{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where state = \"GA\" and year = 2013 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221064602/http://woodall.house.gov/event/gwinnett-town-hall-meeting-1", "Gwinnett Town Hall Meeting", "2013-12-23", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Rob Woodall", "W000810", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Please join me for a Town Hall Meeting in the Council Chambers of the Suwanee City Hall on January 23rd.\nThursday, January 23, 2014  \n\t7:00 PM \u2013 8:00 PM  \n\tSuwanee City Hall  \n\tCouncil Chambers  \n\t330 Town Center Avenue  \n\tSuwanee, Georgia\u00a0 30024", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221065609/http://woodall.house.gov/event/forsyth-town-hall-meeting-3", "Forsyth Town Hall Meeting", "2013-12-23", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Rob Woodall", "W000810", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Please join me for a Town Hall Meeting at the Forsyth County Administration Building on January 21st.\nTuesday, January 21, 2014  \n\t7:00 PM \u2013 8:00 PM  \n\tForsyth County Administration Building  \n\tCommissioners Meeting Room Suite 220  \n\t110 East Main Street  \n\tCumming, Georgia\u00a0 30040", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140222015903/http://johnlewis.house.gov/press-release/atlanta-leaders-call-president-obama-withdraw-his-candidates-georgia-northern-district", "ATLANTA LEADERS CALL ON PRESIDENT OBAMA TO WITHDRAW HIS CANDIDATES FOR THE GEORGIA NORTHERN DISTRICT BENCH", "2013-12-23", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "John Lewis", "L000287", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "ATLANTA--A broad coalition of elected officials and community leaders will announce their opposition to the slate of candidates nominated last Thursday by the White House to sit on the bench in the Northern District of Georgia at a news conference on Monday, December 23rd.\n\u00a0\nThe news conference will be held at Ebenezer Baptist Church, 449 Auburn\nAvenue, NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30312, at 11:00 a.m on Monday December 23rd.\n\u00a0\nThe group cites serious concerns that the proposed candidates do not adequately reflect the diversity of the northern district and that the selection process lacked meaningful community\ninput.\u00a0 Additionally, the coalition finds it troubling that several of the nominees include persons\nwho have advocated in favor of Georgia\u2019s voter ID laws and for including the Confederate Battle\nEmblem as part of the Georgia State Flag.\n\u00a0\nThree recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom--Rep. John Lewis, the Rev.\nJoseph Lowery, and the Rev. C.T. Vivian--will speak, as well as U.S. Reps. David Scott and\nHank Johnson.\u00a0 Representatives of the Gate City Bar Association, members of the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys, Georgia Alliance of African American Attorneys, the Atlanta and Georgia Chapters of the NAACP, The Coalition for the People's Agenda, and the SCLC will also be present.\n\u00a0\nFor more information contact Charles Johnson (Charles.johnson@hklaw.com) or Suzy\nOckleberry sockleberry@yahoo.com For Rep. Lewis contact, Brenda Jones\n(brenda.jones@mail.house.gov or 202.226.4673).\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.isakson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-center?ContentRecord_id=f939919d-9526-400a-a5e8-71e926a76405", "e-Newsletter for the week ending December 20, 2013", "2013-12-20", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Johnny Isakson", "I000055", "www.isakson.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Dear Friends,\r\nThis week, the Senate finished its work for the calendar year. The Senate voted to confirm several nominations, including IRS commissioner, Federal Reserve chairman, assistant secretary of State, secretary and deputy secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, as well as several judicial nominations for vacant seats around the country.\r\nThe Senate also passed the Murray-Ryan budget deal, as well as the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2014, or H.R.3304. \r\nMurray-Ryan Budget Deal\r\nLast week, Senate Budget Committee chairman Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and House Budget Committee chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) proposed a two-year budget agreement in advance of the budget conference\u2019s December 13\u00a0deadline to produce a budget. The House swiftly passed the Murray-Ryan budget by a vote of 332 to 94.\r\nThe Murray-Ryan deal, the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013, would reduce the deficit by $23 billion over the next decade and by $100 billion over the next two decades without raising taxes.  \r\nI voted for the Murray-Ryan budget deal because it finally gives America a budget to operate under and averts government shutdowns through 2015. As a longtime advocate of biennial budgeting, I believe this bipartisan agreement is a good first step toward managing government spending and the fiscal policy of our country. While reforms included in the agreement are modest, most move America in the right direction. On Tuesday, I appeared on CNCB to discuss the budget. You can watch that interview here.\r\nThe Budget\u2019s Effects on the Military\r\nOne of the most essential components of Senator Murray\u2019s and Congressman Ryan\u2019s deal is the avoidance of another devastating round of sequestration aimed squarely at our national defense capabilities.\u00a0 This agreement will help us avoid cuts that would have caused long-lasting damage to the readiness of our military and will help us provide the best support and tools possible to our men and women in uniform.\r\nWhile avoiding defense sequestration was key to gaining my support for this deal, I was very concerned to learn that disabled retirees and survivors were mistakenly included in the provisions slowing the growth of benefits over the coming years.\u00a0 I believe that this mistake must be corrected and my continued support for this budget agreement was predicated on the chairman\u2019s commitment to correct this mistake.Additionally, this week, I joined Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., in co-sponsoring his \u201csense of the Senate\u201d resolution to address the disproportionate military pay provision in the Murray-Ryan budget that would reduce the cost-of-living (COLA) adjustment for military retirees under the age of 62.   \r\nThe resolution states that retirees from the armed forces should not unfairly bear the burden of excessive government spending, and the Senate should seek alternatives to the current military retirement provisions in the budget legislation currently being considered. With this non-binding resolution, the Senate agrees to address the reduction of military retirement pension for retirees under age 62 before it goes into effect in December 2015.\r\nI am pleased to join Sen. Chambliss in this resolution because it is critically important that we not disproportionately burden those who have served in our armed forces. Our men and women in uniform have sacrificed greatly, and we wouldn\u2019t be debating these important issues today on the Senate floor if it weren\u2019t for our military. While we must address the difficult decisions on how to get our arms around our nation\u2019s debt and deficits, we must all share the burden and we must not single our veterans or any segment of society in the process. I look forward to working with my Senate colleagues on this issue.\r\nOn Thursday, I appeared on MSNBC to discuss my efforts to protect military retirement pay. You can watch the interview here.\r\nArmy Cyber Command Moving to Fort Gordon\r\nOn Thursday, I applauded the Army\u2019s announcement that Fort Gordon, Georgia will become the headquarters for U.S. Army Cyber Command / 2nd Army (Cyber).\r\nThis decision culminates a four year effort to select the best location to host the Army\u2019s operational cyber capabilities. During that time, Sen. Chambliss and I have worked closely with senior leaders of the Army, including the Secretary of the Army, and the Chief of Staff of the Army, to advocate for Fort Gordon and Augusta.\r\nIn addition to locating the headquarters of U.S. Army Cyber Command at Fort Gordon, the Army will establish a standing cyber joint task force headquarters. This command and control structure will dramatically improve the operational effectiveness of Army cyber capabilities. This basing decision brings approximately 700 new personnel to Fort Gordon, along with a three star commander. I am confident the Army made the right decision by selecting Fort Gordon as the new home for U.S. Army Cyber Command. Since the Army started considering a new location four years ago, I have engaged the Army and the Department of Defense to make it clear that Fort Gordon was the most capable and cost-effective option to handle the crucial mission of U.S. Army Cyber Command.\u00a0 The Army made the correct choice for our national security and for taxpayers. I know the city of Augusta and the people of the Central Savannah River Area will undoubtedly provide the community support necessary to keep this important mission at Fort Gordon for years to come.\r\nStopping the Administration from Targeting Family Farms\r\nToday I joined 42 of my Senate colleagues, from both sides of the aisle, in a letter to the administration demanding the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) immediately stop its unlawful regulation of family farms. In our letter, we also directed OSHA to issue updated guidance correcting their misinterpretation of current law.\r\nSince 1976, Congress has exempted small, family-run farms from OSHA regulations, but in a 2011 memo OSHA asserted that on-farm grain storage and handling was not part of farm operations. The memo essentially expanded OSHA\u2019s regulatory scope, in defiance of the law, to nearly every farm in the country without going through the established rule-making process that allows Congressional review and public comment.\r\nIn our letter, we senators wrote, \u201cOSHA\u2019s interpretation defies the intent of Congress in exempting farming operations from the standards of the Occupational Safety and Health Act\u2026Worker safety is an important concern for all of us\u2014including the many farmers who probably know better than OSHA regulators how to keep themselves and their employees safe on farms.\u00a0 If the Administration believes that OSHA should be able to enforce its regulations on farms, it should make that case to Congress rather than twisting the law in the service of bureaucratic mission creep.\u201d You can read the full text of the letter here.\r\nAs the ranking Republican on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety, which oversees OSHA and labor issues, I will continue to fight to ensure that Georgia\u2019s family farms are protected from unlawful regulations such as this.\r\nWhat\u2019s on Tap?\r\nThe Senate is not in session next week in observance of Christmas. During these past several months we have addressing variety of critically important issues, and now we welcome this holiday season and the spirit of Christmas.\u00a0\u00a0As we reflect on the things we have weathered through this past year, it is equally important to recognize our many blessings as a nation.\u00a0In the spirit of this wonderful time of year, Dianne and I wish you a holiday filled with joy, happiness, and cheer. Merry Christmas!\r\n\u00a0\r\nSincerely,   Johnny Isakson", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.isakson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=1edd6645-4fa6-4172-98b0-3bcc95bbdf69", "Isakson to Administration: Stop Targeting Small Family Farms", "2013-12-20", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Johnny Isakson", "I000055", "www.isakson.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., today joined 42 of his Senate colleagues, from both sides of the aisle, in a letter to the administration demanding the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) immediately stop its unlawful regulation of family farms. In their letter, the senators also directed OSHA to issue updated guidance correcting their misinterpretation of current law.\r\nThe requests were made in a letter to Department of Labor Secretary Thomas Perez, who oversees OSHA. Isakson is the ranking Republican on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety, which oversees OSHA and labor issues.\r\nSince 1976, Congress has exempted small, family-run farms from OSHA regulations, but in a 2011 memo OSHA asserted that on-farm grain storage and handling was not part of farm operations. The memo essentially expanded OSHA\u2019s regulatory scope, in defiance of the law, to nearly every farm in the country without going through the established rule-making process that allows Congressional review and public comment.\r\nIn their letter, the senators wrote, \u201cOSHA\u2019s interpretation defies the intent of Congress in exempting farming operations from the standards of the Occupational Safety and Health Act\u2026Worker safety is an important concern for all of us\u2014including the many farmers who probably know better than OSHA regulators how to keep themselves and their employees safe on farms.\u00a0 If the Administration believes that OSHA should be able to enforce its regulations on farms, it should make that case to Congress rather than twisting the law in the service of bureaucratic mission creep.\u201d\r\nThe letter was led by Sen. Mike Johanns, R-Nebs., and was signed by U.S. Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), Dan Coats (R-Ind.), Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), John McCain (R-Ariz.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Mark Pryor (D-Ark.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), John Thune (R-S.D.), David Vitter (R-La.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).\r\nA copy of the senators\u2019 bipartisan letter is below:\r\nDecember 20, 2013\r\nThe Honorable Thomas E. Perez\r\nSecretary\r\nU.S. Department of Labor\r\n200 Constitution Avenue, N.W.\r\nWashington, DC 20210\r\nDear Secretary Perez:\r\nWe write to you regarding reports that regulators at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have begun taking regulatory actions against farms that are specifically exempted by Congress from regulatory enforcement conducted by OSHA. Since 1976, Congress has included specific language in appropriations bills prohibiting OSHA from using appropriated funds to apply requirements under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1976 to farming operations with 10 or fewer employees.\r\nIt has come to our attention that OSHA is now interpreting this provision so narrowly that virtually every grain farm in the country would be subject to OSHA regulations.\u00a0 OSHA\u2019s interpretation defies the intent of Congress in exempting farming operations from the standards of the Occupational Safety and Health Act.\r\nIn viewing a farm\u2019s \u201cgrain bin operation\u201d as somehow distinct from its farming operation, OSHA is creating an artificial distinction in an apparent effort to circumvent the Congressional prohibition on regulating farms.\u00a0 The use of grain bins is an integral part of farming operations.\u00a0 Without grain bins, farmers must sell corn and soybeans immediately after harvest, when prices are usually low.\u00a0 Storing grain in bins is thus a fundamental aspect of farming.\u00a0 Any farm that employs 10 or fewer employees and used grain bins only for storage prior to marketing should be exempt, as required by law, from OSHA regulations.\r\nA memo issued by the Director of Enforcement Programs on June 28, 2011, stated that \u201cmany of these small farm employers mistakenly assume that the Appropriations Rider precludes OSHA from conducting enforcement activities regardless of the type of operations performed on the farm.\u201d\u00a0 The memo declares that all activities under SIC 072\u2014including drying and fumigating grain\u2014are subject to all OSHA requirements (the memo did not even mention grain storage).\u00a0 There are many farms that have grain dryers on-farm to address wet harvest conditions or fumigate grain to prevent pests from ruining a crop prior to marketing.\u00a0 These are basic, common, and responsible farming activities that OSHA has arbitrarily decided are non-exempt.\r\nWorker safety is an important concern for all of us\u2014including the many farmers who probably know better than OSHA regulators how to keep themselves and their employees safe on farms.\u00a0 If the Administration believes that OSHA should be able to enforce its regulations on farms, it should make that case to Congress rather than twisting the law in the service of bureaucratic mission creep.\u00a0 Until then, Congress has spoken clearly and we sincerely hope that you will support America\u2019s farmers and respect the intent of Congress by reining in OSHA.\r\nWe would ask that you direct OSHA to take the following three steps to alleviate this concern.\u00a0 First, OSHA should cease all actions predicated on this interpretation, which is inconsistent with Congressional intent.\u00a0 It is important that OSHA also issue guidance correcting this misinterpretation of the law.\u00a0 We suggest consulting with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and organizations representing farmers to assist with this guidance.\u00a0 Finally, we ask that OSHA provide a list and description of regulatory actions taken against farms with incorrectly categorized non-farming activities and 10 or fewer employees since the June 2011 memo.\u00a0 Given the nearly four decades of Congressional prohibition of OSHA enforcement against farms, this should be a simple request to fulfil.\r\nWe would appreciate your response by February 1, 2014, to include a copy of the corrected guidance, the data regarding enforcement actions on farms, and confirmation that OSHA will cease such enforcement.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221115339/http://hankjohnson.house.gov/rep-hank-johnsons-e-newsletter-december-2013", "Rep. Hank Johnson's E-Newsletter for December 2013", "2013-12-19", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Hank Johnson", "J000288", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Dear Friends,\nLast week in Washington, I voted in favor of the bipartisan budget proposal. It wasn\u2019t everything that I wanted, but it represents a modest step toward enacting a budget and preventing further manufactured crises that only harm our economy, destroy jobs, and weaken our middle class.\nSome members of the House went into these budget talks insisting on cuts to initiatives that families and seniors depend on \u2013 but the bipartisan deal does not cut Medicare, Social Security, or Medicaid benefits.\nSome insisted on continuing the job-killing sequester, but the agreement replaces almost two-thirds of the sequester\u2019s impending cuts to important domestic investments like education, medical research and law enforcement next year.\nUnconscionably, the agreement does not include an extension of unemployment insurance that many House Democrats have been fighting for.\u00a0 Last week, 166 House Democrats, including myself, called on Speaker Boehner not to let Congress go home for the year without extending the vital unemployment insurance that is set to expire for more than one million Americans, right in the middle of the holidays.\nUnfortunately, Speaker Boehner refused. Now he must deal with presiding over one of the all-time least productive years in Congressional history, with its failure best illustrated through the government shutdown in October that put another unnecessary drag on our economy. My focus will remain on lifting the sequester, growing the economy, creating jobs, strengthening the middle class, and continuing to reduce the deficit in a balanced and responsible way.\nHONORING MR. MANDELA: Since my last e-letter, we lost civil rights icon and former South African President Nelson Mandela. In 1990, just after Mr. Mandela was released from a South African jail, I attended his speech at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta during his 8-city tour of the United States. What impressed me most about Nelson Mandela was his humble spirit of forgiveness and love towards those who persecuted him. Neither angry nor vindictive, and with great courage and dignity, he endured 27 years in prison, sacrificing his liberty for the sake of all South Africans. To see my floor speech honoring Mr. Mandela, click HERE.\nHELP FOR HEALTH CENTERS: I\u2019m pleased to announce an additional $1.8 million from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is coming to Georgia for health centers that are currently assisting uninsured Americans with the new health insurance coverage options. Of the $1.8 million, more than $117,000 is coming to the Fourth District for Oakhurst Medical Center in Stone Mountain and Four Corners in Norcross. For more, click HERE.\nEXTENDING DEADLINES FOR HEALTHCARE: Consumers now have more time to pay premiums for health coverage thanks to an extension worked out between the White House and insurance companies. America\u2019s Health Insurance Plans announced Dec. 18 that consumers who select plans by Dec. 23 on the Affordable Care Act\u2019s federal and state exchanges will be allowed to pay premiums as late as Jan. 10 for coverage that begins Jan. 1. For more, click HERE.\nFAST FOR FAMILIES: Last week, I fasted for a day as part of the Fast for Families call for comprehensive immigration reform and the need for a vote on immigration in the House. I took up the fast from Rep. Jim McGovern and passed it to three California colleagues: Reps. Judy Chu, Zoe Lofgren and George Miller. For more, click HERE. For more on Fast for Families, click HERE.\nMOBILE APP COMPETITION: I\u2019m excited to announce the new Congressional app competition for high school students in participating districts. As part of the first ever House Academic Competition to promote innovation in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), the mobile apps competition will be the first in a series of STEM competitions next year and will be formally launched in February 2014. Please stay tuned for more information.\nART STATION: I want to congratulate Art Station in Stone Mountain for receiving a $10,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). This round of NEA funding supports primarily small and mid-sized organizations for projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations \u2013 those whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by geography, ethnicity, economics or disability. For more, click HERE.\nDISTRICT DURING HOLIDAYS: My wife Mereda and I had a wonderful time participating in various local holiday parades and celebrations, including Stone Mountain, Lithonia, Conyers and Covington. Thank you for such a warm welcome. For more, visit my Facebook page HERE.\nINSPIRATIONAL YOUNG MAN: This week, we honored five-year-old Morgan Steward during \u201cOfficer Morgan Day\u201d in Covington. Morgan suffers from spinal muscular atrophy, a genetic condition that affects his muscle movement. Despite the difficulties, he has one dream \u2013 to be a police officer. So, the Covington Police Department teamed up with 11Alive to hold \u201cOfficer Morgan Day\u201d on Dec. 17, where Morgan got to be an officer for a day \u2013 writing speeding tickets, helping kids cross the street and giving a speech to the \u201cbad guys.\u201d We\u2019re just glad our office could participate. For more, click HERE.\nSOCIAL SECURITY: I want to let you know about some important upcoming changes to the way services are provided by Social Security offices. As of February 2014, the Social Security Administration will no longer offer Social Security number (SSN) printouts and benefit verification information in field offices. However, to ensure a smooth transition, they will continue providing these services if requested until April 2014. Beneficiaries and recipients needing a benefit verification letter can obtain one immediately by registering for a my Social Security account at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount, or through the mail within 5\u20137 days by calling their national toll-free number: 1-800-772-1213.\nMANUFACTURING COMMUNITIES: The U.S. Department of Commerce announced this week the Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership (IMCP) competition. IMCP seeks to enhance the way we leverage federal economic development funds to encourage American communities to focus not only on attracting individual investments one at a time, but transforming themselves into globally-competitive manufacturing hubs. The deadline to apply is March 14, 2014. \u00a0For more information, click HERE.\nEXPEDITED PASSPORTS: The U.S. Department of State offers expedited passport services to U.S. citizens throughout the year. While U.S. citizens should apply as early as possible for their passport needs, the Department offers convenient options for those who need their travel documents sooner than the standard 4-to-6-week processing time. For more, click HERE.\nAs always, I appreciate your time and feedback. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to represent you in Congress. Please have a safe and Happy Holiday season!", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221162951/http://hankjohnson.house.gov/press-release/rep-hank-johnsons-e-newsletter-december-2013", "Rep. Hank Johnson's E-Newsletter for December 2013", "2013-12-19", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Hank Johnson", "J000288", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Dear Friends,\nLast week in Washington, I voted in favor of the bipartisan budget proposal. It wasn\u2019t everything that I wanted, but it represents a modest step toward enacting a budget and preventing further manufactured crises that only harm our economy, destroy jobs, and weaken our middle class.\nSome members of the House went into these budget talks insisting on cuts to initiatives that families and seniors depend on \u2013 but the bipartisan deal does not cut Medicare, Social Security, or Medicaid benefits.\nSome insisted on continuing the job-killing sequester, but the agreement replaces almost two-thirds of the sequester\u2019s impending cuts to important domestic investments like education, medical research and law enforcement next year.\nUnconscionably, the agreement does not include an extension of unemployment insurance that many House Democrats have been fighting for.\u00a0 Last week, 166 House Democrats, including myself, called on Speaker Boehner not to let Congress go home for the year without extending the vital unemployment insurance that is set to expire for more than one million Americans, right in the middle of the holidays.\nUnfortunately, Speaker Boehner refused. Now he must deal with presiding over one of the all-time least productive years in Congressional history, with its failure best illustrated through the government shutdown in October that put another unnecessary drag on our economy. My focus will remain on lifting the sequester, growing the economy, creating jobs, strengthening the middle class, and continuing to reduce the deficit in a balanced and responsible way.\nHONORING MR. MANDELA: Since my last e-letter, we lost civil rights icon and former South African President Nelson Mandela. In 1990, just after Mr. Mandela was released from a South African jail, I attended his speech at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta during his 8-city tour of the United States. What impressed me most about Nelson Mandela was his humble spirit of forgiveness and love towards those who persecuted him. Neither angry nor vindictive, and with great courage and dignity, he endured 27 years in prison, sacrificing his liberty for the sake of all South Africans. To see my floor speech honoring Mr. Mandela, click HERE.\nHELP FOR HEALTH CENTERS: I\u2019m pleased to announce an additional $1.8 million from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is coming to Georgia for health centers that are currently assisting uninsured Americans with the new health insurance coverage options. Of the $1.8 million, more than $117,000 is coming to the Fourth District for Oakhurst Medical Center in Stone Mountain and Four Corners in Norcross. For more, click HERE.\nEXTENDING DEADLINES FOR HEALTHCARE: Consumers now have more time to pay premiums for health coverage thanks to an extension worked out between the White House and insurance companies. America\u2019s Health Insurance Plans announced Dec. 18 that consumers who select plans by Dec. 23 on the Affordable Care Act\u2019s federal and state exchanges will be allowed to pay premiums as late as Jan. 10 for coverage that begins Jan. 1. For more, click HERE.\nFAST FOR FAMILIES: Last week, I fasted for a day as part of the Fast for Families call for comprehensive immigration reform and the need for a vote on immigration in the House. I took up the fast from Rep. Jim McGovern and passed it to three California colleagues: Reps. Judy Chu, Zoe Lofgren and George Miller. For more, click HERE. For more on Fast for Families, click HERE.\nMOBILE APP COMPETITION: I\u2019m excited to announce the new Congressional app competition for high school students in participating districts. As part of the first ever House Academic Competition to promote innovation in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), the mobile apps competition will be the first in a series of STEM competitions next year and will be formally launched in February 2014. Please stay tuned for more information.\nART STATION: I want to congratulate Art Station in Stone Mountain for receiving a $10,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). This round of NEA funding supports primarily small and mid-sized organizations for projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations \u2013 those whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by geography, ethnicity, economics or disability. For more, click HERE.\nDISTRICT DURING HOLIDAYS: My wife Mereda and I had a wonderful time participating in various local holiday parades and celebrations, including Stone Mountain, Lithonia, Conyers and Covington. Thank you for such a warm welcome. For more, visit my Facebook page HERE.\nINSPIRATIONAL YOUNG MAN: This week, we honored five-year-old Morgan Steward during \u201cOfficer Morgan Day\u201d in Covington. Morgan suffers from spinal muscular atrophy, a genetic condition that affects his muscle movement. Despite the difficulties, he has one dream \u2013 to be a police officer. So, the Covington Police Department teamed up with 11Alive to hold \u201cOfficer Morgan Day\u201d on Dec. 17, where Morgan got to be an officer for a day \u2013 writing speeding tickets, helping kids cross the street and giving a speech to the \u201cbad guys.\u201d We\u2019re just glad our office could participate. For more, click HERE.\nSOCIAL SECURITY: I want to let you know about some important upcoming changes to the way services are provided by Social Security offices. As of February 2014, the Social Security Administration will no longer offer Social Security number (SSN) printouts and benefit verification information in field offices. However, to ensure a smooth transition, they will continue providing these services if requested until April 2014. Beneficiaries and recipients needing a benefit verification letter can obtain one immediately by registering for a my Social Security account at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount, or through the mail within 5\u20137 days by calling their national toll-free number: 1-800-772-1213.\nMANUFACTURING COMMUNITIES: The U.S. Department of Commerce announced this week the Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership (IMCP) competition. IMCP seeks to enhance the way we leverage federal economic development funds to encourage American communities to focus not only on attracting individual investments one at a time, but transforming themselves into globally-competitive manufacturing hubs. The deadline to apply is March 14, 2014. \u00a0For more information, click HERE.\nEXPEDITED PASSPORTS: The U.S. Department of State offers expedited passport services to U.S. citizens throughout the year. While U.S. citizens should apply as early as possible for their passport needs, the Department offers convenient options for those who need their travel documents sooner than the standard 4-to-6-week processing time. For more, click HERE.\nAs always, I appreciate your time and feedback. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to represent you in Congress. Please have a safe and Happy Holiday season!", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.isakson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=79199f3f-0cb2-4b46-bf49-ace84b691c94", "Chambliss, Isakson Applaud Selection of Fort Gordon as U.S. Army Cyber Command Headquarters", "2013-12-19", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Johnny Isakson", "I000055", "www.isakson.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON- Today, U.S. Sens. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., vice chairman of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and senior member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, and Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans\u2019 Affairs applauded the Army\u2019s announcement that Fort Gordon, Georgia will become the headquarters for U.S. Army Cyber Command / 2nd Army (Cyber).\r\nThis decision culminates a four year effort to select the best location to host the Army\u2019s operational cyber capabilities. During that time, Chambliss and Isakson have worked closely with senior leaders of the Army, including the Secretary of the Army, and the Chief of Staff of the Army, to advocate for Fort Gordon and Augusta. As vice chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Chambliss also worked closely with the General Keith Alexander, Commander of U.S. CYBERCOM, in support of Fort Gordon.\r\nIn addition to locating the headquarters of U.S. Army Cyber Command at Fort Gordon, the Army will establish a standing cyber joint task force headquarters. This command and control structure will dramatically improve the operational effectiveness of Army cyber capabilities. This basing decision brings approximately 700 new personnel to Fort Gordon, along with a three star commander.\u00a0\r\n\u201cI am pleased the Army selected Fort Gordon as the new home of U.S. Army Cyber Command,\u201d said Chambliss.\u00a0\u201cI have worked tirelessly over the past four years, engaging senior leaders in the U.S. Army and U.S. Cyber Command to promote Fort Gordon as the logical choice.\u00a0Establishing this command at Fort Gordon builds on the existing intelligence and cyber capabilities on post, provides the most cost-effective solution in a time of fiscal austerity, and takes advantage of the unmatched quality of life provided by the City of Augusta and surrounding area.\u00a0Basing this increasingly important capability at Fort Gordon is the right thing to do for the Army and the national security of the United States.\u201d\r\n\u201cI am confident the Army made the right decision by selecting Fort Gordon as the new home for U.S. Army Cyber Command,\u201d said Isakson.\u00a0 \u201cSince the Army started considering a new location four years ago, I have engaged the Army and the Department of Defense to make it clear that Fort Gordon was the most capable and cost-effective option to handle the crucial mission of U.S. Army Cyber Command.\u00a0 The Army made the correct choice for our national security and for taxpayers. I know the city of Augusta and the people of the Central Savannah River Area will undoubtedly provide the community support necessary to keep this important mission at Fort Gordon for years to come.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.isakson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=0e02e21f-d103-4ab6-9292-d2334f057022", "Chambliss, Isakson Introduce Resolution To Protect Military Retirement Pay", "2013-12-18", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Johnny Isakson", "I000055", "www.isakson.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON- Today, U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., vice chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, introduced a \u201csense of the Senate\u201d resolution to address the disproportionate military pay provision that would reduce the cost-of-living (COLA) adjustment for military retirees under the age of 62. Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., who serves on the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee, joined Chambliss in his efforts and has cosponsored the resolution.\u00a0\r\nThe resolution states that retirees from the armed forces should not unfairly bear the burden of excessive government spending, and the Senate should seek alternatives to the current military retirement provisions in the budget legislation currently being considered. With this non-binding resolution, the Senate agrees to address the reduction of military retirement pension for retirees under age 62 before it goes into effect in December 2015.\r\n\u201cMany Georgians have served with honor in our military, and while the changes to their annual cost of living increase may appear insignificant on paper, this is real money promised to those who have put their lives in harm\u2019s way in defense of this nation,\u201d said Chambliss. \u201cWhile I support the budget deal, this resolution formally promises our servicemen and women that we will find alternate savings in our budget, and not disproportionately target their retirement savings.\u00a0 I want to assure our service men and women that there is ample time to address this issue before it takes effect in December of 2015.\u00a0 I will not turn my back on those who fight for this country.\u201d\u00a0\r\n\u201cI am pleased to join Sen. Chambliss in this resolution because it is critically important that we not disproportionately burden those who have served in our armed forces. Our men and women in uniform have sacrificed greatly, and we wouldn\u2019t be debating these important issues today on the Senate floor if it weren\u2019t for our military,\u201d said Isakson. \u201cWhile we must address the difficult decisions on how to get our arms around our nation\u2019s debt and deficits, we must all share the burden and we must not single our veterans or any segment of society in the process. I look forward to working with my Senate colleagues on this issue.\u201d\r\nIn addition to Isakson, cosponsors for Chambliss\u2019 legislation include: Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, John McCain, R-Ariz., John Hoeven, R-N.D., Ron Johnson, R- Wis., Susan Collins, R-Maine, Roy Blunt, R-Mo.,\u00a0and Rob Portman, R-Ohio.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://woodall.house.gov/press-release/woodall-statement-regarding-passage-bipartisan-budget-act", "Woodall Statement Regarding Passage of Bipartisan Budget Act", "2013-12-13", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Rob Woodall", "W000810", "woodall.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Representative Rob Woodall issued the following statement regarding passage of the Bipartisan Budget Act.\n\u201cThe bipartisan, bicameral budget agreement reached today is certainly not everything we conservatives want, but it is a step in the right direction resulting in $23 billion in deficit reduction and no new income taxes.\u00a0 It also prevents further indiscriminate cuts to our military today while preserving 92% of sequestration reductions over the course of the budget.