February 2011 Archives

Congressman votes to restore funding for ‘critical’ public safety program

 WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a bipartisan rebuke of the GOP budget plan to scrap funding for the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) hiring program, the House passed an amendment that restores $298 million in funding to the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) hiring program, allowing more than 1,300 officers to remain on the street.

“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 and helps keep our community safe,” Rep. Johnson said. “I will continue to fight for critical funding for my district.”

Johnson is a long-time champion of the COPS program, which was created in 1994 to put more police officers on the streets, sponsoring its reauthorization in Congress for the last the four years.

Since 1995, the COPS program has invested more than $177 million in Georgia law enforcement agencies, which was used to hire more than 2,400 officers and provide more than $24 million in technology upgrades.

In 2009, DeKalb County was awarded $3,112,845 to fund 15 officer positions, and Conyers received more than $400,000 to fund three officers. Last year, Doraville received a grant for $385,000 to hire two additional officers under the program.

“Hank has always been a friend of law enforcement – ever since his days on the DeKalb County Commission,” said Doraville Chief John King. “It’s this kind of leadership we need in Washington to help us keep officers on our streets protecting citizens.”

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The Honorable Henry C. “Hank” Johnson
 For the Hearing on the Role of Public Employee Pensions in
Contributing to State Insolvency and the Possibility of a
State Bankruptcy Chapter

Monday, February 14, 2011 | 2141 of the Rayburn House Office Building 

With all due respect to my friends on the other side of the aisle, I must wonder aloud why it is that we are holding this hearing today.  Ostensibly, it is about whether states should be permitted to file for bankruptcy, but from what I can tell, none of the witnesses claims that bankruptcy is a panacea for a state’s financial troubles.

We seem to agree that allowing states to file for bankruptcy would result in increased interest rates, making it more expensive for states to address their financial needs.  Moreover, a state bankruptcy option would create greater instability in the financial market.

There also seems to be some shared concern about respect for state sovereignty in that federal bankruptcy law could be used to override state constitutions and laws prohibiting an impairment of contractual obligations.

Finally, states already have the tools at their disposal to address any financial troubles they face, as Majority Leader Eric Cantor has noted.  States have the ability to adjust revenues and spending and to renegotiate their financial obligations with creditors.   Indeed, I get the strong sense that state bankruptcy may be a solution in search of a problem.

Why are we wasting time on what promises to be something of an esoteric discussion about a proposal that few, if anyone, on this Committee appear to support?

 Instead, we should be talking about what Congress will do to accelerate economic recovery and create jobs, which, in turn, will help states recover financially.

We should be talking about the continuing mortgage foreclosure crisis and how Congress will help hard-working American families stay in their homes.

We should be talking about crushing private student loan debt that threatens to stifle educational opportunities for people of modest means.

We should be talking about how to improve the bankruptcy process so that it can better help honest but unfortunate debtors who have fallen on hard times because of the lingering effects of the 2008 financial crisis, a crisis brought about by Wall Street’s reckless behavior.

Unfortunately, I suspect we are here talking about state bankruptcy because of a cynical attempt by the likes of Newt Gingrich, Jeb Bush, Dick Morris, and Grover Norquist to demonize public employees for political reasons.  Let’s call this what it is – an attack on a group of workers - including state troopers, prosecutors, and teachers - that these proponents of state bankruptcy simply do not like.

In fact, public pensions barely have an impact on a state’s financial health.  Less than three percent of all state and local government funding is spent on pension benefits, as most such benefits are paid out of trusts funded by employees and their employers.

But why let facts get in the way of political opportunism? 

The proponents of state bankruptcy don’t even bother to hide their true intent.  For instance, in a Los Angeles Times op-ed piece published last month, Mr. Gingrich and Mr. Bush pointed to the “stranglehold government employee unions have on state and federal budgets,” rather than the severe economic recession of the last few years, as the reason for states’ fiscal problems.

Even more crassly, Mr. Morris wrote a piece for The Hill arguing in favor of state bankruptcy because it would “break the political power of [public employee] unions and undermine the labor-Democratic Party coalition[.]”

Hopefully, sensible minds on both sides of the aisle, including Majority Leader Cantor, Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith, and Subcommittee Chairman Howard Coble, will carry the day on the issue of state bankruptcy and not allow naked political calculation to answer serious constitutional and policy questions.

