April 2011 Archives

Veterans receive help with health care, housing, claims, employment and access to benefits
 
CLARKSTON, GA – More than 400 veterans, military personnel and their families received assistance at Rep. Hank Johnson’s (GA-04) 2011 Veterans and Armed Forces Expo on Friday at DeKalb Technical College in Clarkston.

“Helping veterans and military personnel receive the benefits they deserve is one of the main reasons I serve,” said Johnson, a member of the House Armed Services Committee.

Photo: Decatur resident Johnny Cole, left, speaks with Mike Noles of the American Legion of Georgia about a claim.

Veterans, military personnel and their families received free information about available services and on-site assistance with benefits, including employment opportunities, housing, health care, education and filing Veterans Administration claims.

Dozens of veterans’ organizations provided services, including The Georgia Department of Veterans Service, the Georgia Department of Defense, the Veterans Benefits Administration, and the Veterans Health Administration.

The event, held in conjunction with DeKalb County government, also included appearances from Maj. Gen. Maria L. Britt, Commanding General of the Georgia Army National Guard and DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis.

Since Congressman Johnson took office in 2007, his office has helped veterans secure more than $2 million in benefits owed them by the federal government.

Photo above: Atlanta resident Sven Lovegren, right, speaks with Burnice Forte Jr. of the Veterans Administration about his health care benefits.

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LITHONIA, GA – Congressman Hank Johnson, who represents Georgia’s Fourth Congressional District, issued the following statement regarding devastating storms that have killed dozens across the Southeast:

“All of us in the South are united in our concern for the victims of these horrific storms and in our commitment to rebuild in their wake. I urge those in affected areas to remain cautious as strong storms continue to threaten areas of Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. My office is working with Governor Deal, and we stand ready to assist in the wake of this terrible tragedy.”

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — After consumers were dealt a blow today when the Supreme Court ruled that companies can ban class action suits in contracts, U.S. Sens. Al Franken (D-Minn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) said today they plan to introduce legislation next week that would restore consumers’ rights to seek justice in the courts.

Their bill, called the Arbitration Fairness Act, would eliminate forced arbitration clauses in employment, consumer, and civil rights cases, and would allow consumers and workers to choose arbitration after a dispute occurred. 

Many businesses rely on mandatory and binding pre-dispute arbitration agreements that force consumers and employees to settle any dispute with a company providing products or services without the benefit of legal recourse.

“This ruling is another example of the Supreme Court favoring corporations over consumers,” said Sen. Franken. “The Arbitration Fairness Act would help rectify the Court’s most recent wrong by restoring consumer rights. Consumers play an important role in holding corporations accountable, and this legislation will ensure that consumers in Minnesota and nationwide can continue to play this crucial role.”

“Powerful companies who take advantage of ordinary consumers must be held accountable,” said Sen. Blumenthal. “Today’s misguided Supreme Court ruling is a setback for millions of Americans, denying injured consumers access to justice. The Arbitration Fairness Act would reverse this decision and restore the long-held rights of consumers to hold corporations accountable for their misdeeds.”

“Forced arbitration agreements undermine our indelible Constitutional right to trial by jury, benefiting powerful businesses at the expense of American consumers and workers,” said Rep. Johnson. “Americans with few choices in the marketplace may unknowingly cede their rights when they enter contracts to buy a home or a cell phone, place a loved one in a nursing home, or start a new job. We must fight to defend our rights and re-empower consumers.”

In Concepcion v. AT&T, consumers brought a claim against AT&T for false advertising.   However, because the value of their case was only $30, their case was consolidated into a class action.  AT&T sought to block the lawsuit by pointing to the mandatory arbitration clause in the service contract but lower courts applying state law rightly invalidated the arbitration clause because it banned class actions entirely. 

In today’s 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court overturned these lower court decisions which sought to protect consumers.  The majority of the Court held that the Federal Arbitration Act barred state courts from protecting consumers from these arbitration clauses.  The effect of this decision essentially insulates companies from liability when they defraud a large number of customers of a relatively small amount of money.

A longtime advocate for consumers and workers in cases of forced arbitration, in 2009 Sen. Franken passed legislation with bipartisan support that restricts funding to defense contractors who commit employees to mandatory binding arbitration in the case of sexual assault and other civil rights violations. Congressman Johnson, a longtime champion of workers and consumer rights, first introduced the Arbitration Fairness Act in 2007.

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Dear Friend:
 
I am pleased to announce that I am now accepting Fiscal Year 2012 appropriations requests for priorities in the Fourth Congressional District. Unlike previous years, I can now only accept programmatic and language requests. Requests for earmarks, or specific projects, will not be accepted. Please note that if the request was previously listed as a congressional earmark, it will no longer be considered. 

As a reminder, the House Rules define an earmark as: a provision or report language included primarily at the request of a Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, or Senator providing, authorizing or recommending a specific amount of discretionary budget authority, credit authority, or other spending authority for a contract, loan, loan guarantee, grant, loan authority, or other expenditure with or to an entity, or targeted to a specific State, locality or Congressional district, other than through a statutory or administrative formula-driven or competitive award process.”

What is a program or language request?

• Program Request: a request to fund a specific Federal program at a specified level—Example: Provide $5,000,000,000 for the National Cancer Institute.

• Language Request: a request to include specific bill or report language that does not direct funding to a particular entity but encourages, urges, or directs some type of action by an agency. Example: Committee encourages the Department of Education to study the impact of the availability of student loans on increases in enrollment rates.

The deadline for completed appropriations submissions is close of business on Tuesday, May 3rd. An electronic form must be received for each programmatic and language request.  Completed requests must be submitted by May 3 to receive full consideration. 

Instructions:

• Download form: click here to access my Fiscal Year 2012 Appropriations Request Form and instructions. Please read all instructions carefully before completing the form.

