September 2011 Archives

Dear Friends,

One year after the Patient’s Bill of Rights in the Affordable Care Act went into effect, millions of Americans are already benefiting from the law.

In fact, September 23rd was the First Anniversary of the Patient’s Bill of Rights in the Affordable Care Act, and millions of Americans are benefiting from the improved coverage and lower costs provided by the law. 

The protections of the Patient’s Bill of Rights became effective for all plan years beginning on or after September 23, 2010.  That means one year later all Americans with private health plans are now receiving the protections of the Bill of Rights.

| Learn how the law affects you by clicking the HealthCare.gov icon to the left |

The Affordable Care Act, which became law last year, has put Americans and their families, not the health insurance companies, back in charge of their health care. The Act is already improving the lives of Americans, including young adults, children with pre-existing conditions, owners of small businesses, and seniors, along with all of the 165 million Americans who have private insurance.

Under the Patient’s Bill of Rights, if you are one of the 165 million Americans with private insurance, you are now receiving the following protections:

► You can no longer be arbitrarily dropped from coverage by your insurance company simply because you get sick.

► Your insurance company can no longer place a lifetime limit on your coverage.

► Your insurance company can no longer place low annual limits on your coverage.

► If you are under age 65 and in a new plan, you are now receiving free key preventive services.

In addition, because of the Patient’s Bill of Rights:

► If you are a young adult, you can now stay on your parents’ health plan until your 26th birthday, if you do not have coverage of your own.  Because of this provision, one million additional young people – or an increase of 3.5% – have gained coverage over the last year.

► If you have a child under age 19, they can no longer be denied coverage by an insurance company for having a “pre-existing condition. Up to 17 million children with pre-existing conditions are now protected from discrimination.

In addition to the Patient’s Bill of Rights, the Affordable Care Act also provided new Medicare benefits for America’s seniors, which became effective on January 1, 2011. 

These new Medicare benefits include the following:

► Seniors are now receiving a 50 percent discount on brand-name drugs when they are in the Medicare Part D ‘donut hole’ coverage gap.  Nearly 1.3 million seniors have already received the discount.

► Seniors are now receiving free key preventive health services, such as mammograms and colonoscopies, under Medicare.  Nearly 19 million seniors have already received one or more free preventive services.

► Seniors are now receiving a free Annual Wellness Visit under Medicare.  1.3 million Seniors have already taken advantage of the new free Annual Wellness Visit.

Finally, for small businesses, the Affordable Care Act is providing tax credits of up to 35 percent of employer premium contributions for those small businesses that choose to offer coverage.  The tax credits became effective beginning for tax year 2010. There are up to 4 million small businesses that are eligible for this tax credit.

These new protections and benefits are crucial to improving the lives of millions of Americans.  Congressional Republicans are attempting to repeal all of these protections, but I will vigorously fight to ensure that they are never taken away.

Thanks,

HANK: ‘I would like to vote on the American Jobs Act, not more Republican gimmicks’

 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Johnson today voted against the GOP’s TRAIN Act, a bill that would block two of the most important, life-saving Clean Air rules in decades – the mercury and air toxics rule and cross-state air pollution rule.

“Instead of working to create jobs, we’re wasting our time rehashing important environmental rules that will help clean our air and prevent people from getting sick,” said Johnson. “I would like to vote on the American Jobs Act, not more Republican gimmicks. The President has already said he’ll veto this noxious bill if it reaches his desk.”

Long-overdue Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, which were proposed earlier this year, require power plants to cut releases of mercury and other cancer-causing toxins by 2015. The rule would also reduce fine particle emissions by 29 percent by 2015.

According to the American Lung Association, the new rules would prevent up to 34,000 deaths and 400,000 asthma attacks nationwide every year and prevent up to 1,769 premature deaths in Georgia.

The GOP’s TRAIN Act would block those standards from being implemented.

“I’m sick and tired of the suggestion that strong environmental protections hurt big business – that’s false,” said Johnson.

Since 1970, the Clean Air Act has reduced toxic and health-threatening air pollution by 60 percent while our economy has grown more than 200 percent.

The Environmental Defense Fund and a University of Massachusetts study estimate that the mercury and air toxics rule and the cross-state air pollution rule would together create nearly 1.5 million jobs over the next five years driven by new investments in energy technology.

“We can have clean energy and jobs,” said Johnson. “The economic benefits of the Clean Air Act have shown to outweigh the costs associated with the law, and the financial benefits to our economy could reach nearly $2 trillion by 2020.”

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Adults between the ages of 19-25 with health insurance increases by 3.5 %

 ATLANTA, GA – Rep. Johnson announced that new data released this week from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that the Affordable Care Act has helped one million additional young adults get health insurance.

“The Affordable Care Act is already improving the lives of America’s families, including one million young people who now enjoy health coverage,” Johnson said. 

Specifically, data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) shows that in the first quarter of 2011, the percentage of adults between the ages of 19 and 25 with health insurance increased by 3.5 percent, representing about 1 million additional young adults with insurance coverage compared to a year ago.

The Affordable Care Act allows most young adults to remain on their parents’ health insurance plans until their 26th birthday. 

