October 2010 Archives

Congressman: $4.1 million to help for Atlanta-Charlotte high-speed line

 ATLANTA -- Today, Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04) announced that $4.1 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation is heading to Georgia and two other states to develop a multistate plan for high-speed rail between Atlanta and Charlotte, N.C.

The official announcement of the award will be made Thursday, Oct. 28. It comes on the heels of a $47 million award for the Atlanta Streetcar project last week.

“As a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I’m encouraged that Georgia is now becoming a part of the mix for federal transit and high-speed rail investments,” said Rep. Johnson.

The $4.1 million award will go toward intermodal high-speed intercity rail with Georgia as the lead state for the Charlotte-Atlanta Corridor Plan.

“This is good news for Georgia, but we must continue to bring more federal resources for transit and rail to ensure we create jobs and lay the groundwork for our current and future transportation needs.”

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Dear Friends,             

Thank goodness cooler weather is here, and fall festivals abound. Despite Congress being out of session, we’re still busy here in the District.

I-20 EAST TRANSIT CORRIDOR: Since 2009, I’m proud my office has helped bring more than $1.25 million in funding to make MARTA’s I-20 East Transit Corridor project – connection from downtown Atlanta to the Mall at Stonecrest – a reality. The initiative is underway, and there are three public meetings this month I want to share with you. This project has the potential to not only bring greater connectivity to our district, but jobs, jobs, jobs. As one of the newest members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I urge you to take this opportunity to give your input. All three meetings are from 6 to 8 p.m.

Tuesday, October 26
DeKalb Medical Center Hillandale - Community Room
2801 DeKalb Medical Parkway
Lithonia, GA  30058

Wednesday, October 27
East Lake YMCA – Community Room                      
275 East Lake Boulevard         
Atlanta, GA  30317

Thursday, October 28
South DeKalb Mall – Community Room
2801 Candler Road
Decatur, GA  30034

STREETCAR PROJECT DESIRED: It was a pleasure to join local leaders in fighting to secure federal funding for the Atlanta Streetcar project, which will not only bring greater connectivity in downtown Atlanta but create 1,000 jobs during construction and more than 5,600 over the next two decades. As one of the newest members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I will continue to push for federal investment in the I-20 East Corridor project that will create a rail link between downtown Atlanta with the Mall at Stonecrest in Lithonia. For more, click here.

GIVING LOCAL BUSINESSES A BOOST: DeKalb County Workforce Development – in conjunction with Jewish Family and Career Services (JFCS) – is using Recovery Act funds to help local businesses pay for employee on-the-job training. Grants cover a percentage of the training salaries for up to 16 weeks if they hire DeKalb County residents. If your small business could use a boost, call JFCS at 770-677-9368 for more information.

BANK OF AMERICA SUSPENDS FORECLOSURES: If your home loan is with Bank of America and you’re seeking assistance with home loan modification, now’s the time to reach out to your lender. Bank of America has suspended foreclosures and dispossessory actions in Georgia while they review the process. If your home is scheduled for foreclosure, call your Bank of America today to get further details about the status of the foreclosure process and to determine if you are eligible for a loan modification.

FIGHTING FOR SENIORS: Because Social Security is not providing a coast-of-living-increase this year, I support H.R. 5987, the Seniors Protection Act, to provide a $250 payment to about 54 million Americans in lieu of no increase in their monthly income. The President has already budgeted for this and we can do this in a fiscally responsible way.  We can’t leave seniors behind as we begin this recovery. When I get back to Washington in November, I’m going to vote to help our seniors.

MAKING COLLEGE MORE AFFORDABLE: An estimated 289,000 Georgia families have taken advantage of the improved American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC) for college in 2009, reducing their taxes by an average of more than $1,600, according to a just released Treasury Department analysis.  This higher education tax credit, formerly known as the Hope Scholarship tax credit, was expanded and strengthened by Congress and President Obama in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, increasing it from $1,800 to $2,500, and providing it to more families. For more, click here.

