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Rep. Johnson's E-Newsletter for Jan. 26, 2015

March 5, 2015
e-Newsletters

I’m pleased to announce that I was renamed Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial and Antitrust Law (RRCAL) last week.

I have long supported competition, consumer welfare, and workers’ rights. I look forward to building on these issues and expanding into new areas in the 114th Congress.

As ranking member of the subcommittee in the 113th Congress, I served as the subcommittee’s top Democrat during hearings on net neutrality, the proposed mergers of Comcast and Time Warner Cable, and worked with my colleagues across the aisle to pass legislation to update the nation’s bankruptcy laws.

In the 114th Congress, I will serve on two subcommittees: RRCAL, where I will pursue cosponsors for my bill, the Arbitration Fairness Act; and secondly the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet, where I will fight for my bipartisan Application Privacy, Protection and Security (APPS) Act, a bill to increase consumer privacy on mobile devices.

I am proud to serve on these two important committees, which will benefit constituents of the Fourth District and the nation by allowing me to continue to champion the rights of all Americans – consumers, workers and the middle class. Also, I will continue to fight to keep the Internet open and accessible, ensure consumer privacy is protected, work on comprehensive patent reform to protect innovation, and work to ensure that consumers do not sign away their rights unknowingly when they rent cars, buy cell phones, and enter into contracts with businesses. For more, click HERE.

GRAND JURY REFORM: As promised, I re-introduced the Grand Jury Reform Act. Passage of this bill would help restore trust in our justice system, while ensuring a fair process for all parties. According to a new poll released by the Progressive Change Institute, a strong majority of likely 2016 voters back a proposal for outside special prosecutors to investigate police-involved deaths. Sixty-one percent of those polled back the proposal, including 76 percent of Democrats and 56 percent of Independents. A plurality of Republicans – 48 percent – also support the plan. For more, click HERE. To see the WSB-TV report, click HERE.

CELEBRATING MLK’S LEGACY: It was my great honor to participate in AFL-CIO’s 12th Annual MLK Jr. Human Rights Prayer Breakfast at the Westin Hotel in downtown Atlanta on Jan. 16. On MLK Day Jan. 19, I attended the Ebenezer Baptist Church Ecumenical Services and marched in the MLK Day Parade and Rally in south DeKalb later that day. I'm proud to represent Georgia’s Fourth Congressional District – home to DeKalb, Rockdale, Gwinnett and Newton counties and a small, but mighty city immortalized in Dr. King’s legendary “I Have A Dream” speech – “Stone Mountain of Georgia.” For more, click HERE.

SOCIAL SECURITY EXPANDED HOURS: Social Security announced that effective March 16, 2015, as a result of Congress’ approval of the fiscal year 2015 budget, the agency will expand its hours nationwide and offices will be open to the public for an additional hour on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Offices will continue to close to the public at noon every Wednesday so employees have time to complete current work and reduce backlogs. For more, click HERE.

LOAN MODIFICATION WORKSHOP: The Urban League of Greater Atlanta is holding a free mortgage loan modification workshop on Wed., Jan. 28 from 6-8 p.m. where you’ll learn:

  • Your eligibility for a loan modification.
  • The different types of programs under Making Home Affordable.
  • Mortgage types and escrow accounts.
  • Retention and transition options.

For more information or to register, click HERE.

CONYERS/ROCKDALE LAW ENFORCEMENT RALLY: I was pleased to attend the Rally in Support of Law Enforcement at the First Baptist Church of Conyers on Jan. 17. As one of the guest speakers on the program, I expressed my support for the Rockdale County Sheriff Department, The Georgia State Troopers and the City of Conyers Police Department. For more, click HERE.

FOR YOUR/MORE INFORMATION:

Housing Help | Jobs Center | Healthcare | Small Businesses

Seniors | Students | Veterans | Help with a Federal Agency | Ebola Prevention

As always, I appreciate your time and feedback. Please remember you can reach me on Facebook and Twitter as well as e-mails, phone calls and letters. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to represent you in Congress.

Issues:Armed Services and Veterans AffairsConsumer ProtectionEconomy and JobsEducationEnergyEnvironmentHealth CareJustice & Court ReformNational Security and Foreign PolicySeniors and Social Security