“My view is that Washington and the regulators are there to serve the banks” — Republican Rep. Spencer Bachus, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee.
You might expect the above statement from the CEO of a Wall Street bank or chairman of a Fortune 500 investment firm. The fact that it came from the chairman of the congressional committee charged with protecting the public interest by regulating the financial services industry is troubling.
Dear Friends,
I want to wish everyone a joyous holiday season! Here’s the latest from Washington, D.C., and the Fourth District.
TAX CUTS, UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE & JOBS: I’m working to prevent a thousand-dollar tax hike on middle class Americans, extend unemployment insurance benefits, and prevent a major pay cut to doctors who treat patients on Medicare.
After a year of gridlock, brinkmanship, and manufactured crises, and one of the worst Congresses in history, it’s time to put our nation first and do what an overwhelming majority of Americans want – prevent a tax hike on the middle class and get Americans back to work.
Families shouldn’t need to worry this holiday season that their taxes will skyrocket because of another made-up crisis. I'm hoping Republicans will join us in this effort.
RELIEF FOR CHRONICALLY ILL SENIORS: This month, I introduced my bipartisan “Part D Beneficiary Appeals Fairness Act”, which would give seniors on Medicare Part D who rely on ‘specialty tier’ drugs an appeals process when dealing with the high costs of these prescriptions. To read about it in On Common Ground newspaper, click HERE.
NO TO INDEFINITE DETENTION OF AMERICANS: Last week, I opposed provisions of the National Defense Authorization Act that would authorize indefinite detention of Americans and tie the hands of domestic law enforcement in terrorism cases. Constituents sent me here to provide for the common defense, yes. But they also sent me here to safeguard their liberty. For more, click HERE.
THE IRAQ WAR IS OVER: After 8 years of war, our forces are coming home with honor. To read my full statement, click HERE.
THE RIGHT TO VOTE: Attorney General Eric Holder, the nation’s top law enforcement officer, has promised extra scrutiny for the new voting laws in order to maintain civil rights protections. To read my piece on this issue in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, click HERE.
FOR VETERANS: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is making $100 million in grants available to community agencies that will work to prevent veteran homelessness. Groups have until Feb. 15 to apply. For more, click HERE. Veterans now have on-demand access and can download official data about their military training and experience, which can be used to help them find jobs. For more, click HERE.
HELPING MARTA: I’m pleased to announce that the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is making a $4 million grant available to MARTA for 10 new buses to replace older models.
TIGERS TACKLE CHAMPIONSHIP: Congratulations to Head Coach Franklin Stephens and the entire Tucker Tigers football family for wining their second state championship. Go Tigers!
HOLIDAY SAFETY TIPS: With all the hustle and bustle of the holidays, it’s easy to let little things slip through the cracks. Use these tips from the Federal Citizen Information Center to help you avoid some of the most common holiday accidents. For more, click HERE.
In this season, more than ever, please keep our military personnel who are coming home, overseas and our first-responders here at home and their families in your hearts and prayers. They give their all for us and we must never forget their sacrifice.
Happy Holidays and a Wonderful New Year to you and yours!
Thanks,
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) released the following statement today on the end of the Iraq War:
“Today I’m pleased to confirm that the U.S. military mission in Iraq has ended. After 8 years of war, our forces are coming home with honor.
I honor and thank our men and women in uniform, who fought with characteristic courage and professionalism. They and their families, who have carried such a heavy burden, will be reunited for the holidays. More than 1.5 million have served in Iraq, 32,226 have been wounded, and 4,487 have died. These sacrifices will never be forgotten, and today – above all else – my thoughts are with the families whose loved ones won’t be coming home and those family members called upon to care for the wounded.
I commend our Commander-in-Chief for making good on his commitment to lead a responsible end to our mission in Iraq.”
Rep. Johnson is a member of the House Armed Services and Judiciary Committees.
###
Congressman: Constituents sent us here to safeguard their liberty – I ask my colleagues to think long and hard about this vote
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04), who led U.S. House efforts to remove dangerous detainee provisions from the FY12 National Defense Authorization Act (Johnson-Heinrich letter), today said several last-minute changes to those provisions were inadequate and spoke in opposition to the bill on the U.S. House floor.
