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Rep. Hank Johnson's E-Newsletter for Friday, June 7, 2013

June 12, 2013
e-Newsletters

Dear friends,

My staff and I had a productive week during the Memorial Day work period. I had the pleasure of visiting the Mitcham Cattle Co. and strawberry farm to discuss agricultural issues, host a senior citizen meet & greet in Newton County to discuss federal benefits and services, attended DeKalb County Commissioner Stan Watson’s Saturday morning legislative meeting on veterans’ issues and homeownership and discuss labor issues at the International Association of Machinists’ 125-year anniversary celebration.

This week in Washington, D.C., I took an active role during the House Armed Services Committee’s annual markup of the National Defense Authorization Act or NDAA. I was pleased to help secure funding for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs at some of our local universities. I was also pleased to work across the aisle with my friend Austin Scott (GA-08) on an amendment to help our military families receive better treatment for their children who have autism. For more, click HERE.

NSA PHONE TRACKING: The recent revelation that the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court has approved the blanket and ongoing collection of telephone records – including those of everyday Americans with absolutely no ties to terrorism – is troubling. Last year, I opposed reauthorizing the sun-setting provisions of the PATRIOT Act because the House Judiciary Committee failed to adopt amendments, including one I offered, that would have reined in overbroad collection of data. Over my objections and without my vote, Congress ultimately approved a deeply flawed bill. It is disingenuous for any member of Congress to imply that he or she is unaware of the potential for abuse. We have debated these authorities and their uses extensively. As a member of both Judiciary and the House Armed Services Committee, I am acutely sensitive to the need to protect Americans from the perennial threat of terrorist attacks, which confronts our nation, and the need for common sense but sometimes complex legislation to confront these oftentimes sophisticated threats. But when does national security trump the Constitution and Bill of Rights? This question begs to be answered by a Congress that should soberly and carefully debate these weighty issues publicly and in regular order. We are doing Americans a disservice by allowing external threats to potentially erode our domestic liberties and civil rights. We must have a thorough and public debate on how our government can balance the need for national security while protecting the basic liberties of its citizens. Americans have a right to know the power that they are granting their government. For more, click HERE. To see my floor speech, click the video above or click HERE.

EXPANDING CONSTITUENT SERVICES: I’m pleased to announce that I’m partnering with local city governments to provide more accessible constituent services to Fourth District residents. I’m working with local mayors in Covington (Mayor Johnston), Snellville (Mayor Kautz), Conyers (Mayor Mills) and North DeKalb (CEO Ellis) to use existing meeting space in respective city halls. Fourth District constituents can now call our Lithonia office at 770-987-2291 to make an appointment with a congressional office representative at the location of their choice. For residents of North DeKalb, meetings will continue to be arranged at the One DeKalb Office at Northlake Mall. I want to thank the respective mayors for working with our office. This way we can better serve our constituents and also save taxpayer funds by holding down overhead costs. Read more in On Common Ground.

SENIOR MEET & GREET: I held a meet & greet for senior citizens at the Newton County Senior Center on Turner Lake Road last week. The event helped seniors navigate through the often confusing and complicated process of Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, IRS and the Veterans Administration. Officials from each department were on hand to assist seniors. More than 100 seniors attended and Newton County Sheriff Ezell Brown, Covington Mayor Ronnie Johnston and Newton County BOC Chairman Keith Ellis also brought greetings. Helping constituents, especially our seniors, solve seemingly intractable problems is what my district office does every day. I’m proud that my staff has been able to help so many constituents receive the benefits due them from the federal government. Taking care of home first is my number one priority.

NDAA: This week as a member of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC), I was pleased to help secure $5 million to increase funding for science research at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Institutions (MIs) during the committee approval of the FY14 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). In an 15-hour marathon session, the committee considered hundreds of amendments to the legislation. I was also privileged to work with Republican Austin Scott (GA-08) on an amendment dealing with autism that directs the Department of Defense to ensure that our military families with autistic children in rural or underserved communities get the attention they deserve. For more, click HERE.

MITCHAM CATTLE CO. – My staff and I visited the Mitcham Cattle Co. and Mitcham Strawberry Farm in Oxford on May 29 as part of a meet and greet workplace exchange. In return, cattleman Keith Mitcham will shadow me for a day in Washington, D.C., this month. It’s all part of an exchange to foster better understanding and for each of us to learn more about what the other does on a day-to-day basis. The Fourth Congressional District now encompasses several large rural areas in Rockdale and Newton counties. It was great for my staff and me to learn the day-to-day operations of the farms, bale some hay with Keith and hand-pick some strawberries. I’m eager to learn more about agricultural issues so I can better represent constituents like Keith and all our Fourth District farmers. Read more about it in The Rockdale-Newton Citizen.

SERVING VETERANS: There’s a new program that allows you to mentor veterans online called eMentor Leadership Program. New mentors and protégés complete an online profile, providing background information and interests that help match them to a suitable mentoring partner. Once their profile is complete, protégés can immediately seek a mentor, ask a question, join a discussion forum, review posted resources, and more For more information, click HERE.

HELPING HOMELESS VETERANS: Approximately 9,000 homeless veterans living on the streets and in the nation’s shelter system will soon find a permanent place to call home. U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Eric K. Shinseki announced today that HUD will provide $60 million to local public housing agencies across the country to offer permanent supportive housing to homeless veterans, many of whom are living with chronic disabling conditions.

The supportive housing assistance is provided through the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program, which combines rental assistance from HUD with case management and clinical services provided by VA. Since 2008, a total of 48,385 vouchers have been awarded and 42,557 formerly homeless veterans are currently in homes because of HUD-VASH.

SOCIAL SECURITY: The Social Security Board of Trustees last week released its annual report on the long-term financial status of the Social Security. It projects it will be fully funded until 2033, unchanged from last year, with 77 percent of benefits still payable after that. I believe that Medicare is an essential safety net program for all Americans. I will always support it with every fiber of my being. For more, click HERE.

As always, I appreciate your time and feedback. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to represent you in Congress.

Issues: Armed Services and Veterans Affairs Consumer Protection Economy and Jobs Environment Justice & Court Reform National Security and Foreign Policy Seniors and Social Security