\u00a0 Further, it prevents devastating changes to Medicare which would have threatened the access of every Medicare beneficiary to their doctor. \u00a0At a time of severely divided government and multiple impasses, this agreement allows the country to make progress towards the goal of fiscal responsibility while setting a positive precedent of replacing broad one-time sequester cuts with targeted reforms and reductions in long-term, so-called \u2018mandatory\u2019 spending.\u201d\nWoodall represents the Seventh Congressional District of Georgia, which includes the majority of Gwinnett and Forsyth counties.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://austinscott.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-austin-scott-announces-macon-town-hall-meeting", "Congressman Austin Scott Announces Macon Town Hall Meeting", "2013-12-13", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Austin Scott", "S001189", "austinscott.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Warner Robins, GA  U.S. Congressman Austin Scott (GA-08) today announced he will be holding a town hall meeting on Monday, December 16, 2013 to provide a legislative update and address local and national issues currently being debated in Congress, including ongoing farm bill negotiations..  The town hall meeting is being held from 12:00 p.m.  1:00 p.m. at the Georgia Farm Bureau, located at 1620 Bass Road in Macon, GA. The event is open to all constituents of Georgia's Eighth Congressional District.  For more information, please call Rep. Scott's Tifton office at 229-396-5175.  Who: U.S. Congressman Austin Scott (GA-08)  What: Town Hall Meeting  When:Monday, December 16, 2013, 12:00 p.m.  1:00 p.m.  Where:Georgia Farm Bureau, 1620 Bass Road, Macon, GA 31209  ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140228101336/http://austinscott.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=450", "Congressman Austin Scott Announces Macon Town Hall Meeting", "2013-12-13", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Austin Scott", "S001189", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Warner Robins, GA \u2013 U.S. Congressman Austin Scott (GA-08) today announced he will be holding a town hall meeting on Monday, December 16, 2013 to provide a legislative update and address local and national issues currently being debated in Congress, including ongoing farm bill negotiations..\n\n\tThe town hall meeting is being held from 12:00 p.m. \u2013 1:00 p.m. at the Georgia Farm Bureau, located at 1620 Bass Road in Macon, GA. The event is open to all constituents of Georgia\u2019s Eighth Congressional District.\n\n\tFor more information, please call Rep. Scott\u2019s Tifton office at 229-396-5175.\n\n\tWho:\u00a0\u00a0 U.S. Congressman Austin Scott (GA-08)\n\n\tWhat:\u00a0 Town Hall Meeting\n\n\tWhen:Monday, December 16, 2013, 12:00 p.m. \u2013 1:00 p.m.\n\n\tWhere:Georgia Farm Bureau, 1620 Bass Road, Macon, GA 31209\n\n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://tomgraves.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=364307", "Rep. Graves Votes For Deficit Reduction Deal", "2013-12-12", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Tom Graves", "G000560", "tomgraves.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Graves Votes For Deficit Reduction Deal\n                    \n                    \n                        \n                    \n                    \n                    \n                    \n                    \n                        \n                            Washington,\n                            December 12, 2013\u00a0-\n                        U.S. Rep. Tom Graves (R-GA-14) issued the following statement after voting for the bipartisan budget deal that provides greater deficit reduction over the next 10 years:\u201cThis deal isn\u2019t great and it isn\u2019t terrible. The bottom line is that it reduces the deficit by $23 billion over the next decade without raising taxes\u2014that\u2019s a better deal for taxpayers than current law.\r\n\u201cIt\u2019s a positive step when both parties agree to make government smaller and more efficient through entitlement reforms and cuts to wasteful spending. The alternative is to put current law on autopilot, where a lot of savings would come from cutting defense jobs instead of cutting waste, fraud, and corporate welfare. In other words, without this deal, tax dollars would continue going to criminals and dead people while Georgia defense workers get furloughed or laid off. It makes a lot more sense to cut the fraud and keep the jobs.\r\n\u201cWhile it\u2019s true that the overall deal makes a tiny dent in the government\u2019s fiscal problems, it opens the door for better policy moving forward and, in the near term, keeps all the pressure on President Obama and the Democrats to answer for the Obamacare disaster.\u201d\r\nMore information about the deficit reduction deal:\r\n\r\n    The bill reduces the deficit by $23 billion.\r\n\r\n\r\n    Across the board cuts that would impact defense jobs are replaced with cuts to waste, fraud, abuse and corporate welfare.\r\n\r\n\r\n    The overall discretionary spending level is lower compared to the budgets passed by House Republicans in 2011 and 2012.\r\n\r\n\r\n    Extends the mandatory spending sequester by two years, which provides $28 billion in spending cuts and locks in deficit reduction negotiating leverage through Fiscal Year 2023.\r\n\r\n\r\n    Protects taxpayers from bailing out corporate pension benefits by requiring private companies to cover a greater cost of guaranteeing their pensions, saving taxpayers $7.9 billion.\r\n\r\n\r\n    Requires federal employees to contribute more to their pensions, bringing their contributions closer to the public sector norm and saving taxpayers $6 billion.\r\n\r\n\r\n    Repeals corporate welfare policies, such as a taxpayer-funded research program for energy companies, saving a combined $790 million.\r\n\r\n\r\n    Ends outrageous tax dollar abuses, like sending unemployment checks to criminals and government checks to dead people.\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://austinscott.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-austin-scott-statement-bipartisan-budget-agreement", "Congressman Austin Scott Statement on Bipartisan Budget Agreement", "2013-12-12", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Austin Scott", "S001189", "austinscott.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  U.S. Congressman Austin Scott (GA-08) today released the following statement on the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013:  I am pleased to report that we are finally able to claim a victory on the defense budget. With my support, the House of Representatives passed legislation to significantly reduce sequester cuts for our military, therefore providing funding for training and for the important defense activities occurring at Robins and Moody Air Force Bases. The legislation will restore $31 billion of irresponsible sequester cuts for our defense over the next two years. The fight is not over, but we have made significant progress in halting the decline in our military strength and the erosion of defense readiness.  While this agreement does not go as far as I think it should, it does achieve real budgetary reforms and is a step in the right direction that gets Washington back to a budget process where meaningful entitlement reform can be achieved. I hope this bipartisan agreement will pave the way for continued work toward putting our country back on a fiscally responsible path and securing economic security for hardworking Americans.    ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://austinscott.house.gov/press-releases?ID=F38099B2-DAC7-4441-8C11-2E371C194FA1", "Congressman Austin Scott Announces Macon Town Hall Meeting", "2013-12-12", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Austin Scott", "S001189", "austinscott.house.gov", "austinscott", "https://austinscott.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Warner Robins, GA \u2013 U.S. Congressman Austin Scott (GA-08) today announced he will be holding a town hall meeting on Monday, December 16, 2013 to provide a legislative update and address local and national issues currently being debated in Congress, including ongoing farm bill negotiations..\n\nThe town hall meeting is being held from 12:00 p.m. \u2013 1:00 p.m. at the Georgia Farm Bureau, located at 1620 Bass Road in Macon, GA. The event is open to all constituents of Georgia\u2019s Eighth Congressional District.\n\nFor more information, please call Rep. Scott\u2019s Tifton office at 229-396-5175.\n\nWho: U.S. Congressman Austin Scott (GA-08)\n\nWhat: Town Hall Meeting\n\nWhen:Monday, December 16, 2013, 12:00 p.m. \u2013 1:00 p.m.\n\nWhere:Georgia Farm Bureau, 1620 Bass Road, Macon, GA 31209\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T22:40:02Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140222015941/http://johnlewis.house.gov/press-release/rep-john-lewis-leads-push-toward-comprehensive-immigration-reform", "Rep. John Lewis Leads Push Toward Comprehensive Immigration Reform", "2013-12-12", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "John Lewis", "L000287", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "In recent meetings of the House Democrats, Rep. John Lewis encouraged members of his caucus to send \u201cthe strongest possible message\u201d to the Speaker of the House, the Republican House leadership, and the American people that there are members of Congress who want to take action to pass comprehensive immigration reform in this Congress.\nThe Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi pulled the entire caucus together to join with the Fast 4 Families protest, a coalition of groups fasting for immigration reform in tents near the U.S. Capitol.\u00a0 Members who fasted and those who are supportive of reform participated in a news conference with some of the 1200 Fast 4 Families lobbyists today. Some members marched to the Fast 4 Families tent after the news conference hand-in-hand with protest leaders and clergy.\u00a0\u00a0 This is Rep. Lewis \u00a0statement \u00a0made at the news conference as written:\n\u00a0\nThank you, Leader Pelosi, for organizing this effort to send the strongest possible message to the leadership of the House of Representatives. There are members of this body who want to make a difference in the lives of immigrants in this country.\nThere are young children in America who live in constant fear.\u00a0 They are afraid to go to school, afraid someone will point them out.\u00a0 They are afraid their mothers and fathers will be deported. We don\u2019t want to go home and start this holiday season of love, forgiveness and compassion and turn our backs on those who live in fear in America.\u00a0\nThe Senate has already passed comprehensive immigration reform.\u00a0 The House has a companion bill, H.R. 15, with over 190 bi-partisan co-sponsors.\u00a0 If the Speaker would bring that bill to the floor, we could begin the process of immigration reform in America tomorrow. \u00a0\nMr. Speaker, millions of lives are hanging in the balance as this Congress leaves for a break.\u00a0 How can we turn our backs on the families who must hide in the shadows of this country?\u00a0\u00a0 They help advance our economy and add to the richness of our culture.\u00a0 We are joining with Fasting 4 Families today to say we want to confront the challenges of immigration, including the issues around citizenship and border security. \u00a0\u00a0\nWe want to put these issues on the table and begin the process of reforming our law to end the humanitarian crisis our current policy creates.\u00a0\u00a0\nWe still have time to bring H.R. 15 to the floor for a vote.\u00a0 Mr. Speaker, as a nation and as a compassionate people, we can do better.\u00a0 It has been said maybe our foremothers and forefathers all came here in different ships, but we\u2019re all in the same boat now.\u00a0 We\u2019re all one people, one family, the human family.\u00a0 \n\u00a0Let\u2019s do what the American people sent us here to do.\u00a0 Let\u2019s us work together and lead this nation.\u00a0 Let\u2019s find reasonable and humane solutions to human problems.\u00a0 Let\u2019s pass comprehensive immigration reform today, in this Congress.\u00a0 Thank you.\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.isakson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-center?ContentRecord_id=71500cb8-a71f-4c18-b9bd-6d659bd33265", "Sen. Isakson Shares a Georgian's Obamacare Story on the Senate Floor", "2013-12-12", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Johnny Isakson", "I000055", "www.isakson.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Atlanta Office\n\t\t\t\t\t\tOne Overton Park  3625 Cumberland Blvd, Suite 970  Atlanta, GA 30339\n\t\t\t\t\t\tTel: (770) 661-0999\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\tFax: (770) 661-0768\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\tE-mail Me", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://austinscott.house.gov/press-releases?ID=35557DCE-E749-4D54-9AB6-6BFD18A3B7EA", "Congressman Austin Scott Statement on Bipartisan Budget Agreement", "2013-12-11", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Austin Scott", "S001189", "austinscott.house.gov", "austinscott", "https://austinscott.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Congressman Austin Scott (GA-08) today released the following statement on the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013:\n\n\u201cI am pleased to report that we are finally able to claim a victory on the defense budget. With my support, the House of Representatives passed legislation to significantly reduce sequester cuts for our military, therefore providing funding for training and for the important defense activities occurring at Robins and Moody Air Force Bases. The legislation will restore $31 billion of irresponsible sequester cuts for our defense over the next two years. The fight is not over, but we have made significant progress in halting the decline in our military strength and the erosion of defense readiness.\n\n\u201cWhile this agreement does not go as far as I think it should, it does achieve real budgetary reforms and is a step in the right direction that gets Washington back to a budget process where meaningful entitlement reform can be achieved. I hope this bipartisan agreement will pave the way for continued work toward putting our country back on a fiscally responsible path and securing economic security for hardworking Americans.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T22:40:02Z"], ["https://dougcollins.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=512", "Collins Votes for Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act", "2013-12-11", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Doug Collins", "C001093", "dougcollins.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Media Contact\r\n\r\n\tCOLLINS VOTES FOR GABRIELLA MILLER KIDS FIRST RESEARCH ACT\r\n\r\n\tNortheast Georgia\u2019s Congressman: \u201cWhen you can make a difference, no matter how small, it still matters.\u201d\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tWASHINGTON, Dec\u00a0 11 \u2013 Congressman Doug Collins (GA-09) voted today for H.R. 2019, the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act.\u00a0\u00a0\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tNamed for a brave little girl who only weeks ago passed away from a painful struggle with brain cancer, the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act redirects federal funds previously used to finance\u00a0 presidential campaigns and national political conventions towards pediatric research.\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tCongressman Collins personally understands the value of pediatric research.\u00a0 The father of an adult daughter who was born with spina bifida, Congressman Collins shared his own experience:\r\n\r\n\t\u201cGabriella Miller reminds us that government has the ability and the obligation to strive for the greater good. If we lose sight of that goal, we have failed.\u201d Congressman Collins continued, \u00a0\u201cGabriella has won her fight, but young people like my daughter continue theirs.\u00a0 We are reminded that when you can help, you should. When you can make a difference, no matter how small, it still matters, and it\u2019s still worth doing.\u201d\r\n\r\n\tFull video of Congressman Collins\u2019 floor speech prior to the vote may be found here. \u00a0\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0\r\n\r\n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://dougcollins.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=513", "House Passes Collins Israel Legislation", "2013-12-11", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Doug Collins", "C001093", "dougcollins.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Media Contact\r\n\r\n\tHOUSE PASSES COLLINS ISRAEL LEGISLATION\r\n\r\n\tNortheast Georgia\u2019s Congressman: \u201cCongress must demonstrate its unwavering commitment to a strong U.S.-Israel relationship\u201d\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tWASHINGTON, Dec\u00a0 11 \u2013 The House of Representatives today passed H.R. 1992, the Israel QME (Qualitative Military Edge) Enhancement\u00a0 Act, authored by Congressman Doug Collins (GA-09).\u00a0 H.R. 1992 enhances accountability in the U.S./Israel relationship by compelling biannual reports to Congress of weapons sales in the Middle East. \u00a0Additionally, H.R. 1992 considers the threat of cyber warfare as it relates to Israel.\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tAfter passage, Congressman Collins said:\r\n\r\n\t\u201cAmerica\u2019s support for Israel should be strong and responsive to the changing threats facing our strongest Middle Eastern ally.\u00a0 Especially in the wake of the Administration\u2019s recent talks with Iran, Congress must demonstrate its unwavering commitment to a strong U.S.-Israel relationship.\u201d\r\n\r\n\tH.R. 1992 passed the House with a vote of 399-0.\u00a0 The bill passed out of the House Foreign Affairs Committee by voice vote on November 20th of this year.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tFor more on H.R. 1992, click here.\u00a0 See Congressman Collins\u2019 full remarks on the House floor today here.\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0\r\n\r\n\t###\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tNote: Congressman Collins is Vice Chairman of the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.isakson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=ab4181c1-389f-4d8c-9d6a-90e5a4c6e181", "Senators Heitkamp, Isakson Hold Inaugural Defense Communities Caucus Event", "2013-12-11", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Johnny Isakson", "I000055", "www.isakson.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senators Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) and Johnny Isakson (R-GA) today held their inaugural Senate Defense Communities Caucus event to help build stronger partnerships between communities and local military bases.\r\nThe event brought together lawmakers, employers, veteran advocacy organizations, and community leaders. Specifically, they focused on ways communities can support veterans and servicemembers as they transition out of the military and into civilian life, and highlighted successful economic development in defense communities through partnerships between military bases and local universities, businesses, governments, and organizations.\r\nHeitkamp and Isakson launched the bipartisan coalition this year to focus on the unique issues facing defense communities across the country and develop strategies to improve the lives of our servicemembers, veterans, and the communities in which they live. Seventeen Senators are now members of the Caucus.\r\n\u201cIn North Dakota we\u2019re proud of the example that our defense communities in Minot, Grand Forks, and throughout the state with our National Guard members, provide in supporting servicemembers and their families. We have a long history of support and collaboration that is second to none,\u201d said Senator Heitkamp,\u00a0who received the 2013 Association of Defense Communities Award for her steadfast support of North Dakota\u2019s military installations. \u201cThe Senate Defense Communities Caucus will help bring to light the unique issues these communities face, and work to create and strengthen mutually beneficial partnerships between the private sector, military installations, and their communities. Our defense communities play an essential role in supporting our military \u2013 and they deserve the best we can provide. Today\u2019s event will allow us to harness these successes and continue to build on them across the country.\u201d\r\n\u201cThe communities surrounding military installations play an integral role in supporting our men and women in uniform,\u201d said Isakson, whose home state of Georgia is home to several key military installations. \u201cI\u2019m proud to join Sen. Heitkamp in launching the Defense Communities Caucus so that we can better understand the issues facing our military and work through public-private community partnerships to address some of these needs. I hope that today\u2019s inaugural event will be the beginning of a productive effort, and I look forward working on this initiative with my colleagues.\u201d\r\n\u201cI applaud all efforts which seek to better integrate and partner our military installations and service members with our civilian communities,\u201d said Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, adjutant general for the North Dakota National Guard. \u201cRegardless of whether you are active duty, reserve or national guard, strong community support is imperative to our military\u2019s overall mission accomplishment.\u201d\r\n\u201cIn Grand Forks, we know how important our Air Force Base is to the community.\u00a0 UND and the community of Grand Forks have successfully worked with the base to promote economic development in the region, support growth at UND including through its UAS program, and build programs that help our servicemembers transition smoothly in order to stay in the community after they exit the military,\u201d said University of North Dakota UAS Course Manager Mike Corcoran. \u201cToday\u2019s inaugural Senate Defense Communities Caucus event was an opportunity to talk about these types of partnerships and help other defense communities learn how they can develop similar initiatives across the country. We look forward to working with Senator Heitkamp and the Defense Communities Caucus to continue to find ways to strengthen our defense communities and our veterans throughout North Dakota.\u201d\r\nToday\u2019s event included presentations by: Assistant Secretary of the Air Force Kathleen Ferguson; Grand Forks County Commissioner John Schmisek; University of North Dakota UAS Course Manager Mike Corcoran; Ed Mason, Principal Analyst for CALIBRE where he works to develop effective transition strategies for our military and Diana Gonzalez, President of DMG Consulting. Gonzalez coordinates the Miami-Dade Defense Alliance and Economic Development strategies for Miami/Dade County and its military  installations.\r\nBackground:\r\nHeitkamp and Isakson believe it is a critical time for our nation to come together in support of our defense communities. According to a White House report in February, between 240,000 and 360,000\u00a0servicemembers leave the military each year, and as we continue to draw down from the war in Afghanistan, it\u2019s expected that a million servicemembers will exit the military over the next few years. Sadly, the unemployment rate for these veterans peaked at an alarming 13.1 percent in 2011 and remains at 10 percent today. \r\nThe Senate Defense Communities Caucus aims to:\u00a0\r\n \r\nDevelop strategies to make sure servicemembers are a part of their communities: What are the best programs around the country? How can we best share this information?\r\nHighlight and further develop transition assistance programs for returning and transitioning service members: How can both families and communities prepare for their loved ones to return from deployment or transition from the military?\r\nBuild economic development strategies: How can we best use skilled veterans and military base employees to improve economic development and build economically beneficial relationships in our communities?\r\nStay at the forefront of base redevelopment issues: As our defensecommunities react to changes in our national security environment, what canthey learn from other communities who have gone through similarchallenges?", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221174620/http://hankjohnson.house.gov/press-release/due-affordable-care-act-millions-more-americans-will-gain-health-coverage-through", "Due to Affordable Care Act, millions more Americans will gain health coverage through Medicaid", "2013-12-10", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Hank Johnson", "J000288", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Johnson urges Georgia to expand Medicaid, so 478,000 Georgians gain health coverage\n\u00a0\nLITHONIA, GA \u2013 Today, Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04) released figures highlighting recent data that show that there would be 478,000 fewer uninsured Georgians by 2016 if Governor Deal does the right thing by his constituents and takes advantage of the Medicaid expansion opportunity provided under the Affordable Care Act.\n\u00a0\n\u201cAccess to healthcare should be a right and not a privilege for only those who can afford it,\u201d said Rep. Johnson. \u201cPeople who could be covered shouldn't be denied basic health care because public officials would rather play politics. With more than 2 million Georgians without health insurance, Georgia can\u2019t afford not to do this. Last year alone, Georgia hospitals lost about $1.5 billion in uncompensated care. That hidden cost is unsustainable.\u201d\n\u00a0\nBecause of the health care law, states can choose to expand their Medicaid coverage to all adults with incomes below 133% of poverty (around $32,000 for a family of four) and in return receive 100% of federal funding to cover those costs for the first three years and no less than 90% federal support for those costs in the years following.\u00a0\n\u00a0\nSo far, 26 states and the District of Columbia have taken up this Medicaid expansion opportunity, giving millions of Americans access to affordable health care. In fact, thanks to these states and the opening of the new Health Insurance Marketplaces, we know that 6 in 10 currently uninsured Americans will have access to health coverage for $100 per month or less next year, and that number would rise to 8 in 10 if the states that haven\u2019t expanded coverage \u2013 including Georgia \u2013 did.\n\u00a0\nExpanding Medicaid is a smart choice for Georgia. It would mean 478,000 fewer uninsured Georgians. Accounting for factors that reduce costs, the Kaiser Family Foundation finds that states as a whole are likely to see net savings from expanding Medicaid. Combining Medicaid costs with a conservative estimate of $18 billion in state and local non-Medicaid savings on uncompensated care, the Medicaid expansion would save states a total of $10 billion over 2013-2022.\n\u00a0\nHelping families take advantage of the benefits of the health care law like expanded Medicaid eligibility should be a top priority for lawmakers in Washington. Yet instead of working to fix the law, House Republicans have voted to repeal the health care law more than 40 times, even shutting down the government to prevent new benefits like the opportunity for 478,000 uninsured Georgians to gain access to affordable health care if Governor Deal did the right thing by his constituents. \u00a0\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221163738/http://bishop.house.gov/press-release/congressman-bishop-welcomes-new-members-usda-peanut-standards-board", "CONGRESSMAN BISHOP WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS TO USDA PEANUT STANDARDS BOARD", "2013-12-06", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Sanford Bishop", "B000490", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop Jr. (GA-02), member of the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies as well as Chair of the Congressional Peanut Caucus welcomed the seven new members of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) appointed Peanut Standards Board. The seven representatives, appointed by USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, will join the board comprised of 18 members representing the Southeast, Southwest, and Virginia-North Carolina regions of the U.S.\n\u201cI am thrilled about the addition of these representatives to the Peanut Standards Board. It is important that we have the most knowledgeable and invested individuals advocating for the peanut industry,\u201d said Congressman Bishop. \u201cThe board has been a valuable asset to USDA and peanut farmers, and I trust that these leaders, in conjunction with Secretary Vilsack and the USDA, will continue to do their best to ensure the quality of U.S. peanut production across America.\u201d\nThe Peanut Standards Board was authorized under the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002. It consults with the USDA about quality and handling standards for domestically produced and imported peanuts. One third of the board is appointed each year. For more information, please click here.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221163807/http://bishop.house.gov/press-release/congressman-bishop-statement-regarding-passing-nelson-mandela", "CONGRESSMAN BISHOP STATEMENT REGARDING THE PASSING OF NELSON MANDELA", "2013-12-06", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Sanford Bishop", "B000490", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) issued the following statement regarding the passing of anti-apartheid leader, activist, and former South African President Nelson Mandela.\n\u201cDr. King was my most admired hero until I learned of the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela. His courage, discipline, humility, and dignity in the face of his life\u2019s struggles inspire me daily. His faith in God and commitment to the principles of freedom and justice for all are reflected in his favorite scripture from the Apostle Paul found in the 8th Chapter of Romans; \u2018Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.\u2019 He would not be separated from his principles of justice for all, no matter the cost. The world is truly a better place because of the example of his life. I send my deepest sympathies to his family and to the people of South Africa.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://dougcollins.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=511", "Collins Votes for Innovation Act", "2013-12-05", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Doug Collins", "C001093", "dougcollins.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Media Contact\r\n\r\n\tCOLLINS VOTES FOR INNOVATION ACT\r\n\r\n\tNortheast Georgia\u2019s Congressman: Patent reform \u201cbrings cost-saving measures to hardworking Americans\u201d\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tWASHINGTON, Dec.\u00a0 5 \u2013 Congressman Doug Collins (GA-09) today welcomed the passage of H.R. 3309, the Innovation Act.\u00a0 Beyond giving American inventors the certainty and dignity their work deserves by protecting the value of patents, the Innovation Act brings cost-saving measures to hardworking Americans by curbing abusive patent litigation that costs our economy both\u00a0 time and money.\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tAdditionally, H.R. 3309 reforms the American patent system to increase transparency and encourage small business growth through education.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tCongressman Collins said, \u201cWe started this year with a promise to preserve, protect, and defend the constitution.\u00a0 Today\u2019s vote for the Innovation Act keeps that promise in the clearest ways by strengthening the patent system that protects individual property rights and drives our economic competitiveness.\u201d\u00a0 \r\n\r\n\t\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tCollins added, \u201cWhether you\u2019re the person who created a product or the one who uses it, the patent system impacts you.\u00a0 As a Member of the Judiciary Committee, I appreciate Chairman Goodlatte for keeping this fact at the forefront as he facilitated this effort with dedication, diligence, and bipartisanship.\u201d \r\n\r\n\t\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tThe Innovation Act passed the House with a vote of 325-91.\u00a0 Full text of the bill can be found here, and an educational video on the economic impact of patents can be found here.\r\n\r\n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221174717/http://hankjohnson.house.gov/press-release/rep-hank-johnson-nelson-mandela", "Rep. Hank Johnson on Nelson Mandela", "2013-12-05", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Hank Johnson", "J000288", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04) released the following statement on news of the death of civil rights icon, anti-colonialist and former ANC and South African President Nelson Mandela. In 1990, just after Mr. Mandela was released from a South African jail, Johnson attended his speech at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta during his 8-city tour of the United States: \n\u201cWhat impressed me most about Nelson Mandela was his humble spirit of forgiveness and love towards those who persecuted him. Neither angry nor vindictive, and with great courage and dignity, he endured 27 years in prison, sacrificing his liberty for the sake of all South Africans. Ultimately, he lived a life of triumph over evil and adversity, leaving the world a better place for his journey amongst us. The spirit of his life will remain in my heart as long as I live.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140301093457/http://johnlewis.house.gov/press-release/rep-john-lewis-death-president-nelson-mandela", "Rep. John Lewis on the Death of President Nelson Mandela", "2013-12-05", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "John Lewis", "L000287", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "\u201cThe whole of humanity has lost one of the most beloved, admired, and inspiring leaders of the last century.\u00a0 Through his action in defense of human dignity, his unjust, brutal imprisonment, and his attempts to heal a nation he demonstrated to all of us that we must never become bitter or hostile.\u00a0 He showed us that we each, despite our tribulation, have the power to forgive, that we can be reconciled with the worst offender.\u00a0 When he walked out of prison with grace, dignity and pride, he taught us how to thrive as members of the human family.\n\u201cI had the opportunity to meet and talk with President Mandela on several occasions in South Africa and here in America. I remember as a student, hearing and reading about him long before the worldwide Free Mandela movement emerged.\u00a0 We identified with him.\u00a0 We identified with the struggle in South Africa, the Sharpville massacre, and were intimately aware of all the major events that occurred in the struggle against apartheid.\u00a0\n\u201cThe first time I had a chance to meet him was in South Africa after his release from prison.\u00a0 He gave me this unbelievable hug.\u00a0 I will never forget it.\u00a0 He said, \u201cJohn Lewis, I know all about you. You inspired us.\u201d\u00a0 I said, \u201cNo, Mr. Mandela, you inspired us.\u201d\u00a0 He said, \u201cThe struggle continues.\u201d\u00a0 I felt unworthy really to be standing at his side.\u00a0 I knew I was in the presence of greatness.\u00a0\n\u201cI attended his inauguration, spent time with him alone in the chambers of the U.S. Capitol before he addressed a joint session of Congress, and saw him several times when he came to meet the Congressional Black Caucus.\u00a0 The last time I saw him in the United States, he said he thought it would be his last journey across the water.\n\u201cPresident Nelson Mandela must be looked upon as modern-day saint.\u00a0 He was a giant of a man.\u00a0 Even those who opposed him could not help but admire and deeply respect him. His redemptive, unearned suffering, his dedication to the philosophy and discipline of non-violence, and his magnificent grace are a testimony to the power and endurance of the human spirit.\u00a0 He was one of those rare individuals, like Mohandas Gandhi or Martin Luther King Jr., who come along\u00a0 only once in a generation who are a blessing to all humanity.\u00a0 They teach us not just how to liberate the body, but how to free our minds and unleash the power of the human spirit.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.isakson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/what-others-are-saying?ContentRecord_id=1b5f587b-70e1-4f24-be05-f0327ba26709", "Isakson Statement on the Passing of Nelson Mandela", "2013-12-05", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Johnny Isakson", "I000055", "www.isakson.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., today made the following statement regarding the passing of Former President of South Africa Nelson Mandela:\r\n\u00a0\u201cThe world lost a selfless champion of freedom, democracy and equality today.\u00a0Nelson Mandela\u2019s courage in the face of terrible injustice helped dismantle apartheid, and his determined leadership guided South Africa through a process of reconciliation that at one time seemed impossible. \u00a0Mandela\u2019s legacy will be one of dignity, forgiveness and a profound dedication to the principles that all free people hold dear. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and the people of South Africa.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://austinscott.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-scott-announces-december-mobile-office-valdosta", "Congressman Scott Announces December Mobile Office in Valdosta", "2013-12-03", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Austin Scott", "S001189", "austinscott.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  U.S. Congressman Austin Scott (GA-08) today announced an upcoming mobile office coming to Valdosta on Tuesday, December 10, 2013.  Representatives from the Congressman's district office will be in Valdosta to offer constituents assistance with a number of federal issues ranging from Medicare and Social Security to Veterans' benefits. Additional details are provided below:  Tuesday, December 10, 2013   9:00 AM - 12:00 PM   Wiregrass Georgia Technical College  Brooks Hall   4089 Val Tech Road, Valdosta, GA 31602  If you have any questions, please call Rep. Scott's Tifton office at (229) 396-5175.    ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140301093545/http://johnlewis.house.gov/press-release/rep-john-lewis-possible-exhaustion-fulton-county-energy-assistance-funds", "Rep. John Lewis on Possible Exhaustion of Fulton County Energy Assistance Funds", "2013-12-03", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "John Lewis", "L000287", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "UPDATED 12/4/2013\n\u201cI was very disturbed to hear today that Metro Atlanta residents had gathered near the Department of Labor after being turned away from the Partnership for Community Action on Covington Highway this morning hoping to apply for energy assistance, and they encountered problems.