May 2011 Archives

Monday, May 30, 2011

Good morning, it’s great to be here this morning to honor our Veterans – especially our Vietnam Veterans, who for too long were not treated with the dignity and respect they deserved.

And it’s good to be here with Senator Johnny Isakson – who co-sponsored the Senate bill that declared March 30, 2011, as “Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day” That was a great piece of legislation, Senator and we are all indebted to you for making sure that Viet Nam Veterans receive their rightful honors.

CEO Burrell Ellis, thank you for all you do and for hosting this important event here at the Maloof Building. And thank you to Major General James Donald and Chaplain Tommy Thompson for being here today – gentlemen, thank you for your service.

And a special thanks to Vietnam Veteran and aviator Marvin Myers, president of the Georgia Vietnam Veterans Alliance for being here. I look forward to his address this morning.

Not a day goes by in my office without one of our constituent representatives speaking with a veteran who is dealing with a housing, health, job or compensation issue.

To all the Veterans, please know that it is an honor to serve you – You have served us so well – and now it’s our time to serve you.

There’s not much in Congress we do that’s more important than serving our veterans.

As a member of the House Armed Services Committee since 2007, every day I’m inspired to work on behalf of all our military personnel and veterans.
 
Ensuring that quality services are being delivered to each of you is one of my greatest joys as a public servant.

I thank each of you for your service and can assure you that as long as I am in The Congress, your needs will remain a priority for me and my staff.

Memorial Day is a solemn holiday and a great opportunity for us to make it clear, we appreciate the service and sacrifice of our military and their families. 

It is a day to pause and remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice and to say a heartfelt thank you to those who are still with us. 

Your service is noble and in the best traditions of our nation. Putting service before self, you have made our country strong.  You make us all proud.

So I end today with the simple, but heartfelt words…THANK YOU for your service. 

###
 

Dear friends,

While Memorial Day is a chance for us all to spend time with family and friends, please take some time this holiday to honor our veterans and military families. Remember what our soldiers and their families are doing for us – sacrificing so much to defend our freedoms, our happiness and way of life. I’m proud of the positive steps we’ve taken in Congress to improve health care, pay and facilities for veterans and their families. To see how you can help veterans in a meaningful way, visit the Veterans Empowerment Organization of Georgia today.

HONORING LOCAL VETERANS: I am looking forward to taking part in DeKalb County’s Memorial Day program on Monday in Decatur and seeing Marvin Myers, President of the Georgia Vietnam Vets Alliance. I was honored to host a Veterans Expo on April 29, 2011, in which hundreds of veterans and their families from DeKalb, Rockdale and Gwinnett counties received assistance from federal agencies.  For more, click HERE.

Rockdale County’s Memorial Day observances began Thursday by honoring U.S. Marine Pfc. Ted Britt at Rockdale County’s Walk of Heroes. On Memorial Day, the American Legion Post 77 will host its annual Memorial Day ceremony at 11 a.m. at the post at 674 American Legion Road, just off of the Main Street and Ga. Highway 138 intersection. The Conyers American Legion Post will also hold a blood drive from 1 to 6 p.m. Monday. For more, click HERE.

In Gwinnett County, Norcross will launch its Summer Concert Series on Memorial Day evening. For more, click HERE.

Thank you Vets!

I-20 EAST CORRIDOR:  Several important and informative meetings were held earlier this month on the MARTA I-20 East Transit Initiative by the Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC).  While there was a good showing, not everyone was able to make it to the meetings. That’s why I'm pleased MARTA and Sycamore Consulting are providing an easy online survey to allow residents to have their say in the I-20 East transit initiative. Click HERE to access the survey.  The survey will be available for completion until June 10, 2011. Please contact Jen Price of Sycamore Consulting at 404.377.9147 if you have any questions.

HELP FOR HOMEOWNERS: I’m happy to be a part again this year in the “Help for Homeowners” program held in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Treasury, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Hope Now Alliance and NeighborWorks America. This year, the program will be Friday, June 17 from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, June 18 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Georgia International Convention Center in College Park. The free event offers homeowners a chance to meet one on one with their lenders, find out if they qualify for President Obama’s “Making Home Affordable” program and offers a forum for struggling homeowners to work out other options with their lenders. For more information or to see what you need to bring, click HERE.