The results from the CDC were also confirmed by a Gallup survey released today.  As Gallup concluded, “The provision of the Affordable Care Act that allows children up to the age of 26 to remain on their parents’ plans appears to be having an immediate effect on the number of Americans who report they have health insurance.  Since it went into effect in September 2010, the percentage of 18- to 25-year-olds who report being uninsured has significantly declined by four percentage points.”

“The Affordable Care Act has put Americans and their families, not the health insurance companies, back in charge of their health care,” said Johnson. “It includes a Patient’s Bill of Rights – that allows most young adults to remain on their parents’ health plan until age 26 and prohibits insurers from dropping people from coverage when they get sick, placing lifetime limits on coverage, and denying coverage to children with pre-existing conditions. All of these reforms are already helping Americans today and must be maintained.

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TUCKER, GA – Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA) issued the following statement today in recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from September 15 through October 15:

“As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month across America, we recognize and honor the great contributions of our Latino brothers and Latina sisters. These hard-working, family-oriented Americans are a great source of to our nation. 

Whether serving in the military, teaching our children, working as business owners, scientists or artists – or simply sharing their rich culture – Latinos make America a better place for all.
 
Let’s honor Latinos and Latinas this month by reminding Americans that we have always been a country open to everyone: Whites, Blacks, Latinos, Asians, American Indians and immigrants from all over the world.  Let’s never forget that the nation’s diversity is a source of extraordinary strength. Diversity not only makes our nation great, but it makes America unique among nations.

While celebrating the Hispanic Heritage Month, we must honor the character of our nation and work with President Obama to pass a comprehensive immigration reform. We must work towards passing immigration laws that are decent and humane. We must ensure that every hard-working, talented, law-abiding and eligible immigrant is treated with respect, compassion and dignity.

Last year, I co-sponsored the Dream Act so young undocumented immigrants could have a path to legal status through their dedication to education and military service.  Unfortunately, the legislation did not pass the Senate.

I congratulate every Latino and Latina during this month, and I thank you for your invaluable contributions. I remain committed to working towards comprehensive immigration reform and will continue to encourage legislation that brings out all the qualities that make this country great: dedication to education, self-improvement, love of family and the honor in military service.”

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TUCKER, GA -- El Representante Johnson pronuncio las siguientes palabras hoy en reconocimiento del mes de la Herencia Hispana, el que se extenderá desde septiembre 15 hasta octubre 15.
Al celebrar el Mes de la Herencia Hispana a través de América, reconocemos y honramos las grandes contribuciones de nuestros hermanos latinos y hermanas latinas.
 
Estos tenaces trabajadores estadounidenses, dedicados a sus familias, son una gran fuente para nuestra nación.

Ya sea en el servicio militar, enseñando a nuestros hijos, trabajando como dueños de negocios, científicos o artistas - o simplemente compartiendo su rica cultura - Los latinos hacen de Estados Unidos un mejor lugar para todos.

Vamos a honrar a los latinos y las latinas este mes recordándole a los estadounidenses que siempre hemos sido un país abierto a todos: blancos, negros, latinos, asiáticos, indios americanos e inmigrantes de todas partes del mundo. Nunca olvidemos que la diversidad de nuestra nación es una fuente extraordinaria de fortaleza. La diversidad no sólo hace que nuestra nación sea grande, sino que hace de América una nación única entre naciones.

Mientras celebramos el Mes de la Hispanidad, debemos honrar el carácter de nuestra nación y trabajar con el presidente Obama para pasar una reforma migratoria comprensiva. Debemos trabajar para aprobar leyes de inmigración que sean decentes y humanas. Debemos asegurarnos de que todos los inmigrantes quienes trabajan duro, tienen talento, son respetuosos de la ley y todos aquellos que califiquen sean tratados con respeto, compasión y dignidad.

El año pasado, yo co-patrocine el Dream Act para ofrecerles a jóvenes inmigrantes  sin documentos un camino hacia la legalización a través de su dedicación a la educación y el servicio militar.

Desafortunadamente, la legislación no fue aprobada en el Senado.

Felicito a todos los latinos y latinas en este mes, y le doy las gracias por sus valiosas contribuciones.
 
Sigo comprometido a trabajar por una reforma migratoria compresiva y seguiré patrocinando legislación que sirva para exaltar todas las cualidades que hacen de este país, un gran país: la dedicación a la educación, la superación, el amor a la familia y el honor en el servicio militar.

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MSNBC: Rev. Al Sharpton Show – Congressman Johnson appears on MSNBC to discuss the Troy Anthony Davis case with Rev. Al. Transcripts

NELP, USAction deliver 250,000 signature petitions of support

 WASHINGTON, D.C.— Representatives Rosa DeLauro (CT-3) and Hank Johnson (GA-4), and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) were joined today by the National Employment Law Project (NELP) and USAction to urge support for the Fair Employment Opportunity Act.

The Fair Employment Opportunity Act addresses the recent trend of companies that have been discriminating against the unemployed by refusing to consider them for job openings. Many post job advertisements stating that “candidates must be currently employed,” eliminating employment opportunities for up to 16 million Americans and specifically affecting women, minorities, veterans and seniors. President Obama’s American Jobs Act, introduced last week, includes this legislation.

| Join the Fair Employment Project today, click HERE |

Gathered by USAction, Change.org, ColorofChange.org and CREDO Action, 250,000 petition signatures were delivered to the Capitol today. The signatures, collected between July and September, express outrage at discrimination against unemployed workers, and call on job listing websites such as Monster.com and Careerbuilder.com to stop publishing ads that discriminate against the unemployed.