\u00a0 Even though there have been automatic cuts to some federal spending programs that have dramatically affected many of my constituents in the 5th District, this program is not one of them.\n\u00a0\n\u201cThe funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) has not been subject to automatic cuts.\u00a0 In fact, funding was disbursed to Georgia by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) at the beginning of November.\u00a0 I received notices in my office saying that the application process would begin for seniors on November 14 and the remaining applicants in Fulton County on December 1.\n\u00a0\n\u201cOur preliminary review of federal records shows that the state of Georgia actually received slightly more this year than in 2013--$60.441 million in FY2014 as compared to $60.387 million in FY2013, about a $54,000 difference.\u00a0 And national funding for LIHEAP has also remained fairly steady, FY 2014 - $3.29 billion and FY2013 - $3.21 billion.\u00a0 Though there are many reasons to try to press this Congress to be more productive, this apparently is not one of them.\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u201cPeople from my office have been reaching out to HHS and the Fulton-Atlanta Community Action Authority (FACAA) today to determine what happened this morning and why there is some question as to whether funds have already been depleted for this winter.\u00a0 We have not confirmed this as a fact at this time, but are still inquiring to get more information. When I receive more details, I will share them.\u201d\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://woodall.house.gov/press-release/woodall-chair-oversight-and-government-reform-committee-field-hearing-1", "Woodall To Chair Oversight and Government Reform Committee Field Hearing", "2013-12-02", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Rob Woodall", "W000810", "woodall.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Representative Rob Woodall and the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (OGR) will be hosting a field hearing this Monday, November 25, 2013, at 10 a.m. in the Hall County Government Center.\u00a0 The hearing will be chaired by Representative Woodall and is focused on examining the impact the Affordable Care Act is having on families, small businesses and healthcare providers throughout the region, specifically in rural areas.\u00a0 With over half of rural counties served by federal exchanges only offering one or two options for customers, and prices for these plans often being double the cost of urban areas, many throughout the Seventh District are feeling the negative effects of the law.\n\u201cI have never supported the government takeover of healthcare imagined by the Affordable Care Act,\u201d said Woodall. \u00a0\u201cLarge federal initiatives are often marked by misleading reports and gross mismanagement, and unfortunately ObamaCare is no exception.\u00a0 Most important to me, though, is how this law is affecting families at home in Georgia.\u00a0 Too often, Washington simply talks.\u00a0 This hearing is focused on listening, and as a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I am pleased Chairman Issa shares my interest in hearing what the residents of Georgia have to say.\u00a0 I hope that some families have been helped by ObamaCare.\u00a0 I am certain that millions have been hurt.\u00a0 I hope that both Congress and the President will listen to what the participants in this hearing have to say, and that we will be able to work together to quickly repeal and replace those areas of concern.\u201d\nObamaCare has been at the forefront of the national conversation, and Georgia has been no different.\u00a0 The healthcare law has taken center stage of late from town hall meetings to committee meetings, and the OGR hearing chaired by Woodall is another step in the ongoing efforts of Congress to get out of Washington, D.C., and into the areas where the effects of the healthcare overhaul are being felt.\n\u201cMillions of Americans are losing their insurance as a result of the President\u2019s healthcare law and even more are seeing their premiums increase beyond what they can afford,\u201d Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Darrell Issa (R-CA) said. \u201cThis hearing will give the Committee an opportunity to hear first hand from those in rural areas who are being hit the hardest by shrinking choices and skyrocketing costs, and the impact that is having on their families.\u201d\nWoodall continued, \u201cI regret that this hearing is necessary at all, but am grateful Chairman Issa and my Committee colleagues are willing to come and hear from Georgia constituents.\u201d\u00a0 Woodall added that Gwinnett County gets to play a very unique role in the healthcare debate with this hearing as not only is the hometown Congressman chairing the hearing, but Gwinnett County\u2019s own small business owner, Raymer Sale, President of E2E Benefits Services, Inc., will also be testifying before the committee.\u00a0 \u201cIn D.C. I always brag about the kind of expertise we have in the Seventh District, and wanted to be sure we take full advantage of that wealth of knowledge for this hearing.\u00a0 I am very happy to see that the Committee agreed with me when I suggested one of our Seventh District leaders, Raymer Sale, as a witness for the hearing.\u00a0 He is an expert in employee benefits and human resources administration, and his testimony will provide extremely valuable insight for my colleagues in Washington.\u201d\nAs the President touts the re-launch of his healthcare exchange website, House Republicans seem focused on dismantling the law completely.\u00a0 Critics of Republicans say these hearings are witch hunts, staged by Republicans to undermine the success of the healthcare overhaul.\u00a0 Woodall says any and all of those assertions are mean spirited and wrong.\u00a0 He insists that the impetus for these hearings\u00a0 is nothing more than simple constituent service and the most fundamental constitutional responsibility of Congress.\u00a0 Woodall concluded, \u201cThe stories of family after family losing healthcare coverage because of this terribly misguided legislation are all too real.\u00a0 Washington\u2019s political agenda should never be at the expense of those we are there to serve.\u00a0 I am eager to chair this event, and look forward to learning from the experiences of those being affected by this law and utilizing that information to make decisions on behalf of my constituents in Georgia.\u201d\n\u00a0\nHearing Details: \nMonday, November 25, 2013\n\u201cField Hearing: ObamaCare Implementation: High Costs, Few Choices for Rural America\u201d\nFull Committee, Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA)\n10:00 a.m. EDT at Hall County Government Center, Commission Meeting Room\n2875 Browns Bridge Rd., Gainesville, GA 30504-5635\n\u00a0\nPress should RSVP to Caitlin.Carroll@mail.house.gov.\n\u00a0\nWoodall represents the Seventh Congressional District of Georgia, which includes the majority of Gwinnett and Forsyth counties.\u00a0\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://austinscott.house.gov/press-releases?ID=CBFBD4CA-5B97-4340-907C-C791C6B5E701", "Congressman Scott Announces December Mobile Office in Valdosta", "2013-12-02", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Austin Scott", "S001189", "austinscott.house.gov", "austinscott", "https://austinscott.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Congressman Austin Scott (GA-08) today announced an upcoming mobile office coming to Valdosta on Tuesday, December 10, 2013.\n\nRepresentatives from the Congressman's district office will be in Valdosta to offer constituents assistance with a number of federal issues ranging from Medicare and Social Security to Veterans' benefits. Additional details are provided below:\n\nTuesday, December 10, 2013\n\n9:00 AM - 12:00 PM\n\nWiregrass Georgia Technical College \u2013 Brooks Hall\n\n4089 Val Tech Road, Valdosta, GA 31602\n\nIf you have any questions, please call Rep. Scott\u2019s Tifton office at (229) 396-5175.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T22:40:02Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221115605/http://hankjohnson.house.gov/rep-hank-johnsons-2013-thanksgiving-e-newsletter", "Rep. Hank Johnson's 2013 Thanksgiving E-Newsletter", "2013-12-02", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Hank Johnson", "J000288", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Dear Friends,\u00a0\nI want to wish you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving and to those celebrating \u2013 Happy Hanukkah. I\u2019m back in town this week meeting with constituents, and I\u2019m looking forward to spending Thanksgiving with my family as well.\nI thoroughly enjoyed participating in the DeKalb County School District\u2019s Parent Educational Awareness & Empowerment Conference at Georgia Piedmont Technical College this past Saturday. It was the culmination of a month\u2019s worth of involvement and engagement events aimed at energizing students, parents and educators on how we must continue to improve student and school achievement. For more, click HERE.\nOn Thursday, Nov. 21, I was pleased to join Commissioner Stan Watson in honoring seven of our community leaders \u2013 mostly from south DeKalb \u2013 during the Trail Blazer Awards at the Porter Sanford Center. It was good to hear the honorees speak from the dais and share their stories of success. \u2026 and struggles \u2013 overcoming obstacles only makes us stronger, and their leadership serves as the ultimate example to all of us.\nThe honorees were: Jennifer Parker, editor/publisher of CrossRoadsNews; Carolyn Jernigan Glenn, co-publisher of The Champion; Valerie Morgan, editor/publisher of On Common Ground News; Olympic gold medalist Gwen Torrence; legendary high school football coach William \u201cBuck\u201d Godfrey of Southwest DeKalb; CEO of Gregory B. Levett & Sons Funeral Home Inc. Gregory B. Levett Sr. and south DeKalb activist and longtime educator Gil Turman. For more, click HERE.\nMOBILE APPS COMPETITION: I\u2019m excited to announce the new Congressional app competition for high school students in participating districts. As part of the first ever House Academic Competition to promote innovation in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), the mobile apps competition will be first and will be formally launched in February 2014. Please stay tuned for more information beginning in early 2014.\nKENNEDY ANNIVERSARY: Friday, Nov. 22 was the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Across the country, people recounted their memories of that tragic day in American history. To read my thoughts on that fateful day, click HERE.\nAFFORDABLE CARE ACT: Seniors and people with disabilities with Medicare prescription drug plan coverage saved $8.9 billion to date on their prescription drugs thanks to the Affordable Care Act, according to new data released today by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).\nIn Georgia, nearly 100,000 seniors and people with disabilities saved more than $82 million or an average of $875 per beneficiary, during the first 10 months of 2013. Overall, seniors in Georgia have saved more than $250 million since passage of the Affordable Care Act. At the same time, these seniors will be free to use more of their Social Security benefit cost of living adjustment on what they choose because the Medicare Part B premium will not increase in 2014, thanks to the health care law\u2019s successful efforts to keep cost growth low. For more, click HERE.\nCHANGING THE FILIBUSTER: I was pleased to offer my support to Sen. Harry Reid after the Senate\u2019s vote to eliminate the use of the filibuster and allow up-or-down votes on presidential nominees except for those to the Supreme Court. For more, click HERE.\nAs always, I appreciate your time and feedback. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to represent you in Congress. Please have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221111325/http://bishop.house.gov/press-release/congressman-bishop-wishes-all-happy-thanksgiving", "CONGRESSMAN BISHOP WISHES ALL A HAPPY THANKSGIVING", "2013-11-27", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Sanford Bishop", "B000490", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) issued the following statement regarding the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday, November 28, 2013.\n\u201cThanksgiving is a wonderful time to reflect on all of the blessings afforded to us as Americans and as children of God. Personally, I am thankful for the Lord\u2019s blessing of health as His hand guides me through this period with cancer as well as for my colleagues, friends, and family who have stood with me, never wavering in their strength and support,\u201d said Congressman Bishop. \u201cLet us use this holiday, not only as a time to break bread with our loved ones, but as a chance to assist our brethren in need and to send a prayer to our service members away during the holidays. It is my wish that everyone in Georgia, and across the entire country, enjoy a safe and happy Thanksgiving. God Bless.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20131205163612/http://hankjohnson.house.gov/press-release/rep-johnson%E2%80%99s-statement-50th-anniversary-president-kennedy%E2%80%99s-assassination", "Rep. Johnson\u2019s statement on the 50th anniversary of President Kennedy\u2019s assassination", "2013-11-22", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Hank Johnson", "J000288", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "LITHONIA, GA \u2013 Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) released the following statement today on the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy:\n\u201cAs I reflect back 50 years ago when I heard the news of President Kennedy\u2019s assassination, I\u2019m struck by the same emotions I felt as a 9-year-old boy growing up in Washington, D.C.\u00a0 That fateful day left an indelible mark on me and certainly left an indelible mark on the country.\n\u201cFor me, just a few days before, my father, accompanied by my mother, was being celebrated at the White House with President Kennedy as one of the highest ranking African-Americans in the Bureau of Prisons. The zenith of my father\u2019s career would become one of the nadirs in America\u2019s history as President Kennedy was assassinated just a few days later.\n\u201cWhen JFK was struck down on Friday, Nov. 22, 1963, it shattered our psyche as a country. It was unthinkable that such a despicable\u00a0 act took\u00a0 away our\u00a0 vibrant, forward-thinking leader who inspired us to be ever greater.\u00a0\n\u201cThe Kennedy presidency was an exciting time, and the Kennedys gave us a sense of hope and optimism. President Kennedy and the first lady made an indelible mark on American life, and made us feel that there was nothing we could not do \u2013 that we were a people of limitless possibilities.\u00a0 And through\u00a0 those dark days, we slowly\u00a0 recovered as a nation and in\u00a0 the aftermath of his death we continued to\u00a0 accomplish great things such as the Civil Rights Act,\u00a0 Medicare and fulfilling his promise of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to earth.\u00a0 While we lost a certain innocence that dark day in 1963, we proved that we could overcome and since then through assassinations, wars and economic uncertainty we have persevered.\n\u201cAs we look for common ground, even today, we are still inspired by the\u00a0 words of our young, fallen president.\u00a0 \u2018Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.\u2019 Those words, his life and example continue to inspire us 50 years hence. I will never forget the assassination as it marked one of the lowest points in America\u2019s recent history \u2013 a time marked by success by this country and a time highlighting some of our tragic failures. This country has come a long way in 50 years, in large part due to the measures begun by President Kennedy before his death. This country owes him a tremendous debt of gratitude.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221105217/http://bishop.house.gov/press-release/congressman-bishop-supports-domestic-energy-production", "CONGRESSMAN BISHOP SUPPORTS DOMESTIC ENERGY PRODUCTION", "2013-11-22", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Sanford Bishop", "B000490", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 This week, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop (GA-02) supported two measures that will increase domestic energy production, create jobs, and reduce the high cost of energy for consumers: H.R. 2728, the Protecting States\u2019 Rights to Promote American Energy Security Act; and H.R. 1900, the Natural Gas Pipeline Permitting Reform Act. Congressman Bishop voted in favor of both bills.\n\u201cI have always held a long-standing commitment to lessening our dependence on foreign energy imports and decreasing energy costs, often working across the aisle to place dollars back in the pockets of hardworking Americans across our great nation,\u201d said Congressman Bishop. \u201cThe passage of H.R. 2728 and H.R. 1900 are positive steps toward ensuring that the U.S. stays on the forefront of energy production and that new well-paying jobs continue to be available for industrious Americans.\u201d\nH.R. 2728, Protecting States\u2019 Rights to Promote American Energy Security Act: Rejects a one-size-fits-all federal regulation process by allowing states with carefully devised state-specific rules for energy production take into account the state's unique geography and energy production considerations when enforcing regulations on hydraulic fracturing of land for energy exploration, circumventing a costly and burdensome implementation of an unnecessary set of new regulations. H.R. 2728 passed 235 to 187.\nH.R. 1900, Natural Gas Pipeline Permitting Reform Act: Sets deadlines for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to approve or deny a pipeline construction certificate within 12 months of receiving a complete application for a natural gas pipeline. If a decision has not been issued within the required time frame, approval will be automatically granted. This measure will codify existing regulations and bring certainty to businesses planning pipeline projects. H.R. 1900 passed 252 to 165.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140301093649/http://johnlewis.house.gov/press-release/rep-john-lewis-legacy-president-john-f-kennedy", "Rep. John Lewis on the Legacy of President John F. Kennedy", "2013-11-22", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "John Lewis", "L000287", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. John Lewis made this comment while reflecting on the death and assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas on November 22, 1963.\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWhen President Kennedy was assassinated, something died in those of us who knew him, and something died in America.\u00a0 He was the first American president to say that the issue of civil rights and social justice was a moral issue.\u00a0 He represented our hope, our idealism, our dreams about what America could become.\u00a0 He made us believe that we could do anything, tackle any challenge, and that through our efforts we could help heal the problems of the world.\u00a0\n\u201cMany people, some who still serve in public office today, got involved with public service because they were inspired by President Kennedy.\u00a0 People joined the Peace Corps, they ran for public office, they volunteered and gave their assistance not simply due to a mandate, but because his leadership made them believe they could make a difference.\u00a0 When he died, a light went out in America and the nation has never quite been the same since.\u00a0\n\u201cThe last time I saw President Kennedy alive was the day of the March on Washington.\u00a0 He invited all the speakers to the White House after the march was over.\u00a0 I can still see him standing in the door of the Oval House beaming, waiting to greet us.\u00a0 He shook the hand of each person saying, \u201cYou did a good job.\u00a0 You did a good job.\u201d And when he got to Dr. King he said, \u201cAnd you had a dream.\u201d\n\u201cPresident John F. Kennedy represented the youth, the vigor, the intellect, the imagination and ingenuity of the American identity.\u00a0 We lost a great leader in Dallas on November 22nd.\u00a0 I am not so sure we will be so lucky or so blessed to ever see his likeness again.\u201d\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.isakson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-center?ContentRecord_id=2e8d5c65-9712-48ee-85ad-45c665ddcfe9", "e-Newsletter for the week ending November 22, 2013", "2013-11-22", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Johnny Isakson", "I000055", "www.isakson.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Dear Friends,\r\nThis week, the Senate began work on a defense authorization bill, S.1197. On Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., implemented what is known as the \u201cnuclear option\u201d to weaken the Senate\u2019s filibuster rule so that Democrats can more easily win confirmation for President Obama\u2019s judicial nominees.Nuclear Option Yesterday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., successfully changed the Senate rules to allow a simple majority of Senators, or 51 votes, to confirm President Obama\u2019s judicial nominees. Until yesterday, judicial nominees needed 60 votes to be confirmed. This highly controversial maneuver by Senate Democrats to weaken the filibuster rule is commonly referred to as the \u201cnuclear option.\u201d By weakening the filibuster rule, Senate Democrats diminished the Senate\u2019s ability to be thoughtful and deliberate and the result could be a runaway Senate. I don\u2019t believe that the nuclear option is good for Senate or for the country. To read more about my thoughts on this issue, read my interview with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.\u00a0 Obamacare This week, I signed up for an Obamacare health plan for myself and my wife. As mandated by law, members of Congress and their staff are required to sign up on the DC Obamacare exchanges by December 9. After navigating several glitches on the exchange website and attempting to submit an application three times, I was finally able to enroll in a plan. Through my own experience, I share the frustrations of the many Georgians who have contacted me about the countless glitches and issues they have encountered with the Obamacare system. Furthermore, I continue to hear story after story of how Georgians are losing their current health care coverage and seeing their health care premiums skyrocket. Are you one of the 400,000 Georgians who have lost their health care coverage or are suffering as a result of this terrible law? If so, I invite you to share your story by visiting    Republican.Senate.Gov/YourStory. I appeared on Fox Business on Wednesday to discuss how Obamacare is failing and beginning to collapse under its own weight. I called on the administration to scrap this terrible law and to start over. To watch the interview, click here.  I have voted to defund or repeal Obamacare almost 60 times, and I continue to support its full repeal. I have also co-sponsored dozens of legislative proposals that would repeal the law in full or provisions in the law, including both the Obamacare Repeal Act, S.177, and, more recently, the Defund Obamacare Act, S.1292. The Savannah Harbor and Economic Development in Georgia    This week, as part of my ongoing work to deepen the Port of Savannah, I traveled to the Panama Canal with Vice President Biden. We were also joined by Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, who has been instrumental in moving the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project forward, as well as a member of Congress and mayors of port cities.  Since arriving in Congress, I have worked to expand the Port of Savannah to accommodate an increase in the number of super-sized container vessels transiting the Panama Canal after its 2015 deepening. The Savannah Harbor Expansion Project is my top economic priority in the Senate because studies show this project has a 5.5-to-1 benefit to cost ratio, meaning that for every dollar spent on the deepening, the nation will reap $5.50 in benefits. According to the Georgia Ports Authority, Georgia\u2019s deepwater ports and inland barge terminals support more than 352,000 jobs throughout the state annually and contribute $18.5 billion in income, $66.9 billion in revenue and $2.5 billion in state and local taxes to Georgia\u2019s economy. The Port of Savannah is the second busiest U.S. container port for the export of American goods by tonnage. It was an invaluable experience to see the Panama Expansion Project firsthand and to learn more about the project as it relates to the Savannah Harbor. I applaud the administration for placing a high priority on U.S. ports. I am particularly excited as it pertains to the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project, as it is critically important to the state of Georgia, Southeast region and nation and will support hundreds of thousands of jobs each year while generating billions in revenue.\u00a0 I will continue to work with the White House, the state of Georgia and Congress to see this project through to its completion. What\u2019s on Tap? Next week, the Senate will not be in session in observance of Thanksgiving. I hope that you have a blessed and happy holiday with friends and family. Sincerely,   Johnny Isakson", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://austinscott.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-austin-scott-encourages-national-guard-and-reserve-members", "Congressman Austin Scott Encourages National Guard and Reserve Members to Nominate Outstanding Civilian Employers", "2013-11-21", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Austin Scott", "S001189", "austinscott.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  U.S. Congressman Austin Scott (GA-08) today announced Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense office, is now accepting nominations for the 2014 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award.  The Freedom Award is the Department of Defense's highest honor presented to civilian employers for exceptional support of their National Guard and Reserve employees. Rep. Scott and ESGR encourages Guardsmen and Reservists, or family members acting on their behalf, to submit nominations at www.FreedomAward.mil by January 20, 2014.  I am very thankful for the great teamwork our community exhibits in our ongoing efforts to thank our servicemen and women through steadfast support, said Rep. Austin Scott. Our civilian service personnel play a critical role in supporting our national security, and I encourage Guard and Reserve members to take this opportunity to nominate your civilian employers who have provided outstanding service to their employees.  Guard and Reserve members comprise nearly one-half of the nation's military force, providing essential services to national security and humanitarian efforts at home and abroad. Supportive employers, with their enduring commitment, have helped keep our military strong and our Nation secure.  Each year, up to 15 deserving public, large, or small employers are selected as Freedom Award recipients and honored in Washington, D.C. Previous recipients have gone above and beyond by continuing benefits and healthcare for deployed service members, providing home maintenance or childcare support and offering veteran hiring initiatives, among other examples of support. Service members who have received exemplary employer support should submit their nominations for the Freedom Award today.  About ESGR and the Freedom Award:  Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a Department of Defense office established in 1972, develops and maintains employer support for Guard and Reserve service. ESGR advocates relevant initiatives, recognizes outstanding support, increases awareness of applicable laws, and resolves conflict between service members and employers. Paramount to ESGR's mission is encouraging employment of Guardsmen and Reservists who bring integrity, global perspective and proven leadership to the civilian workforce. On behalf of the Secretary of Defense, ESGR runs the annual Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award program. Created in 1996, the Freedom Award has been presented to 190 employers.  For questions or information on the Freedom Award, please contact Beth Sherman, ESGR Public Affairs, at 571-372-0705 or by email at OSD.ESGR-PA@mail.mil.    ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://tomgraves.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=362400", "Rep. Graves, 23 Cosponsors Introduce Bill To Save U.S. Textile Jobs", "2013-11-20", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Tom Graves", "G000560", "tomgraves.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Graves, 23 Cosponsors Introduce Bill To Save U.S. Textile Jobs\n                      \n                    \n                        Bipartisan Bill Gives CBP More Tools To Crack Down On Illegal Imports\n                    \n                    \n                    \n                    \n                    \n                        \n                            Washington,\n                            November 20, 2013\u00a0-\n                         Today, U.S. Rep. Tom Graves (R-GA-14) and 23 cosponsors introduced the Textile Enforcement and Security Act (TESA), a bipartisan bill to save U.S. textile jobs by providing U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) with more tools to enforce trade laws and better target fraudulent textile and apparel goods coming into the United States.\r\n\u201cWhen trade violators sneak illegal goods into the United States it\u2019s a direct threat to our textile workers,\u201d said Rep. Graves. \u201cThe hardworking people in communities like Trion, Georgia, shouldn\u2019t have to worry about fraudsters in China stealing their livelihoods. Our bipartisan bill will modernize Customs and Border Protection so it has the enforcement tools necessary to crack down on illegal activity, collect more duties and penalties and protect 600,000 American jobs in the textile industry.\u201d\r\n Original cosponsors of TESA are Reps. Howard Coble (R-NC-6), Mike McIntyre (D-NC-7), Dan Lipinski (D-IL-3), Lynn Westmoreland (R-GA-3), Mike Michaud (D-ME-2), Renee Ellmers (R-NC-2), Jim McGovern (D-MA-2), Richard Hudson (R-NC-8), Charles Rangel (D-NY-13), Walter Jones (R-NC-3), Sanford Bishop (D-GA-2), Mark Meadows (R-NC-11), Hank Johnson (D-GA-4), Robert Pittenger (R-NC-9), Linda Sanchez (D-CA-38), George Holding (R-NC-13), David Scott (D-GA-13), Trey Gowdy (R-SC-4), Joe Wilson (R-SC-2), Bill Pascrell (D-NJ-9), Patrick McHenry (R-NC-10), Doug Collins (R-GA-9), and Virginia Foxx (R-NC-5).Directs the Homeland Security and Treasury Departments to use revenue from fines and penalties collected from textile and apparel import violations to pay for expenses directly related to customs enforcement and training.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://austinscott.house.gov/press-releases?ID=5087B3AE-E914-4586-8A95-52585AE41A0B", "Congressman Austin Scott Encourages National Guard and Reserve Members to Nominate Outstanding Civilian Employers", "2013-11-20", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Austin Scott", "S001189", "austinscott.house.gov", "austinscott", "https://austinscott.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Congressman Austin Scott (GA-08) today announced Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense office, is now accepting nominations for the 2014 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award.\n\nThe Freedom Award is the Department of Defense\u2019s highest honor presented to civilian employers for exceptional support of their National Guard and Reserve employees. Rep. Scott and ESGR encourages Guardsmen and Reservists, or family members acting on their behalf, to submit nominations at www.FreedomAward.mil by January 20, 2014.\n\n\u201cI am very thankful for the great teamwork our community exhibits in our ongoing efforts to thank our servicemen and women through steadfast support,\u201d said Rep. Austin Scott. \u201cOur civilian service personnel play a critical role in supporting our national security, and I encourage Guard and Reserve members to take this opportunity to nominate your civilian employers who have provided outstanding service to their employees.\u201d\n\nGuard and Reserve members comprise nearly one-half of the nation\u2019s military force, providing essential services to national security and humanitarian efforts at home and abroad. Supportive employers, with their enduring commitment, have helped keep our military strong and our Nation secure.\n\nEach year, up to 15 deserving public, large, or small employers are selected as Freedom Award recipients and honored in Washington, D.C. Previous recipients have gone above and beyond by continuing benefits and healthcare for deployed service members, providing home maintenance or childcare support and offering veteran hiring initiatives, among other examples of support. Service members who have received exemplary employer support should submit their nominations for the Freedom Award today.\n\nAbout ESGR and the Freedom Award:\n\nEmployer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a Department of Defense office established in 1972, develops and maintains employer support for Guard and Reserve service. ESGR advocates relevant initiatives, recognizes outstanding support, increases awareness of applicable laws, and resolves conflict between service members and employers. Paramount to ESGR's mission is encouraging employment of Guardsmen and Reservists who bring integrity, global perspective and proven leadership to the civilian workforce. On behalf of the Secretary of Defense, ESGR runs the annual Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award program. Created in 1996, the Freedom Award has been presented to 190 employers.\n\nFor questions or information on the Freedom Award, please contact Beth Sherman, ESGR Public Affairs, at 571-372-0705 or by email at OSD.ESGR-PA@mail.mil.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T22:39:47Z"], ["https://dougcollins.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=508", "Collins Israel Legislation Passes Committee", "2013-11-20", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Doug Collins", "C001093", "dougcollins.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Media Contact\r\n\r\n\tCOLLINS ISRAEL LEGISLATION PASSES COMMITTEE\r\n\r\n\tNortheast Georgia\u2019s Congressman: Work Was the Result of Real, Bipartisan Commitment to American-Israeli Relationship\r\n\r\n\t  \r\n\tWASHINGTON, Nov 20 \u2013 Today the House Committee on Foreign Affairs passed\u00a0 H.R. 1992, The Israel Qualitative Military Edge (QME) Enhancement Act.\u00a0 Introduced by Congressman Doug Collins (GA-09), Vice Chair of the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, this legislation protects Israel\u2019s military advantage over its Middle Eastern neighbors by increasing accountability and transparency in government as it pertains to the relationship between Israel and the United States.\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tCurrent law supports the American-Israeli relationship by requiring the president to submit a report on the status of weapons systems sold to countries in the Middle East every four years.\u00a0 H.R. 1992 will substantially increase the accountability and transparency in this process by requiring a report every two years.\u00a0 Additionally, H.R. 1992 broadens the definition of QME to take into account the impact of cyber warfare on Israeli defense.\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tAfter the committee markup, Congressman Collins said, \u201cThis process was built on the strongest foundation: a real, bipartisan commitment to America\u2019s vital relationship with Israel.\u00a0 We worked together and found a way to make this relationship even stronger with the increasingly important principles of transparency and accountability.\u201d\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tH.R. 1992 passed out of committee by voice vote and now awaits consideration by the whole House of Representatives.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221172330/http://hankjohnson.house.gov/press-release/rep-johnson-proposes-strict-gun-law-airports-nationwide-0", "Rep. Johnson proposes strict gun law for airports nationwide", "2013-11-19", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Hank Johnson", "J000288", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman introduces \u2018common sense\u2019 bill to protect traveling public, federal employees\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Seeking to make airports around the nation safer for the general public and the law enforcement officers who patrol them, Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04) introduced the \u201cAirport Security Act of 2013\u201d (H.R. 3484).\n\u201cWe live in a post-911 world where terrorists continue to look at planes and airports as prime targets,\u201d said Johnson. \u201cAnd with the recent shooting death of a TSA official at LAX, it defies logic that we would allow anyone other than law enforcement officials to carry a loaded gun within an airport? This bill is simply common sense.\u201d\nThe bill would prohibit people other than local law enforcement and Homeland Security employees from carrying guns \u2013 concealed or otherwise \u2013 in airport terminals, lobbies, baggage claim areas, ticket counters and outside in pick-up and drop-off areas.\nLaw-abiding gun owners would still be able to carry guns used for hunting if they are unloaded and contained in clearly marked, locked cases. Airports would also be required to post signs that clearly indicate they are gun-free zones.\nIf passed and signed into law by President Obama, Rep. Johnson\u2019s bill would expand Homeland Security\u2019s jurisdiction to include non-secure areas of airports and would take precedence over any city or state laws that allow weapons in any airports nationwide. The gun ban would include public transportation stops within airports if the gun owner departs the transit station at an airport.\nThe Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence and its Million Mom March and Brady Chapters support H.R. 3494.\nCosponsors include: Reps. Andr\u00e9 Carson (IN), John Conyers (MI), Keith Ellison (MN), Alan Grayson (FL), Sheila Jackson Lee (TX), Barbara Lee (CA), John Lewis (GA), David Scott (GA), Jackie Speier (CA) and Henry Waxman (CA).\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://dougcollins.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=507", "Collins Welcomes Changes to Patent Reform Legislation", "2013-11-18", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Doug Collins", "C001093", "dougcollins.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Media Contact\r\n\r\n\tCOLLINS WELCOMES CHANGES TO PATENT REFORM LEGISLATION\r\n\r\n\tNortheast Georgia\u2019s Congressman Led Bipartisan Group to Protect the Value of American Patents\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tWASHINGTON, Nov 18 \u2013 Congressman Doug Collins (GA-09) today welcomed the release of the manager\u2019s amendment for H.R. 3309, the\u00a0Innovation Act.\u00a0 This new text leaves intact Section 18 of the America Invents Act, which created a new transitional post-grant review proceeding for covered business method patents (CBM).