Excerpts from Rep. Johnson’s speech:
“We have sworn to uphold our Constitution of the United States of America – regardless of which committee [we] serve on. Yet we are about to give our seal of approval to a bill that gives the military the authority to hold American citizens captured abroad on suspicion of terrorism and to hold them indefinitely without trial. This is a codification of an unfortunate Supreme Court ruling … and it gives that ruling statutory legitimacy.
“Mr. Speaker, we must reject indefinite detention of Americans and defend the Constitution. … No matter how you spin it, it’s wrong. It’s unjust, it’s Orwellian, and it’s not who we are.
“The bill also makes the military, not civilian law enforcement authorities, responsible for custody and prosecution in the military courts of foreign terrorist suspects apprehended within the United States. This provision disrespects and demoralizes our law enforcement officers and prosecutors who are responsible for protecting our national security using the United States criminal justice system and process which has been effectively used repeatedly to investigate, arrest, prosecute, and incarcerate individuals who are convicted of terrorism. Imagine you’re an FBI agent or federal prosecutor with a tremendous record finding, arresting, convicting, and locking up terrorists. Now you are told to step aside so that the military can do your job for you.
“The military is a machine of war. Not a law enforcement agency. That’s why the Director of National Intelligence, the Director of the FBI, the Director of the CIA, the head of the Justice Department's National Security Division, and the Secretary of Defense himself oppose this provision. … Terrorism is a crime and our law enforcement authorities – our prosecutors, our judges – are more than up to the task. This bill ties the hands of law enforcement, militarizes counterterrorism on our own soil, and makes us less safe.
“Mr. Speaker, our constituents sent us here to provide for the common defense, yes. But they also sent us here to safeguard their liberty. So I ask my colleagues to think long and hard about this vote. And I ask the staff watching this on C-SPAN to think long and hard before making their recommendations. Reject indefinite intention, empower civilian law enforcement and defend the constitution. I yield back.”
Video of Johnson’s speech is available HERE.
Rep. Johnson serves on the House Armed Services and House Judiciary Committees.
U.S. Representative Hank Johnson, colleagues disturbed by reports of high-level corruption in partner country
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Nineteen members of the U.S. Congress today wrote U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urging that the United States insist on a full investigation of credible reports that senior Sierra Leonean officials offered permission to conduct illegal and destructive logging operations in exchange for bribes.
In their letter (which is attached to this press release), U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson, U.S. House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights Ranking Member Donald Payne, and 17 colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives asked that Secretary Clinton push the Government of Sierra Leone to launch a full and transparent investigation. They also requested that the Department of State report to Congress with information regarding the progress of the Sierra Leonean investigation.
A recent report aired by Al Jazeera English, "Africa Investigates - Sierra Leone: Timber!," showed footage of individuals claiming to act on behalf of Sierra Leonean Vice President Samuel Sam-Sumana soliciting bribes in exchange for permission to conduct illegal and destructive logging operations, although permitted logging was suspended.
The Government of Sierra Leone initially said it would launch an inquiry through its Anti-Corruption Commission and domestic law enforcement, but there has been little visible progress.
"These reports are very disturbing," said Johnson. "Our relationship with Sierra Leone requires faith in the integrity of its leadership."
A 2006 European Union report identified illegal logging as the leading cause of environmental degradation in Sierra Leone, and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) 2010 Global Forest Resources Assessment reported that Sierra Leone lost old-growth forest at a rate of 3.21% per year -- the fifth fastest rate of old-growth forest loss in the world.
Members of Congress who signed the letter: Rep. Hank Johnson, Rep. Donald Payne, Rep. Barbara Lee, Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr., Rep. Maxine Waters, Rep. Yvette Clarke, Rep. Charles Rangel, Rep. Earl Blumenauer, Rep. Frederica Wilson, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, Rep. Raúl Grijalva, Rep. Keith Ellison, Rep. Jan Schakowsky, Rep. James Moran, Rep. Russ Carnahan, Rep. James McGovern, Rep. Peter DeFazio, Rep. Betty McCollum, and Rep. John Lewis.
###
Johnson-Heinrich letter urges changes to defense authorization bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-4), U.S. Rep. Martin Heinrich (NM-1), and more than 35 colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives tonight sent an urgent letter to House and Senate Armed Services Committee leaders and conferees opposing provisions of the National Defense Authorization Act that would authorize indefinite detention of Americans and tie the hands of domestic law enforcement in terrorism cases.
