url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at https://www.perdue.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-david-perdue-recaps-this-years-results-previews-2018-on-fox-news,"Senator David Perdue Recaps This Years Results, Previews 2018 on Fox News",2017-12-30,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,David Perdue,P000612,www.perdue.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Skip to primary navigation Skip to content Meet David Connect Helping You News",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.perdue.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-david-perdue-2017-in-photos,Senator David Perdue: 2017 In Photos,2017-12-29,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,David Perdue,P000612,www.perdue.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Skip to primary navigation Skip to content Meet David Connect Helping You News",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.perdue.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-david-perdue-highlights-president-trumps-year-of-accomplishments,Senator David Perdue Highlights President Trumps Year of Accomplishments,2017-12-28,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,David Perdue,P000612,www.perdue.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Skip to primary navigation Skip to content Meet David Connect Helping You News",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://austinscott.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/air-force-advanced-technology-and-training-center-coming-middle-ga,(Houston Home Journal): Air Force Advanced Technology and Training Center Coming to Middle GA,2017-12-27,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,Austin Scott,S001189,austinscott.house.gov,,,legacy,"ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE Scientists, engineers, technicians and educators in Middle Georgia will have a state-of-the-art facility to help revolutionize future manufacturing technologies by late 2018. ""Middle Georgia has a long and strong relationship with the Unites States Air Force, and I couldnt be more supportive or proud of the Air Forces decision to bring a new Advanced Technology and Training Center (ATTC) to Warner Robins, said U.S. Rep. Austin Scott.Brig. Gen. John Kubinec, Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex commander, agreed. ""Innovation is about people working together, he said. ""The Air Force Advanced Technology and Training Center is a place where people can collaborate and marry great ideas with technology. The ATTC will be a place to train on and test new technologies without interrupting actual aircraft maintenance production. The center will seek to capitalize on the government and academic talent of people in the Middle Georgia region and encourages new opportunities for local high schools, community colleges and universities. ""This center is going to help us reach beyond the fence to interact with the men and women of the local community in ways we couldnt before, said Thomas Fischer, director of Engineering and Technical Management for the Air Force Sustainment Center. ""This center will enable Robins Air Force Base and Middle Georgia to strengthen ties to work together in order to solve the Department of Defenses most difficult challenges and educate the current and future industry experts to ensure our air superiority. The facility will provide: quick reaction and qualification capabilities for new technologies and processes in a non-production environment; training capabilities for advanced technology equipment and processes; and, cross-discipline collaboration space to share ideas and interact real-time in a fast-paced and dynamic environment. By leveraging these capabilities, the center will allow the staff to work collaboratively to foster innovative thinking, increase education and training, and push the state-of-the-art in manufacturing. ""The Air Force Advanced Technology and Training Center is a big win for Robins Air Force Base and Middle Georgia, said Kubinec. ""Its the first of its kind and having it located in Warner Robins makes it a great avenue for community collaboration.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://woodall.house.gov/media-center/e-newsletter-archive/washington-watch-122617,Washington Watch - 12/26/17,2017-12-26,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,Rob Woodall,W000810,woodall.house.gov,,,legacy,"PRESIDENT TRUMP TO SIGN WOODALL LEGISLATION INTO LAW When I visit schools around the Seventh District, I am often asked, Where do the ideas for new laws come from? The answer that I give most often is that a constituent came to me with a problem, and we worked together to craft a solution. That was the case last week when the House passedS. 1393, the Jobs for Our Heroes Act.Section 2 of this bill, which is now on its way to the White House to be signed into law, is the exact text of my bill, H.R. 2547. It allows VA medical professionals physicians, physician assistants, chiropractors, advance practice nurses to conduct the medical examinations necessary for a veteran to be able to operate a commercial motor vehicle under the rules and regulations of the Department of Transportation. This common-sense legislation was approved by bipartisan majorities in both the House and Senate, and it is going to help veterans get back to work faster. I was proud to have worked with my main Democrat co-sponsor, Representative Julia Brownley (D-CA) on this measure as well as my friend Representative Pete Aguilar (D-CA) on the final version of this bill. Despite what you may hear elsewhere, bipartisanship is alive and well in Congress, and the Jobs for Our Heroes Act is a prime example of how we can work together to make a difference. FUNDING GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS AND SUPPORTING DISASTER AREAS While most of the focus last week was on tax reform, Congress also passed a couple of spending bills. The first was a Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund our federal agencies and programs through January 19, 2018. The CR also included a temporary extension of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act as well as funding through March 2018 for the Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP). President Trump signed the CR into law at the end of last week. The House has passed full-year measures for funding and reauthorizations for CHIP and Community Health Centers, but the Senate has not yet acted on any of these bills. My expectation is that Senate will resume work on a FY2018 appropriations package in the early days of 2018 with the goal of completing it before the CR expires. The second spending bill to pass last week was an emergency disaster funding measure, and it was designed to assist with the ongoing recovery and relief efforts for those who were impacted earlier this year by devastating hurricanes and those who are currently being impacted by wildfires. Tens of billions have already been dedicated to those American families affected by hurricanes and wildfires in 2017. President Trump asked for another $40 billion in emergency funding and suggested offsets to pay for it, but by the time the bill reached the House floor, all of the offsets had disappeared and the bill had grown to more than $80 billiononly 15% of which (according to CBO) is actually going toward disaster relief in FY2018. That isnt rightnot for those families in need and not for the American taxpayer. I stand with our families in need, and I will continue to work with the Administration on disaster relief and support Administration requests for funding and offsets. Hopefully, with work, we can eliminate the non-emergency dollars in this bill and put 100% of the bill toward disaster recovery. PRESIDENT TRUMP SIGNS ONCE-IN-A-GENERATION TAX REFORM As a Christmas gift to millions of American families, President Trump signed H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act into law on Friday morning. As you likely know, the bill was approved by both the House and Senate last Wednesday, marking the first major overhaul of our income tax code since 1986.Certainly, there is still much to do, but there is much to celebrate about this iteration of tax reform. I am confident that its reforms will deliver tax relief for hardworking Americans from all walks of life and fuel our economy for years to come. Though there are far too many reforms to mention them all here, I do want to share some of the more significant provisions with you. Click on the picture below to watch my remarks in support of H.R. 1. On the individual side of our tax code, the final version of H.R. 1 significantly increases the standard deduction to shield nearly double the amount of money every American can earn before paying income taxes, and it also lowers tax rates so taxpayers can keep more of their hard-earned money. Though many credits and deductions were eliminated in the name of simplifying the tax code, H.R. 1 preserves several of those that are most beneficial to many American taxpayers, including the mortgage interest deduction, the state and local tax deduction, the charitable contribution deduction, and the medical expense deduction, to name a few. For families with children, H.R. 1 expands the child credit from $1,000 to $2,000, preserves the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit, and maintains the Earned Income Tax Credit. Businesses of all sizes will also see a simpler tax code and a reduced tax burden beginning in 2018. For small business organized as pass-through entities, H.R. 1 offers a first-ever 20% tax deduction so that more business income can be invested in employees and growing the company. And for larger businesses competing in todays global economy, the corporate tax rate will fall from 35 percentthe highest in the industrialized worldto 21 percent, a reform that will make American businesses more competitive overnight. Further, H.R. 1 shifts America from a world-wide system of taxation to a new territorial system that will end the outdated practice of double taxing foreign earnings brought back to the U.S. for investment while repealing the incentives in current law that reward companies that offshore jobs and income. Again, there are far too many good things about H.R. 1 for me to share them all here so I invite you all to use the links below to read more about it. I hope you all are as excited as I am about beginning a new year with a brand new tax code. And if the last few days are any indication, hard-working Americans have a lot to look forward to in terms of benefits. Several companies (Boeing, AT&T, Wells Fargo, Comcast) have already announced new billion dollar investments in their American operations, immediate bonuses for hundreds of thousands of front-line employees, and increases in the minimum wage for entry level employees (up to $15 per hour). This is just the beginning folks. I expect more companies to announce how they are going to use their tax savings to invest in their employees and in the American economy as this law goes into effect in the coming year. TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SANCTIONS HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSERS The headlines last week focused on passage of landmark tax reform legislation and another necessary government funding package, but amidst all that, the White House was taking a bold step forward in punishing human rights abusers and perpetrators of worldwide corruption schemes. In 2016, Congress passed a law called the Global Magnitsky Act named after Russian citizen Sergei Magnitsky who was killed while in government custody after exposing corruption in the Russian government which allows the President to impose visa bans and targeted sanctions on any individual in the world who is responsible for committing or supporting human rights violations and who engages in corruption. Last week, President Trump used this law to impose sanctions and visa bans on 53 people and organizations, including Major General Maung Maung Soe, a Burmese general who is responsible for an ethnic cleansing operation of the Rohingya minority in Burma. Sanctions were also levied against: Yahya Jammeh, the former President of the Gambia who created a terror and assassination squad in that country to silence political opposition; Slobodan Tesic, one of the biggest illegal arms dealers in the Balkans; Gulnara Karimova, the head of a powerful organized crime syndicate in Uzbekistan that engaged in extortion and bribery of government officials; and Mukhtar Hamid Shah, a Pakistani doctor who Pakistani law enforcement believe is the ring-leader of a human organ trafficking ring, to name a few. The Declaration of Independence is clear when it says: [w]e hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happieness. From 1776 to today, we believe as Americans that all people are equal whether here or abroad and it is our responsibility to stand up to those who would take away the God-given rights of every person through horrific crimes like ethnic cleansing and politically-motivated assassinations. Im proud of President Trump for taking these actions, and I support him continuing to single-out for punishment even more heinous actors around the world. CELEBRATING STATE CHAMPIONS IN SUWANEE! With a productive week in Washington keeping me occupied, I wasnt able to attend the celebration in Suwanee last week, but I sure am proud of the North Gwinnett High School football team, and all those who helped them reach the remarkable achievement of becoming the 7A State Champions! The Seventh District alone --andthe entire State of Georgia -- is home to incredible schools with top-notch academic and athletic programs, so to rise to the top in such a competitive field is truly impressive. A Suwanee native and former North Gwinnett High School quarterback, Mayor Jimmy Burnette, said it best when he talked about how the journey to this point was a long one, but shows just how far hard work and commitment can take us as individuals, teams, and communities. Team sports are such a great way to demonstrate this principle, and Im grateful to have the kind of local leadership that is empowering our young people with these opportunities to learn and be successful. Congratulations once again to North Gwinnett High School and the Suwanee community for this victory! As is almost always the case, successes are the culmination of a great deal of hard work, many failures along the way, the lessons learned through them, and the support of so many behind the scenes. Its a moment well-earned, and were proud of you! FORSYTH COUNTY SCHOOLS RANK TOP IN THE STATE The stories of success just keep coming! In our community it doesnt seem to matter which direction you look, youll find real-world examples of tangible success and excellence in just about any field you choose. If you hadnt heard yet, it was recently announced that Forsyth County public schools ranks higher than any other public system in the state on the College and Career Readiness Performance Index! Of course, this isnt the first accolade earned by our fantastic educators here at home, but it is yet another one. These kinds of results give our voice in places like Washingtontremendous credibility, and Im so appreciative of our local leaders who make that a reality. When I share our story of success on Capitol Hill, it isnt just my voice, its a proven track record from a diverse community that is working together to get things done. That matters, and it makes a big difference as we work to shape federal policy that partners with, and empowers, those back home. The message of local decision-making and freedom to craft tailored solutions for individual communities isnt hypothetical in the Seventh District its a way of life, and Im grateful. As Assessment and Accountability Director of Forsyth County Schools, Beth Kieffer, said, We are blessed here by a community with high expectations. And beyond that, we have excellent students who want to excel, and I couldnt agree more. Congratulations! MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR This is truly the most wonderful time of the year. No matter how your family celebrates the holiday season, it is hard not to get caught up in the season of joy and giving, family and traditions. Across the Seventh District you can see Christmas trees, Menorahs, poinsettias, wreathes, lights,and so much more celebrating and sharing the holiday spirit with our entire community. This is by far one of my favorite parts of representing our district. The ability to take part in and see that vast diversity of traditions present in our community warms the heart, and I am incredibly thankful for how each of our different celebrationsenriches and benefits our community. While the holiday decorations on the outside of every home are beautiful, what is more inspiringis the generous and caring spirit that fills each home and every person. The holiday season is so much more than a time of year or an actual season, but rather a reminder to cherish and love one another, to enjoy the warm company of friends and family, and to pursue the dream of peace on earth, goodwill toward men. I wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, from my family to yours. See you in the New Year! Sincerely, Rob Woodall Member of Congress",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://allen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1008,"A Big, Beautiful Christmas Present for America",2017-12-22,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,Rick Allen,A000372,allen.house.gov,,,legacy,"A Big, Beautiful Christmas Present for America f t # e Washington, December 22, 2017 Just days before Christmas, President Donald J. Trump has kept his promise to the American people to deliver comprehensive tax reform. Congressman Rick W. Allen (GA-12) released the following statement after President Trump signed H.R. 1, comprehensive tax reform, into law:""Promises made, promises kept - this has been the cornerstone of President Trump's first year in office. Together, we have kept our promise to the American people to deliver the first major tax reform legislation in more than 31 years. Since this legislation passed the Senate and the House earlier in the week, numerous American companies have announced rising minimum wages and bonuses for their employees - great news for individuals and businesses across the nation."" ""I hope everyone in Georgia-12 can sleep a little better tonight, knowing that they will soon see more money in their pockets, and a flourishing American economy. This is a truly historic day and in the words of President Trump, we have delivered 'a big, beautiful Christmas present' for America."" ### f t # e",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.isakson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-center?ContentRecord_id=BAB201B7-F40E-4892-8976-01266E877AAD,History,2017-12-22,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,Johnny Isakson,I000055,www.isakson.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Dear Friends, After spending countless hours voting on amendments and debating the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the House and Senate passed this historic, once-in-a-generation legislation this week, and the president signed it into law today. By taking these long-awaited and important steps to update our tax code, we are helping grow the economy and create jobs while putting money back into the pockets of Americans. This pro-growth, pro-jobs tax overhaul will restore the American promise and show the world that the United States will again be a world-class nation, a competitor to fear, and a land of great opportunity for every American. On Tuesday, I gave Senate floor remarks highlighting some of the provisions that will benefit Georgia families and individuals including cutting individual income tax rates across the board, doubling the standard deduction, and doubling the child tax credit. Senate Working Hard For Veterans As chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, I take very seriously our responsibility to serve those who have served us. The Senate has accomplished significant bipartisan victories this year on behalf of our nations veterans. These efforts include the passage of 10 major pieces of veterans legislation--all of which have been signed into law-- that aim to strengthen veterans health care, benefits and support. The Senate has unanimously confirmed 10 of President Trumps nominees to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the U.S. Court of Veterans Appeals, including the number one and number two spots at the department. This remarkable achievement is a testament to the teamwork, leadership and commitment of all members of Congress, regardless of political party. The veterans of the United States have better health care, better benefits and a more modern and responsive VA in the years ahead as a result of our work this year, and Im proud to have been a part of it. On Thursday, I gave remarks on the Senate floor urging my colleagues to support the Caring for Our Veterans Act, which is currently awaiting a full Senate vote and would make the eleventh bill signed into law if passed before the end of the year. In Other Senate News: In 2017, the Republican-led Senate has been hard at work. In addition to the major tax reform overhaul and veterans' legislation, the Senate: Confirmed Justice Neil Gorsuch to the U.S. Supreme Court. Confirmed three U.S. attorneys for Georgias Northern, Middle and Southern Districts. Confirmed a record-breaking 12 U.S. circuit court judges across the country. Repealed a major component of Obamacare. Rolled back 15 Obama-era regulations, along with the U.S. House, to help the economy that has been burdened by these stifling, unnecessary government regulations. Imposed tough sanctions on Iran, Russia and North Korea. Strengthened our national defense. On Monday, the Senate voted to confirm Paul Compton, Jr., of Ala., to be general counsel of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, andto confirmOwen West, of Conn., to be an assistant secretary of defense. On Wednesday, I joined my colleagues on the Senate Finance Committee in introducing a bill to extend a number of tax provisions that expired at the beginning of this year, many of which provide incentives for American energy production. Among the tax provisions is a nuclear tax credit extension that I have championed that would aid nuclear reactors under construction at Plant Vogtle in Georgia. In Georgia, keeping the Plant Vogtle nuclear energy project on track will not only strengthen Americas energy security and national security, but it will preserve the more than 6,000 Georgia jobs created by this project, and I am committed to making sure this project stays on track for completion. Whats on tap? The Senate will be adjourned for the holidays from nowthrough Jan. 3, 2018. Merry Christmas and happy New Year to all! Sincerely,",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.perdue.