POSTAL SERVICE: As the Postal Service continues to seek solutions to address customers’ concerns at the Wesley Chapel Road Post Office, the following locations (all within a 2-mile radius of the Post Office) also sell stamps and can help you avoid long lines at the Post Office. For store locations, click HERE.  

FIGHTING FRAUD: Speaking of the Postal Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service – which protects millions of Americans from fraud every year – reminds you to be on the alert for the top 10 warning signs of potential schemes and scams. For more, click HERE.
 
EPA HEARINGS: On May 26, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) held a public hearing on their new coal-burning emissions standards that make it more difficult for power plants to pollute – especially the release of harmful elements such as mercury, arsenic, lead, dioxin and particulate matter. Hundreds of residents turned out to urge prompt implementation of this common-sense rule. The Clean Air Act of 1990 was meant to protect us from harmful air pollution. Unfortunately, since then some industries have spent more time and treasure looking for loopholes and avoiding compliance than installing the technologies necessary to reduce harmful emissions.  For more, click HERE.  

As always, I appreciate your time and comments. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to represent you in Congress. Happy Memorial Day weekend!

Thanks,

Hank
 
 

ATLANTA, GA – Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) announced today that he is co-hosting a community event next month with Reps. John Lewis and David Scott to help struggling homeowners avoid foreclosure.

In conjunction with the U.S. Department of Treasury, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Hope Now Alliance and NeighborWorks America, the Congressmen are holding Help for Homeowners on Friday, June 17 and Saturday, June 18 at the Georgia International Convention Center.

Johnson said residents struggling to keep their homes need to know about the $50 billion federal Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) that offers assistance in re-structuring loan payments.

“We’re making some progress, but much more needs to be done to save people’s homes,” said Rep. Johnson, who has been fighting foreclosures since he was a county commissioner in 2001.

“That’s why it’s so important that we hold this event – to get the homeowners, lenders, banks, HUD and local officials under one roof to help homeowners, who often through no fault of their own, have fallen behind on their mortgages.”

Since 2009, Johnson’s office has assisted more than 650 residents with pending foreclosures.

The free event offers homeowners a chance to meet one on one with their lenders, find out if they qualify for President Obama’s Making Home Affordable program and offers the platform for struggling homeowners to work out other options with their lenders.

Homeowners seeking help are asked to bring the following documents:

● Monthly mortgage statement
● Information about other mortgages on your home, if applicable
● Two most recent pay stubs, documents of income you receive from other sources or most recent quarterly profit and loss statement if you are self-employed
● Two most recent bank statements
● Account balances and monthly payments for credit cards and other debts
● Estimates of your monthly expenditures (such as utilities, insurance and medical bills)

For more information, call the Homeowners HOPE Hotline at 1-888-995-HOPE (4673) or visit MakingHomeAffordable.gov or HopeNow.com.

WHO: Representative Henry “Hank” Johnson
  Representative John Lewis
  Representative David Scott
  HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan
  Department of Treasury

WHAT: Help for Homeowners Community Event

WHEN: Friday, June 17 from 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
  Saturday, June 18 from 9 a.m.- 3 p.m.

WHERE: Georgia International Convention Center
  2000 Convention Center Concourse
  College Park, GA  30337

Servicers Attending:
American Home Mortgage, Aurora, Bank of America, BB&T, Chase, Citi, Everhome, Flagstar, GMAC/Homecomings, HSBC, LBPS, Litton, Nationstar, Ocwen, One West Bank, PHH, PNC, Regions, Select Portfolio Servicing, State, Home Mortgage*(only attending on Saturday), Suntrust, US Bank, Wells Fargo/Wachovia, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac

Housing Counseling Agencies & Others Attending:
Catholic Charities Atlanta; CredAbility; Help the People; HomeFree-USA; NID Southern Crescent Branch; NID-HCA ATLANTA METRO; No Limits CDC; RRC; The IMPACT! Group; Urban League of Greater Atlanta; HUD; Making Home Affordable; Department of Labor; Georgia Department of Community Affairs; Seedco; Project HOPE; Lift Community Development; Georgia Housing Finance Authority, Home Safe Georgia; Urban League of Greater Atlanta; MUST Ministeries; Futon Community Action Authority; City of Atlanta, Office of Housing; United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta; Partnership for Community Action, Inc.; and Radian

# # #

POSTAL SERVICE: As the Postal Service continues to seek solutions to address customers’ concerns at the Wesley Chapel Road Post Office, the following locations (all within a 2-mile radius of the Post Office) also sell stamps and can help you avoid long lines at the Post Office.     
 
