Hank Johnson's Blog

Georgia Flooding Resources

Office Staff — 09/23/2009 15:59

Important information regarding ongoing flooding in the Atlanta metropolitan area:

FLOOD ASSISTANCE

– A state of emergency was declared in 17 counties today due to the heavy rains and flooding, including all three in the Fourth – DeKalb, Rockdale and Gwinnett. More than 1,000 sandbags have been deployed in Rockdale and dozens of roads closed in all three counties with the rain expected to continue throughout the week. If you, your family or your business have been affected by the floods, FEMA can help with housing, home repairs, small business loans, disaster unemployment assistance and special tax considerations. For more on FEMA’s disaster assistance, click here. To reach FEMA directly, call 1-800-621-3362.

DRIVING CONDITIONS – For a list of road closings in your neighborhood use the Georgia Department of Transportation Navigator site or dial 511. The Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) is warning citizens to stay out of standing or fast-moving waters. Most of the deaths have occurred from people driving into water. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow GEMA on Facebook or Twitter by going to their home page.

EMERGENCY SHELTER – If you or someone you know needs immediate shelter or has questions, they are asked to call their local emergency management agency. DeKalb County residents can receive help by calling the DeKalb County Emergency Management Agency at 770- 270-0413, Rockdale County residents can call the Conyers-Rockdale County Emergency Management Agency at 770-918-6717 and Gwinnett County residents can call the Gwinnett County Homeland Security Emergency Management Agency at 770-513-5240. You can also receive help from the American Red Cross at 404-575-3730.

If you need further assistance, please contact my District offices at 770-987-2291 or 770-939-2016. Use caution, be safe and let other folks who do not receive this e-letter know about the important emergency information!

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Health Care in the Fourth District

Hank Johnson — 07/23/2009 16:36

HEALTH CARE REFORM – The health care reform debate is heating up. E-mail me or post your thoughts and stories here about our health care system. I value your input as I begin to consider pending legislation that could be taken up on the House floor as soon as next week. Please let me know where you stand.

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Health Care in the Fourth District

Hank Johnson — 07/23/2009 16:19

HEALTH CARE REFORM – The health care reform debate is heating. E-mail me or leave your thoughts and stories about our health care system on this blog. I value your input as I begin to consider pending legislation that could be taken up on the House floor as soon as next week. Please let me know how you feel. Thank you. Rep. Hank Johnson

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Photos: Recent School Visits

Office Staff — 05/05/2009 17:54

Hank visited Redan Middle School to speak with the Future Business Leaders of America club. He also visited Rockbridge Elementary in Gwinnett County, Miller Grove High School, Redan High School and Clarkston.

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Photos: Cedar Grove High School's Principal's Honor program

Office Staff — 05/05/2009 17:47

Below are photos from Cedar Grove High School's Principal's Honor program, Friday, April 17.

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Photos: Cong. Arts Competition Awards, Service Academy nominations

Office Staff — 05/05/2009 17:46

THE WINNER

On Saturday, April 18 at the Porter Sanford Center for the Performing Arts from 4 to 7 p.m., Rep. Johnson presented certificates of Congressional recognition to both arts students and students applying to the service academies.

The Arts Competition, which was open to all high school students in the Fourth District of Georgia – including parts of the DeKalb, Rockdale and Gwinnett county school systems – had 50 entries from more than 15 schools throughout the district.

In 2007, there were 19 entries and in 2008 there were 22.

The winning piece will hang in the tunnel leading to the United States Capitol building in Washington, D.C., for a year. The Fourth District winner will receive transportation for three to Washington, D.C., for the ribbon-cutting event to unveil the 2009 winners from around the country.

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Photos: Hank receives ACCG Shackelford Award

Office Staff — 05/05/2009 17:35

Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04) proudly accepted the Association County Commissioners of Georgia’s prestigious Shackelford Award on Sunday, April 26 at the organization’s annual meeting in Savannah.

The Wayne Shackelford Excellence in Public Service Award recognizes a former county official who also has served or is serving the citizens of Georgia in a state or national office.

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Save the Dream Pre-foreclosure Town Hall

Andy Phelan — 04/23/2009 10:52

th Congressional District

Proudly serving DeKalb, Rockdale, and Gwinnett Counties

Cordially invites you to his

“Saving the Dream”

A pre-foreclosure town hall meeting

Some lenders will attend to rewrite loans

Workshops will be held on strategies to save your home

Saturday, April 25, 2009

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Salem Bible Church

5460 Hillandale Drive

Lithonia, GA, 30058

Contact: Betty Dixon

770-987-2291 or e-mail betty.dixon@mail.house.gov

DIRECTIONS: The Church is north of I-20 off Panola Road. If you’re coming south on Panola take a left on Hillandale; if you’re coming north on Panola take a right on Hillandale.

Learn About

● TheHomeowner Affordability & Stability Plan

● Neighborhood Stabilization Plan

● Find out how bankruptcy affects pending foreclosure

● Eviction procedures

What to expect:

● CEO Burrell Ellis will speak about DeKalb’s foreclosures

● DeKalbMarshall’s Office to discuss eviction procedures

● Community Development DirectorChris Morris outlines the Neighborhood Stabilization Plan

● HUD-approved counselors will be available for consultations

What to bring:

If you or someone you know needs their mortgage rewritten, please bring the following:

● Hardship Letter – This letter explains the reason the homeowner is requesting a loan modification

● Recent pay stubs

● Tax returns

● Property tax bill if not wrapped into mortgage

● Homeowners insurance bill if not part of mortgage payment

● Bank statement (last 2 months)

● Mortgage documents (current mortgage) – HUD 1 Settlement Statement & Note (if not sure bring all documents from closing)

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Photos from recent visit with VA employees

Office Staff — 04/20/2009 16:59

On April 10, Hank visited with employees of the VA Medical Center in Decatur, organized by AFGE (American Federation of Government Employees) Local #2778. Here are some photos from the event:

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Photos from recent NAACP breakfast

Office Staff — 04/03/2009 14:00

Hank and Mereda attended the DeKalb NAACP Annual Membership Breakfast on Saturday, March 28.

The theme was “From Emancipation to Inauguration.” The featured keynote speaker was William “Sonny” Walker, President of the DeKalb NAACP Yvonne Hawks and Elder Thomas Powell from New Birth Missionary Baptist Church.

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Photos from IRS workshop (March 2009)

Office Staff — 04/03/2009 13:55

Hank held his annual IRS Workshop on Saturday, March 21, at the Goodwill Industries Career Center on Columbia Drive.

Officials of the IRS were on-hand to answer questions and process individual tax returns.

Participants learned about earned income tax credits, determine their filing status and receive information about tax-exempt businesses, organizations and 501(c)3 entities.

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Audio from Hank's recent Teletownhall

Office Staff — 03/05/2009 10:55

On February 24, Hank held a teletownhall with 25,000 constituents to discuss the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and other matters related to the economy. The call was held just minutes before President Obama's historic address to Congress.

Click here to hear Hank's opening comments.

Click here to listen to part one of Q&A.

Click here to listen to part two of Q&A.

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Photos from President Obama's Inauguration

Office Staff — 02/02/2009 15:11

Many constituents dropped by Hank's Washington office on Inauguration day. Here are a few photos from January 20, 2009.

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Early Voting Opportunities In the 4th Congressional District

Office Staff — 10/20/2008 21:23

Early Voting Opportunities

In the 4th Congressional District

DEKALB COUNTY

404-298-4020

VOTE EARLY “Absentee-in-Person”

September 22-October 31, 2008

Monday-Friday, 8:00 am- 7:00 pm

Memorial Drive Complex (across the street from jail)

4380 Memorial Drive

Suite 300

Decatur, GA 30032

ADVANCE VOTING

October 27 – October 31, 2008

Monday-Friday 7:00 am – 7:00 pm

Decatur

330 W. Ponce de Leon Ave.

Room A

Decatur, GA 30030

Lithonia

Lithonia Middle School

2451 Randall Ave.

Lithonia, GA 30058

Northlake

DeKalb Co. Fire HQ

1950 W. Exchange Pl.

Tucker, GA 30084

North DeKalb

Liane Levetan Park at Brook Run

4770 N. Peachtree Rd.

Dunwoody, GA 30338

South DeKalb

South DeKalb Senior Center

1931 Candler Rd.

Decatur, GA 30030

ROCKDALE COUNTY

770-785 -5947

VOTE EARLY “Absentee-in-Person”

September 19 – October 24, 2008

Monday- Friday 8:00 am-4:30 pm.