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-david-perdue-leads-effort-to-strengthen-secure-mail-initiative-program,Senator David Perdue Leads Effort To Strengthen Secure Mail Initiative Program,2017-12-22,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,David Perdue,P000612,www.perdue.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Skip to primary navigation Skip to content Meet David Connect Helping You News",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.perdue.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-david-perdue-tackles-false-claims-about-the-tax-plan,Senator David Perdue Tackles False Claims About The Tax Plan,2017-12-22,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,David Perdue,P000612,www.perdue.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Skip to primary navigation Skip to content Meet David Connect Helping You News",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://dougcollins.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=947,Collins Introduces Music Modernization Act to Reform Licensing Landscape,2017-12-21,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,Doug Collins,C001093,dougcollins.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTONRep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) today introduced H.R. 4706, the Music Modernization Act, to bring music licensing its first meaningful update in almost 20 years. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) is the bills lead cosponsor. Songs reframe the world. They show us reality as it is and as it could be. I introduced the Music Modernization Act to move music licensing law closer to where it should be. Today, the music industry is shackled to laws devised before streaming, and even basic recordings, existedlaws that penalize music creators and music lovers alike. Only by ushering music licensing into the twenty-first century can we promote artistry and its appreciation long into the future, and thats exactly what were doing with the Music Modernization Act,said Collins. The House Judiciary Committee has undertaken a thorough review of the issues that adversely affect stakeholders in the copyright ecosystem. We have heard a diverse array of perspectives, and it is clear that stakeholders on all sides believe the copyright system is outdated and needs reform, particularly in the area of music licensing. The Music Modernization Act is carefully crafted legislation that will improve music licensing by increasing efficiency and providing greater transparency. One change it would make is requiring digital services to pay for a Mechanical Licensing Collective that would match songwriters and publishers with recordings to ensure proper payments. I am a proud cosponsor and look forward to working with industry and my colleagues across the aisle and in the Senate on advancing this legislation as well as other needed components of copyright reform,said Jeffries. Additional cosponsors of this legislation include Chairman of the Democratic Caucus, Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-N.Y.), as well as Reps. Diane Black (R-Tenn.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) and Pete Sessions (R-Texas). Overview of the Music Modernization Act The bill reforms the music licensing landscape in four main dimensions. Section 115 Reform This section of the bill ends the bulk Notice of Intent (NOI) process through the Copyright Office, which can prevent songwriters from being compensated or compensated in a timely manner for uses of their works. Under the Music Modernization Act, the digital services would fund a Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC), and, in turn, be granted blanket mechanical licenses for interactive streaming or digital downloads of musical works. The MLC would be governed by publishers and self-published songwriters. The MLC would address the challenges digital services face today when attempting to match songwriters and publishers with recordings. The bill would also create business efficiencies for the digital services by providing a transparent and publicly accessible database housing song ownership information. Additionally, because the database would publicly identify songs that have not been matched to songwriters and/or publishers, publishers would also be able to claim the rights to songs and get paid for those songs. Songwriters and publishers would also be granted an audit right, which they dont currently have under Section 115. Willing Buyer/Willing Seller Standard Section 115of the Copyright Act has regulated musical compositions since 1909before recorded music even existed.Section 115 allows anyone to seek a compulsory license to reproduce a song in exchange for paying a statutory rate.Current law directs the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB)the government body responsible for setting the statutory rateto apply a legal standard to determine rates that does not reflect market value. The Music Modernization Act replaces the current flawed legal standard with a standard that requires the court to consider free-market conditions when determining rates. The WheelApproach Currently, ASCAP and BMI are each assigned to a single, respective rate court judge. Every case must be adjudicated before each performance rights organization's (PROs) respective designated consent decree judge. Under the Music Modernization Act, a district judge in the Southern District of New York would be randomly assigned from the wheel of district judgesfor rate setting disputes. The wheel approach would enable BMI and ASCAP, as well as licensees, to go before any judge in the Southern District of New York on a rotating basisrather than being assigned to a single judgefor the purpose of rate setting disputes. This wheel approach ensures that the judge will find the facts afresh for each rate case based on the record in that particular case, without impressions derived from prior cases. Section 114(i) Repeal Currently, Section 114(i) of the Copyright Act forbids the federal rate courts overseeing the consent decrees that govern the two major PROs from considering certain evidence when setting performance royalty rates for songwriters and composers. The rate court judges are barred from considering sound recording royalty rates as a relevant benchmark when setting performance royalty rates for songwriters and composers. As a result, the playing field is uneven, at the expense of songwriters. The Music Modernization Act repeals Section 114(i), moving the industry to a fairer system under which PROs and songwriters would have the opportunity to present evidence about the other facets of the music ecosystem to judges for their consideration. This repeal creates the opportunity for songwriters to obtain fairer rates for the public performances of their musical works. Support for the Music Modernization Act National Music Publishers Association (NMPA) President & CEO David Israelite,American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers(ASCAP) CEO Elizabeth Matthews, Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) President & CEO Mike ONeill, Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) President Steve Bogard and Songwriters of North America (SONA) Executive Directors Michelle Lewis and Kay Hanley: We strongly support the introduction of the Music Modernization Act which represents months of collaboration and compromise between the songwriting and tech industries. This legislation enables digital music companies to find the owners of the music they use and reforms the rate setting process for performing rights, ensuring that songwriters and music publishers are paid faster and more fairly than ever before. For too long, digital music services have taken advantage of the bulk NOI process and often failed to find the correct creators to pay, and nowby working togetherthis bill ends this practice by creating a private-sector system where money will no longer be lost to inefficiencies and lack of information. The bill also improves how mechanical royalty rates are calculated by introducing a willing-seller/willing-buyer standard. On the performance rights side, the bill also replacesthe current rate court system with the random assignment of judges used in most federal court cases, and allows the rate courts to review all relevant market evidence into the valuation of how songwriters are compensated. We thank Congressmen Collins and Jeffries for their leadership in striking this balance that improves and modernizes our outdated licensing system and gives songwriters the ability to be paid what they deserve across all platforms that use music, including the growing interactive streaming services. Digital Media Association (DiMA) CEO Chris Harrison: ""DiMA thanks Congressmen Collins and Jeffries for their work to reform an outdated and inefficient music licensing system that serves neither fans of music nor creators. We support the Music Modernization Act because it would create a blanket license, which is critical to a modern licensing system and a great step forward. We look forward to continuing to work with the sponsors and the Judiciary Committee to enact legislation that creates a music licensing system that benefits everyone."" NMPA President & CEO David Israelite: The Music Modernization Act brings the laws that govern songwriters into the modern age. This legislation will lead to improved rates for songwriters and will streamline digital music companies ability to license music. While there is still more to do to free songwriters from oppressive government regulation, this is a major step forward. ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews: For too long, songwriters have had to work within an outdated system that over-regulates and undervalues their music. ASCAP and our members have long advocated for a more flexible framework that can adapt to the realities of the modern music marketplace. We thank Congressmen Collins and Jeffries for introducing this legislation which is result of compromise between stakeholders from the music and tech sectors. We are glad to see provisions that address rate court reforms, which should ultimately result in compensation for our members that reflects the true value of their music. We will continue to push for reforms that can help move the entire music industry forward. BMI President & CEO Mike ONeill: We thank Congressmen Collins and Jeffries for their introduction of the Music Modernization Act of 2017 and for always working to protect the rights of the American songwriter. While we believe there is still more to do to protect the value of the performance right, we are gratified that the Music Modernization Act contains two important provisions that create a more level playing field when determining the fair market value of our songwriters music; a wheel assignment for rate court judges and the repeal of 114(i). BMI also takes comfort that the bills new mechanical licensing provisions were the result of an important collaboration between the subject matter experts in this areathe mechanical rights holders and the digital services who rely on those rights. While we know this bill is not yet final, we believe it is an important step forward in modernizing music licensing and we look forward to working with all of the interested parties. NSAI President Steve Bogard: This legislation has been years in the making, represents compromises with digital streaming companies and reflects substantial progress in the way digital mechanical royalties for songwriters are determined. When we begin the next CRB proceeding we will be able to actually fight for what songwriters would be paid in a free market. SONA Executive Directors Michelle Lewis and Kay Hanley: After many months of working together on copyright reform and significant compromises by all parties, SONA is optimistic about the gains for publishers and songwriters that the Music Modernization Act provides.It lays the groundwork for a clear and concise system which will put an end to the mass abuses of outdated regulations, and ultimately gets songwriters and copyright owners paid more fairly for their work. SONA is proud to be a part of this historic bill.We hope this is only the beginning and look forward to continuing to work with members of Congress to fight for the rights of music creators.""",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://allen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1007,Allen Applauds Public Service Commission Decision on Plant Vogtle,2017-12-21,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,Rick Allen,A000372,allen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Allen Applauds Public Service Commission Decision on Plant Vogtle f t # e Washington, December 21, 2017 The Georgia Public Service Commission members voted unanimously to move forward with construction of Plant Vogtle units 3 and 4 today. Congressman Rick W. Allen (R-GA-12) released the following statement: I am proud to represent the 12th Congressional district of Georgia, where we are leading the way in Americas nuclear energy expansion. Employing nearly 6,000 people in my district and continuing our dominance in the global nuclear industry, the importance of the Plant Vogtle project cannot be overstated. Today I am grateful to the Georgia Public Service Commission for their unanimous decision to move forward with the construction of Plant Vogtle units 3 & 4. I believe this project is vital to our district, our state and Americas nuclear energy future. Looking forward, it is still critical for Congress to modify the Nuclear Production Tax Credit to extend the 2020 sunset date. Although this was not included in the final Tax Cuts and Jobs Act legislation, my colleagues on the Senate Finance Committee introduced a bill to extend these provisions yesterday. I thank my Senate colleagues for their continued commitment on this important issue and I will continue to do all I can to get the Nuclear Production Tax Credit extension over the finish line. ### f t # e",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://bishop.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-bishop-statement-on-passage-of-disaster-assistance-bill-and,CONGRESSMAN BISHOP STATEMENT ON PASSAGE OF DISASTER ASSISTANCE BILL AND CONTINUING RESOLUTION,2017-12-21,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,GA,Sanford Bishop,B000490,bishop.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA) released the following statement regarding his support for the disaster assistance bill and the continuing resolution to fund the government. The disaster assistance bill includes $81 billion in assistance for communities impacted by recent storms, fires, hurricanes, and other natural disasters. It passed the House by a vote of 251 to 169. The continuing resolution, which will fund the government through January 19, 2018, passed the House by a vote of 231 to 188. Although there is more work to be done, the disaster assistance bill and continuing resolution approved in the House today are a step in the right direction. As part of its $81 billion in support for recovery efforts in communities impacted by recent natural disasters, including Georgia, Texas, Florida, California, Louisiana, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the disaster assistance bill provides $3.8 billion for agriculture recovery efforts. I am especially pleased the bill includes my provisions that finally identify cotton seed as a named commodity. This important designation means cotton seed can now be eligible for Title I Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs, which will go a long way in assisting with recovery efforts. Unfortunately, the supplemental fails to include important reforms I put forward on the Tree Assistance Program (TAP). These reforms would have made TAP more effective and responsive to the needs of orchardists and tree growers, like those in the pecan industry, who sustained damage by natural disasters. However, I am working with Senate colleagues to include these reforms in the Senate version of the bill. Although the continuing resolution is not a long-term, comprehensive measure, as I would strongly prefer, it includes a much needed extension of the Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP). CHIP provides health insurance for 9 million children across the country. Governor Nathan Deal directly reached out to the Georgia delegation to stress the disastrous consequences that would be faced by Georgias children if CHIP were not extended. Furthermore, the continuing resolution includes necessary funding for the Veterans Choice Program, which provides additional health care options for our nation's veterans. I supported the two pieces of legislation passed today due to their essential provisions for our children, veterans, and disaster-impacted communities. It is vital that Congress completes its work when it returns in January and enacts a robust full-year funding measure that provides certainty to families, businesses, agencies, and communities. Full text of the continuing resolution can be found here. A full summary of the disaster assistance bill can be found here, and complete text can be found here. DISASTER ASSISTANCE BILL HIGHLIGHTS: Package Total: $81 billion President's Request: $44 billion Agriculture Total: $3.8 billion Key language impacting agriculture includes $2.6 billion for agriculture disaster assistance, including those related crop and livestock losses in disaster designated zones: Rural Development $165 million for repairs and mitigation for rural water and waste disposal systems $2 million for technical assistance grants for rural water and waste disposal systems $18.6 million for loans for rehabilitation of damaged USDA multi-family properties Agricultural Research $22 million for repair of damaged Agriculture Research Service buildings and facilities Animal and Plant Health $906 million for Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Conservation Programs $541 million for watershed and flood prevention efforts Farm Service Programs $1.6 billion for various programs to help American farmers and ranchers implement the 2014 Farm Bill to aid in disaster recovery efforts, and staffs local Farm Service Agency offices $400 million for emergency conservation efforts to mitigate future disaster risks Removes the cap on livestock crop insurance expenses Allows USDA to issue block grants to disaster-affected areas or to provide direct assistance through the Farm Service Agency Food and Nutrition Programs $24 million for the Emergency Food Assistance Program for hurricane and wildfire-affected states and territories Expands 5-state pilot program to address possible duplicate enrollments among SNAP beneficiaries Unfortunately, the third emergency disaster supplemental fails to include a $14 million proposal to rebuild WIC health and wellness clinics in Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-johnson-reintroduces-bill-support-empower-lgbtq-students-hbcus,"Rep. Johnson reintroduces bill to support, empower LGBTQ students at HBCUs",2017-12-21,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,GA,Hank Johnson,J000288,hankjohnson.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) reintroduced the Inclusive Campuses Act of 2017 today (H.R.4699) to authorize the use of Title III funds to establish on-campus resource centers for LGBTQ students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other minority-serving institutions. Title III provides federal grant funding to assist state and local education agencies. It began as part of the Higher Education Act of 1965, which authorizes funds to enhance and strengthen HBCUs and other minority servicing institutions. We should be doing all we can to help everyone feel welcomed and included, said Johnson, a graduate of Clark Atlanta University and the Thurgood Marshall School of Law in Houston. As a proud graduate of two HBCUs, I feel this legislation is crucial in continuing the legacy of community and inclusion I felt as a student. We cannot allow any educational environment to become one where students suffer in fearful silence and passive intolerance. There are only a handful of HBCUs in the country that have active university-sanctioned LGBTQ-specific organizations on their campuses and many of these historic institutions do not include gender identity/expression and sexual orientation in their nondiscrimination statements; often times leading to the alienation and emotional distress of LGBTQ students. By building upon the innovative efforts to establish LGBTQ resource centers at North Carolina Central University, Bowie State University and Fayetteville State University, the bill will promote full diversity, acceptance and inclusion of all students who attend HBCUs and other minority serving institutions. The bill was introduced with 17 cosponsors, including Congresswoman Barbara Lee of California, Rep. Keith Ellison of Minnesota, Rep. Mark Pocan of Wisconsin, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes-Norton of Washington, D.C. Sean Patrick Maloney of New York. Groups supporting the Inclusive Campuses Act include: Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals, Campus Pride, National Black Justice Coalition, Trans Student Educational Resources and Fayetteville State University. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://tomgraves.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398893,Reps. Graves and Boyle introduce bipartisan bill to strengthen US-Israel cooperation on high-tech weapons,2017-12-21,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,Tom Graves,G000560,tomgraves.house.gov,,,legacy,"Reps. Graves and Boyle introduce bipartisan bill to strengthen US-Israel cooperation on high-tech weapons Washington, December 21, 2017- Reps. Tom Graves (R-GA-14) and Brendan F. Boyle (D-PA-13) today introduced the Procure PGMS for Israel Act (H.R. 4707), which would authorize the Department of Defense to add precision-guided munitions into the United States War Reserve Stockpile in Israel, enabling it to transfer the high-tech weaponry to Israel in the event of a conflict. The United States and Israel share an unbreakable bond, which Congress is committed to guarding and strengthening, said Rep. Graves, a member of the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee. By ensuring Israel has access to precision-guided munitions, were improving security for Israelis, discouraging conflict in the region and reaffirming our sacred relationship with Israel. Israelis live each day under the threat of attack by rockets, missiles and armed drones. Israel is our steadfast ally and the only strong democracy in the Middle East, said Rep. Boyle, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. We must be exceedingly vigilant about the constant threat it faces from bad actors in the region such as Hezbollah and Hamas. That means improving access to our most advanced weaponry for Israels military in the event of a deadly conflict. This bill would ensure that the U.S. stockpile in Israel includes precision-guided munitions that are constantly at the ready and within reach for Israeli forces, significantly improving their security capabilities and safeguarding millions of lives. The United States maintains a War Reserve Stockpile in Israel, authorized by Congress in 1989, which it can draw upon to augment Israeli weaponry in the event of war. Precision-guided munitions (PGMs) are not currently explicitly a part of that stockpile. PGMs are guided projectiles that can reach precise targets with significant accuracy and decreases collateral damage to save civilian lives. During the 2006 war against Hezbollah in Lebanon, the United States granted Israel access to the stockpile. Additionally, in July 2014, during Israeli military operations against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the Defense Department permitted Israel to draw from the stockpile. The legislation introduced today requires a joint U.S.-Israel study on PGM procurement to outline the quantity and type of precision guided munitions that are necessary for Israel to combat Hezbollah in the event of a sustained armed confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah. The bill explicitly authorizes PGMs inclusion in the U.S. War Reserve Stockpile in Israel and allows for transfer of PGMs to Israel from the Stockpile in the event of conflict. Finally, the legislation amends the Department of Defenses acquisition procedures to speed up production of precision-guided munitions. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://woodall.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/woodall-legislation-expand-veteran-employment-opportunities-heads,Woodall Legislation to Expand Veteran Employment Opportunities Heads to Presidents Desk,2017-12-21,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,Rob Woodall,W000810,woodall.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, legislation introduced in the House by U.S. Representative Rob Woodall (GA-07), and in the Senate by Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-TX), received final approval in Congress before heading to the Presidents desk for signature. The Jobs for Our Heroes Act, builds upon current law, the Veterans Expanded Trucking Opportunities (VETOPPS) Act, originally authored by Woodall and signed into law as part of the FAST Act in December of 2015 to remove regulatory barriers for military veterans continuing or beginning work in the trucking industry. Specifically, Woodalls 2015 provision required the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and Veterans Administration (VA) to develop a streamlined process for VA physicians to join the National Registry for Certified Medical Examiners (NRCME), which will save veterans time and money by allowing them to receive a DOT physical from their own VA healthcare team. The DOT requires all commercial drivers to be examined by a health professional listed on the NRCME, and while there are more than 50,000 certified medical examiners (CME) nationwide, FMCSA found during their rulemaking that there were only 25 within the entire VA health system a mere .0005%. This forced many veterans to look outside the VA for a medical professional eligible to perform the required physical, possibly having to pay out of pocket as well. The Jobs for Our Heroes Act further increases veterans access by allowing all qualified VA medical professionals, including advanced practice nurses and physician assistants, to provide physical examinations for veterans using the new streamlined process. This bill has always been about crafting a common sense, bipartisan solution that provides opportunities for our veterans returning to the civilian workforce as quickly as possible while also filling much-needed positions within the trucking industry, said Rep. Woodall. These kinds of seemingly small, targeted solutions may not always make the front page news, but they make a big difference in the lives of those affected. Im proud to have led on this issue, and I am grateful to the constituent who first called me up to bring the problem to my attention, as well as to Senator Cornyn and all my colleagues who partnered with us to get this across the finish line for our veterans. Rep. Woodall is a trusted voice on this Committee, and he continues to be a strong leader committed to improving employment opportunities for our Nations veterans, and to effective, commonsense government, added House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster. I commend him for his work on this legislation and in the Transportation and Infrastructure Committees work to strengthen Americas infrastructure. From his speech on the Senate Floor, Senator Cornyn also added, And I want to thank Congressman Rob Woodall who played a key role helping get this bill through the House. I hope with this bill signed into law, more members of our military will be able to utilize the skills they have acquired while in the military to qualify for well-paying jobs in our communities, and we continue to use our best efforts to keep faith with our veterans who have done so much for all of us. The High Points: The original Veterans Expanded Trucking Opportunities (VETOPPS) Act, brought together safety regulators, the VA, truck drivers, and veterans service organizations to craft a solution supported by both sides of the political aisle and was among the many positive reforms included in the Fast Act signed by the President in 2015. The DOT and the VA are now working together to implement the program so that VA physicians can become certified to conduct these DOT physicals without excessive financial and travel requirements. FMCSA estimates this will save each physician over $600, not to mention the time, money, and inconvenience saved by each veteran driver. The follow-up bill approved by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee this week would allow additional medical professionals in the VA system, such as advanced practice nurses and physician assistants, who are qualified for listing on the National Registry to use this new online training course within the VA system. At the time of the 2016 rulemaking, only 33% of certified medical examiners are medical doctors, so opening this program up to the other 67% of qualified medical professionals within the VA system will increase access and reduce wait times for veterans. Those supporting the measure include the Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), the American Academy of Physicians Assistants, the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, and the American Legion. Congressman Woodall represents the Seventh Congressional District of Georgia, which includes the majority of Forsyth and Gwinnett counties, and currently serves as Chairman of the Rules Subcommittee on Legislative and Budget Process, as well as serving on the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, and Budget Committee. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.isakson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-center?ContentRecord_id=61796054-2CF7-4AC6-B4AB-FBA3F8332F78,Isakson Delivers Remarks on the 'Caring for Our Veterans Act',2017-12-21,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,Johnny Isakson,I000055,www.isakson.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Atlanta Office One Overton Park 3625 Cumberland Blvd, Suite 970 Atlanta, GA 30339 Tel: (770) 661-0999 Fax: (770) 661-0768 E-mail Me",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.isakson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-center?ContentRecord_id=BE048B67-8702-46CF-8CB1-B805D873DEF4,History,2017-12-21,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,Johnny Isakson,I000055,www.isakson.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Dear Friends, After spending countless hours voting on amendments and debating the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the House and Senate passed this historic, once-in-a-generation legislation on Tuesday evening, sending it to the presidents desk. By taking these long-awaited and important steps to update our tax code, we are helping grow the economy and create jobs while putting money back into the pockets of Americans. This pro-growth, pro-jobs tax overhaul will restore the American promise and show the world that the United States will again be a world-class nation, a competitor to fear, and a land of great opportunity for every American. On Wednesday, I gave floor remarks highlighting some of the provisions that will benefit Georgia families and individuals including cutting individual income tax rates across the board, doubling the standard deduction, and doubling the child tax credit. Senate Working Hard For Veterans As chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, I take very seriously our responsibility to serve those who have served us.In working hard for our veterans, the Senate has accomplished significant bipartisan victories this year on behalf of our nations veterans.The Senates efforts this year include the passage of 10 major pieces of veterans legislation all of which have been signed into law that aim to strengthen veterans health care, benefits and support. The Senate has unanimously confirmed 10 of President Trumps nominees to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the U.S. Court of Veterans Appeals, including the number one and number two spots at the department. This remarkable achievement is a testament to the teamwork, leadership and commitment of all members of Congress, regardless of political party. The veterans of the United States have better health care, better benefits and a more modern and responsive VA in the years ahead as a result of our work this year, and Im proud to have been a part of it. On Thursday, I gave remarks on the Senate floor urging my colleagues to support the Caring for Our Veterans Act, which is currently awaiting a full Senate vote and would make the eleventh bill signed into law if passed before the end of the year. In Other Senate News: In 2017, the Republican-led Senate has been hard at work. In addition to the major tax reform overhaul, the Senate: Confirmed Justice Neil Gorsuch to the U.S. Supreme Court. Confirmed three U.S. attorneys for Georgias Northern, Middle and Southern Districts. Confirmed a record-breaking 12 U.S. circuit court judges across the country. Repealed a major tenant of Obamacare. Rolled back 15 Obama-era regulations, along with the U.S. House, to help the economy that has been burdened by these stifling, unnecessary government-imposed regulations. Imposed tough sanctions on Iran, Russia and North Korea. Strengthened our national defense. On Monday, the Senate voted to confirm Paul Compton, Jr., of Ala., to be general counsel of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and on Owen West, of Conn., to be an assistant secretary of defense. On Wednesday, I joined my colleagues on the Senate Finance Committee in introducing a bill to extend a number of tax provisions that expired at the beginning of this year, many of which provide incentives for American energy production. Among the tax provisions is a nuclear tax credit extension that I have championed that would aid nuclear reactors under construction at Plant Vogtle in Georgia. In Georgia, keeping the Plant Vogtle nuclear energy project on track will not only strengthen Americas energy security and national security, but it will preserve the more than 6,000 Georgia jobs created by this project and I am committed to making sure this project stays on track for completion. On Thursday, I introduced bipartisan legislation to ensure that the life-saving food security programs managed under the Feed the Future Initiative will continue for another five years. The Global Food Security Act has not only helped our neighbors abroad, but also has been an investment in our own national security. The strategy helps ensure that every dollar thats invested in our foreign assistance is getting a maximum return for the American taxpayer, including Georgias farmers. Im proud to introduce legislation to reauthorize this program that has already saved lives. On Thursday, I joined the Georgia congressional delegation in calling on the administration to include critical funding for Georgias Savannah Harbor Expansion Project (SHEP) in the presidents fiscal year 2019 budget request. Whats on tap? The Senate will be home for Christmas and the New Year until Jan. 3, 2018. Merry Christmas and happy New Year to all! Sincerely, In Case You Missed It",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.isakson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=133AB09E-3A8F-44DF-9268-F96D92F386A9,Georgia Congressional Delegation Urges Administration to Fully Fund Savannah Harbor Expansion Project,2017-12-21,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,Johnny Isakson,I000055,www.isakson.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., along with the entire Georgia congressional delegation, today called on the administration to include critical funding for the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project (SHEP) in the presidents fiscal year 2019 budget request. In their letter to Mick Mulvaney, director of the Office of Management and Budget, the congressional delegation called for the inclusion of at least $100 million in the presidents budget to ensure the project remains on schedule, avoids cost overruns and meets the federal governments project partnership agreement with the state of Georgia. Upon completion, [SHEP] will deliver the highest benefit-to-cost ratio of any pending deep-draft project in the nation (7.3 to 1) and produce annual economic benefits to the nation of $282 million, the letter states. The letter goes on to note that the state of Georgia has invested nearly $1 billion in infrastructure over the past decade to support the Port of Savannah and that $2 billion is planned for the next 10 years. All of this work and all of this money cannot deliver any new value to the taxpayers and our national economic growth until the channel construction is completed, the letter continues. Continued funding of the project at the [fiscal year] 2018 level of $50 million annually is estimated to delay the project for five years and cost an additional $56 million due to inflation while generating an irretrievable, cumulative loss of $1.4 billion in annual economic benefits. The delegation further argues that when prioritizing taxpayer dollars, In the case of SHEP, we respectfully submit that we have a project that is fully underway, that will deliver proven benefits and has maximum matching support from the local sponsor. A copy of the letter from Sens. Isakson and David Perdue, R-Ga., along with along with U.S. Reps. Earl L. Buddy Carter, R-Ga.-01, Sanford Bishop, D-Ga.-02, Drew Ferguson, R-Ga.-03, Hank Johnson, D-Ga.-04, John Lewis, D-Ga.-05, Karen Handel, R-Ga.-06, Rob Woodall, R-Ga.-07, Austin Scott, R-Ga.-08, Doug Collins, R-Ga.-09, Jody Hice, R-Ga.-10, Barry Loudermilk, R-Ga.-11, Rick Allen, R-Ga.-12, David Scott, D-Ga.-13, and Tom Graves, R-Ga.-14, to Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney is available here. Background: The Savannah Harbor Expansion Project was authorized in the Water Resources and Development Act of 1999 to deepen the Savannah River from its current 42-foot depth to as much as 47 feet. The project is being undertaken in anticipation of an expansion of the Panama Canal that will increase the maximum draft of vessels travelling to and from the East Coast from 39.5 feet to as much as 50 feet. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers estimates that the harbor deepening project will bring $282 million in annual net benefits to the United States. For the Post-Panamax II vessels, the extra five feet of depth will allow for an additional 3,600 cargo containers in each transit, an increase of 78 percent. The federal government has a role in funding this project because the U.S. Constitution gives authority over navigable waters. If the federal government allots less than $80-$100 million annually for the duration of the project, it cannot be completed on time, and the resulting delays could ultimately cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. Dredging for the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project began on Sept. 14, 2015. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.isakson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=1BF7D6BF-5AEE-45E8-B6CA-A6B7EF5C0DBF,Isakson Reintroduces 'Global Food Security Act',2017-12-21,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,Johnny Isakson,I000055,www.isakson.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., today introduced bipartisan legislation to ensure that the life-saving food security programs managed under the Feed the Future Initiative will continue for another five years. Isakson introduced the bipartisan Global Food Security Act reauthorization legislation with U.S. Senator Bob Casey, D-Pa., with whom he introduced the original Global Food Security Act that was signed into law in 2016. The legislation reauthorizes the program for five years and is crucial to ensuring the success of the program beyond next year. The Global Food Security Act has not only helped our neighbors abroad, but also has been an investment in our own national security, said Senator Isakson, a member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. The strategy helps ensure that every dollar thats invested in our foreign assistance is getting a maximum return for the American taxpayer, including Georgias farmers. Im proud to introduce legislation to reauthorize this program that has already saved lives. Specifically, the Global Food Security Act: Requires the administration to develop a whole-of-government strategy to address global food insecurity and hunger. The strategy would emphasize agricultural development, improving maternal and child nutrition, building the resilience of communities, and civil society engagement. Ensures the alignment of U.S. assistance with country-owned strategies to enhance agricultural productivity, household income, local economies, and food and nutrition security to work toward the ultimate goal of transitioning countries and communities away from the need for U.S. assistance under this act. Improves upon existing monitoring and evaluation practices to ensure the effective use of U.S. taxpayer dollars. This includes a requirement for the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to issue a report in 2019. Requires that the administration report to Congress and to the American people annually about the strategy, its results, and the use of foreign assistance funds. Authorizes appropriations through 2021 to carry out international development assistance programs and activities under the strategy. This five-year reauthorization would ensure that these oversight measures are authorized through 2023. In August, Isakson and U.S. Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga.-08, hosted a roundtable conversation in Tifton, Ga., engaging food security experts about research, programs and future opportunities to continue improving and implementing the U.S. global food security strategy. It also highlighted the work of Georgia agriculture and researchers in our nations global food security strategy. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.isakson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=21309CDA-4043-4973-B623-62DD9B9FD102,Isakson Urges Senate to Pass 'Caring for Our Veterans Act',2017-12-21,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,Johnny Isakson,I000055,www.isakson.