• Fill out form completely and properly: Save it as 2012_form_YOUR-NAME.doc.

• Attach form to an e-mail to ga04.requests@mail.house.gov.

If you have any questions, contact Scott Goldstein in my Washington, DC, office at (202-225-1605) or e-mail (scott.goldstein@mail.house.gov). 

I am committed to fighting for federal assistance that will improve the infrastructure, economic vitality and quality of life throughout our fourth district. That is why I am looking for your recommendations.  Appropriations requests should fill a clear and present need, have the ability to be administered competently, and must be supported by the local community.  
 
As you prepare your requests, it is important to keep in mind that my office will receive far more requests for assistance each year than can be funded. This will be a very tight budget year, so only a small percentage of requests submitted to the Appropriations Committee will receive funding.  Additionally, the amount that is approved by the Appropriations Committee is unlikely to match the requested amount.  That is why it is important that you also pursue grant and other federal, state and local assistance for which your project may be eligible.  

Again thank you for your interest in the Fiscal Year 2011 appropriations process.  Please visit my FY12 Appropriations website and send your completed forms to ga04.requests@mail.house.gov by close of business on Monday, May 3rd. 

My office is here to assist you as you move through this process.  If you have any questions, you should feel free to contact Scott Goldstein in my Washington, DC, office.  You can reach him either by phone (202-225-1605) or email (scott.goldstein@mail.house.gov). 

Thanks, 

As seen in The Hill Blog.

By Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA)

Even as technology becomes increasingly critical to the way we live our lives, power our world and defend our shores, the United States has allowed the production of minerals crucial in the creation of these advanced products to slide.

Critical to high-tech clean-energy and defense manufacturing, rare-earth elements (REEs) are minerals used in the production of cutting-edge technologies such as wind turbines, batteries for mobile phones, laptop computers, the planet’s most powerful magnets, military radar and sophisticated weapon systems  — just to name a few.

But today, China accounts for 97 percent of global REE production and announced it is cutting production for the first half of 2011 by 35 percent. Because China dominates production, it aims to build a strategic stockpile that will not only fuel their green tech revolution but also give it greater control over international prices.

Dysprosium – one of the most critical rare-earth elements used in heat-resistant magnets for military radar systems (In Latin, dysprosium means “hard to get”) – has risen from $6.50 per pound in 2003 to more than $130 per pound today.

This Chinese monopoly is creating a strategic vulnerability for the United States that undermines our national security and competitiveness in the defense and clean-energy sectors.

Rare earth shortages could also cause green energy and tech companies already weakened by the recession to falter, industry officials say. Electric cars like GM’s Chevrolet Volt use seven pounds of rare-earth magnets, while each clean-energy wind turbine uses more than 600 pounds of another rare earth element, neodymium.

Like President Obama, I am committed to a future powered by clean energy. Without secure access to REEs, we will be unable to lead the world in cleantech. If the global and U.S. green economies are going to truly take off, rare earths can’t remain rare much longer.

“The problems are real and serious,” Robert Jaffe, a physicist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology,” told Time magazine. “If appropriate steps are not taken, we face possible short-term constraints of supply to what could otherwise be game-changing energy technologies.”

That’s why Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) and I proposed the RARE Act, which will dramatically advance our ability to access rare earths worldwide.

The RARE Act directs the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to conduct a three-year, comprehensive global mineral assessment of REEs.

The USGS global assessment, conducted with geological surveys of partner nations around the world, will identify and quantify individual REEs in known deposits, improve understanding of the distribution and formation of rare earth element deposits, assess likely undiscovered deposits worldwide, analyze the state of the complete rare earths supply chain from mining to manufacturing, and recommend further research and steps to improve our understanding and ensure future access.

Mining company Molycorp owns the only rare earth production facility in the U.S. in Mountain Pass, Calif., and produces about 3 percent of the world’s rare earths.

Currently in the middle of a more than $500 million modernization, Mountain Pass will expand its current annual production from 3,000 tons of rare earths to nearly 20,000 tons annually, largely reversing our nation’s near-total dependence on foreign suppliers.   

But mining and processing these materials does not come without risk. The toxic acids needed for refining REEs and water runoff mixed with radioactive elements from the thorium and uranium can cause environmental problems.

To meet stricter U.S. environmental standards and make the process safer for our environment, Molycorp is constructing an on-site natural gas plant to cleanly generate the electricity needed to process REEs. The company is also employing mining wastewater recycling process that will not only make the processing of rare earths safer but use just 10 percent of the water that was needed a generation ago.

The only solution to end China’s rare earth dominance is renewed commitment to domestic production with government help. Private industry, aided by the RARE Act, will help reverse the dearth of rare earths in the U.S. needed to fuel our technological future.

Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) is a member of the House Judiciary and Armed Services committees and author of the Resource Assessment of Rare Earths Act of 2011 or RARE Act.

Dear Friends,            

Last week, I stood up for Medicare and jobs by supporting the Congressional Black Caucus and Progressive Caucus budgets. We do have a fiscal crisis but dismantling Medicare is not a solution. We must first look at cutting defense spending and ending tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires. To see where I stand on the budget, click HERE.

VETERANS, MILITARY AND THEIR FAMILIES EXPO: To ensure our veterans receive their full benefits, I’m holding a Veterans and Armed Forces Expo on Friday, April 29 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the DeKalb Technical College Conference Center in Clarkston. Veterans, military personnel and their families will receive free information about available services and on-site assistance with benefits, including employment opportunities, housing, health care, education and filing VA claims. Participating veterans can register and receive more information at our Veterans Home page: http://www.hankjohnson.house.gov/veteran-index.shtml. Registration is encouraged. Read about it in this week's "On Common Ground News."

