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July Fourth 2022 E-Newsletter

July 11, 2022
e-Newsletters

July 1, 2022

I want to wish everyone a happy, safe and healthy Fourth of July holiday weekend!

I feel even more pride with Juneteenth and Independence Day so close together on the calendar now – inextricably linked as national holidays of independence and freedom.

As we gather with friends and family this holiday weekend, I just wanted to touch base on the work I'm doing in Washington and the District.

HELPING SMALL BUSINESSES
Earlier this month, I introduced the Small Business Contracting Fairness Act of 2022, critical legislation to standardize treatment of Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) within the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). The bill would strengthen the U.S. Department of Transportation's DBE program to help more minority and women-owned small businesses compete for contracts and competitive funding opportunities. Sen. Jon Ossoff (GA) joined me by introducing the Senate companion bill.

10TH ANNIVERSARY OF PRESIDENT OBAMA'S DACA INITIATIVE
This month, we celebrated the 10th anniversary of President Obama's establishment of DACA, which provides legal protections for nearly 800,000 young immigrants, over 20,000 of whom live and work in Georgia.

HONORING OUR FATHERS OF VETERANS
On June 21 – in wake of the Father's Day weekend – I and Congressman Drew Ferguson (GA-03) introduced the bipartisan H. Res. 1190, which designates Nov. 9, 2022, as "Gold Star Father's Day," nationally. Drew and I agree – it's important to extend the same recognition to Gold Star Fathers as it currently exists for Gold Star mothers. On that note, I'd like to extend my deepest appreciation for all our service members from the district serving overseas now in NATO territories because of Putin's war in the Ukraine.

2022 ARTS COMPETITON WINNER
Also this month, the winner of Georgia's Fourth District 2022 Congressional Art Competition, Christopher Ramos of Newton County, was honored in Washington, D.C. as part of a national reception to honor arts winners from across the country. Congrats Chris!

MY THOUGHTS ON ROE V. WADE
For half a century, the reproductive right has been a hallmark of gender equality in our nation. Women have now had that right ripped away by a callous and extreme, draconian Supreme Court, and the harsh truth is that women of color, and particularly Black women in Georgia, will be detrimentally impacted by this decision. Georgia ranks among the lowest of states in the nation in terms of maternal health outcomes, so the blow to women of color will be immeasurable. This begs the question, what civil right is the Supreme Court planning to target next?

FIGHTING INFLATION
I know people out here are struggling with inflation, the cost of fuel, rent and groceries. I know because I shop at the same stores you do and buy my gas at the station on the corner.

Russia's cruel war against Ukraine is driving up prices all over the world, not just here. Putin's Price Hike has increased gas prices by $2 a gallon in many places since Russian troops began attacking Ukraine in February, and families are seeing higher prices in the grocery aisle, too. Here are the measures I've supported to help lower families' costs – at the pump, in the grocery store, and across the board.

I voted to lower shipping costs to lower prices on the shelves by supporting the Ocean Shipping Reform Act, which cracks down on exorbitant and unfair shipping fees charged by international ocean shipping companies that have increased costs for consumers on the shelves, for American small businesses waiting for key supplies, and for American farmers selling food to the world. That was signed into law by President Biden.

I also supported the Lower Food & Fuel Costs Act, a package of bipartisan bills to lower prices for America's families in the grocery aisle and at the gas pump by giving America's farmers and ranchers the support they need to thrive. The bill will work to lower fertilizer costs on our farms to lower food prices in our grocery stores, lower meat & poultry costs by increasing meatpacking competition, lower prices at the pump by making cheaper, cleaner unleaded gas more available – and lower gas prices by cracking down on Big Oil Companies' price gouging.

WORLD REFUGEE DAY
Last Saturday, I was honored to take part once again in World Refugee Day at Refuge Coffee in Clarkston – the Ellis Island of the South. It's always great to celebrate our diversity and the contributions of the refugee and immigrant communities that add to the tapestry and rich cultural of District 4.

As always, I appreciate your time and feedback. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to represent you in Congress. If you have any issues with a federal agency, please don't hesitate to call my district office at 770-987-2291. Thank you and have a safe and happy Fourth of July weekend!

Sincerely,