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Dear Friends,
I’m pleased to report that my “Help Entrepreneurs Create American Jobs Act” – H.R. 4032 – that I introduced last month now has bipartisan support.
The Entrepreneurs bill would permanently double the first-year startup expenses deduction from $5,000 to $10,000. It will also increase the ceiling at which deductions begin to phase out from $50,000 to $60,000.
 The legislation is part of President Obama’s Startup America Agenda and is supported by the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce – and all three major chambers of commerce in the Fourth District – the DeKalb, Conyers-Rockdale and Gwinnett chambers.
I will continue pursuing bipartisan policies that help put Georgians and Fourth District residents back to work.
Photo above: Hank honors Madilynn Vega, right, with a Georgia Commission for Service and Volunteerism Award for her work with AmeriCorps at the Refugee Family Services Center in Stone Mountain. Left is AmeriCorps Program Director for the Refugee Family Services Laretia Williams.
PREVENTING FORECLOSURES: The Green Forest H.O.M.E Program, a HUD-approved housing counseling group, is holding “More Help for Homeowners” on Saturday, March 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Greenforest Community Baptist Church, 3250 Rainbow Drive in Decatur, 30034. Counselors will provide information about the Independent Foreclosure Review, and help homeowners understand the process. For more, click HERE.
RARE EARTHS: This week, I applauded President Obama’s announcement that the U.S. will file a complaint with the World Trade Organization over Chinese limits on exports of rare earth elements. These metals are critical to our high-tech, clean-energy and defense manufacturing. As co-chair of the House Rare Earth Caucus, I look forward to building a bipartisan rare earth policy that will reduce our dependence on supply from China and support American jobs. For more, click HERE.
CONGRESSMAN DONALD PAYNE: Last week, my friend, mentor and colleague Rep. Donald Payne of New Jersey passed away after a battle with cancer. My wife Mereda and I attended his service in New Jersey this week. He was an unwavering champion of working people in New Jersey, the nation and around the globe. He spoke for the disenfranchised and the powerless – I will miss him terribly. For more, click HERE.
OUR DEMOCRACY ISN’T FOR SALE: Super PACS threaten our democracy and allow wealthy individuals and corporations to have a disproportionate effect on our elections. For more, click HERE.
HUMANE SOCIETY HONOR: Thank you to the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), which presented me with its annual Animal Welfare Leadership Award on March 7 for earning a perfect score on their 2011 scorecard. For more, click HERE.
CALLING ALL ARTISTS: I’m pleased to announce that the 2012 Congressional Arts Competition is back. Eligible high school students throughout the district, which include parts of DeKalb, Gwinnett, and Rockdale counties, are encouraged to apply and display their talent in this year’s contest. Entries must be designed according to the specifications in the competition guidelines, which can be found HERE.
WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH: March is Women’s History Month. Please take some time to honor the women in your life. For more, click HERE.
CONYERS ST. PATRICK’S BASH: The “World’s Fastest Growing St. Patrick’s Day Parade” will be held on Friday, March 16 at 4:30 p.m. in Olde Town Conyers. The parade is sponsored by the Conyers Main Street Program. For more, click HERE.
JUDGE CEBULL SHOULD RESIGN: Last week, I called for Chief U.S. District Judge Richard Cebull to resign after he flagrantly violated the Judicial Code of Conduct. For more, click HERE.
ADAP HONOREE: A big thanks to Georgia HIV Advocacy Network, a program of Georgia Equality, and the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, for recognizing my commitment to all people living with HIV/AIDS. I was honored to be named along with Sen. Johnny Isakson for our “pass with excellence” scorecard from the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP). For more, click HERE.
FEMA CORPS: Thanks to the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), FEMA Corps has been created to strengthen the nation’s ability to respond to and recover from disasters. Not only will it train young people for careers in emergency management, but FEMA Corps will provide a dedicated, trained and reliable workforce to support disaster survivors and impacted communities during their greatest time of need. The first FEMA Corps members begin serving in Sept. 2012. For more, click HERE.
MILITARY SCHOLARSHIPS: Military Families United, in partnership with The Arts Institutes, has created a new scholarship program for military spouses to be awarded to spouses of Armed Forces members, including active duty, active National Guard and Reserve, and surviving spouses of soldiers killed in the line of duty post 9/11. For more, click HERE.
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT: More than 3.5 million people with Medicare saved $2.1 billion on their prescription drugs in 2011 thanks to the Affordable Care Act. Savings for people with Medicare will increase over time. According to a new report issued last month, the average person with Medicare will save nearly $4,200 by 2021 because of the new law. In the Fourth District alone, more than 13,000 people with Medicare saved more than $7 million on prescription drugs in 2011. For more, click HERE.
As always, I appreciate your time and feedback. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to represent you in Congress.
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March 16, 2012
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My Staff
Arthur D. Sidney, Chief of Staff
Kathy Register, District Director
District
Shy Armstrong
Peter Butts
Betty Dixon
Eric C. Hubbard
Ray Khalfani
Carole Mumford
Andy Phelan
Dori Scales
Paulette Suggs
Washington, D.C.
Scott Goldstein
Jocelyn Griffin
Glenn Miles
Jonathan Ossoff
Mark Perkins
Ebony Simpson
Oliver Spurgeon, III
Sascha Thompson
Marybeth Williams
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The legislation is part of 