\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tCongressman Collins in recent weeks led, along with Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01), a bipartisan group of committee members in advocating for the Innovation Act to focus on curbing abusive patent litigation, not expand a new program with no track record. \u00a0\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tCongressman Collins said, \u201cThis is great news for patent reform.\u00a0 I commend Chairman Goodlatte and appreciate his leadership in facilitating an open dialogue with the committee and allowing this change, which reflects the position of a growing, bipartisan group of Members.\u00a0 I look forward to Wednesday\u2019s markup and helping the Chairman champion the Innovation Act both in Committee and on the House floor.\u201d\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tCollins added, \u201cAbusive and frivolous patent litigation isn\u2019t just a Silicon Valley problem\u2014it\u2019s crippling small businesses and startups in my home state of Georgia, and across the nation. Now more than ever, Congress needs to do everything in its power to help job creators, and patent reform is an important step.\u201d\r\n\r\n\t# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140301093815/http://johnlewis.house.gov/press-release/rep-john-lewis-senate-judicial-nomination-process", "Rep. John Lewis on Senate Judicial  Nomination Process", "2013-11-18", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "John Lewis", "L000287", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. John Lewis made this statement today in support of the nominations of Judge Robert Wilkins to the U.S. District Court and Rep. Mel Watt to lead the Federal Housing Finance Agency:\nI am glad to add my voice to those of my colleagues here today in support of the nomination of\u00a0 Judge Robert Wilkins and other capable candidates to the D.C. Circuit Court.\u00a0 All of these candidates are qualified.\u00a0 Judge Wilkins is qualified.\u00a0 Mel Watt, the President\u2019s nominee to lead the Federal Finance Housing Agency is qualified.\u00a0 But their nominations have been blocked by unfair filibuster in service to the worst kind of partisan politics I have seen in my 26 years here serving in Congress.\nIn 2005, Chief Justice John Roberts delivered a lecture entitled \u201cWhat Makes the D.C. Circuit Court Different?\u201d according to The New York Times.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He explained that the D.C. Circuit court, more than any other court in the federal appeals system, has a \u201cspecial responsibility to review legal challenges to the conduct of the national government.\u201d\u00a0 About two-thirds of the cases heard before that court involves review of the actions of the federal government.\nI had to ask myself and the American people should ask themselves, what troubles my Republican friends in the Senate so much that they cannot allow any recent nomination by President Obama to go through?\u00a0 Could it be they are afraid that an impartial review by judges of impeccable merit, like Robert Wilkins or Nancy Pillard, would slay some of their \u201csacred cows\u201d?\u00a0\u00a0 Could it be they are afraid an impartial hearing might bring an end to the cloak of partisan protection that has allowed this Congress to focus on work that has not represented the will or the interests of the people of this country?\nIf these positions were necessary when Justice Roberts was appointed to the 9th seat of the D.C. Circuit Court, when Justice Clarence Thomas was appointed to the 10th seat, and when Justice Scalia, Judge Douglas Ginsburg and former Special Prosecutor Kenneth Starr were appointed to the 11th seat, then why are they suddenly so unnecessary now?\u00a0\nFor members of the Senate to try to shape the character of the judiciary through pure, unvarnished partisanship is a discredit to the dignity of this body and a disservice to the American people. \u00a0\nLet the nomination of a qualified candidate like, Judge Robert Wilkins, named by Legal Times as one of the Greatest Washington Lawyers of the last 30 years come up for a vote without partisan interference.\u00a0 Let the nomination of Rep. Mel Watt to lead the Federal Housing Finance Agency come up for a vote without partisan intervention.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\nLet the House and the Senate get back to the work of representing the needs and the concerns of the good people of this nation, instead of wasting our time and the people\u2019s money on partisan politics that serves the interest of a few, and not the many people of this nation.\u00a0 We can do better.\u00a0\u00a0 The people of this nation deserve better. Thank you.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://tomgraves.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=361680", "Rep. Graves Votes To Curb Health Care Cancellations", "2013-11-15", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Tom Graves", "G000560", "tomgraves.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Graves Votes To Curb Health Care Cancellations \n                    \n                    \n                        \n                    \n                    \n                    \n                    \n                    \n                        \n                            Washington,\n                            November 15, 2013\u00a0-\n                        U.S. Rep. Tom Graves (R-GA-14) issued the following statement after voting for, and the House passed, the Keep Your Health Care Plan Act, which would allow insurance companies to continue offering health care plans in effect for 2013 in order to curb or possibly reverse the millions of cancellations that have resulted from Obamacare:\u201cMy heart aches for the millions of Americans who are suffering today because of President Obama\u2019s broken promises. While there may not be enough time for insurance companies to reopen health care plans that have been canceled, I voted for this bill with the hope that it might save even one family I represent from losing a plan they want to keep. After six disastrous weeks, I believe the best way to fix Obamacare is to repeal the law.\u201d\r\n###\n                \n            \n        \n    \n    \n        Print version of this document", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://dougcollins.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=506", "Collins Welcomes Hatchery Decision", "2013-11-15", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Doug Collins", "C001093", "dougcollins.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Media Contact\r\n\r\n\tCOLLINS WELCOMES HATCHERY DECISION\r\n\r\n\tNortheast Georgia\u2019s Congressman Applauds FWS Decision to Keep Fish Hatcheries Open For Another Year, Commits to Long Term Solution\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tWASHINGTON, Nov 15 \u2013 Congressman Doug Collins (GA-09) today welcomed the official word from the\u00a0 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that no fish hatcheries will close in the current fiscal year.\u00a0 Northeast Georgians had anticipated this decision pending the release of the agency\u2019s full report of the fish hatchery system.\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tCongressman Collins formally requested a decision from FWS Director Dan Ashe in September of this year amid concerns that the Chattahoochee Forest National Fish Hatchery in Fannin County was at risk of closure.\u00a0 In areas affected by hyrdopower, trout mitigation hatcheries carry significant economic impact in bolstering tourism and providing for the local population.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0\r\n\r\n\t\u201cIt\u2019s a great relief that the hatcheries in Northeast Georgia will stay in operation for the immediate future,\u201d Congressman Collins said.\u201cI\u2019m ready to work with the Fish and Wildlife Service to come up with a long term solution that\u2019s going to work for Northeast Georgia\u2019s economy.\u201d\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tThe full report from the Fish and Wildlife Service can be found at http://www.fws.gov/home/feature/2013/pdf/NFHSReviewCoverPageandReport.pdf.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221115656/http://hankjohnson.house.gov/rep-hank-johnsons-e-newsletter-nov-15-2013", "Rep. Hank Johnson's E-Newsletter for Nov. 15, 2013", "2013-11-15", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Hank Johnson", "J000288", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Dear Friends,\nAs the holiday season approaches, I wanted to take time out to catch you up with what\u2019s going on here in the Fourth District and in Washington, D.C. I was very fortunate to give keynote speeches at both the Greater Lithonia Chamber of Commerce\u2019s 20-year anniversary on Nov. 6 and at the DeKalb County Veterans Day celebration on Nov. 7. \n\u00a0\nAs a member of the House Armed Services Committee since 2007, I\u2019m inspired every day to work on behalf of all our military personnel and veterans. Ensuring that quality services are being delivered to each of you is one of my greatest joys as a public servant. I thank each of you for your service and can assure you that as long as I am in Congress, your needs will remain a priority for me and my staff.\u00a0\u00a0\nLITHONIA CHAMBER CELEBRATES 20 YEARS: I was honored to be the keynote speaker at the Greater Lithonia Chamber of Commerce\u2019s 20th anniversary celebration on Nov. 6 at This Is It! Restaurant on Panola Road. After 20 years of committed service to businesses, large and small, this milestone makes the Chamber and the city of Lithonia justifiably proud.\u00a0\u00a0\nThe Greater Lithonia Chamber of Commerce has provided for the small business community and its members through the years. Strong, healthy communities need thriving businesses, and I commend the Greater Lithonia Chamber of Commerce for fostering success and opportunity. To view more photos, click HERE.\u00a0\u00a0\nTo see the Veterans Day celebration coverage, visit DCTV\u2019s website live stream HERE. \n\u00a0ROCKDALE COALITION: I was pleased to participate in the Rockdale Coalition for Children and Families\u2019 first community resource networking event for elected officials earlier this month. It was an excellent opportunity for me to learn about the great work local social service programs and providers are doing as well as understanding where the gaps in services are in our communities. The Rockdale collaborative brings together individuals and community organizations to identify needs and share resources to address the most pressing issues. Keep up the great work! For more, click HERE.\n\u00a0STONE MOUNTAIN CID: The Stone Mountain Community Improvement District (CID) announced Ryan Hoyt as the newest member of its Board of Directors. Ryan is a Leasing Manager with Prologis in Atlanta. His commercial real estate leasing and asset management experience has accounted for more than 15 million square feet of industrial and office space throughout the metro area. Welcome Ryan. For more, click HERE. \n\u00a0POTUS ADDRESSES CANCELLED HEALTH POLICIES: This week, President Obama announced that insurers can offer consumers who buy private health insurance plans (people who get their insurance through their job, Medicare, Medicaid or the VA are not affected) the option to renew their 2013 health plans in 2014, without change, allowing them to keep their plans. Insurers must notify enrollees that they can purchase coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace, where they can potentially qualify for premium tax credits. And they must tell consumers what protections they are giving up to keep the plan they have. This fix will give consumers more information and choices, including keeping their old plans. I will continue to support the ACA and work with my colleagues to improve it, not tear it down. For more, click HERE (Preview) \n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tARABIA MOUNTAIN FALL COLORS: This might be the last weekend for spectacular fall colors. There\u2019s no better place to take in the beautiful foliage than Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area. The National Heritage Area has dozens of picturesque places to watch the leaves turn, but the website below features three of the best. For more, click HERE.\n\t\t\t\u00a0\n\t\t\n\t\n\n\u00a0NEA GRANTS: Applications are now being accepted for 2014-2015 Big Read grants. The Big Read, managed by Arts Midwest, provides nonprofit organizations nationwide with comprehensive resources to help inspire their communities to read and discuss a single book or poet\u2019s body of work. Organizations interested in applying should visit The Big Read website for guidelines and application instructions. Eligible organizations may apply for a grant ranging from $2,500 to $20,000. All applications must be submitted electronically via eGrant on or before Tuesday, January 28, 2014.\n\u00a0\nFIGHTING FOR VICTIMS OF ABESTOS: This week, I voted against a bill that creates new barriers and delays for victims of asbestos, a known human carcinogen that has killed millions of people over the last several decades, in receiving compensation and justice from asbestos trusts. In some cases, the bill would delay compensation beyond the life of the person suffering from asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma and other cancers.\u00a0 To watch the floor speech, click HERE.\u00a0\nAIRPORT SAFETY: Seeking to make airports around the nation safer for the general public and the law enforcement officers who patrol them, I introduced the \u201cAirport Security Act of 2013\u201d (H.R. 3484) this week. The bill would prohibit people other than local law enforcement and Homeland Security employees from carrying guns \u2013 concealed or otherwise \u2013 in airport terminals, lobbies, baggage claim areas, ticket counters and outside in pick-up and drop-off areas. With the recent shooting death of a TSA official at LAX, it defies logic that we would allow anyone other than law enforcement officials to carry a loaded gun within an airport. This bill is simply common sense.\u00a0\n\u00a0\nMOUNTAIN VIEW: On Nov. 5, I visited Mountain View Personal Care Home in Decatur and presented a U.S. flag that was flown in their honor over the Capitol back in June. I took a tour of the facility, met with residents and board members. This is a wonderful jewel in the Fourth District.\u00a0 \nVETERANS\u2019 DENTAL CARE: Beginning today, the Department of Veterans Affairs is partnering with Delta Dental and MetLife to allow eligible veterans, plus family members receiving care under the Civilian Health and Medical Program (CHAMPVA), to purchase affordable dental insurance.\u00a0More than 8 million veterans who are enrolled in VA health care can choose to purchase one of the offered dental plans. Participation will not affect entitlement to VA dental services and treatment.\u00a0 For more, click HERE.\n\u00a0As always, I appreciate your time and feedback. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to represent you in Congress.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.isakson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-center?ContentRecord_id=bce4dd41-e356-4dc7-b458-f015baf05b32", "e-Newsletter for the week ending November 15, 2013", "2013-11-15", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Johnny Isakson", "I000055", "www.isakson.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Dear Friends,\r\nOn Monday, I traveled to New Hampshire to join Sen. Shaheen, D-N.H., for a discussion of our efforts to implement biennial budgeting to fix our nation\u2019s broken system. In observance of Veterans Day, we stopped to pay tribute to veterans at the bronze statue of Gen. Stark, who served as a major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolution.    \u00a0   This week, the Senate worked on H.R.3204, the Drug Quality and Security Act, aimed at creating a safer compound drug supply.    \u00a0   Obamacare    This week I continued to voice my dismay over Obamacare and the negative consequences it is having on Georgians across the state.    \u00a0   The Senate Republicans have launched an effort in which we ask Americans across the country to share their stories about their experiences with Obamacare. I have been overwhelmed with hundreds of stories submitted by Georgians who are hurting because of this terrible law.    \u00a0   Yesterday on the Senate floor, I shared a story from Jessica and Rob, who live in Woodstock, Ga., and started a small business a few years ago a result of recession. Jessica and Rob recently received a letter from their insurance company informing them that their premiums will rise 244 percent in 2014 because of Obamacare. To watch my speech and to hear their full story, click here.    \u00a0   Unfortunately, Jessica and Rob\u2019s story is just one of many. A staggering 400,000 plus Georgians are losing their current health care coverage because of Obamacare, compared to the reported 1,390 Georgians who have selected a plan on the Obamacare exchange. Clearly, Obamacare is not working for most Georgians.\r\nI invite you to share your story by visiting Republican.Senate.Gov/YourStory.   \u00a0   This week, I also joined 19 of my Republican colleagues in criticizing the Obama administration\u2019s plan to exempt unions from an Obamacare fee that other employers, charities, and faith-based organizations will be forced to pay. This proposed carve-out for unions is cronyism at its worst. Click here to read the letter.   \u00a0   On this subject, I have co-sponsored of the Union Bailout Prevention Act, which would prevent the Obama administration from granting unions\u2019 request for special Obamacare premium tax subsidies for union members\u2019 health care plans.   \u00a0   I have voted to defund or repeal Obamacare almost 60 times, and I continue to support its full repeal. I have also co-sponsored dozens of legislative proposals that would repeal the law in full or provisions in the law, including both the Obamacare Repeal Act, S.177, and, more recently, the Defund Obamacare Act, S.1292. Biennial Budgeting As I mentioned, I traveled to Concord, N.H., on Monday to join Sen. Shaheen, D-N.H., to promote our plan to reform the broken federal budget process. Our proposal, the Biennial Budgeting and Appropriations Act, would help prevent the need for constant last-minute negotiations on spending bills in the future by reforming the current budget and appropriations system by converting it from a chaotic annual process to a two-year cycle.   \u00a0   Our bill would force Congress to become better stewards of the taxpayers\u2019 money by placing Congress on a two-year budget cycle with one year devoted to appropriating federal dollars and the other year devoted to oversight of federal programs.   \u00a0   Biennial budgeting has been endorsed by each successive administration since Ronald Reagan was president, as well as by numerous federal budget experts. I have sponsored biennial budgeting proposals every year I\u2019ve been in the Senate, while Sen. Shaheen has firsthand experience with the efficacy of biennial budgeting from her tenure as governor of New Hampshire. Currently, more than 20 states, including New Hampshire, operate on a two-year budget cycle.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nConnecting with Georgia\u2019s Students\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThis week I spoke with students at Bryan County High School in Pembroke, Ga. and Cambridge High School in Milton, Ga. via Skype. I enjoyed fielding questions on issues ranging from Obamacare to education to immigration and the budget.  What\u2019s on Tap?    Early next week, as part of my ongoing work to deepen the Port of Savannah, I will visit the Panama Canal with Vice President Biden, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and others. It is imperative that we expand the Savannah Harbor in order to accommodate an increase in the number of super-sized container vessels transiting the Panama Canal after its 2015 deepening. The Savannah Harbor Expansion Project is critically important to the state of Georgia, Southeast region and nation, and it will support hundreds of thousands of jobs each year while generating billions in revenue. Next week, the Senate is expected to finish work on the prescription drug compounding bill and begin work on a defense authorization bill. Sincerely,   Johnny Isakson", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.isakson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=e79b122d-e9e1-44f6-9abe-87f133d4e2af", "Isakson to Visit Panama with Vice President Biden to Highlight Importance of the Panama Canal Expansion Project", "2013-11-15", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Johnny Isakson", "I000055", "www.isakson.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 As part of his ongoing work to deepen the Port of Savannah, U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., today announced that he will visit the Panama Canal with Vice President Biden early next week. Isakson has worked tirelessly to deepen the Savannah Harbor in order to accommodate an increase in the number of super-sized container vessels transiting the Panama Canal after its 2015 deepening.\r\nAtlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, who has been instrumental in moving the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project forward, will also travel with the Vice President and Isakson, along with other members of Congress and mayors of port cities.\r\n\u201cI am proud to join Vice President Biden and Mayor Reed next week at the Panama Canal to see the Panama Expansion Project firsthand and to learn more about the project as it relates to the Savannah Harbor,\u201d said Isakson. \u201cI applaud the administration for placing a high priority on U.S. ports. I am particularly excited as it pertains to the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project, as it is critically important to the state of Georgia, Southeast region and nation and will support hundreds of thousands of jobs each year while generating billions in revenue.\u00a0 I will continue to work with the White House, the state of Georgia and Congress to see this project through to its completion.\u201d \r\nIn September of this year, Vice President Biden toured the Port of Savannah where he called for continued investment to improve our nation\u2019s infrastructure.\r\nRecently, the project passed a major milestone when the House and Senate passed a key provision to allow the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project to move forward, known as a \u201c902 authorization.\u201d\r\nIsakson has worked to expand the Port of Savannah since arriving in Congress and has made the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project one of his top economic priorities in the Senate. Studies by the Army Corps of Engineers show a 5.5-to-1 benefit to cost ratio, meaning that for every dollar spent on the deepening, the nation will reap $5.50 in benefits.\r\nAccording to the Georgia Ports Authority, Georgia\u2019s deepwater ports and inland barge terminals support more than 352,000 jobs throughout the state annually and contribute $18.5 billion in income, $66.9 billion in revenue and $2.5 billion in state and local taxes to Georgia\u2019s economy. The Port of Savannah was the second busiest U.S. container  port for the export of American goods by tonnage.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://tomgraves.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=361501", "Rep. Graves, Sen. Lee Introduce Highway Funding Reform Bill", "2013-11-14", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Tom Graves", "G000560", "tomgraves.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Graves, Sen. Lee Introduce Highway Funding Reform Bill\n                      \n                    \n                        TEA Act Aims To Cut Commute Time, Improve Quality Of Life\n                    \n                    \n                    \n                    \n                    \n                        \n                            Washington,\n                            November 14, 2013\u00a0-\n                         Today, U.S. Rep. Tom Graves (R-GA-14) and U.S. Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), along with 20 House and Senate cosponsors, introduced the Transportation Empowerment Act, a bill to open up America\u2019s transportation system to greater local control, better targeted projects, and a more efficient way to maintain and improve the nation\u2019s infrastructure. The bill allows states to respond to the needs of their communities and develop systems that result in less traffic, shorter commutes, access to more affordable homes, and help families better manage the work-life balance. \u201cPeople want to spend less time in traffic and more time enjoying life,\u201d said Rep. Graves, who authored the TEA Act in the last Congress as well. \u201cOur bill does away with the Washington middleman and streamlines the highway program, allowing more projects to be completed at a lower cost. This approach paves the way for commuters to move more easily between home and work, freeing up important family time and cutting out hours of frustration behind the wheel.\u201d\n\"Under the Transportation Empowerment Act, Americans would no longer have to send significant gas-tax revenue to Washington, where sticky-fingered politicians, bureaucrats, and lobbyists take their cut before sending it back with strings attached,\u201d said Sen. Lee. \"Instead, states and cities could plan, finance, and build better-designed and more affordable projects. Local\u00a0communities\u00a0should finally have the flexibility to develop the kind of transportation system they want, for less money, without politicians and special interests from other parts of the country telling them how, when, what, and where they should build.\u00a0For the country as a whole, our plan would mean a better infrastructure system, new jobs and opportunities, diverse localism, and innovative environmental protection. And for working families, it could mean more access to quality, affordable homes, less time on the road \u2013 and making it home in time for dinner with the kids.\u201d Original cosponsors of the TEA Act are:  \nSen. Marco Rubio (FL) and Reps. Jeff Duncan (SC-3), Rob Woodall (GA-7), Ron DeSantis (FL-6), Bill Huizenga (MI-2), Randy Weber (TX-14), Justin Amash (MI-3), Todd Rokita (IN-4), Lynn Westmoreland (GA-3), Marlin Stutzman (IN-3), Louie Gohmert (TX-1), Trent Franks (AZ-8), Walter Jones (NC-3), Jeb Hensarling (TX-5), Mick Mulvaney (SC-5), David Schweikert (AZ-6), Billy Long (MO-7), Paul Broun (GA-10), Kevin Brady (TX-8), Phil Gingrey (GA-11).\nClick here for more information about the TEA Act or copy and paste this link into your browser:  \n/tea/", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://woodall.house.gov/press-release/woodall-statement-regarding-president-obama%E2%80%99s-healthcare-remarks", "Woodall Statement Regarding President Obama\u2019s Healthcare Remarks", "2013-11-14", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Rob Woodall", "W000810", "woodall.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Representative Rob Woodall issued the following statement with regard to President Obama\u2019s remarks concerning the healthcare policy cancellations for millions of Americans.\n\u201cI am pleased that the President is now willing to acknowledge that his bill is so clearly flawed, but I am once again very concerned about the unilateral action he is taking to address the matter.\u00a0 It is not the role of the Executive Branch to pick and choose which parts of a law to execute and which to disregard.\u00a0 There are numerous Members of Congress, myself included, that stand willing and eager to work with the President on minimizing the damage Obamacare will inflict on Americans, but when many in Congress voiced concern over the very issues we are seeing play out now, the President was unwilling to even discuss it.\u00a0 Whether you are a Republican or Democrat, if you love freedom, then the process matters.\u00a0 I continue to be disappointed in this President for his refusal to respect the Constitution of the United States and his insistence on working around Congress rather than with it.\u201d\nWoodall represents the Seventh Congressional District of Georgia, which includes the majority of Gwinnett and Forsyth counties.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://austinscott.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-austin-scott-announces-office-participation-tifton-care", "Congressman Austin Scott Announces Office Participation at Tifton C.A.R.E. for the Homeless Resource Fair", "2013-11-14", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Austin Scott", "S001189", "austinscott.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Tifton, GA  U.S. Congressman Austin Scott (GA-08) today announced his office will participate in the first annual C.A.R.E. for the Homeless Resource Fair being held in Tifton on Tuesday, November 19, 2013.  Representatives from Scott's district office will be present to provide constituents assistance with federal issues ranging from Medicare and Social Security to Veterans' benefits.  The event is being hosted by South Central Georgia Coalition to End Homelessness, and in coordination with the Department of Veterans Affairs, United Way of South Central Georgia and Tift Regional Health System.  For more information about the C.A.R.E. for the Homeless Resource Fair, please call 229-382-2881. Additional details are provided below, and an informational flier for the event can be downloaded here.    Who: U.S. Congressman Austin Scott (GA-08)    South Central Georgia Coalition to End Homelessness    U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs    United Way of South Central Georgia    Tift Regional Health System  What: C.A.R.E. for the Homeless Resource Fair  When: Tuesday, November 19, 2013, 10 a.m.  2 p.m.  Where: TRMC Event Center (adjoining the YMCA), 1657 Carpenter Road, Tifton, GA    ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.isakson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-center?ContentRecord_id=120876ad-69b0-49b9-b45b-80cbd2b3fbfe", "Sen. Isakson Shares an Obamacare Story from Georgia on the Senate Floor", "2013-11-14", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Johnny Isakson", "I000055", "www.isakson.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Republican senators shared Obamacare stories from their constituents to demonstrate the real-world negative impact the law is having on Americans. Sen. Isakson shared a story from Jessica and Rob, who live in Woodstock and started a small business as a result of recession. Jessica and Rob recently received a letter from their insurance company informing them that their premiums will rise 244 percent in 2014 because of Obamacare.\r\nTo share your story, visit Republican.Senate.Gov/YourStory.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.isakson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=bc1f6c7b-dea8-4a9c-8a33-fbb3ea3e36aa", "Isakson, Chambliss to Administration: Don't Give Unions Special Obamacare Carve-Outs", "2013-11-14", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Johnny Isakson", "I000055", "www.isakson.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senators Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., and Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., joined 18 of their Republican colleagues today in criticizing the Obama administration\u2019s plan to exempt unions from an Obamacare fee that other employers, charities, and faith-based organizations will be forced to pay. The proposed carve-out for the unions is \u201ccronyism at its worst,\u201d the senators said.\r\nIsakson is a member of the Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over Obamacare, and he serves as the ranking Republican on the Employment and Workplace Safety Subcommittee of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, which oversees labor unions.\r\nThe Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published a regulation on October 30, 2013, stating that the agency intends to propose further rulemaking that would aim to exempt certain Taft-Hartley union health plans from the reinsurance fee mandated by Obamacare.\r\nIn a letter to Sylvia Burwell, director of the Office of Management and Budget, the senators wrote: \u201cThe [reinsurance] fee is undeniably expensive for unions, employers, charities and faith-based organizations whose health plans are not available in the new health insurance exchanges and will not see any of those dollars returned to them. For the year 2014, the fee is $63 per covered life\u2014a multi-million dollar levy for larger organizations.\u201d\r\nThey continued: \u201cThe regulation makes no justification as to why union members should be exempted from this fee while other similarly situated organizations (and, ultimately, their beneficiaries) must continue to pay it.\r\n\u201cIt has been widely reported that labor unions recently sought an exemption from the reinsurance fee through Congress but were rightly rebuffed. To think that the Obama Administration would consider such an action that benefits one group over another can only be characterized as cronyism at its worst.\r\n\u201cSelf-insured health insurance plans\u2014whether or not they also self administer\u2014are all facing the same dilemma of being forced to subsidizeinsurance companies participating in the new exchange. The regulatory process is meant to implement the law as written, not as the Administration wishes it were. If the law will unfairly hurt certain groups, it should be repealed or amended through Congress.\u201d\r\nClick here to read the entire letter.\r\nIsakson and Chambliss are co-sponsors of the\u00a0Union Bailout Prevention Act, which would prevent the Obama administration from granting unions\u2019 request for special  Obamacare premium tax subsidies for union members\u2019 health care plans.\r\nIsakson and Chambliss have voted to defund or repeal Obamacare almost 60 times, and they continue to support its full repeal. Chambliss and Isakson are both co-sponsors of numerous legislative proposals that would repeal the law in full or provisions in the law, including both the Obamacare Repeal Act,\u00a0S.177, and, more recently, the\u00a0Defund Obamacare Act,\u00a0S.1292\r\nThe letter was also signed by Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), John Thune (R-N.D.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.),\u00a0Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Mike Johanns (R-Neb.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), John McCain (R-Ariz.), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), and Tim Scott (R-S.C.).", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://austinscott.house.gov/press-releases?ID=CF935279-DDC3-4A43-98A8-5D86959A4820", "Congressman Austin Scott Announces Office Participation at Tifton C.A.R.E. for the Homeless Resource Fair", "2013-11-13", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Austin Scott", "S001189", "austinscott.house.gov", "austinscott", "https://austinscott.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Tifton, GA \u2013 U.S. Congressman Austin Scott (GA-08) today announced his office will participate in the first annual C.A.R.E. for the Homeless Resource Fair being held in Tifton on Tuesday, November 19, 2013.\n\nRepresentatives from Scott\u2019s district office will be present to provide constituents assistance with federal issues ranging from Medicare and Social Security to Veterans' benefits.\n\nThe event is being hosted by South Central Georgia Coalition to End Homelessness, and in coordination with the Department of Veterans Affairs, United Way of South Central Georgia and Tift Regional Health System.\n\nFor more information about the C.A.R.E. for the Homeless Resource Fair, please call 229-382-2881. Additional details are provided below, and an informational flier for the event can be downloaded here.\n\nWho: U.S. Congressman Austin Scott (GA-08)\n\nSouth Central Georgia Coalition to End Homelessness\n\nU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs\n\nUnited Way of South Central Georgia\n\nTift Regional Health System\n\nWhat: C.A.R.E. for the Homeless Resource Fair\n\nWhen: Tuesday, November 19, 2013, 10 a.m. \u2013 2 p.m.\n\nWhere: TRMC Event Center (adjoining the YMCA), 1657 Carpenter Road, Tifton, GA\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T22:39:47Z"], ["https://dougcollins.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=504", "Collins Statement on Dismal Obamacare Enrollment Numbers", "2013-11-13", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Doug Collins", "C001093", "dougcollins.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Media Contact\r\n\r\n\tCOLLINS STATEMENT ON DISMAL OBAMACARE ENROLLMENT NUMBERS\r\n\r\n\tNortheast Georgia\u2019s Congressman: Americans Dealing With \u201cOur Sixth Week of Glitches, Fourth Year of Lies\u201d\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tWASHINGTON, Nov 13 \u2013 Congressman Doug Collins (GA-09) responded today to the Obama Administration\u2019s release of enrollment numbers under the Affordable Care Act.\u00a0 To date, only 106, 185 Americans have gotten coverage under the Affordable Care Act. Congressman Collins said:\r\n\r\n\t\u201cPresident Obama is learning that the truth hurts.\u00a0 In this case, it hurts the hundreds of thousands of Americans who have already lost their healthcare plans they were told they could keep.\u00a0 It hurts every American who believed President Obama and Democrat leaders when they told them their healthcare program would work, that it would be affordable, and that they could actually access coverage they were promised.\u00a0 These numbers just show that we may now be in our sixth week of glitches, but we\u2019re in our fourth year of lies.\u201d\r\n\r\n\t# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221115741/http://hankjohnson.house.gov/rep-hank-johnsons-e-newsletter-oct-31-2013", "Rep. Hank Johnson's E-Newsletter for Oct. 31, 2013", "2013-11-13", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Hank Johnson", "J000288", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Dear Friends,\nOctober has been a busy month here in the Fourth District and in Washington. My district office held three important community events in the past month \u2013 two to help prevent foreclosures and one to provide information about the new health care law \u2013 all during the government shutdown that finally ended Oct. 17. I want to thank both my Washington, D.C. and District staffs for continuing to serve the people of the Fourth District with distinction despite the difficult shutdown.Members of my district staff continue to go out into the community to help people understand what the health care law means for them and to raise awareness about the constituents services we provide. If you, your church or your neighborhood association would like us to come out to your meeting, please call my District Director Kathy Register at 770-987-2291.\nFor more on our Affordable Care Act event, click HERE. For more photos from this event, click HERE.\nLITHONIA CHAMBER CELEBRATES 20TH ANNIVERSARY: I am honored to be the keynote speaker at the Greater Lithonia Chamber of Commerce\u2019s 20th anniversary celebration on Nov. 6. After 20 years of committed service to businesses, large and small, this milestone is one that should make the Chamber and the city of Lithonia justifiably proud.The Greater Lithonia Chamber of Commerce can take great pride in the outstanding services and advocacy it has provided for the small business community and its members through the years. Strong, healthy communities need thriving businesses, and I commend the Greater Lithonia Chamber of Commerce for fostering success and opportunity.