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.
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Thanks,