“In today’s tough economy, it is hard enough for workers who have lost their jobs to get back on their feet and find employment again. And yet, companies have begun to require current employment to be considered for available positions. These actions are eliminating employment opportunities, and are unjust and unfair,” said Congresswoman DeLauro. “The Fair Employment Opportunity Act fights back against these discriminatory practices, and will help to ensure that all Americans, regardless of their employment status, have the same opportunities for employment.”

“Discrimination against the unemployed – especially the long-term unemployed – in job ads and hiring practices flies in the face of what we stand for as a nation: Equal opportunity for all,” said Congressman Hank Johnson. “I'm hopeful that this can be a bipartisan effort because unemployment affects everyone. I’m proud to work with my Congressional colleagues and President Obama to stop this injustice.”

Senator Blumenthal said, “Unfair hiring practices that discourage or ban unemployed applicants from job openings are unacceptable and antithetical to economic growth. This important legislation will explicitly prohibit employers from discriminatory hiring and ensure basic fairness in filling job openings. These job seekers are middle class Americans who have been out of work, but not out of courage or determination to support their families."

“Denying unemployed people job opportunities is no way to rebuild an economy – it’s like turning the job market into a giant game of musical chairs in which only those who are already employed can play.  We applaud these members of Congress, President Obama and all who are fighting to end discriminatory hiring practices that hinder the economy and harm millions of job-seeking Americans,” said Christine Owens, executive director of the National Employment Law Project.

“Ending hiring discrimination is a matter of doing what’s right,” said USAction President William McNary. “It’s the first step toward fixing our economy and making America whole again. But we need to go farther and thoroughly rebuild our economy, creating good jobs for everyone in America. This is why I support the Fair Employment Opportunity Act – and why I support the American Jobs Act.”
                        
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Letter Urges Reconsideration of Clemency Hearing before 7 p.m. Deadline

 (WASHINGTON) –  Yesterday, House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.), Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security Subcommittee Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-Va.), and House Judiciary Committee Member Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) wrote a letter to the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles urging them to reconsider the decision to conclude Troy Davis’ death penalty clemency hearing.  Mr. Davis’ defense team was unable to finish presenting evidence in support of his request for clemency.  Specifically, Mr. Davis’ defense team wished to present the testimony of an expert on eyewitness identifications, a critical aspect of Mr. Davis’ request which turned on the fact that several eye witnesses at his trial had since recanted their testimony.

“Since 1973, more than 135 individuals on death row have been exonerated based on their innocence.” Conyers said.  “There is overwhelming evidence that casts doubt on Troy Davis’s conviction.  Before Mr. Davis is executed, the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles should consider re-opening Mr. Davis’ clemency hearing because the defense team was unable to present all evidence establishing his innocence.”

“Under the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act, the burden is on the defendant to prove actual innocence by 'clear and convincing evidence,'” Scott said.  “This standard is more stringent than preponderance of the evidence and so a defendant demonstrating that he is probably innocent will not meet this burden. Lack of evidence of guilt is not affirmative evidence of innocence.  Despite the fact that Troy Davis demonstrated that the evidence against him left substantial reasonable doubt of his guilt, the District Court found that he was unable to prove with clear and convincing evidence that a jury would not convict him, based on the available evidence.  Similarly, the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles did not find the evidence compelling enough to grant clemency, even though they did not hear all of the evidence.  There is something fundamentally wrong with our system when someone may be put to death when the evidence we have available today casts serious doubt about his guilt."

“As a criminal defense attorney, judge and member of the House Judiciary Committee, it disturbs me to my core that an unnecessary and unjust killing may take place,” Johnson said.  “If we execute a man despite new evidence that casts doubt on his guilt, it shakes the public’s faith in the integrity of justice in Georgia.”

Previously, Representatives Conyers,  Scott, and Johnson wrote Chatham County District Attorney Larry Chisolm urging him to drop the death warrant against Mr. Davis and support his appeal for clemency in light of the substantial doubt surrounding his guilt.  A copy of this letter can be found at the following link: http://democrats.judiciary.house.gov/sites/democrats.judiciary.house.gov/files/JudMembers4Davis110916.pdf  
 
The letter to the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles  is attached as a pdf and follows below.

Chairman James E. Donald
Georgia State Board of Pardons & Paroles
2 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, SE
Suite 458, Balcony Level, East Tower
Atlanta, Georgia 30334

RE: Troy Anthony Davis Pending Execution Scheduled for September 21, 2011

Dear Chairman Donald and Members of the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles:

We are writing to urge you to reconsider your decision to conclude Troy Davis’ clemency hearing on September 19, 2011.  It is our understanding that Mr. Davis’ defense team was unable to finish presenting its evidence in support his request for clemency.

We understand that, due to time constraints, the Board was unable to hear from Dr. Jennifer E. Dysart, an expert on eyewitness identifications.  We attach the letter written by the Innocence Project, which elaborates the myriad reasons that Dr. Dysart’s testimony is critical.  As you are well aware, the only evidence linking Mr. Davis to the crime is eyewitness testimony.  Given the gravitas of the task with which you were charged, and what the research tells us about this type of evidence, we urge you to give new consideration to concluding Mr. Davis’ hearing without hearing from this critical expert.