October 25, 2008

Saturday – 9:00 am-1:30 pm

ADVANCE VOTING

October 27-28, 2008

Monday – Tuesday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

October -29- 31, 2008

Wednesday-Friday 8:00 am – 7:00 pm

1400 Parker Road

Conyers, GA

(enter Lobby B and follow the signs)

GWINNETT COUNTY

678-226-7210

VOTE EARLY “Absentee-in-Person”

September 22-October 31, 2008

Monday – Friday 9:00 am-4:30 pm

Elections Office

455 Grayson Hwy, Suite 200

Lawrenceville, GA

ADVANCE VOTING

October 27 – October 31, 2008

Snellville

3035 Betheny Chuch Road

Snellville, GA 30039

Norcross

5220 Singleton Road

Norcross, GA 30082

Verify your registration at

www.sos.georgia.gov/elections/polllocater

Voting Requirements: Valid Photo ID

General Election – Tuesday November 4, 2008

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From Speaker Pelosi: Our Record

Office Staff — 10/20/2008 20:34

From the Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi…..

America faces daunting challenges—and clear choices. The worst financial crisis since the Great Depression imperils our nation’s vitality and the economic security of every American. America’s brave men and women are still fighting a costly war in Iraq while focus needs to be intensified on Afghanistan and terrorism around the globe.

The 110th Congress has begun to move America in a New Direction.

Toward energy independence and clean, renewable energy and an energy efficient future.

To an America more competitive in a global economy, creating high tech and green jobs here at home.

Putting our troops and veterans first.

Working to make college, energy, health care, and home ownership more affordable for every American. Beginning to change the way we do business in Washington and restore fiscal responsibility and accountability to government.

The New Direction Congress has enacted into law key legislation to rebuild our economy, strengthen our national security, care for America’s children and families, protect our planet, and restore accountability—with significant bipartisan support more than 70 percent of the time.

Here is the summary of legislative actions in the 110^th Congress:

ECONOMIC RECOVERY:

 Economic Rescue Plan with key taxpayer and homeowner protections SIGNED INTO LAW

 Recovery Rebates to jump-start economy, help Americans with rising costs SIGNED INTO LAW

 Extended Unemployment benefits for 3.5 million Americans SIGNED INTO LAW

 First increase in the minimum wage in a decade SIGNED INTO LAW

 Saving 380,000 good-paying jobs by meeting shortfall in Highway Trust Fund SIGNED INTO LAW

 Authorizing completion of key highway projects, creating 40,000 good-paying jobs SIGNED INTO LAW

 Farm Bill with historic new investments in nutrition, energy, and conservation, and launching reforms to farm

payments to reflect farmer need VETO OVERRIDDEN BY CONGRESS, ENACTED INTO LAW

 Terrorism risk insurance extension, aiding economic growth SIGNED INTO LAW

 Curtailing tax loopholes for companies that ship American jobs off shore SIGNED INTO LAW

 Making CEO pay subject to shareholder approval PASSED HOUSE

HOUSING FORECLOSURE CRISIS:

 Comprehensive housing foreclosure crisis bill, preventing families from losing their homes and their neighbors

from losing value in their homes, and creating a federal backstop and tough, independent regulation of

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which hold half the nation’s mortgage debt SIGNED INTO LAW

 Helping states/localities purchase foreclosed homes, stabilizing communities SIGNED INTO LAW

 Tax credit for first-time homebuyers, and property tax deduction for non-itemizers SIGNED INTO LAW

 Reform of the Federal Housing Administration, expanding access to affordable mortgages, and to “reverse

mortgages” for seniors who need equity from their homes SIGNED INTO LAW

 Stopping tax on “income” when lender forgives part of mortgage in foreclosure SIGNED INTO LAW

 Creating an Affordable Housing Trust Fund for rental housing SIGNED INTO LAW

EDUCATION AND COMPETITIVENESS:

 Largest college aid expansion since the first GI Bill in 1944, cutting college loan rates in half SIGNED INTO LAW

 Uninterrupted access to low-cost student loans, despite credit crunch SIGNED INTO LAW

 Giving colleges incentives to rein in tuition increases and expanding college access for low-income students SIGNED INTO LAW

 Cleaning up abuses in the student loan industry SIGNED INTO LAW

 Innovation agenda creating a math/science teacher corps; doubling research funding SIGNED INTO LAW

 Head Start preschool improved and expanded SIGNED INTO LAW

 Extended tax cut for innovative research & development SIGNED INTO LAW

 Key investments in education VETOED BY PRESIDENT

REDUCING TAXES:

 A tax cut for 19 million middle-income American families facing the AMT in 2007 SIGNED INTO LAW

 A tax cut for 25 million middle-income American families facing the AMT in 2008 SIGNED INTO LAW

 Internet tax moratorium extension SIGNED INTO LAW

 Extended tax cuts for homeowners, families, college students, teachers SIGNED INTO LAW

AMERICAN WORKERS:

 Minimum wage increased for the first time in a decade SIGNED INTO LAW

 Reversing Supreme Court decisions that had weakened Americans with Disabilities Act SIGNED INTO LAW

 Extending & improving help for workers who lose jobs to foreign competition PASSED HOUSE

 Strengthening the Equal Pay Act by providing more effective remedies PASSED HOUSE

 Rectifying a Supreme Court decision to allow workers to pursue pay discrimination claims PASSED HOUSE

 Prohibiting employment discrimination based on sexual orientation PASSED HOUSE

 Collective bargaining rights for first responders PASSED HOUSE

 Free choice for workers to choose their own bargaining representative PASSED HOUSE

AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE:

 Health care coverage for 10 million American children VETOED BY PRESIDENT

 Expansion of life-saving stem cell research to cure or prevent chronic diseases VETOED BY PRESIDENT

 Key investments in health care VETOED BY PRESIDENT

 Ensuring 44 million American seniors and people with disabilities have access to doctors they know and

trust VETO OVERRIDDEN BY CONGRESS, ENACTED INTO LAW

 Ban on genetic information discrimination in health coverage SIGNED INTO LAW

 Ending discriminatory treatment of mental health care coverage SIGNED INTO LAW

 Medicare required to negotiate cheaper drugs for seniors and disabled Americans PASSED HOUSE

 Blocking $18 billion cut in health care for low-income children & seniors SIGNED INTO LAW

 Making America healthier with FDA regulation of tobacco PASSED HOUSE

NATIONAL SECURITY

 9/11 Commission terrorism recommendations given force of law SIGNED INTO LAW

 Investments to begin to fix the military readiness crisis SIGNED INTO LAW

 Iraq benchmarks, progress reports required SIGNED INTO LAW

 Providing for responsible redeployment of U.S. troops from Iraq VETOED BY PRESIDENT

 Extending ban on torture to U.S. intelligence personnel VETOED BY PRESIDENT

 Tighter foreign investment rules, after Dubai Ports scandal SIGNED INTO LAW

TROOPS AND VETERANS:

 New GI Bill to give free college education to Iraq and Afghanistan veterans SIGNED INTO LAW

 Largest veterans’ health care funding increase in history SIGNED INTO LAW

 Wounded Warrior Act, improving health care after Walter Reed scandal SIGNED INTO LAW

 Major pay raise for troops in both FY2008 and FY2009 SIGNED INTO LAW

 Tax relief for military families SIGNED INTO LAW

ENERGY INDEPENDENCE AND GLOBAL WARMING:

 Landmark Energy Independence law: first new fuel efficiency standards in 32 years, historic commitment to

renewable American bio-fuels SIGNED INTO LAW

 Historic new support for non-food bio-fuels in the Farm Bill VETO OVERRIDDEN BY CONGRESS, ENACTED

INTO LAW

 Tax incentives to invest in clean, renewable energy and create hundreds of thousands of green jobs SIGNED

INTO LAW

 Comprehensive Energy Security & Consumer Protection Act PASSED HOUSE

 Making Big Oil pay its fair share for taxpayer-owned resources and transition to energy independence

 Protect consumers by releasing oil from the government stockpile and increasing home heating

assistance

 National Renewable Electricity Standard (15�y 2020)

 Responsible compromise on off shore drilling and increased American production

 Standards for more efficient homes and buildings

 Reduced transit fares and expanded service

 Further close “Enron-like Loophole” to curb excessive petroleum speculation PASSED HOUSE

 Holding OPEC and Big Oil accountable for price fixing; cracking down on price gouging PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE

 Greening the Capitol, making Congress carbon neutral ENACTED BY HOUSE

REBUILDING AMERICA:

 Aid to the Gulf Coast recovering from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita SIGNED INTO LAW

 Major new commitment to flood control & environmental restoration projects VETO OVERRIDDEN BY CONGRESS, ENACTED INTO LAW

 Omnibus Public Lands Bill, with new protections for national parks, wilderness, historic sites, trails, and water resources from coast to coast SIGNED INTO LAW

 Modernizing and improving Amtrak and other inter-city passenger rail for energy

efficiency SIGNED INTO LAW

CONSUMER PROTECTION:

 Most sweeping FDA drug safety provisions in more than a decade SIGNED INTO LAW

 Banning toxic toys and children’s products from China and other countries and toughening enforcement of the Consumer Product Safety Commission SIGNED INTO LAW

 Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights PASSED HOUSE

 Passenger Bill of Rights for airline travelers PASSED HOUSE

FIGHTING CRIME:

 Improved background checks for gun purchases SIGNED INTO LAW

 5,200 New Border Patrol Officers over two years SIGNED INTO LAW

 Saved the critical COPS program, proposed for elimination by the President SIGNED INTO LAW