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, today spoke on the floor of the U.S. Senate to highlight the Senates significant bipartisan victories this year on behalf of our nations veterans and to urge his colleagues to support the Caring for Our Veterans Act of 2017, which is currently awaiting a full Senate vote. The Senates efforts this year include the passage of 10 major pieces of veterans legislation all of which have been signed into law that aim to strengthen veterans health care, benefits and support. Isakson expressed his hope to add the Caring for Our Veterans Act to the list before the end of the year to make critical reforms to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) community care programs. The Caring for Our Veterans Act is bipartisan legislation that would streamline and strengthen veterans community care services at the VA. It was overwhelmingly approved by the Senate VA committee on Nov. 29, 2017, and is supported by 26 leading veterans and military advocacy groups. Isaksons full remarks as delivered are included below: Mr. President, Im glad to join my colleague, Senator Tester from Montana, on the floor today for a discussion of our Veterans Affairs [Committee] accomplishments over the last three years and our challenges for the future But I want to start out my part of this conversation by saying this: Three years ago, the Department of Veterans Affairs made big headlines. Those headlines were that it wasnt working well, our veterans were waiting too long for care, there were failures in our system throughout, and people were looking for an alternative to the VA system because it was in such a quagmire. Thanks to the work of our committee we sought out to fix a lot of problems. Number one was the hospital in Denver which was 40 percent finished, three years behind pace and was going to be closed down. That hospital is open today and operating because the Veterans Affairs Committee in the Senate buckled its shoes, got to work, got the VA fixed and got the hospital finished. But the most challenging thing we faced were long wait times for appointments for our veterans and veterans services for health care. Longer than 30 days for just a routine appointment, sometimes being as long as six months to wait, sometimes dying before they got called up from the waiting list as happened in the Arizona case in Phoenix. We had some tragic stories that came through and our committee came together and said We are going to fix this. We are going to put our shoulder to the grindstone, were going to work hard and were going to make it happen. And like always, fixing anything requires one element, and thats hard work. And the committee has worked hard, Democrats and Republicans alike, and been willing to get with the new secretary, Secretary Shulkin and all of his aides, like Tom Bowman, who was an aide to our committee for a long time and now the deputy secretary [of the VA], and say What is it we need to do to get it fixed? We started out this year with 11 bills introduced for VA improvements in terms of health care, and 10 of those 11 have passed the Senate and there is one left. We are going to have a perfect 11 for 11 before the end of this year if we get the Caring for Our Veterans Act passed. But even if that doesnt make it, weve dealt with long waiting lines for the determination of benefits at the VA, and those waiting lines are beginning to dissipate. We dont have hospitals being shut down because they cant be finished. We have hospitals opening because they can be finished. We dont have near as many cases of horror stories at the VA health facilities because they are being run better. Sure we have problems. Any time you have the second largest agency in the federal government, which the VA health system is, youre going to have problems.But we are meeting them head on, not running away from them. We have a secretary who is really willing to work and make it happen. I cannot say enough about Secretary Shulkin. He has been fantastic. He has been a great worker and has given President Trump the message in terms of what our veterans need, the challenges that we face and need the White House to join us, and the White House has substantially done so to help make a lot of improvements. Working with the ranking member, we decided we would do a number of things. We would end the long wait times for determination of disability and weve done that. We wanted to see to it that the modern access to health care was available to all of our veterans. We wanted to make sure that we came up with creative ideas by using telemedicine and other techniques to deliver health care to our veterans. But most importantly we knew that the Choice Act that we passed three years ago, led by Senator McCain, who by the way is in our prayers and thoughts every day and we wish him the very best, Senator McCain went to work and came up with the first aspect of Choice which passed three years ago. We had this crazy idea that we were going to let veterans choose where they wanted to go for their health care, and we set up a system to do that. The system worked pretty well in some cases. Senator Tester will tell you that in rural America it didnt work all that good in some cases. But it was a good effort of ours to take the private sector in America and make it a force multiplier for the healthcare services delivered to our veterans, and expand the access to health care to our veterans. Well now we have before the Senate what we call the Caring for Our Veterans Act, and it is the finishing touches of what was originally the Choice Act. We are taking the things that we learned were wrong and repealing them. We are taking the things we learned were right and enhancing them. I hope every member in the Senate will hear my voice today and will join me in the next few days ahead to finish the job and pass the Caring for Our Veterans Act. Our committee passed it out 14-1, Democrats and Republicans alike, shoulder to shoulder, voting for the right thing to do for our veterans. And we hopefully are going to do the same thing on the floor. The Caring for Our Veterans Act does a lot of amazing things, but it takes what weve learned in three years and applies it to the real world for our veterans. It says a veteran has choice for his or her health care, public or private, VA or private sector. The veterans with his or her doctor may determine where they want to go. The physician providing the services, if outside the system, will cooperate with the VA so we have good medical records for that veteran, and they will work together to choose doctors that have the quality, reputation and the ability to deliver the service whether in the VA or outside the VA. The veteran comes first in the Caring for Our Veterans Act. Not members of the Senate, not employees in the VA, but the veteran comes first. So I hope everyone will join Senator Tester and myself in seeing to it when we get this to the floor, and we are trying every day, helping us pass the Caring for Our Veterans Act. One last thing I will mention about the Caring for Our Veterans Act is that it also contains the funding necessary to complete the year for the VA community care health services for 2018. But more importantly, it consolidates the stove pipes of funding at the VA so we no longer have this mickey mouse game, which weve all experienced for the last five or six years, where the VA is always running out of money. Congress has never cut the VA off. When we had the biggest shutdown a few years ago, we passed bills that exempted the VA to demonstrate long and hard that we would never leave our veterans in need of healthcare coverage and waiting because we couldnt act in Congress. We would do that again today if that were to happen. This is a matter of us finishing the job for our veterans and seeing to it that the VA has the resources necessary to deliver the services to our veterans. So for those of you that can hear this plea, understand that I came to the floor to say three things. One is thank you. Thank you to every member of the Senate who voted with us to get us where we are today. We just passed the tenth of 11 bills we brought in this year. To Senator Tester, as the ranking member, thank you for your corporation. We have worked together to find a solution to every impasse that we confronted throughout the year. To the senator from Alaska who is presiding today and is a member of the committee, thank you for what you did for those veterans in need and for states of limited access to health care like Alaska. We need to make sure the Alaskan veteran has the same access and benefits they signed up for as veterans in Georgia or any other state. Senator Tester from Montana has worked so hard to see to it that rural America has the same type of access. There may not be as many doctors or VA facilities but we can design a system that gives them the very best access and care in that region where they choose to live can offer. And that is our challenge. Our challenge in the VA is not to say well you shouldve lived somewhere else. Our challenge is to concentrate in the VA to see to it that where you live is the right place to be in terms of veterans services, and we are going to do that. And lastly, I want to thank Secretary Shulkin. He was approved 100 to nothing by the Senate. I believe I am right that he is the only cabinet member that was confirmed by the Senate 100 to nothing. We havent had unanimous votes on hardly anything, but we did on David Shulkin, and he has delivered in response to that 100 to nothing vote time and time again. Working for our veterans, helping to correct problems, helping to work with us together. I look forward to next year as we bring a close to the Caring for Our Veterans Act and pass it. Moving forward, as there are new things we need to pay attention to, I look forward to working with Senator Tester, members of the Democratic party and Republican party and our committee. Remember, we are veterans first, we are Americans first. God bless our veterans, and may God bless the United State of America. Isaksons remarks are available to view here. Related:Isakson: Senate Keeping Our Promises to Our Nations VeteransIsakson Urges Senate to Pass Caring for Our Veterans Act Before Funding Runs OutIsakson, Tester Highlight Support for Veterans Community Care Bill from Key StakeholdersCommittee Approves Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Veterans Community Care, VA Services ### The Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs is chaired by U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., in the 115th Congress. Isakson is a veteran himself having served in the Georgia Air National Guard from 1966-1972 and has been a member of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs since he joined the Senate in 2005. Isaksons home state of Georgia is home to more than a dozen military installations representing each branch of the armed services as well as more than 750,000 veterans.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.perdue.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-david-perdue-highlights-historic-tax-cuts-on-conservative-radio,Senator David Perdue Highlights Historic Tax Cuts On Conservative Radio,2017-12-21,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,David Perdue,P000612,www.perdue.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Skip to primary navigation Skip to content Meet David Connect Helping You News",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://dougcollins.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=946,Collins Answers Questions at Tax Reform Final Passage,2017-12-20,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,Doug Collins,C001093,dougcollins.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTONRep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) joined Fox News today to address questions as the House voted in favor of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act's final passage. Collins also said of today's vote,""The House just took the final, confident step to send pro-family, pro-growth, pro-hope tax reform to President Trumps desk. This process started in the House, and I'm excited to have voted to keep our promise to the American peopleagain."" The interview is available here, and select comments are below: On who will see the benefit of tax reform: ""The majority of Americans are going to see money in their pockets. . . . That's the kind of growth we're looking for, that's the kind of thing that, come Februarywhen they see their paychecksthey're going to know that what we're talking about here actually matters to the American public."" On Democrats' claims that the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is a bad bill: ""The problem here is not the tax code. The problem here is that [Democrats] want to politicize the tax code because they believe that the government is a much better way to spend people's money. . . . Come February, let them look some of their constituents in the eyes and say, 'You know, I really didn't want you to get that money back in your paycheck. We could spend it better.' That will be an interesting argument.""",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://allen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1006,Allen: Historic Tax Reform Legislation headed to President Trumps Desk,2017-12-20,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,Rick Allen,A000372,allen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Allen: Historic Tax Reform Legislation headed to President Trumps Desk f t # e Washington, December 20, 2017 The House and the Senate passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and it is now headed to President Trumps desk. This historic legislation will fix our broken tax code and provide the first major tax reforms in more than 30 years. Congressman Rick W. Allen (R-GA-12) released the following statement after House and Senate passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: I am encouraged by our current economic growth under President Trump and I am hopeful that with the passage of this historic legislation we will continue to see Americas economic potential unleashed. Thankfully, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is on its way to President Trumps desk, ready to be signed into law a true Christmas miracle! For Individuals and Families, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: Lowers individual taxes and sets the rates at 0%, 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37% so people can keep more of their hard-earned money. Significantly increases the standard deduction. Continues to allow people to write off the cost of state and local taxes up to $10,000. Expands the Child Tax Credit from $1,000 to $2,000 for single filers and married couples to help parents with the cost of raising children. Preserves the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit to help families care for their children and older dependents such as a disabled grandparent who may need additional support. Preserves the Adoption Tax Credit so parents can continue to receive additional tax relief as they open their hearts and homes to an adopted child. Preserves the mortgage interest deduction providing tax relief to current and aspiring homeowners. Provides relief for Americans with expensive medical bills by expanding the medical expense deduction for 2017 and 2018 for medical expenses exceeding 7.5 percent of adjusted gross income, and rising to 10 percent beginning in 2019. Continues and expands the deduction for charitable contributions so people can continue to donate to their local church, charity, or community organization. Eliminates Obamacares individual mandate penalty Provides support for graduate students by continuing to exempt the value of reduced tuition from taxes. Retains popular retirement savings options such as 401(k)s and Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) so Americans can continue to save for their future. Provides immediate relief from the Death Tax by doubling the amount of the current exemption to reduce uncertainty and costs for many family-owned farms and businesses when they pass down their lifes work to the next generation. For Job Creators of all Sizes, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: Lowers the corporate tax rate to 21% (beginning Jan. 1, 2018). Allows businesses to immediately write off the full cost of new equipment to improve operations and enhance the skills of their workers. Protects the ability of small businesses to write off interest on loans. Eliminates the Corporate Alternative Minimum Tax. Modernizes our international tax system. Makes it easier for American businesses to bring home foreign earnings to invest in growing jobs and paychecks in our local communities. Prevents American jobs, headquarters, and research from moving overseas. ### f t # e",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/e-newsletters/congressman-hank-johnsons-e-newsletter-i-voted-no-tax-scam,Congressman Hank Johnson's E-Newsletter: I Voted No on the Tax Scam,2017-12-20,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,GA,Hank Johnson,J000288,hankjohnson.house.gov,,,legacy,"Dear Friends, Today, I vehemently and adamantly voted NO on the Republican tax scam that gives 83 percent of the tax cuts to the wealthiest 1 percent while raising taxes on 86 million middle income families. Make no mistake about it -- the numbers prove that this is a tax cut for the wealthy and not for the middle class. Anyone who tries to deceive the American people into thinking otherwise -- shame on you. To make matters worse this tax cut also adds $1.45 trillion to the national debt. Republicans will soon use the debt to justify their ultimate plan, which is to eliminate the social safety net by cutting Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. Todays vote proves that Republicans care more about the wealthy and big multinational corporations than they do for ordinary people. Merry Christmas to the wealthy who already have plenty, and to the hordes of special interest lobbyists and campaign donors who have gotten what they wanted. To the rest of America struggling to make ends meet: Bah Humbug! FOR YOUR/MORE INFORMATION: Housing Help | Jobs Center | Healthcare | Small Businesses Seniors | Students | Veterans | Help with a Federal Agency | Opioid Resource Guide As always, I appreciate your time and feedback. Please remember you can reach me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram as well as e-mails, phone calls and letters. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to represent you in Congress.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://hice.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1710,Hice Statement on Final Passage of Tax Reform,2017-12-20,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,Jody Hice,H001071,hice.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C Representative Jody Hice (R-GA) today released the following statement after the passage of the conference report to accompany H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Today, were crossing the finish line and establishing a competitive and fair tax system so that future generations will thrive, said Congressman Hice. For Americans, this significant tax rewrite will create economic opportunity and keep more money in the pockets of hardworking families and individuals. It will also encourage American businesses to keep their jobs and revenue here, and our job creators will once again be competitive internationally. Rather than being a safe haven for special interests and tax manipulators, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will be simple and fair, help create jobs and increase paychecks, and support working families, while restoring certainty to our tax code and our economy, Hice continued. I applaud President Trump, Speaker Ryan, Ways and Means Chairman Brady, and all of my colleagues for harnessing this historic opportunity to reform our outdated tax code and deliver on a decades-long promise to the American people. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: Nearly doubles the standard deduction from $6,500 and $13,000 to $12,000 and $24,000 for individuals and married couples respectively; Lowers individual taxes to Zero, 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37%; Expands the Child Tax Credit from $1,000 to $2,000 for single filers and married couples; Repeals Obamacares individual mandate; Preserves the child adoption credit; Preserves the mortgage interest deduction; Preserves the graduate student tax credit; and Sets the corporate tax rate at 21%, down from 35%. The full text of the billcan be found here.A summary of the measure can be found here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://johnlewis.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-lewis-floor-statement-opposing-second-house-vote-hr-1,Congressman Lewis' Floor Statement Opposing Second House Vote on H.R. 1 Conference Report,2017-12-20,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,GA,John Lewis,L000287,johnlewis.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman John Lewis made the following statement on the House Floor opposing the second House consideration of the conference report to H.R. 1, the Republican tax bill (WATCH VIDEO): ""Mr. Speaker, yesterday taxpayers stood up and spoke out against Republicans lining the pockets of their donors by any means necessary. ""Did you hear their cries? Can you feel their pain? ""You did not, Mr. Speaker! You chose to turn a deaf ear and a blind eye to their hopes and their dreams. ""This bill is a shame and a disgrace! ""I urge each of you to be on the side of the people, on the side of history, and vote against this bill."" TAX BILL HOME HOUSE:House Ways and Means CommitteeMarkupHouse Rules CommitteeHouse Floor Debate SENATE:Senate Finance Committee Markup ResourcesSenate Budget Committee ResourcesSenate Floor Debate CONFERENCE:Conference CommitteeConference Report Rep. Lewis' PublicStatements about H.R. 1 Rep. Lewis' Missed Opportunities Bills Rep. Lewis' Proposed Amendments to H.R. 1 Official Non-Partisan Analysis of H.R. 1",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://woodall.