Sincerely,

John Conyers, Jr., Ranking Member
               
Robert C. “Bobby” Scott, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security
                               
Hank Johnson, Member

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Reps. DeLauro, Johnson, Sen. Blumenthal join allies to support Fair Employment Opportunity Act

 NELP, USAction deliver 250,000 signature petitions of support

Dear Friends,

Last fall, when I saw an increasing nationwide trend of help wanted ads saying the “Unemployed need not apply,” I thought about how unfair that was to discriminate against people who had lost their jobs due to no fault of their own – who were just victims of corporate downsizing during a tough economy.

And then to be penalized for having that status is simply unfair. So I decided to act.

I sent a letter to The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, who then held hearings on this despicable practice. What they discovered is that this kind of discrimination is an "emerging issue" that disproportionately affects older workers, minorities, women and veterans.

This year, I have introduced two bills to help stop this kind of discrimination against the unemployed in hiring practices.

In March, I introduced the Fair Employment Act of 2011 and this summer with Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), the Fair Employment Opportunity Act of 2011 (FEOA) – which would prohibit employers from discriminating against unemployed job seekers by refusing to consider them for job openings. It would make it illegal for employers to include any job postings that unemployed persons will not be considered or hired.

I’ve also launched The Fair Employment Project on my Web site that seeks feedback on your job searches and whether you feel like you weren’t hired for a job because you were unemployed. As responses come in, it will also be a conduit to share job search and interview tips for people still looking for work.

Your experiences will also help me fight for our legislation in Washington. If you’ve been out of work for six months or more any time during the Great Recession that began back in 2007, I want to hear your story.  To join the project, click HERE.

AIRING YOUR VIEWS ON TRANSPORTATION – Before a final list of transportation projects is adopted next month for the 2012 Transportation Investment Act referendum, there are three public meetings that will give you a chance to weigh in. For more, click HERE.

 Monday, Sept. 26 from 5-7 p.m. at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center, 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville.

 Tuesday, Sept. 27 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the JP Carr Community Center, 981 Taylor Street, Conyers.

 Wednesday, Sept. 28 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Maloof Auditorium, 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur.

STOPPING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN – Thanks to a $700,000 grant from the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence is joining forces with the Georgia Council for the Hearing Impaired and Georgia Tools for Life to help end abuse against women with disabilities. For more, click HERE.

FIGHTING HUMAN TRAFFICKING – Tapestri Inc., one of the Metro Atlanta’s leading community-based organizations that works to end violence and oppression in refugee and immigrant communities, is receiving a $300,000 grant from DOJ to help victims of human trafficking. As part of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, the funds will go to Tucker-based Tapestri to battle sex and labor trafficking in Georgia. For more, click HERE.

GA DOJJ GRANTS – The Department of Justice has awarded the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice a $558,000 grant to help reduce the incidences of sexual abuse in our prisons. The funds from the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) will go toward establishing a “Zero Tolerance” culture, prevention, offender education and victim support services. For more, click HERE.

DEFENDING JUSTICE – The Georgia Student Finance Committee is receiving a $174,000 grant from DOJ to establish a statewide program that helps young attorneys who commit to serving as public defenders and state prosecutors pay their law school loans. These young public servants are critical to Georgia’s criminal justice system, doing the work that puts criminals behind bars and providing a defense for those who cannot afford attorneys. I am committed to securing investments that enhance educational opportunities for Georgians and keep our best and brightest minds in the state. For more, click HERE.

HELPING SMALL BUSINESSES – Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and create about 60 percent of new jobs in this country. So I’m pleased to announce that Resurgens Bank in Tucker will receive $3 million from the Department of Treasury as part of the Small Business Jobs Act that was created to help local small businesses grow and expand. For more, click HERE.
 
FUNDING FUEL CELLS – The Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE) will receive a $793,000 grant from the Department of Transportation to facilitate and develop advance fuel cells for buses. Finding ways to more efficiently produce commercially viable fuel cells for buses not only helps clean the environment and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, but it advances science and technology as well. Congratulations CTE! For more, click HERE.

POWERING GEORGIA – The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced last week that Tucker-based Oglethorpe Power Corporation will receive $127.7 million in guaranteed loans from the USDA to improve its power delivery systems that serve parts of metro Atlanta and much of rural Georgia. For more, click HERE.

As always, I appreciate your time and feedback. Please help spread the word on the Fair Employment Project. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to represent you in Congress.

Thanks,

 “A vast majority of Americans agree with President Obama – we must fix the tax code and close loopholes. We can live within our means while making necessary investments in jobs, infrastructure, education, and innovation. But we can’t solve these problems without a balanced approach. The country is watching Washington to see if we will do the right thing.”

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This year, I have introduced two bills to stop discrimination against the unemployed in hiring practices.

The Hank Johnson Fair Employment Project is seeking constituents' feedback on their job searches, whether they feel like they were passed over for a job because they were unemployed, and serve as a way to share job-searching and interviewing tips for people still looking for work.

Your job search or unemployment experiences will also help me fight for legisaltion ending this kind of discrimination. If you’ve been out of work for six months or more any time during the Great Recession that began back in 2007, I want to hear your story. Please take the time to complete the survey: CLICK HERE. It will remain confidential unless you specify otherwise.