 Reauthorized and strengthened Byrne Justice Assistance Grants (JAG) for local law enforcement, which thePresident had proposed eliminating SIGNED INTO LAW

 Tools and resources to prevent and prosecute hate crimes PASSED BY HOUSE

FISCAL DISCIPLINE:

 Pay-as-you-go budget discipline ADOPTED IN HOUSE RULES

 A fiscally responsible budget that balances by 2012 and invests in key priorities PASSED BY HOUSE AND SENATE, NO PRESIDENTIAL ACTION REQUIRED

 Cracking down on “no-bid” contracts PASSED BY HOUSE AND SENATE

 Prohibiting profiteering by U.S. contractors operating in war zones PASSED BY HOUSE

 Requiring mandatory fraud reporting for U.S. contractors PASSED BY HOUSE

RESTORING ACCOUNTABILITY:

 Widely-acclaimed landmark lobbying and ethics reform SIGNED INTO LAW

 New historic independent Office of Congressional Ethics ADOPTED IN HOUSE RULES

 Banning pensions for Members of Congress convicted of certain crimes SIGNED INTO LAW

 Strengthening Freedom of Information Act for government transparency SIGNED INTO LAW

 U.S. Attorney appointments depoliticized SIGNED INTO LAW

 Reducing enormous backlog in passport processing SIGNED INTO LAW

 Closing off shore tax loopholes for federal contractors SIGNED INTO LAW

 Strengthening independence of federal Inspectors General SIGNED INTO LAW

 Whistleblower protections strengthened PASSED BY HOUSE AND SENATE

 Holding private security firms in war zones accountable for criminal actions PASSED BY HOUSE

 Withholding federal contracts from tax-delinquent companies PASSED BY HOUSE

 Requiring more transparency by companies that rely on federal contracts PASSED BY HOUSE

 Requiring standards for the preservation of White House and federal agency e-mails PASSED BY HOUSE

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Photos from CBC Issue Forum

Office Staff — 10/10/2008 15:35

The following photos are from Hank's September 27 CBC issue forum, "21st Century Strategies to Create Safer Communities."

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Photos from August 15 SBA Event

Office Staff — 09/08/2008 15:42

Congressman Hank Johnson, a member of the House Small Business Committee, hosted a free Small Business Day & Town Hall on Thursday, August 14, at DeKalb Technical College.

This event was held in conjunction with:

The U.S. Small Business Administration
DeKalb Small Business Development Center
DeKalb Chamber of Commerce
Georgia Black Chamber of Commerce
DeKalb Office of Economic Development
Rockdale Chamber of Commerce
Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce

Workshops included Procurement, Starting a Small Business, Hiring a Small Business attorney, Financial Management, and Strategic Planning.

The Small Business Town Hall, moderated by Producer/Journalist Ray Metoyer, features panelists:

Rep. Hank Johnson, Member, House Small Business Committee
Mary McClanahan, GA Economic Development Dept., Governors Office
Terri Dennison, Georgia Small Business Administration
Roger Campos, Minority Business Roundtable
Allan Adams, SBDC

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Photos from Jamaal Addison Post Office Dedication

Office Staff — 09/08/2008 15:05

Hank Johnson, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, lead the designation event for the Specialist Jamaal RaShard Addison Post Office (Lithonia Post Office) on August 2, 2008.

The Congressman introduced and passed the bill renaming the Post Office to honor all Georgians killed in Iraq but named it for Specialist Addison because he was the first Georgian slain.

Specialist Addison died on March 23, 2003 when his convoy was ambushed. A former honor student at Lakeside High School in Tucker, he served with the 507th Army Ordnance Maintenance Company in Fort Bliss, Texas.

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Photos from June 14 State Association of Letter Carriers Convention

Office Staff — 06/19/2008 16:46

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Photos from June 7 Pleasant Hill Fellowship Breakfast

Office Staff — 06/19/2008 16:43

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Photos from April 12 Homeowners Summit

Office Staff — 06/03/2008 09:44

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Photos from Education Forum: Making Education a Priority Among Black Males

Office Staff — 06/02/2008 17:24

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Photos from 2008 Congressional Art Competition

Office Staff — 06/02/2008 16:40

Photos from the 2008 Congressional Art Competition

The winner

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Photos from Academy Day 2008

Office Staff — 06/02/2008 16:02

Hank's nominees have been accepted into the service academies as follows: Robert Roundtree and Tori Preston, US Naval Academy, Annapolis; and Colin Robert Davis, US Military Academy, West Point.

Students interested in attending one of our nation's service academies for the Class of 2013 may learn about the nomination process and download the application by visiting my website. CLICK HERE for more information.

The deadline for submission is October 27, 2008. Contact Katie Dailey at 770-939-2016 if you have any questions.

Thanks to all the parents and students who came out to this year's Academy Day at Dobbins ARB! Hank, Mereda, and staff had a great time meeting so many promising young Georgians. Enjoy the photos.

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Photos from 2008 voters' education workshop

Office Staff — 06/02/2008 16:00

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Photos from Memorial Day 2008

Office Staff — 06/02/2008 15:48

Honor guard

Johnson staffer Katie Dailey points to the memorial brick of a family member

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Photo from one-day delegation to Haiti

Office Staff — 06/02/2008 11:42

Hank visited Haiti on Friday, May 16, for a single-day Congressional delegation to examine that country's dire poverty crisis and ensure that U.S. aid is effectively assisting the many destitute Haitians who are struggling to survive every day.

Haiti is one of the world's poorest countries. An estimated 80% of the population lives below the poverty line amid widespread unemployment; more than two-thirds of the workforce are jobless. As global food prices have risen dramatically over the past year, many Haitians' struggles to survive have become more dire.

The U.S. Government is Haiti's largest donor and has provided over a billion dollars over the last 15 years to reduce poverty, illiteracy, malnutrition, and crime. Hank and his colleagues flew to Haiti to ensure that American aid was reaching its targets and effectively easing the lives of the poorest Haitians. (Click here for more information regarding U.S. assistance to Haiti.)

Below is a photo of Hank (far left) and his Congressional colleagues with Haiti's President, René Preval (center, with white beard).

Accompanying Hank on the delegation were Congressman André Carson, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, Congressman Keith Ellison, Congressman Al Green, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Congressman Gregory Meeks, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, Congresswoman Diane Watson, and Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard.

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Education forum transcript summary

Office Staff — 05/14/2008 11:56

Congressman Johnson’s March 29 education forum featured two panels. The first approached the issues at hand – black males, education, and the achievement gap – from the micro perspective. The second approached from a macro perspective. These summaries are derived from transcripts taken at the event.

Micro Panel (LINK):

Why isn't education a priority among some black males? (GO)
How can we market education to young people? (GO)
How can we encourage involvement in after-school, extracurricular, and mentoring programs? (GO)
How should families and communities provide the foundations for a child’s education? (GO)

Macro Panel (LINK):

How do we begin a discussion of black men and education at the macro level? (GO)
How can we inspire and encourage young people to pursue and value education? (GO)
Education and educational institutions can provide young Americans with a sense of inclusion. How important is that and how can we promote it? (GO)
Audience question: Most people drop out because of difficult tests like the graduation test and the SAT. They leave school once they realize they won’t pass these tests. Some say the tests have no purpose. Why should we have them? (GO)
Audience question: What does it take to become a CEO? (GO)
Audience question: My son is so bright but he cannot pass standardized tests. The mentality of failing is devastating our kids. It is killing a generation of males. They would rather walk away and be cool than take the test and risk failure. (GO)
Roland Martin’s closing comments (GO)

MICRO PANEL, hosted by Ms. Karla Winfrey

* Karla Winfrey, host – Emmy-award winning television journalist
* Shirley Franklin, Mayor of Atlanta
* Dr. Anthony Tricoli, President of Georgia Perimeter College
* Judge Greg Adams, fmr. Chief Judge, DeKalb Cty. Juvenile Courts
* Malik Salaam, social activist & artist
* Orie Ward, President of Phoenix Enterprises
* David Schutten, President of Organization of Educators
* Keisha Hansen, Prevention/Intervention Specialist at Lakeside High School

Q: Why isn’t education a priority among some black males?

* Many high school seniors do not believe post-secondary education is accessible to them.

* Some black males don’t see the benefits of education.

* Even those who are aware that college is accessible may not be connected with the right role models. We need a mentoring program that reaches into middle school.

* We desperately need more mentors. We have to challenge every male to go into a school to mentor younger men.

* 93% of youths in DeKalb County stay out of legal trouble. Let’s not forget to focus on the fact that most kids are choosing to do the right thing.

* Kids are discouraged. They have low GPAs and feel like they can’t compete. They get stuck in a mentality of failure.

Q: How can we market education to young people?

* Kids will never believe in the system until they see that the system believes in them. We have chronic shortages of educational resources. It is hard to market the notion that there are opportunities when there are not.

* We have to give voice to people who understand that education is possible and valuable. We should involve the entire university system in a mentoring program to get young people who are succeeding in touch with young people who need guidance.