GWINNETT WINS BROAD PRIZE: Congratulations to Meadowcreek High School and all of Gwinnett County Schools for winning the Broad Prize, the Nobel Prize for schools if you will. This just shows that with patience, perseverance and hard work, we can accomplish anything.  Great job Gwinnett!

SERVICE ACADEMY APPLICATIONS: I am accepting applications for congressional nominations to our military service academies for the Classes of 2015. The deadline for receipt of completed applications and supporting materials is Monday, November 1, at 5 p.m. in my Tucker District Office. All complete applications will be evaluated, and qualified applicants will be asked to interview with my Academy Nomination Review Board. Interviews are tentatively scheduled for Saturday, November 13. I encourage students interested in serving as an officer in the U.S. Armed Services to consider the professional and academic opportunities offered by the U.S. Military Academy  (West Point), the U.S. Naval Academy (Annapolis), the U.S. Air Force Academy or the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. You can learn more about the nomination process and download an application on my web page in the Constituent Services section under Academy Nominations.

DAISY’S CHOCOLATES: During the recession and difficult job market, the number of Americans starting their own businesses has risen. There is a strong tradition of entrepreneurship in this country and that tradition is only getting stronger. Enter Daisy Latimore, who thanks to programs through Goodwill Industries of North Georgia, has turned her hobby of making gift baskets and candy into a retail business in Conyers. Now she’s looking to create jobs. Way to go Daisy!

DEPARTMENT OF STATE INTERNSHIPS: The Department of State is currently accepting applications for summer 2011 internships. Not to be confused with the Embassy’s Summer Hire program, this is a Department-wide internship program for U.S. college students who wish to serve in internships at embassies around the world.  If you have a college student in your family who would like to know more about this program, click here.

LETTER TO HHS: Last week, I sent a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius raising my concerns that Georgia was shortchanged when the department distributed about $25 million in AIDS funding to states in August. I was proud to have Rep. John Lewis of Atlanta and Rep. David Scott of Jonesboro, but also Republican Reps. Tom Price of Roswell, John Linder of Lawrenceville and Paul Broun of Athens on the letter.

HOW DO I BECOME PRESIDENT?: Kids.gov and Challenge.gov are teaming up to help kids think about what living out that dream would really look like. Kids.gov, the official government Web portal for kids, has the “How Do I Become President?” challenge. There are three award categories with cash prizes totaling $5,000. The contest is open until November 3. For the complete rules and how to submit your poster, go to Challenge.gov.

If you have questions or concerns, please e-mail me or call my D.C. office at 202-225-1605, my Lithonia office at 770-987-2291 or my Tucker office at 770-939-2016. You can reach me 24/7 via my Web site www.hankjohnson.house.gov. Thank you for your time — have a great weekend!

Thanks,

Hank

Congressman applauds $47 million federal grant for Atlanta Streetcar project

 ATLANTA -- Today, Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04) declared it a 'new day' in Atlanta after U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood presented the city with a $47.6 million check at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site for the Atlanta Streetcar project. 

Johnson joined LaHood, Reps. John Lewis and David Scott and Mayor Kasim Reed and MARTA CEO Beverly Scott at the morning ceremony.

“A couple years ago, Transportation Secretary LaHood told Atlanta and Georgia to ‘get our act together,'” said Johnson. “We got it together, and now jobs and improvements are on the way.”
 
Rep. Johnson joined local leaders in fighting to secure federal funding for the Atlanta Streetcar project, which will not only bring greater connectivity in downtown Atlanta but create 1,000 jobs during construction and more than 5,600 over the next two decades.

As one of the newest members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Commitee, Johnson said he will continue to push for federal investment in the I-20 East Corridor project that will create a rail link between downtown Atlanta with the Mall at Stonecrest in Lithonia.

“I understand how important the city of Atlanta is to our local and regional economy, so I will work tirelessly as a member of the Transportation Committee to bring this kind of investment here and to the Fourth District,” said Johnson.

Pictured above: Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, center, presents a check for $47 million to Mayor Kasim Reed and Reps. John Lewis, Hank Johnson and David Scott.

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(WASHINGTON) — House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.), and the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Courts and Competition Policy, Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr. (D-Ga.), today commended the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) decision to take enforcement action against apparent monopolistic practices that are blocking competition in Michigan’s health insurance industry. 