Thank you.,

Thank you, M. Speaker.

America was united in its disgust at the spectacle in Washington during the debt ceiling fiasco.

The Republican threat to force a default ranks among the most reckless and destructive political stunts in modern American history.

It undermined a fragile but recovering economy and reduced faith in the United States.  It has also undermined the American people's trust in its political leadership.

There's no reason to have a debt ceiling at all.  It doesn’t restrain spending, since the spending has already been committed.  It just threatens our credit.  It weakens our country. 

That’s why I joined Representative Nadler of New York and Representative Moran of Virginia this morning to introduce the Full Faith and Credit Act, a bill to do away with the debt ceiling once and for all.

But if we are going to have a debt ceiling, the threat by Members of Congress to refuse to raise it is an outrage.  We’ve already made these commitments.  Yet, some would have us default.  Some would undermine the full faith and credit of the United States.  Some would do irreparable damage to our economy and our standing in the world. 

It’s a disgrace.  A disgrace.  And the American people see it for what it is – part of a concerted effort to undermine this economy in order to undermine this President.

I yield the balance of my time.
 

M. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this bill which will keep people working building our infrastructure. 

Failure to pass this bill would put politics first and mean unnecessary economic pain for millions of Americans. 

I commend the majority for putting America first by bringing this bill up quickly and without any policy riders.  

As our infrastructure continues to crumble and unemployment remains above 9 percent we need to recognize that both issues can be addressed by investing in infrastructure. 

In Georgia, the highway bill provides more than $97 million a month for infrastructure jobs, employing more than 22,500 Georgians. 

I urge my colleagues to support this bill so we can move past this stalemate and pass a long term bill. 

M. Speaker, I rise today to talk about jobs. 

I am not alone – everyone here TALKS about jobs.

One side offers solutions to create jobs and the other side stands in the way, blaming the President.  

It’s been more than 250 days since the Republicans took control of the House, and they have failed to pass a single bill to address the jobs crisis.

They will say the President has failed, but it is this Majority that has failed the American people. 

President Obama presented his plan to create jobs. 

Several of my colleagues did not even attend.   

Is this part of their “No Jobs” Fall Agenda? 

It’s certainly not leadership or governing.

Full_Faith_and_Credit_Act_2011.pdf

'The Debt Ceiling has nothing to do with the deficit, but has become a politicized distraction for Republicans and an obstacle to economic recovery.'

 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representatives Hank Johnson (D-GA), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and Jim Moran (D-VA) introduced the Full Faith and Credit Act of 2011 in order to eliminate the federal debt ceiling, a law they view as unnecessary and increasingly an impediment to Congress’s ability to further economic recovery. 

The Members highlighted the recent disastrous debt ceiling debate and the promise of Republican congressional leaders to invoke the law at each turn in order to impose their extreme and economically regressive agenda on the American people. 

The legislation comes on the same day that House Republicans moved to pass a resolution expressing disapproval of the U.S. borrowing to fund government operations already directed by Congress.

The Full Faith and Credit Act would allow the U.S. Treasury to ensure that our nation’s bills are paid on time and without political brinkmanship.

“Republicans in Congress undermined the economy and faith in the country by threatening to force default,” said Johnson. “The Full Faith and Credit Act will prevent politicians from holding the nation’s credit hostage ever again.”

“The debt ceiling is truly arbitrary and has nothing to do with the deficit,” said Nadler.  “The debt ceiling does not prevent the United States from incurring new debts, but has become a cudgel with which Republicans are holding our economy hostage and punishing the millions of Americans who are struggling.  Let us abolish the debt ceiling and get to work, finally, on the critical needs of the American people: creating jobs and economic development, providing aid to states, building infrastructure, and instilling aggregate demand back into the economy.”

“Republicans in Congress have shown they are willing to hold the fate of our economy hostage by using the debt ceiling as a political weapon,” said Moran. “It’s a tactic that has far-ranging effects, disrupting financial markets, damaging the peoples’ trust in government and delaying consideration of must-pass legislation to create jobs and get our economy back on track.  Given the ramifications of congressional Republicans’ irresponsible behavior, the debt ceiling should be eliminated.  Created in the early 20th century, it no longer serves a useful purpose yet has the potential to do great harm.”

The modern debt ceiling, set in 1939 based on amendments to the Second Liberty Bond Act of 1917, consolidated federal debts in order to provide the U.S. Treasury more flexibility to reduce interest costs and minimize financial risks. 

In the 1980s and early 1990s, the House of Representatives, at times, used a mechanism, referred to as the Gephardt Rule, to automatically increase the debt ceiling to keep pace with annual congressional spending.  In the last 10 years, Congress has voted to increase the debt ceiling 10 times. The August debt ceiling showdown reflected a shift from 30 years of clean debt ceiling increases and resulted in Standard & Poor’s downgrading of the U.S. economy for the first time in history.

The Full Faith and Credit Act of 2011 would remove the unnecessary debt ceiling, ensuring that the Treasury can take out loans only for government operations authorized by Congress.

To read the bill, click HERE.

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Congressmen Lewis, Johnson: ‘Justice is at stake’

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Reps. Hank Johnson (GA-04) and John Lewis (GA-05) sent a letter today signed by more than 50 other members of the Congress to the Georgia State Board of Pardons & Paroles, urging the board to stop the killing of Troy Davis.

