high school students in the Fourth District of Georgia – including parts of the DeKalb, Rockdale and Gwinnett county school systems – had 50 entries from more than 15 schools throughout the district. 

In 2007, there were 19 entries and in 2008 there were 22.

The winning piece will hang in the tunnel leading to the United States Capitol building in Washington, D.C., for a year. The Fourth District winner will receive transportation for three to Washington, D.C., for the ribbon-cutting event to unveil the 2009 winners from around the country.

In addition to having his/her artwork at the Capitol, winners of the competition will be eligible for college scholarships from the Art Institute of Atlanta ($10,000, $5,000, and $2,000, respectively) and the Savannah College of Art and Design ($1,500).  

Students from the Fourth District applying to West Point, the Air Force Academy and Naval Academy will also be recognized during the presentations. Graduates of the service academies often go on to be some of the most influential and top-ranking leaders in the armed services.

For more information, contact Eric Hubbard at 770-987-2291 for the Arts Competition or Katie Dailey at 770-939-2016 for the service academy nominations.

E-mail them at eric.hubbard@mail.house.gov and katie.dailey@mail.house.gov.
 

| Watch Hank talk about the town hall |

By bringing lenders and struggling homeowners to the same table, Johnson said he hopes to stem the tide of foreclosures that has plagued the Fourth District.

 

“People in our District have been rocked by high foreclosure rates for years, tearing at the fabric of our neighborhoods and communities,” said Johnson, who has been fighting foreclosures since he was a county commissioner in 2001.

 

“To help rein in this wave of foreclosures, I’ve invited distinguished guests – but more importantly mortgage lenders – to begin the process of rewriting some of these subprime loans that have caused so much pain,” he said.

 

Constituents who are behind on their mortgage will be able to begin the process of having their eligible loans rewritten or participate in workshops and counseling sessions depending on their needs.

 

Johnson encouraged community leaders, pastors, neighborhood associations and public officials to come out and take the pre-foreclosure information back to their communities.

 

“You may not be in trouble, but you probably know someone who is,” said Johnson. “Reach out to them or come yourself to gather invaluable information you can take back to your neighbors.”

 

Presentations on the Homeowner Affordability & Stability Plan, the Neighborhood Stabilization Plan and homeowners’ rights during the eviction process will also be part of the agenda.

 

Salem Bible Church is located at 5460 Hillandale Drive, Lithonia, 30058. For more information, e-mail Betty Dixon at betty.dixon@mail.house.gov or call her at 770-987-2291.

 

What you need:

 

If you or someone you know needs their mortgage rewritten, please bring the following to “Save the Dream”:

 

� Hardship Letter – This letter explains the reason the homeowner is requesting a loan modification

� Recent pay stubs

� Tax returns

� Property tax bill if not wrapped into mortgage

� Homeowners insurance bill if not part of mortgage payment

� Bank statement (last 2 months)

� Mortgage documents (current mortgage) – HUD 1 Settlement Statement & Note (if not sure bring all documents from closing)

Also see:

Congressman encouraged by mortgage bankruptcy compromise

Help for Homeowners: A Resource Guide

 

Although the potential loss of jobs is important to Johnson, he said the fighters’ strategic importance in America’s defensive arsenal trumps all other concerns. 

“Contrary to what some analysts say, our air superiority is not assured,” said Johnson. “Russia, China even India are all building the next generation of fighters. The F-22 program helps us maintain our lead in the skies, and helps keep America safe.” 

“It is important to note that Congress, not the Department of Defense, makes the final determination on what programs do or do not receive funding,” he said. “Additionally, air superiority remains a cornerstone of our nation’s defense and the F-22 Raptor is a key component of that effort. Our security depends heavily upon remaining one technological step ahead of threats to our nation – real or unknown. If we choose to cut funding to vital programs such as the F-22, we literally do so at our own risk.”

The Defense Department recommendation now goes to Congress, where it is likely to face stiff opposition from Johnson and other members of the Georgia delegation.
 

Summary:  View all requests submitted by Rep. Johnson's office related to Interior appropriations requests.