PREVENTING FORECLOSURES: Whether you’re in foreclosure now, worried about it in the future or know someone who is facing foreclosure, there’s help. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is holding a foreclosure prevention workshop on Monday, April 25 at the Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center at 61 Forsyth Street. Registration is required – go to www.hud.gov/georgia to sign up.

The Georgia Department of Community Affairs is partnering with Georgia Housing Finance Authority (GHFA) Affordable Housing Inc. to deliver a statewide mortgage payment assistance program to prevent foreclosures. HomeSafe Georgia will help by providing “bridge” mortgage assistance to many Georgians who are unemployed or have seen a dramatic decrease in their income due to the economy. Funding for HomeSafe Georgia comes from the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Hardest Hit Fund. For more info, click HERE.

PCA MAKING A DIFFERENCE: On May 14, Partnership for Community Action Inc. (PCA) is supplying food for families in need in Decatur, Conyers and Norcross. For more information in Decatur, call 404-929-2440; in Conyers, call 404-922-3431 and in Norcross, call 678-291-0860.

PCA is also holding “Community Yard sale with No Price Tags” on May 14 at 3597 Covington Highway in Decatur. Eligible participants must have a referral form. For more information, call 404-929-2440 or e-mail cheryl.moon@pcaction.org.

Remember, the PCA helps low-income residents pay energy bills. In DeKalb, call 404-537-4300; in Rockdale, call 770-922-3431 and in Gwinnett, call 678-291-0860. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services also helps low-income homeowners and renters with their Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). For more information or to apply, click HERE.

In an effort to help unemployed residents get back to work, the PCA also offers 1-week training sessions for job seekers, including résumé development, interview techniques, and effective job searching. Each training session is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. After completing the class, participants receive a $50 gas or MARTA card and a $50 Ross card to assist with job search and clothes for interviews. For more, click HERE.

ARTS COMPETITION, AN ARTISITC DISCOVERY: We received more than 35 entries for our 2011 Congressional Arts Competition this year. Come out to the Lou Walker Senior Center on Saturday, April 30 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. to see student art from throughout the Fourth District and help celebrate the winners. Last year, Ms. Sally Beck of Tucker High School won for her “Post Earthquake: A Day in Haiti” drawing, which still hangs in the Capitol. Ms. Beck earned a $1,500 a year scholarship to the Savannah College of Art and Design.

SUMMER INTERNSHIPS: This summer, the Washington Center’s Competitive Government Programs is providing 10-week internship opportunities for college and graduate students at: U.S. Department of Defense; U.S. Department of the Treasury; U.S. Coast Guard; Internal Revenue Service and other government agencies. To learn about qualifications and apply, click HERE. Financial assistance and housing are included.

BOLLINGER FOUNDATION GRANTS: The Bollinger Foundation is now accepting nominations for its 2011 grant awards. The scholarship grants are presented to families who have lost a parent or guardian, with the deceased or surviving parent having worked or continuing to work in the field of public housing, community development, or economic development. Please visit their Web site to make a nomination of an eligible family before the May 18th, 2011 deadline.

PREPARE FOR DANGEROUS WEATHER: With news of the devastating storms that swept across the South last week, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) urges the public to take the important steps necessary to protect themselves before severe weather strikes. Being informed, having emergency plans, and practicing how and where to take shelter when severe weather or a tornado approaches, can save lives during an emergency. For more information, click HERE.

50,000 PAIRS OF SHOES: Sometimes we forget or don’t appreciate how good we have it in America. After reading “50,000 Pairs of Shoes Needed” in CrossRoadsNews this week, it made me even more proud of our community and our children. Stone Mountain’s Martin Kumi is on a mission to provide shoes to as many Ghanaian children as possible. To donate or for more information on this worthwhile causes, call Martin at 678-518-0777 or click HERE.

As always, I appreciate your time and comments. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to represent you in Congress. Please share this e-letter with friends and family who live in the Fourth District and encourage them to sign up to receive these free online newsletters. Also, follow me on Twitter and Facebook. And please let friends, neighbors and family know about the Arts Competition Celebration and the Veterans Expo events later this month.

Thanks,

WASHINGTON, DC – Representative Hank Johnson (GA-04) released the following statement on his vote against the GOP's 2012 budget proposal:

“We must not balance our books on the backs of seniors, college students, the shrinking middle class and the poor, who are struggling in this economy. There’s no doubt, we have to live within our means, get back to the Clinton-era path that allowed us to pay down our debt and reduce our deficit. Nothing should be taken off the table, including defense spending and ending tax breaks for millionaires, billionaires and Big Oil.”

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Rep. Johnson hosts former UN Ambassador to discuss negotiating peace in Afghanistan

Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Thomas R. Pickering joined U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-4) on Capitol Hill Friday, April 15 to discuss the path to a political settlement of the war in Afghanistan.

Ambassador Pickering discussed findings of The Century Foundation's Afghanistan Task Force, which he co-chaired.

Photo above: Congressman Hank Johnson, left, played host April 15 to Ambassador Thomas Pickering, center, and  Ambassador James Dobbins, former Special Envoy to Afghanistan, for a hearing on securing the peace in Afghanistan.

Ambassador James Dobbins, former Special Envoy to Afghanistan; Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Chairman, House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight & Investigations; Rep. Mike Coffman (R-CO), House Armed Services Committee also participated in the briefing.

In a report released March 23, 2011, “Afghanistan: Negotiating Peace,” the Task Force found that “after 30 years of war neither side today can expect soon to vanquish the other militarily. This growing sense of stalemate opens the way to a political phase to conclude the conflict.”  The report continued, “The best moment to start a political process toward settlement and reconciliation is now.”

Johnson, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, said, “Whether we are bleeding-heart pacifists, the most hawkish of hawks, or Tea Partiers, we agree we need to resolve the conflict in Afghanistan and bring our troops home as soon as possible. Ambassador Pickering is one of the most eminent diplomats of our time, and his views on the path to a political settlement need to be heard.”

