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Rep. Hank Johnson's E-Newsletter (July 2, 2010)

July 2, 2010
e-Newsletters


Dear Friends,

Happy Fourth of July weekend!

This week, we passed comprehensive reform of Wall Street. Wall Street reform is an important step on our path to recovery. The bill creates a new Consumer Financial Protection Agency to protect families and small businesses by ensuring that bank loans, mortgages and credit cards are fair, affordable, understandable and transparent.

This also empowers oversight bodies like the Securities and Exchange Commission and helps dismantle firms that are ‘too big to fail.’

In short, Wall Street reform helps prevent the irresponsible behavior and practices that led to the financial crisis in the first place. For more on this bill, click here.

ROCKDALE JOB FAIR: Another important step to recovery is to ensure everyone who needs work has a job. That’s why my office is holding a job fair in conjunction with Rockdale County next week at the Rockdale County Career Academy on Culpepper Drive. Local, state and federal agencies will be on hand, as well as Georgia Perimeter College and Clayton State University.

WHAT: 2010 Job Fair and Career Expo
WHERE: Rockdale Career Academy, 1064 Culpepper Drive, Conyers, Ga. 30094
WHEN: Friday, July 9 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

For directions and a map, click here. If you would like more information, please call our Lithonia office at 770-987-2291 or click here.

COVERAGE FOR PEOPLE WITH PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS: On Thursday, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the establishment of a new Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) that will offer coverage to uninsured Americans who have been unable to obtain health coverage because of a pre-existing condition.

Information on how to apply for the plan is available on HHS’ new consumer Web site -- click here. To learn more about the PCIPs available in Georgia, click here.

WEATHERIZATION JOB OPENING: The Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority is hiring a weatherization program manager. The Recovery Act has helped weatherize nearly 1,000 homes in the Fourth District since 2009. For more on this job opening, click here.

ROCKDALE OFFICE HOURS: We are opening a satellite Congressional office in Conyers City Hall on Tuesday, July 13 for constituent services. The office will be open the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is located at 1184 Scott Street, Conyers, 30012. For more information, call 770-987-2291.

EXTENDING THE HOMEBUYER CREDIT: As a part of our efforts to strengthen America’s housing market, Democrats created the successful first-time homebuyer tax credit. With the help of this credit, more than 4 million families have been able to achieve the dream of home ownership, and in doing so, given a boost to our economy.

This week we passed legislation to extend the deadline for Americans already in the process of buying a home, but facing delays that would mean they no longer qualify for the credit. Up to 180,000 homebuyers will now receive the tax credit they deserve, and our housing market will be strengthened as a result. For more, click here.

EARLY RETIREE REINSURANCE PROGRAM: The Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (OCIIO) is accepting applications for the Early Retiree Reinsurance Program (ERRP).

Created by the Affordable Care Act as a bridge to the new health insurance marketplace established by the Exchanges in 2014, this $5 billion program will provide much-needed financial assistance for employers, including businesses, unions, state and local governments, and nonprofits, so retirees can get quality, affordable insurance. For more, click here.

TAX CUTS, HELP FOR THE UNEMPLOYED: I voted for H.R. 5618, Restoration of Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act, which passed the House this week. This emergency legislation would extend unemployment insurance benefits to millions of American families and hundreds of thousands of workers in Georgia.

But Senate Republicans continue to obstruct this legislation, turning their backs on Americans who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own. Now we must wait for the Senate until after the July 4th break. For more, click here.

HOLDING BP ACCOUNTABLE: This week the House passed the SPILL Act, which will hold big oil companies more accountable. It will also ensure taxpayers aren’t bailing out BP to clean up this historic environmental catastrophe. I cosponsored the SPILL Act, which also addresses the legal liability issues arising from the spill. Click here to learn more.

PASSPORT FEES ON THE RISE: If you need a passport or it’s time to renew, now is the time to do it before the Department of State processing fees increase on July 13. To download a passport application, click here. A list of passport application acceptance facilities can also be found on the Web site.

PATRIOT EXPRESS LOANS: In just three years, more than 6,000 U.S. Small Business Administration’s Patriot Express Pilot Loans have been issued. Expanded under the Recovery Act, the Patriot Loan program can be used by military members and their spouses to start or expand a small business. For more, click here.

Please help spread the word on the Job Fair. Thank you and have a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend!

July 2, 2010

Vol. 50



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About This E-Newsletter



This is an informational e-mail sent to residents of Georgia's Fourth Congressional District. If you would prefer not to receive future mailings, please click the Unsubscribe link at the bottom of this page. This mailing was prepared and sent at taxpayer expense.

My Staff

Arthur D. Sidney, Chief of Staff
Kathy Register, District Director


District
Shy Armstrong
Peter Butts
Katie Dailey
Betty Dixon
Eric C. Hubbard
Ray Khalfani
Andy Phelan
Carole Mumford
Dori Scales
Paulette Suggs

Washington, D.C.
Scott Goldstein
Jocelyn Griffin
Jonathan Ossoff
Mark Perkins
Ebony Simpson
Oliver Spurgeon, III
Elisabeth Stein
Sascha Thompson
Marybeth Williams