Project:  Atlanta, GA Sewer System Rehabilitation, Office of the Mayor 55 Trinity Ave., SW Atlanta, GA 30303

Funding Request:  $2,000,000

Atlanta’s wastewater collection, conveyance and treatment system consists of approximately 2,000 miles of sanitary and combined sewers, seven combined sewer overflow treatment plants, and other facilities much of which was originally built in the 19th Century and still in use today.  Excessive overflows from the combined sewer system, coupled with sanitary sewer overflows and leaks in the separated area, are seriously impacting the metropolitan Atlanta regional water quality.  Continued rapid growth in the metropolitan area, and the daily influx of commuters from surrounding areas into the City, exacerbate the adverse impact during extreme events.

The proposed project would improve surface water quality by providing combined sewer capacity relief to capture more stormwater and sewage flows and associated flood relief in several areas of the City. The proposed relief system would allow the flow volume, typically stored on surface streets, to enter the collection system. Excess flow volume would be diverted and captured in a deep tunnel system for later treatment and release.

Project: Georgia Streambank Restoration, 4310 Lexington Road Athens, GA 30603

Funding Request:  $500,000

To improve water quality through installation of best management practices on livestock operations and protect threatened/endangered species along streams. GSWCC works with private individuals to cost-share on the installation of practices that improve and protect stream buffers on cattle operations in impaired watersheds.

Project:  Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District, 40 Courtland Street, NE Atlanta, GA 30303

Funding Request:  $3,000,000

Any federal funding received would be used to help local governments meet water resource plan requirements and be used for various stages of design and construction for several water projects including watershed management, wastewater treatment and water conservation.  Local governments throughout the District's 15-county area (Bartow, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Forsyth, Gwinnett, Hall, Henry, Paulding, and Rockdale Counties, Georgia) are required to implement the District’s three water resource plans in order to receive permits from GA EPD.  It is estimated that more than $75 billion will be spent over the next 30 years to implement the plans.

    

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 Summary:  Below are requests placed by Rep. Johnson's office regarding Agricultural appropriations

 AGRICULTURE

 Project: Cotton Insect Management and Fiber Quality, GA, University of Georgia,  109 Conner Hall Athens, GA 30602

Funding Request:  $500,000

The Georgia Cotton Commission is seeking a $500,000 restoration of the CSREES special research grant titled "Cotton Insect Management and Fiber Quality".  The special research grant will enable the continuation of valuable research on cotton insect management in the Southeast, where cotton pests are one of the primary causes of cotton yield loss and quality damage.  Investing in this innovative research will help further protect our cotton crops, the environment, and our farmers’ investment.
    
The cotton industry is highly vulnerable to pests, and mitigation of these threats is critical to the cotton industry’s stability.  The Georgia Cotton Commission, in concert with the University of Georgia, is working to develop new management techniques to maintain current production levels and high levels of fiber quality. This is a vast area of research as production and management techniques are widely varied across the cotton belt due to differing climatic and cultivation conditions.  This project has received previous funding of $494,000 in FY 2006 and $371,000 in FY 2008.

Project: Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District, 40 Courtland Street, NE Atlanta, GA 30303

Funding Request:  $3,000,000

The funding would be put towards watershed monitoring and restoration projects as well as future floodplain mapping efforts.  Local governments throughout the District's 15-county area (Bartow, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Forsyth, Gwinnett, Hall, Henry, Paulding, and Rockdale Counties, Georgia) are required to implement the District’s three water resource plans in order to receive permits from GA EPD.  It is estimated that more than $75 billion will be spent over the next 30 years to implement the plans.

Project:  Water Use Reduction, Dawson, GA, National Peanut Research Laboratory  1011 Forrester Dr., SE Dawson, GA 39842

Funding Request:  $480,000 


$480,000 increase for the National Peanut Research Laboratory, Dawson, GA, to enhance and encourage additional support from other industry partners including crop commodity groups, USDA, and irrigation hardware manufacturers and dealers to develop and evaluate  methods for the employment of highly efficient drip irrigation systems for row crops.

Persistent drought, energy costs, urban expansion, and interstate litigation are collectively threatening irrigation water supplies in many parts of the U.S. Efficient water use is critical for sustainable economic development. Subsurface drip irrigation (SSDI –shallow and deep buried) systems are gaining interest because of the potential for higher yields, increased water use efficiency, and reduced input costs. SSDI is gaining interest by row crop farmers with small, irregularly shaped fields that are not economically or physically suitable for overhead sprinkler irrigation, especially center pivot systems.