The letter opposed Sec. 1034 of the House-passed defense authorization and Secs. 1031 and 1032 of the Senate-passed bill.
Sec. 1034 of the House bill would authorize the use of military force against broadly defined adversaries substantially exceeding the scope of such authorizations already in law. The expanded authority would have no geographical limits and provide authority for open-ended armed conflict.
Sec. 1031 of the Senate bill would authorize indefinite military detention of suspected terrorists without protecting U.S. citizens’ right to trial. Sec. 1032 of the Senate bill would require that suspected foreign terrorists be taken into custody by the military instead of civilian law enforcement authorities, denying civilian law enforcement authorities the flexibility necessary to conduct effective counterterrorism operations.
“These provisions have no place in our law,” said Johnson, who serves on the House Armed Services and Judiciary Committees. “If we include this language, we're on a slippery slope.”
“I strongly oppose mandating military custody and allowing for indefinite detention without due process or trial,” said Heinrich, who serves on the House Armed Services Committee. “These provisions are deeply concerning and would risk putting American citizens in military detention, indefinitely. In short, this authority is at complete odds with the United States Constitution.”
House and Senate conferees are meeting today to finalize the Defense authorization bill. It is anticipated that the conference report will be voted on by the House this coming Thursday, December 15.
To read the letter, click HERE. See below for a list of signatories thus far:
Rep. Hank Johnson
Rep. Martin Heinrich
Rep. Earl Blumenauer
Rep. Judy Chu
Rep. William Lacy Clay
Rep. Steve Cohen
Rep. John Conyers
Rep. Diana DeGette
Rep. John Garamendi
Rep. Raúl Grijalva
Rep. Alcee Hastings
Rep. Maurice Hinchey
Rep. Mike Honda
Rep. Barbara Lee
Rep. John Lewis
Rep. Ben Ray Luján
Rep. Carolyn Maloney
Rep. Jim McDermott
Rep. James McGovern
Rep. Jerrold Nadler
Rep. Charles Rangel
Rep. Ed Towns
Rep. Bobby Rush
Rep. Jose Serrano
Rep. Henry Waxman
Rep. Brad Sherman
Rep. Jesse Jackson
Rep. Nydia Velazquez
Rep. Donald Payne
Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton
Rep. Louise Slaughter
Rep. Gwen Moore
Rep. George Miller
Rep. Sam Farr
Rep. Peter Welch
Rep. Betty McCollum
Rep. Hansen Clarke
Rep. Keith Ellison
Rep. Pete Stark
Rep. Peter DeFazio
###
Bill addresses high-cost drugs: ‘We must keep the promises we made to our seniors’
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04) today introduced his bipartisan “Part D Beneficiary Appeals Fairness Act” (H.R. 3613), which would give seniors on Medicare Part D who rely on ‘specialty tier’ drugs an appeals process when dealing with the high costs of these prescriptions.
With the period of open enrollment for Medicare Part D ending yesterday, seniors are continuing to see their health plans place drugs used to treat chronic illnesses on specialty tiers.
Private and employer health insurance plans classify prescriptions using tiers to differentiate among generic, brand name and “non-preferred” brand name drugs. Any medication costing more than $600 is automatically placed on a specialty tier that requires patients to pay from 25 to 33 percent or more – rather than a flat rate.
For many seniors on a fixed income, these life-saving drugs for everything from cancer to rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and multiple sclerosis can cost upwards of $1,700 per month. Seniors who can’t afford the medication often go without treatment.
“How can we look our seniors in the eye – people suffering from leukemia, Crohn’s disease or multiple sclerosis – who are required to pay more in prescriptions than they bring home each month – and say ‘sorry, you’re out of luck. It’s either food on the table and roof over your head or the life-saving drugs – you can’t have both,’ ” said Rep. Johnson.
“We appreciate Congressman Johnson being a long-standing champion of Medicare beneficiaries who live with severe chronic conditions and are faced with very high cost-sharing for their medications,” said Sandra Raymond, President and CEO of the Lupus Foundation and leader of the MAPRx coalition. “This bill is the first step to bringing fundamental fairness to these beneficiaries.”