During his career at the State Department, Ambassador Pickering served as ambassador to India, Israel, El Salvador, Nigeria, Jordan, and the United Nations. From 1997-1999, he served as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs.

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Presupuestos son más que colecciones de números; son una declaración de nuestros valores. El presupuesto del Grupo Progresivo del Congreso (CPC) refleja los valores y las prioridades de familias que trabajan en este país.

El "Presupuesto del Pueblo/de la Gente" delinea una ruta de fortaleza a nuestro país en el siglo XXI, mientras confrontando los problemas más urgentes que la nación enfrenta hoy. Nuestro presupuesto elimina el déficit y estabiliza la deuda, promueve trabajos para los estadounidenses y restablece nuestra competitividad económica.

El presupuesto de CPC enfrenta estos problemas en escuchar al pueblo estadounidense. En encuesta tras encuesta, están diciéndonos que quieren preservar el Seguro Social, Medicare y Medicaid, hacer más asequible la educación superior, expandir los programas de entrenamiento de empleo, de reducir los impuestos para la clase media, subsidiar viviendas asequibles y proveer asistencia financiera para los que luchan evitar embargos.

La mayoría de este país piensa que cortes al Seguro Social, Medicare y Medicaid, educación K-12, asistencia de calefacción a familias de bajos ingresos, préstamos estudiantiles, seguro de desempleo, y la investigación científica y médica son totalmente inaceptables.

En contraste, los estadounidenses encuentran una póliza de impuestos progresivos muy aceptable. La mayoría de Los Estados Unidos apoya impuestos adicionales a millonarios y multimillonarios, eliminar sistemas de armas innecesarios, eliminar créditos fiscales para las industrias de petróleo y gas, gradualmente eliminar los recortes de impuestos de Bush y la eliminación de subsidios para nuevas plantas de energía nuclear. Encuesta tras encuesta da voz a lo que los estadounidenses piden de nosotros.

Nuestro presupuesto, en respuesta, escucha lo que el pueblo estadounidense nos está diciendo. Nuestra propuesta hace todo esto de una manera fiscalmente responsable que dramáticamente reduce tomando préstamos de bancos y gobiernos extranjeros y garantiza nuestra competitividad económica a largo plazo. Reconocemos que para poder competir, necesitamos que todo estadounidense sea productivo. Para ser productivo, tenemos que elevar el nivel de habilidad de todo estadounidense y satisfacer las necesidades básicas de cada familia de trabajo. Nuestro pueblo funciona sólo cuando todos tienen la oportunidad de triunfar en los Estados Unidos.

Nuestro presupuesto elimina el déficit para el 2021

El presupuesto CPC elimina el déficit de manera que no devasta lo que los estadounidenses quieren preservado, específicamente, Medicare, Medicaid y Seguro Social. En lugar de erosionar el plan de retiros ganado con mucho esfuerzo y la red de seguridad social de Estados Unidos, nuestro presupuesto está dirigido a los verdaderos conductores de déficits en la próxima
década: los recortes de impuestos de Bush, las guerras en el extranjero y las causas y efectos de la recesión reciente. Al implementar un código fiscal justo, al construir una economía estadounidense que resalte y al regresar nuestras tropas a casa, lograremos un superávit fiscal de más de 30 millones de dólares para el 2021 y acabaremos con una deuda que es inferior al 65% de nuestro PIB. Así se ve la sostenibilidad.

Nuestro presupuesto pone a la nación a trabajar y restablece la competitividad de Estados Unidos

VEl presupuesto CPC reconstruye nuestro país y nos hace competitivos de nuevo. Nuestra gente vuelve a trabajar. Reconstruimos nuestras carreteras y puentes, asegurando que aquellos que lo utilicen ayuden a pagar por ello. Reconstruimos nuestras diques y canales con capital inicial para sistemas de envió que pueden competir con el resto del mundo. Levantamos nuestro sistema educativo de formación con más y mejores profesores, restablece las escuelas, ayudando a cada graduado de estudiantes y colegios comunitarios de apoyo. Así se ve la competitividad.

Nuestro presupuesto crea un sistema de impuestos justo

El presupuesto de CPC implementa un sistema de impuestos justo basado en la idea que la equidad y la igualdad son partes integrales de nuestra sociedad. Nuestro presupuesto restablece equidad a un sistema que injustamente beneficio a unos pocos ricos mientras lastimando a la mayoría. Nuestro presupuesto presta atención al llamado de estadounidenses para poner un fin a los recortes de impuestos de Bush y el impuesto de sucesión y crear escalas tributarias justas para millonarios y multimillonarios mientras manteniendo créditos para la clase media y los estudiantes. Asegura que los bancos que naufragaron la economía paguen una cuota modesta de responsabilidad financiera y que el comercio exótico por comerciantes de Wall Street que apostaron a los ahorros de los Estados Unidos sea recaudado un impuesto. Garantiza que los administradores de fondos de cobertura (y a quienes las usan) no reciban tratamiento especial con ventajas fiscales al tratar dividendos y ganancias de capital como ingresos ordinarios. Elimina la caridad a compañías petroleras haciendo ganancias por precios pagados en el surtidor por la gente estadounidense, dado que es injusto que el pueblo estadounidense también tiene que darles a estas compañías petroleras miles de millones de dólares en donativos. Finalmente, nuestro presupuesto impone impuestos sobre ganancias corporativas de los Estados Unidos así que es ganada, muy similar a la manera en que estadounidenses contribuyen. Así se ve la equidad.