Johnson has been fighting to stop Davis’ execution since 2007. Davis was convicted of murdering an off-duty police officer in Savannah in 1989.

Since Davis’ 1991 trial, seven of the nine state witnesses against him have recanted their testimony and other witnesses have implicated another man as the shooter.

In 2010, Davis received a federal evidentiary hearing in Savannah, Ga. While the presiding judge ruled that Davis had not established his innocence to the high standard required, he admitted that the case “may not be ironclad.” 

“How has it come to this – that we put a man to death without a single shred of hard scientific or relevant physical evidence,” said Rep. Johnson, a former defense attorney who won the release of a man on death row in 1984.

In 2009, Rep. Johnson and Rep. Lewis visited Davis in the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Jackson.

Later that year, Rep. Johnson introduced the Effective Death Penalty Appeals Act, which would ensure that death row inmates have the opportunity to present newly discovered evidence of innocence.
 
"If we turn our backs to Troy Davis now, we turn our backs on justice and the Constitution," Johnson said.
“This is one of those exceptional instances where adhering to the letter of the law could lead the state of Georgia to commit a grave injustice,” said Rep. John Lewis. 

“That is why it is important for people of goodwill to stand together and speak out in this case. The parole board has the power to intervene on the people’s behalf to right a deplorable wrong, especially when there is so much room for doubt about this conviction. I believe the board seeks to do what is just and look forward prayerfully to the upcoming clemency hearing with the faith that justice will prevail.”

To read the letter, click HERE.

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Troy_Davis9-12-11.pdf

Dear Friends,

On Sunday, we honor the lives we lost 10 years ago. On a clear September day, innocent men, women, and children boarded planes and set off for work as they had so many times before. Unthinkable acts of terrorism brought tragedy, destruction, pain, and loss for people across our nation and the world.

As we pay tribute to loved ones, friends, fellow citizens, firefighters, first responders and all who died, we reaffirm our commitment to the ideas and ideals that united Americans in the aftermath of the attacks.

Like all of you, I remember exactly where I was that fateful day 10 years ago on Sunday.

I recall it being a dreary, overcast day here in Georgia, and I was at a DeKalb County Board of Commissioners meeting. When I first heard the news, it took me some time to come to grips with what happened – the unthinkable had occurred and changed America forever.

While we have killed public enemy No. 1 – Osama bin Laden – we understand our battle with terrorists is not simply won by military might alone. A strong military is important, but we must also win the hearts and minds of our enemies.

We must accept and nurture the higher nature of all human beings, and through dialogue, diplomacy and assistance we must help oppressed people be free.

Rather than a time of sadness, this should be a day of challenge to us all – a challenge to treat one another as we wish to be treated and a calling to the higher aspirations for all men and women without regard to their race, creed, or religion.

As President Obama said, September 11 reminds us that our fate as individuals is tied to that of our nation. Our democracy is strengthened when we uphold the freedoms upon which America was built: equality, justice, liberty, and democracy. These values exemplify the patriotism and sacrifice we commemorate today.

In that same spirit of patriotism, I call upon all of us to join in service and honor the lives we lost, the heroes who responded in our hour of need, and the brave men and women in uniform who continue to protect our country at home and abroad today.

Thank you and God Bless the United States of America.

Buenos días – estoy complacido de estar con todos ustedes aquí en Stone Mountain para esta importante conmemoración. Gracias al alcalde Wheeler, los miembros del consejo de la ciudad, funcionarios electos y los organizadores Jack Sartain, el Dr. George Coletti y Cornetas a través de América.

Y gracias a todos los ciudadanos que se tomaron el tiempo para venir esta mañana,  y a todos nuestros oficiales y personal de emergencia que están aquí;  a quienes también quiero agradecerles por todo lo que hacen.

Hoy, honramos las vidas que perdimos hace 10 años. En un brillante día de septiembre, hombres, mujeres y niños abordaron aviones y se fueron a trabajar como lo habían hecho tantas veces antes. Impensables actos de terrorismo trajeron tragedia, destrucción, dolor y pérdida para gente en nuestra nación y el mundo.

Al rendir homenaje a seres queridos, amigos, conciudadanos, bomberos, socorristas y todos los que murieron, reafirmamos nuestro compromiso con las ideas y los ideales de Americanos unidos después de los atentados.

Al igual que todos ustedes, recuerdo exactamente donde estaba aquel fatídico día hoy hace 10 años. Recuerdo que fue un día triste aquí en Georgia, y yo estaba en una reunión  de la junta de  comisionados del condado de DeKalb. Cuando me enteré de la noticia, me tomó un tiempo asimilar lo que sucedió - lo impensable había pasado y cambiaría América para siempre.

A pesar de que hemos matado el enemigo público N º 1 - Osama bin Laden - entendemos que nuestra batalla contra los terroristas no simplemente se  gana con esfuerzos exclusivamente militares. Una fuerza militar fuerte es importante, pero también tenemos que ganar los corazones y las mentes de nuestros enemigos.

Debemos aceptar y cuidar la naturaleza más alta de todos los seres humanos, y a través del diálogo, la diplomacia y la asistencia debemos ayudar a los pueblos oprimidos a ser libres.