\nSOCIAL SECURITY INCREASE: Monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for nearly 63 million Americans will increase 1.5 percent in 2014, the Social Security Administration announced this week. The 1.5 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits that more than 57 million Social Security beneficiaries receive in January 2014.\u00a0 Increased payments to more than 8 million SSI beneficiaries will begin on December 31, 2013. For more, click HERE.\nSATURDAY FALL FESTIVALS: It was great to be home last weekend. My wife Mereda and I visited the Conyers Olde Town Fall Festival, Covington\u2019s The Enclave at Gross Lake Festival and at the 4th Annual Harvest Festival in DeKalb. To see photos of our great day, visit my Facebook page HERE.\nTAX SEASON PUSHED BACK: Early tax filers will have to wait an extra week or two to get tax refunds in 2014. The Internal Revenue Service said this month that it will delay the start of next year\u2019s filing season by up to two weeks to give programmers time to finish updating the agency\u2019s computers. The 16-day government shutdown this month prevented the IRS from working to update more than 50 systems used to process returns. The IRS is working to shorten the delay and will announce the exact start date in December. The April 15 deadline for filing individual tax returns, which is set by law, remains unchanged.\nFor more, click HERE.\nCONSUMER PRIVACY ON MOBILE DEVICES: This week, I sent a letter to President Obama encouraging the president to consider my bipartisan APPS Act (H.R. 1913) as the basis for comprehensive privacy legislation. Politico reports that the White House is coordinating with the Department of Commerce to draft legislation that will \u201cboost online privacy safeguards for consumers\u201d by building upon the Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights, the blueprint for privacy protection that the White House released last year. The Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights a watershed moment in consumer privacy, and I plan on working with the White House to strike the right balance between innovation and responsibility when it comes to consumers' privacy on mobile devices. The APPS Act answers this call. For more, click HERE.\nKNOW YOUR RIGHTS: The Asian American Legal Advocacy (AALAC) is holding a public safety event: Know Your Rights When Stopped by Police on Tuesday, November 5 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Norcross Cultural Arts and Community Center, 10 College Street, Norcross, Georgia 30072. Law enforcement officers are there to protect and serve our communities. Often times community members fear law enforcement officers because community members do not know their rights. The event is also being sponsored by Latin American Association, the Vietnamese American Community of Georgia and the Norcross Police Department. Dinner will be provided to guests who RSVP to Alice Kim at alice@aalegal.org or 404.585.8446 by Nov. 4.\nNEA GRANTS: The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has recently posted guidelines and application materials for Our Town, the agency\u2019s program that supports communities that are using the arts to revitalize neighborhoods and reignite local economies. Pending availability of funding, grants will range from $25,000 to $200,000. The application deadline is January 13, 2014. For more. Click HERE.\nBREAST CANCER AWARENESS: October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast cancer affects one in eight women in the United States, resulting in almost 40,000 deaths in this country annually. Typically, the cancer produces no symptoms during its initial stages when it is most easily and least invasively treatable. Therefore, one of the key aspects to fighting and surviving breast cancer is early detection. Many of us have a wife, mother, sister, daughter, aunt, or another loved one who has been diagnosed, suffered, and fought breast cancer. Unfortunately, too many of us have lost a loved one because of the disease. I join with my staff to raise awareness and support legislation that would make regular mammography screenings a reality for millions of underserved women.\nSNAP CUTS: As mandated by federal law, the 2009 Recovery Act\u2019s temporary boost to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits is scheduled to end Nov. 1.\u00a0 This will result in a benefit cut for every household that receives food stamps. Benefit cuts will range depending upon household size and income. For example, the cut could be approximately $29 per month or depending on household size and income (around an average of 5% of the total allotment). Customers will experience this reduction starting with their food stamp benefits issued next month. For more, click HERE.\nDISASTER RELIEF: Every year, the Federal Emergency Management Agency or FEMA must provide annual notification of the maximum amount of assistance provided to individuals and businesses that are affected by a natural disaster. The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act prescribes that FEMA must adjust these limits annually. FEMA\u2019s adjustment is based on an increase in the Consumer Price Index of 1.5 percent for the 12-month period, which ended in August 2013. For more, click HERE.\nHONORING A TRUE HERO: This week from the House floor, I honored Lithonia teen Mary-Pat Hector as one of 10 winners nationwide of the inaugural Peace First Prize for her campaign to combat gun violence. Miss Hector launched the \u201cThink Twice\u201d campaign in April 2013 after the senseless shooting deaths of a 14-year-old Grayson High School student in Loganville and a 15-year-old student in Chicago. She\u2019s an everyday hero, a young constituent who has set an example we would all do well to follow. To watch to floor speech, click HERE.\nAs 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 Halloween 2013!", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221163841/http://bishop.house.gov/press-release/congressman-bishop-statement-regarding-veterans-day", "CONGRESSMAN BISHOP STATEMENT REGARDING VETERANS DAY", "2013-11-12", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Sanford Bishop", "B000490", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u00a0\u2013 Today, Congressman\u00a0Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02),\u00a0Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies and Co-chair of the Congressional Military Family Caucus (CMFC),\u00a0released\u00a0a statement\u00a0honoring our nation's veterans in advance of the upcoming Veterans Day holiday.\n\u201cOn Veterans Day, we will gather to remember those Americans who have served our country with honor and distinction. \u00a0We must remember that freedom isn\u2019t free. It has been paid for with a price, and that price has been paid for by the sacrifice of our veterans.\n\u201cVeterans are courageous, humble people of integrity who provide a foundation of patriotic citizenship that the country cannot do without. If the nation is not being served well, veterans always get busy and do everything possible to get it back on track. They refuse to be complacent at times when the country is not living up to its potential for greatness.\n\u201cOn this Veteran\u2019s Day, we should take pause and give thanks to our veterans and their families of the past, present, and future for their dedication to serving our nation, defending our liberties, and sacrificing so much for the cause of life, liberty, and the pursuit of justice in our great nation.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221163910/http://bishop.house.gov/press-release/congressman-bishop-connects-military-families", "CONGRESSMAN BISHOP CONNECTS WITH MILITARY FAMILIES", "2013-11-12", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Sanford Bishop", "B000490", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "COLUMBUS, GA \u2013 Today, Wednesday, November 6, 2013, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02), Co-chair of the Congressional Military Family Caucus (CMFC) and Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies hosted a Military Family Summit for over 200 members of the extended military family at the National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center near Fort Benning, Georgia.\n\u201cWhenever I meet with military families, two people who frequently come to mind are my father-in-law and my wife,\u201d said Congressman Bishop, \u201cI mention my wife and her family\u2019s experiences because often we tend to focus primarily on the service members who willingly put themselves in harm\u2019s way to protect the freedoms we cherish. However, we cannot forget that the families they leave behind sacrifice just as much as our heroes who deploy on missions for our country. These families are impacted in countless ways \u2013 seen and unseen \u2013 and we have an obligation to do right by them.\u201d\nMilitary families were introduced to Members of Congress, officials from the Department of Defense, and personnel from numerous military family support organizations to discuss pressing issues impacting them. Six panel discussions designed to open a dialogue for military families addressed critical issues such as family health, resiliency, spouse employment and education, military child education, transition assistance, retirement, benefits, and financial readiness for the future with attending military families.\n\u201cThe issues that will be discussed today\u2026are truly informative to us, and are issues we will take back to Washington with us, because they are of national importance,\u201d continued Congressman Bishop, \u201cWe have no choice but to see that our troops, veterans, and their families have the support they need. Together, I know we can get the job done.\u201d\nAlso joining Congressman Bishop in giving remarks were Congressman John Culberson (R-TX), member of the Congressional Military Family Caucus; Sergeant Major Bryan Battaglia, Senior Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs; Mrs. Lisa Battaglia, spouse of Sergeant Major Battaglia; Lt. General Joseph L. Lengyel, Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau; Maj. Gen Jim Butterworth, Adjutant General of the Georgia National Guard; Mrs. Katie McMaster, spouse of MG H.R. McMaster of Fort Benning; COL (P) Leopoldo A. Quintas, Commandant of the US Army Armor School; LTG (Ret) Carmen Cavezza, Chairman of the National Infantry Foundation; MG (Ret) Jerry White, Chairman of the Academy Nominations Board; Isaiah Hugley, City Manager of Columbus; and Ed Helton, Executive Director of The Leadership Institute.\nThe CMFC is a bipartisan congressional caucus that educates elected officials, congressional staffers, senior military leaders and the public on a wide range of unique issues that affect military families. Currently, over 80 Democrats and Republicans are members of the CMFC.\u00a0\nTo view or download photos from today\u2019s event from today\u2019s event, please click here. To view today\u2019s live-tweet conversation, please click here. For more information about the Congressional Military Family Caucus, please click here.\nIn his opening remarks, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. noted the importance of giving back to our nation\u2019s veterans and military families. Below is the full text of Congressman Bishop\u2019s prepared remarks:\u00a0\n\u00a0\nPREPARED REMARKS FOR\nTHE HONORABLE SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR.\nCMFC FAMILY SUMMIT \u2013 NATIONAL INFANTRY MUSEUM\nCOLUMBUS, GA - WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2013\nGood morning!\nThank you all for joining us this morning at today\u2019s Congressional Military Family Caucus Summit! It\u2019s a pleasure to be in a room with those who make America great \u2013 the brave families of service men and women who admirably defend our nation and safeguard our liberties.\nToday, I am honored to be joined by so many that care so deeply about the lives and wellbeing of military families.\nI want to thank everyone here that is taking part in today\u2019s forums. To everyone visiting Columbus for the first time, welcome to our beautiful city! Today\u2019s event would not have been possible without the assistance of the numerous contributions from this morning\u2019s speakers, panelists, and support groups. Also, my staff, the staff at Columbus State University, and the staff of the National Infantry Museum have gone above and beyond to ensure today is a success. Thank you!\nLastly and most of all, I would like to personally thank the service members, military families, and veterans that are here with us today. Our nation will forever be indebted to you for your service and countless selfless sacrifices.\nFounded several years ago, my colleagues in the Congressional Military Families Caucus and Senate Military Family Caucus, such as co-chair Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers and co-member Congressman John Culberson, find it important to educate elected officials, congressional staffers, senior military leaders, and the public on a wide range of issues that affect military families such as:\n The range of physical and psychological issues arisen over the last 12 years that our service members, their families, and caregivers deal with on a day by day basis.\n  The challenges military parents and their children deal with during the process of frequent moves between different states and school districts, not to mention the obstacles to learning your child faces when a parent is deployed overseas.\n  The unique difficulties surrounding re-certifications, licensing, or lack of transferability faced by so many of our military spouses when they want to continue their education and seek employment.\n  To educating our service men and women with young families on how to properly budget finances, buy a house, invest in a thrift savings plan or IRA, save for your kids\u2019 college expenses, and to not be taken advantage of by high interest predatory loans.\n  And to families preparing to leave the military community and transition into the civilian world, away from the support of a military base. The transition can be difficult for a family if they are not prepared with the right employment, health care, and educational information.\n Since the Caucus\u2019 founding in 2009, the Senate launched the Senate Military Family Caucus and the White House has joined ranks by creating the amazing Joining Forces initiative. And in case you haven\u2019t heard\u2014last week President Obama signed a proclamation officially naming November as Military Family Appreciation Month!\nThe issues that will be discussed today in the panels are truly informative to us, and are issues we will take back to Washington with us, because they are of national importance. We hope that you will actively participate by listening, asking questions of the panelists, engaging in the discussions with our panels, visiting the resources section upstairs, and giving feedback after the summit. The stories you share and input you provide will help us to effectively work together to improve your quality of life and expand your opportunities.\nIn closing, I will briefly share with you that whenever I meet with military families, two people who frequently come to mind are my father-in-law and my wife. My father-in-law served in the U.S. military for several years and my wife was a military child. In fact, when my wife was a child, her family moved every two or three years. She spent her formative years at home and overseas.\nThe constant change of station impacted her family both positively and negatively. Due to all of her family\u2019s travels, my wife grew-up as a very well-rounded child in that she was able to gain exposure to different people and various cultures. However, the flip side of the coin is that with the frequent travels her family was forced to address hard pressing issues such as saying goodbye to old friends and acclimating themselves to new re-assignment locations.\nI mention my wife and her family\u2019s experiences because often we tend to focus primarily on the service members who willingly put themselves in harm\u2019s way to protect the freedoms we cherish. However, we cannot forget that the families they leave behind sacrifice just as much as our heroes who deploy on missions for our country. These families are impacted in countless ways \u2013 seen and unseen \u2013 and we have an obligation to do right by them.\nI look forward to continuing the good work of the Military Family Caucus and the other 85 Members of Congress who make up this Caucus. We have no choice but to see that our troops, veterans, and their families have the support they need. Together, I know we can get the job done.\nThank you all again for being here this morning and I very much look forward to today\u2019s insightful dialogue.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.isakson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-center?ContentRecord_id=30ef7af6-a041-418b-9067-8e407f04b944", "e-Newsletter for the week ending November 8, 2013", "2013-11-12", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Johnny Isakson", "I000055", "www.isakson.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Dear Friends,\r\nThis week, two of the top Obama Administration officials responsible for the implementation of Obamacare testified before two Senate committees on which I serve.\r\nOn Tuesday, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Director Marilyn Tavenner testified at a hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, and on Wednesday, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius testified before the Senate Finance Committee.\r\nSebelius is the highest-ranking official in the Obama administration who is responsible for the implementation of Obamacare.\u00a0 Tavenner is the head of CMS, which oversees all health insurance provisions in Obamacare and is the agency responsible for setting up the Obamacare exchanges, including the development of HealthCare.gov where Americans should be able to sign up for coverage.\r\nSince the Obamacare exchanges opened on Oct. 1, 2013, the website has experienced crashes, glitches and many other issues that have prevented Americans from enrolling.\r\nAt both hearings, I expressed that tremendous failures of the Obamacare website are only the tip of the iceberg. This terrible law presents far more problems and challenges, but the biggest ones of all are the premium increases for the people who can least afford them. For example, in rural Georgia, premiums are more than doubling in some cases and health care costs are going through the roof.\r\nAs we are also finding out, millions of Americans and an estimated 400,000 Georgians are losing their current health care plans and in many cases are left with options that they cannot afford.\r\nOn behalf of Georgians, I demanded in these two hearings this week that the administration address these problems. We need to make sure that requiring so much coverage does not have the unintended consequence of running people out of their coverage rather than providing them with the coverage they need and can afford.\r\nAt both hearings, I also questioned officials about the website\u2019s many flaws, including my concerns with the system\u2019s ability to secure Americans\u2019 sensitive personal information.\r\nI cited a June inspector general\u2019s report that found QSSI, the contractor that developed the Obamacare website, guilty of violating security requirements that exposed 6 million Medicare beneficiaries\u2019 private information. I also raised concerns that Obamacare exchange \u201cnavigators,\u201d who help consumers find health care plans and handle personal information, are not required by the federal government to undergo criminal background checks.\r\nI\u2019m not convinced that HHS is doing what it should to protect the sensitive information of the American people. I was very disappointed that Secretary Sebelius only said that she\u2019d take under consideration requiring criminal background checks for those who will be handling Americans\u2019 private information in the Obamacare exchanges\u2014that should be a minimum requirement.\r\nThere are many flawed decisions that have been made by HHS and CMS in the rollout of Obamacare, and the website is just the tip of the iceberg. There are many, many problems yet to be seen.\r\nClick here to watch a short video clip of me questioning CMS Director Tavenner, and here to watch a clip of my exchange with Sec. Sebelius.\r\nI also appeared on Fox News following the Finance Committee hearing. To view a video clip of the interview,\u00a0click here.\r\nI have voted to defund, dismantle or repeal Obamacare almost 60 times, and I continue to support its full repeal. I am a co-sponsor of dozens of legislative proposals that would repeal the law in full or provisions in the law, including both the\u00a0Obamacare Repeal Act,\u00a0S.177, and, more recently, the\u00a0Defund Obamacare Act,\u00a0S.1292. I have also sent a letter to President Obama urging him to permanently delay the implementation of Obamacare for all Americans.\u00a0\r\nWhat\u2019s on Tap?\r\nThe Senate is not in session on Monday in Observance of Veterans\u2019 Day. Without the sacrifice and courage of our veterans, there would be no United States of America. I hope that you will join me honoring these men and women who have sacrificed greatly for our freedoms on Veterans Day and every day.\r\nOn Tuesday, the Senate is scheduled to vote on cloture on the nomination of Cornelia T. L. Pillard, of the District of Columbia, to be United States District Court Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit. The Senate also is expected to vote on cloture on the motion to proceed to a drug compounding bill, H.R.3204, the Drug Quality and Security Act. \r\nSincerely,\r\nJohnny Isakson", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.isakson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-center?ContentRecord_id=d7163b2e-7b9a-4d7a-baf5-4bdf0f826318", "e-Newsletter for the week ending October 18, 2013", "2013-11-12", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Johnny Isakson", "I000055", "www.isakson.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Dear Friends,\r\nOn Wednesday night, the Senate passed bipartisan legislation to reopen the government and prevent a default by a vote of 81 to 18. Shortly after, the House passed the bill by a vote of 285 to 144 and the president signed the legislation into law.\r\nI voted for this bipartisan agreement because it reopened the federal government through January 15 and sets up budget negotiations between the House and Senate for a long-term spending plan.\r\nThough this bill was not perfect, I was pleased that the bill averted a default while preserving and protecting the historic government spending cuts from the Budget Control Act of 2011 that have resulted in the largest spending cuts in 50 years.\r\nI\u2019m also pleased that this bill will help prevent fraud and abuse by strengthening\u00a0income verification measures to determine who will be eligible for subsidies under Obamacare.\r\nBefore the vote on Wednesday, I appeared on CNBC\u2019s \u201cClosing Bell\u201d and Bloomberg\u2019s \u201cOn the Move\u201d to discuss the deal to end the government shutdown and raise the debt ceiling.\r\nBiennial Budgeting and Appropriations Act\r\nThese past few weeks should be a wake-up call. It\u2019s time that Congress gets back to doing its job of budgeting, appropriating, and conducting oversight to address our unsustainable debt and deficits.\r\nThat\u2019s why I have introduced a bipartisan bill, the Biennial Budgeting and Appropriations Act, with Sen. Shaheen, D-N.H., that would reform our nation\u2019s broken budget process and restore fiscal discipline.\r\nIn case you missed it, I appeared on CNBC\u2019s \u201cSquawk Box\u201d last Thursday with Sen. Shaheen to discuss our bill.\r\nA biennial budgeting system would help prevent the need for constant last-minute negotiations on continuing resolutions in the future by reforming the current budget and appropriations system by converting it from a chaotic annual process to a two-year cycle.\r\nThe legislation would force Congress to become better stewards of the taxpayers\u2019 money by placing Congress on a two-year budget cycle with one year devoted to appropriating federal dollars and the other year devoted to oversight of federal programs.\r\nIn March of this year, the Senate adopted our Biennial Budgeting and Appropriations Act as an amendment, S.Amdt.138, to the Senate-passed budget. It was agreed to by a vote of 68 to 31, signaling strong bipartisan support.\r\nBiennial budgeting has been endorsed by each successive administration since Ronald Reagan was president, as well as by numerous federal budget experts. I have sponsored biennial budgeting proposals every year I\u2019ve been in the Senate, while Sen. Shaheen has firsthand experience with the efficacy of biennial budgeting from her tenure as governor of New Hampshire. Currently, more than 20 states, including New Hampshire, operate on a two-year budget cycle.\r\nOur proposal has garnered the support of 20 co-sponsors: 9 Democrats, 10 Republicans and one Independent. \u00a0\r\nDisastrous Obamacare Launch\r\nAs you know, the Obamacare rollout this month has been a disaster. Please read this CBS article, Healthcare.gov\u00a0 problems reach beyond enrollment, and this USA Today article, Tech experts: Health exchange site needs total overhaul, which outline the many problems surrounding the Obamacare launch. These reports are further proof that this law is a train wreck.\r\nSince Obamacare became law, I have cast nearly 60 votes to defund, dismantle and repeal it. Moving forward, I will do everything I can to fight this terribly flawed law.\r\nWhat\u2019s on Tap?\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\r\nThe Senate is not in session next week. During this time, I will be in the state meeting with Georgians and attending events. On Oct. 28, the Senate will reconvene and hold a cloture vote on the nomination of Richard F. Griffin, Jr., to be General Counsel of the National Labor Relations Board.\r\nSincerely,\r\nJohnny Isakson", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.isakson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/opinions-and-speeches?ContentRecord_id=fe975a5b-3d6e-413a-9919-3bc1a8f178a0", "Honoring Our Veterans by Keeping Our Promises", "2013-11-11", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Johnny Isakson", "I000055", "www.isakson.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "By Johnny Isakson \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\tWe owe a great deal to the men and women who served in our armed forces. Our top priority on Veterans Day and every day should be to live up to the promises we have made to our servicemembers who have shown such bravery in the face of tyranny around the world.\r\nAs a member of the Senate Veteran Affairs Committee, I frequently hear from Georgia veterans and across the country about the many challenges they face\u2014from long waits for a VA disability claims decision to limited access to quality health care to difficulty finding civilian employment.\r\nFar too often, our system is failing veterans. When we fail our veterans, we are also failing to honor their service and sacrifice.\r\nBy far, the most common issue I hear about from veterans is the outrageous wait times that they must endure in order to receive their hard earned benefits.\r\nAccording to its own data, the VA set a goal to complete 1.27 million total claims by June 30 of this year, the end of the third quarter.\u00a0 Unfortunately, the VA fell short and completed only 1.17 million claims. Although the backlog remains unacceptably high, the VA is making progress and has imposed mandatory overtime to devote more hours to reducing the backlog in response to pressure from Congress, veterans organizations, and veterans.\r\nI am committed to seeing that veterans don\u2019t have to face these incredibly long wait times to compensate them for their sacrifice, and I am working with other members of Congress to conduct oversight to push the VA to eliminate the backlog. I am also committed to ensuring that the VA has the necessary resources to reach its goal of eliminating the backlog by 2015.\r\nA major area that must be improved is access to quality mental health care. According to a recent U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimate, 22 veterans commit suicide each day\u2014that\u2019s about 8,000 each year. This extraordinarily alarming figure makes it quite obvious that mental health care must be a part of comprehensive approach to the care of our troops and veterans.\u00a0\r\nWhile I believe that the VA is committed to addressing this issue, it is critically important that we do better. In August of this year, I chaired a Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee field hearing in Atlanta to examine the April 2013 reports from the Department of Veterans Affairs Inspector General detailing mismanagement of inpatient and contracted outpatient mental health programs at the Atlanta VA Medical Center. As a result of this hearing, I have asked the VA to take the necessary steps to maximize its resources to prevent these kinds of incidents both in Atlanta and throughout the country, and I will continue to work to see this process through.\r\nAs we have learned through the hearing and through examining this issue more closely, one important part of the solution is community-based partners. I encourage the VA to continue to collaborate with local mental health providers effectively to provide quality mental health care.\r\nWhile the VA must make many improvements to ensure that veterans receive their benefits and are cared for, members of Congress can help provide resources and develop training programs to ensure that our veterans can find work when they return to civilian life.\r\nThe men and women who have served in uniform bring unique skills and training to the workforce, and our economy would gain from their leadership and work ethic. I\u2019m a member of the Senate Veterans Jobs Caucus, which has launched an \u201cI Hire Veterans\u201d imitative to encourage all businesses to hire veterans, just as I have done in my own office.\r\nI have worked together with my colleagues to pass the Post-9/11 G.I. legislation and the VOW to Hire Heroes Act, which aim to help veterans improve their educational and career opportunities for when they leave military service.\r\nI am also working to help ease the problems some veterans have in obtaining licenses and credentials to practice certain professions in civilian life.\u00a0 Oftentimes, they must take classes that are redundant of the training they received on active duty.\u00a0 For example, I am pushing for legislation requiring states to recognize military experience as a condition of receiving \u201cJobs for Veterans\u201d state grants.\u00a0\r\nAfter more than a decade of war in Iraq and Afghanistan, we expect to see more than 1 million servicemembers transition from active-duty to veteran status in the next few years. We must see to it that the Department of Veterans Affairs lives up to the promises we have made to our servicemembers and veterans.\r\nAs I spend this Veterans Day celebrating the service given by the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces, I am dedicated to supporting them once they return home from the battlefield.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.isakson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/photos?ContentRecord_id=f81bb791-b280-4b20-ab04-cae24d7795ff", "Biennial Budgeting", "2013-11-11", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Johnny Isakson", "I000055", "www.isakson.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sen. Isakson traveled to New Hampshire to join Sen. Shaheen, D-N.H., for a discussion of their joint efforts to implement a biennial budgeting to fix our nation's broken system.\u00a0\u00a0For more information on their Biennial Budgeting and Appropriations Act, click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://tomgraves.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=360858", "Rep. Graves Honors America\u2019s Veterans", "2013-11-08", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Tom Graves", "G000560", "tomgraves.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Graves Honors America\u2019s Veterans\n                    \n                    \n                        Again Calls On VA To Set Higher Standard For Claims Processing\n                    \n                    \n                    \n                    \n                    \n                        \n                            Washington,\n                            November 8, 2013\u00a0-\n                        U.S. Rep. Tom Graves (R-GA-14) issued the following statement honoring America\u2019s veterans ahead of Veterans Day weekend:\r\n\u201cOn behalf of the 14th Congressional District, I thank our veterans in Georgia and across America. In serving our country, veterans and their families entered a life full of challenge and sacrifice. They ensured that the torch of freedom would be passed from each generation to the next. They are our heroes.\u201cWhile our country is sincere in its gratitude, it\u2019s important to acknowledge, once again, that our words must be backed up with action on fixing the veterans benefits system. This week, the Veterans Affairs Department cited progress on the infamous claims backlog, but I still believe our veterans deserve better.\r\n\u201cHearing all the talk of \u2018tech surges\u2019 these days, I\u2019m dismayed that the digital cavalry hasn\u2019t been called in to aid and improve VA claims processing. With the major increases in VA spending since 2009, we know the problem isn\u2019t a budget issue\u2014it\u2019s a bureaucracy issue. Our government needs to set the bar sky high and think bigger. Enlist the brightest minds and best systems, then throw the current claims processing goal of four months out the window and aim for 30 days, or even four days.\r\n \u201cOur servicemembers set the standard for honor and excellence, and they should be met upon retirement by a nation eager to respond in kind.\u201d\r\nRep. Graves is a cosponsor of the Veterans Timely Access To Health Care Act (H.R. 241), which would ensure that veterans seeking primary or specialty care with a VA medical center receive an appointment no later than 30 days from their initial request.\r\n On October 28, 2013, Rep. Graves voted for and the House passed H.R. 2189, a bill to establish a VA task force to evaluate and analyze the disability claims backlog and related regulations, processes and laws, and submit recommendations for solving the backlog.\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://woodall.house.gov/press-release/congressman-woodall-hosting-forsyth-county-town-hall-meeting", "Congressman Woodall Hosting Forsyth County Town Hall Meeting", "2013-11-07", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Rob Woodall", "W000810", "woodall.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Representative Rob Woodall will be hosting a town hall meeting this Thursday, November 7, at 7:00 p.m. in Forsyth County. \u00a0The meeting will be held in the auditorium of the Cumming Regional Readiness Center located at 100 Aquatic Circle, Cumming, Georgia 30040. \u00a0\n\u201cVoters in the Seventh District must be engaged to influence Washington. \u00a0I hold town hall meetings regularly across the district, and to the credit of Forsyth County citizens, they show up in big numbers and with big ideas. These robust discussions are critical to making ours a government of the people,\u201d said Woodall. \u00a0\nWoodall has made town hall meetings a regular occurrence across the county, working to host events in different locations in an effort to evenly distribute opportunities to attend. The last 7th District Town Hall was held in the Forsyth County Administration Building and hosted over 100 participants.\n\u201cGoing to where people are is a very important part of what we do. \u00a0A lot has happened in the short time that has passed since our last visit. \u00a0We\u2019ve passed legislation to protect Lake Lanier, been through a government shutdown, and more. \u00a0And though the year is coming to a close, we have a lot of work on the horizon, from the FARM Bill conference to perhaps tax reform. \u00a0There is no time to rest and I hope to see a good crowd at the meeting.\u201d\nFor those not able to attend the meeting, Woodall is also hosting a telephone town hall meeting via conference call on Tuesday, November 12 at 7:30 p.m. \u00a0Anyone wishing to participate in the telephone town hall should call (877) 229-8493 on Tuesday evening just before 7:30 p.m. and enter the pass code 17849 when prompted to be connected to the call.\nWoodall represents the Seventh Congressional District of Georgia, which consists of the majority of Gwinnett and Forsyth counties. \u00a0For more information on upcoming events, please visit https://woodall.house.gov/.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://dougcollins.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=501", "Collins Visits Gainesville High School", "2013-11-07", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Doug Collins", "C001093", "dougcollins.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Media Contact\r\n\r\n\tCOLLINS VISITS GAINESVILLE HIGH SCHOOL\r\n\r\n\tNortheast Georgia\u2019s Congressman Shares Experiences With Local Students\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tGAINESVILLE, GA, Nov 7 \u2013 Congressman Doug Collins (GA-09) brought his experience in lawmaking and public service to the students in the AP Government and Politics class at Gainesville High School yesterday.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tCongressman Collins shared stories with the students from his first 10 months in office, the experience of running for office, and the ways he serves the community as our United States Representative.\u00a0 Together, they discussed the ways everyone can be a public servant and find local solutions to community issues.\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tCongressman Collins said, \u201cThe enthusiasm of these sharp students has been a high point of my week. I\u2019m looking forward to taking their questions and ideas back to Washington.\u201d\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tAs always, constituents who would like to host Congressman Collins for a group meeting can make a request at dougcollins.house.gov/schedule-a-meeting.\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\tCongressman Collins talks with AP Government and Politics Students at Gainesville High School on November 6, 2013.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0\r\n\r\n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140420104629/http://johnlewis.house.gov/event/congress-community-atlanta-public-library-adamsvillecollier-heights-0", "Congress in the Community at Atlanta Public Library - Adamsville/Collier Heights", "2013-11-06", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "John Lewis", "L000287", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Each Congress in the Community event lasts about two hours and is an opportunity for 5th District residents to get advice or assistance from members of Rep. Lewis' staff\u00a0with challenges they may have involving the federal government.\u00a0 They can also use this opportunity to communicate any concerns they have to the congressman representing them.