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Johnson: Afghanistan drawdown schedule "unacceptably slow"

 WASHINGTON D.C. – Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04), serving his third term as member of the House Armed Services Committee, released the following statement regarding today’s Department of Defense posture hearing with Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen:

“I commend Secretary Gates for his courageous efforts to find savings in defense spending, which has skyrocketed to levels 36% higher (adjusted for inflation) than during the Vietnam era and is obviously unsustainable. Reining in defense spending while winning two wars and modernizing the force is no small task, but it is a critical task if we are serious about fiscal restraint.

The significant reduction in funds requested for war-fighting abroad in 2012 signals the Administration’s effective execution of the drawdown in Iraq.  Timely victory and withdrawal from Afghanistan ahead of the unacceptably slow timeline outlined by military leaders would secure Secretary Gates’ place as one of the greatest Defense Secretaries in the history of the country.  But unless the Administration can expedite the timeline for drawdown in Afghanistan, the Pentagon and the White House may find it difficult to maintain Congressional support for war funding.”

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Dear Friends,            

We are well into the New Year and the 112th Congress. In the coming weeks, we’re going to be discussing proposed budget cuts – some drastic. I will do everything in my power to protect and defend the necessary services and regulations that ensure public safety, economic development, job creation, health care and an enhanced quality of life. We know there will be some tough choices and battles ahead. Please stay tuned here for updates. We have much to discuss, so let’s jump right in.

HELPING SMALL BUSINESSES, LOCAL ECONOMY: Small businesses are the engines that create jobs and the backbone of our local economy. That’s why I’m launching an investigation into why billions of dollars in Federal contracts designated for small businesses are diverted to subsidiaries of large corporations. By law, 23% of government contracts are supposed to go to small businesses. A Small Business Administration (SBA) Study proved that isn’t the case, and I want to know why. I’ve sent a letter to the SBA demanding answers. I’m working on legislation to deal with this problem.

SPEAKING OF JOBS & LETTERS: I’m pleased to report that the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission is listening. Late last year I sent a letter to the EEOC, urging an investigation into discrimination against the unemployed. When job ads read: “must be currently employed” to apply or stipulate that “no unemployed candidates will be considered at all,” something is fundamentally wrong. Now the EEOC is holding a hearing on the issue Feb. 16, and I hope common-sense and concrete reforms can take hold. With unemployment at 9%, and too many Americans unemployed for 99 weeks or more, discrimination against the unemployed should not be tolerated. I am pleased to inform you of this hearing and assure you that I am working on legislation to end this discriminatory practice that only prolongs our jobs crisis.

HEALTHCARE REFORM SAVED HER LIFE: I voted against the effort to repeal health care reform, which would put insurance companies back in charge; allowing them to continue abusing consumers. Like public school teacher Lisa Ryan of Decatur. She has lupus and her health care insurance costs were spiraling out of control. She’s not looking for charity, just fairness in dealing with her insurance company. She needs the interim high-risk pools that help provide immediate access to insurance. It’s not an exaggeration to say that health reform has saved her life. For more, click here.

SECRETARY VISITS OUR DISTRICT: It was a pleasure to attend a forum with Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Sen. Johnny Isakson at Meadowcreek High School in Norcross on Jan. 31. As winners of the Broad Prize, I’m very proud of what Gwinnett County Schools has accomplished. It was enlightening to hear from panelists and Mr. Duncan about what works and what doesn’t in our educational system as we prepare our students to compete and succeed in the global marketplace.

GRANTS TO ASSIST HOMELESS: I was pleased to announce recently that more than $2.2 million in Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grants to provide permanent and transitional housing to the homeless as well as job training, health care, mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment and child care was awarded for several worthy centers here in the 4th Congressional District. For more, click here.

POWERING THE FUTURE: Kudos to DeKalb County for moving ahead with a Department of Energy grant that will turn trash into compressed natural gas to power county garbage trucks for up to 50 years. This grant will not only reduce our dependence on foreign oil and harmful emissions, but it will make DeKalb County one of the leaders of this new green technology. This is exactly what the Recovery Act was intended to do – invest in green energy while helping local governments empower themselves to power sustainable growth.

NEGLECTED DISEASES: I’ve re-introduced my bipartisan bill to address a growing problem of parasitic diseases – some in distressed urban areas.  The “Neglected Infections of Impoverished Americans Act of 2011” passed the House of Representatives in 2010, but stalled in the Senate. For more, click here.

DR. KING & STONE MOUNTAIN: I was honored to speak at the DeKalb NAACP and City of Stone Mountain Martin Luther King Jr. Parade and Rally this year. Dr. King always inspires me to be my best, and I hope you USED THE King Holiday to reflect and make a difference in our community.  