En lugar de un tiempo de tristeza, esto debería ser un día de desafío para todos nosotros - un reto para tratarnos los unos a los otros como deseamos ser tratados y un llamado a las más altas aspiraciones de todos los hombres y mujeres sin importar su raza, credo, o religión.

Como el presidente Obama dijo: el 11 de septiembre nos recuerda que nuestro destino como individuos está ligado al de nuestra nación. Nuestra democracia se fortalece cuando defendemos las libertades sobre las que Estados Unidos fue construido: la igualdad, la justicia, la libertad y la democracia. Estos valores ejemplifican el patriotismo y sacrificio que hoy conmemoramos.

En este mismo espíritu de patriotismo, exhorto a todos a unirse en el servicio y honrar las vidas que perdimos, los héroes que respondieron en los momentos de necesidad, y los valientes hombres y mujeres uniformados que siguen protegiendo a nuestro país hoy en día aquí y en el extranjero.

Gracias y que Dios bendiga a Estados Unidos de América.

Good morning – it’s good to be with all of you here in Stone Mountain for such an important commemoration. Thank you to Mayor Wheeler, members of the city council, elected officials and the organizers Jack Sartain, Dr. George Coletti and Bugles Across America.

And thank you to all the citizens who took time to come out this morning, and to all of our officers and first responders who are here as well, thank you for all that you do.

Today, we honor the lives we lost 10 years ago. On a bright September day, innocent men, women, and children boarded planes and set off for work as they had so many times before. Unthinkable acts of terrorism brought tragedy, destruction, pain, and loss for people across our nation and the world.
As we pay tribute to loved ones, friends, fellow citizens, firefighters, first responders and all who died, we reaffirm our commitment to the ideas and ideals that united Americans in the aftermath of the attacks.

Like all of you, I remember exactly where I was that fateful day 10 years ago today. I recall it being a dreary day here in Georgia, and I was at a DeKalb County Board of Commissioners meeting. When I first heard the news, it took me some time to come to grips with what happened – the unthinkable had occurred and changed America forever.

While we have killed public enemy No. 1 – Osama bin Laden – we understand our battle with terrorists is not simply won by military might alone. A strong military is important, but we must also win the hearts and minds of our enemies.

We must accept and nurture the higher nature of all human beings, and through dialogue, diplomacy and assistance we must help oppressed people be free.

Rather than a time of sadness, this should be a day of challenge to us all – a challenge to treat one another as we wish to be treated and a calling to the higher aspirations for all men and women without regard to their race, creed, or religion.

As President Obama said: September 11 reminds us that our fate as individuals is tied to that of our nation. Our democracy is strengthened when we uphold the freedoms upon which America was built: equality, justice, liberty, and democracy. These values exemplify the patriotism and sacrifice we commemorate today.

In that same spirit of patriotism, I call upon all of us to join in service and honor the lives we lost, the heroes who responded in our hour of need, and the brave men and women in uniform who continue to protect our country at home and abroad today.

Thank you and God Bless the United States of America.

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“Tonight President Obama offered a practical and politically feasible plan to create jobs.

Extending unemployment insurance, employee payroll tax deductions, hiring tax credits and targeted infrastructure investments are proven, non-controversial measures that everyone can support.

The American Jobs Act is substantial enough to attack the jobs crisis nationwide.”

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Dear Friends,

I want to thank everyone who participated in the job fair and readiness workshop Congressman Lewis and I hosted at Atlanta Technical College on Thursday, Aug. 18. We worked hard to bring as many employers to the table as possible. Preliminary numbers are still coming in, but there are encouraging signs that positions are being filled as a result of the fair. I hope to have more updates on the jobs people received through the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC). The final tour stop was this week in Los Angeles. The CBC will publish reports on attendance at each event and the number of people hired from each job fair. For more, click HERE.

I’m also looking forward to hearing what President Obama has to say about creating jobs when we return to Washington next week. I hope we can put aside partisan bickering on Capitol Hill and focus on rebuilding America’s roads, bridges, rail lines, and airports, and establish an infrastructure bank to finance these projects.

We can start by passing clean extensions of the FAA and highway bills, protecting more than one million jobs.  And I will stand with the President in urging federal agencies to expedite infrastructure projects already funded by Congress.

CONYERS’ SENIORS – Thank you Rockdale County seniors who met with me for a town hall Meet & Greet at the Olivia Haydel Senior Center in Conyers on Monday, Aug. 29.  I brought experts from the Internal Revenue Service, Social Security Administration, Medicare and Medicaid and Veterans Affairs to the Olivia Haydel Senior Center to help seniors understand their benefits.

It was the second meeting in an ongoing series of visits we're making to senior centers throughout the district to cut through the clutter and confusion created by budget proposals that are trying to cut the social safety net.  I enjoyed the two-hour town hall style meeting and not only did seniors ask me and the expert panelists questions about veteran benefits, Medicare, Social Security but we discussed the national budget and debt ceiling issues as well. Please stay tuned here for our next meeting. For more, click HERE.

PROTECTING OUR KIDS – In July, I voted against House leadership efforts to cut funding for our Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program.

So I take great pleasure in announcing that DeKalb will receive a $500,000 grant this year from Department of Justice’s COPS Office to protect kids from the worst of the worst – child sexual predators. There isn’t much we do in Congress more important than supporting local law enforcement and giving them the tools needed to keep our communities safe.  Since 1995, the COPS program has invested more than $177 million in Georgia law enforcement agencies, which was used to hire more than 2,400 officers and provide more than $24 million in technology upgrades. For more information, click HERE.