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Summary:  Below are requests placed by Rep. Johnson's office regarding Defense appropriations

DEFENSE

Project: Advanced Bio-engineering for Enhancement of Soldier Survivability, Georgia Institute of Technology - 315 Ferst Drive Atlanta, GA 30332

Funding Request:  $3,000,000

The funding will focus on research in advanced tissue and bone regeneration and wound care and treatment issues relevant to military trauma care.  Fundamental research advances in these areas can lead to technologies and techniques for better immediate clinical combat care as well as address long term care issues involving limb loss, tissue and organ damage, facial and dental injuries and reconstruction.

Project: Advanced Lithium Battery Scale Up and Manufacturing, Excellatron Solid State, LLC - 263 Decatur St. Atlanta, GA 30312

Funding Request:  $10,000,000

This phase entails optimization and refinement of the battery performance (ultra high energy density +1,000 Whr/l and specific energy +350 Whr/kg); maximizing the design flexibility and modularity of battery pack system, and retrofitting existing facilities for mass production.  This proposal is a continuation of congressionally funded FY2009 program PE 0060200F.which is currently being managed at Air Force Research Laboratories at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

Project: Advanced SAM Hardware Simulator Development, Georgia Institute of Technology - Georgia Tech Research Institute, 400 W. 10th Street, NW Atlanta, GA 30332

Funding Request: $6,000,000

Led by the Missile & Space Intelligence Center and the Defense
Intelligence Agency, the intelligence community is currently
participating in the Integrated Technical Evaluation and Analysis of Multiple Sources (ITEAMS) process to prepare the US to defend itself against the newest generation of worldwide Surface-to-Air-Missile (SAM) systems.  This ITEAMS work was Congressionally funded in FY08 and will be furthered with continuation funding in FY09 to begin risk mitigation hardware development.  We anticipate that completion funding for FY10 and beyond will be designated through the OSD, Central Test and Evaluation Investment Program (CTEIP) as a listed program.  Advanced SAM
system developers, such as Russia and China, are deploying the newest generation of SAM systems very rapidly.  In addition, these countries are actively marketing and delivering these systems to countries that are potential adversaries of the US.  This funding will conduct an ITEAMS on the newest, most advanced Chinese SAM system in development by leveraging the results of a preliminary intelligence community program begun in FY08.  The funding in this request will develop and in-depth intelligence assessment of the SAM system to allow the US to accurately assess the capabilities, limitations, and vulnerabilities of the system.

Project: High-Efficiency Thermoelectrochemical Conversion of Heat to Electricity, Johnson Research and Development - 263 Decatur St. Atlanta, GA 30312

Funding Request:  $10,000,000

This project will develop a transformative and innovative, solid-state energy conversion system, the Johnson Thermoelectric Energy Converter (JTEC).   As a power generator, JTEC can be configured to operate as small stand-alone units or be stacked to function as large power generating systems.   It can operate on renewable energy streams such as concentrated solar energy, geothermal, biomass, and waste heat as well as combustible fuels to satisfy the US ever increasing demand for power (95 quadrillion BTU's in 1998 and expected to grow to 120 quads by the year 2020).  The system is reversible and can also operate as a CFC-free, heat pump that will be a direct drop in replacement for existing military, commercial and residential HVAC systems.  Building HVAC accounts for 30% of energy consumption in the US, successful completion of this project will significantly reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions.  Development of this technology would provide the US with an invaluable renewable energy source to reduce dependence on foreign oil while also reducing adverse impacts of energy generation on the environment.

