Dear Friends,
Last fall, when I saw an increasing nationwide trend of help wanted ads saying the “Unemployed need not apply,” I thought about how unfair that is to discriminate against people who lost their jobs due to no fault of their own – who were just victims of corporate downsizing during a tough economy or young graduates who have not yet entered the workforce.
 So I decided to act by sending a letter to The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. They held hearings on this despicable practice. What they discovered is that this kind of discrimination is an "emerging issue" that disproportionately affects older workers, minorities, women and veterans.
This year, I have introduced two bills to help stop this kind of discrimination against the unemployed.
In March, I introduced the Fair Employment Act of 2011 and this summer with Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), the Fair Employment Opportunity Act of 2011 (FEOA) – which would prohibit employers from discriminating against unemployed job seekers by refusing to consider them for job openings. It would make it illegal for employers to publish any job postings that unemployed persons will not be considered or hired. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (CT) has introduced a companion bill in the Senate.
I’ve also launched The Fair Employment Project on my web site that seeks feedback on constituent job searches.
If you or know someone you know has been out of work for six months or more any time during the Great Recession that began back in 2007, I want to hear your story. As responses come in, it will also be a conduit to share job search and interview tips for people still looking for work. Your experiences will also help me fight for our legislation in Washington.To join the project, click HERE.
 AIRING YOUR VIEWS ON TRANSPORTATION: Before a final list of transportation projects is adopted next month for the 2012 Transportation Investment Act referendum, there are three public meetings that will give you a chance to weigh in. For more, click HERE.
– Monday, Sept. 26 from 5-7 p.m. at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center, 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville.
– Tuesday, Sept. 27 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the JP Carr Community Center, 981 Taylor Street, Conyers.
– Wednesday, Sept. 28 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Maloof Auditorium, 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur.
STOPPING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN: Thanks to a $700,000 grant from the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence is joining forces with the Georgia Council for the Hearing Impaired and Georgia Tools for Life to help end abuse against women with disabilities. For more, click HERE.
FIGHTING HUMAN TRAFFICKING: Tapestri Inc., one of the Metro Atlanta’s leading community-based organizations that works to end violence and oppression in refugee and immigrant communities, is receiving a $300,000 grant from DOJ to help victims of human trafficking. As part of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, the funds will go to the Tucker-based group to battle sex and labor trafficking in Georgia. For more, click HERE.
GA DOJJ GRANTS: The Department of Justice has awarded the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice (DOJJ) a $558,000 grant to help reduce the incidences of sexual abuse in our prisons. The funds from the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) will go toward establishing a “Zero Tolerance” culture, prevention, offender education and victim support services. For more, click HERE.
DEFENDING JUSTICE: The Georgia Student Finance Committee is receiving a $174,000 grant from DOJ to establish a statewide program that helps young attorneys who commit to serving as public defenders and state prosecutors pay their law school loans. These young public servants are critical to Georgia’s criminal justice system, doing the work that puts criminals behind bars and providing a defense for those who cannot afford attorneys.
I am committed to securing investments that enhance educational opportunities for Georgians and keep our best and brightest minds in the state. For more, click HERE.
HELPING SMALL BUSINESSES: Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and create about 60 percent of new jobs in this country. So I’m pleased to announce that Resurgens Bank in Tucker will receive $3 million from the Department of Treasury as part of the Small Business Jobs Act that was created to help local small businesses grow and expand. For more, click HERE.
FUNDING FUEL CELLS: The Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE) will receive a $793,000 grant from the Department of Transportation to facilitate and develop advance fuel cells for buses. Finding ways to more efficiently produce commercially viable fuel cells for buses not only helps clean the environment and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, but it advances science and technology as well. Congratulations CTE! For more, click HERE.
POWERING GEORGIA: The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced last week that Tucker-based Oglethorpe Power Corporation will receive $127.7 million in guaranteed loans from the USDA to improve its power delivery systems that serve parts of metro Atlanta and much of rural Georgia. For more, click HERE.
 FACE TIME ON FACEBOOK: Please stop by my Facebook page. Friending me on Facebook is also a great way to keep track of upcoming events and news from D.C. and the District.
As always, I appreciate your time and feedback. Please help spread the word on the Fair Employment Project. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to represent you in Congress.
| Sept. 20, 2011 
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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
Glenn Miles
Jonathan Ossoff
Mark Perkins
Ebony Simpson
Oliver Spurgeon, III
Sascha Thompson
Marybeth Williams |
So I decided to act by sending a letter to The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. They held hearings on this despicable practice. What they discovered is that this kind of discrimination is an "emerging issue" that disproportionately affects older workers, minorities, women and veterans. 
FACE TIME ON FACEBOOK: Please stop by 