JAG GRANTS – Another Justice Department program I’ve championed in my three terms is the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant or JAG grants that provide federal criminal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions. I’m pleased to report that DeKalb County will receive a $436,000 grant, Rockdale County a $31,000 grant and Chamblee a $10,800 grant for FY 2011. For more information, click HERE.

MENTOR WALK – If Georgia’s low high school graduation rate concerns you, then please join me at the inaugural Mentor Walk on Saturday, Sept. 10 at Agnes Scott College. Starting at 7:30 a.m. for registration and 9 a.m. for the walk, students, parents, guardians, college students and the rest of the community will be on campus to inspire the kids to finish school and attend university. After-walk festivities include lunch, speakers, T-shirts, entertainment, and a health fair. The vent will wrap up at 1 p.m.
 
There’s no special training required, just come walk and engage a student in conversation and tell them why you think staying in school is important.  The walk is named after Mrs. Carolyn Young, Ambassador Young’s wife, who taught in Atlanta Public Schools and has been highly decorated for her outstanding teaching career.

Notable attendees include: Mrs. Carolyn Young, Ambassador Andrew Young, Sen. Johnny Isakson, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams, Rep.  Jason Carter, Rep. Dar'shun Kendrick, DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis, Agnes Scott President Dr. Elizabeth Kiss, among many others! To register or for more information, click HERE.

CLEAN CITIES, ALERNATIVE FUELS – On Thursday, Sept. 8, Clean Cities-Atlanta, a Department of Energy initiative, will hold a seminar on alternative fuels at the Georgia World Congress Center, Building C in rooms C202 and 203 from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Alternative transportation fuels can reduce American dependence on foreign oil, cut energy costs and pollution. For more seminar information, click HERE. To join Clean Cities Atlanta’s Facebook page, click HERE. In 2009, DeKlab County received a $15 million Recovery Act grant in partnership with the Clean Cities Atlanta Coalition to construct a Landfill Gas-to-Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion facility at a DeKalb County landfill.
 
DOJ GRANTS TO GEORGIA – I also want to recognize that the governor’s office, the GBI and local law enforcement agencies are receiving more than $3.4 million from the Department of Justice to reduce DNA testing and other forensic science backlogs, and prevent at-risk kids from entering the juvenile justice system. For more, click HERE.

COMMUNITY TITANS – On Aug. 24 at the A.R.T. Station in Stone Mountain, I was pleased to present Stone Mountain residents – Command Sergeant Major Jonathan Smalls and Jack Sartain with the Civilian Marksmanship Program’s Patriot Award and Community Service Award, respectively. The Patriot and Community Service awards recognize outstanding veterans and citizens for their contributions to our community and country. For more, click HERE.

LET’S MOVE AT MCNAIR – It’s good to see the Georgia School Nutrition Association join forces with First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” initiative to fight childhood obesity.  Thank you to McNair for hosting the kick-off event on Sept. 2. Together – parents, caregivers, schools, health care professionals, students, churches, elected officials and businesses – we can defeat childhood obesity.

WOMEN’S EQUALITY DAY – Thursday, Aug. 25, was the 40th Anniversary of Women’s Equality Day. Since the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920, granting women the right to vote, we’ve come a long way. We have taken some positive steps recently by passing Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, but make no mistake we still have miles to go before we achieve true equality. Thanks to the efforts of Rep. Bella Abzug, Congress marked August 26th as “Women’s Equality Day,” in 1971. For more, click HERE.

KEEPING HEALTH RATE HIKES IN CHECK – Starting Sept. 1, the health care reform law – the Affordable Care Act – will make it more difficult for insurance companies to unreasonably raise your rates. If an insurer seeks a rate hike of more than 10 percent or more for an individual of small-employer group coverage, it must now justify that rate increase for further state of federal review. I voted for the law to provide consumer protections like this.  For more, go the HealthCare.gov by clicking HERE.

REEVE FOUNDATION – Congratulations to Touch the Future in Tucker for being awarded a $3,000 Quality of Life grant from the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation. The grant will be used to help fund athletic scholarships for up to 10 athletes with spinal cord injuries or disorders to participate in the Tour de LaFrance Hand-cycling event. For more, click HERE.

9-11 ANNIVERSARY – As the 10-year anniversary of 9-11 approaches, I hope everyone takes some time to remember our fallen heroes from September 11, 2001, and take stock in the fact that as Americans we are one people united in our common humanity and shared sorrow. I will commemorate the day at the 9-11 Commemorative Ceremony in Stone Mountain, and I hope to capture the spirit of  what brought us together as Americans on that tragic day 10 years ago.

PASSPORT DAY – If you or your family has plans to take your next vacation outside the country or if you’re planning on traveling abroad for business and don’t yet have your passport, Passport Day in the USA 2011 is here. On Saturday, Sept. 17, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., representatives at the Atlanta Passport Agency, 230 Peachtree St. on the 10th floor will help you with your passport.  For more, click HERE.

As always, I appreciate your time and feedback. Please have a safe and enjoyable Labor Day weekend. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to represent you in Congress.

Thanks,

Hank