Project: Threat Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) Test Capability, Georgia Institute of Technology - Georgia Tech Research Institute, 400 W. 10th Street, NW Atlanta, GA 30332

Funding Request:  $1,000,000

Enhanced ability to test Army weapon systems is required to evaluate performance against improved and evolving threat electronic signal intelligence collection capability to ensure US Army weapon system effectiveness and to prevent a false sense of security.  The Threat Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) Test Capability program will accomplish this goal by providing the equipment necessary to produce a realistic threat electronic/signals intelligence environment.  Specifically, the Threat ELINT Test Capability program will provide simulation of enhanced foreign threat electronic and signals intelligence systems.  The simulation hardware provided by this program will allow the testing of US and Coalition electronic systems against the advanced ELINT threats.  This test capability does not currently exist and is required to adequately test and evaluate the performance of critical Army equipment developed for the Future Combat System, Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor, AH-64D Longbow Apache, Joint Tactical Radio System, Warfighter's Information Network – Tactical, and Integrated Broadcast Service.

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Summary:  Below are all requests placed by Rep. Johnson's office regarding transportation appropriations.

Project: Bouldercrest Road Improvements, DeKalb County, GA, DeKalb County Transportation Division, Department of Public Works – 1950 West Exchange Place 4th Floor Tucker, GA 30084

Fund Request:  $2,000,000

The project is intended to improve safety and expand capacity of a major roadway linking I-285 in DeKalb County with a rapidly growing area in Clayton County.  The project involves additional lanes, safety improvements, and sidewalks from I-285 to the Clayton County line.  The north end of the project will tie into a future interchange improvement project at I-285 being designed by the Georgia Department of Transportation.  This project will benefit pedestrians and drivers in this high-traffic area, making it a valuable use of taxpayer funds.

Project: Clairmont Road Sidewalks, DeKalb County, GA, DeKalb County Transportation Division, Department of Public Works – 1950 West Exchange Place 4th Floor Tucker, GA 30084

Fund Request:  $960,000

This project will acquire right-of-way to construct new sidewalks and to reconstruct deficient existing sidewalks (poor condition, inadequate width) to improve pedestrian safety along this busy arterial road.  This will also improve access to MARTA bus stops and generally improve the quality of life in this high density residential area.  The benefits to the numerous pedestrians using the sidewalks and the safety of automobile drivers make the project a valuable use of taxpayer funds.

Project: Commerce Crossing Bridge over I-20, Rockdale County, GA, Rockdale County Board of Commissioners – 962 Milstead Avenue Conyers, GA 30012

Fund Request: $500,000

"Commerce Crossing” is a proposed non-access bridge across Interstate 20 which would provide a vital link between the community’s primary retail district and S.R. 138, a major north-south artery for both Rockdale and Henry County. Rockdale County residents utilize this corridor more than any other for travel out of the county and for commercial and recreational trips within the county.  The purpose of this bridge is to relieve traffic congestion created by over 55,000 vehicles per day at the S.R. 138 and I-20 interchange.  Without this relief, the community will face an erosion of our tax base, urban decline, and the relocation of existing businesses along the SR 138 corridor; concerns that are already beginning to appear in this area.

Project: Glenwood Road Pedestrian Safety Improvements, DeKalb County, GA, DeKalb County Transportation Division, Department of Public Works – 1950 West Exchange Place 4th Floor Tucker, GA 30084

Fund Request: $1,500,000

This project is intended to improve the safety of Glenwood Road for pedestrians and motorists.   The corridor has a serious history of pedestrian accidents that warrants attention and taxpayer funds.  The project will involve the implementation of pedestrian safety improvements along Glenwood Road from Candler Road to Covington Highway.  A county-funded Phase 1 project west of Candler Road has already been completed.  Improvements being considered include sidewalks, a continuous left-turn lane, new turn signals, additional street lighting, and mid-block crossing.

Project: I-85/Jimmy Carter Boulevard Bridge Replacement, Gwinnett County, GA, Gwinnett Village Community Improvement District – 1412 Oakbrook Drive, Suite 181 Norcross, GA 30093

Fund Request:  $2,000,000

The current bridge at Interstate-85 and Jimmy Carter Boulevard was built in 1973 and represents a significant safety concern.  In addition to safety concerns, the bridge is a source of significant congestion.  Average traffic volume across the bridge is nearly 57,000 vehicles per day and the current level of service during peak travels hours is troubling—only one metric attains a C level and all others are even lower.  These levels will deteriorate even further if action is not taken to replace the bridge.