WALLS OF WONDER: Be sure to stop by Conyers before March 3 for the 26th annual Georgia Artists with Disabilities exhibition at Nancy Guinn Memorial Library. The exhibition features 50 award-winning pieces from disabled artists throughout Georgia. For more, click here.

As always, I value your input and welcome your comments. Being your representative in Washington is a singular honor, and I appreciate you letting me know how I can be of service to you. 

Thanks,

Hank

Today, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) issued the following statement on President Obama’s proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2012.  The release of the president’s budget coincides with debate in the House on legislation funding the government for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2011 under a continuing resolution.

“Fiscal responsibility demands that we all make sacrifices,” said Johnson. “President Obama’s budget proposal reflects that reality and those painful choices. In contrast, the Republicans’ call to strip the cupboard bare of funding for the remainder of 2011 reflects their thoughtless scramble to meet an arbitrary $100 billion campaign promise. This is not a thoughtful approach to deficit reduction and job creation. Not surprisingly, the burden of their drastic cuts will be shouldered by low- and middle-income families and hugely impact our ability to invest in our future.

In two years, with President Obama’s leadership and the aggressive action of the Democratic Congress, we brought the nation back from the brink of economic collapse. We are at the beginning of a lasting recovery. The economy is growing and unemployment is coming down. We cannot throw that all away now by making indiscriminate cuts that would undermine economic recovery and cut basic public services by taking teachers out of classrooms, police officers off the streets, and firefighters off duty.

I and my like-minded colleagues will do everything in our power to protect and defend the necessary services and regulations that ensure public safety, economic development, job creation, health care, an enhanced quality of life and investments in our energy independence and future growth. There are tough choices and battles ahead.  We must all be prepared to make informed and targeted choices that will be fiscally sound, but keep us moving forward.”

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‘I won’t stop until this bill becomes law’

 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04) today announced he re-introduced his bipartisan bill to address a growing problem of parasitic diseases – mostly in poor, minority populations along the U.S.-Mexico border, the rural South, Appalachia and distressed urban areas.

The bill passed the House of Representatives in 2010, but stalled in the Senate.

The “Neglected Infections of Impoverished Americans Act of 2011” – H.R. 528 – would 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.

Some of the parasitic infections are spread by insects – such as Chagas disease or dengue fever. Others, such as toxocara and toxoplasmosis, are attained through contaminated animal feces, and still others thrive in soil, such as thread worms.

All of these neglected infections affect hundreds of thousands of mostly poor, minority residents with no health insurance. Infected people suffer from heart disease, lung ailments, birth defects, seizures, difficult pregnancies and child developmental problems as a result of these diseases.

“It’s my mission to give voice to people who have none,” said Johnson. “I won’t stop until this bill, which deals with a largely hidden burden of diseases that burden poor – mostly minority – populations, becomes law.”

The bill now goes to the Energy and Commerce Committee for mark up before going to the full House for a vote.

View an ABC News story about this issue and legislation from May 2010 here.

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U.S. Embassy Cairo | February 9, 2011 | Important Information about Consular Services: February 6, 2011

The U. S. Embassy is open for emergency services for U.S. citizens only until further notice. Visa applicants with previously scheduled appointments will be contacted and provided guidance concerning their appointments. All processed nonimmigrant and immigrant visas will be returned via DHL courier service selected at the time of interview. Please visit DHL at http://www.dhlegypt.com/en.html to track the status of delivery.

The U.S. Embassy is open for emergency services for American citizens on Monday February 7 from 0900 to 1200. Please visit www.travel.state.gov for our latest travel warning for Egypt.

Please check our website http://egypt.usembassy.gov/ frequently for additional updates.
Travel Warning

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE,  Bureau of Consular Affairs, Egypt, February 6, 2011

This replaces the Travel Warning for Egypt dated February 1, 2011. 

The U.S. Department of State continues to recommend that U.S. citizens avoid travel to Egypt at this time.  On February 1, the Department of State ordered the departure of all non-emergency U.S. government personnel and family members from Egypt.  U.S. citizens should consider leaving Egypt as soon as they can safely do so, due to ongoing political and social unrest.  Large-scale demonstrations with the potential for violence continue in several areas of the country, and there are periodic overland travel disruptions.  The Government of Egypt has modified the curfew several times; hours are now 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. throughout Egypt until further notice.  U.S. citizens should obey curfew orders and remain indoors during curfew hours.

U.S. citizens who wish to depart Egypt should proceed to the airport and secure commercial passage out of the country.  Cairo airport is open and operating, and commercial airlines are reporting flight availability from Cairo.  Commercial flights are also operating from Luxor, Alexandria, and Aswan airports.  Given the current availability of commercial flights, no additional U.S. government-chartered flights are planned.