Nuestro presupuesto trae a casa nuestras tropas

El presupuesto CPC responsablemente termina nuestras guerras que actualmente son pagadas con dólares de contribuyentes que no tenemos. Nosotros ponemos fin a estas guerras no simplemente para ahorrar grandes cantidades de dinero o porque la mayoría del país responde en votaciones a favor de hacerlo, sino porque estas guerras están haciendo al país menos seguro, están reduciendo la posición de EEUU en el mundo, y no hacen nada para reducir la creciente crisis de seguridad energética de Estados Unidos. El presupuesto CPC ofrece una solución real para estos fiscales, diplomática y la crisis de energía, dejando un país más seguro, tanto aquí como en el extranjero. El presupuesto de CPC asegura también que el gasto de defensa de nuestro país no siga contribuyendo significativamente a nuestra corriente carga fiscal: una tendencia que reversamos al poniendo en fin las guerras y ajustando fuerzas convencionales y estratégicas, resultando en 2,3 billones de dólares de ahorro. Así se ve la seguridad.

Balance de nuestro presupuesto

 Reducción del déficit por 5,6 trillones de dólares
 Recortes primarios de 869 billones de dólares
 Ahorro de interés neto de 856 billones de dólares
 Total de cortes económicos de 1,7 trillones de dólares
 Aumento de ingresos de 3,9 trillones de dólares
 Inversión pública de 1,7 trillones de dólares
 Superávit fiscal de 30,7 billones de dólares en 2021, deuda a 64,1% del PIB

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WASHINGTON DC – Representative Hank Johnson (GA-04) released the following statement on President Obama’s ‘The Country We Believe In’ Speech dealing with fiscal policy:

“President Obama’s speech laid out his vision of a just, fair and prosperous future that will unite the American people.”

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Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) delivered the following remarks at an April 13, 2011, news conference presenting the People’s Budget, a proposal offered by the Congressional Progressive Caucus to counter the “Road to Ruin” budget offered by Congressman Paul Ryan that ends Medicare:

“The American people don’t need a budget that funnels money to the wealthy and connected. The People’s Budget is a budget, by, and for the people, put together by representatives who care about American men and women who don’t have high-end lobbyists and PR campaigns. This budget puts America back to work and restores America’s competitiveness. This budget implements a fair tax system. 

“In Luke 12:48, it is written that ‘to whom much is given, much is required.’ That value is alive in this budget. We ask the wealthiest Americans contribute their fair share.  And we stop giving handouts to multinational corporations.
 
“This budget funds health care for all Americans, a basic right in a just society. 

“And this budget will be in balance by 2021. We do have a fiscal crisis.  And there should be no sacred cows in the discussion of how to solve it, including defense spending and ending tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires.  The Ryan budget proposes it can solve our fiscal problems without any tax increase.  That is a laughable and preposterous suggestion.Let’s get real.  This People’s Budget is a real proposal.  It’s serious, and I look forward to supporting it on the floor of the House.”

To read the People's Budget, click HERE.

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WASHINGTON, DC - Hoy, el congresista Hank Johnson (D-GA) dio a conocer la siguiente declaración sobre el anuncio hecho por el presidente Obama a propósito de la promoción del Tratado de Libre Comercio con Colombia:

"Felicito el compromiso del Presidente con el comercio y el crecimiento, pero estoy profundamente preocupado por la violencia contra los trabajadores de Colombia, los afrocolombianos y los indígenas colombianos, que son habitualmente atacados y desplazados con impunidad.”

"El plan de acción anunciado esta semana por el presidente Obama y el presidente Santos, no aborda adecuadamente los problemas. Colombia sigue fracasando en la responsabilidad básica del gobierno de proteger a sus ciudadanos, y yo me opongo a un acuerdo comercial que no se ocupa de ese fracaso.”

"El plan de acción anunciado esta semana indica que todas las partes se dan cuenta que hay mucho trabajo por delante para proporcionar justicia y seguridad para los trabajadores colombianos, y que es digno de elogio. En un momento en que los derechos de los trabajadores están bajo ataque en los Estados Unidos, es imperativo que nos solidaricemos con los trabajadores de todo el mundo, desde Madison a Medellín. Aliento al Gobierno de Colombia y el presidente Obama para dar la misma atención a la difícil situación de los afrocolombianos y los indígenas colombianos."

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Congressman: Tucker-based domestic violence center ‘doing the extraordinary’

 TUCKER, GA – Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04) today congratulated Tapestri Inc. for receiving a $300,000 grant from the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office on Violence Against Women to fight sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking.

Tapestri is one of the metro Atlanta’s leading community-based organizations working to end violence and oppression in refugee and immigrant communities.

The one-time grant was awarded April 11.

“Women and girls who are assaulted and abused are denied their basic human dignity and freedom,” said Johnson. “Domestic violence hurts everyone, and affects people no matter of race, sex, nationality, ethnicity and religion. Tapestri is doing the extraordinary under difficult circumstances – providing comfort and cover for our most vulnerable citizens.”

Vanisa Karic – Tapestri Inc.’s executive director – said the grant will go toward an 18-month campaign to raise awareness among hundreds of refugee and immigrant communities that violence against women is unacceptable.

“We believe that every person has a right to live without fear,” said Karic. “We believe that everyone should be able to seek and receive help and services that are respectful of his/her community, language, culture, gender, race, age, sexual orientation, disability and religious beliefs.”

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El Congresista habla sobre seguro de salud, Seguro Social y Medicare a las personas de la tercera edad

Lithonia, GA – el día 23 de marzo el Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04) visitó el Centro Lou Walker de Personas Mayores en el primer aniversario de la firma del Presidente Obama del Acta de Atención de Salud Asequible (“Affordable Care Act”), lo que convirtió el acta en ley.

Johnson habló con personas de la tercera edad sobre el futuro de la Seguridad Social y Medicare, y el estado de la ley de Atención de Salud Asequible en su primer aniversario.