Project: MARTA Acquisition of Clean Fuel Buses, Atlanta, GA, Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority – 2424 Piedmont Road, NE 6th Floor Atlanta, GA 30324 

Fund Request:  $9,000,000

This project is intended to reduce congestion and add facilities for bicyclists and pedestrians along Rockbridge Road while also preserving the residential character of most of the corridor.  The project involves additional lanes, safety improvements, and sidewalks along Rockbridge Road from Memorial Drive (GA 10) to Rock Chapel Road (GA 124).  An extensive public involvement process and preliminary design of the project are currently under way.

Project: MARTA Clifton Corridor (Lindbergh-Emory/Decatur Branch), Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority – 2424 Piedmont Road, NE 6th Floor Atlanta, GA 30324

Fund Request:  $1,000,000

The requested funding will be used for the Alternatives Analysis (AA)/Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) phase of this overall project.  This corridor extends from the existing MARTA Lindbergh Center Rail Station in the City of Atlanta east to Clifton Road and the Emory University/Medical Complex, including the CDC and VA Hospital to the city of Decatur.  The AA/DEIS is being conducted in accordance with Federal Transit Administration (FTA) guidelines.

Project: MARTA Interstate 20-East Transit Corridor Alternatives/Environmental, Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority – 2424 Piedmont Road, NE 6th Floor Atlanta, GA 30324

Fund Request: $ 3,500,000

The project, as defined in this FY 10 request, is the Alternatives/Environmental Analysis Phase of the I-20 East Corridor Fixed Guideway Transit Line.  Specifically, the $3.5 million requested in FY10 funds would support the development of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for Phase 1 of the corridor.  This segment extends eastward from downtown Atlanta 7.8 miles along the Interstate-20 Corridor to Candler Road.  The overall purpose of the fixed guideway transit project is to improve mobility, reduce travel time, support sustainable community development and mitigate traffic congestion in this major corridor linking the Atlanta CBD and expand south DeKalb communities.

Project: Rockbridge Road Corridor Improvements, DeKalb County, GA, Rockdale County Board of Commissioners – 962 Milstead Avenue Conyers, GA 30012

Fund Request:  $1,500,000

This project is intended to reduce congestion and add facilities for bicyclists and pedestrians along Rockbridge Road while also preserving the residential character of most of the corridor.  The project involves additional lanes, safety improvements, and sidewalks along Rockbridge Road from Memorial Drive (GA 10) to Rock Chapel Road (GA 124).  An extensive public involvement process and preliminary design of the project are currently underway.

Project: Sigman Road Extension Project, Rockdale County, GA, Rockdale County Board of Commissioners – 962 Milstead Avenue Conyers, GA 30012

Fund Request:  $500,000

The Sigman Road Extension project is a new four lane parkway that connects Sigman Road at Interstate 20 (I-20) with State Route 124 (Turner Hill Road) in Dekalb County.  As a link between I-20 and several state routes, the Sigman Road corridor is a critical transportation artery for Rockdale and surrounding counties.  The Sigman Road Extension project will also provide an economic benefit to Rockdale County by directly connecting Stonecrest mall in Dekalb County with land available for commercial development in Rockdale County.   The existing Sigman Road corridor serves as a major artery in the region's transportation network by providing connectivity between I-20, State Route 20, State Route 138 and State Route 162.  The Sigman Road Extension will create a new link to State Route 124 in Dekalb County.


 
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Summary:  View all requests submitted by Rep. Johnson's office related to Labor / Health and Human Services appropriations.

Project: Hosea Feed the Hungry and Homeless - Disease Management Module for Electronic Health Records Systems, 1035 Donnelly Drive, SW Atlanta, GA 30310

Fund Request: $5,000,000

Hosea Feed the Hungry and Homeless will use the federal funding for the development and implementation of a Disease Management Module for Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems.  The system will focus on embedding health data measurement, best practices for disease management and outcomes measurement for diseases including prevention and wellness creating a healthier, productive workforce.

Project:  Close Up Foundation National Project, Rockdale County Public Schools - 954 N. Main Street Conyers, GA 30012

Fund Request: $5,000,000
 
Close Up provides fellowships to economically disadvantaged students and their teachers to participate in civic education programs as authorized under No Child Left Behind Act.  All grant dollars pay for tuition for economically disadvantaged students and their teachers to participate in Close Up Washington civic education programs. Tuition is all inclusive including transportation, accommodations, food, instruction, and administrative expenses.