Travelers with the means to do so should make every effort to utilize commercial flights.  Some commercial airlines also offer pet transport.  Travelers should remain in contact with their airlines or tour operators concerning flight schedules, and arrange to arrive at the airport well before curfew hours.  Do not wait for a reply from the embassy or the Department of State before traveling to the nearest airport; further delay is not advised.

Male dual Egyptian – U.S. nationals who have not completed military service and have stayed in Egypt for more than six months are required to obtain an exemption certificate through the Ministry of Defense Draft Office before they can leave Egypt.  The Ministry of Defense Draft Office reports they are open daily to provide exemption certificates.

The U.S. Department of State strongly urges U.S. citizens to avoid all demonstrations in Egypt, as even peaceful ones can quickly become violent and a foreigner could become a target of harassment or worse.  U.S. citizens who are near demonstrations should remain in their residences or hotels until the demonstrations subside.  Security forces may block off the area around the U.S. Embassy during demonstrations, and U.S. citizens should not attempt to come to the U.S. Embassy or the Tahrir Square area during that time.  U.S. citizens are urged to remain alert to local security developments and to be vigilant regarding their personal security.  U.S. citizens should carry identification and a cell phone that works in Egypt.

The U.S. Embassy will be open only for emergency services to U.S. citizens until further notice.  Visit the embassy website at http://egypt.usembassy.gov to check the latest changes to embassy hours or services.  Family members of U.S. citizens in Egypt may also enroll them in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at https://travelregistration.state.gov.  U.S. citizens in Egypt, or their loved ones, may contact the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Embassy in Cairo via email to EmergencyEgyptUSC@state.gov, or at 1-202-501-4444.  Please follow the directions on the embassy website for all other consular inquiries.

For the latest security information, U.S. citizens traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department of State’s Internet website at www.travel.state.gov where the Worldwide Caution, Egypt Country Specific Information, Travel Warnings, and Travel Alerts can be found.  Up to date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1- 888-407-4747 toll free in the United States and Canada, or, for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.  These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

The Embassy is located at 5 Tawfik Diab Street (formerly known as Latin America Street), Garden City, Cairo.  For emergencies after business hours and on weekends and holidays, U.S. citizens can contact the Embassy Duty Officer via the Embassy switchboard on 2797-3300.

INFORMATION: FEBRUARY 6, 2011, Flight Update Information, February 6, 2011, US Embassy Cairo

Given the current availability of commercial flights, no additional U.S. government-chartered flights are planned.  Travelers with the means to do so should make every effort to utilize commercial flights. Commercial airlines are reporting flight availability from Cairo.

Please contact your airline directly to confirm your flight status; airline schedules change may change frequently based on demand and the local security situation.

The U.S. Embassy is open on Sunday, February 6, from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. for U.S. citizens who need consular assistance.  U.S. citizens who wish to depart Egypt for return to the United States, but are having difficulty accessing funds, should contact the U.S. Embassy for assistance.

Immediate family members (spouses and children) who are not U.S. citizens must be documented for their destination country.  All U.S. citizen travelers and their spouses and children, are required to have valid travel documents.  

U.S. citizens in Egypt who are near demonstrations should remain in their residences or hotels until the demonstrations subside. Security forces may block off the area around the U.S. Embassy during demonstrations, and U.S. citizens should not attempt to come to the U.S. Embassy or the Tahrir Square area during that time. 

Demonstrations have degenerated on several occasions into violent clashes between police and protesters, resulting in injuries and extensive property damage.  While demonstrations have not been directed toward Westerners, U.S. citizens are urged to remain alert to local security developments and to be vigilant regarding their personal security. 

The U.S. Department of State strongly urges U.S. citizens to avoid all demonstrations, as even peaceful ones can quickly become unruly and a foreigner could become a target of harassment or worse.  If caught unexpectedly near a demonstration, U.S. citizens should obey instructions from police and leave the area as quickly as possible.  U.S. citizens resident in Egypt should monitor local news broadcasts and U.S. citizen visitors should ask tour guides and hotel officials about any planned demonstrations in the locations they plan to visit. U.S. citizens should carry identification and a cell phone that works in Egypt.

The welfare and safety of U.S. citizens in Egypt is one of the State Department’s top priorities. Approximately 2,300 U.S. citizens and their family members have been evacuated from Egypt since January 31.