MAPRx is a coalition of beneficiary, patient advocacy, family caregiver and health professional organizations committed to improving access to prescription medications and safeguarding the well-being of beneficiaries with chronic diseases under the Medicare prescription drug benefit.
Amy Melnick, vice president of Advocacy for the Arthritis Foundation, also a member of MAPRx, said, “the Arthritis Foundation is grateful to Rep. Johnson for introducing this legislation, which not only raises awareness of the discriminatory nature of the specialty tiers in Part D for people with chronic conditions, but, more importantly, also establishes a critically important appeals process or “tiering exception” so that Medicare beneficiaries can appeal the placement of their medications into a specialty tier.”
The president and chair of the Alliance for Biotherapeutics, Abbie Cornett said specialty tiers are creating barriers in access to care and are a threat to all patients who rely on biotherapeutics and other lifesaving therapies. “This legislation is a great way to help our most vulnerable seniors with severe and often chronic conditions,” she said.
Johnson called his bill, which has gained the support of 33 co-sponsors, “a common sense, limited approach to ensure that we keep the promises we made to our Medicare seniors.”
Co-sponsors include: John Conyers (D-MI); Barbara Lee (D-CA); Mike Honda (D-CA); Raul Grijalva (D-AZ); Marcia Fudge (D-OH); Louise Slaughter (D-NY); Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-Washington, D.C.); Keith Ellison (D-MN); John Lewis (D-GA); Walter Jones (R-NC).
###
Our right to vote is under attack. Sweeping new laws — including an end to same-day registration and cuts to early voting — could disenfranchise millions of voters in 2012. Read the full article in the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
Congresista: el proyecto de ley nivelara el campo de competencia para pequeñas empresas, empresas locales y empresas cuyos propietarios son minorías
WASHINGTON – Pensando en las pequeñas empresas de Georgia, el congresista Hank Johnson (GA-04) ha presentado hoy "la Ley del 2011 para la imparcialidad y transparencia en contratación."
El proyecto de ley asegurará que los contratos federales para las pequeñas empresas vayan realmente a las pequeñas empresas en lugar de las filiales de las grandes empresas. "la Ley de imparcialidad y transparencia en la contratación" es un resultado directo de más de 15 investigaciones que expusieron abusos generalizados en programas federales para contratación de pequeñas empresas.
El Inspector General de la Administración de pequeñas empresas encontró en 2002 que al menos el 4,4 por ciento de los 1.000 contratistas que recibieron fondos federales destinados a las pequeñas empresas no cumplieron con los requisitos básicos para recibir los contratos.
Para corregir esto, "la Ley de imparcialidad y transparencia en las contrataciones" modificaría la definición de pequeña empresa en la Ley de Pequeñas Empresas, incluyendo un requisito adicional que estipulara que ninguna empresa cotizada en la bolsa puede calificar como una pequeña empresa. También permite a una persona presentar una queja si tiene pruebas de que el contrato de la pequeña empresa se adjudicó incorrectamente.
"Las grandes empresas deben dejar de hacerse pasar por pequeñas empresas para obtener contratos con el gobierno", dijo Johnson. "Sobre todo teniendo en cuenta cómo muchas pequeñas empresas están sufriendo en esta economía, mi propuesta de ley servirá para ayudar a detener este abuso."
Si se aprueba, el proyecto de ley requeriría que la SBA presente al Congreso con un informe anual sobre la naturaleza de las quejas y su resolución.
Las pequeñas empresas son la base de la economía del país. Según la Oficina del Censo de los EE.UU., las empresas con 20 empleados o menos son el 90 por ciento de todas las empresas de EE.UU. y estas empresas son responsables del 97 por ciento de los nuevos empleos netos.
La Cámara de Comercio de DeKalb, que apoya el proyecto de ley, se mostró satisfecha con la introducción de Johnson de "la Ley de imparcialidad y transparencia en las contrataciones."
"Nuestras pequeñas empresas necesitan un campo de juego parejo", dijo el presidente de la Cámara Leonardo McClarty. "El Proyecto de ley de Johnson cerrará lagunas legales y hará más equitativa la competencia para las pequeñas empresas en contratos federales de miles de millones de dólares."
El presidente de la Liga Americana de Pequeñas Empresas, con sede en California, Lloyd Chapman alabó los esfuerzos de Johnson.