Wells Fargo Bank
3930 Flat Shoals Pkwy
 
QUICKTRIP
3930 Flat Shoals Pkwy 
 
Wells Fargo Bank
4974 Flat Shoals Pkwy
 
Wells Fargo Bank
4625 Flat Shoals Pkwy
 
Walgreens
3584 Wesley Chapel Road
 
Wells Fargo Bank
3251 Panthersville Road
 
Publix Supermarket
3649 Flakes Mill Road
 
Wells Fargo Bank
3615 Flat Shoals Road
 
Kroger
2626 Rainbow Way
 
QUICKTRIP
2753 Wesley Chapel Road
 
Wells Fargo Bank
2753 Wesley Chapel Road

###
 

Dear Friends,                                                                                        

PROTECTING CONSUMERS: This week I — along with Sens. Al Franken (D-MN) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) — announced our legislation, the Arbitration Fairness Act, which would eliminate forced arbitration clauses in civil rights, employment and consumer disputes. Forced arbitration agreements undermine our indelible Constitutional right to a trial by a jury of our peers, benefiting powerful businesses at the expense of consumers and workers. Americans with few choices in the marketplace may unknowingly cede their rights when they enter contracts to buy a home or purchase cell phone service, place a loved one in a nursing home or accept a new job. We must fight to defend our rights and re-empower consumers. For more, read about it in the New York Times.

Bill Would Remedy Supreme Court Ruling, Restore Consumers’ Rights to Justice Through Courts

 WASHINGTON, D.C. [05/17/11]—Today during a press conference, U.S. Sens. Al Franken (D-Minn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) announced the introduction of legislation that would restore consumers’ rights to seek justice through the courts. 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.
 
“Workers and consumers should never be forced to give up their rights to get hired for a job, or to get a cell phone,” said Sen. Franken. “I’ve introduced the Arbitration Fairness Act to ensure that workers and consumers have the right to choose arbitration over litigation, instead of being forced into it by corporations.”
 
"Consumers fighting for fundamental rights against giant corporations deserve their day in court," said Sen. Blumenthal. "This new law would protect countless consumers in Connecticut and around the country from powerful companies that take advantage of them. When individuals have legitimate claims against big corporate interests, they have the right to a level playing field. "
 
“Forced arbitration clauses undermine our indelible Constitutional right to take our disputes to Court,” said Rep. Johnson. “They benefit powerful business interests at the expense of American consumers and workers.  These bills are designed to defend our rights and to re-empower consumers.”

In AT&T v. Concepcion, 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 its 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 (FAA) barred state courts from protecting consumers from these arbitration clauses. However, the FAA was originally passed to ensure that the courts enforced commercial arbitration agreements between two companies, not between companies and consumers. The Supreme Court’s expanded interpretation of the FAA allows companies to insulate themselves from liability when they defraud a large number of customers of a relatively small amount of money.
 
What the Arbitration Fairness Act Does:  
 
• Restores the original intent of the FAA by clarifying the scope of its application.
• Amends the FAA by adding a new chapter invalidating agreements that require the arbitration of     employment, consumer, or civil rights disputes made before the dispute arises.
• Restores the rights of workers and consumers to seek justice in our courts.
• Ensures transparency in civil litigation.
• Protects the integrity of the Civil Rights Act, the Equal Pay Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, among others. 

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. Rep. Johnson, a longtime champion of workers and consumer rights, first introduced the Arbitration Fairness Act in 2007.
 
At today’s press conference, Sens. Franken and Blumenthal and Rep. Johnson were joined by Deepak Gupta, an attorney with Public Citizen who argued on behalf of consumers in the AT&T v. Concepcion case before the Supreme Court, Hassan Zavareei, an attorney with Tycko & Zavareei LLP, and Nancy Zirkin, the Executive Vice President for Policy at the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.