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-passes-historic-bicameral-tax-reform-agreement-sends-president,"House Passes Historic Bicameral Tax Reform Agreement, Sends to President",2017-12-20,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,Rob Woodall,W000810,woodall.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, The U.S. House of Representatives, along with the Senate, passed the Conference Report to accompany H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which will now be sent to the Presidents desk for his signature. The achievement is the first major tax reform measure since Ronald Reagans Presidency. It provides across the board tax rate reductions and takes steps to simplify the tax code while positioning U.S. businesses and job creators to be significantly more competitive globally. Seventh District Representative Rob Woodall supported the measure and issued the following statement after passage. Todays historic agreement to reform Americas tax code for the first time in more than three decades marks tremendous progress and is the fulfillment of a commitment made to the American people, said Rep. Woodall. As a long-time advocate for the FairTax, which I believe is the truest form of fundamental tax reform, Im pleased to see many of its principles of simplicity, transparency, and competitiveness incorporated into H.R. 1. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act reduces individual rates, empowers our businesses and job-creators to be more competitive at home and abroad, and sets the invaluable precedent that consensus on big ideas is not only attainable, but also replicable, and I look forward to building on this consensus as we take on new legislative challenges next year. Key measures of the reform enacted through H.R. 1 include, but are not limited to, the following: For individuals and families, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: Retains seven brackets, but at reduced rates (10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37%). Significantly increases the standard deduction to protect roughly double the amount of what you earn each year from taxes from $6,500 and $13,000 under current law to $12,000 and $24,000 for individuals and married couples, respectively. Increases the child tax credit to $2,000. Of this, $1,400 would be refundable, with the refundable portion indexed to inflation. All dependents ineligible for the child tax credit are eligible for a new $500 per-person family tax credit. Provisions begin to phase out at $400,000 ($200,000 for single filers). Retains other above-the-line deductions, including educator expenses and student loan interest. Graduate student tuition waivers also remain in place. Retains the charitable contribution deduction. Also retains the mortgage interest deduction for acquisition, but limited for new purchases to $750,000 in mortgage debt, while eliminating the deduction for equity debt. For all homeowners with existing mortgages that were taken out to buy a home, there will be no change to the current mortgage interest deduction. Continues to allow people to write off the cost of state and local taxes up to $10,000. Gives individuals and families the ability to deduct property taxes and income or sales taxes to best fit their unique circumstances. Eliminates Obamacares individual mandate penalty tax providing families with much-needed relief and flexibility to buy the health care thats right for them if they choose. Maintains the Earned Income Tax Credit to provide important tax relief for low-income working Americans. Increases the exemption amount from the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) to reduce the complexity and tax burden for millions of Americans. Provides immediate relief from the Death Tax by doubling the amount of the current exemption to reduce uncertainty and costs for many family-owned farms and businesses when they pass down their lifes work to the next generation. For job creators of all sizes, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: Lowers the corporate tax rate to 21% down from 35%, which today is the highest in the industrialized world the largest reduction in the U.S. corporate tax rate in our nations history. Adopts a 20 percent deduction for pass-through income, limited to the greater of (a) 50 percent of wage income or (b) 25 percent of wage income plus 2.5 percent of the cost of tangible depreciable property for qualifying businesses, including publicly traded partnerships but not including certain service providers. Enacts deemed repatriation of currently deferred foreign profits at a rate of 15.5 percent for liquid assets and 8 percent for illiquid assets. Allows full (100%) expensing of short-lived capital investment, such as machinery and equipment. Eliminates the Corporate Alternative Minimum Tax, thereby lowering taxes and eliminating confusion and uncertainty for American job creators. To learn more about the bill in its entirety, click here. Congressman Woodall represents the Seventh Congressional District of Georgia, which includes the majority of Forsyth and Gwinnett counties, and currently serves as Chairman of the Rules Subcommittee on Legislative and Budget Process, as well as serving on the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, and Budget Committee. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.isakson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=0AE568D2-99FB-4844-BEE3-F923D45478E1,Isakson Applauds Passage of Historic Tax Reform Legislation,2017-12-20,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,Johnny Isakson,I000055,www.isakson.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance with jurisdiction over tax reform, today applauded Senate passage of H.R.1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, by a vote of 51-48. Im very proud to be a part of this Senate today and whats going to prove to be an historic day in the future, Isakson said Tuesday in remarks on the Senate floor ahead of the vote. When you take a risk, at the end of that rainbow is a reward. And in the case of risking lower taxes, the greater reward is more jobs, more opportunity, and a better America for our children and our grandchildren. During his remarks, Isakson also highlighted some of the provisions that will benefit Georgia families and individuals including cutting individual income tax rates across the board, doubling the standard deduction, and doubling the child tax credit. On the personal side, you really cant argue with doubling the standard deduction, Isakson continued while addressing the benefits of the legislation. You cant argue with the doubling of the child tax credit. You cant argue with simplifying the tax process itself and the filing of taxes. You cant really argue with all this because you know its better for the American people and their pocketbook in the short run, while in the long run, its better for their children and their grandchildren. Isakson pulled from his own experience as a small businessman to point out benefits for Main Street and small businesses, You know, when I ran a company for 25 years, I made investments where I knew I had a place to grow. I made business decisions where there was positive growth ahead if I made the right decision. This tax code, this change in our tax code, this opportunity that we have does all those things. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act also overhauls the U.S. corporate tax system by lowering rates and adopting new international tax rules similar to our trading partners. These changes will enable American companies to compete on a level playing field with the rest of the world while removing the incentive to move U.S. facilities and jobs overseas. Dont underestimate the power of the territorial tax change this makes for American business, noted Isakson. Now that we have a territorial system, theres an incentive to stay in the country if youre located here and come to America if youre not. We are open for business! He concluded, Ill bet on [the American people] taking advantage of a tax code thats fair to them and gives them a chance to expand their personal opportunity. Ill bet on them that theyre willing to move forward on a tax code thats better for all of the country. Ill make my bet on them that they want to see to it that their children and their grandchildren have the opportunity that theyve had, as well. This historic tax reform overhaul package will receive another final vote in the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday, and if passed, will then move to the president to be signed into law. Isaksons full remarks on the floor can be viewed here. Related:Isakson: Tax Reform will Strengthen Americas FutureIsakson: Tax Reform Helps Americans Now, Supports Future GenerationsIsakson Applauds Committee Passage of Tax ReformIsakson Statement on Tax ReformIsaksons Floor Remarks on the Senate Tax Reform ProposalFox News: Isakson Talks Tax Reform and Veterans Day on Fox NewsAtlanta Journal Constitution: Op-ed: Tax reform key to a prosperous future ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.isakson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=2208F9EB-38F2-480D-8920-03FC2A4B4437,Isakson Applauds Introduction of Energy Incentives,2017-12-20,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,Johnny Isakson,I000055,www.isakson.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Measure will aid Georgias Plant Vogtle nuclear project WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., today joined his colleagues on the Senate Finance Committee in introducing a bill to extend a number of tax provisions that expired at the beginning of this year, many of which provide incentives for American energy production. Among the tax provisions is a nuclear tax credit extension that Isakson has championed that would aid nuclear reactors under construction at Plant Vogtle in Georgia. I encourage my Senate colleagues to act quickly to prevent tax increases that could hamper Americas energy security, said Isakson. In Georgia, keeping the Plant Vogtle nuclear energy project on track will not only strengthen Americas energy security and national security, but it will preserve the more than 6,000 Georgia jobs created by this project. I remain committed to doing whatever I can to ensure that the Plant Vogtle project stays on track for completion. Isakson has worked closely with Congressional leadership and the Georgia congressional delegation to ensure the nuclear production tax credits are extended in the near future. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.isakson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=6BD48381-75D9-4047-B645-148E0180B50E,Isakson: Senate Keeping Our Promises to Our Nation's Veterans,2017-12-20,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,Johnny Isakson,I000055,www.isakson.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Efforts include major improvements to veterans health care, benefits, accountability at VA WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, today highlighted the Senates significant bipartisan victories this year on behalf of our nations veterans. The Senates efforts this year include the passage of nine major pieces of veterans legislation all of which have been signed into law that aim to strengthen veterans health care, benefits and support. The Senate has unanimously confirmed 10 of President Trumps nominees to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the U.S. Court of Veterans Appeals, including the number one and number two spots at the department. As chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, I take very seriously our responsibility to serve those who have served us, said Isakson. The Senate has passed nine major veterans bills this year that have all been signed into law. This remarkable achievement is a testament to the teamwork, leadership and commitment of all members of Congress, regardless of political party, Isakson continued. The veterans of the United States have better health care, better benefits and a more modern and responsive VA in the years ahead as a result of our work this year, and Im proud to have been a part of it. I thank my colleagues for their tireless efforts to ensure we keep our promises to our veterans. The Senate has passed the following nine pieces of veterans legislation that have been signed into law this year: The Veterans Choice Program Improvement Act (S.544), to extend the Veterans Choice Program and ensure veterans have access to timely care in their own communities, signed into law on April 19, 2017 (Public Law 115-26). The Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act (S.1094), to improve accountability at the VA, signed into law on June 23, 2017 (Public Law 115-41). The VA Choice and Quality Employment Act of 2017 (S.114), to authorize and appropriate funding for the VA to continue the Veterans Choice Program and strengthen VA care, signed into law on Aug. 12, 2017 (Public Law 115-46). The Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017 (H.R.3218), to improve veterans education benefits and enhance the post-9/11 G.I. Bill, signed into law Aug. 16, 2017 (Public Law 115-48). The Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017 (H.R.2288), to modernize the woefully outdated benefits claims appeals process at the VA, signed into law on Aug. 23, 2017 (Public Law 115-55). The Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2017 (H.R.3819) to ensure veterans continue to have access to critical programs at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), signed into law Sept. 29, 2017 (Public Law 115-62). The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2017 (H.R.1329) to increase veterans disability benefits based on rising costs of living, signed into law Nov. 2, 2017 (Public Law 115-75). The VA Prescription Data Accountability Act (H.R.1545) to allow the VA to securely share data with state prescription drug monitoring programs for patients who are prescribed opioids by VA providers, including both veterans and their dependents, signed into law Nov. 21, 2017 (Public Law 115-86). The Veterans Apprenticeship and Labor Opportunity Reform (VALOR) Act (H.R.3949) to streamline the certification process for non-federal apprenticeship training programs for veterans, signed into law Nov. 21, 2017 (Public Law 115-89). Also passed by Congress and awaiting the presidents signature is the Enhancing Veteran Care Act (S.1266) which would allow the VA to contract with outside organizations for investigations into VA medical centers. In addition, the Senate has also passed five VA facility naming bills, three of which have been signed into law. The Senate has confirmed 10 nominees to serve at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims: David J. Shulkin, Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary, confirmed 100-0, Feb. 13, 2017. Thomas G. Bowman, Department of Veterans Affairs Deputy Secretary, confirmed by unanimous consent, Aug. 3, 2017. Brooks D. Tucker, Department of Veterans Affairs Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Legislative Affairs, confirmed by unanimous consent, Aug. 3, 2017. James M. Byrne, Department of Veterans Affairs General Counsel, confirmed by unanimous consent, Aug. 3, 2017. Judge Michael P. Allen, Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, confirmed by unanimous consent, Aug. 3, 2017. Judge Amanda L. Meredith, Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, confirmed by unanimous consent, Aug. 3, 2017. Judge Joseph L. Toth, Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, confirmed by unanimous consent, Aug. 3, 2017. Melissa Sue Glynn, Department of Veterans Affairs Assistant Secretary for Enterprise Integration, confirmed by unanimous consent, Nov. 8, 2017. Cheryl L. Mason, Chairman of the Board of Veterans Appeals, confirmed by unanimous consent, Nov. 8, 2017. Randy Reeves, Department of Veterans Affairs Undersecretary for Memorial Affairs, confirmed by unanimous consent, Nov. 8, 2017. In addition, the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs has held 16 hearings on benefits and health care, including three oversight hearings on the Veterans Choice Program, the Veterans Health Administrations inclusion on the U.S. Government Accountability Offices (GAO) High Risk List, and veteran suicide prevention. The committee has also held five joint hearings with the House Committee on Veterans Affairs to hear from dozens of veterans service organizations. In 2017, the committee has considered 43 pieces of veterans legislation and advanced three legislative packages that include provisions from those bills. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.perdue.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-david-perdue-this-is-an-historic-achievement,Senator David Perdue: This Is An Historic Achievement,2017-12-20,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,David Perdue,P000612,www.perdue.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Skip to primary navigation Skip to content Meet David Connect Helping You News",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.perdue.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-david-perdue-this-is-the-capstone-on-a-very-successful-year,Senator David Perdue: This Is The Capstone On A Very Successful Year,2017-12-20,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,David Perdue,P000612,www.perdue.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Skip to primary navigation Skip to content Meet David Connect Helping You News",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://davidscott.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397979,Scott Statement on Shameful Republican Tax Reform Bill,2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,GA,David Scott,S001157,davidscott.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman David Scott (GA-13) issued the following statement today after the Republican-led House voted to enact the Conference Report to Accompany H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Today Republicans in the House turned their backs on millions of hard-working, middle class American families by passing a cruel and deceitful tax scam. This heartless bill provides so-called tax reform by raising taxes on tens of millions of middle class families and giving 83 percent of the tax cuts to the wealthiest 1 percent. It is shameful that Republicans rushed to pass this bill and its far-reaching changes without any significant bipartisan input or consideration. It is shameful that Republicans voted today to add $2.3 trillion to our national deficit. It is shameful that this disgraceful bill gives a new tax break to corporations shipping American jobs overseas while depleting Medicare and Medicaid with $1.5 trillion in cuts. And it is shameful that Republicans moved swiftly to check this issue off their Christmas political wish-list rather than buckling down and taking equally swift action to avert a federal government shutdown, reauthorize the Childrens Health Insurance Program that expired months ago, pass the bipartisan DREAM Act, address the VAs appalling budget shortfall to care for our veterans, or provide critically-needed emergency disaster funding for all hurricane- and wildfire-impacted communities. Once again, Republicans in the House shamelessly voted against the interests of children, seniors, families, workers at risk of having their jobs shipped overseas, teachers, police officers, firefighters and veterans. The crushing cuts, that will be necessary because of the bill adopted by the House today, will have devastating consequences for years to come all across this country.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://dougcollins.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=945,Collins Praises House Passage of Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Conference Report,2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,Doug Collins,C001093,dougcollins.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTONThe House of Representatives passed the conference report to H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. This move sends the bill to the Senate for a final vote that would land the bill on the presidents desk. Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.), Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference, issued the following statement in response: Todays vote in the Peoples House helps turn promise and potential into reality. Republicans have confidence in the potential of the American worker to make our country grow againthats why they are the foundation of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Were giving job creators more reasons to invest in America's workforce, strengthening our economy and our communities. Were making the IRS less ravenous and putting more money back in the hands of American families so that they can pursue more of their ambitions on their own terms. A decade of the status quo has guaranteed us only a stagnant economy. Republicans promised to reform a broken, bloated tax system so that Americans can chart a path out of economic anxiety and into economic empowerment. Were keeping that promise today.