"No crean en la moda señoras y señores, la ley de Atención de Salud Asequible está viva y bien", dijo Johnson. "Y mientras que la mayoría de los beneficios de la ley se llevarán a cabo en 2014, la ley ya está demostrando beneficios para las personas de la tercera edad mediante la reducción de costos de medicamentos recetados, el suministro gratuito de visitas medicas anuales de rutina y el fortalecimiento del Fondo Fiduciario de Medicare por 12 años".

Johnson también dijo que la ley establece nuevas herramientas para tomar medidas enérgicas contra el fraude en Medicare, ayuda a las personas de la tercera edad que se quedan en casa y se mantienen fuera de los ancianatos y proporciona más protección contra los abusos a residentes de hogares de ancianos.

"Para el año 2014 una vez que los cambios se hayan establecido, las compañías de seguros no podrán discriminar a cualquier consumidor debido a condiciones pre-existentes y nadie se enfrentará a límites anuales o de por vida en la cobertura", dijo.

El futuro de la Seguridad Social y Medicare también se discutió. Johnson contestó varias preguntas de la audiencia, quienes estaban preocupados por los programas.

"Personas de la tercera edad en los Estados Unidos han trabajado duro asumiendo que el Seguro Social y Medicare estarán allí para ustedes – ustedes se merecen el sistema que pagaron y se les prometió todos estos años. Soy muy consciente de los esfuerzos, disfrazados de soluciones, que elevarán los costos, reducen los beneficios y limitaran sus opciones; voy a luchar contra ellos en todo momento. "

Foto de arriba: Hank saluda a un constituyente en el Lou Walker Centro para Personas de la tercera edad el Miércoles, 23 de marzo antes de hablar con personas de la tercera edad  sobre el futuro de la Seguridad Social, Medicare y celebrar el primer aniversario de la Ley de Atención de Salud Asequible.
 

El Congresista presenta un proyecto de ley para proteger desempleados con una ley de Derechos Civiles; Johnson: "Todos los estadounidenses merecen la oportunidad de trabajar”
  
 WASHINGTON, DC - El Congresista Hank Johnson (GA-04) ha presentado hoy la Ley de Empleo Justo del 2011 - HR 1113 -, que enmendaría la Ley de Derechos Civiles de 1964 para proteger contra discriminación debido a su situación de desempleo.

El proyecto de ley de Johnson responde a las denuncias generalizadas de ofertas de empleo que excluyen explícitamente a los solicitantes quienes están desempleados. Algunos anuncios declaran que los solicitantes "deben estar actualmente empleados" o se estipula que "ningún candidato desempleado se considera en absoluto." Algunos anuncios dicen: "No se consideraran candidatos quienes hayan sido despedidos."

"La discriminación de empleadores en contra a solicitantes desempleados es un principio fundamentalmente erróneo", dijo el representante de Johnson, quien representa partes de los condados de DeKalb, Rockdale y Gwinnett en el este del área metropolitana de Atlanta. "Con el desempleo cerca al 9 por ciento y con casi 14 millones de estadounidenses sin trabajo, esta discriminación no hará sino prolongar la crisis".

Según un informe de la Oficina de Estadísticas del Trabajo en febrero de 2011, la tasa nacional de desempleo es de 8,9 por ciento. Las cifras para los afroamericanos y los hispanos, sin embargo, son un 15,3 por ciento y 11,6 por ciento, respectivamente.

"La discriminación contra los desempleados huele a tiempos pasados cuando los avisos decían," mujeres no necesitan aplicar "," Irlandeses no necesitan aplicar " o " no se permiten negros ", dijo Johnson. "Voy a hacer todo lo posible por luchar por los desempleados".

En noviembre de 2010, el Congresista Johnson envió una carta a EE.UU. Igualdad de Oportunidades en el Empleo (EEOC por sus siglas en ingles), a la presidente de la Comisión Jacqueline Berrien para solicitar una investigación sobre la posible discriminación contra los desempleados.

La EEOC celebró una audiencia sobre el tema 16 de febrero, donde se identificó esta tendencia preocupante como una creciente amenaza para los desempleados, especialmente para los quienes han estado desempleados por largo tiempo.

Como la Presidente Berrien, dijo, "[la] reunión dio a la Comisión una importante oportunidad para aprender acerca de la nueva práctica de excluir a las personas desempleadas de los grupos de solicitantes."

Johnson, miembro de los comités de Servicios Armados y Judicial, cuenta con 11 copatrocinadores, entre ellos Barbara Lee, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Yvette Clark, Keith Ellison, Raúl Grijalva, Jim McDermott, Sheila Jackson Lee, Ed Towns, Bennie Thompson y Charlie Rangel.

Desde 2007, la oficina del Congresista ayuda a miles de residentes a navegar en asuntos de vivienda, salud, seguridad social, beneficios del IRS y de Veteranos 
  
 Lithonia, GA - Desde que asumió el cargo en 2007, el congresista Hank Johnson ha trabajado para asegurar $ 3,168,602.38 millones para aquellos que buscan ayuda de sus oficinas en el distrito cuarto de Georgia en el Congreso.

"Ayudar a mis electores navegar la burocracia federal es una de las cosas más importantes que hago", dijo el representante Johnson. "La primera vez que me postulé para el cargo en 2006, prometí que cuidaría de mi distrito primero que todo. Estoy aquí para asegurar que mis electores reciban el dinero y los beneficios que les corresponden por parte del gobierno federal”.

Johnson, cuyas oficinas en Washington, DC y en el Distrito tienen una excelente reputación en toda Georgia y la nación por los estelares servicios a sus electores, dijo que continuará poniendo a sus electores en primer lugar.

