November 2011 Archives

Dear Friends,

I want to wish you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving. I’ve been back in town this week meeting with constituents, and I’m looking forward to spending some time with my family as well.

You’ve no doubt heard talk of the “Super Committee” and its recent failure to reach an agreement on the federal budget.  

Here’s the bottom line.

This past summer the majority party put the full faith and credit of the United States of America at unnecessary risk by refusing to raise the debt ceiling, which would allow Treasury to pay previously incurred debt.

As an unfortunate result of Congress’ failure to act responsibly, the nation’s credit rating was downgraded.

The final agreement to raise the debt ceiling established what became known as the “Super Committee,” which was charged with identifying at least $1.2 trillion in additional debt reduction over 10 years.

Earlier this week, this committee announced that it was unable to reach an agreement. Congress will now spend the next year negotiating the exact distribution of spending cuts and tax increases worth at least $1.2 trillion or face broad, automatic cuts across many federal programs. 

You should take some comfort in knowing that under the current framework, Social Security, Veterans benefits, and most programs supporting low-income Americans will be exempted from those automatic cuts.  

Rest assured, I will continue to fight for a balanced approach. I agree with President Obama: it is impossible for us to solve our budgetary challenges as long as some in Congress fight any tax increases for the wealthiest Americans. 

We can’t solve our problems unless sacrifice is shared fairly. I will stand with President Obama as he fights for a fair solution that doesn’t hurt those struggling to make ends meet while leaving the wealthiest and most powerful untouched.

In the mean time, my focus remains upon creating jobs for my constituents and accelerating economic recovery.  That is why I continue to call on my colleagues to pass President Obama’s jobs bill, which includes my proposal to ban hiring discrimination against the unemployed.  And I will work to see that Congress passes an extension of the Payroll Tax cut, which is set to expire at the end of the year.  Its expiration would raise taxes on the average American household by $1,000. I know families can’t afford that right now.

ARABIA MOUNTAIN – Congratulations to the Arabia Mountain Heritage Area for being the inaugural recipient of the “Great Place” designation by the Atlanta Regional Commission. For more, click HERE.

HELPING VETERANS – The Atlanta Regional Commission earned a $420,000 grant to improve the veterans’ transportation call center, and the Department of Veterans Affairs expanded clothing eligibility requirements for veterans with prosthetics and orthopedic devices or skin condition medications. For more, click HERE.

PROTECTING CONSUMERS – The Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) has created a new consumer assistance Web page that allows users to submit questions and complaints about health and retirement plans. For more, click HERE.

HANK’S JOB CENTER – Since 2009, my office has held four jobs fairs throughout the district. Our in-person job fairs have been a huge success, but I wanted to provide a tool constituents could use to help them find work year round. So I launched a one-stop jobs Web portal. Helping my constituents in these difficult times is my top priority. To visit the jobs site, click HERE.

HELPING PREVENT VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN – Congratulations to the Center for Pan Asian Community Services in Atlanta for receiving a $300,000 grant to help fund an emergency shelter for abused women.

HONORING OFFICER WILSON – I was saddened to hear of the tragic death of Doraville Police Officer Robert “Shane” Wilson, who I honored from the House floor last week.

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

Thanks,

Señor / señora Presidente.

Me levanto hoy con una gran tristeza para reconocer  al detective caído de la policía de Doraville corporal Robert "Shane" Wilson, un ciudadano de gran distinción en mi distrito.

Respondiendo a  la invasión de una casa el día 14 de noviembre, se vio involucrado en un trágico choque de frente con un conductor ebrio.
 
Veterano de ocho años, el oficial Wilson tan sólo tenía 27 años de edad.

Como miembro del equipo SWAT, sirvió a su comunidad con valentía y honor. Él era muy querido y respetado por sus compañeros.

También fue un querido esposo, padre, hermano e hijo de una familia dedicada a la aplicación de la ley. En sus horas libres, le gustaba tocar la batería y el piano. También componía la música. Sus amigos dicen que siempre se mostró optimista y sonriente.

Todos los georgianos se ven afectados por esta gran tragedia, pero nuestros pensamientos y oraciones están con toda su familia, amigos y colegas. Robert Shane Wilson fue uno de los mejores. Se echará mucho de menos.

