This Week in Georgia's Fourth District

As of Friday, Oct. 28, the Georgia Department of Community Affairs announced it is no longer accepting new applications for rental assistance for tenants or landlords. If you completed and submitted your application before Oct. 28 or have a recertification pending, it will still be reviewed and processed.

This is most important for my constituents in Newton and Rockdale counties as they are served by this program. For constituents in DeKalb and Gwinnett counties, you will still be dealing directly with the DeKalb Tenant-Landlord Assistance Coalition and Gwinnett County Project RESET. Gwinnett will no longer be accepting applications as of Nov. 8, 2022.

I was happy to support this program that provided Georgia with $989 million in federal funding to assist Georgians impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic with rent, utilities, and other housing-related expenses. It helped nearly 56,000 Georgians – mostly tenants, but also landlords. And the program helped Georgians in all 159 counties throughout the state. To check the status of pending applications and to learn more, the portal will remain open here: paymyrent.ga.gov.

PLEASE GET YOUR FLU SHOT

The flu is walloping the U.S. – Georgia and the Southeast in particular – earlier than usual and is more severe so far than it has been in 13 years, according to the Centers for Disease and Control & Prevention (CDC). Our school-age children are being hit the hardest. I urge everyone to get your flu shot this year as soon as you can to help protect yourself and your loved ones. Check with your local pharmacy to schedule your flu shot today.

RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS INFECTION (RSV)

Georgia is currently experiencing a surge in RSV cases. According to the Georgia Department of Health, RSV can cause of pneumonia and bronchitis in infants, young children and older adults. Given its similarity to other viruses with symptoms such as difficulty breathing and high temperatures, it can be difficult to distinguish. Symptoms to look for in infants include runny nose, cough, and fevers. RSV is transmitted through direct contact with a person infected or by contact with surfaces infected by the virus. To understand more about RSV, prevention and treatment please visit: RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) | CDC

PROTECTING OUR DEMOCRACY

I recently joined forces with Rhode Island Senator Sheldon Whitehouse to file an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in the case Moore v. Harper, a pending high-stakes partisan gerrymandering case with the potential to unleash chaos in our elections.

In our brief to the Court, Sen. Whitehouse and I reveal how the individuals and funders behind various amicus curiae — or “friend of the court” — briefs filed in the case fail to disclose crucial information. In particular, many of the filers obscure from the Court and the public how they previously used the fringe legal theory they are peddling in Moore v. Harper in their efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election — and how they would weaponize adoption of that theory – called the ‘independent state legislature’ theory – to turbocharge future election subversion and voter suppression. For more on our effort, click HERE.

OPEN ENROLLMENT BEGINS NOW

In 2021, 14.5 million people signed up for health coverage through the ACA marketplace, the highest number of Americans to ever enroll during open enrollment. Nov. 1st was the first day to sign up for 2023 health care coverage on Healthcare.gov. This year, because of the Inflation Reduction Act, Americans can continue to get more help with their premiums and save an average of $800 per year and $2,400 per family.

The deadline for coverage beginning on Jan. 1, 2023, is December 15, 2022. If healthcare isn’t on your New Year’s resolution list, the last day to enroll in or change a 2023 health plan is Jan. 15, 2023.

After Jan.15, 2023, you can enroll in or change plans only if you qualify for the Special Enrollment Period. Friends don’t let friends go without health insurance. Help your friends and loved ones “Get Covered,” now through the ACA Open Enrollment deadlines to secure health coverage.

SOUTH DEKALB TRANSIT INTIATIVE VIRTUAL COMMUNITY MEETING

On Thursday, Nov. 3, from 6-8 PM, MARTA is holding a virtual community meeting to have a meaningful exchange on the future of transit options in South DeKalb and learn more about the locally preferred alternative planning process. I have long been an advocate for heavy rail in South DeKalb and helped bring millions in federal funding to the region for transit. But the most important voice in advocating for transit in our communities is you. To register, click HERE.

HOME HEATING HELP FOR WINTER

In our day-to-day operations in the district office, we receive a lot of calls from struggling constituents who can’t afford their power bills. It’s why I supported our regular appropriations bill and the President’s bipartisan infrastructure bill, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), because it’s providing more than $1.1 billion to help low-income individuals and families pay for home heating costs this winter and cover unpaid utility bills. These funds will also help families make cost-effective home energy repairs to lower their energy costs as well.

If you need help covering your heating bills this winter, visit energyhelp.us or call the National Energy Assistance Referral (NEAR) hotline toll-free at: 1-866-674-6327.

As always, I appreciate your time and feedback. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to represent you in Congress. Please have a safe and enjoyable rest of your week and weekend. If you have any issues with a federal agency, please don’t hesitate to call my district office at 770-987-2291.