Project: Grady Health System – upgrade the unified network, Grady Health System - 80 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive, SE Atlanta, GA 30303

Fund Request:  $3,000,0000

The purpose of the project is to upgrade Grady Health System's unified network.  The upgrade of the unified network is critically important and is a necessary foundation for Grady's implementation of an electronic health record.

Project: Marcus Autism Center – Electronic Medical Records System, The Marcus Autism Center - 1920 Briarcliff Road, NE Atlanta, GA 30329

Fund Request:  $1,630,000

The EMR system will be used to support clinical care of Autism and other related disorders for the State of Georgia and surrounding states, provide a comprehensive record for children with Autism and other related disorders that will span their entire clinical history, and provide access to this clinical system through secured HIPPA compliant web portal technology making it accessible to care givers regardless of geographical location.

Project: Morehouse School of Medicine – electronic health records, Morehouse School of Medicine - 720 Westview Dr., S.W. Atlanta, GA 30310

Fund Request: $7,250,000

Electronic health records and other IT modalities are seen as critical components to addressing many of the problems facing the American health care system, including, but not limited to error prevention, cost containment, translation of research findings to evidence-based care, the need for greater focus on prevention, and improved health literacy.  The enclosed proposal is presented to ensure that there is not a  ‘digital divide’ in access to health informatics for safety-net providers such as Morehouse School of Medicine, Grady Memorial Hospital, public health departments, federally qualified community health centers and other community-based providers dedicated to serving the poor and uninsured. The major barrier facing safety-net providers is the extraordinary high costs of hardware, software and training.

Project: Reach Out and Read, Reading Is Fundamental - 1825 Connecticut Ave. NW Washington, DC 20009

Fund Request:  $10,000,000

Reach Out and Read is a national program that promotes literacy and language development in infants and young children, targeting disadvantage and poor children and families.  ROR has proven to among the most effective strategies to promote early language and literacy development and school readiness: pediatricians and other healthcare providers guide and encourage parents to read aloud to their children from their earliest years of their life, and send them home from each doctor visit with books and a prescription to read together.

Project: Reading Is Fundamenta, Close Up Foundation - 44 Canal Center Plaza Suite 600 Alexandria, VA 22314l

Fund Request: $28,000,000

RIF enhances child literacy by providing millions of underserved children with free books for personal ownership and reading encouragement from the more than 18,000 locations throughout all fifty states, Washington, D.C., Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Project:  Rockdale Public Schools –AVID and Advanced Placement Support, Rockdale County Public Schools - 954 N. Main Street Conyers, GA 30012

Fund Request: $1,750,000

Rockdale County Public Schools proposes implementation of the best practices, evidence-based AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) Program for all 5th-12 grade students and offering Advanced Placement Content Support staff at each High School – preparing them for rigorous course work – especially Math, Science and English - and success in college and ensuring that all students have a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education and reach proficiency on the state content standards. AVID will “level the playing field” for minority, rural, low-income and other students.

Project: Rockdale Public Schools – Year Round Pre-Kindergarten/Early Learning Classes for Moderate to Low Income Families with a Family Literacy and Parenting Company, Rockdale County Public Schools - 954 N. Main Street Conyers, GA 30012

Fund Request: $750,000

Rockdale County Public Schools will maintain two private Pre-K classes at the Rockdale Career Academy (RCA) - one for 3 year olds and one for 4 year olds - with the goal that a minimum of 80% of the students enrolled will be from moderate- to low-income families. The program will provide the full cost of tuition, transportation, meals and aftercare to engage families and serve our most vulnerable children – ensuring school readiness and preparing them for success. A unique component of this Pre-Kindergarten program is the YEAR ROUND SCHOOL feature. Like most private early learning facilities, Rockdale County Public Schools will continue the classes throughout the summer – not only offering a continuum of education for the children, but eliminating the summertime childcare barrier that many families experience.