* Young people respond when we communicate on their level. Kids detect insincerity, and they will only respond to the words of their elders if they are approached by a role model who has a respectful, open mind.

Q: How can we encourage involvement in after-school, extracurricular, and mentoring programs?

* Mandatory community service programming is a huge plus.

* The home environment is critical. Parents have to encourage involvement and service and get themselves involved in their children’s education.

* Some of the kids most in need of these programs have already been in trouble. We have to welcome kids who have had trouble back into the schools. Einstein was a terrible student as a child.

* We all have to get involved. We have to own this effort ourselves. The jail on Memorial Drive has 3600 beds, and the majority of those sleeping there are dropouts. We need to take ownership and responsibility for our own people, our own communities.

Q: How should families and communities provide the foundations for a child’s education?

* In a community with fewer resources, we can promote the idea of manhood. That’s a foundation that can only be built for young men by other men.

* Education for black Americans cannot be discussed without a discussion of the black family. Women are critical. Many of the most successful social movements in our nation’s history were pioneered by women, and we won’t make the changes we want until women get the respect which is their right.

* Take ten minutes a week to mentor a child.

* Everything starts at home. Read with your child. Emphasize the importance of education. We have to follow our words with participation and action, or nothing will change.

MACRO PANEL, hosted by CNN’s Roland Martin

* Roland Martin, host – CNN host and commentator, syndicated columnist
* Kevin Liles, Executive VP, Warner Music Group; fmr. President, Def Jam Recordings
* Frank Ski, V-103 WVEE Radio
* Armstrong Williams, syndicated columnist and radio host
* Dr. Walter J. Broadnax, President of Clark Atlanta University
* Roberta Shields, President of the Ludacris Foundation
* Shelley Winter, radio host, WAOK 1350AM Atlanta

Q: How do we begin a discussion of black men and education at the macro level?

* A good education depends upon a solid family unit. We have an obligation to provide that foundation for our children, but we also have an obligation to provide that foundation as a community for children whose parents aren’t as supportive as they need to be.

* Young men need to understand the criminal justice system – how to interact with law enforcement and the nature and extent of our rights as citizens. Young men need to know that they will be tried as an adult at 17. What seems like harmless mischief will land you a hefty sentence.

Q: How can we inspire and encourage young people to pursue and value education?

* Following the civil war, freed slaves walked to Atlanta to pursue higher education. They understood its value and what it could do to improve their futures and the futures of their families. Strong, mature men led these charges.

The same thing happened in the 1960s and 1970s. There was a sense of purpose, of challenges that needed to be met. When we talk about fraternity membership, we’re talking about meeting challenges. When we talk about achieving a college degree, we’re talking about meeting challenges. We have to return to the fundamentals. Meeting challenges – rising to the occasion – is what it means to be a man. We have to rejuvenate that ethic.

* Many young people today equate money with success. While we should remind them that happiness and fulfillment are not tied exclusively to material wealth, they also need to be aware that, if wealth is their goal, education is the surest means to it.

* A lot is made of the connections between hip-hop music, youth culture, and the prevalence of delinquency and criminality among young black males. Artists and record labels do have some responsibility to provide role models with values beyond women, money, luxury, and the “thug life.”

The other side of the same coin: today’s young people connect so strongly with music because they are so open. Today’s kids communicate rapidly, constantly. Just check out MySpace or Facebook. They put their expressions out to the world, like musicians. They want to communicate, not just receive lectures; we have to talk with them, not at them. Take a step back and let them tell you who they are.

Q: Education and educational institutions can provide young Americans with a sense of inclusion. How important is that and how can we promote it?

* Many black men who arrive on college campuses are looking for a deeper form of inclusion. Faculty and staff reach out to create relationships, and a new kind of family forms on campus. That’s the kind of supportive space all young adults, male and female, need as they take their first steps to complete independence. Professors and administrators are like surrogate parents to these kids.

* The Junior College system was created to provide more young adults – even those who have struggled as adolescents, either disciplinarily or academically – with that supportive academic environment.

Audience question: Most people drop out because of difficult tests like the graduation test and the SAT. They leave school once they realize they won’t pass these tests. Some say the tests have no purpose. Why should we have them?

* Challenges frighten us. But if we can get over the hurdles, at the end of the day that is a victory, that makes us stronger people. Life is a challenge.

* The real world tests us every day. Be proud of who you are and become determined to succeed – don’t run away from a challenge. There’s nowhere you can run where you won’t be faced with tests of one kind or another.

Audience question: What does it take to become a CEO?

* Success in any field is about hard work, not just your degree. Some of the richest people in the United States dropped out of school. We can make mistakes and come back strong -- it’s about getting to work early and leaving after everyone else.

* Find a mentor. Apprentice yourself. Prove that you’re worthy of the industry.

Audience question: My son is so bright but he cannot pass standardized tests. The mentality of failing is devastating our kids. It is killing a generation of males. They would rather walk away and be cool than take the test and risk failure.

* But the reality is that the test is there. Let’s focus on passing it. Our concern cannot be just the school system’s failure. Our primary concern must be taking control of the education of our own children.

Roland Martin’s closing comments: The story of Nehemiah comes to mind – when he had the vision to rebuild the wall. He did not do it himself; he told the people to build with their left hands and keep their right hands on their weapons. He told the people to rebuild the wall only in front of their own homes, so, after all had done so, the wall would be complete.

Our challenge, at the end of the day, is to rebuild the portions in and in front of our own homes. Don’t leave here asking what someone else will do for you. Ask, “What have I accomplished?” There are more people in this room right now than sat in the basement of the church that created the Montgomery Improvement Association. What are you prepared to do?

0 Comments

The American Housing Rescue and Foreclosure Prevention Act

Hank Johnson — 05/13/2008 12:40

FRIENDS: Last week, my colleagues in the House of Representatives and I passed the most comprehensive response yet to the ongoing mortgage crisis. The American Housing Rescue and Foreclosure Prevention Act (H.R. 3221) responds directly to the crisis currently faced by middle-class Americans and provides financial authorities and the federal government the tools to prevent such a meltdown in the future.

U.S. families are expected to lose more than $2.6 trillion in housing wealth between 2007 and 2009. As home prices continue to fall, homeowners' debt on their houses has exceeded the equity in their homes for the first time since 1945. I have heard from hundreds of constituents – many of whom are credit-worthy but cannot refinance – who are agonizing over this housing crisis. It is estimated that over 7,000 homeowners are losing their homes daily and an additional 40 million neighboring homeowners could see their property values decline as wealth is destroyed throughout entire communities.

H.R. 3221 combines a number of bipartisan proposals, including measures to modernize the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and reform “government-sponsored enterprises” such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. These reforms will provide crucial liquidity to our mortgage markets today and strengthen future regulation and oversight.

The housing package will help families facing foreclosure keep their homes, help other families avoid foreclosures in the future, and facilitate the recovery of communities damaged by the housing crisis. Generally, provisions include:

establishment of an FHA program to refinance loans at risk of going into foreclosure;
assistance for states to purchase, sell, and rent foreclosed homes to stop neighborhood values from plummeting;
tax credits for first-time homebuyers;
an expanded foreclosure grace period for veterans and personnel returning from active duty;
and more reverse mortgage opportunities for seniors.

These measures will not fully solve any of our problems. Only time, during which home values can settle to their natural level, will allow us to move on. But this aggressive action will reduce the pain felt by ordinary Americans who have been unfairly harmed by a crisis rooted in the irresponsibility of a few borrowers and the greed of a few lenders.

If the most powerful banks in the world – some of whom were complicit in the trade of reckless and fraudulent mortgages – are to receive federal assistance, as they have, so should ordinary American homeowners who are just trying to make ends meet during a time of declining home values, rampant foreclosures, and rising prices at the store and the gas pump.

3 Comments

Photos from Congressional Delegation to Colombia

Office Staff — 04/23/2008 12:01

Hank and several colleagues visited Colombia two weeks ago as part of an official Congressional delegation to prepare for the legislative debate surrounding the proposed U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

Hank opposes the deal due to President Bush's refusal to sign into law trade adjustment assistance for Americans threatened by international trade, the FTA's insufficient labor standards for Colombian workers, and the deal's potential effects on poor Afro-Colombians who may be driven off of their land as multinational companies seek to exploit Colombian natural resources.

Here are some photos from the trip.

ABOVE: Hank and his colleagues arrive in Colombia on a U.S. Air Force transport.

ABOVE: Hank and his colleagues meet Colombian children.

ABOVE: Hank meets Colombian flower farmers.

ABOVE: Hank discusses the FTA with his legislative director, Sean Foertsch.

ABOVE: Hank is interviewed on the plane.

3 Comments

Mark your calendars: Home Owner Summit (April 12)

Office Staff — 04/03/2008 16:22

These are difficult times for home owners. To help the people of Georgia's Fourth Congressional District weather this financial storm, Hank will host a Home Owner Summit on Saturday, April 12.