Muchas gracias y sedo lo que queda de mi tiempo.
 

Mr/Madame Speaker. …

I rise today with great sadness to recognize fallen Doraville Police detective corporal Robert “Shane” Wilson, a citizen of  great distinction in my district.

Responding to a home invasion November 14th, he was tragically involved in a head-on collision with a drunk driver.
 
An 8 year veteran, Officer Wilson was just 27 years old.

As a member of the SWAT team, he served his community courageously and honorably.  He was well-liked and respected by his fellow officers.

He was also a loving husband, father, brother and son from a family steeped in law enforcement.  In his off hours, he loved to play the drums and piano. He also composed music.  Friends say he was upbeat and always smiling.

All Georgians are affected by this great tragedy but our thoughts and prayers go out especially to his family, friends and colleagues.  Robert Shane Wilson was one of the best.   He will be greatly missed.

Thank you and I yield back the balance of my time.

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County watershed upgrades project could create 4,000 jobs; The Champion: U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson said the One DeKalb Works initiative is the “precise type of partnership that the times call for.”

“This is the role of the government,” Johnson said. “Government is not the problem. Government, along with private enterprise, is the solution.”

Veterans Day celebration 2011

Thank you ladies and gentlemen, it's great to be with you on DeKalb's Veterans Day 2011 celebration.

Every Veterans Day, Americans come together to remember those who have served and sacrificed for our country around the world.

Our debt to them is immeasurable. Their sacrifices and the sacrifices of their families protect us and our freedom.

Thousands of American service members remain deployed abroad and thousands need us now that they have returned home.

Now, more than ever, we renew our commitments to the nation’s more than 2 million service members and reservists, their families, and 23 million veterans, including more than 770,000 here in Georgia and more than 50,000 in the Fourth District.

As memorialize all of our veterans from wars past, let us also honor the more than 4,400 Americans who have died in Iraq, the more than 1,800 who have died in Afghanistan, the 32,000 U.S. troops wounded in Iraq and 14,600 wounded in Afghanistan.

With hundreds of thousands of our veterans returning from foreign battlefields to face a tough economy at home, we must ensure that they get the support they have earned.

As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I promise to do everything I can to support our Veterans and their families. Everything I do on Armed Services, I do with Veterans first and foremost in my mind.

Thank you.

Pictured above: Hank receives the 2011 Veterans Champion Award from Mike Sauls, chair of the DeKalb County Veterans Advisory Board, for his work on veterans' issues as a member of the Armed Services Committee and for his advocacy on behalf of veterans in the district.

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Dear Friends,

Every Veterans Day, Americans come together to remember those who have served our country around the world in the name of freedom and democracy. 

The debt that we owe to them is immeasurable.  Their sacrifices and those of their families are freedom’s foundation. Without the brave efforts of all the soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen and their families, our country would not live so freely.

On this Veterans Day, we continue to have combat troops deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan.  The President is keeping his commitment to end the American war in Iraq in a responsible way with the recent announcement of the drawdown of U.S. forces to zero in Iraq by the end of this year. 

This honors the remarkable sacrifice and service of our men and women in uniform over the last eight years, while giving Iraq the best opportunity to build a prosperous and democratic future.
 
Now, more than ever, we renew our commitment to keep our promises to the nation’s more than 2 million troops and reservists, their families, and 23 million veterans, including more than 770,000 here in Georgia and more than 50,000 in the Fourth District.

Let us also honor the memory of the more than 4,400 Americans who have died in Iraq and more than 1,800 who have died in Afghanistan.  We also honor the sacrifices of our wounded: 32,000 U.S. troops in Iraq and 14,600 in Afghanistan. Since 2001, more than 63,000 Georgians have been deployed overseas. 

As part of keeping our promises to our veterans, the President and Congress are focused on taking major steps to help our men and women in uniform obtain good jobs when they come home.  With one-in-five young returning veterans (between the ages of 18 and 24) from Iraq and Afghanistan looking for work, we have an obligation to make sure our veterans have the necessary tools to navigate this difficult labor market and succeed in the civilian workforce.