Project: Teach for America, Teach for America - 315 West 36th Street New York, NY 10018

Fund Request:  $25,000,000

The purpose of the funding is to go towards the recruitment, selection, placement and professional development of an estimated 8200 first- and second-year teachers in 39 low-income regions across the nation. These teachers will reach an estimated 525,000 underserved students. The $25 million in federal funds will leverage roughly $160 million in corporate, foundation and individual dollars and will make up an estimated 13 percent of Teach For America's anticipated 2010 operating revenue of $190 million.  This is a valuable investment of federal funds as this national corps of outstanding college graduates and young professionals of all academic majors, career interests and backgrounds commit at least two years to teach in urban and rural public schools in our nation's lowest-income communities and become lifelong leaders for expanding educational opportunity. Teach for America is a non-profit with a mission of enlisting our nation's most promising future leaders in the movement to eliminate educational inequality. This is accomplished by building a diverse, highly selective national teacher corps, ensuring that corps members are highly effective classroom teachers in the highest-need classrooms across the country, and supporting the corps members beyond their two-year commitment to ensure their lifelong engagement.


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Project:  Atlanta International Terminal LEED Certification, City of Atlanta-Hartsfield Jackson Airport - 6000 North Terminal Parkway Suite 4000 Atlanta, GA 30332

Funding Request:  $2,000,000

The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is planning a new international terminal to accommodate significant growth in international traffic.  Funding will assist the Airport in meeting Atlanta's initiative to minimize the environmental impacts of City facilities and will be used to design the "Maynard Holbrook Jackson Jr. International Terminal" to LEED Certification standards.

Project:  Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District, Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District - 40 Courtland Street, NE Atlanta, GA 30303

Funding Request:  $3,000,000

Any federal funding would be used to fund construction of conveyance systems to connect both existing and planned water and wastewater infrastructure and facilities, as well as to study and formulate projects relating to water supply, flood control, and other water quality improvements.

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Summary:  View all requests submitted by Rep. Johnson's office related to Commerce, Justice, & Science appropriations.

Project: Community Oriented Policing Services / Law Enforcement Technology, Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office – 911 Chambers Drive Rockdale County, GA 30012

Funding Request:  $235,000

The implementation of a mobile data project allowed the Sheriff’s Office to enter the 21st century well prepared to face the present and the future safer and more effectively.  However, an evaluation of our technological capabilities has identified key components that would build upon the present system.


Project: City of Conyers Community Oriented Policing Services / Law Enforcement Technology, City of Conyers – 1184 Scott Street Conyers, GA 30012

Funding Request:  $320,000

Agency:  Department of Justice
This request will complete the final phase of this initiative.  Through Phase I, police will have wireless capabilities in Olde Town.  Phase II will enable the Police Department to have the same capabilities throughout the entire City.


Project: Gwinnett Village Community Improvement District (GA) Targeted Enforcement Zone (TEZ), Gwinnett Village CID - 1412 Oakbrook Drive, Suite 181 Norcross, GA 30093

Funding Request:  $250,000

The targeted enforcement zone was first implemented in June 2007 as a means to increase patrols within the Community Improvement District by policy officers from Gwinnett County and the City of Norcross during high crime periods.  The goal of the TEZ is to provide a proactive patrol within the CID that focuses on suspicious activity, vehicles, and persons in the area while decreasing the crime rate for the area.


Project:  Olde Town Conyers Redevelopment Initiative, City of Conyers Georgia – 1184 Scott Street Conyers, GA 30012

Funding Request:  $750,000

Part of this initiative is a Building Restoration Program intended for small businesses wishing to relocate to Olde Town.  Most business owners cannot afford to take on restoration projects alone. This restoration program would not only assist with preservation of our National Registry listed historic properties but also improve business for the current tenants and make properties appealing to new investors as well.
 
Project: Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office – Gang Intervention Project, Rockdale County Sheriff Office – 911 Chambers Drive Rockdale County, GA 30012

Funding Request:  $250,000

The Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office is a full-service Sheriff’s office providing complete law enforcement services to the approximately 85,000 residents in the metropolitan Atlanta county.  The implementation of a gang intervention unit would focus on prevention, intervention, and coordination with other metro and state units.


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Hank and Mereda attended the DeKalb NAACP Annual Membership Breakfast on Saturday, March 28.

The theme was “From Emancipation to Inauguration.” The featured keynote speaker was William “Sonny” Walker, President of the DeKalb NAACP Yvonne Hawks and Elder Thomas Powell from New Birth Missionary Baptist Church.