Home Owner Summit: Purchase and Protect

Saturday, April 12, 2008
11:00 am – 3:00 pm

Salem Bible Church
5460 Hillandale Dr.
Lithonia, GA 30058

CLICK FOR DIRECTIONS (map at bottom of this page)

This Home Owner Summit will be comprised of innovative and informative discussion on preserving homeownership within Georgia’s Fourth Congressional District.

Come find out what works and what doesn’t. Hear about programs that are available. This is a day for home owners, housing organizations, lenders, realtors, housing counselors, local, State and Federal Governments to participate in discussion about foreclosure prevention strategies, lending options for potential home owners, and solutions for homeowners in default.

Attendance is free and all are invited. We hope to see you there!

View Larger Map

0 Comments

Mark your calendars: Making Education a Priority Again Among Black Males

Office Staff — 03/13/2008 14:13

Save the date of this 2008 Educational Initiative hosted by Congressman Hank Johnson,

MAKING EDUCATION A
PRIORITY AMONG BLACK MALES:
A Macro & Micro Approach

Saturday, March 29, 2008
10AM-2PM

-at-

J.C. LRC Auditorium at Georgia Perimeter College
555 North Indian Creek Drive
Clarkston, GA 30021

CLICK HERE FOR DIRECTIONS
(map at bottom of this page)

-with-

Mayor Shirley Franklin
Armstrong Wiliams, Syndicated Radio Host
Dr. Walter Broadnax, President, Clark Atlanta University
Roberta Shields, President, The Ludacris Foundation

-and moderated by-

CNN's Roland Martin

View Larger Map

5 Comments

Mark your calendars: ACADEMY DAY 2008

Office Staff — 03/13/2008 13:45

Members of the Georgia Congressional Delegation invite all students grades 8-12 to:

ACADEMY DAY 2008

Saturday, May 10, 2008
1PM-3PM

-at-

Dobbins Air Reserve Base
Building 731
1408 Dobbins Place (Cobb Parkway entrance)
Dobbins ARB, GA 30069

CLICK HERE FOR DIRECTIONS

(map at bottom of this page)

Representatives from all five Military Academies will be available to answer your questions.

Registration is required. Please call Katie Dailey at 770-939-2016 for more information. Due to security restrictions, you must register by May 2, 2008 at 5:00 p.m.

Mark your calendars and stay tuned for updates.

NOTE: You must present photo ID, vehicle registration, and proof of auto insurance at the Cobb Parkway entrance for admittance.

View Larger Map

0 Comments

Some new photos from the District!

Office Staff — 03/12/2008 10:37

Here are a few new photos from recent district events:

Ms. Maryland Nesmith (Principal of Conyers Middle School) speaks at the 2007 Education Town Hall Forum.

Hank's Congressional Military Service Academy Committee

Hank with Daniel Petrez, Rockdale County Teacher of the Year

Hank with the Conyers Middle School Robotic Team

Hank with his wife, Mereda, and and DaJanae Richardson

1 Comments

Photos from around the District

Office Staff — 11/27/2007 13:47

3 Comments

Water Crisis Update

Hank Johnson — 10/19/2007 17:18

FRIENDS: Georgia is in the midst of a historic drought that some call the worst in recorded history.

Lakes Lanier and Allatoona, the primary reservoirs for the Atlanta area, are at historically low levels yet the Army Corps of Engineers continue to release a minimum of 5,000 cubic feet per second of water from the lakes. This release of water is many times more than what is coming into the lakes and therefore contributing significantly to the severe depletion of the reservoirs. The Corps of Engineers is required to release that minimum amount of water to sustain several endangered species downriver from the lakes in Florida as well as power generation downriver. If current drought and water release conditions continue, it is estimated that there is between 80 and 120 days of water remaining. This is a serious situation and I as well as the entire Georgia Congressional Delegation are committed to ensuring adequate water supply for Georgians.

Clearly, something has to change. If the reservoirs run dry, there will be no water for the endangered species or for millions of Georgians. The Georgia Congressional Delegation is actively working with the Secretary of the Army and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to develop a revised plan that will slow the water releases from the lakes to a more sustainable level.

The Georgia Congressional Delegation has cosponsored a bill that would give the Secretary of the Army or the Governor the authority they would need to take drastic action in a severe drought. While this bill works its way through Congress, I am hopeful that ongoing negotiations with the Corps will soon result in reduced water releases from our dwindling reservoirs. Yesterday the Corps took a positive step in agreeing to begin the process of updating the water control manuals for the ACT river basin. Though this action by the Corps will not bring relief in the immediate crisis, it is a step in the right direction and shows that the Corps is beginning to respond to the concerns of Georgians.

This week, the Georgia Congressional Delegation sent the attached letters to the Fish and Wildlife Service and the Corps of Engineers asking them to work quickly and to work together to allow a reduction in flow out of the reservoirs. It is in the best interest of everyone involved to reduce the flows now so that we can sustain a water supply for Atlanta. The state of Georgia would like to see outflows reduced to equal the amount coming in.

As I and the rest of the Congressional Delegation work to alleviate this crisis, I strongly advise ALL Georgians to make every effort to conserve water.

--Hank

Click here to read a letter from me and the rest of the Georgia Congressional delegation to the Secretary of the Army regarding the GA drought crisis

Click here to read a letter from me and the rest of the GA delegation to the head of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

4 Comments

Home Foreclosures Help Center

Office Staff — 10/12/2007 18:20

[LAST UPDATED MARCH 18, 2009]

Home ownership is at the heart of the American dream. Homes are the building block of neighborhoods. And they’re an important part of a family’s financial security.

That's why foreclosure is such a painful experience for the one and a half million Americans who will lose their homes to foreclosure this year. In September of 2007 alone, 223,000 Americans faced foreclosure.

My colleagues in the House of Representatives and I passed legislation Hope for Homeowners (H4H) in October 2008 to help those at risk of default and foreclosure refinance into more affordable, sustainable loans. H4H is an additional mortgage option designed to keep borrowers in their homes. The program is effective from October 1, 2008 to September 30, 2011. For more on this program, click here.

The White House also launched the Homeowner Affordability and Stability plan on March 4, 2009, designed to help up to 7 to 9 million families restructure or refinance their Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgages to avoid foreclosure. In doing so, the plan not only helps responsible homeowners on the verge of defaulting, but prevents neighborhoods and communities from being pulled over the edge, too, as defaults and foreclosures contribute to falling home values, failing local businesses, and lost jobs.

Please do not hesitate to call my Washington, DC, office if you need any additional assistance; ask for Todd Williamson or Jonathan Ossoff. The number is (202) 225-1605. In the district, please call Betty Dixon at 770-987-2291.

Links below provide a one-stop shop for all your foreclosure questions.

What is Home Foreclosure?
What Can Families & Individuals Facing Foreclosure Do?
Key Links (WE RECOMMEND YOU EXPLORE ALL OF THESE)

What is Home Foreclosure?

According to the Home Ownership Preservation Foundation (995hope.org), foreclosure is "a legal action used by a mortgage company to recover any money from a customer when the customer does not pay his or her debt in accordance with the mortgage agreement." In other words, it's the legal remedy used by a mortgage company to assume ownership of a property when the required loan payments are not made. Foreclosure obliterates otherwise good credit.

"Although the actual process varies from state to state, foreclosure revolves around a homeowner's inability to keep up with monthly mortgage payments. The farther behind the homeowner gets, the closer to foreclosure the homeowner becomes."

Click here to open a new window with a list of common myths about foreclosure.

How to Avoid Foreclosure

If you are facing financial difficulty and suspect you may be unable to make your payments on time, first contact your lender. You may be able to renegotiate the terms of your mortgage.

We also highly recommend you consult the resources listed below (Atlanta Legal Aid Society and the Home Ownership Preservation Foundation). It is better to have contacted them before you are in urgent need of assistance.

What Can Families & Individuals Facing Foreclosure Do?

Atlanta Legal Aid Society and the Home Ownership Preservation Foundation are non-profit resources for families and individuals facing foreclosure. We recommend you contact both to maximize your access to information. Contact Atlanta Legal Aid at one of their offices:

DeKalb County: (404) 377-0701
Gwinnett County: (678) 376-4545
Downtown Atlanta: (404) 524-5811
SENIOR CITIZEN HOTLINE: 1-888-257-9519
South Fulton / Clayton County: (404) 669-0233

We highly recommend the Home Ownership Preservation Foundation hotline for immediate counsel. HPF's representatives -- experienced advisors from HUD-approved agencies -- will be able to give you support and advice in your hour of need. Call now: 1-888-995-HOPE (4673).

KEY LINKS:

● Home Affordability and Stability Plan

● HUD-approved counseling services, foreclosure prevention tips, provisions of the service members Civil Relief Act; rental assistance programs

● National Foundation for Credit Counseling

● Avoiding Foreclosure Rescue Scams | Espanol

● IRS.gov – Tax questions & answers on Home Foreclosure and Debt Cancellation

● Georgia Landlord/Tenant Handbook

11 Comments

Photos from September 15 Health Fair

Office Staff — 10/05/2007 12:25

Many of you joined Hank on September 15 for a well-attended and very productive Health Fair for youth and young adults at South DeKalb Mall.