\u00a0 A member of Rep. Lewis\u2019s staff will be on hand at the library to meet with constituents.\u00a0 No appointment is necessary.\u00a0 For more information call 404-659-0116.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140420104700/http://johnlewis.house.gov/event/2013-clayton-county-meet-and-greet", "2013 Clayton County Meet and Greet", "2013-11-06", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "John Lewis", "L000287", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman John Lewis  invites you  to the  5th Congressional District of Georgia  2013 Clayton County Meet and Greet\nFrank Bailey Senior Center  \n\t6213 Riverdale Road  \n\tRiverdale, Georgia\u00a0 30274\nSaturday, November 16, 2013\n9 - 11am\nCongressman Lewis and his staff\u00a0 will be present to answer questions and\u00a0\u00a0 assist with issues involving the federal government.\n\u00b7\u00a0This event is open and free of charge to residents of Clayton County\u00a0\u00a0 Georgia\u2019s 5th Congressional District\n\u00b7\u00a0Light continental breakfast will be served.\nRSVP\u00a0 via email at GA05rsvp@mail.house.gov or by calling\u00a0 404-659-0116.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140420104734/http://johnlewis.house.gov/event/congress-community-atlanta-public-library-stewart-lakewood-branch", "Congress in the Community at Atlanta Public Library - Stewart-Lakewood Branch", "2013-11-06", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "John Lewis", "L000287", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Each Congress in the Community event lasts about two hours and is an opportunity for 5th District residents to get advice or assistance from members of Rep. Lewis' staff\u00a0with challenges they may have involving the federal government.\u00a0 They can also use this opportunity to communicate any concerns they have to the congressman representing them.\u00a0 A member of Rep. Lewis\u2019s staff will be on hand at the library to meet with constituents.\u00a0 No appointment is necessary.\u00a0 For more information call 404-659-0116.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.isakson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=fc79ed23-5bb7-4f38-9ab1-83225b5127c7", "Isakson Presses HHS Secretary Sebelius Over Security Deficiencies in Obamacare Exchanges That Could Compromise Americans' Personal Information", "2013-11-06", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Johnny Isakson", "I000055", "www.isakson.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 At a Senate Finance Committee hearing today, U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., pressed Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius for answers over the threat of fraud and abuse of Americans\u2019 sensitive private information because of security deficiencies in Obamacare.\r\nSebelius is the highest ranking official in the Obama administration who is responsible for the implementation of Obamacare.\r\nIsakson cited a June inspector general\u2019s report that found QSSI, the contractor that developed the Obamacare website, guilty of violating security requirements that exposed 6 million Medicare beneficiaries\u2019 private information. Isakson also raised concerns that Obamacare exchange \u201cnavigators,\u201d who help consumers find health care plans and handle personal information, are not required by the federal government to undergo criminal background checks.\r\n\u201cI\u2019m not convinced that HHS is doing what it should to protect the information of the American people. I was very disappointed that Secretary Sebelius only said that she\u2019d take under consideration requiring criminal background checks for those who will be handling Americans\u2019 private information in the Obamacare exchanges\u2014that should be a minimum requirement,\u201d said Isakson following the hearing. \u201cThere are many flawed decisions that have been made by HHS and CMS in the rollout of Obamacare, and the website is just the tip of the iceberg. There are many, many problems yet to be seen.\u201d\r\nIsakson also continued to voice dismay that Georgians in rural areas are seeing their health insurance premiums double because of Obamacare. According to recent reports, many Americans who live in rural areas will be forced to pay higher prices for the same coverage. To view a video clip of a post-hearing interview in which Isakson discusses Sebelius\u2019 testimony,\u00a0 click here.\r\nIn September of this year, in response to the rising threat over security concerns, Isakson co-sponsored the\u00a0Trust But Verify Act, which would delay the opening of Obamacare insurance exchanges until security operations that will handle Americans\u2019 personal information for the exchanges are independently verified.\r\nIsakson has voted to defund, dismantle or repeal Obamacare almost 60 times, and he continues to support its full repeal. Isakson is a co-sponsor of dozens of legislative proposals that would repeal the law in full or provisions in the law, including both the\u00a0Obamacare Repeal Act,\u00a0S.177, and, more recently, the\u00a0Defund Obamacare Act,\u00a0S.1292. Isakson has also sent a letter to President Obama urging him to permanently delay the implementation of Obamacare for all Americans.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20131205163623/http://hankjohnson.house.gov/press-release/rep-johnson-applauds-progress-mobile-apps-privacy-guidelines", "Rep. Johnson applauds progress on mobile apps privacy guidelines", "2013-11-05", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Hank Johnson", "J000288", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04), author of the first bipartisan mobile privacy bill the APPS Act of 2013, issued the following statement on news that short-form privacy notices created by the National Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA) mobile app negotiators are set to start undergoing user testing and implementation:\n\u201cWe are at a critical juncture in protecting consumers\u2019 privacy on mobile devices.\u00a0 The vast majority of consumers want apps that protect their privacy, and will avoid the ones that don\u2019t.\u00a0 We need to equip users with the right tools. That\u2019s why having clear notices about how an app collects and uses data on mobile devices is so important.\u00a0 I applaud the App Developers Alliance and ACT for their leadership in testing the NTIA code of conduct for transparency.\u00a0 This rigorous, bottom-up approach to mobile privacy is essential to producing smart notices that work.\u201d\nBackground:\nIn August, the National Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA) concluded a multi-stakeholder process to develop an industry code to inform consumers of data collection on mobile devices.\u00a0 As part of this code, developers must provide notices to users about the data an app collects and shares \u201cwhere practicable.\u201d\u00a0 ACT and the Application Developers Alliances are working toward implementing the NTIA code through privacy short-form notices. In October, Congressman Johnson sent a letter to President Obama encouraging the president to consider H.R. 1913, the APPS Act, as the basis for comprehensive privacy legislation.\u00a0 \u201cBy bringing baseline privacy protections to mobile devices, the APPS Act would protect and empower consumers with transparency, notice, and control on mobile devices,\u201d Johnson wrote in the letter.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.isakson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=88cc0728-b0df-4beb-a484-3758c5f110af", "Isakson Demands Answers from CMS Director Over Disastrous Obamacare Rollout", "2013-11-05", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Johnny Isakson", "I000055", "www.isakson.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., today demanded answers from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Director Marilyn Tavenner at a hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.\r\nCMS oversees all health insurance provisions in Obamacare and is the agency responsible for setting up the Obamacare exchanges, including the development of HealthCare.gov where Americans should be able to sign up for coverage. Since the Obamacare exchanges opened on Oct. 1, 2013, the website has experienced crashes, glitches and many other issues that have prevented Americans from enrolling.\r\nIsakson pointed out that the issues with the Obamacare website are just the beginning of many other problems with the law. He expressed strong concerns that millions of Americans and an estimated 400,000 Georgians are losing their current health care plans and in many cases are left with options that they cannot afford. Isakson said that he is particularly troubled that Georgians who live in rural areas will be forced to pay higher prices for the same coverage under the law.\r\n\u201cThe tremendous failures of the Obamacare website are only the tip of the iceberg. This law presents far more problems and challenges, but the biggest ones of all are the premium increases for the people who can least afford them. For example, in rural Georgia, premiums are more than doubling in some cases and health care costs are going through the roof,\u201d said Isakson. \u201cOn behalf of those Georgians, I demand that the administration address these problems. We need to make sure that requiring so much coverage does not have the unintended consequence of running people out of their coverage rather than providing them with the coverage they need and can afford.\u201d\r\nIsakson also questioned Tavenner about the website\u2019s many flaws, including his concerns with the system\u2019s ability to secure Americans\u2019 sensitive personal information. To view a short video clip of Isakson questioning Tavenner at today\u2019s hearing, click here.\r\nIsakson has voted to defund, dismantle or repeal Obamacare almost 60 times, and he continues to support its full repeal. Isakson is a co-sponsor of dozens of legislative proposals that would repeal the law in full or provisions in the law, including both the\u00a0Obamacare Repeal Act,\u00a0S.177, and, more recently, the\u00a0Defund Obamacare Act,\u00a0S.1292. Isakson has also sent a letter to President Obama urging him to permanently delay the implementation of Obamacare for all Americans.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://woodall.house.gov/press-release/congressman-woodall-hosts-town-hall-meeting-gwinnett-county", "Congressman Woodall Hosts Town Hall Meeting in Gwinnett County", "2013-11-04", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Rob Woodall", "W000810", "woodall.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Representative Rob Woodall will be hosting a town hall meeting tonight, Monday, November 4, 2013, in the auditorium of the Gwinnett County Justice and Administration Center at 7 p.m.\n\u201cI work hard to provide opportunities for residents of the Seventh District to be engaged in the work happening in Washington.\u00a0 In order to effectively serve you, it\u2019s absolutely critical that we have robust discussions, and I am thankful so many choose to invest their time in this process,\u201d said Woodall.\u00a0\nFor those not able to attend the meeting, Woodall is also hosting two tele-town hall meetings via conference call over the next week.\u00a0 The first will be held tomorrow, November 5 at 7:00 p.m., and the second on Tuesday, November 12 at 7:30 p.m.\u00a0 Anyone wishing to participate can call (877) 229-8493 and enter the pass code 17849 when prompted.\nWoodall represents the Seventh Congressional District of Georgia, which consists of the majority of Gwinnett and Forsyth counties.\u00a0 For more information on upcoming events, please visit \u00a0https://woodall.house.gov/.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://davidscott.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=360124", "Shameful Cuts to Vital Food Program", "2013-11-01", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "David Scott", "S001157", "davidscott.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman David Scott submitted this editorial about cuts to the SNAP\u00a0program\u00a0to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.\u00a0 The paper published his views this morning. Shameful cuts to vital food program  By David Scott  Republicans in the House of Representatives recently voted to cut $40 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).  These cuts target our most vulnerable citizens, like seniors, children, veterans and disabled persons. In fact, veterans are the fastest-growing group receiving food stamp benefits. Census data indicate that about 900,000 veterans receive SNAP each month. And this figure is understated, because the Census data do not consider homeless veterans receiving SNAP benefits.  This program is a critical support for many households with veterans. Stars and Stripes reported that food purchases paid for with SNAP at commissaries tripled from 2008 to 2011. Feed our Vets, a nonprofit group that establishes food pantries for veterans, has estimated that nearly 3 million veterans and their families don\u2019t get enough food to eat each month.   \r\nThis terrible Republican cut of $40 billion reduces the food assistance program by half.  The Republicans held no hearings or did any an analysis of the hurt and pain and hunger this cut will cause the people of our nation. This cut is not only irresponsible, it is downright mean to the American people.  Unfortunately, some in the Republican Party think a SNAP beneficiary is usually black, urban or an illegal immigrant. But here are the facts: 37 percent of food stamp participants are white, 23 percent are African-American, and 10 percent are Hispanic, according to USDA.  \r\n\u00a0  \r\nSNAP serves more than 47 million Americans; 99 percent live below the poverty line. And that number has been growing due to the recession; our nation lost 300,000 jobs per month between 2008 and 2010.  Thank God we had SNAP as a safety net for people to fall back on. Jobs are now coming back, albeit slowly, and people are getting off food stamps. SNAP is a temporary benefit that helps those struggling to put food on the table until they can get back to self-sufficiency. The average SNAP recipient receives benefits for nine months.  On the issues of waste, fraud and abuse, the facts tell us that SNAP abuse is lower than it\u2019s ever been. In Georgia, the most recent data from FY 2011 show that the SNAP accuracy rate was more than 97 percent, and part of the 3 percent was actually underpayments, which save the government money.  This cut is irresponsible and hurtful. It is especially shameful because we are the United States of America, and we are indeed an exceptional people, because we are a nation with a rich history of care and compassion for the most vulnerable among us. These food assistance cuts for our most needy truly makes us look so little, not the proud and exceptional America that God has truly blessed us to be.  We will not let this Republican $40 billion cut to our vital food and nutrition assistance happen. We must focus first on jobs before cutting food assistance.  Georgia Congressman David Scott, a Democrat, represents the 13th District.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://tomgraves.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=359988", "Rep. Graves Op-Ed: Progress on the Port and Water Resources", "2013-11-01", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Tom Graves", "G000560", "tomgraves.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Graves Op-Ed: Progress on the Port and Water Resources\n                      \n                    \n                        \n                    \n                    \n                    \n                    \n                    \n                        \n                            Washington,\n                            November 1, 2013\u00a0-\n                         Progress on the Port and Water Resources\r\nBy Rep. Tom Graves\r\nAtlanta Business Chronicle\r\nNovember 1, 2013\r\nhttp://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/print-edition/2013/11/01/progress-on-the-port-and-water-resources.html\r\nGeorgia is poised to grow as a leader in international commerce due to our geographic location, transportation networks and innovative businesses. Industries across Georgia are a source of quality products for our country and the world. In fact, that last part \u2013 \u201cthe world\u201d \u2013 will be the key for us in the coming years as our businesses continue growing to meet demand from the international marketplace.\r\n So, it was good news last week when the House of Representatives passed the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA). This legislation will ensure that our nation\u2019s waterways have the infrastructure necessary to foster economic growth and help our businesses compete globally. After the long partisan slog of the last several years, particularly this fall, it was refreshing to pass a smart legislative package by a bipartisan margin of 417-3.\r\nIn a key win for Georgia, the bill authorizes over $460 million to proceed with the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project (SHEP), which was deemed by President Obama and the Army Corps of Engineers as, \u201cnationally and regionally significant.\u201d Importantly, the authorization lifts an outdated cost cap that was a major federal barrier to the project\u2019s success. As many know, we have to get this project done in order to accommodate the new fleet of supertankers that will soon begin passing through the expanded Panama Canal. Otherwise, Georgia will get left in their wake as they pass by for other ports.\r\n Overall, the projects and reforms in the House-passed water infrastructure bill will be a boost for our economy and provide many thousands of new opportunities for those who need a job or want a new one. Estimates show that the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project alone will bring $174 million in annual net benefits to the United States, create 11,554 jobs, free up $213 million in private capital annually due to reduced shipping expenses and will continue to support more than 352,000 existing jobs throughout the state.\r\nJust as important, the bill respects taxpayers and implements long-needed reforms by setting hard deadlines on the time and cost of studies\u2014a root cause of many project delays. The bill clears out $12 billion in old projects to offset the cost of new projects. It also implements key cost saving measures that limit Corps of Engineers feasibility studies to three years and cap the federal cost of the studies at $3 million. Currently, no feasibility study time limits or cost caps exist.\r\nAt the heart of the reforms in WRRDA is its streamlining of environmental reviews. Under the bill, the Secretary of the Army will have the lead role in facilitating the environmental review process and fostering collaboration among all agencies involved. This proposal also eliminates duplicative analyses by creating an accelerated timetable to allow non-federal project sponsors and the Corps of Engineers to proceed directly to a feasibility study. It peels back a layer of bureaucracy by ending the head-scratching requirement that the Corps re-evaluate cost estimates immediately after initial cost estimates have just been completed.\r\nFinally, the House has provided the Corps of Engineers permanent authority to accept funds from non-federal public interests and public utility companies to expedite the processing of permits within the Corps\u2019 regulatory program. This is a huge win for taxpayers and non-federal entities who wish to see important projects completed in their lifetimes.\r\nThe Savannah harbor project serves as a great example for why all the aforementioned reforms are vital. The project has been slowed since the 1990s by a number of setbacks, including countless environmental reviews, studies, and outdated cost caps. Initially, the cost was estimated and therefore limited to $459 million.\u00a0 After 14 years of holdups, the project is now estimated to cost over $660 million. WRRDA seeks to prevent such costly, bureaucratic nightmares from happening in the future.\r\nIts history of hurdles aside, the Savannah harbor project is close to the finish line. As a member of the Congressional Ports Caucus, and a supporter of trade and the infrastructure necessary to compete globally, I will continue working in a bipartisan way to support the project. Soon, we should see supertankers arrive at the port full, and Georgia businesses will make sure they leave full.  Know that the good news I\u2019ve outlined is not set in stone just yet. The Senate passed its own version of the water infrastructure bill, which differs in several ways from the House bill. We aren\u2019t terribly far apart, and both chambers should swiftly enter a process to resolve any differences and get these wins for Georgia signed into law.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.isakson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-center?ContentRecord_id=2cf4d7c4-88fd-4f9f-bfdd-ff1667f67d8d", "e-Newsletter for the week ending November 1, 2013", "2013-11-01", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Johnny Isakson", "I000055", "www.isakson.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Dear Friends, The rollout of Obamacare has been a huge disaster, and the\u00a0many \u201cglitches\u201d surrounding Healthcare.gov is just the tip of the iceberg. Americans shouldn\u2019t be forced to participate in a system that is clearly not ready for prime time, nor should they be treated differently than businesses. I have co-sponsored more than two dozen pieces of legislation and cast 60 votes to repeal, defund or dismantle Obamacare, and I will continue to fight against this terribly flawed law. In addition to Obamacare being a logistical nightmare, Americans are seeing their health insurance premiums rise. Americans who live in rural areas are hit especially hard and will be forced to pay higher prices for the same coverage under Obamacare. According to the New York Times, \u201cIn rural Baker County, Ga., where there is only one insurer, a 50-year-old shopping for a silver plan would pay at least $644.05 before federal subsidies. (Plans range in price and levels of coverage from bronze to platinum, with silver a middle option.) A 50-year-old in Atlanta, where there are four carriers, could pay $320.06 for a comparable plan.\u201d I\u00a0am also hearing from Georgians who are receiving notices from their health insurance providers that they can\u2019t keep their current coverage. According to NBC News, as many as 50 to 75 percent of the 14 million consumers who buy their insurance individually will lose their current plans. For the past several years, President Obama has promised Americans over and over again that if you like your plan, you can keep it. Clearly, this is a broken promise. Even worse, a report came out this week stating that the president knew at least three years ago that he would not be able to live up to this promise. Even a senior Democratic senator, Tom Harkin of Iowa, said this week that the president\u2019s promise to Americans about keeping their health plans is \u201cnot really right.\u201d Flood Insurance This week, I joined Sen. Menendez, D-N.J., in leading a bipartisan coalition of House and Senate members to introduce the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act, which will protect millions of homeowners \u2013 including thousands in Georgia \u2013 from facing huge flood insurance premium rate hikes and will require the Federal Emergency Management Agency to complete an affordability study and to propose real solutions to address affordability issues before any flood insurance premiums can be increased in the future.\u00a0  Without Congressional action now to amend the Biggert-Waters law that was enacted in 2012, many homeowners in costal and flood plain areas in Georgia and elsewhere will experience unaffordable premiums that will cause some owners to lose their homes. Also, Biggert-Waters has the unintended consequence of causing the value of homes for sale in these areas to drop. I\u2019m pleased that our bill also requires FEMA to complete an affordability study using the latest technology to ensure that flood insurance is affordable for homeowners and the program is self-sustainable going forward. More information on this legislation can be found on my website.\u00a0 Nomination of Melvin \u201cMel\u201d Watt to be the Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency    Earlier this year, President Obama nominated Rep. Melvin \u201cMel\u201d Watt, D-N.C., to be the director of the Federal Housing Finance Authority (FHFA). FHFA oversees Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Federal Home Loan Banks. As someone who was in the residential real estate business for three decades and who has authored numerous pieces of housing-related legislation, I feel that this is a critically important role that has the power to greatly affect our economy.  After carefully examining Watt\u2019s record and qualifications for the FHFA director position and meeting with him, I voted against his nomination on Thursday. The Senate rejected this nomination by failing to invoke cloture by a vote of 56 to 42. (The measure required 60 votes to pass.) I have very strong concerns about Watt\u2019s qualifications to run the FHFA\u2019s large portfolio. This is not a job for a career politician, but rather a job for a career businessperson. Furthermore, our country is recovering from a collapse of the housing industry and the subprime market crisis, much of which occurred as a result of votes that Mel Watt took while a member of the House of Representatives. What\u2019s on Tap? On Monday, the Senate will vote on two district judge nominees and will hold a vote to consider S.815, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.   On Wednesday, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is scheduled to testify before the Senate Finance Committee, of which I am a member. I look forward to questioning Secretary Sebelius and demanding answers on behalf of the hundreds of Georgians I hear from everyday who are subjected to the terrible consequences of this terrible law. Sincerely,   Johnny Isakson", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://austinscott.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-austin-scott-delivers-opening-statement-first-public-meeting", "Congressman Austin Scott Delivers Opening Statement at First Public Meeting for 2013 Farm Bill Conference Committee", "2013-10-30", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Austin Scott", "S001189", "austinscott.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTONU.S. Congressman Austin Scott (GA-08) today delivered the following opening remarks at the first public meeting for the 2013 Farm Bill conference committee:    Opening Statement of Congressman Austin Scott  House-Senate Conference Committee  H.R. 2642, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013  October 30, 2013    (Remarks as Prepared)    Thank you, Mr. Chairman.  It's an honor to join my colleagues here today as a part of this conference committee. I am confident the work we accomplish over the next few weeks will result in a farm bill that is good for our farmers, good for our agriculture industry and good for the American people.  As we sit here today and begin our negotiations, cotton, peanuts and other row crops are being picked in Georgia. Our producers and ranchers, who have built their families and livelihoods around a successful agriculture industry, now more than ever need the certainty of a five-year farm bill.  In a few months, they will begin talking with their banks and securing operating loans. Soon after, they will be turning dirt. Without the certainty of a five-year farm bill, this would all be very difficult, if not impossible for many of our family farmers and producers in my district in Georgia.  To achieve this, I know we will have to find agreement on many different issues.  During these discussions, there are a number of specific goals I hope we can achieve together.  First, as we all know, our country possesses an extremely diverse agriculture industry. No one program can meet the many diverging needs of all sectors. Our producers need a choice of safety nets.  As my granddad always said, A farm bill should only be for the bad times, not the good. Thus, providing producers with a choice of a revenue safety net and a price support program is extremely important.  Second, I know nutrition programs have been contentious issues throughout our discussions. Our focus should be on changing the culture of these programs, to provide recipients with a lifeline when they need it most while creating greater economic opportunities for individuals to rise beyond these circumstances.  After serving 14 years in state legislature, I believe nutritional programs can run under greater efficiency if administered by the state. I hope we can set these programs on a path for future state administration.  Ultimately, these programs should meet the goal of temporary assistance for which they were created while also helping those they serve onto a path of self-sufficiency and earned success.  Another issue in need of resolution is the current National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Pesticide Permit process. These permitting requirements for pesticide application are a perfect example of duplicative regulation with no public value. The application of such pesticides has already been evaluated by the EPA under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).  If these current policies remain in place, U.S. farmers will be required to permit the use of pesticides for such purposes that the EPA has already deemed safe for use.  With current language provided for NPDES in the House bill, farmers will not be subjected to a duplicative permitting process for pesticides that have previously been approved for use.  Finally, mandatory country of origin labeling remains at the forefront of World Trade Organization (WTO) cases. This case has the potential to cause significant damage to our agriculture industries.  Over the past year, WTO has ruled in favor of challenges to MCOOL, which could possibly penalize the U.S. billions of dollars. Resolution of MCOOL is a necessity.  Without resolution that is WTO compliant, it is only a matter of time before the U.S. meat market is faced with crippling retaliatory tariffs.  Again, I look forward to working with my colleagues to address these issues, coming to an agreement, and providing farmers and ranchers with certainty for another 5 years.    ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20131205163635/http://hankjohnson.house.gov/press-release/rep-johnson-honors-lithonia-teen-receiving-peace-first-prize", "Rep. Johnson honors Lithonia teen for receiving Peace First Prize", "2013-10-30", "2013", "2013-10", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Hank Johnson", "J000288", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04) honored Lithonia, Ga., teen Mary-Pat Hector from the House floor for being among 10 winners nationwide of the inaugural Peace First Prize for her campaign to combat gun violence.\nHector launched the \u201cThink Twice\u201d campaign in April 2013 after the senseless shooting deaths of a 14-year-old Grayson High School student in Loganville and a 15-year-old student in Chicago.\u00a0 Hector earned $50,000 as part of her award and will use the funds to attend Spelman College, improve the \u201cThink Twice\u201d website, purchase public announcements and travel to schools spreading her message of peace.\nIn his floor speech, Johnson called Hector an \u201ceveryday hero, a young constituent who has set an example we would all do well to follow.\u201d\n\u201cMary-Patricia refused to sit idly by while children died in playgrounds, funerals outnumbered graduation ceremonies, and violence begot more violence. Her campaign encourages youth to think twice before picking up guns. I am proud of her achievements and glad to have the privilege of representing her.\u201d\nPeace First is a national non-profit organization based in Boston that exists to create the next generation of peacemakers. Winners of the Peace First Prize were chosen based on the criteria of courage, compassion and the ability to create collaborative change.\nFor more on Miss Hector and \u201cThink Twice,\u201d visit www.justthink2wice.com. For more on Peace First, visit www.peacefirst.org.\nTo watch the floor speech, click HERE.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.isakson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=989fb11e-2cae-46f9-985d-7a4249103b42", "HIRONO, MORAN, ISAKSON AND BEGICH INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN BILL TO EXTEND EMERGENCY CARE COVERAGE FOR VETERANS", "2013-10-30", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Johnny Isakson", "I000055", "www.isakson.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington \u2013 U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono, Jerry Moran (R-KS), Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and Mark Begich (D-AK), members of the Senate Committee on Veterans\u2019 Affairs,  announced new legislation\u00a0this week to help extend emergency care coverage for veterans. Currently, a veteran enrolled in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) system can only be reimbursed for emergency care at a non-VA facility if he or she has received treatment at the VA within the past two years. However, veterans who have recently returned from deployment or live in rural communities often can\u2019t meet this requirement because they have not received even their first VA exam due to a delay in examination appointments at participating facilities. This bipartisan bill \u2013 endorsed by Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America \u2013 would waive this pre-requisite and allow our nation\u2019s heroes to be reimbursed for medical care at non-VA facilities. \u201cFor Hawaii veterans in rural Oahu or the neighbor islands who live far from VA  facilities, emergency care outside the VA may be their only option,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cJust last week, I met a veteran from Waianae who had a medical emergency while waiting four months for his first appointment at VA. Veterans like him who were denied VA reimbursement would get much needed relief under this legislation. It isn\u2019t fair to punish veterans for waiting times outside their control.\u201d \u201cVeterans who have served our country with duty and honor deserve access to quality health care when they need it,\u201d Senator Moran said. \u201cThey should not be forced to bear the burden of emergency health care costs simply because of exorbitant VA waiting times to see a doctor. As a member of the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee, I am committed to improving access to care for Kansas veterans. This legislation will provide veterans with the emergency care they deserve.\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s unacceptable for veterans to be denied emergency health care coverage because of bureaucratic red tape caused by inefficiencies in the VA system. I\u2019m proud to join my colleagues in supporting this commonsense legislation that will ensure that our veterans receive the benefits that they have earned,\u201d said Senator Isakson. \u201cOur veterans who have made the ultimate sacrifice deserve the benefits that they worked hard to earn. This bill provides a much needed fix to close a loophole preventing too many of our veterans from getting reimbursed for emergency room visits. I thank my colleagues for crossing the aisle to make sure our veterans can get the care they need,\u201d said Senator Begich. The Hirono-Moran-Isakson-Begich bill would give more than 144,000 veterans access to medical treatment without worrying about reimbursement. The VA asked for the statutory authority, granted in this bill, in its FY2014 budget request and has also set aside funds for the change. In addition, H.R.2216, as reported by the Senate Appropriations Committee on June 27, 2013, would cover any additional costs that the VA will incur. Hirono spoke about the bill during today\u2019s Senate Committee on Veterans\u2019 Affairs hearing, bringing the issue of emergency care to the attention of VA officials. VA Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Health Dr. Robert Jesse noted to Hirono that the bill raised an \u201cimportant point\u201d and he would bring her concerns back to VA. Watch footage from the hearing here:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\r\nhttp://youtu.be/-PU1cHLl2cU.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://austinscott.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/tomorrow-first-public-meeting-2013-farm-bill-conference-committee", "TOMORROW: First Public Meeting for 2013 Farm Bill Conference Committee", "2013-10-29", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Austin Scott", "S001189", "austinscott.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTONHouse and Senate Agriculture Committee leaders will convene the first public meeting for the 2013 Farm Bill conference committee tomorrow, October 30, 2013 at 2:30 p.m. ET in room 1100 of the Longworth House Office Building (the Ways and Means Committee Room). The agenda for the meeting of conferees will include opening statements and discussion of H.R. 2642, The Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013.  ***Due to limited space, all press wishing to attend are required to RSVP, and seats will be reserved in order of response. Additionally, an overflow room will be provided to accommodate those unable to sit in the committee hearing room. The meeting will also be streamed live on the House Agriculture Committee website at this link.**    ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://austinscott.house.gov/press-releases?ID=7768C13A-FC82-4E07-AC0C-F2071FB2E473", "Congressman Austin Scott Delivers Opening Statement at First Public Meeting for 2013 Farm Bill Conference Committee", "2013-10-29", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Austin Scott", "S001189", "austinscott.house.gov", "austinscott", "https://austinscott.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Congressman Austin Scott (GA-08) today delivered the following opening remarks at the first public meeting for the 2013 Farm Bill conference committee:\n\nOpening Statement of Congressman Austin Scott\n\nHouse-Senate Conference Committee\n\nH.R. 2642, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013\n\nOctober 30, 2013\n\n(Remarks as Prepared)\n\n\u201cThank you, Mr. Chairman.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s an honor to join my colleagues here today as a part of this conference committee. I am confident the work we accomplish over the next few weeks will result in a farm bill that is good for our farmers, good for our agriculture industry and good for the American people.\n\n\u201cAs we sit here today and begin our negotiations, cotton, peanuts and other row crops are being picked in Georgia. Our producers and ranchers, who have built their families and livelihoods around a successful agriculture industry, now more than ever need the certainty of a five-year farm bill.\n\n\u201cIn a few months, they will begin talking with their banks and securing operating loans. Soon after, they will be turning dirt. Without the certainty of a five-year farm bill, this would all be very difficult, if not impossible for many of our family farmers and producers in my district in Georgia.\n\n\u201cTo achieve this, I know we will have to find agreement on many different issues.