"Cada pequeña empresa en Estados Unidos tiene una deuda de gratitud con el Congresista Johnson por reintroducir este proyecto de ley", dijo Chapman. "Las pequeñas empresas crean más del 97 por ciento de nuevos empleos netos, y esta ley va a hacer mucho más para ayudar a las empresas que cualquier plan de estímulo propuesto hasta ahora. Esto ayudará a las pequeñas empresas a crear millones de empleos y dará un impulso espectacular a la clase media. "
Los requisitos de notificación y presentación de informes incluiriá:
● Notificación de las agencias gubernamentales y contratistas de los cambios en el proyecto de ley
● Requiere de que la SBA haga público que empresas están recibiendo contratos para pequeñas empresas
● Requiere que cada agencia federal reporte en su sitio Web una lista de empresas que reciben contratos para pequeñas empresas de esa agencia
● Requiere que la agencia responsable de mantener la base de datos de todos los contratistas federales provea una advertencia adecuada acerca de las sanciones por declarar falsamente el estado de un negocio o persona con el fin de obtener ciertos contratos federales
Entre las organizaciones que apoyan el proyecto de ley están la Minority Business Round Table, la Cámara de Comercio Hispana de California, California DVBE Alianza, California Small Business Association, el New Mexico 8 bis y Minority Business Association, Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, California Black Chamber of Commerce, El Banco Asiático Americano Business Roundtable, Georgia Black Chamber of Commerce y Cámara de Comercio de DeKalb, entre decenas de otros grupos.
In response to a higher demand for home heating assistance in his district, Rep. Hank Johnson is urging House leadership to boost funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) in the FY 2012 appropriations bill.
To read the letter, click HERE.
“On World AIDS Day, I’m proud to announce my co-sponsorship of the Stop AIDS in Prison Act, reintroduced today by Congresswoman Maxine Waters. We need to take the threat of HIV/AIDS seriously and confront it in every institution of our society. That includes our nation’s prison system – and this bill will help stop the spread of HIV/AIDS among prison inmates, encourage them to take personal responsibility for their health, and reduce the risk that they will transmit HIV/AIDS to other people in the community following their release from prison.”
To read about Rep. Waters' bill, click HERE.
Congressman: Bill will help save lives by making road signs brighter, more readable at night
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04) today introduced the bipartisan “Safe Roads for America Act,” (H.R. 3536) which improves the brightness and size (retro-reflectivity) of traffic signs so drivers can see them more clearly at night. Lou Barletta (R-PA) is the lead Republican sponsor.
The bill ensures that bipartisan legislation approved in 1992 establishing timelines to upgrade road signs’ retro-reflectivity is implemented.
“As our population ages, we need to make our road signs more readable at night,” said Rep. Johnson. “Someone 60 years old needs 10 times the amount of light to see at night as someone who is 19, according to the American Automobile Association. Safe Roads helps make our roads safer by ensuring seniors and everyone can see roads signs more clearly at night.”
Johnson said brighter signs will give drivers more critical decision-making time and help cut emergency response times. The bill maintains reasonable deadlines for the safety upgrades and makes funds more accessible to the states to fulfill the bill’s requirements.
“Having almost two decades of experience in the road construction industry, I know how important reflectivity and increased visibility are to motorists, especially older drivers,” said Rep. Barletta. “This common-sense bill will make our nation’s roads safer for everyone, and it ensures that states and municipalities can afford these important safety upgrades.”
The Federal Highway Administration estimates these upgrades will cost $37 million over 10 years.
American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) Chairman Joe Jeffrey noted, “Reps. Johnson and Barletta’s leadership on this vital legislation will help to continue the reduction of roadway fatalities and serious injuries nationwide.”
Original sponsors include: Reps. Lou Barletta, R-PA; Bob Filner, D-CA; Rush Holt, D-NJ; Russ Carnahan, D-MO; John Lewis, D-GA; Fortney Stark, D-CA; Jason Altmire, D-PA; Charles B. Rangel, D-NY; Chellie Pingree, D-ME; Timothy Bishop, D-NY.
Among the organizations supporting the bill are AAA, AARP, Allstate, American Highway Users Alliance, American Society of Civil Engineers, American Traffic Safety Services Association, Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, Easter Seals, National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, Nationwide, National Trooper Coalition, National Organizations for Youth Safety, Transportation for America, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety.
###