Here are some photos from that very successful event. Thanks to all who attended!

2 Comments

On the Anniversary of 9/11

Hank Johnson — 09/11/2007 10:11

FRIENDS: This day of remembrance is one on which we pay tribute to the victims of this terrorist act and the many public servants who were injured and lost their lives saving citizens in New York and Washington, D.C..

We remember their families, as well. September 11th will forever be etched into our psyche and it has led to significant improvements in our national defense and emergency readiness.

Perhaps most of all, I am proud of America’s response to this tragedy for we demonstrated the enormous spirit, the generosity, the bravery and the patriotism that keeps our country strong.

--Hank

0 Comments

Photos from Hank's Trip to Iraq & Afghanistan

Office Staff — 08/28/2007 14:20

Last April, Hank was a member of a congressional delegation that visited Iraq and Afghanistan.

Upon his return, Hank said, "Following the trip I have an even deeper appreciation for our citizenship and the awesome responsibility facing our troops and the families they leave behind. My position regarding Iraq is perhaps firmer and I am absolutely certain that we must set limits on funding and establish deadlines to extract our service personnel as soon as possible."

Here are photos from that trip.

Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan

Camp Eggers, Afghanistan

Camp Eggers, Afghanistan

In a helicopter over Ramadi, Iraq

Ramadi, Iraq

Ramadi, Iraq

Umm Qsar, Iraq

Umm Qsar, Iraq

Umm Qsar, Iraq

4 Comments

August 18: Congress on the Corner

Hank Johnson — 08/14/2007 15:45

FRIENDS: I will be holding the first "Congress on the Corner" event of the year this Saturday, August 18, at Jim 'n Nick's BBQ in Conyers, from 2PM until 3PM. Please join me for good food and a friendly discussion of the issues.

2PM until 3PM
Jim 'n Nick's BBQ
2275 Hwy 20 SE
Conyers, 30013
770-785-4453

[CLICK HERE FOR DIRECTIONS]

--Hank

3 Comments

Photos from July 28 Military Townhall

Office Staff — 08/09/2007 15:20

Many of you joined Hank on Saturday, July 28, for a very important town hall meeting, "Serving Those Who Serve" -- a Q&A session with expert representatives from a variety of agencies and organizations for active service members, veterans, and their families. Here are some photos from that very successful event.

4 Comments

Friday Recap: August 3, 2007

Hank Johnson — 08/03/2007 18:54

Friends:

Here’s a Friday recap of this week’s Congressional accomplishments.

Iraq: Throughout the week, as a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I have listened to testimony from expert witnesses regarding the state of our armed forces and of our continuing efforts in Iraq.

It remains my belief that, while our military is more than capable of winning individual battles, there is no long-term military strategy that will pacify and secure such an unstable and divided country. I continue to oppose escalation of the war and will keep working for a responsible redeployment of our troops from Iraq.

By the same token, I am deeply concerned by the heavy toll our operations in Iraq are placing on our men and women in uniform. An unrelenting deployment schedule and the stress of life in a war zone burden our soldiers and their families.

So, as a member of the Armed Forces Committee, I am particularly proud of the legislation the House passed on Thursday, the Ensuring Military Readiness through Stability and Predictability Deployment Policy Act of 2007. This bipartisan bill strengthens our military by mandating minimum periods of rest and recuperation for military service personnel between deployments. (CLICK FOR MORE INFORMATION)

PeachCare: On Wednesday, we approved the Children’s Health and Medicare Protection Act (CHAMP Act), which reauthorizes and expands the S-CHIP children’s health insurance program, including Georgia’s PeachCare.

I have been a vocal advocate for PeachCare and am very pleased that my colleagues have joined me in supporting these vital children’s healthcare programs. Click the video below to watch me speak up for PeachCare on the floor of the House when it was facing a budget crisis in February. Months of hard work later, we’ve saved PeachCare from insolvency.

Detainee Treatment: Last Friday, I introduced The National Commission on Detainee Treatment Act of 2007. It has been five years since the first detainees arrived at the Guantanamo Bay detention center in Cuba, and allegations of abuse there and at CIA “black sites” around the world tarnish our country’s reputation and undermine America’s moral authority in the struggle against terrorism.

The administration may believe its clandestine activities at shadowy detention centers around the globe to be beyond the reach of Congressional oversight. The administration is wrong.

We need to establish explicit rules to ensure that our detainee treatment practices are Constitutional, are consistent with human rights treaties we have signed, and reflect American values. This bill would commission a thorough review of our detainee treatment practices so Congress can craft an ethical and effective policy. (CLICK FOR MORE INFORMATION)

Ethics Reform: On Tuesday, my colleagues and I passed important bipartisan ethics reform to increase the transparency of relationships between politicians and lobbyists. The fight against corruption goes on and this bill is a major step in the effort to clean up Washington. (CLICK FOR MORE INFORMATION)

Consumer Protection: I spent much of the week continuing to recruit cosponsors for a bill I introduced in July with Sen. Russ Feingold, the Arbitration Fairness Act of 2007, which would protect consumers and employees against being forced into arbitration when their disputes deserve a jury trial. This week I attracted an additional four cosponsors for a total of twelve.

This Weekend: My colleagues and I will continue working through this weekend to ensure that we have accomplished our objectives, including the passage of landmark energy independence legislation, before heading home to our districts for the August Recess.

Thank you for checking in with me on my blog. Please send this to family and friends so our community can stay abreast of our efforts in Washington. Never hesitate to contact my office with questions and feedback.

Stay tuned for updates.

--Hank

5 Comments

Town Hall Meeting: "Serving Those Who Serve"

Hank Johnson — 07/03/2007 12:28

FRIENDS: Please join me on Saturday, July 28, for a very important town hall meeting, "Serving Those Who Serve" -- a Q&A session with expert representatives from VA Medical, VA Benefits, the Georgia Department of Veterans Service, Military Family Support, the Small Business Administration, the Georgia Department of Labor, and more.

WHAT: Experts will discuss issues of importance to active servicemen and women, veterans, and family of service members
WHEN: Saturday, July 28, 2007 -- 9AM until 1PM
WHERE: Lou Walker Center - 2538 Panola Road - Lithonia 30058 [click here for directions]

In this time of war, active service members, veterans, and their families need our support. The Veterans' Affairs system is overloaded with an abundance of claims and cases. My guests and I will help you navigate the various agencies and organizations that will provide you with essential services.

Please join me for this important town hall meeting. Call (770) 987-2291 for more information.

--Hank

6 Comments

Congratulate the District's Service Academy Appointees!

Hank Johnson — 06/14/2007 13:05

FRIENDS: Please join me in congratulating the following Fourth District students nominated to attend U.S. service academies who have accepted offers of appointment to the Class of 2011:

U.S. Air Force Academy:

Ms. Brittany Nichole Dutton, Tucker High School

U.S. Military Academy:

Mr. Daniel Conner Sutton, Marist School

U.S. Naval Academy:

Mr. John Charles White, Naval Academy Prep School

Ms. Logan Arielle Johnson, Chamblee Charter High School

Ms. Jacquelyn Nicole Williams, Martin Luther King Jr. High School

Those interested in more information on appointments to service academies should read the FAQ on this site and call my office at (770) 939-2016.

--Hank

1 Comments

Save Your Home and Protect Our Neighborhoods

Hank Johnson — 06/05/2007 22:09

FRIENDS: Please join my staff on June 16 for a very important town hall meeting, "Stopping Foreclosures" -- a Q&A session with expert representatives from HUD, Metro Fair Housing, Atlanta Legal Aid, and Washington Mutual.

WHAT: Financial experts will answer your questions regarding home foreclosures
WHEN: June 16, 2007 -- 9AM until 1PM
WHERE: Lou Walker Center - 2538 Panola Road - Lithonia 30058 [click here for directions]

Many of us are facing hardship as we struggle to service our mortgages. Those of us who are in the clear today may face tough times tomorrow. It only makes sense that we be as prepared as possible to defend our homes and neighborhoods against financial threats.

Please join me for this important town hall meeting. Call (770) 987-2291 for more information.

--Hank

3 Comments

Interview Podcast

Jonathan Ossoff — 06/04/2007 11:55

Atlanta-area blogger Will Hinton is podcasting an interview with Congressman Johnson.

Click here to listen.

0 Comments

Passport Fairs Across District on Sat, Apr 28

Hank Johnson — 04/26/2007 12:47

FRIENDS: The U.S. Postal Service has provided my office with the following important information regarding Saturday's passport fairs. If you are an American citizen and intend to travel abroad soon or need a government-issued identification, please visit one of the listed locations on Saturday, April 28!

Best,
Hank

Traveling soon and need a passport?

Submit your application at a U.S. Postal Service passport fair!

