Weekly Wrap Up With Congressman Johnson

Dear Friends,

In recent weeks, our country has been gripped by gun violence. Lives have been lost and families and communities shattered. Gun violence happens so frequently that it often does not even make the news. In fact, gun violence has plagued our country and communities for decades.

We cannot let this become normal. Change is urgently needed, and change is possible. I stand with the American people in supporting common sense reforms to stop this violence. As a group of Senators continue to work out a deal on gun safety reforms, I want to let you know where I stand and what work I've been doing recently in Washington to address the epidemic of gun violence in America and our communities.

As a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee and the House Committee on Oversight & Government Reform, the main thrust of the work I've been doing in Washington of late is to push forward The Protecting Our Kids Act of 2022, common sense strategies to effectively reduce gun violence across the country by promoting safe storage of firearms, addressing do-it-yourself ghost guns and bump stocks, strengthening gun laws that allow guns to be trafficked from state to state, and raising the age that certain semiautomatic firearms can lawfully be possessed.

I also voted in favor of The Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act, which empowers family members and law enforcement to seek a federal court order to temporarily remove access to guns from those who pose a danger to themselves or others. While I await the parameters of the package being crafted in the Senate, I fully support The Protecting Our Kids Act and legislation put forward by my friend and colleague Rep. Lucy McBath that strengthen red flag laws.

CHANGES TO COVID TRAVEL RULES

This week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that air passengers will not need to get tested and show the COVID-19 test result or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 prior to boarding a flight to the U.S.

ACADEMY DAY 2022

On Saturday, I joined Sen. Jon Ossoff for Academy Day at Dobbins Air Force Base located in Marietta, Georgia, so students and parents could hear firsthand from United States Academy representatives what going to college at one of the Service Academies is all about and how it prepares students for a lifetime of success.

NEW MENTAL HEALTH HOTLINE – YOU ARE NOT ALONE, CALL FOR HELP

New next month, a national mental health hotline number will go into effect. Today, if someone is experiencing a mental health crisis, they must call a 10-digit phone number to connect with a mental health provider. But starting July 16, they'll be able to dial a much shorter code in times of crisis: "988." Hopefully, this will get people the help they need quicker and make mental health more accessible.

FIGHTING FOR OUR SMALL BUSINESSES

This week on Capitol Hill, I introduced The Small Business Contracting Fairness Act, critical legislation to standardize treatment of Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) within the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). Sen. Jon Ossoff introduced the Senate companion legislation. The bill would strengthen the U.S. Department of Transportation's Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program to help more minority and women-owned small businesses compete for contracts and competitive funding opportunities.

As always, I appreciate your time and feedback. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to represent you in Congress. If you have an issue with a federal government agency, please don't hesitate to call my district office at 770-987-2291. Please have a safe and enjoyable Juneteenth holiday weekend.