Photo cutline: Congressman Hank Johnson meets with Sen. Al Franken on Tuesday, May 17, 2011, on Capitol Hill during a news conference where they announced their legislation, the Arbitration Fairness Act, which would restore consumers' rights to seek justice in the courts.

Read about it in The New York Times.
 
###
 

Congressman concerned seniors being priced out by the rising cost of life-saving prescriptions

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04) sent a letter of inquiry to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) May 11 concerning the onerous cost-sharing requirements that Medicare Part D prescription drug plans are increasingly imposing on seniors.

Using a system known as “specialty tiers” to classify high-cost drugs, Medicare forces recipients to pay up to 33 percent of a drug’s cost that exceeds $600, as opposed to charging seniors a fixed co-pay amount similar to those used for generic or preferred brand drugs.

Although the costs of all prescription drugs are rising, Medicare’s “specialty tier” threshold for high-cost medications remains $600 for the fifth year in a row. Congressman Johnson is concerned this threshold is being held to artificially low levels without explanation or transparency.

“The tier system can force seniors to spend thousands of dollars out of pocket for life-saving prescriptions,” said Johnson, who is a member of the House Seniors Task Force.

“My concern is that seniors are being priced out by this arbitrary threshold and it could in some cases force seniors to choose between medications and putting food on the table or paying bills.”

In the letter, Johnson requests CMS to explain why the specialty tier drug limit is frozen at $600, to clarify the process for the sake of transparency and to analyze the effect freezing the threshold at $600 will have on seniors.

Nineteen Congressional colleagues signed the letter, including Rep. John Conyers (MI-14), Rep. Mike Honda (CA-15) and Barney Frank (MA-04).

To read the letter, click here.

###
 

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In an effort to assist workers in an increasingly mobile economy who are employed in multiple jurisdictions, representatives from North Carolina and Georgia are introducing bipartisan legislation to simplify workers’ tax reporting requirements.  U.S. Reps. Hank Johnson (D-GA) and Howard Coble (R-NC) today introduced the Mobile Workforce State Income Tax Simplification Act of 2011 (H.R. 1864). 

“Under current law, some workers must file income tax forms for doing work in states other than where they reside or their employer is headquartered,” said Johnson. “This hurts small businesses and individuals, especially as we recover from the recession. Our Mobile Workforce legislation not only simplifies the system, but makes it uniform for people who work in multiple jurisdictions.”

States currently have widely varying and inconsistent standards regarding the requirements for employees to file personal income tax returns when traveling to a nonresident state for temporary work periods and for employers to withhold income tax on employees who travel outside of their state of residence for temporary work periods.

“This legislation provides for a uniform, fair and easily administered law,” Rep. Coble added. 

Employees who travel outside of their state of residence for business purposes are subject to onerous administrative burdens because, in addition to filing federal and resident state income tax returns, they may also be legally required to file an income tax return in every other state into which they traveled, even if they were there for only one day.  Employers are required to incur extraordinary expenses in their efforts to comply with the states’ widely divergent withholding requirements for employees’ travel to nonresident states for temporary work periods. 

“The tax system is already too burdensome and complicated as it is. This simplifies the code and would prevent Americans who work in multiple jurisdictions from being taxed by state and local governments other than the places in which they live or perform duties over an extended period.” Rep. Johnson concluded.

Rep. Johnson is a member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Commercial and Administrative Law; Mr. Coble is Chairman. The bill is expected to be referred to that subcommittee for consideration.

###
 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Rare Act, a bill introduced by Rep. Johnson (GA-04), is one of 25 bills included in the House Democrats’ “Make It In America” agenda, which was announced this week by House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) and the House Democratic Caucus. 

The “Make It In America” agenda supports job creation by encouraging businesses to make products and innovate in the U.S. It encourages strengthening our infrastructure with investments in key areas like education and energy innovation. This effort builds on House Democrats’ actions to create jobs, continue growing the economy and focusing on investments in key national priorities while cutting wasteful spending.