TIME	OFFICE	ADDRESS	ZIP
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm	Atlanta Buckhead Postal Store	3495 Buckhead Loop NE STE 115	30326
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm	Atlanta Doraville Station	4700 Longmire Ext	30340
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm	Atlanta Dunwoody Station	1551 Dunwoody Village Pkwy	30338
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm	Atlanta Howell Mill Postal Store	1984 Howell Mill RD NW	30327
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm	Atlanta Old National Station	2385 Godby RD	30349
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm	Atlanta Sandy Springs Postal Store	227 Sandy Springs PL NE STE G	30328
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm	Cumming Post Office	525 Tribble Gap Road	30040
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm	Decatur Main Post Office	520 W Ponce DE Leon AVE	30030
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm	Fayetteville	250 E. Georgia Ave	30214
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm	Gainesville Main Post Office	364 Green ST NE	30501
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm	Lawrenceville North Postal Store	1557 Buford DR	30043
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm	Lilburn Post Office	4370 Highway 29	30047
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm	Mableton Post Office	5284 Floyd RD SW	30126
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm	Marietta Main Post Office	257 Lawrence ST NE	30060
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm	Marietta Sprayberry Branch	2886 Sandy Plains RD	30066
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm	Riverdale Main Post Office	8060 Webb RD	30274

Bring these items to our Passport Fair:

● PASSPORT APPLICATION (on-site or www.usps.com/passport) ● PROOF OF IDENTITY

● PROOF OF U.S. CITIZENSHIP ● PHOTO FEE ($15 for two passport photos)

● PASSPORT FEES (must be paid separately)

U.S. Dept. of State Total* USPS^®Acceptance Fee^† Total

16 and older $67 $30 $97

15 or younger $52 $30 $82

NOTE: For minors under 14 years of age, each child must appear in person and both parents or legal guardians must present evidence of relationship

*U.S. Department of State total may be paid with check or money order.

†United States Postal Service^® acceptance fee may be paid with cash, check, money order, credit card, or debit card.

2 Comments

April 21 Town Halls

Hank Johnson — 04/13/2007 00:15

FRIENDS:

I will be holding three town hall meetings on Saturday, April 21, in Conyers, Lithonia, and Norcross, and an open house at my Tucker office on April 28 (scroll to the bottom of this entry for more information on the open house).

Please join me to discuss the pressing issues we face as in our district, our country, and our world. These are critical times and I look forward to hearing what you, the people whom I represent, demand of your government.

9AM until 11AM
Conyers City Hall
1184 Scott Street
Conyers, 30012
[CLICK HERE FOR DIRECTIONS]

Noon until 2PM
Edward Bouie Elementary School, Lithonia
5100 Rock Springs Road
Lithonia, 30038
[CLICK HERE FOR DIRECTIONS]

4:30PM until 6:30PM
Norcross High School
5300 Spalding Drive
Norcross, 30092
[CLICK HERE FOR DIRECTIONS]

PLEASE ALSO JOIN ME on Saturday, April 28, from 2PM until 5PM, for an open house at our new district office in Tucker. Click here for directions .

2 Comments

Exit Strategy: Why I Supported the Iraq Accountability Act

Hank Johnson — 03/23/2007 15:54

I am passionately opposed to the war in Iraq. I am committed to bringing our brave troops home and sickened by the prospect of prolonging this tragic and unnecessary conflict.

And today I have made a very difficult decision – by far the most difficult I have ever made in public service.

In our efforts to end this war, we in Congress are faced with imperfect options. The U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans’ Health, and Iraq Accountability Act upon which we voted today is a strong bill and will do much to hasten our withdrawal from Iraq. But it is a flawed bill, an imperfect bill. I had hoped for a more aggressive measure and, in past weeks, considered voting against it.

I was an original supporter of the amendment offered by Congresswoman Barbara Lee, which called for a fully-funded, immediate withdrawal from Iraq. Regrettably, that amendment was rejected before it could even be considered on the floor. It is clear that more aggressive measures to curtail the president’s power would be destined for the same fate in this body.

The harsh reality is that we must deal in the world of the possible, not the ideal. I wish we could do more and do it quickly. But this bill, for all its faults, is the best we can hope to pass at this time. As such, and not without misgivings, I have decided that passing this law is the best first step we can take toward ending the war in Iraq.

Defeat of this bill, even on principled grounds, may ultimately prolong this war. That is something I cannot and will not stand for.

I carefully considered voting against this bill and holding out for something more aggressive and restrictive. But, having watched this debate unfold, I am convinced that such a proposal would not pass. If our true aim is bringing this war to a close as quickly as possible, we must support the most aggressive legislation that is passable, not simply the most aggressive legislation.

If we hold out for the ideal and fail to pass this bill today, we may congratulate ourselves tomorrow for standing up for our principles. But the hard truth is that our principled inaction risks sentencing our brave men and women in uniform to more tours of duty, more street patrols, more IED attacks – all because we failed to distinguish between what we want to do and what we are able to do.
This bill will require withdrawal of U.S. armed forces from Iraq if its conditions are not met. It will hold the Iraqi government officials accountable for their action and inaction. It will greatly increase funding for the care of our veterans, who have been neglected upon their return from heroic and frequently traumatic service abroad. It will appropriate deeply needed funds to restore our proud military to a state of strength and readiness.

This is an imperfect bill. But, for all its flaws, it is the right first step -- the right step today.

I will solemnly lend it my support.

28 Comments

March 31 Town Halls

Hank Johnson — 03/23/2007 13:14

Please join me on Saturday, March 31, at two town hall meetings where we will have the opportunity to candidly discuss the issues facing our district and our country.

10AM until Noon
Tucker High School Cafeteria
5036 LaVista Road
Tucker, 30084
[CLICK HERE FOR DIRECTIONS]

2PM until 4PM
Georgia Perimeter College, Clarkston Campus
555 North Indian Creek Drive
Clarkston, 30021
[CLICK HERE FOR DIRECTIONS]

OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS

Free IRS Workshop
Saturday, March 24
9AM until 11AM
Lou Walker Center
2538 Panola Road
Lithonia, 30058
[CLICK HERE FOR DIRECTIONS]

Annual High School Art Competition -- Win College Scholarships!
Entry Deadline: Friday, April 13
Awards Presentation: Saturday, May 5 at Georgia Perimeter COllege (MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN)
For more information, contact Eric Hubbard at 770.987.2291 or Eric.Hubbard@mail.house.gov

0 Comments

Fired U.S. Attorneys Deserve our Defense

Hank Johnson — 03/15/2007 13:04

This has been a troubling week.

We have all watched with concern the slow drip of revelations regarding the fishy dismissal of U.S. Attorneys in seven states.

Like many of you, I suspect that dirty politics clouded the judgment of senior White House and Department of Justice officials in this affair. It appears that the Attorneys were fired for refusing to indict Democratic candidates during last year's election.

The most revealing quote uncovered this week, as reported in Tuesday's Washington Post (LINK):

"[I]f we don't ever exercise it then what's the point of having it?"

--that from former Alberto Gonzales Chief of Staff Kyle Sampson.

He was referring to the presidential power, newly granted by The PATRIOT Act, to appoint interim U.S. Attorneys following the removal of incumbents. Previously, interim U.S. Attorneys were appointed by the judiciary in order to deter exactly this sort of scandalous political maneuver.

Sampson's quote illustrates just how destructive the massive expansion of presidential power over the last half-decade has been. The president and his handlers have proven that they are prone to abuse all of the excessive prerogatives they have squeezed out of Republican Congresses since 2001.

It's time for this new Congress to aggressively oversee and investigate potential abuses of presidential power.

As such, I am eager to get to the bottom of the U.S. Attorneys affair. Today I introduced a resolution drawing attention to the scandal and commending the fired Attorneys for their poise in the face of improper political pressure and their ultimate dismissals.

Stay tuned to this blog for further updates.

11 Comments

A Plan for PeachCare

Hank Johnson — 03/13/2007 14:34

Today I introduced legislation to save PeachCare, Georgia's State Children's Health Insurance (S-CHIP) program.

The current S-CHIP funding formula allows some states to accumulate surpluses of unused funds while other states, like Georgia, face severe shortfalls and are unable to provide for the basic health of children.

This is a clearly misguided way of distributing imperative, life-saving resources.

My legislation will redistribute S-CHIP funds from states that are running surpluses to cover the estimated $745 million shortfall among the 14 states which are in crisis. Currently, any excess S-CHIP funds must be returned to the federal treasury.

If my plan is adopted by Congress, Georgia will receive the estimated $131 million it needs to avert the children's healthcare crisis.

Please call your elected officials ask them to support this necessary legislation.

2 Comments

Academy Day is March 24

Hank Johnson — 03/11/2007 23:23

IMPORTANT: March 16 Deadline for Registration!

On March 23, I and the rest of Georgia's Congressional Delegation will host our Spring Academy day at Naval Air Station Atlanta.

Representatives, midshipmen, and cadets from Navy, Army, Air Force, Merchant Marines, and Coast Guard academies will be there to answer your questions about the nomination/application process and life at a U.S. military academy.

Those interested in attending should register by March 16. To do so, please contact Katie Dailey in my district office at (770) 939-2016 or at Katie.Dailey@mail.house.gov.