\n\n\u201cDuring these discussions, there are a number of specific goals I hope we can achieve together.\n\n\u201cFirst, as we all know, our country possesses an extremely diverse agriculture industry. No one program can meet the many diverging needs of all sectors. Our producers need a choice of safety nets.\n\n\u201cAs my granddad always said, \u201cA farm bill should only be for the bad times, not the good.\u201d Thus, providing producers with a choice of a revenue safety net and a price support program is extremely important.\n\n\u201cSecond, I know nutrition programs have been contentious issues throughout our discussions. Our focus should be on changing the culture of these programs, to provide recipients with a lifeline when they need it most while creating greater economic opportunities for individuals to rise beyond these circumstances.\n\n\u201cAfter serving 14 years in state legislature, I believe nutritional programs can run under greater efficiency if administered by the state. I hope we can set these programs on a path for future state administration.\n\n\u201cUltimately, these programs should meet the goal of temporary assistance for which they were created while also helping those they serve onto a path of self-sufficiency and earned success.\n\n\u201cAnother issue in need of resolution is the current National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Pesticide Permit process. These permitting requirements for pesticide application are a perfect example of duplicative regulation with no public value. The application of such pesticides has already been evaluated by the EPA under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).\n\n\u201cIf these current policies remain in place, U.S. farmers will be required to permit the use of pesticides for such purposes that the EPA has already deemed safe for use.\n\n\u201cWith current language provided for NPDES in the House bill, farmers will not be subjected to a duplicative permitting process for pesticides that have previously been approved for use.\n\n\u201cFinally, mandatory country of origin labeling remains at the forefront of World Trade Organization (WTO) cases. This case has the potential to cause significant damage to our agriculture industries.\n\n\u201cOver the past year, WTO has ruled in favor of challenges to MCOOL, which could possibly penalize the U.S. billions of dollars. Resolution of MCOOL is a necessity.\n\n\u201cWithout resolution that is WTO compliant, it is only a matter of time before the U.S. meat market is faced with crippling retaliatory tariffs.\n\n\u201cAgain, I look forward to working with my colleagues to address these issues, coming to an agreement, and providing farmers and ranchers with certainty for another 5 years.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T22:39:21Z"], ["https://dougcollins.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=500", "Collins Co-Sponsors Surveillance Transparency Legislation", "2013-10-29", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Doug Collins", "C001093", "dougcollins.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Media Contact\r\n\r\n\tCollins Co-Sponsors Surveillance Transparency Legislation\r\n\r\n\tNortheast Georgia\u2019s Congressman Says H.R. 3035 is \u201cClear, to the Point, and Enforceable\u201d\r\n\r\n\tWASHINGTON, Oct 29 \u2013 Congressman Doug Collins (GA-09) yesterday evening officially co-sponsored H.R. 3035, the Surveillance Order Reporting Act (SORA).\u00a0 This bipartisan bill is a response to increasing concerns about individual privacy and how much information the federal government requests from Internet and telecommunications providers for alleged national security purposes.\r\n\r\n\tProvisions in SORA allow these service providers to publicly disclose the number of requests for information received by federal government FISA courts, the number of these requests that are met, and the number of users or accounts about which information was requested.\r\n\r\n\tCongressman Collins said, \u201cIn the twenty-first century, we have to strike a balance between protecting civil liberties and vigilant national security.\u00a0\u00a0 With this Administration\u2019s troubling track record on surveillance, we need transparency legislation that is clear, to the point, and enforceable.\u00a0 SORA fills an important need.\u201d\r\n\r\n\tFor complete bill text, click here.\r\n\r\n\t###\r\n\r\n\tNote: Congressman Collins is a member of the House Committee on the Judiciary.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221163939/http://bishop.house.gov/press-release/congressman-bishop-honors-veterans-supporting-veterans-service-bills", "CONGRESSMAN BISHOP HONORS VETERANS BY SUPPORTING VETERANS SERVICE BILLS", "2013-10-29", "2013", "2013-10", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Sanford Bishop", "B000490", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop (GA-02), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies, supported six measures to honor veterans and ensure access to resources needed for a successful transition into civilian life. H.R. 2189 passed 404 to 1. H.R. 2011, the Veterans\u2019 Advisory Committee on Education Improvement Act, passed 404 to 2. H.R. 1405; H.R. 1742, the Vulnerable Veterans Housing Reform Act of 2013; H.R. 2481, the Veterans Economic Opportunity Act of 2013; and H.R. 3304 all passed by voice vote. Congressman Bishop voted in favor of passage for all six bills.\n\u201cThe VA disability claims backlog and issues surrounding homelessness have plagued our veterans for too long,\u201d said Congressman Bishop. \u201cIn addition to formally honoring these brave men and women, it is my hope that these six pieces of legislation will tear down obstacles veterans face every day, and help secure these matters as priorities in the future.\u201d\nH.R. 2189: Establishes a commission or task force to evaluate how to reduce the backlog of disability claims of the Department of Veterans Affairs.\nH.R. 1405: Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to include an appeals form in any notice of decision for denial of benefit sought.\nH.R. 1742, the Vulnerable Veterans Housing Reform Act of 2013: Prohibits service-related disability benefits and expenses to be considered when calculating income eligibility for Section 8 rental assistance and public housing programs.\nH.R. 2481, the Veterans Economic Opportunity Act of 2013: Extends certain homeless veterans reintegration programs until 2018, expands education benefits for survivors of deceased service members, and creates an office within the Veterans Affairs Department to administer assistance with vocational and education programs.\nH.R. 2011, the Veterans\u2019 Advisory Committee on Education Improvement Act: Extends the operating authority of the Veterans\u2019 Advisory Committee on Education through 2015, and authorizes the Veterans Affairs Department to advise training and rehabilitation for veterans with service-related disabilities.\nH.R. 3304: Requests the President award Bennie G. Adkins and Donald P. Sloat of the United States Army with the Medal of Honor for their acts during the Vietnam Conflict, and authorizes the award of the Medal of Honor to other veterans previously recommended.\nIn efforts to further support and provide resources to members of the military and their families, Congressman Bishop will be hosting a Military Family Summit at Fort Benning, GA on November 6. For more information, please click here.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.isakson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=7c2807cf-3cad-4293-bd5b-dc5c9c98a4c5", "Menendez, Isakson Lead Bipartisan Coalition to Protect Homeowners From Flood Insurance Rate Spike", "2013-10-29", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Johnny Isakson", "I000055", "www.isakson.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON\u00a0\u2013 On the one year anniversary of Superstorm Sandy, U.S. Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Johnny Isakson (R-GA) today led a bipartisan coalition of members to introduce the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act which will protect millions of homeowners from facing huge flood insurance premium rate hikes and require FEMA to complete an affordability study and propose real solutions to address affordability issues before any flood insurance premiums can be raised in the future. \u00a0\r\nThe bill is co-sponsored by Senators Mary Landrieu (D-AR), David Vitter (R-LA), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), John Hoeven (R-ND), Al Franken (D-MN), Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) and Ed Markey\u00a0(D-MA).\u00a0 Congresswoman Maxine Waters, along with Congressmen Michael Grimm, Cedric Richmond and 34 others are introducing a companion bill in the House of Representatives.\r\nThe Menendez-Isakson \u201cHomeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act\u201d will:\r\n\u00a0\r\nSECTION 1. DELAYED IMPLEMENTATION OF FLOODINSURANCE RATE INCREASES\r\nDelays the implementation of rate increases on the following three types of properties  until FEMA meets two requirements:\u00a01) completes the affordability study mandated by Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012, proposes a draft affordability framework for Congressional review, and Congress has a chance to give FEMA affordability authority; and\u00a02) the FEMA Administrator certifies that the agency has implemented a flood mapping approach that utilizes sound scientific and engineering methodologies to determine varying levels of flood risk in all areas participating in the National Flood Insurance Program:\r\n \r\nAll homes and businesses that are currently \u201cgrandfathered.\u201d\u00a0These are properties that were built to code and later remapped into a higher risk area.\u00a0 Prior to Biggert-Waters, these policyholders were not penalized for relying on inaccurate FEMA flood maps.\r\nAll properties that purchased a new policy after July 6, 2012, before they werelegally required to purchase insurance.\r\nAll properties sold after July 6, 2012.\u00a0New homeowners and business ownerswill continue to receive the same treatment as the previous owner unless theytrigger another provision in Biggert-Waters such as Severe Repetitive Loss,\u00a0\u00a0 non-primary residence, substantial damage, etc.\r\n \r\nThe measure requires FEMA to propose a draft regulatory framework to address any  affordability issues identified by the study within 18 months after the completion of the study and establishes a six month period thereafter to provide for Congressional review.\u00a0The House and Senate would then hold up or down votes through a privileged motion on giving FEMA the authority to promulgate affordability regulations.\u00a0If Congress approves this authority, the targeted freeze set forth by this bill would continue until regulations are finalized.\u00a0If not, the freezes would be lifted absent other Congressional action.\r\n\u00a0\r\nSECTION 2. AFFORDABILITY STUDY FUNDING\r\nSection 100236 of Biggert-Waters required FEMA to produce a study that considered the effects the Bill will have on affordability.\u00a0Strikes the arbitrary dollar amount on the affordability study to ensure FEMA has the funding required to complete it within two years of the date of enactment.\r\n\u00a0\r\nSECTION 3. FUNDS TO REIMBURSE HOMEOWNERS FORSUCCESSFUL MAP APPEALS\r\nAllows FEMA to utilize the National Flood Insurance Fund (NFIF)\u00a0to reimburse  policyholders who successfully appeal a map determination.\u00a0FEMA currently has the authority to reimburse homeowners for successful appeals of map findings, but Congress has never appropriated funding for this purpose.\u00a0Making appeal reimbursement an eligible expense of the NFIF would give FEMA the incentive to \u201cget it right the first time\u201d and repay homeowners for contributing to the flood risk body of knowledge.\u00a0Unsuccessful appeals would not be reimbursed in any way.\r\n\u00a0\r\nSECTION 4. ELIMINATE PENALTY ON COMMUNITIESSELF-FINANCING FLOOD PROTECTION\r\nFEMA\u2019s AR and A99 flood zone categories provide more affordable flood insurance to  qualifying communities that are in the process of levee construction, reconstruction, and improvements.\u00a0Current regulations require a certain level of federal participation to qualify for either an A99 or an AR designation, and therefore prevent FEMA from giving communities fair credit for improvements made to existing flood control systems. Proactive communities that invest in mitigation should not be penalized for  self-financing flood protection projects.\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\r\nSECTION 5. TREATMENT OF BASEMENT AREAS WHENCALCULATING BASE FLOOD ELEVATIONS\r\nPreserves the pre-Biggert-Waters basement exception allowing the lowest flood-proofed  opening in a home to be used for determining flood insurance rates.\u00a0This affects 54 communities nation-wide where basements are necessary to protect homeowners and businesses from extreme weather.\u00a0Basements that have not been flood-proofed would remain subject to the effects of Biggert-Waters.\r\n\u00a0\r\nSECTION 6. DESIGNATION OF FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP ADVOCATE\r\nEstablishes a Flood Insurance Rate Map Advocate within FEMA to answer current and  prospective policyholder questions about the flood mapping process.\u00a0The Rate Map Advocate will be responsible for educating policyholders about their individual flood risks, their options in choosing a policy, assisting property owners through the map appeals process, and improve outreach and coordination with local officials, community leaders, and Congress.\r\nHomeowners with mortgages living in flood zones are required to have flood insurance,  which for about 20 percent of properties has traditionally been subsidized or grandfathered at a lower rate by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).  Before Superstorm Sandy struck, a federal flood insurance reform bill, the Biggert-Waters Act, was passed as part of a larger legislative package. The Biggert-Waters Act was aimed at reducing, or phasing out, the federal NFIP subsidy at up to 25 percent a year, which would dramatically increase premiums for homeowners and businesses.\r\nWhat Members are saying: \u00a0\r\nSen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) said: \r\n\u201cAs we continue to recover from the worst natural disaster in our state\u2019s history, a  manmade disaster is looming, jeopardizing that recovery. The combination of new flood maps and phase out of premium subsidies for the National Flood Insurance Program threatens to force victims out of their homes and to destroy entire communities.\u00a0Many homeowners will have to pay premiums they simply cannot afford, forcing them to either sell or abandon their homes.\u00a0These are hardworking middle class families, who played by the rules, purchased flood insurance responsibly, and are now being priced out of their own home. We must stop this manmade disaster from doing more damage, take a time-out and assess the impact these premium hikes will have on homeowners and the communities they live in.\u201d\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\r\nSen.Johnny Isakson (R-GA) said: \r\n\u201cI\u2019m proud to join my colleagues in a bipartisan effort today to protect Americans  from sudden, steep increases in their annual flood insurance premiums as a result of the Biggert-Waters law. Without action, many homeowners in costal and flood plain areas in Georgia and elsewhere will experience unaffordable premiums that will cause some owners to lose their homes. Also, this law has the unintended consequence of causing the value of homes for sale in these areas to drop. I\u2019m pleased that our bill also requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency to complete an affordability study using the latest technology to ensure that flood insurance is affordable for homeowners and the program is self-sustainable going forward.\u201d\r\n\u00a0\r\nSen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) said: \r\n\"One year ago today Sandy hit the east coast, ravaging homes, businesses and  communities. Today, a bipartisan coalition is here to tell the 5.5 million policy holders across the country and nearly 500,000 in Louisiana that we have a solution. The Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act delays the most dangerous rate increases under Biggert-Waters until FEMA proves its flood maps are accurate and understands the impacts these drastic rate increases will have on individual policy holders and the program at large.\u00a0This legislation is about fairness and building a future our communities can count on. Our coalition of business groups, non-profits, local leaders and bipartisan members of congress continues to grow every day and we will keep pushing until this bill becomes law.\u201d\r\n\u00a0\r\nSen. David Vitter (R-LA) said: \r\n\u201cWithout a change, flood insurance is simply going to be unaffordable for middle class  families,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cHomeowners will literally have to turn in their keys and in some cases walk away from their homes. In coastal Louisiana, we\u2019re on the tip of the spear and we\u2019re experiencing this first. But this is not just a Louisiana issue \u2013 it\u2019s going to affect folks across the country.\u201d\r\n\u00a0\r\nSen. John Hoeven (R-ND) said:\r\n\u201cNorth Dakotans and people across the country need fair and affordable flood insurance rates,\u201d said Senator Hoeven. \u201cThis bipartisan legislation ensures that FEMA completes an affordability study before raising flood insurance rates for Americans. It also includes an important provision that ensures communities in North Dakota and across the country are able to continue using floodproofed basement credits when determining premiums. We need to make certain that Americans have affordable flood insurance that works for our communities.\u201d\r\n\u00a0\r\nSen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND)\r\n\u201cFlooding is too often a reality for so many North Dakotans and earlier this month, flood  insurance rates went up for millions of families, putting them at risk if they aren\u2019t able to pay the higher cost,\u201d said Senator Heitkamp.\u00a0\u201cToday\u2019s bipartisan bill would reverse this course and make sure that homeowners are able to get the affordable flood insurance they deserve to protect them and their families.\u00a0It also includes a crucial provision that impacts many North Dakotans who have proactively flood proofed their basements.\u00a0The bill makes sure these homeowners won\u2019t see their flood insurance rates spike to unaffordable levels when they have already gone above and beyond to mitigate their flood risk.\u201d\r\n\u00a0\r\nRep. Maxine Waters (CA-43) said: \r\n\u201cThe Biggert-Waters legislation was designed to address a $24 billion deficit and  ensure millions of American homeowners could continue to purchase flood insurance. But FEMA\u2019s poor implementation, inaccurate mapping and incomplete data has led to unreasonable and unimaginable increases in premiums. From the moment I learned of the unintended consequences of the Biggert-Waters legislation, I have made clear that I would lead the effort to resolve the problems that have resulted,\u201d said Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee.\r\n\u201cToday we have reached bipartisan, bicameral agreement on the best way to repair the National Flood Insurance Program. This legislation would ensure FEMA undertakes program changes in a way that will not cause harm, by delaying implementation until it provides Congress the facts on how rate increases will affect homeowners. It will also give us the information we need to go through the program piece-by-piece and fix any outstanding affordability issues.\u201d\r\n\u00a0\r\nRep. Cedric Richmond (LA-02)\r\n\u201cToday, I join my House and Senate colleagues to continue the fight to make flood  insurance affordable. We cannot allow Louisiana\u2019s homeowners to face these massive, unaffordable increases alone,\u201d Congressman Richmond said. \u201cFlood insurance increases have sent shockwaves up and down the coastal regions and through the heartland of our country. I\u2019m happy to join my colleagues in drafting this legislation that will provide a sustainable, long-term solution that will allow people to buy and sell homes without penalty. This effort transcends party affiliation and reaches down to the core of our purpose in Congress, which is to draft legislation that protects our constituents. For Louisiana\u2019s communities bearing the brunt of these insurance hikes, today is a big step  toward a solution.\u201d\r\n\u00a0\r\nRep. Michael Grimm (NY-11)\r\n\"Homeowners across the nation have been hit with skyrocketing flood insurance rates, which they simply cannot afford,\u201d said. Rep. Grimm. \u201cOn Staten Island, this is an unbearable blow that further victimizes those who are still struggling to recover from Superstorm Sandy.\u00a0I am proud to be part of bipartisan, bicameral solution to delay the rate hikes, while improving the Biggert-Waters Act in ways that protect homeowners from financial burdens and maintain the solvency of the National Flood Insurance Program.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://davidscott.house.gov/blog/?postid=357054", "Reducing the VA Backlog", "2013-10-28", "2013", "2013-10", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "David Scott", "S001157", "davidscott.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Scott is committed to making sure that veterans have timely access to benefits they have earned and he is working to end the disability claims backlog at the Department of Veterans Affairs\u2019 (VA).The number of VA disabilities claims has increased in the last few years\u00a0as more veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan began seeking benefits, and as eligibility for benefits was provided for new diseases associated with exposure to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. There are over 700,000 disability claims pending, with over 400,000 in the backlog.\u00a0 Over the last six months, the backlog had been reduced by over 30%, or 190,000 claims. However, the unnecessary\u00a0government shutdown reduced the progress made on the veterans backlog and halted appeals.\u00a0\u00a0Today the House\u00a0passed H.R 2189 by a vote of 404-1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0H.R. 2189\u00a0establishes a special panel\u00a0to seek ways of eliminating the VA's backlog of disability claims and speeding up the claims appeal process. It also requires the VA to take a number of actions to speed up claims by prioritizing the processing of claims for the elderly and those with life-threatening illnesses.\u00a0 It also directs the VA to enter into agreements with other agencies to expedite the transfer of medical records and it establishes a training program for newly hired claims processors.\u00a0We have an obligation to care for and honor America's servicemen and women, their families, and our veterans for their bravery and sacrifice. If you have a concern with your VA case, please contact Congressman Scott's office.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://austinscott.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-scott-announces-medicare-part-d-workshop-series", "Congressman Scott Announces Medicare Part D Workshop Series", "2013-10-28", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Austin Scott", "S001189", "austinscott.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(WASHINGTON)  U.S. Congressman Austin Scott (GA-08) announced today that he will sponsor a series of workshops during the open enrollment season for the Medicare Part D prescription drug program. Counselors will be available at the events to speak with participants one-on-one to discuss their Medicare options.  Those who are enrolled or wish to enroll in the program must sign up or make changes during the open enrollment period which began on October 15th and ends December 7th. The following workshops will be held during November:    MACON   Tuesday, November 5th   9AM-12PM   Fort Valley State Mobile Lab   Northway Church front parking lot (facing Zebulon Road)   5915 Zebulon Road   Macon, Georgia 31210    GRAY   Tuesday, November 5th   2PM-5PM   Central Georgia Technical College   Jones County Campus   304 Old Clinton Rd.   Gray, GA 31032    VALDOSTA   Thursday, November 7th   9AM-12PM   Wiregrass Georgia Technical College - Brooks Hall   4089 Val Tech Rd.   Valdosta, GA 31602    THOMASVILLE   Thursday, November 14th   10AM-1PM   Southwest Georgia Technical College - Building A   15689 US Highway 19 North   Thomasville, GA 31792    Anyone eligible for the program is encouraged to attend and bring with them their Medicare Card as well as a complete list of all prescriptions they are currently taking. To expedite the process, participants are also encouraged to complete and bring the Medicare Part D Enrollment Event Worksheet' that can be found at http://AustinScott.house.gov/PartD.  Staff from Georgia Cares, a program of the Georgia Department of Human Resources and Division of Aging Services and Area Agencies on Aging, will also be on hand to answer questions.  To find out more about Medicare Part D, those interested may contact the Medicare offices at 1-800-MEDICARE or visit http://www.MEDICARE.gov or contact GeorgiaCares at 1-866-552-4464 to find a plan that best suits their needs.  For questions about the training workshop schedule or to schedule an individual appointment with Rep. Scott's Warner Robins and Tifton offices throughout the month of November, please call Tifton at 229-396-5175 or Warner Robins at 478-971-1776.    ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://austinscott.house.gov/press-releases?ID=BFBB2A1F-C4FB-481E-ACFB-403C8E2FEE8C", "TOMORROW: First Public Meeting for 2013 Farm Bill Conference Committee", "2013-10-28", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Austin Scott", "S001189", "austinscott.house.gov", "austinscott", "https://austinscott.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013House and Senate Agriculture Committee leaders will convene the first public meeting for the 2013 Farm Bill conference committee tomorrow, October 30, 2013 at 2:30 p.m. ET in room 1100 of the Longworth House Office Building (the Ways and Means Committee Room). The agenda for the meeting of conferees will include opening statements and discussion of H.R. 2642, The Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013.\n\n***Due to limited space, all press wishing to attend are required to RSVP, and seats will be reserved in order of response. Additionally, an overflow room will be provided to accommodate those unable to sit in the committee hearing room. The meeting will also be streamed live on the House Agriculture Committee website at this link.**\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T22:39:21Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140420104802/http://johnlewis.house.gov/event/2013-fulton-county-meet-and-greet", "2013 Fulton County Meet and Greet", "2013-10-28", "2013", "2013-10", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "John Lewis", "L000287", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Lewis and his staff\u00a0 will be present to answer questions and assist with issues involving the federal government.\n\u00b7\u00a0This event is open and free of charge to residents of Georgia\u2019s 5th Congressional District\n\u00b7\u00a0Light continental breakfast will be served.\nRSVP\u00a0 via email at GA05rsvp@mail.house.gov or by calling\u00a0 404-659-0116.\nLocation:\n\tAssembly Hall  Fulton County Government Building  141 Pryor Street, S.W.,  Atlanta, Ga 30303", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://austinscott.house.gov/press-releases?ID=299F353E-5630-49CF-9456-D89CDE90F0D1", "Congressman Scott Announces Medicare Part D Workshop Series", "2013-10-27", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Austin Scott", "S001189", "austinscott.house.gov", "austinscott", "https://austinscott.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "(WASHINGTON) \u2013 U.S. Congressman Austin Scott (GA-08) announced today that he will sponsor a series of workshops during the open enrollment season for the Medicare Part D prescription drug program. Counselors will be available at the events to speak with participants one-on-one to discuss their Medicare options.\n\nThose who are enrolled or wish to enroll in the program must sign up or make changes during the open enrollment period which began on October 15th and ends December 7th. The following workshops will be held during November:\n\nMACON\n\nTuesday, November 5th\n\n9AM-12PM\n\nFort Valley State Mobile Lab\n\nNorthway Church front parking lot (facing Zebulon Road)\n\n5915 Zebulon Road\n\nMacon, Georgia 31210\n\nGRAY\n\nTuesday, November 5th\n\n2PM-5PM\n\nCentral Georgia Technical College\n\nJones County Campus\n\n304 Old Clinton Rd.\n\nGray, GA 31032\n\nVALDOSTA\n\nThursday, November 7th\n\n9AM-12PM\n\nWiregrass Georgia Technical College - Brooks Hall\n\n4089 Val Tech Rd.\n\nValdosta, GA 31602\n\nTHOMASVILLE\n\nThursday, November 14th\n\n10AM-1PM\n\nSouthwest Georgia Technical College - Building A\n\n15689 US Highway 19 North\n\nThomasville, GA 31792\n\nAnyone eligible for the program is encouraged to attend and bring with them their Medicare Card as well as a complete list of all prescriptions they are currently taking. To expedite the process, participants are also encouraged to complete and bring the \u2018Medicare Part D Enrollment Event Worksheet\u2019 that can be found at https://austinscott.house.gov/PartD.\n\nStaff from Georgia Cares, a program of the Georgia Department of Human Resources and Division of Aging Services and Area Agencies on Aging, will also be on hand to answer questions.\n\nTo find out more about Medicare Part D, those interested may contact the Medicare offices at 1-800-MEDICARE or visit http://www.MEDICARE.gov or contact GeorgiaCares at 1-866-552-4464 to find a plan that best suits their needs.\n\nFor questions about the training workshop schedule or to schedule an individual appointment with Rep. Scott\u2019s Warner Robins and Tifton offices throughout the month of November, please call Tifton at 229-396-5175 or Warner Robins at 478-971-1776.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T22:39:21Z"], ["http://davidscott.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=356388", "Honoring the 175th Anniversary of the City of Powder Springs", "2013-10-25", "2013", "2013-10", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "David Scott", "S001157", "davidscott.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, Congressman David Scott honored the 175th anniversary of the city of Powder Springs, Georgia by making remarks for the Congressional Record.\u00a0 His statement\u00a0is posted below.\u00a0  \r\n\u00a0  \r\n... Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, every now and then, we have the opportunity to step back and reflect on our history, our accomplishments and struggles and think about how we want to shape our future. October brings a special opportunity for such reflection, as the City of Powder Springs, in my home district in Georgia, observes its 175th Anniversary. Considering that our nation is only 237 years old that is cause for much celebration.  Few people know that Powder Springs is not the original name of the City. It was first incorporated as the town of Springville in 1838. While settlers first came to the town in search of gold, they quickly discovered the medicinal properties of the seven mineral springs in the area. In the 1850s Springville widely became known as a health resort, and people came from great distances to experience the springs. The mineral water from these springs caused the sand around the springs to turn black, resembling gunpowder, which lead the city to be incorporated as Powder Springs in 1859.  The next several decades were hard on Powder Springs. The Civil War put an end to the use of the area as a health resort. After the Civil War, a thriving agricultural industry sprung up, but the coming of the boll weevil in the 1920s and the Great Depression devastated the region.  But the hard-working people of Powder Springs never gave up. With a population quickly approaching 16,000, the city is once again prospering. Its beautiful parks, nature trails and recreation centers draw in visitors from afar. The Silver Comet, for example, is a well known 59-mile ``rails to trails'' multi-use trail that runs through the heart of the City. Residents also have access to over 100 acres of permanently protected green space. I am always amazed at the level of community involvement in Powder Springs, which in part streams from the excellent leadership of Mayor Pat Vaughn, who was the city's first female mayor. My fellow colleagues, I hope you will join me in celebrating this historical milestone and this remarkable city. ...", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://austinscott.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/scott-hasc-republicans-stress-need-maintain-national-defense-letter", "Scott, HASC Republicans Stress Need to Maintain National Defense in Letter to Budget Conference", "2013-10-25", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Austin Scott", "S001189", "austinscott.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  U.S. Congressman Austin Scott (GA-08) joined House Armed Services Committee (HASC) Republicans in sending a letter to FY14 Budget conferees, Chairman Paul Ryan and Chairman Patty Murray, highlighting the need to maintain national defense at the House budget level. The letter describes the impacts of defense cuts both to the overall force and readiness, while urging support for entitlement reform in lieu of cuts to our military.  Time and time again over the last 24 months, the committee has received testimony that sequestration will be devastating to our Armed Forces, their family members, and the defense industrial base, as well as local communities and the economy, stated HASC Republicans in their letter.  The members of this committee believe that everything should be on the table in order to address our Nation's deficit spending. However, while defense represents only 17 percent of our national budget, our military has absorbed 50 percent of the cuts to date.  In closing, we look forward to working with you and the members of the Conference on the Budget to construct a budget plan that reflects our commitment to meet emerging threats and secures our national defense.  The letter serves as a companion to the formal Views and Estimates the HASC sent to the Budget Committee in March. The letter included an attachment with testimony we've received at the HASC from the service chiefs and others.  A pdf version of the letter is available here, and the following HASC members joined Rep. Scott in signing on to the letter:  Chairman Howard \"Buck\" McKeon, California  Vice Chairman Mac Thornberry, Texas  Rep. Randy Forbes, Virginia  Rep. Jeff Miller, Florida  Rep. Joe Wilson, South Carolina  Rep. Frank LoBiondo, New Jersey  Rep. Rob Bishop, Utah  Rep. Mike Turner, Ohio  Rep. John Kline, Minnesota  Rep. Mike Rogers, Alabama  Rep. Trent Franks, Arizona  Rep. Bill Shuster, Pennsylvania  Rep. Mike Conaway, Texas  Rep. Doug Lamborn, Colorado  Rep. Rob Wittman, Virginia  Rep. Duncan D. Hunter, California  Rep. John C. Fleming, Louisiana  Rep. Scott Rigell, Virginia  Rep. Chris Gibson, New York  Rep. Vicky Hartzler, Missouri  Rep. Joe Heck, Nevada  Rep. Jon Runyan, New Jersey  Rep. Austin Scott, Georgia  Rep. Steven Palazzo, Mississippi  Rep. Martha Roby, Alabama  Rep. Mo Brooks, Alabama  Rep.Paul Cook, California  Rep. Jim Bridenstine, Oklahoma  Rep. Brad Wenstrup, Ohio  Rep. Jackie Walorski, Indiana      ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://woodall.house.gov/press-release/georgia-delegation-praises-house-passage-savannah-harbor-expansion-authorization", "Georgia Delegation Praises House Passage of Savannah Harbor Expansion Authorization", "2013-10-24", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Rob Woodall", "W000810", "woodall.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, the U.S. House passed the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA), which authorizes the development and maintenance of the nation\u2019s waterway infrastructure, among other critical projects. The legislation includes a key provision that authorizes the funding necessary for the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project to move forward. This provision would end a 14 year delay of the project to deepen the harbor from 42 to 47 feet in order to accommodate new supertankers that will soon be coming from the Panama Canal. The expansion of the harbor will ensure it remains a vital piece of the national infrastructure and have a major economic impact on Georgia and the nation.\nAll 14 House members of the Georgia Congressional delegation voted for WRRDA today, and both of Georgia\u2019s senators voted for the senate version of the bill earlier this year. The following delegation members issued statements praising the House bill\u2019s authorization of the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project:\nRep. Rob Woodall (R-GA-07), \u201cCertainly, today\u2019s bill is not perfect, but it absolutely moves us in the right direction for water infrastructure planning. \u00a0The bill is critical to Georgia because it both clears the final hurdles for the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project\u2014arguably the largest economic development and job creation initiative in the State--and by rebuffing attempts by Alabama and Florida to use the bill to hijack the water in Lake Lanier.\u00a0 Both of these successes mean more job growth in the 7th district of Georgia and that\u2019s good news.\u00a0 Moreover, the bill reduces federal bureaucratic red tape and returns decision making power to states. These steps reduce time necessary to get a federal construction permit in many cases by more than a decade.\u00a0 With the addition of provisions guaranteeing strong Congressional oversight of the Administration\u2019s activities, this bill is a win for taxpayers and a catalyst for long-term economic growth.\u201d\nSen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), \u201cI am pleased the House passed the Water Resources Reform and Development Act with bipartisan support from the entire Georgia delegation. The Savannah Harbor Expansion Project is critically important to our state and local economies, and this bill provides the authorization needed to complete such an important project. I look forward to a deepened harbor and our future export capabilities.\u201d\nSen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA), \u201cThe House\u2019s passage of the Water Resource Reform and Development Act that included a critical authorization for the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project is a great victory for the United States and the state of Georgia. I applaud Chairman Shuster and the House for its support and for recognizing the huge economic impact of this project, which will bring $174 million in annual net benefits to the United States and create 11,554 jobs. I remain committed to seeing this project through to the very end.\u201d\nRep. Jack Kingston (R-GA-1), \"Georgia\u2019s deep water ports support 352,000 jobs in our state and service more than 21,000 companies throughout the country. Passage of this bill is a critical step toward ensuring this economic engine can continue its vital role in our regional and national economy.\u00a0 Deepening the harbor will free up $213 million in private capital each year that can be invested in job creation and business expansion.