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://allen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1005,House Passes the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act,2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,Rick Allen,A000372,allen.house.gov,,,legacy,"House Passes the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act f t # e Washington, December 19, 2017 The day has finally come! After 30 years with no major reforms to our broken tax code, the House just passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Congressman Rick W. Allen (R-GA-12) released the following statement after House passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: During this blessed Christmas season, I am so grateful for the opportunity to cast a historic vote to cut, simplify and reform taxes for middle class families and small businesses. The hardworking people of Georgia-12 and across America deserve to keep more of their paychecks and have the opportunity to grow their businesses. Not only will this legislation cut taxes for individuals and businesses, but it also preserves many credits important to my constituents and Americans across the nation. This includes the expansion of the child tax credit, preservation of the adoption tax credit, preservation of the mortgage interest deduction and expansion of the charitable contributions deduction just to name a few. Now it is up to our Senate colleagues to deliver tax reform to President Trumps desk! For Individuals and Families, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: Lowers individual taxes and sets the rates at 0%, 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37% so people can keep more of their hard-earned money. Significantly increases the standard deduction. Continues to allow people to write off the cost of state and local taxes up to $10,000. Expands the Child Tax Credit from $1,000 to $2,000 for single filers and married couples to help parents with the cost of raising children. Preserves the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit to help families care for their children and older dependents such as a disabled grandparent who may need additional support. Preserves the Adoption Tax Credit so parents can continue to receive additional tax relief as they open their hearts and homes to an adopted child. Preserves the mortgage interest deduction providing tax relief to current and aspiring homeowners. Provides relief for Americans with expensive medical bills by expanding the medical expense deduction for 2017 and 2018 for medical expenses exceeding 7.5 percent of adjusted gross income, and rising to 10 percent beginning in 2019. Continues and expands the deduction for charitable contributions so people can continue to donate to their local church, charity, or community organization. Eliminates Obamacares individual mandate penalty Provides support for graduate students by continuing to exempt the value of reduced tuition from taxes. Retains popular retirement savings options such as 401(k)s and Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) so Americans can continue to save for their future. Provides immediate relief from the Death Tax by doubling the amount of the current exemption to reduce uncertainty and costs for many family-owned farms and businesses when they pass down their lifes work to the next generation. For Job Creators of all Sizes, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: Lowers the corporate tax rate to 21% (beginning Jan. 1, 2018). Allows businesses to immediately write off the full cost of new equipment to improve operations and enhance the skills of their workers. Protects the ability of small businesses to write off interest on loans. Eliminates the Corporate Alternative Minimum Tax. Modernizes our international tax system. Makes it easier for American businesses to bring home foreign earnings to invest in growing jobs and paychecks in our local communities. Prevents American jobs, headquarters, and research from moving overseas. ### f t # e",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://austinscott.house.gov/media-center/editorials/recruiting-sportsmen-protect-our-pastime-future-generations,Recruiting Sportsmen to Protect Our Pastime for Future Generations,2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,Austin Scott,S001189,austinscott.house.gov,,,legacy,"The holiday season is a special time when Georgians can come together to enjoy good food, football, and spend time with family and friends. Its also a time to enjoy the great outdoors. Growing up in South Georgia instilled in me a passion for the outdoors and a desire to ensure that future generations have the opportunity to share that same feeling. Many of my fondest memories involvehunting and fishing in our beautiful country. However, decades of population relocation to urban areas has made it more difficult for many Americans to regularly participate in sportsmens activities. Unfortunately, this decline in outdoor recreation has also had a negative impact on our countrys wildlife conservation funds. Enacted in 1937, the Pittman-Robertson Act provides federal aid to states for management and restoration of wildlife areas. Specifically, through a system of user pay/public benefits, Pittman-Robertson uses proceeds from an existing federal excise tax on firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment to fund wildlife conservation and hunter education grants for state and territorial fish and wildlife agencies As the base of hunters and recreational shooters has diminished across the country, so have Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Conservation funds. To address this, I have introduced H.R. 2591, Modernizing the Pittman-Robertson Fund for Tomorrows Needs Act of 2017. Without increasing existing user fees or taxes, this bill would give state fish and wildlife agencies more say in how they can use their allotted Pittman-Robertson funds. Think about our country in 1937now think about our country today. In order to reach younger generations and introduce them to the opportunities that sportsman activities provide, we must modernize the ways in which we can use our limited resources to recruit and retain outdoorsmen and women, all while protecting our public lands and waters. My bill would remove the existing prohibition on Pittman-Robertson funds being used for public relations and permit fish and wildlife agencies to use these funds for the construction, operation, and maintenance of public ranges. By expanding the ways in which Pittman-Robertson funds can be used, Georgia sportsmen and women will see their tax dollars at work as state fish and wildlife agencies will be permitted to use modern forms of technology such as social media and television spots to recruit and retain both hunters and recreational shooters. To ensure that conservation remains the primary focus of Pittman-Robertson, the legislation caps the percentage of funds that can be used for public relations and recruitment. It is my hope that by passing the Modernizing the Pittman-Robertson Fund for Tomorrows Needs Act of 2017, we can bring new generations into the sportsman community and ensure that our wildlife resources in South Georgia are protected for years to come. I wish you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! In God We Trust, Austin Scott Congressman Austin Scott represents Georgias Eighth Congressional District and serves as the House Vice-Chairman of the Congressional Sportsmens Caucus. -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://austinscott.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-austin-scott-statement-tax-reform-vote,Rep. Austin Scott Statement on Tax Reform Vote,2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,Austin Scott,S001189,austinscott.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, Congressman Austin Scott (GA-08) released the following statement upon the U.S. House of Representatives passing the Conference Report to Accompany H.R. 1 - Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: For families across Georgia, todays legislation means more jobs, more take-home pay, and more money in their own pockets, said Rep. Scott. While I am very happy with the first major overhaul of our tax code in overthirty years, there is still a lot of work to be done getting our economy back on track, and I look forward to continuing to work with the Trump Administration and my colleagues in Congress to expand our economy, grow wages, and ease burdensome federal regulations. Highlights of the bill include: Lowers individual tax rates for all Americans; Significantly increases the standard deduction from $6,500 to $12,000 for individuals and from $13,000 to $24,000 for married couples; Eliminates special-interest deductions; Eliminates the Affordable Care Acts (ACA) individual mandate tax; Establishes a new Family Credit, which includes expanding the Child Tax Credit from $1,000 to $2,000; Preserves the Earned Income Tax Credit and the home mortgage interest deduction for existing mortgages and maintains the home mortgage deduction for newly purchased homes up to $750,000; Lowers the corporate rate to 21%, down from 35%; and, Reduces the tax rate on small business to no more than 29.6%. Click here for policy highlights of the Conference Report to Accompany H.R. 1 - Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://bishop.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-bishop-statement-in-opposition-to-misguided-tax-bill,CONGRESSMAN BISHOP STATEMENT IN OPPOSITION TO MISGUIDED TAX BILL,2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,GA,Sanford Bishop,B000490,bishop.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) issued the following statement concerning his vote in opposition to H.R. 1, the misguided tax legislation taken up by the House earlier today. This bill will saddle the nation with crippling debt and provide little to no tax relief for thousands of residents of Georgias Second Congressional District. The bill was approved by the full House of Representatives in a vote of 227 to 203. It is expected to be considered by the Senate as early as this evening. Tax reform must make our tax code more equitable, less complex, and not significantly add to the budget deficit. Unfortunately, the tax legislation approved by the House today does not fulfill these requirements: It shifts the tax burden from wealthy taxpayers to middle income families by increasing taxes for 86 million middle income households, while providing 83% of the tax cuts to the wealthiest 1%. It explodes the national debt by $1.7 trillion over the next decade, effectively mortgaging the future of our nations children and grandchildren and jeopardizing the fiscal health of vital programs including Social Security and Medicare. It also handicaps the Affordable Care Act, and will lead to the loss of health insurance for 13 million individuals, while raising premiums by 10%. The House legislation also lowers or eliminates many tax credits and deductions that are relied upon by middle income Georgia families. It (1) repeals personal exemptions, which are relied upon by large families with multiple children and other dependents; (2) eliminates the casualty loss deduction, which helps families rebuild after storms and disaster; (3) caps the deduction for state and local income and sales taxes, as well as property taxes; (4) limits the mortgage interest deduction to under $750,000 of mortgage debt; and (5) ends the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, which is used by employers who hire veterans with a service-connected disability or history of unemployment. Additionally, the bill repeals the deductibility of donations made to college athletic departments for sport ticket rights. These donations are used to fund womens and mens college sports, and repeal of this deduction will lead to the loss of scholarship opportunities for student athletes. I have stated numerous times that I do support tax relief for Georgia families. However, it needs to be fair, balanced, and fiscally responsible both in the short and the long term. The benefits must be shared among Georgians of all income levels rather than just concentrated at the top. The tax legislation approved by the U.S. House of Representatives today fails this test. As an institution, we in Congress are at a moment of truth. The time is now to put our political differences aside, and to find common ground on a rational tax package that is fiscally responsible, grows the economy, creates jobs, and improves the lives of all Americans.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://ferguson.house.gov/media/press-releases/ferguson-votes-give-american-families-tax-relief,Ferguson Votes to Give American Families Tax Relief,2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,A. Ferguson,F000465,ferguson.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON D.C. Congressman Drew Ferguson (R-Ga.) today released the following statement after the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: This is an exciting day for Georgians in the Third District and people across America. The individual tax cuts in this bill give Americans real tax relief for the first time in a generation, ensuring hard-working folks can take home more of the money they earned. Under this bill, the typical family of four earning $73,000 a year will receive a tax cut of $2,059, and a single parent earning $41,000 will receive a tax cut of $1,300, a 73% reduction in their tax bill. That is money you can use to pay your bills, send your children to college or pay for a vacation; things every American would rather do than send their hard-earned money to a wasteful federal bureaucracy. For too long, we have had a tax regime that is a barrier to the meaningful economic growth, but, with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, we are finally lowering the tax burden on job creators and ensuring businesses can invest in their communities and workers. I have said time and again that the United States should be the most competitive place in the world to do business, and todays vote creates an environment where businesses and innovators can grow, create jobs and increase wages for hard-working employees. This bill also gives Americans freedom from Obamacares individual mandate. Forcing Americans to either purchase a product they dont want or pay a penalty is the worst kind of government overreach. I am proud to keep my promise to my constituents to provide relief from this regulatory burden. There is still a lot of work to be done to fix our broken healthcare system, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to increase access to care and decrease costs for all Americans. The bill passed by a vote of 227-203 and now heads to the Senate for a final vote. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://ferguson.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=61,Ferguson Votes to Give American Families Tax Relief,2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,A. Ferguson,F000465,ferguson.house.gov,,,legacy,,0,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://handel.house.gov/media/press-releases/karen-handel-votes-give-transformative-tax-cuts-american-people,Karen Handel Votes to Give Transformative Tax Cuts to the American People,2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,Karen Handel,H001078,handel.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Karen Handel issued the following statement after the House on Tuesday voted to pass the most sweeping tax cut bill in over three decades. This is a historic moment, Rep. Handel said. The provisions of this tax cut bill will be transformative for hardworking American families and American companies, especially our small businesses. More than half of Americans currently live paycheck to paycheck. In the end, theTax Cuts and Jobs Act is about letting hardworking Americans keep more of their money. The typical American family of four earning the median family income of $73,000 will see a tax cut of $2,059. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Actpassed the House of Representatives Tuesday afternoon by a vote of 227-203. This bill, which is the result of compromise negotiations between the House and Senate, lowers federal income tax rates for all low and middle-income Americans. It also nearly doubles the standard deduction, increases the Child Tax Credit from $1,000 to $2,000 per child, retains deductibility of up to $10,000 in state and local property taxes, and preserves $750,000 in mortgage interest deduction benefits. Additionally, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act lowers the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% - helping put U.S. companies on par with the global averages and their international competitors. Americas current corporate rate is far and away the highest in the industrialized world, as these other nations place - on average - a roughly 22% rate on their corporations. Most of Americas small businesses will have their rates slashed from the current 40% down to 25%. And each of these entities will be able to fully and immediately deduct investments in equipment and other resources. This bill also benefits Americas main street businesses - those small businesses that are the backbone of our economy and job creation, Rep. Handel continued. ""By lowering the small business tax rates, these companies can do what they do best - innovate and grow. The bill now heads to the Senate - where it is expected to receive a vote later this week. If it passes the Senate, it is expected to be signed into law by President Trump before Christmas. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/editorials/another-lesson-equifax-we-must-end-predatory-consumer-practice-forced,Another lesson from Equifax - We must end the predatory consumer practice of forced arbitration,2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,GA,Hank Johnson,J000288,hankjohnson.house.gov,,,legacy,"http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/judicial/353776-another-lesson-from-equifax-we-must-end-the-predatory-consumer The recent Equifax data breach jeopardized the economic security of nearly half of all Americans because of the credit rating companys failure to safeguard our most sensitive information, which could now be in the hands of criminals. To make matters worse, many of those affected by this massive security breach are unsure whether they even have legal recourse because of the companys use of forced arbitration clauses. Americans are right to be outraged and frustrated and should be especially concerned about the use of forced arbitration by credit rating agencies like Equifax. Forced arbitration clauses are a predatory consumer practice written into the fine print of contracts. Signers unknowingly waive their right to sue and are forced into arbitration if a dispute arises. Americans should have a right to choose whether to sue or to seek arbitration. Preemptively eliminating our access to the justice system is a violation of every Americans right as a consumer. The justice system is one of the few tools that average citizens have to fight deceitful and harmful business practices, vindicate their rights, and pursue justice. Equifax partially revised its forced arbitration policy in response to public outcry, but a limited change is not sufficient given the systemic nature of this problem and the scope of the lives affected. In recognition of the importance of Americans access to justice, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) finalized a rule to eliminate forced arbitration from consumer financial product contracts. This protection restores the rights of Americans to seek their day in court, and the transparency that comes with it, if their rights are violated by unscrupulous financial services and products. This protection is vital for the economic security of the American people and our countrys commitment to the rule of law. But rather than support this commonsense protection, credit rating agencies, like Equifax,reportedly campaigned against itand spent millions in political contributions to undermine both the CFPB rule and the CFPB itself. The Equifax data breach shook public confidence in the entire credit rating industry. Companies such as Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian should take this moment to demonstrate their respect for the rights of customers, not undermine them. This is why we wrote to ask the three credit rating agencies to revise their terms of service and eliminate their use of forced arbitration and class action waivers on all the products they offer. Furthermore, we asked that they end their opposition to the CFPB arbitration rule to restore consumers day in court. Forced arbitration clauses are a bald and predatory attempt to shield corporations from liability for their misconduct through the fine print of contracts. The credit rating agencies who we trust with our most sensitive data should not be actively working to undermine consumer rights. They should support the CFPB and the rule against forced arbitration. Congress must also step forward to protect consumers rights. We have led the push in the House to pass the Arbitration Fairness Act, which would eliminate forced arbitration. It deserves a vote. Unfortunately House and Senate Republicans sought a different path. A Republican measure to repeal the CFPB rule, supported by all three credit rating agencies, passed the House of Representatives in July on a nearly-straight party-line vote. It is currently pending in the Senate. We cannot afford to let it pass. The right of your and every other Americans access to the justice system is at stake.