Directions to Naval Air Station Atlanta:

From Atlanta:
North on I-75 to Windy Hill Road Exit; turn left on Windy Hill Road (heading Northwest), turn right on Atlanta Road, (railroad overpass at Windy Hill Road and Atlanta Road). Turn right at railroad overpass on Atlanta Road (Approximately 1.5 miles). Turn left at light onto Dixie Avenue and follow Dixie Avenue to NAS Atlanta Gate.

From I-285:
Take Atlanta Road Exit; turn west and follow several miles. Turn right at the second railroad overpass (NOT THE ATLANTA ROAD AND WINDY HILL ROAD OVERPASS). The railroad overpass is approximately 1.5 miles from Windy Hill Road. Turn left at light onto Dixie Avenue and continue to the NAS Atlanta Gate.

Updates will be posted to my web site at HankJohnson.House.Gov.

	United States Military Academy Admissions Office Building 606 West Point, NY 10996-1797 (845) 938-4041
	United States Naval Academy USNA Admissions Office 117 Decatur Road Annapolis , MD 21402-5019 (410) 293-4361
	United States Air Force Academy HQ USAFA/RRS 2304 Cadet Drive, Suite 200 USAF Academy, CO 80840 (719) 333-2520
	United States Merchant Marine Academy Admissions Office Kings Point , NY 11024-1699 (516) 773-5391
	United States Coast Guard Academy Admissions Office New London , CT 06320-4195 (203) 444-8444

2 Comments

District Office Open House

Hank Johnson — 03/08/2007 17:49

This Saturday (3/10), please join me and my staff for an Open House at our new District Office South in Lithonia.

WHAT: District Office South Open House
WHERE: District Office South (5700 Hillandale Dr. Suite 110 Lithonia, GA 30058)
WHEN: Noon until 3PM
WHO: You, Me, and my staff

GET DIRECTIONS


FROM:
Address or Intersection:

City:

State:	ZIP Code:

Country:

1 Comments

We Must Protect PeachCare

Hank Johnson — 03/06/2007 23:24

Starting today, I will speak every day on the floor of the United States House of Representatives to bring needed attention to the impending PeachCare crisis.

On Sunday, March 11th, Georgia's PeachCare program will stop accepting new participants due to a lack of funding.

Not enough is being done on the state or federal level to address this issue. We face the possibility of seeing hundreds of thousands of kids without health insurance in Georgia and throughout the nation if we do not fix this problem. I stand before you to urge your immediate support. I'll use every tool at my disposal to help bring about a resolution.

2 Comments

Speaking Out Against Escalation

Hank Johnson — 02/20/2007 18:31

FRIENDS: I DELIVERED THIS SPEECH on the floor of the House late last week. I strongly believe that President Bush's plan to escalate the war in Iraq is misguided, and I am committed to speaking out against it. I look forward to your feedback and input.

8 Comments

Charlie Norwood, 1941-2007

Hank Johnson — 02/13/2007 20:08

Today we mourn the loss of a great Georgian, Congressman Charlie Norwood, who has passed away after a long and brave battle with cancer.

Charlie was a native son of Georgia, a scholar, a decorated combat veteran, a dentist and a public servant.

We disagreed on many issues, but by all accounts he served the 10th district well.

He and his family are in my prayers. I hope you will join me in attending his memorial service this Thursday in Augusta.

0 Comments

A Cartoon

Hank Johnson — 02/13/2007 19:18

Perusing today's Washington Post opinion page, I stumbled upon this cartoon by Tom Toles:

Nobody wants a nuclear Iran.

But the similarities between what we're hearing from the Bush Administration about Iran today and what we heard about Iraq in the build up to that war are striking.

I have no problem with aggressive diplomacy or brinksmanship, conducted responsibly; I just wish I could be confident that President Bush will protect American interests prudently and carefully.

Recent history doesn't speak to his capacity for measured, well-conceived foreign policy.

4 Comments

PeachCare Needs a Policy, not a Partisan, Solution

Hank Johnson — 02/12/2007 17:25

AS I SAID ON THE FLOOR OF CONGRESS last week, fourteen states, including Georgia, continue to face serious funding shortfalls for their S-CHIP Programs. Hundreds of thousands of children stand to lose their health care coverage if Congress does not come up with an immediate solution.

Georgians: without courageous political action at the state and federal levels, we are on the brink of losing PeachCare.

It is precisely because PeachCare affects the lives of so many young Americans that those involved in the policy process must rise above politics. No solution can be achieved if one party blames another. No improved policy will come out of partisan attacks.

Not all federally funded social programs are effective. They are by nature experimental, and we should not hesitate to re-evaluate those whose performance disappoints. But -- and I cannot emphasize this enough -- PeachCare works. It has been an overwhelming success. It has improved and in some cases saved the lives of thousands of Georgia's children.

We must not allow such a wonderful program to die. That's why I, and many others in the Georgia delegation, am doing all I can in Washington to secure the funding necessary for PeachCare's survival.

But I can't do it alone.

I am hopeful Governor Perdue and the Georgia General Assembly will join with me, the Georgia Congressional Delegation, and the Democratic Leadership to achieve a policy victory, not a partisan one.

2 Comments

A More Nuanced Approach to Resolving the Iraq Quagmire

Hank Johnson — 02/08/2007 17:05

It is now common knowledge that Iraq has become an unfortunate quagmire. We all tend to agree on this point; we just disagree on how to rectify this situation. Poor planning has brought us here so it only makes sense to ensure poor planning does not keep us on this path.

It is also becoming common knowledge that we need to focus more on enabling the political process in Iraq and less on enabling a burgeoning civil war. I desire victory in Iraq as much as the President but, in my humble view, his plan will not bring us to that goal. As a result, I would find it difficult to support a continuation of this flawed thinking. I believe we need a new strategy based on the needs of a constantly evolving situation.

At this point in Iraq’s troubled history, there are two major issues that need to be addressed: lessening the presence of U.S. troops on Iraqi streets to stem violence resulting from the perception of provocation and ensuring the Iraqi government has some semblance of stability to function properly and establish an adequate foundation. As a result of the lack of focus on these tenets, we have the current unsustainable situation to contend with. So what must we do now?

In keeping with the proper role of Congress in the prosecution of this war, first and foremost, we must seriously consider withholding funding to execute a flawed plan – as long as our troops won’t be endangered by such an action. Second, we must take the opportunity to speak for our constituents and make recommendations to the Administration based on their concerns. Therefore, I have introduced a resolution that officially recommends the Administration effectively take the targets off of the backs of our brave troops and pull them off of street patrol duty. Over four years into this war, this should be the sole function of those Iraqi troops ready to take on the task. Even if they are not fully ready, a credible argument can be and has been made that the violence will be significantly reduced with the reduction of U.S. troop presence. These troops should, in turn, be used to fortify the Iraqi government, allowing it to function more efficiently and provide the country with the strong central government it needs.

Maybe more importantly, we need to pay a debt we owe to innocent Iraqi civilians. We owe them what they have yet to receive since the beginning of American intervention – the ability to purchase food at the local market for their families without the fear of being blown up. Any unbiased observer of the Iraq situation would be hard pressed to legitimately argue that our current plan is truly making the streets of Iraq safer.

The instability of that region does not allow me to guarantee victory under any circumstances, but I am comfortable guaranteeing that the enactment of this plan would ensure less American flag-draped coffins and provide the mechanisms for an eventual resolution to this conflict – if an acceptable one is indeed possible.

Let’s continue to work together to bring new ideas to the table and make them heard. Your comments are welcome.

21 Comments

We Must Fund PeachCare!

Hank Johnson — 02/06/2007 17:02

YESTERDAY I SPOKE on the House floor to urge my colleagues to adequately fund PeachCare, Georgia's fantastic but severely underfunded children's health insurance program.

In 1997, Congress created the State Children's Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP) to help states provide health coverage to a growing number of uninsured children. Ten years later, more than six million children have been enrolled in this program. They are getting the check-ups, medicine, and treatment they need and deserve.

Unfortunately, S-CHIP is threatened by severely inadequate funding. The budget that the president has introduced neglects to address the huge shortfalls threatening S-CHIP's future and the health of our children. Hundreds of thousands of children are at risk of losing vital health coverage.

Without Congress' help, Georgia will be unable to provide healthcare for the three-hundred thousand kids currently enrolled in PeachCare. Increased federal funding is absolutely imperative. Many massive federal programs are inefficient and ineffective. S-CHIP is a wonderful exception. PeachCare has been praised by parents, doctors, and government officials alike. We must save it and, in doing so, save the futures of hundreds of thousands of children.

Please watch my speech and then click "Share" to send it to your friends. And please keep urging your elected representatives to save S-CHIP. Keep the letters coming!

1 Comments

Welcome.

Hank Johnson — 02/02/2007 13:27

This is Congressman Hank Johnson -- welcome to my blog.

Here I'll be post updates from Capitol Hill and comment on the day's news. Thanks for reading -- please stop by often!

--Hank

4 Comments