The DOJ today announced that they have filed a civil antitrust lawsuit against Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) for imposing agreements on hospitals that have prevented other insurance companies from entering the marketplace and blocked discounts for consumers.  The practices involve so-called “most-favored nation” clauses that prevent hospitals from offering discounts on the price of services charged to any of the BCBSM’s competitors, and in some cases require that competitors be charged 30-40% more.

“I am pleased that the Department of Justice is challenging pricing arrangements by Blue Cross and Blue Shield in the state of Michigan (BCBSM),” said Conyers.  “BCBSM, which is the largest provider of commercial health insurance in Michigan, is charged with using its market power to require hospitals to charge the same or higher prices to its competitors for medical services provided.  According to the DOJ’s complaint, on no occasion have these provisions resulted in BCBSM paying less for hospital services.  Instead, these “most favored nation” clauses have made it more difficult for smaller, more innovative competitors to compete with BCBSM.  Rather than compete, and bring down prices for consumers, BCBSM is said to have simply driven up its rivals’ costs.” 
 
“When I co-sponsored legislation last year to remove the antitrust exemption for insurance companies, my concern was the same,” said Johnson. “Namely, that the health insurance industry is growing profitable at the expense of competition.  Whether it’s a group of insurance companies keeping prices high together, or a single insurance company using its market power to keep competition out, the result is the same – higher prices for American families.  My Subcommittee intends to closely follow the developments in Michigan as they unfold.”

“While the lawsuit is a helpful step forward, in the long run, I also believe the insurance industry needs to be fully subject to the antitrust laws as other industries are,” concluded Conyers.  “That is why I have long supported repealing the McCarran-Ferguson Act that shields many insurance practices from the antitrust laws.  Legislation to remove that exemption as it applies to health insurance passed the House overwhelmingly this year by a vote of 406 to 19.”

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DORAVILLE, GA – Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04) presented the Doraville Police Department with a Community Oriented Policing Services grant for $385,000 to hire two additional officers.

The Department of Justice grant will help the Doraville Department hire officers for three years or prevent officers from being laid off due to local budget cuts.

Congressman Johnson, who made the check presentation to Police Chief John King, Mayor Ray Jenkins and City Council at the city’s regular meeting, said he was pleased to partner with local officials.

“Providing communities like Doraville with law enforcement resources is one of the most important things we do,” said Rep. Johnson.

“The COPS Hiring Program goes to the very core of our mission in government – to provide grants that create or preserve local law enforcement jobs that helps keep our community safe.”

Chief John King, who was recently named Commander of the Georgia National Guard’s 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, gladly accepted the award on behalf of his department and city.

“This type of funding is critical for our department’s mission,” said Chief King. “I want to thank Congressman Johnson, and we look forward to continuing our work together.”

Photo above: Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) presents a check for $385,000 to Doraville Police Chief John King at the Doraville City Council meeting on Monday, Oct. 4. The Department of Justice grant will pay for two additional police officers.

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Dear Friends,         

Wow, what a busy time both in Washington and in the Fourth District. Let’s dive right in to the news from D.C. and here at home.

HELPING SMALL BUSINESSES: Last week, I voted for the Small Business Jobs Act, which will help free up $300 billion of lending to millions of small businesses and cut taxes on small businesses by $12 billion so companies can hire workers, grow, and fuel economic growth. It also keeps jobs in America by closing tax loopholes that reward corporations for shipping jobs overseas. For more, click here.

FIGHTING FOR U.S. JOBS: This week, the House passed a bipartisan bill to fight China’s unfair currency manipulation, which hurts American workers.  I was proud to take a stand for American workers and American manufacturing by voting for this bill, a key part of our “Make it in America” initiative.  It will help the President address the unfair trade practice of currency manipulation by foreign countries, including China. For more, click here.

LILBURN TURNS 100: A big thanks to the City of Lilburn, Mayor Preston, and the city council for having me out last Saturday to help celebrate their 100th birthday and cut the ribbon on their beautiful Greenway Trail.