"Como siempre, yo valoro los aportes de mis electores y doy la bienvenida a sus comentarios. Ser el representante del Distrito Cuatro en Washington es un gran honor, y agradezco ayudar a los electores por encima de todas las cosas. Escuchar a los residentes y llevar sus preocupaciones a Washington es la razón por la que estoy aquí. "

La oficina de Johnson ha ayudado a más de 3,500 electores a recibir $ 3,168, 602.38 millones desde 2007. Las siguientes son algunas de las historias exitosas:

Asuntos de los Veteranos: Un veterano sin hogar del Sur de DeKalb contactó la oficina del Congresista Johnson después de más de 14 años de no poder cobrar sus beneficios por incapacidad. Después de seis meses en los que la oficina de Johnson trabajo en el caso con la Administración de Beneficios para Veteranos, el elector recibido más de $ 350,000 dólares. Él ya no está sin hogar y continúa recibiendo beneficios por discapacidad del VA.

Seguridad Social: Recientemente, el congresista Johnson fue capaz de ayudar a un elector de Decatur, quien pidió ayuda para obtener beneficios del Seguro Social. Después de que fue enviada una carta en su nombre, la Administración del Seguro Social se pronunció a favor del hombre y le concedió $53,682 dólares en beneficios retroactivos.

Servicio de Impuestos: Recientemente, el congresista Johnson resolvió un problema de un elector con el IRS. Durante seis años, el elector tuvo problemas para obtener su reembolso de impuestos. La oficina de Johnson trabajó en el caso por más de dos años, y, finalmente, ayudó a obtener al elector más de $ 34,000 dólares en reembolsos de impuestos.

Vivienda: Desde 2009, la oficina de Johnson ha ayudado a más de 650 residentes frente a las ejecuciones hipotecarias pendientes en sus hogares.

Otras agencias: las oficinas de Johnson en Lithonia, Conyers y pronto en Northlake Mall en Tucker están dispuestas a ayudar a los residentes de Georgia  del Distrito cuatro del Congreso con sus problemas con agencias federales. Para obtener una lista completa de servicios, visite la sección de servicios a electores de Johnson en su sitio Web. [http://hankjohnson.house.gov/services/assistance-with-federal-agencies.shtml]

Desde 2007, Johnson y su equipo han llevado a cabo decenas de reuniones para electores (Town Halls), manejado miles de piezas de correspondencia de electores y participado en innumerables reuniones con los residentes en la zona para escuchar las preocupaciones y los problemas de los residentes de Georgia con el gobierno federal. A través de esta campaña de difusión, Johnson aseguró más de $ 3 millones de dólares que el gobierno le debía a la tercera edad, veteranos, familias y propietarios de pequeñas empresas.

El Cuarto Distrito del Congreso de Johnson abarca más de 275 kilómetros cuadrados y más de 700,000 residentes de más de tres condados - DeKalb, Rockdale y Gwinnett. El Congresista Johnson ha trabajado para ofrecer maneras fáciles para que los electores participen y se mantengan en contacto con:

► Reuniones para electores (Town Halls): Desde que asumió el cargo en 2007, lanzó "El Congreso en tu esquina", y participó en una serie de eventos de la comunidad para escuchar directamente a los electores. En agosto de 2009, Johnson realizó una reunión para electores (Town Hall) sobre la reforma de salud que fue un modelo para la nación. Más de 3,000 personas asistieron. En 2009-10, Johnson llevó a cabo tres ferias de empleo en el lapso de 13 meses que sirvieron a más de 2,000 electores, con algunos recibiendo ofertas de trabajo allí mismo. Johnson ha celebrado cinco "reuniones para electores por teléfono" con más de 100,000 habitantes desde 2009.

► Asociación Alianza de Aprendizaje de la serie (PALS): el Congresista Johnson lanzó un programa único llamado PALS que enseña a entidades sin fines de lucro y pequeñas empresas la forma de unir fuerzas para competir por fondos federales y otorgar oportunidades para pequeños negocios. Además, conecta entidades sin fines de lucro y pequeñas empresas con  recursos federales, estatales y locales.

► Horario Móvil de atención: Tenemos que explorar esto - eventos regulares en las bibliotecas y oficinas públicas en toda la región. Johnson tiene horario de oficina en el City Hall de Conyers en la calle Scott y Northlake Mall en Tucker dos veces al mes para los electores que no tienen tiempo para viajar a su oficina Lithonia.

► Sitio Web: http://hankjohnson.house.gov sitio web de Johnson es una ventanilla única para las actualizaciones de noticias, boletines electrónicos, discursos, legislación, servicios para electores, videos, fotos y el lugar en que los electores puede enviar un e-mail a su representante directamente. Johnson mantuvo correspondencia con más de 38,851 electores a través de e-mail sólo en 2010, y un promedio de 3,000 al mes.

► Boletines Electrónicos (E-Newsletter): el Congresista Johnson envía actualizaciones regulares a más de 12,000 electores desde su oficina a los suscriptores de su boletín electrónico. Para los interesados en inscribirse en estas actualizaciones, visite la página https://hankjohnsonforms.house.gov/enews.shtml.

► Medios de Comunicación Social: al Congresista Johnson también se puede llegar a través de Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Congressman-Hank-Johnson/115356957005 y Twitter http://twitter.com/RepHankJohnson.

► Oficinas: Para las reuniones cara a cara y ayuda con las agencias federales, el Congresista Johnson y su equipo están disponibles en tres oficinas en Georgia (Lithonia, Conyers y Tucker) y en Washington, DC, en el 1427 del Edificio Longworth. En Georgia, llame al 770-987-2291 y en Washington, llame al 202-225-1605. Por favor llame con anticipación para una cita o solicite una reunión en línea en https://hankjohnsonforms.house.gov/request.shtml reunión.

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Dear Friends,            

Even as I returned to Congress this week, I wanted to thank everyone who made the District Work Period last week such a success. I appreciate everyone who met with me at the Lithonia office and everyone I saw on numerous events throughout the District. Here’s a brief recap of my work week in Atlanta and a look ahead to events here and in Washington, D.C.