\u00a0 For every dollar invested in the project, there is a $5.50 return.\u00a0 Let\u2019s get this bill signed into law and this important project underway.\" Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-GA-2), \u201cIn addition to improving access to critical waterways, this bill will create jobs and boost our economy by opening access to vital infrastructure projects across the country. The Savannah Port will be a major driver of economic development throughout the entire state. Dredging of the Savannah River is long overdue, and once this bill is enacted into law, larger cargo ships will be one step closer to traveling and trading through our world-class port.\u201d\nRep. Lynn Westmoreland (R-GA-3), \u201cGeorgia ports are one of the biggest drivers of our state\u2019s economy and account for about one out of every 12 jobs in the state. That\u2019s why it\u2019s so important to support projects like the one to deepen the Savannah port.\u00a0 I am so proud that our state\u2019s delegation worked tirelessly together to make sure that the Water Resources Reform and Development Act included funding to deepen the Savannah port so we can remain an integral part of our country\u2019s shipping industry. I also want to reassure you that WRRDA once again reinforced that the water debate between Georgia, Alabama, and Florida is something that should be decided among the states \u2013 without congressional involvement.\u201d\nRep. Tom Price (R-GA-6), \u201cThe passage of this water resources and infrastructure bill is a victory for Georgia families. It will help strengthen our local economy, save taxpayer dollars and eliminate wasteful government red tape. Appropriately, it avoids contributing to any efforts that would deny Georgia access to vital resources and harm our state\u2019s economy. Moreover, this legislation will help our state and local leaders better plan and take concrete steps towards preparing the Port of Savannah to be able to accept the larger cargo ships of the future, a key component to helping grow our economy and create jobs. At a time when the government spends too much and gets too little in return, WRRDA contains no earmarks, mandates crucial Congressional oversight and provides for the deauthorization of existing programs to offset any new authorizations. This is an economically critical reform and infrastructure bill.\u201d Rep. Austin Scott (R-GA-8), \u201cThis legislation is great news for our state, where Savannah\u2019s port plays a crucial role in our agriculture and manufacturing industries and is a driving force of our local economies.\u00a0 Improving and strengthening our ports and waterways will create jobs and guarantee America remains a competitive player in the global economy.\u201d\nRep. Doug Collins (R-GA-9), \u201cThis legislation gives Northeast Georgia the freedom to plan for the future of our beautiful lakes as we see fit, and it gets Georgia farm produce out into the markets more efficiently.\u00a0 WRRDA is a win for Georgia, it\u2019s a win for American competitiveness, and it\u2019s a win for the Constitution.\u201d Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA-10), \u201cThis bill will help boost Georgia\u2019s economy and create jobs by allowing the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project to finally move forward. It is vital that the Administration make deepening the port a top priority and that we continue to work towards completion of this project. At the same time, I\u2019m pleased that this legislation leaves out any attacks by other states on Georgia\u2019s water supply. \u00a0While we have been successful in this effort thus far, it is important that we remain vigilant as we move towards a House/Senate conference.\u201d\nRep. Phil Gingrey (R-GA-11), \u201cDeepening the Port of Savannah is the single-most important economic development project in Georgia and the Southeast. Expanding the nation\u2019s fastest-growing harbor and fourth-busiest port will create jobs, retain and attract businesses, and maintain our competitive advantage. This legislation invests in our state\u2019s most vital infrastructure project while leaving water usage negotiations to the states. Preserving access to our drinking water is of critical importance to Georgia families and businesses and I will continue working to protect it.\u201d Rep. John Barrow (D-GA-12), \u201cFor decades, the Georgia Ports Authority has worked with our federal partners to deepen the Savannah Harbor. This critical infrastructure project will have a positive impact on nearly every county in the State of Georgia, and brings the good-paying jobs to our region that we all agree we need.\u00a0 Our entire delegation has been united in our efforts to see this project through, and we\u2019re finally crossing that final barrier with passage of this bill.\u00a0 We\u2019re grateful for the bipartisan work of the Congressional committees to move this bill, and look forward to seeing construction begin at the Port of Savannah.\u201d\nRep. Tom Graves (R-GA-14), \u201cThis project is vital to our state and the country in many ways, but in simple terms, it means we\u2019ll have new jobs and opportunities for a lot of Georgia families. Those supertankers will arrive at the harbor full of goods, and Georgia businesses will make sure they leave full. I applaud the Georgia delegation for working together to secure this victory for our constituents.\u201d\nPresident Obama and the Army Corps of Engineers have deemed the Port of Savannah a \u201cnationally and regionally significant infrastructure project.\u201d\nStudies by the Army Corps of Engineers show a 5.5-to-1 benefit to cost ratio, meaning that for every dollar spent on the deepening, the nation will reap $5.50 in benefits.\nAccording to the Georgia Ports Authority, Georgia\u2019s deep water ports and inland barge terminals support more than 352,000 jobs throughout the state annually and contribute $18.5 billion in income, $66.9 billion in revenue and $2.5 billion in state and local taxes to Georgia\u2019s economy.\nOn May 15, 2013, the U.S. Senate passed its version of the bill by a vote of 83-14. The House and Senate must reconcile their differences before sending a final bill to the president to sign into law.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://austinscott.house.gov/press-releases?ID=5F9B460F-64DA-4795-9FA9-8A3877AEF9BF", "Scott, HASC Republicans Stress Need to Maintain National Defense in Letter to Budget Conference", "2013-10-24", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Austin Scott", "S001189", "austinscott.house.gov", "austinscott", "https://austinscott.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Congressman Austin Scott (GA-08) joined House Armed Services Committee (HASC) Republicans in sending a letter to FY14 Budget conferees, Chairman Paul Ryan and Chairman Patty Murray, highlighting the need to maintain national defense at the House budget level. The letter describes the impacts of defense cuts both to the overall force and readiness, while urging support for entitlement reform in lieu of cuts to our military.\n\n\u201cTime and time again over the last 24 months, the committee has received testimony that sequestration will be devastating to our Armed Forces, their family members, and the defense industrial base, as well as local communities and the economy,\u201d stated HASC Republicans in their letter.\n\n\u201cThe members of this committee believe that everything should be on the table in order to address our Nation\u2019s deficit spending. However, while defense represents only 17 percent of our national budget, our military has absorbed 50 percent of the cuts to date.\n\n\u201cIn closing, we look forward to working with you and the members of the Conference on the Budget to construct a budget plan that reflects our commitment to meet emerging threats and secures our national defense.\u201d\n\nThe letter serves as a companion to the formal Views and Estimates the HASC sent to the Budget Committee in March. The letter included an attachment with testimony we\u2019ve received at the HASC from the service chiefs and others.\n\nA pdf version of the letter is available here, and the following HASC members joined Rep. Scott in signing on to the letter:\n\nChairman Howard \"Buck\" McKeon, California\n\nVice Chairman Mac Thornberry, Texas\n\nRep. Randy Forbes, Virginia\n\nRep. Jeff Miller, Florida\n\nRep. Joe Wilson, South Carolina\n\nRep. Frank LoBiondo, New Jersey\n\nRep. Rob Bishop, Utah\n\nRep. Mike Turner, Ohio\n\nRep. John Kline, Minnesota\n\nRep. Mike Rogers, Alabama\n\nRep. Trent Franks, Arizona\n\nRep. Bill Shuster, Pennsylvania\n\nRep. Mike Conaway, Texas\n\nRep. Doug Lamborn, Colorado\n\nRep. Rob Wittman, Virginia\n\nRep. Duncan D. Hunter, California\n\nRep. John C. Fleming, Louisiana\n\nRep. Scott Rigell, Virginia\n\nRep. Chris Gibson, New York\n\nRep. Vicky Hartzler, Missouri\n\nRep. Joe Heck, Nevada\n\nRep. Jon Runyan, New Jersey\n\nRep. Austin Scott, Georgia\n\nRep. Steven Palazzo, Mississippi\n\nRep. Martha Roby, Alabama\n\nRep. Mo Brooks, Alabama\n\nRep.Paul Cook, California\n\nRep. Jim Bridenstine, Oklahoma\n\nRep. Brad Wenstrup, Ohio\n\nRep. Jackie Walorski, Indiana\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T22:39:21Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20131205163646/http://hankjohnson.house.gov/press-release/rep-johnson-calls-white-house-look-apps-act-foundation-consumer-privacy-bill-rights", "Rep. Johnson Calls on White House to Look to APPS Act as Foundation for the Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights", "2013-10-24", "2013", "2013-10", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Hank Johnson", "J000288", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) sent a letter to President Obama encouraging the president to consider H.R. 1913, the APPS Act, as the basis for comprehensive privacy legislation.\u00a0\nPolitico reports that the White House is coordinating with the Department of Commerce to draft legislation that will \u201cboost online privacy safeguards for consumers\u201d by building upon the Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights, the blueprint for privacy protection that the White House released last year.\u00a0\nIn his letter, Congressman Johnson called the Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights \u201ca watershed moment in consumer privacy.\u201d\u00a0\nCalling on President Obama to \u201cstrike the right balance between innovation and responsibility,\u201d Congressman Johnson also called on the White House and Department of Commerce to continue protecting consumers in an open and transparent approach through a multi-stakeholder process.\u00a0\nIn August, the National Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA) concluded its first multi-stakeholder process to develop a code of conduct for transparency of data collection on mobile devices.\u00a0 Congressman Johnson applauded the process, noting that it demonstrated \u201cthe willingness of developers, stakeholders, and public-interest groups to come together with principles to inform and protect consumers.\u201d\u00a0\nIn 2012, Congressman Johnson launched AppRights as an open, bottom-up approach to drafting legislation that will protect the privacy of mobile device users.\u00a0 The result was the APPS Act.\u00a0 The bill was based on the thoughts and values of the people who weighed-in through AppRights, and it\u2019s also the first bipartisan mobile privacy legislation.\u00a0\nAt the 5th Annual State of the Mobile Net Conference this past summer, Congressman Johnson delivered a keynote address where he noted the increasingly mobile nature of our economy.\u00a0\n\u201c[M]ore companies are looking to mobile as the future of media,\u201d Congressman Johnson noted, while the \u201c\u2018digital divide\u2019 means that minorities are more likely to access the internet from a mobile device than from a stationary computer.\u201d\u00a0\nThe conflux of these two events means that, more than ever before, we need to build protections into the technologies we use, and we need privacy legislation that works for us.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\nThe APPS Act answers this call.\u00a0 By bringing baseline privacy protections to mobile devices, the APPS Act would protect and empower consumers with transparency, notice, and control on mobile devices.\nClick HERE to view the letter.\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221072401/http://bishop.house.gov/press-release/congressman-bishop-works-improve-access-georgia-water-resources", "CONGRESSMAN BISHOP WORKS TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO GEORGIA WATER RESOURCES", "2013-10-24", "2013", "2013-10", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Sanford Bishop", "B000490", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) worked to improve access to Georgia water resources by supporting the bipartisan passage of H.R. 3080, the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRDA). The legislation includes provisions authorizing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to start work on the $652 million Savannah Harbor Expansion Project which will deepen 30 miles of the Savannah River to improve shipping access to the Savannah Harbor.\n\u201cIn addition to improving access to critical waterways, this bill will create jobs and boost our economy by opening access to vital infrastructure projects across the country,\u201d said Congressman Bishop. \u201cThe Savannah Port will be a major driver of economic development throughout the entire state. Dredging of the Savannah River is long overdue, and once this bill is enacted into law, larger cargo ships will be one step closer to traveling and trading through our world-class port.\u201d\nH.R. 3080 authorizes the construction of 23 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers water resource related projects; establishes new processes for water selection, permitting, and project deauthorization; encourages non-federal participation in developing water infrastructure by establishing a pilot program for private-public partnerships; and other measures.\nU.S. Army Corps of Engineers water resource related projects include the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project with an estimated federal cost of $461 million and an estimated non-federal cost of $201 million. The bill passed the House 417 to 3. The United States Senate approved its own version of the legislation on May 15, 2013 by a vote of 83 to 14.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://davidscott.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=356305", "Rep. Scott Applauds House Passage Of Savannah Harbor Expansion Authorization", "2013-10-23", "2013", "2013-10", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "David Scott", "S001157", "davidscott.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, the\u00a0House passed H.R. 3080, the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA), which authorizes the development and maintenance of the nation\u2019s waterway infrastructure. H.R. 3080 includes a key provision that authorizes the funding necessary for the Savannah Harbor expansion project to move forward. This provision will end a 14 year delay of the project to deepen the harbor from 42 to 47 feet in order to accommodate new supertankers that will soon be coming from the Panama Canal. The expansion of the harbor will ensure it remains a vital piece of the national infrastructure and have a major economic impact on Georgia and the nation.\u00a0\u201cThe House has finally passed major legislation with bipartisan agreement, including\u00a0the entire Georgia delegation,\"\u00a0 Congressman Scott said. \"The expansion of the Savannah Harbor is critically important to Georgia's economy.\u00a0 The deepening of the Panama Canal allows for larger cargo ships to move up the Atlantic coast.\u00a0\u00a0Once\u00a0WRRDA is enacted into law, the Savannah Port will move to modernize to compete for more global business.\u00a0 I also call on the House leadership to bring up the transportation appropriations bill for passage in a similar bipartisan manner.\u201d\u00a0 President Obama and the Army Corps of Engineers have deemed the Port of Savannah a \u201cnationally and regionally significant infrastructure project.\u201d Studies by the Corps of Engineers show a 5.5-to-1 benefit to cost ratio, meaning that for every dollar spent on the deepening, the nation will reap $5.50 in benefits.\u00a0According to the Georgia Ports Authority, Georgia\u2019s deep water ports and inland barge terminals support more than 352,000 jobs throughout the state annually and contribute $18.5 billion in income, $66.9 billion in revenue and $2.5 billion in state and local taxes to Georgia\u2019s economy.  The House voted 417-3 to pass\u00a0 H.R. 3080 and on May 15, the U.S. Senate passed its version of WRRDA by a vote of 83-14. The House and Senate must reconcile their differences before sending a final bill to the president to sign into law.  ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://tomgraves.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=356226", "Rep. Graves, Georgia Delegation Applaud House Passage Of Savannah Harbor Expansion Authorization", "2013-10-23", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Tom Graves", "G000560", "tomgraves.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Graves, Georgia Delegation Applaud House Passage Of Savannah Harbor Expansion Authorization\n                    \n                    \n                        \n                    \n                    \n                    \n                    \n                    \n                        \n                            Washington,\n                            October 23, 2013\u00a0-\n                        Today, the U.S. House passed the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA), which authorizes the development and maintenance of the nation\u2019s waterway infrastructure, among other critical projects. The legislation includes a key provision that authorizes the funding necessary for the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project to move forward. This provision will end a 14 year delay of the project to deepen the harbor from 42 to 47 feet in order to accommodate new supertankers that will soon be coming from the Panama Canal. The expansion of the harbor will ensure it remains a vital piece of the national infrastructure and have a major economic impact on Georgia and the nation.\r\nAll 14 House members of the Georgia Congressional delegation voted for WRRDA today, and both of Georgia\u2019s senators voted for the senate version of the bill earlier this year. The following delegation members issued statements applauding the House bill\u2019s authorization of the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project:\r\n Rep. Tom Graves\u00a0(R-GA-14), \u201cThis project is vital to our state and the country in many ways, but in simple terms, it means we\u2019ll have new jobs and opportunities for a lot of Georgia families. Those supertankers will arrive at the harbor full of goods, and Georgia businesses will make sure they leave full. I applaud the Georgia delegation for working together to secure this victory for our constituents.\u201d Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), \u201cI am pleased the House passed the Water Resources Reform and Development Act with bipartisan support from the entire Georgia delegation. The Savannah Harbor Expansion Project is critically important to our state and local economies, and this bill provides the authorization needed to complete such an important project. I look forward to a deepened harbor and our future export capabilities.\u201dSen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA), \u201cThe House\u2019s passage of the Water Resource Reform and Development Act that included a critical authorization for the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project is a great victory for the United States and the state of Georgia. I applaud Chairman Shuster and the House for its support and for recognizing the huge economic impact of this project, which will bring $174 million in annual net benefits to the United States and create 11,554 jobs. I remain committed to seeing this project through to the very end.\u201d\r\nRep. Jack Kingston (R-GA-1), \"Georgia\u2019s deep water ports support 352,000 jobs in our state and service more than 21,000 companies throughout the country. Passage of this bill is a critical step toward ensuring this economic engine can continue its vital role in our regional and national economy.\u00a0 Deepening the harbor will free up $213 million in private capital each year that can be invested in job creation and business expansion.\u00a0 For every dollar invested in the project, there is a $5.50 return.\u00a0 Let\u2019s get this bill signed into law and this important project underway.\" Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-GA-2), \u201cIn addition to improving access to critical waterways, this bill will create jobs and boost our economy by opening access to vital infrastructure projects across the country. The Savannah Port will be a major driver of economic development throughout the entire state. Dredging of the Savannah River is long overdue, and once this bill is enacted into law, larger cargo ships will be one step closer to traveling and trading through our world-class port.\u201d\r\nRep. Lynn Westmoreland (R-GA-3), \u201cGeorgia ports are one of the biggest drivers of our state\u2019s economy and account for about one out of every 12 jobs in the state. That\u2019s why it\u2019s so important to support projects like the one to deepen the Savannah port.\u00a0 I am so proud that our state\u2019s delegation worked tirelessly together to make sure that the Water Resources Reform and Development Act included funding to deepen the Savannah port so we can remain an integral part of our country\u2019s shipping industry. I also want to reassure you that WRRDA once again reinforced that the water debate between Georgia, Alabama, and Florida is something that should be decided among the states \u2013 without congressional involvement.\u201d Rep. Tom Price (R-GA-6), \u201cThe passage of this water resources and infrastructure bill is a victory for Georgia families. It will help strengthen our local economy, save taxpayer dollars and eliminate wasteful government red tape. Appropriately, it avoids contributing to any efforts that would deny Georgia access to vital resources and harm our state\u2019s economy. Moreover, this legislation will help our state and local leaders better plan and take concrete steps towards preparing the Port of Savannah to be able to accept the larger cargo ships of the future, a key component to helping grow our economy and create jobs. At a time when the government spends too much and gets too little in return, WRRDA contains no earmarks, mandates crucial Congressional oversight and provides for the deauthorization of existing programs to offset any new authorizations. This is an economically critical reform and infrastructure bill.\u201d Rep. Rob Woodall (R-GA-7), \u201cCertainly, today\u2019s bill is not perfect, but it absolutely moves us in the right direction for water infrastructure planning.\u00a0 The bill is critical to Georgia because it both clears the final hurdles for the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project\u2014arguably the largest economic development and job creation initiative in the State--and by rebuffing attempts by Alabama and Florida to use the bill to hijack the water in Lake Lanier.\u00a0 Both of these successes mean more job growth in the 7th district of Georgia and that\u2019s good news. Moreover, the bill reduces federal bureaucratic red tape and returns decision making power to states. These steps reduce time necessary to get a federal construction permit in many cases by more than a decade.\u00a0 With the addition of provisions guaranteeing strong Congressional oversight of the Administration\u2019s activities, this bill is a win for taxpayers and a catalyst for long-term economic growth.\u201d\r\nRep. Austin Scott (R-GA-8), \u201cThis legislation is great news for our state, where Savannah\u2019s port plays a crucial role in our agriculture and manufacturing industries and is a driving force of our local economies.\u00a0 Improving and strengthening our ports and waterways will create jobs and guarantee America remains a competitive player in the global economy.\u201d\r\n Rep. Doug Collins (R-GA-9), \u201cThis legislation gives Northeast Georgia the freedom to plan for the future of our beautiful lakes as we see fit, and it gets Georgia farm produce out into the markets more efficiently.\u00a0 WRRDA is a win for Georgia, it\u2019s a win for American competitiveness, and it\u2019s a win for the Constitution.\u201d Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA-10), \u201cThis bill will help boost Georgia\u2019s economy and create jobs by allowing the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project to finally move forward. It is vital that the Administration make deepening the port a top priority and that we continue to work towards completion of this project. At the same time, I\u2019m pleased that this legislation leaves out any attacks by other states on Georgia\u2019s water supply.\u00a0 While we have been successful in this effort thus far, it is important that we remain vigilant as we move towards a House/Senate conference.\u201d\r\nRep. Phil Gingrey (R-GA-11), \u201cDeepening the Port of Savannah is the single-most important economic development project in Georgia and the Southeast. Expanding the nation\u2019s fastest-growing harbor and fourth-busiest port will create jobs, retain and attract businesses, and maintain our competitive advantage. This legislation invests in our state\u2019s most vital infrastructure project while leaving water usage negotiations to the states. Preserving access to our drinking water is of critical importance to Georgia families and businesses and I will continue working to protect it.\u201d Rep. John Barrow (D-GA-12), \u201cFor decades, the Georgia Ports Authority has worked with our federal partners to deepen the Savannah Harbor. This critical infrastructure project will have a positive impact on nearly every county in the State of Georgia, and brings the good-paying jobs to our region that we all agree we need.\u00a0 Our entire delegation has been united in our efforts to see this project through, and we\u2019re finally crossing that final barrier with passage of this bill.\u00a0 We\u2019re grateful for the bipartisan work of the Congressional committees to move this bill, and look forward to seeing construction begin at the Port of Savannah.\r\nPresident Obama and the Army Corps of Engineers have deemed the Port of Savannah a \u201cnationally and regionally significant infrastructure project.\u201d\r\nStudies by the Army Corps of Engineers show a 5.5-to-1 benefit to cost ratio, meaning that for every dollar spent on the deepening, the nation will reap $5.50 in benefits.\r\nAccording to the Georgia Ports Authority, Georgia\u2019s deep water ports and inland barge terminals support more than 352,000 jobs throughout the state annually and contribute $18.5 billion in income, $66.9 billion in revenue and $2.5 billion in state and local taxes to Georgia\u2019s economy.\r\nOn May 15, 2013, the U.S. Senate passed its version of the bill by a vote of 83-14. The House and Senate must reconcile their differences before sending a final bill to the president to sign into law.\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://austinscott.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-austin-scott-shares-georgians-experiences-obamacare", "Congressman Austin Scott Shares Georgians' Experiences with Obamacare", "2013-10-23", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Austin Scott", "S001189", "austinscott.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(WASHINGTON)  U.S. Representative Austin Scott (GA-08) today discussed the disastrous impact the president's health care law is having on jobs, the economy and access to affordable health care for Georgia families during remarks on the House Floor:  (Remarks as prepared)  Mr. Speaker,  Now that Obamacare has had twenty-three days of what has been a disastrous roll out and hundreds of thousands are getting health insurance cancellation notices, I wanted to hear directly from my constituents how this is helping or hurting people back in Georgia.   Unfortunately, the news was not good.   One constituent tells me: Not only are premiums higher, but we have to pay more out of pocket. We will end up spending about $500-$600 a year on durable medical supplies that have ALWAYS been covered 100 percent. This does NOT help the middle class!'  And another shared the news he recently learned from his employer: My premiums are going up over $1,200 a year, and my deductible [is going up] by over $1,000, and my out-of-pocket max from $3,500 to $6,500.'  That is more than a house payment for many Georgians.  These are hardworking, middle class families in my district who were promised by the President that they could keep their current health care plans. Now these plans are more expensive for less coverage.  This is unacceptable, Mr. Speaker.   Contrary to the President's promises, Obamacare is driving up costs, threatening jobs, kicking Georgians out of plans they like and limiting access for patients.   What hardworking Americans need are common sense, market-based reforms that lower costs, increase access to more affordable care, and give citizens more control over their health care decisions  not less.   There is still time to stop this trainwreck, if the President and Democrats will join us.   Thank you Mr. Speaker and I yield back.    ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://austinscott.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/georgia-delegation-praises-house-passage-savannah-harbor-expansion", "Georgia Delegation Praises House Passage of Savannah Harbor Expansion Authorization", "2013-10-23", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Austin Scott", "S001189", "austinscott.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Today, U.S. Congressman Austin Scott (GA-08) joined all 14 House members of the Georgia Congressional delegation in voting for the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA), which authorizes the development and maintenance of the nation's waterway infrastructure, among other critical projects. The legislation, which passed the House with bipartisan support, includes a key provision that authorizes the funding necessary for the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project to move forward.  This provision would end a 14 year delay of the project to deepen the harbor from 42 to 47 feet in order to accommodate new supertankers that will soon be coming from the Panama Canal. The expansion of the harbor will ensure it remains a vital piece of the national infrastructure and have a major economic impact on Georgia and the nation.  All 14 House members of the Georgia Congressional delegation voted for WRRDA today, and both of Georgia's senators voted for the Senate version of the bill earlier this year.  The following delegation members issued statements praising the House bill's authorization of the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project:    Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), I am pleased the House passed the Water Resources Reform and Development Act with bipartisan support from the entire Georgia delegation. The Savannah Harbor Expansion Project is critically important to our state and local economies, and this bill provides the authorization needed to complete such an important project. I look forward to a deepened harbor and our future export capabilities. Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA), The House's passage of the Water Resource Reform and Development Act that included a critical authorization for the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project is a great victory for the United States and the state of Georgia. I applaud Chairman Shuster and the House for its support and for recognizing the huge economic impact of this project, which will bring $174 million in annual net benefits to the United States and create 11,554 jobs. I remain committed to seeing this project through to the very end.  Rep. Jack Kingston (R-GA-1), \"Georgia's deep water ports support 352,000 jobs in our state and service more than 21,000 companies throughout the country. Passage of this bill is a critical step toward ensuring this economic engine can continue its vital role in our regional and national economy. Deepening the harbor will free up $213 million in private capital each year that can be invested in job creation and business expansion. For every dollar invested in the project, there is a $5.50 return. Let's get this bill signed into law and this important project underway.\" Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-GA-2), In addition to improving access to critical waterways, this bill will create jobs and boost our economy by opening access to vital infrastructure projects across the country. The Savannah Port will be a major driver of economic development throughout the entire state. Dredging of the Savannah River is long overdue, and once this bill is enacted into law, larger cargo ships will be one step closer to traveling and trading through our world-class port.  Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R-GA-3), Georgia ports are one of the biggest drivers of our state's economy and account for about one out of every 12 jobs in the state. That's why it's so important to support projects like the one to deepen the Savannah port. I am so proud that our state's delegation worked tirelessly together to make sure that the Water Resources Reform and Development Act included funding to deepen the Savannah port so we can remain an integral part of our country's shipping industry. I also want to reassure you that WRRDA once again reinforced that the water debate between Georgia, Alabama, and Florida is something that should be decided among the states  without congressional involvement. Rep. Tom Price (R-GA-6), The passage of this water resources and infrastructure bill is a victory for Georgia families. It will help strengthen our local economy, save taxpayer dollars and eliminate wasteful government red tape. Appropriately, it avoids contributing to any efforts that would deny Georgia access to vital resources and harm our state's economy. Moreover, this legislation will help our state and local leaders better plan and take concrete steps towards preparing the Port of Savannah to be able to accept the larger cargo ships of the future, a key component to helping grow our economy and create jobs. At a time when the government spends too much and gets too little in return, WRRDA contains no earmarks, mandates crucial Congressional oversight and provides for the deauthorization of existing programs to offset any new authorizations. This is an economically critical reform and infrastructure bill. Rep. Rob Woodall (R-GA-7), Certainly, today's bill is not perfect, but it absolutely moves us in the right direction for water infrastructure planning. The bill is critical to Georgia because it both clears the final hurdles for the Savannah Harbor Expansion Projectarguably the largest economic development and job creation initiative in the State--and by rebuffing attempts by Alabama and Florida to use the bill to hijack the water in Lake Lanier. Both of these successes mean more job growth in the 7th district of Georgia and that's good news. Moreover, the bill reduces federal bureaucratic red tape and returns decision making power to states. These steps reduce time necessary to get a federal construction permit in many cases by more than a decade. With the addition of provisions guaranteeing strong Congressional oversight of the Administration's activities, this bill is a win for taxpayers and a catalyst for long-term economic growth.  Rep. Austin Scott(R-GA-8), This legislation is great news for our state, where Savannah's port plays a crucial role in our agriculture and manufacturing industries and is a driving force of our local economies. Improving and strengthening our ports and waterways will create jobs and guarantee America remains a competitive player in the global economy. Rep. Doug Collins (R-GA-9), This legislation gives Northeast Georgia the freedom to plan for the future of our beautiful lakes as we see fit, and it gets Georgia farm produce out into the markets more efficiently. WRRDA is a win for Georgia, it's a win for American competitiveness, and it's a win for the Constitution. Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA-10), This bill will help boost Georgia's economy and create jobs by allowing the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project to finally move forward. It is vital that the Administration make deepening the port a top priority and that we continue to work towards completion of this project. At the same time, I'm pleased that this legislation leaves out any attacks by other states on Georgia's water supply. While we have been successful in this effort thus far, it is important that we remain vigilant as we move towards a House/Senate conference.  Rep. Phil Gingrey(R-GA-11), Deepening the Port of Savannah is the single-most important economic development project in Georgia and the Southeast. Expanding the nation's fastest-growing harbor and fourth-busiest port will create jobs, retain and attract businesses, and maintain our competitive advantage. This legislation invests in our state's most vital infrastructure project while leaving water usage negotiations to the states. Preserving access to our drinking water is of critical importance to Georgia families and businesses and I will continue working to protect it. Rep. John Barrow (D-GA-12), For decades, the Georgia Ports Authority has worked with our federal partners to deepen the Savannah Harbor. This critical infrastructure project will have a positive impact on nearly every county in the State of Georgia, and brings the good-paying jobs to our region that we all agree we need. Our entire delegation has been united in our efforts to see this project through, and we're finally crossing that final barrier with passage of this bill. We're grateful for the bipartisan work of the Congressional committees to move this bill, and look forward to seeing construction begin at the Port of Savannah.  Rep. Tom Graves(R-GA-14), This project is vital to our state and the country in many ways, but in simple terms, it means we'll have new jobs and opportunities for a lot of Georgia families. Those supertankers will arrive at the harbor full of goods, and Georgia businesses will make sure they leave full. I applaud the Georgia delegation for working together to secure this victory for our constituents.    President Obama and the Army Corps of Engineers have deemed the Port of Savannah a nationally and regionally significant infrastructure project.  Studies by the Army Corps of Engineers show a 5.5-to-1 benefit to cost ratio, meaning that for every dollar spent on the deepening, the nation will reap $5.50 in benefits.  According to the Georgia Ports Authority, Georgia's deep water ports and inland barge terminals support more than 352,000 jobs throughout the state annually and contribute $18.5 billion in income, $66.9 billion in revenue and $2.5 billion in state and local taxes to Georgia's economy.  On May 15, 2013, the U.S. Senate passed its version of the bill by a vote of 83-14. 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