The Resource Assessment of Rare Earths (RARE) Act of 2011, cosponsored by Rep. Edward Markey (MA-07), directs the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to conduct a three-year, comprehensive global mineral assessment of rare earth elements (REEs).

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.

Currently, China accounts for 97% of global rare earth element production and has demonstrated a willingness to restrict REE exports. Their monopoly is a strategic vulnerability for the United States that could undermine national security and competitiveness in the defense and clean-energy sectors.

“I’m proud that my bill is part of the ‘Make It In America’ agenda,” said Rep. Johnson. “Like President Obama, I am committed to a future powered by clean energy. Without secure access to rare earth elements, we will be unable to lead the world in cleantech. The RARE Act will dramatically advance our ability to access rare earth elements worldwide.”

Whip Hoyer, the driving force behind the “Make It In America” agenda, said including the RARE Act simply makes sense.

“By taking more control of the rare earth element supply chain, we not only reduce our dependence on minerals from China, but we help fuel manufacturing industries that create stable, middle class jobs crucial to the innovation that will drive our technological future and help more families Make it in America.”

The USGS, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of the Interior, Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and the National Science Foundation, will work with more than 40 foreign governments and key international organizations such as the United Nations and the International Standards Organization to assess global supply.

The USGS global assessment, conducted with geological surveys of partner nations around the world, will:

 identify and quantify individual rare earth elements 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 access.

Since launching the “Make It In America” agenda in the previous Congress, President Obama has signed six “Make It In America” bills into law:

U.S. Manufacturing Enhancement Act: Makes it cheaper for American companies to obtain the materials they need to manufacture goods.

Protecting American Patents: Helps unclog the backlog of 1.2 million patent applications so innovative ideas can move to market more quickly.

Preventing Outsourcing: Prevents the outsourcing of U.S. jobs by closing tax loopholes that encourage companies to send U.S. jobs overseas.

Small Business Jobs Act: Expands much needed lending to millions of small businesses and offers tax incentives to help small businesses grow, hire, and fuel our economy, without adding a dime to the deficit.

Energy Jobs and Training for Veterans Act: Provides grants for programs to provide on-the-job training, apprenticeship, real experience, and long-term employment in all energy fields.

COMPETES Act: Establishes innovative technology federal loan guarantees for small- and medium-sized manufacturers and invests in science, technology, engineering, and math education.

###
 

Congressman hails diversity of participants; awards college scholarships

LITHONIA, GA – Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04) announced the winners of his 2011 Congressional Arts Competition and awarded four college scholarships worth more than $23,000 at the Lou Walker Senior Center this spring.

Aaron Tucker of Meadowcreek High School in Gwinnett County won the competition with “Peace in the Aftermath.” He won a $6,000 scholarship from Savannah College of Art and Design, and traveled to Washington, D.C., in June to see his art displayed in the Capitol tunnel, where it will hang with other award winners for a year.

“As education budgets become increasingly strained, the Congressional Arts Competition is an excellent way to help give the arts a boost in our schools,” said Rep. Johnson. “I’m pleased so many students from schools throughout the district participated this year. Diversity is our strength.”

Thirty-two high school students from DeKalb, Rockdale and Gwinnett counties submitted artwork competing for four college scholarships.

Tekeyah Hall of McNair High School was first runner up and won a $10,000 scholarship to the Art Institute of Atlanta with her piece “Gaia’s Girls”; Perry Daniels of Providence Christian Academy was second runner up with a $5,000 scholarship to the Art Institute for her art “Vikings Way”; and Estephany Morales of Meadowcreek High was third runner up and received a $2,500 scholarship to the Art Institute for her piece “Recognizing You.”

Photo top: Hank takes time for his 2011 Arts Competition winner Aaron Tucker on Capitol Hill in Washington recently.

Photo above: More than 30 students from 18 schools in DeKalb, Rockdale and Gwinnett counties participated in Hank's 2011 Congressional Arts Competition.

###

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Hank Johnson (D-GA) released the following statement on the announcement by President Obama that Osama Bin Laden has been brought to justice:

“This victory in the ongoing fight against violent extremism shows the resolve of the American people and the leadership of President Obama. We are grateful to U.S. intelligence personnel and military forces who carried out this essential mission and brought Osama bin Laden to justice.”

###