WORK WEEK IN ATLANTA: I was fortunate to be able to visit two schools, a Conyers business, a birthday party for Emmanuel Hawkins in Tucker, an Eagle Scout Court of Honor in south DeKalb, the Japanese Consul, a senior center and Clarkston’s Friendship Forest among many other meetings and events. I also want to thank representatives of Computers for Youth, Fair Tax advocates, Georgia Peace & Justice Coalition, the Multiple Sclerosis Society, Wesley Chapel Livable Centers Initiative and everyone who helped plan our Veterans Expo scheduled for next month. Please check out the photos on our FLICKR page. Thank you!

THIS WEEK IN WASHINGTON: Libya and the budget received the lion’s share of the attention in Washington this week. I hope you had a chance to watch President Obama’s speech on Libya on March 28. This morning, I met with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen in a House Armed Services Committee on Libya.

As far as the budget goes, negotiations are ongoing. Hopefully we’ll reach an agreement before April 8. Otherwise the government will shut down. According to a CNN poll, more than 60% of Tea Party supporters say shutting down the government – even for just a few days – is a good thing. I hope it doesn’t come to that.

CALLING ALL STUDENT ARTISTS: Attention all high school student artists and their teachers in the Fourth District --  I’m looking for participants to enter our 2011 Congressional Arts Competition, the annual arts extravaganza celebrating the community’s best young artists. The deadline for entries is April 12-14 and must be completed according to the competition guidelines, which are on my WEB SITE. In addition to having your artwork at the Capitol for a year, winners of the competition will be eligible for college scholarships from the Art Institute of Atlanta ($10,000, $5,000, and $2,500) or the Savannah College of Art and Design ($1,500 per year). For more, click HERE.

VETERANS, MILITARY AND THEIR FAMILIES EXPO: We owe our service members, their families and all our veterans an immeasurable debt. To ensure they receive their full benefits, I’m holding a Veterans and Armed Forces Expo on Friday, April 29 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at DeKalb Technical College in Clarkston. Veterans, military personnel and their families will receive free information about available services and on-site assistance with benefits, including employment opportunities, housing, health care, education and filing Veterans Administration claims.

The expo will be held in the college’s main Conference Center. Participating veterans can register and receive more information at our Veterans Home page of the Web site: http://www.hankjohnson.house.gov/veteran-index.shtml. Registration is encouraged but not required.

DISCRIMINATION AGAINST THE UNEMPLOYED: On March 16, I introduced the Fair Employment Act of 2011, which would protect against discrimination on the basis of unemployment status. This bill is about fairness – fairness to Americans, who through no fault of their own are out of work and can’t find a job. It responds to widespread reports of job listings that explicitly exclude unemployed applicants. Some advertisements stated that “no unemployed candidates will be considered at all.” Discrimination against the unemployed smacks of days gone by when signs read, ‘women need not apply,’ ‘Irish need not apply’ or ‘no Blacks allowed.' I'm going to do all I can to fight for the unemployed. For more, click HERE.

RARE EARTH ELEMENTS: On March 31, introduced the Resource Assessment of Rare Earths (RARE) Act of 2011, which directs the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to conduct a three-year, comprehensive global mineral assessment of rare earth elements (REEs). Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA), a national leader on energy and the environment, is the lead original cosponsor of the bill. Critical to high-tech clean-energy and defense manufacturing, rare earth elements (REEs) are strategic minerals used in the production of cutting-edge technologies such as wind turbines, advanced batteries, powerful magnets, and military radar systems. For more, click HERE.

HEALTH CARE FAIR: AARP, DeKalb United Pentecostal Church and UnitedHealthcare are holding a health and wellness fair at the Pentecostal Church, 1670 Juliette Drive in Stone Mountain on April 30 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Services include free screening for blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, BMI, HIV/AIDS and a take home colon cancer test. Gospel star Marvin Sapp will perform at the fair.

HUMANE SOCIETY HONOR: I was proud to receive a Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) award this week for my leadership on appropriations language encouraging the Secretary of Defense to develop alternatives to the use of live animals in battlefield trauma training. Studies show that animals physically feel pain, just like humans. How we treat animals reflects our values as a society and stewardship of the planet. We must do all we can to treat animals with respect and kindness, and defeat animal cruelty wherever we can. For more, click HERE.

KIDS & HEALTHY FOODS: The USDA will expand assistance to state agencies for schools operating USDA’s Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) for the 2011/2012 school year.  The investment is part of the Obama administration’s efforts to improve the health of our children by providing access to nutritious meals in schools and also serves as a valuable resource to schools that continue working to improve the health and nutrition of the foods they serve. The assistance will provide free fresh fruit and vegetables to children throughout the school day. For more, click HERE.

Please share this e-letter with friends and family who live in the Fourth District and encourage them to sign up to receive these free online newsletters and visit me on Facebook.

Thanks,

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Hank Johnson (D-GA) released the following statement on the announcement made by President Obama on the Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement:

“I commend the President’s commitment to trade and growth, but I am deeply concerned by ongoing violence against Colombian workers, Afro-Colombians, and indigenous Colombians who are routinely attacked and displaced with impunity.

“The action plan announced this week by President Obama and President Santos fails to adequately address those issues.  Colombia continues to fail at the basic governmental responsibility of protecting its citizens, and I oppose a trade agreement that does not address that failure.

“The action plan announced this week indicates that all parties realize there is significant work ahead to provide justice and security for Colombian workers, and that is commendable. At a time when workers’ rights are under attack here in the United States, it is imperative that we stand in solidarity with workers around the world, from Madison to Medellin. I encourage the Government of Colombia and President Obama to give equal attention to the plight of the Afro-Colombians and indigenous Colombians.”

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