I was proud to present a proclamation naming July 27 “Lilburn Day in the Fourth District” and House Resolution 1642, an official Congressional resolution I introduced to recognize Lilburn’s historic accomplishments. Fifty-one of my colleagues in Congress cosponsored the resolution. For more, click here. To read H. Res. 1642, click here.

COPS IN ACTION: Congratulations to Doraville and Police Chief John King for receiving $385,000 under the Department of Justice’s COPS Hiring Program, which will help hire two additional officers. The COPS program is crucial for our local law enforcement and has provided DeKalb, Rockdale and Gwinnett law enforcement agencies with the funds they need to help keep our communities safe. For more, click here.

NEGLECTED DISEASES: I’m pleased to report that my bipartisan bill to address a growing problem of parasitic diseases – mostly in poor, minority populations in distressed urban areas – passed the House of Representatives. The legislation now goes to the Senate. The “Neglected Infections of Impoverished Americans Act of 2010” will require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to report to Congress annually on the impact of these diseases, address their threat and make funding recommendations on how to eradicate them. For more, click here.

PATIENT’S BILL OF RIGHTS: I want to remind everyone that key provisions of the new Patient’s Bill of Rights went into effect Sept. 23 as part of historic health care reform passed by Congress this year, including rules prohibiting insurance companies from cancelling coverage when a you become sick; rules prohibiting the denial of coverage or restriction of benefits for children who suffer from a pre-existing condition; and rules prohibiting lifetime limits on coverage, helping prevent families from going broke or losing their home just because a loved one has an accident or becomes ill.  For more, click here or visit Healthcare.gov.

STRAIGHT TALK FOR SENIORS: A recent poll indicates that America’s seniors remain confused and uninformed about how the new health reform law affects them. I’ve spoken at many of our senior centers and will continue to do so until people clearly understand the law. There’s a lot of misinformation being spread by forces opposed to the new law.  To help cut through all the clutter, the National Council on Aging has launched “Straight Talk for Seniors on Health Reform.” For more, click here.

MEDICARE NEWS: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced this week that on average Medicare Advantage premiums will be 1 percent lower in 2011 than today.  The majority of Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare health and prescription drug plans this year should find little or no change in their benefits in 2011, in addition to seeing more drug plans offering coverage in the prescription drug coverage gap or “donut hole.” For more, click here.

FIGHTING HIV: On Monday, I visited STAND Inc. [Standing to Achieve New Directions] to congratulate them on receiving a $300,000 annual grant from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

STAND – on Covington Highway in Decatur – is one of metro Atlanta’s leading community-based organizations focused on HIV, domestic violence and substance abuse intervention and prevention services as well as comprehensive re-entry services for men. The grant will be awarded Oct. 1 and run each year until 2015. For more, click here.

FIGHTING SUBSTANCE ABUSE: The Rockdale County DUI Court Supervised Treatment Program will receive a $165,700 federal grant to help treat residents who come through their Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. The Norcross-based Clinic for Education, Treatment and Prevention of Addiction or CETPA is receiving $300,000 to fight substance abuse as well.

PREVENTING TEEN PREGNANCY: Congratulations to More Than Conquerors Inc. – a community based non-profit organization in Stone Mountain committed to the needs of at-risk youth from middle school through college freshmen – for receiving a $650,000 grant to help prevent teen pregnancies.

SBA FLOOD FUNDS: To all small businesses and private nonprofits impacted by the floods of Sept. 2009, Nov. 2 is the deadline for federal economic injury loans. For more information, click here.

FRAME – A FAMILY FEATURE: If you are an unmarried couple expecting or have a new-born baby, consider joining FRAME-Works at DeKalb Medical Center designed to help strengthen your relationship. The two-day, free event will be held Oct. 9-10 from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at DeKalb Medical on North Decatur Road. For more information or to register, call Felicia at 1-888-44-FRAME.

Thanks for your time and interest in what’s happening in Congress.  If you have questions or concerns, my door is always open to you.  You can reach me 24/7 via my Web site www.hankjohnson.house.gov.

Fall is in the air, football season is upon us — have a wonderful weekend!

Hank