Dear Friends,
Thanks to everyone who volunteered their time to make the Help for Homeowners foreclosure prevention event last week such a success. We helped more than 2,250 residents during the two-day community events, but more work must be done to stop foreclosures. If you or someone you know is facing a possible foreclosure, please don’t hesitate to call my District office at 770-987-2291.
Please stop by my Facebook page to see the photos from Help for Homeowners. Friending me on Facebook is also a great way to keep track of upcoming events and news from D.C. and the District.
FIGHTING FORECLOSURES – More than 2,250 metro Atlanta residents facing possible foreclosure attended the two-day Help for Homeowners event last week that Reps. John Lewis, David Scott and I held in conjunction 
with the U.S. Department of Treasury, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Hope Now Alliance, Making Home Affordable and NeighborWorks America at the Georgia International Convention Center.
Making Home Affordable program is a good start but more must to be done to help homeowners stay in their homes. While foreclosure rates in metro Atlanta are down 8% from last year, they are still way too high. The free event offered 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 offered the platform for struggling homeowners to work out other options with their lenders. For more, click HERE.
Photo above: Hank is briefed by officials from the Treasury Department and HUD as he makes his way through the main hall during the Help for Homeowners event at the Georgia International Convention Center on Friday, June 17, 2011.
PATENT REFORM = JOBS – This week, I supported the “America Invents Act,” which will foster innovation, economic growth and help America maintain its global competitive edge. If we are going to improve our economy, we must modernize our patent laws. Currently, there is a massive backlog at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to the tune of 700,000 patents pending. The “America Invents Act” includes much needed improvements to the patent system that will streamline the system, drive economic growth and help create jobs by taking the handcuffs off innovation.
EQUAL RIGHTS – In wake of this week’s controversial Supreme Court Wal-Mart decision that will make it more difficult for workers to fight claims of gender discrimination, I stood with my Democratic 
colleagues June 22 on Capitol Hill, urging Congress to pass the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA).
The ERA passed Congress in 1972, but fell three states short of the 38 necessary for ratification. It’s 2011 ladies and gentlemen, and full gender equality is not yet a reality. There is still much work to be done and more glass ceilings to shatter. I refuse to stand idly by while women still are paid just 77 cents to the dollar men earn for performing the same job, and the health care system discriminates against women by considering their sex a “pre-existing” condition. While women continue to face gender discrimination in the workplace, I will continue to fight for the ERA to be included in the U.S. Constitution.
Photo above: Hank participates in a Capitol Hill news conference on the Equal Rights Amendment on June 22.
MEDICARE BENEFITS/SENIORS TOUR – A new report shows that more than 5 million Americans with traditional Medicare – or nearly one in six people with Medicare – took advantage of one or more of the recommended preventive benefits now available for free thanks to the Affordable Care Act.
To ensure seniors know all of the important preventive benefits now covered at no charge to patients, including the new Annual Wellness Visit benefit created by the Affordable Care Act, I’ve launched Seniors Meet & Greet Tour of Fourth District senior centers. I bring my staff, representatives from the Social Security Administration, Medicare and the Veterans Administration together under one roof. Our first event at South DeKalb Senior Center was a big success. Stay tuned for our next stop later this summer at a senior center near you. For more information on Medicare’s preventative benefits, click HERE.
Photo above: Hank stops by a Lithonia center recently to chat with seniors.
MEDICARE AT 45 – Today, virtually all Americans 65 and older have health care coverage. Before Medicare was passed in 1965 only about half our seniors had health insurance, which often left them vulnerable to treatable diseases and illnesses. As we observe the 45th anniversary of Medicare on July 1, I’m proud to have voted for the Affordable Care Act, which will extend Medicare’s solvency for 12 years.
While I’ll fight to defend and preserve Medicare, I’m also concerned about seniors’ ability to afford their prescriptions under Medicare Part D. Due to 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. I’m going to get to the bottom of this. For more, click HERE.
FOREIGN AFFAIRS – I recently published an op-ed in Washington, D.C.’s The Hill newspaper calling 
for closer ties with the Republic of Turkey. In “Turkey: Emerging power, valuable friend,” I argue that a deeper and more candid friendship with Turkey will help the United States pursue its interests and support its values around the world. To read the full article, click HERE.
AFGHANISTAN – Like many of you, I watched President Obama’s speech on Afghanistan Wednesday night. The President has done exactly what he said he would do. Over the next 18 months, 30,000 American soldiers – a third of our committed forces – will return home.
I understand an open-ended, nation-building commitment in Afghanistan is militarily, financially, and politically impossible. If you think the sustained application of American military force can turn Afghanistan into Switzerland by 2014, you’re dreaming. But we can also all agree that leaving Afghanistan to the Taliban or abandoning it to failed-state status is totally contrary to our interests.
The President is making good on his commitments. He announced a responsible policy for Afghanistan, and I support him.
DISTRICT 4 FOURTH OF JULY GUIDE – This Fourth of July, enjoy the festivities and fireworks but please be safe. For a sneak peak at fireworks and holiday events nearest you, click HERE.
PASSPORT FAIR – The United States Postal Service is conducting a Passport Fair on Saturday, June 25 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Crown Road facility in Atlanta 30304. For more information, click HERE.
NATIONWIDE EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will conduct the first nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS). The nationwide test will be on Wednesday, November 9 at 2 p.m. EST. The EAS is a national alert and warning system created to enable the President of the United States to address the American public during emergencies. For more information, click HERE.
TRANSPORTATION INVESTMENT ACT FORUM – There’s been a lot of talk recently about the penny sales tax referendum in 2012 that – if passed by voters – would fund transportation projects throughout metro Atlanta for a decade. Elected officials in each of the state’s 12 regions are developing a list of projects. The Partnership for Southern Equity is a holding a forum on the legislation on Thursday, June 30, 2011 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at DeKalb Tech Conference Center, 495 North Indian Creek Drive in Clarkston. To see the agenda and to register, click HERE.
As always, I appreciate your time and comments. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to represent you in Congress. Please have a fun, but safe Fourth of July weekend!
Thanks,
Avondale Estates: The 4th of July Celebration, Monday, July 4, 2011. Parade begins at 9:15 a.m at Avondale High School. 7:30 p.m. Atlanta Blue Notes perform at the lake; At dusk the fireworks begin at the Lake. Click 
More than 2,150 metro Atlanta residents facing foreclosure attended the two-day Help for Homeowners event in College Park last weekend held by Reps. Hank Johnson, John Lewis and David Scott.