I support President Obama’s American Jobs Act and the Hiring Heroes Act that will:

► Provide tax credits for hiring veterans looking for work,
► Strengthen much-needed training programs for separating service members,
► Encourage businesses and government contractors to hire the brave men and women who have developed valuable skills and professionalism while in the armed forces, and
► Ensure that service members leave the military career-ready,
► Effective today, Post-9/11 veterans will be able download the Veteran Gold Card, which entitles them to enhanced services including six months of personalized case management, assessments and counseling,
► Launch the Veterans Job Bank, at National Resource Directory, an easy to use tool to help veterans find job postings from companies looking to hire them. It already searches over 500,000 job postings and is growing. In a few easy steps, companies can make sure the job postings on their own websites are part of this Veterans Job Bank.

With hundreds of thousands of our veterans returning from foreign battlefields to face a tough economy at home, we must ensure that they get the support they have earned. I applaud President Obama for his leadership in putting our veterans back to work. A cutting edge Veterans Job Bank and a Gold Card for enhanced services for our veterans are the kinds of proposals that all Americans can get behind. We owe the men and women who serve our country, and the families that sacrifice to support them, our thanks and dedication as they transition back to civilian life.

Veterans Events in the Fourth

DeKalb: Veterans Day Celebration 2011, Thursday, Nov. 10 on the Decatur Square at 1:30.
Gwinnett: Veterans Day Ceremony on Friday, November 11, 2011, at 11 a.m. at the Gwinnett Fallen Heroes Memorial in Lawrenceville.
Conyers: Veterans Day program at the Walk of Heroes Veterans War Memorial located at 3001 Black Shoals Road on Friday, November 11 at 11 a.m.

Thank you!

ONLY A TEST.  On November 9, 2011, at 2 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in coordination with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will conduct the first-ever nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS).  At that time, an announcement will come on every TV and radio channel indicating that the emergency alert system has been activated.  This is only a test.  Please do not be alarmed when you see this message.  You will not need to take any action.

For more information on the Emergency Alert System, please visit http://www.fema.gov/emergency/ipaws/eas_info.shtm.

Analysis by Matthew Cardinale | Inter Press Service

Hank Johnson, a Democratic member of Congress from Georgia who advocated on Davis's behalf, introduced legislation in 2009 to address some of these obstacles, including reversing parts of AEDPA.

Read the entire article

As seen in The Hill newspaper, Friday, Oct. 28, 2011, Read the piece in its entirety.

Obama has no magic wand to solve the housing crisis

 By Congressman Hank Johnson

In The Hill’s “California Dems intensify pressure on Obama to tackle foreclosures” article (Oct 12), several of my fellow Democrats publicly attacked President Obama for his handling of the housing crisis.
 

Congressman: Stone Mountain-based emergency youth shelter holds great promise to protect at-risk youth

 LITHONIA, GA – Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04) today congratulated Young People Matter Inc. (YPM) for receiving a grant award of more than $540,000 from the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Administration for Children & Families to operate an emergency youth shelter in Stone Mountain.
 
YPM is the first emergency youth shelter in the Fourth District where youth can receive help 24-hours a day, seven days a week, and one of the few groups statewide whose mission is to seek runaways and homeless children on the streets and provide comprehensive care.
 
The three-year grant was awarded Sept. 30 and will run through 2014. The funding will help open and operate Open Hearts Shelter.
 
“This youth shelter has the potential to dramatically improve the lives of at-risk youth,” said Johnson. “There’s not a lot we do more important than helping vulnerable children find comfort, stability and a path back to normalcy. I’m proud of the compassion of the people in Georgia’s Fourth Congressional District, and I will continue fighting to make federal resources available that improves the lives of vulnerable children in our community.”
 
Simone Joye, founder and executive director of YPM, said the Open Hearts Shelter will serve children 10 to 18 in DeKalb, Rockdale and Newton counties.  
 
“It is estimated on any given night there may be 2,500 kids under the age of 18 living on the streets in metro Atlanta, and they are hidden in plain view,” said Joye.

“No child should ever have to sleep on the streets," she said. “When they do, they are at greater risk for exploitation and abuse. This funding, along with the technical assistance provided by HHS/ACF, will help us provide a safe place for youth to take refuge.”

In addition to the six-bed shelter, youth in Open Hearts care will also be provided food, health screenings, education assistance as well as counseling, case management and aftercare services.

For more information on Young People Matter, click HERE.

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