Frequently Asked Questions

Has the curfew changed?  What is the current curfew?
The Egyptian Government reported that the curfew is in effect throughout Egypt from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m., as of February 5.

I’m ready to go. What do I do?
If you wish to depart Egypt you should proceed to your local airport and secure commercial passage out of the country.  Do not wait for a call from the U.S. Embassy.  Further delay is not advised.

Are there plans for any charter flights?
No.  We highly recommend that U.S. citizens seeking to depart Egypt do so now by commercial airline.

Do I need to prove I completed military service to board a plane?
Male dual nationals who have not completed military service and have stayed in Egypt for more than six months are required to obtain an exemption certificate through the Ministry of Defense Draft Office before they can leave Egypt.  However, they must obtain an exemption certificate through the Ministry of Defense Draft Office before they can leave Egypt, which reports they are open daily to provide exemption certificates.

I wish to travel by commercial air carrier - how do I book a flight?
While some flights are still disrupted, major airlines are operating out of Egyptian airports.  Please contact your airline or travel agent to book a ticket prior to heading to the airport.  If you already have an existing ticket or reservation, please contact your airline to confirm your flight status.

Do I need a U.S. passport?
All U.S. citizen travelers and their spouses and children are required to have valid travel documents. The U.S. Embassy in Cairo will assist U.S. citizens with travel documents.  U.S. citizens who do not hold a valid U.S. passport and are interested in departing Egypt should contact the U.S. Department of State and Embassy Cairo by sending an email to EgyptEmergencyUSC@state.gov.

What do I do if my child is a U.S. citizen, but hasn’t yet been documented?
Contact the U.S. Embassy in Cairo.  U.S. citizens who do not hold a valid U.S. passport interested in departing Egypt should contact the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Embassy Cairo by sending an email to EgyptEmergencyUSC@state.gov.  The Embassy will be open for emergency consular services for U.S. citizens on Sunday, February 6 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Note: Non-U.S. citizens who accompanyied evacuated U.S. citizens to safe haven locations in Europe have been able to apply for an airport entrance visa on arrival to the safe haven location.  Non-U.S. citizens planning onward travel not already holding visas or Legal Permanent Residency Status for entry into the United States will need to visit the U.S. Embassy in the safe haven location to apply for a visa prior to scheduling onward travel.  If you have a question related to immigrant or non-immigrant visa processing in Cairo, please send a detailed inquiry to CairoVisaInquiries@state.gov.

How do I get a visa (to safe haven country or the United States)?
Non-U.S. citizens who accompanied evacuated U.S. citizens to safe haven locations have been able to apply for an airport entrance visa on arrival to safe haven locations in Europe.  Non-U.S. citizens planning onward travel not already holding visas or Legal Permanent Residency Status for entry into the United States will need to visit the U.S. Embassy in the safe haven location to apply for a visa prior to scheduling onward travel.  If you have a question related to immigrant or non-immigrant visa processing in Cairo, please send a detailed inquiry to CairoVisaInquiries@state.gov.

What about my pets?
Some commercial airlines do offer pet transport.  Please check with the airlines directly. 

How do I get to the airport?
At this time, public transport (to include taxis) is still operating in Egypt.
 

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 514, which would reauthorize expiring provisions of the PATRIOT Act without important modifications necessary to safeguard our civil liberties. 

While the threat of terrorism is real, and law enforcement must have the right tools to protect Americans, any counterterrorism measure must have a solid Constitutional footing and respect the privacy and civil liberties of the American people. 

This legislation fails to address shortcomings in the original PATRIOT Act legislation.  For that reason, I will vote against it.

One of the major problems with this bill is its failure to address the issuance and use of National Security Letters. 

These letters permit the government to obtain the communications of anyone deemed relevant to a terrorism investigation, even if that person is not suspected of unlawful behavior. 

If Congress reauthorizes these provisions with no changes, Americans will remain subject to warrantless intrusions into their personal affairs – a gross overreach of federal investigative authority that could be abused. 

It’s just not how we do things in this country. 

Rather than taking the time to craft reforms that will better protect private citizens’ communications and privacy from overbroad government surveillance, the Republican majority simply wants to cram this bill through without providing an opportunity for anyone to offer amendments that will improve the bill.
 
We all acknowledge that law enforcement needs new tools to keep up with twenty first century threats. 

But surely it is the responsibility of Congress to re-examine legislation that was hurried through Congress in the wake of 9/11 to make sure it lives up to our national ideals.

Because this bill fails to contain any checks and balances to prevent law enforcement abuses and protect civil liberties, I will be voting against it and urge my colleagues to do the same.  

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