Hank held his annual IRS Workshop on Saturday, March 21, at the Goodwill Industries Career Center on Columbia Drive.

Officials of the IRS were on-hand to answer questions and process individual tax returns.

Participants learned about earned income tax credits, determine their filing status and receive information about tax-exempt businesses, organizations and 501(c)3 entities.

 

Designed to motivate companies through tax incentives to use truck tires with recycled rubber, the Act [HR 1888] aims to curb the number of tires thrown in landfills while at the same time cut back on the amount of fossil fuels needed to produce them.

According to Federal data, each car tire requires seven gallons of petroleum to make, and each truck tire takes 22 gallons.  Altogether, it takes 2.6 billion gallons of oil to make America’s tires each year.

“More than 280 million tires are manufactured in this county every year,” said Johnson. “Of that 270 million are thrown away annually – that’s about one tire per person, per year.  If this becomes law, as a nation we can save up to 750 million gallons of oil per year.”

That is the equivalent of saving nearly 18 million barrels of oil a year.

The Tire Act will offer companies a temporary tax incentive of $3 per tire for five years if they tires manufactured with recycled materials. 

Recent technological advances in the processing of recycled rubber has expanded the industry’s options when it comes to utilizing these byproducts in new tires. 

Lehigh Technologies – one of the most advanced rubber recycling plants in the world – is in Tucker, Ga., in the northern swath of Johnson’s district. 

“This bill just makes sense,” said Johnson. “It helps us become more fuel-efficient, cuts back on our waste and generates green jobs that will continue well into the future. If every new tire had just 10 percent recycled material in it, we could save a gallon of oil.”

Unlike the Bush Administration, which inherited a $5.6 trillion surplus in 2001, the Obama Administration inherited a deficit of more than $1.2 trillion in 2009 and the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression.

The budget the House of Representatives passed on April 2 – $3.55 trillion – begins on Oct. 1.

“I have always been deeply concerned that under the Bush Administration there was a major transfer of wealth in this country from the middle-and-lower income earners to the upper 10 percent of earners,” said Johnson. 

“With targeted investments and reforms in health care, clean energy and education, while reducing non-defense discretionary spending to its lowest level in nearly half a century, this budget begins to turn around nearly a decade of special breaks to the wealthiest Americans and instead invests in everyday Americans.” 

The House-passed, long-term economic plan will cut the deficit nearly two-thirds by 2013.  It cuts taxes for middle-class families by $1.5 trillion, overhauls the healthcare system to lower spiraling costs and insures millions of people who have no coverage today.  

On energy, the House budget seeks to invest in alternative sources while slashing industrial pollutants that contribute to climate change. Education funding is increased to boost programs ranging from early learning to college tuition aid. 

“This country cannot afford more of the failed policies of the last eight years,” said Johnson, referring to his friends on the other side of the aisle who seek significantly less spending on domestic programs but more on defense and insist on the continuation of the Bush tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans. 

“The Bush Administration failed to invest in our economy and protect taxpayers, and we will not repeat those mistakes.”  

For more on the House 2010 budget, log on to http://budget.house.gov/
 

The tax cuts -- $400 to individuals making less than $75,000 and $800 to married couples making less than $150,000 per year -- will begin to show up in workers paychecks this week. Couples making $200,000 and individuals making $100,000 will not receive the boost.

The aim of the stimulus tax credits is to allow workers to keep more of their hard-earned money or make ends meet.

“In such difficult economic times, it’s important that we do everything we can to help American families,” said Johnson. “Many families in my district now have just one income, so this benefit can help pay for groceries, rent or power bills.”

The paycheck benefit, known as “Making Work Pay,” is part of a larger package of tax benefits designed for working families.

On March 30, the Internal Revenue Service unveiled a tax credit for new car purchases. 

Car buyers can write off state and local sales taxes on vehicles in 2009 up to $49,500 of the purchase price. The auto credit is not available for couples making more than $250,000 a year and for individuals who earn more than $125,000 annually.

For a complete look at what the stimulus means to citizens in tax relief, please click on the PDF below.


Tax Relief for Individuals and Families