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/editorials/aspiring-surgeon-highlights-need-pass-dream-act-huffington-post,Aspiring Surgeon Highlights Need to Pass Dream Act (The Huffington Post),2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,GA,Hank Johnson,J000288,hankjohnson.house.gov,,,legacy,"Like any young girl growing up in Rockdale County, Cinthya Moran, 17, always had a sense of comfort and security living in the friendly confines of metro Atlanta. She made quick friendships in school, loved the neighborhood where she lived and celebrated life in the small-town South. As an aspiring cardiovascular surgeon, Cinthya took her studies seriously accumulating a 3.8 GPA by staying up nights and studying pushing herself to work twice as hard. But now her dreams of becoming a doctor could be shattered forever. Thats because Cinthya is one of about 800,000 DREAMers nationwide young children brought to this country by their parents. Thanks to President Trumps craven decision to reverse the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program or DACA, Cinthyas contributions and those of hundreds of thousands of other DREAMers to our community and country could come to an end. Make no mistake, Congress has to now fix this problem that Trump created. Im hopeful that Republicans can come together with Democrats and pass the bipartisan DREAM Act. Deporting DREAMers like Cinthya means destroying the lives of hundreds of thousands of patriotic young people, costing the economy billions and betraying the fundamental values of the American Dream. Young DREAMers in communities across the country are Americans in every way except on paper but the Trump Administration apparently wants to deport them to countries that many of them have never known. Cinthya is in high school, dually enrolled and taking college courses. She is determined to prove that her contributions to our country are worthwhile and challenge the narrative that the undocumented community is a burden to society. And Cinthya isnt alone. DREAMers are models of what we hope our citizens become. They go to school, join the armed forces and become productive members of society. In Georgia, the rescission of DACA could mean that 24,000 people would be deported. It is cruel to banish people to a strange land where oftentimes they dont know the language or culture. Its for constituents like Cinthya that Im proud to join my Democratic colleagues in fighting to pass the DREAM Act. Cinthya has the potential, vision and dedication to become a cardiovascular surgeon, but she wonders how she will be able to apply the knowledge and skills she has acquired if Im hiding away in fear of being taken back to a country I have no memory of? Lets come together and give Cinthya and the hundreds of thousands of other DREAMers the safety, security and certainty they deserve so they can continue to contribute to Americas future. Dreamers make our country richer and are part of our nations fabric. I know I would be proud to be the parent of any of these DREAMers. Four times since the Trump Administration terminated DACA, House Democrats have moved to force an immediate vote on the DREAM Act and four times, House Republicans have blocked an up or down vote. DREAMers had the courage and patriotism to step out of the shadows and enroll in DACA. It is time for House Republicans to have an up or down vote on the DREAM Act. Being on the right side of history outweighs partisan politics now more than ever. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/editorials/gop-tax-scam-bad-georgians-huffington-post,GOP Tax Scam Bad for Georgians (The Huffington Post),2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,GA,Hank Johnson,J000288,hankjohnson.house.gov,,,legacy,"Recently, the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy published damning statistics on the Ryan-McConnell tax plan. The numbers show that if the package is approved by Congress, more than half a million working class Georgians will see their taxes raised an average of $670 by 2027. Despite President Trumps assurance that he will not attack the middle class, the Ryan-McConnell tax bill will heavily burden Georgias working and middle-income families. President Trump published four broad goals for reforming the tax code, citing bolstering the economy, simplifying the tax code for families, allowing American workers to keep more of their paycheck, and minimizing any increase in the deficit as his main objectives. But the Ryan-McConnell plan, developed behind closed doors without any public hearings, will not accomplish any of these goals. This tax bill package as written mostly benefits the extremely wealthy. It fails to account for a $2.4 trillion-federal revenue loss over the next decade a loss created by giving tax cuts to the wealthiest 1 percent of Americans and it fails to uplift the very families that Trump promised would never be forgotten again. The nonpartisan Tax Policy Center confirmed the pitfalls of this framework when they reported that the Ryan-McConnell tax bill would raise taxes on 47 million Americans, significantly increase the deficit ($1.7 trillion in the House version of the bill), and slow the economy long term. When GOP politicians claim that their tax cuts help the average American, they are lying. As the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute notes, the middle income and working people in Georgia would see minimal gains, and could expect an average annual tax cut of $260 in the short term. A tax cut of $260 seems not so bad until its revealed that the richest 1 percent of Georgians could expect an annual tax cut of $83,000, and millionaires could receive as much as $131,000. Last week, I received a letter from my alma mater specifically Clark Atlanta University President Dr. Ronald Johnson. He indicated that the Ryan-McConnell tax bill eliminates important benefits such as employer-provided education assistance, the student loan interest deduction, and tuition remission benefits, to name just a few. These benefits assist students in paying for college and repaying loans, and help Clark Atlanta University remain healthy and competitive, he wrote. The elimination of the student loan interest deduction would affect our most recent graduates just when they are trying to get on their feet. The federal government already makes a profit on the loans they provide to both students and parents, so there is no need to further increase the federal profit margin. I agree. The central failure of the Ryan-McConnell framework lies in its premise. The GOP believes that cutting taxes for corporations and wealthy Americans will somehow create more jobs. This is false. We know that wealth does not trickle down, especially when the holders of that wealth have no incentive or directive to contribute their fair share. The Ryan-McConnell tax framework also argues that cutting corporate taxes will stop companies from doing business abroad and create more jobs in the United States. In reality, these cuts will simply allow companies who have saved billions overseas by keeping profits in offshore accounts and avoiding taxes to bring this money to the United States with a special tax holiday. The proposed tax cuts will also have detrimental effects on Medicare and Medicaid; programs that serve 44 million and 70 million Americans respectively, and are desperately needed in Georgia and across our nation. What Republicans failed to cut in their healthcare reform attempts, theyre now trying to destroy with tax breaks for the wealthy that will slash budgets of these federal programs. As lawmakers, we can agree that tax reform is needed bigly in our country, but I will never support legislation that disproportionately harms the middle class by slashing taxes for the wealthy, exploding the deficit, and gutting public programs. The Ryan-McConnell plan reveals the true nature of the GOP -- they legislate to please a constituency of wealthy Americans. Georgia cant afford it. America cant afford it. And unless this plan is significantly improved through amendments, I plan to vote against it. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/editorials/president-trump-giving-police-forces-weapons-war-dangerous,President Trump is giving police forces weapons of war. This is dangerous,2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,GA,Hank Johnson,J000288,hankjohnson.house.gov,,,legacy,"A standing military force, with an overgrown Executive will not long be safe companions to liberty. James Madison, Constitutional Convention (1787). Our Founders opposed using a standing army to patrol our streets, and for good reason. While most of America is rightfully focused on the destructive path left in the wake of tropical storm Harvey this week, Donald Trump lifted the ban on certain military-grade weapons and equipment available from the Pentagon to our local police forces across the nation. Trumps unwise and ill-considered executive order reopening the floodgates of free surplus military-grade weaponry (as reported on CNN) from war zones across the world straight onto the streets of American cities, towns and university campuses, is the fulfillment of a campaign promise to the law enforcement lobby. It is not just bad policy its dangerous. Before Barack Obama signed an executive order in 2015 limiting the transfer of certain types of military equipment under the Pentagons 1033 Program, the Department of Defense transferred more than $5bn in surplus military equipment directly to police agencies across the nation. Because of lax oversight, some of the equipment has gone missing or been sold, possibly falling into the hands of wrongdoers. The Pentagon program creates a pipeline that bypasses normal city council and county commission procurement processes, enabling police departments to acquire expensive-to-maintain and often unneeded military equipment directly from the Pentagon without the approval or even knowledge of government officials elected by citizens. This is undemocratic and cedes too much power to unelected bureaucrats. The citizens are left to pay the price when these military toys are put into the anxious hands of often untrained local law enforcement. What makes it dangerous is the fact that this program requires that the equipment be placed into use within 12 months of being acquired. The use of military-grade weapons at an inappropriate time by an untrained police officer is a recipe for disaster, as evidenced by the Ferguson police departments response to non-violent protesters after the killing of unarmed teenager Michael Brown. Handing our police weapons of war, including but not limited to large-capacity, rapid-fire weapons and ammunition including .50-calibers bayonets, grenade launchers, armored vehicles including military tanks, unmanned vehicles (armed drones), explosives and pyrotechnics, and similar explosive devices, makes us less safe. It also drives a wedge between police officers and the communities they are sworn to protect and serve. Militarization runs counter to concepts of community policing, and hurts efforts to bridge the growing chasm between police and our communities. Trumps reckless action highlights why Congress must pass my bill the bipartisan Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act of 2017 (SMLEA), HR 1556 which would restore civilian authority over law enforcement by shutting down the direct pipeline between Department of Defense and law enforcement for certain types of military-grade weaponry. The Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act would limit the requirements that incentivize law enforcement to use the equipment. It would also require that recipients account for all military weapons and equipment, create enforcement mechanisms to better monitor and control the transfer of equipment and require the Pentagon to take back weapons from state and local law enforcement agencies that are being investigated by the Department of Justice for civil rights violations. Our nation was built on the principle that there are clear lines between our armed forces and domestic police. Moreover, just like the military, law enforcement is subject to civilian authority. This program blurs those lines. Its time for Americans to stop and take notice of the creeping militarization our streets before it changes the character of our country forever. Militarizing Americas main streets wont make us any safer, just more fearful and more reticent. Its time to stop militarizing law enforcement before its too late.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/editorials/wake-republicans-join-dems-co-equal-branch-hold-white-house-accountable,Wake up Republicans Join Dems as co-equal branch to hold the White House accountable,2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,GA,Hank Johnson,J000288,hankjohnson.house.gov,,,legacy,"No person holding any office of trust shall, without the consent of Congress, accept any present Emolument of any kind whatsoever from any king, prince or foreign state. The Emoluments Clause Article 1 Section 9.8 of the Constitution is clear and unambiguous. It prohibits a person holding an office of trust, including the president, from receiving any Emoluments or earnings from a foreign government without the consent of Congress. The Emoluments Clause exists to prevent foreign governments from corrupting the loyalties of U.S. government officials. The Emoluments Clause speaks to the maxim that a government official cannot well serve two masters and that all such officials, no matter how lofty their status or office, must be beholden only to the American people and not to foreign government officials. Its ironic that President Donald Trump claimed he was coming to Washington to drain the swamp, while ignoring he and his familys own flagrant violation of the Emoluments Clause. Congress should not stand by idly while our Constitution is trampled upon by a president who considers himself, his family and his sprawling business empire to be above the law. Exhibit A is the problematic flow of foreign government funds to the Trump International Hotel in the Old Post Office building a few short blocks from 1600 Pennsylvania that Trump leases from the federal government through the Government Services Administration (GSA). Foreign governments, including Bahrain, Azerbaijan and Kuwait, have all held events at the presidents hotel. We know that many foreign dignitaries stay at the hotel, and that Trumps company hired a full-time salesperson to solicit business from foreign diplomats. These facts alone undeniably prove a violation of the Emoluments Clause. Its why I joined my colleague Rep. Pete DeFazio (D-Ore.) in filingH. Res 437, a Resolution of Inquiry requesting certain documents and communications related to the lease of the Old Post Office building/Trump Hotel. True to form, my Republican colleagues blocked our efforts seeking details of the lease and records of any profits from foreign governments thereby refusing to fulfill the Constitutional duty they swore to uphold. It is unfortunate for the American people that Congress would be complicit asPresident Trump through his Trump Old Post Office LLC flagrantly violates the Emoluments Clause. Moreover, Congress sits by passively as President Trump violates the clear and unambiguous terms of the Trump International Hotel lease agreement, which explicitly prohibits any elected official of the U.S. government from serving as a lessee or from obtaining any benefit that may arise from the lease. The last time I checked, the president of the United States is an elected official. The lease clause that prohibits the president from becoming the landlord was put there to prevent the president from acting for his own benefit rather than to benefit the interests of the American people. We shouldnt trust President Trump to be the tenant and his own landlord! That is exactly what Congress is allowing to happen. Congress must rise above partisan politics and fulfill its oversight responsibilities by conducting its own bipartisan and independent review of the lease agreement to determine whether President Trump is in violation of either the Emoluments Clause in the Constitution, or the clear and unambiguous terms of the lease. Aggressive oversight is the only way to assure taxpayers that our president is not self-dealing, and that he and his family are not compromised by foreign officials looking to curry favor for themselves at our countrys expense. The Framers of our Constitution intended the Legislative, Executive and Judicial branches of government to be co-equal, thus setting up a delicate system of checks and balances with each branch acting as a counterweight on the other. When one branch fails to hold the other accountable, it places our democracy at risk. The stakes are too high for Congress to sit on its hands. The Constitution and the clear terms of the lease trump politics.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/editorials/why-caucus-advancement-studio-talent-and-film-diversity-relevant-today,Why the Caucus for the Advancement of Studio Talent and Film Diversity is Relevant Today,2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,GA,Hank Johnson,J000288,hankjohnson.house.gov,,,legacy,"Life imitates Art far more than Art imitates Life Oscar Wilde 1889 Given the events of Charlottesville and an administration that continues its us-versus-them mentality, what America needs now more than ever is inclusion and celebration of our great diversity. This summer, I along with two of my colleagues Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-CA) formed the Caucus for the Advancement of Studio, Talent (CAST) and Film Diversity, a bipartisan effort that focuses on diversity in the film industry -- in front of and behind the camera. The caucus is home of debate and dialogue about identifying the context, quality and quantity of the roles available to actors of color. It addresses issues ranging from pay equity issues, carriage of diverse programming, pipeline and roles to directors and producers, financing and entrepreneurship. In every aspect, diversity of race, faith, sexual orientation, male-female, will be paramount in the discussion, and it is our hope that ideas and potential solutions will develop from the issue discussions and forums. Times are tough in America right now, racial tensions are boiling over and our countrys relations in the global community are fraying. CAST provides a way to focus on what makes us American: our diversity. Culture unifies. American culture is an amalgam of race, sexual orientation, religious beliefs. It should be a place where others can feel welcome and invited. Now more than ever, we should focus on what unifies us not what drives us apart. CAST allows us to focus on these important goals. It also provides an economic pathway for success and economic self-sufficiency. In 2017, there are still places in this great country where our fellow citizens may never see an African American, Latino, or any other minority. Television and film might be the sole avenue where many Americans meet these communities. It is imperative that all communities be reflected in film and TV and that it reflects the makeup of America. Even when there are roles for minority communities, they are often portrayed on the fringes of society as pimps, drug dealers, terrorists, womanizers, illegal immigrants, and other negative images. These communities provide so much more to America and actors should be afforded the opportunity to play positive, uplifting roles. Exposure to positive role portrayal will go a long way in breaking down barriers, fears, and even hatred. Media can provide a means to unwrap our ignorance and begin healing. Because Atlanta is the Hollywood of the South where many films are produced, it is important that Atlanta play a role in diversifying the film industry. Thats why I feel my voice is needed. Culture is the highest expression of our civilization. As a civilized nation, we should celebrate all of our constituents. CAST can provide a means for healing, reconciliation, understanding, exposure, and allow others the chance to be successful and live the American dream.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/congressman-johnson-speaks-out-against-ban-forbidden-terms-health-officials,Congressman Johnson speaks out against ban on forbidden terms for health officials,2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,GA,Hank Johnson,J000288,hankjohnson.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04), a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee, issued a statement following reports that the Trump Administration is prohibiting top health officials, including those at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), from using a list of seven words or phrases when preparing 2018 budget documents. The forbidden terms are vulnerable, entitlement, diversity, transgender, fetus, evidence-based and science-based: Read More",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-hank-johnsons-statement-house-passage-republican-tax-scam,Congressman Hank Johnson's Statement on House Passage of Republican Tax Scam,2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,GA,Hank Johnson,J000288,hankjohnson.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) today released the following statement on the passage of the Republican tax bill: Rep. Johnson's floor speech can be viewed HERE. ""Today, I vehemently and adamantly voted NO on the Republican tax scam that gives 83 percent of the tax cuts to the wealthiest 1 percent while raising taxes on 86 million middle income families. Make no mistake about it -- the numbers prove that this is a tax cut for the wealthy and not for the middle class. Anyone who tries to deceive the American people into thinking otherwise -- shame on you. ""To make matters worse this tax cut also adds $1.45 trillion to the national debt. Republicans will soon use the debt to justify their ultimate plan, which is to eliminate the social safety net by cutting Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. Todays vote proves that Republicans care more about the wealthy and big multinational corporations than they do for ordinary people. ""Merry Christmas to the wealthy who already have plenty, and to the hordes of special interest lobbyists and campaign donors who have gotten what they wanted. To the rest of America struggling to make ends meet: Bah Humbug!"" ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://johnlewis.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-john-lewis-floor-statement-opposing-final-republican-tax-bill-hr-1,Rep. John Lewis' Floor Statement Opposing Final Republican Tax Bill (H.R. 1 Conference Report),2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,GA,John Lewis,L000287,johnlewis.house.gov,,,legacy,"WATCH VIDEO Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my good friend, the Ranking Member, Mr. Neal, for yielding. I rise to oppose this conference reportwith every bone in my body. This bill is a $2.3 trillion holiday gift for Wall Street, the rich, and the wealthy. This bill was conceived in the darkness of the night and birthed with the help of your donors and funders. This bill is not for the people. It is not of the people, and, Mr. Speaker, it is not tax reform. You reward your donors so that our children and grandchildren will suffer. This is not fair, it is not just, and it is below the dignity and worth of this body. Mr. Speaker,Ive said on many occasions that you cannot get blood from a turnip, andyou cannot justify robbing poor Peter to pay billionaire Paul. Mr. Speaker, when the bill comes due, the chickens will come home to roost.I urge all of my colleagues to be on the right side of history and to vote against this bill. I yield back. TAX BILL HOME HOUSE:House Ways and Means CommitteeMarkupHouse Rules CommitteeHouse Floor Debate SENATE:Senate Finance Committee Markup ResourcesSenate Budget Committee ResourcesSenate Floor Debate CONFERENCE:Conference CommitteeConference Report Rep. Lewis' PublicStatements about H.R. 1 Rep. Lewis' Missed Opportunities Bills Rep. Lewis' Proposed Amendments to H.R. 1 Official Non-Partisan Analysis of H.R. 1",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://loudermilk.house.gov/news/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=1245,Congress Passes Historic Tax Reform,2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,Barry Loudermilk,L000583,loudermilk.house.gov,,,legacy,"Rep. Loudermilk (R-GA) issued the following statement today after the House voted on final passage of the historicTax Cuts and Jobs Act:This is an investment in the American people. By lowering taxes for millions of middle-income Americans, by doubling the standard deduction, and by getting government out of the way so American businesses can grow - we are investing in America. This bill is about Americans and the American dream. It is about restoring the land of opportunity for every American. It is about empowering the individual to succeed, not continuing to let the government choose winners and losers. This bill allows Americans to keep more of their hard-earned money so they can invest in what is important to them and their families. By passing this historic tax cut and tax reform bill, we are saying we trust the American people to handle their own money more than we trust the Washington establishment. Although this bill isnt perfect, it is a giant step forward. I was proud to cast my vote on behalf of the people of Georgia. Tax Reform Highlights (Courtesy of the House Committee on Ways and Means) For individuals and families, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: Lowers individual taxes and sets the rates at 0%, 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37%so people can keep more of their hard-earned money. Significantly increases the standard deductionto protect roughly double the amount of what you earn each year from taxes from $6,350 and $12,700 under current law to $12,000 and $24,000 for individuals and married couples, respectively. Continues to allow people to write off the cost of state and local taxes just like current law up to $10,000. Gives individuals and families the ability to choose among sales, income and property taxes to best fit their unique circumstances. Takes action to support more American families by: Expanding the Child Tax Credit from $1,000 to $2,000for single filers and married couples to help parents with the cost of raising children. The tax credit is fully refundable up to $1,400 and begins to phase-out for families making over $400,000. Parents must provide a childs valid Social Security Number in order to receive this credit. Preserving the Child and Dependent Care Tax Creditto help families care for their children and older dependents such as a disabled grandparent who may need additional support. Preserving the Adoption Tax Creditso parents can continue to receive additional tax relief as they open their hearts and homes to an adopted child. Preserves the mortgage interest deduction providing tax relief to current and aspiring homeowners. For all homeowners with existing mortgages that were taken out to buy a home, there will be no change to the current mortgage interest deduction. For homeowners with new mortgages on a first or second home, the home mortgage interest deduction will be available up to the first $750,000 of the mortgage. Continues and expands the deduction for charitable contributionsso people can continue to donate to their local church, charity, or community organization.Eliminates Obamacares individual mandate penalty tax providing families with much-needed relief and flexibility to buy the health care thats right for them if they choose. Maintains the Earned Income Tax Creditto provide important tax relief for low-income Americans working to build better lives for themselves. Improves savings vehicles for educationby allowing families to use 529 accounts to save for elementary, secondary and higher education. Provides support for graduate studentsby continuing to exempt the value of reduced tuition from taxes. Retains popular retirement savings optionssuch as 401(k)s and Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) so Americans can continue to save for their future. Increases the exemption amount from the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT)to reduce the complexity and tax burden for millions of Americans. Provides immediate relief from the Death Tax by doubling the amount of the current exemptionto reduce uncertainty and costs for many family-owned farms and businesses when they pass down their lifes work to the next generation. For job creators of all sizes, the Tax CutsandJobs Act: Lowers the corporate tax rate to 21% (beginning Jan. 1, 2018) down from 35%, which today is the highest in the industrialized world the largest reduction in the U.S. corporate tax rate in our nations history. Delivers significant tax relief to Main Street job creators by: Offering a first-ever 20% tax deduction that applies to the first $315,000 of joint incomeearned by all businesses organized as S corporations, partnerships, LLCs, and sole proprietorships. For Main Street job creators with income above this level, the bill generally provides a deduction for up to 20% on business profits reducing their effective marginal tax rate to no more than 29.6%. Establishing strong safeguardsso that wage income does not receive the lower marginal effective tax rates on business income helping to ensure that Main Street tax relief goes to the local job creators it was designed to help most. Allows businesses to immediately write off the full cost of new equipmentto improve operations and enhance the skills of their workers unleashing growth of jobs, productivity, and paychecks.Protects the ability of small businesses to write off interest on loans, helping these Main Street entrepreneurs start or expand a business, hire workers, and increase paychecks. Preserves important elements of the existing business tax system, including: Retaining the low-income housing tax creditthat encourages businesses to invest in affordable housing so families, individuals, and seniors can find a safe and comfortable place to call home. Preserving the Research & Development Tax Creditthat encourages our businesses and workers to develop cutting-edge Made in America products and services. Retaining the tax-preferred status of private-activity bondsthat are used to finance valuable infrastructure projects. Eliminates the Corporate Alternative Minimum Tax, thereby lowering taxes and eliminating confusion and uncertainty so American job creators can focus on growing their business and hiring more workers, rather than on burdensome paperwork.Modernizes our international tax systemso Americas global businesses will no longer be held back by an outdated worldwide tax system that results in double taxation for many of our nations job creators. Makes it easier for American businesses to bring home foreign earningsto invest in growing jobs and paychecks in our local communities. Prevents American jobs, headquarters, and research from moving overseasby eliminating incentives that now reward companies for shifting jobs, profits, and manufacturing plants abroad.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://tomgraves.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398875,House Passes Final Version of Historic Tax Cuts and Jobs Bill,2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,Tom Graves,G000560,tomgraves.house.gov,,,legacy,"House Passes Final Version of Historic Tax Cuts and Jobs Bill This bill is a Christmas present for every American Washington, December 19, 2017- Rep. Tom Graves (R-GA-14) today voted for and the House passed the Conference Report to Accompany the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (H.R. 1), which is the final version of legislation to cut taxes for families and businesses and create more American jobs. This legislation worked out differences between the previously-passed House and Senate versions of the bill. This is a historic moment for our country, said Rep. Graves. When President Trump signs the Tax Cut and Jobs Act into law later this week, it will mark the first time the tax code was reformed in more than three decades. Our bill creates a simpler, flatter and fairer tax code, continued Rep. Graves. It puts more money in the pockets of hard-working Georgia families and makes the annual tax filing process much easier. It also spurs economic growth and private-sector job creation by slashing the corporate tax rate, which is currently the highest in the developed world, and cutting tax rates for small business income to the lowest levels since the 1940s. This bill is a Christmas present for every American family and business. Beginning on January 1, 2018, the new tax code will take effect, meaning Americans will start taking home more of their hard-earned money as soon as February. The American people elected President Trump and the Republican Congress to do big things, and this fulfills one of our promises, concluded Rep. Graves. The bills highlights include: Cutting individual tax rates for every bracket Nearly doubling the standard deduction from $6,350 to $12,000 for individuals and $12,700 to $24,000 for married couples Increasing the Child Tax Credit from $1,000 to $2,000 Modernizing the popular 529 educational savings benefit so it can be used for K-12 education expenses in addition to expenses related to higher education Repealing Obamacares harmful individual health insurance mandate Expanding the medical expense deduction Lowering the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent Introducing a 20 percent tax deduction for small- and medium-sized businesses ClickHEREto read the complete plan and explore the specifics. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.isakson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/floor-and-committee-statements?ContentRecord_id=0EBC90F7-B6F1-480F-BD9F-085FBD21BE41,Floor Speech Urging Colleagues to Support Historic Tax Reform Bill,2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,Johnny Isakson,I000055,www.isakson.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Mr. ISAKSON. Mr. President, I would like to take a moment to commend Senator Orrin Hatch. I listened to the debate over this bill not just today but for the better part of 3 years I have been a member of the Finance Committee. I have never heard a more dignified, deliberate, intelligent delivery on any subject than we all just heard from Orrin Hatch on the tax bill. Regardless of your politics, regardless of where you are from, it is good to know that America has dignified statesmen like Orrin Hatch to take the tougher issues, simplify them, get people to join hands, work together, and pass what is right for the American people. I am glad the American people are going to get to see that over the next couple of days. I publicly want to thank Senator Hatch for all he has done and all I know he has done in Washington during the last 3 years. In the 3 years on this committee, I have seen us--Republican and Democratic committee and subcommittee alike--work on every facet of the Tax Code to try to simplify changes down to doable amounts and doable jobs. I have seen everybody have input. I have seen everybody work together. Sure, we have had differences. Senator Hatch has always kept the mainstream there, kept his hand on the tiller, and saw to it that we never lost sight of doing what we need to do, which is to reform our Tax Code. I want to commend Senator Hatch and Senator Enzi, as well, for the work they have done on the Budget Committee to get us to this point and the unsung heroes that all of us know about, our staffs, whom we cannot do without. Jay Khosla and Mark Prater on the Finance Committee have been outstanding and have made this thing work, and I commend them for their work. On my staff, I could not have done what I have done without Amanda Maddox, Trey Kilpatrick, Monica McGuire, and Jay Sulzmann, who have all worked hard to see to it that we made the right decisions for the right reasons for the people of Georgia. I am very proud to be a part of this Senate today and of what is going to prove to be a historic day in the future. There are a lot of naysayers saying that this is not going to work. There are a lot of people who have come up to me today and have asked questions that have bad connotations to them. Yet I want, for just a minute, to talk about what I think this tax bill really means for the American people--for the folks who voted for me to represent them--and for what is going to happen in the years ahead. I had a reporter stop me today while I was coming up to the floor. He asked: Senator Isakson, where are you going to find the $1.478 trillion that you all are costing us by passing this tax cut? I said: First of all, we have not lost the money. Second of all, that is a static score. Third of all, I will be willing to bet you that we will take in a lot more money because of our having a dynamic economy than we will ever lose with a single tax cut. There are some people whose thought process is one of tunnel vision. They can't see outside the blinders. They don't understand that tax policy drives economic decisions. There are companies that in the last few years had been thinking about leaving America because of our tax rate that are now deciding to stay because of the new change. Don't underestimate the power of the territorial tax change that this makes for American business. A lot of CEOs who go to their annual stockholder meetings for C corporations in America have to go with agame plan to raise the return on their stocks in order to have people invest in their companies. Unfortunately, the easiest way to raise the return on their stock today would be for a domestic American company to move their headquarters out of the United States to Ireland or to some other place that had a lower tax rate. If you put more money on the table for the stockholders, it will be bad for the country, bad for your company, and bad for the American people as jobs leave America. Now that we have a territorial system that we are going to, there is an incentive to stay in America if you are located there and to come to America if you are not. We are not going to have any more fast food companies that are buying doughnut makers in Canada and then moving their headquarters to Canada to get a lower tax rate. We are going to have a lot of new companies that will think about becoming doughnut makers and will do it right here in the United States because the new tax system we will have will be fair and equitable for economic development and building growth. On the personal side, you really cannot argue with doubling the standard deduction. You can't argue with doubling of the child tax credit. You can't argue with simplifying the tax process itself and the filing of taxes. You can't argue with lowering rates--having seven different rate categories that are all lowered. You can't really argue with all of that because you know that is better for the American people and their pocketbooks in the short run, but in the long run, it will be better for them and their children and their grandchildren in terms of employment. I have eight grandchildren. My oldest just graduated from college, and the youngest is 9. In the years ahead--and I hope that I will get to see a lot of them--they are going to get jobs, and they are going to work. They are going to raise their families. What we have done today is going to make it easier for them to find employment for their kids, opportunity to develop businesses, and peace of mind because they will live in a country that will be vibrant and true. For those who want to ask what we are going to do about the money that we are giving up, I don't deal with static scoring; I deal with dynamic scoring. When I ran a company for 25 years, I made investments where I knew I had a place to grow. I made business decisions where there was positive growth ahead if I made the right decision. This Tax Code--this change in the Tax Code, this opportunity that we have--does all of those things. Do I know exactly what is going to happen? No, but I am willing to bet--and I have bet my vote already in committee and will later on tonight on the floor of the Senate--on the American people and the American worker and the American entrepreneur. I will bet on their taking advantage of a tax code that is fair to them and that gives them a chance to expand their personal opportunities. I will bet on them that they are willing to move forward with a better tax code for all of the country. I will make my bet on them that they will want to see to it that their children and their grandchildren will have the opportunities that they have had as well. I thank Chairman Hatch for what he has done in the last 3 years to make this opportunity come about. I thank the distinguished Senator from Washington and the Senator from Alabama, whom, unfortunately, we are losing in the next few weeks, for what they have put in this legislation. I thank them for what they have done in their looking out for their people. Did we make any mistakes? Maybe, but you never make mistakes when you are trying to do the right thing. You never make mistakes when you are trying to do a good thing. You never make mistakes when you take a risk because when you take a risk, at the end of that rainbow is a reward. When you take a risk in lowering taxes, the greater reward is more jobs, more opportunity, and a better America for our children and our grandchildren. I thank Senator Hatch for his work and for all that he has done to make America a better country and, in particular, for giving us the chance today to make our tax system fairer for all of the American people. May God bless him. I yield the floor. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.isakson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-center?ContentRecord_id=EC3B8B68-CA08-4525-8DE4-E0ECE37C8FBF,Isakson Urges Colleagues to Support Historic Tax Reform Bill,2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,Johnny Isakson,I000055,www.isakson.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Atlanta Office One Overton Park 3625 Cumberland Blvd, Suite 970 Atlanta, GA 30339 Tel: (770) 661-0999 Fax: (770) 661-0768 E-mail Me",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.perdue.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-david-perdue-discusses-historic-tax-cuts-on-cnbc-,Senator David Perdue Discusses Historic Tax Cuts On CNBC,2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,David Perdue,P000612,www.perdue.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Skip to primary navigation Skip to content Meet David Connect Helping You News",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://austinscott.house.gov/press-releases?ID=119836C7-392E-468F-8961-18D65BFE6E18,Rep. Austin Scott Statement on Tax Reform Vote,2017-12-18,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,Austin Scott,S001189,austinscott.house.gov,austinscott,https://austinscott.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Austin Scott (GA-08) released the following statement upon the U.S. House of Representatives passing the Conference Report to Accompany H.R. 1 - Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: “For families across Georgia, today’s legislation means more jobs, more take-home pay, and more money in their own pockets,” said Rep. Scott. “While I am very happy with the first major overhaul of our tax code in over thirty years, there is still a lot of work to be done getting our economy back on track, and I look forward to continuing to work with the Trump Administration and my colleagues in Congress to expand our economy, grow wages, and ease burdensome federal regulations.” Highlights of the bill include: Lowers individual tax rates for all Americans; Significantly increases the standard deduction from $6,500 to $12,000 for individuals and from $13,000 to $24,000 for married couples; Eliminates special-interest deductions; Eliminates the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) individual mandate tax; Establishes a new Family Credit, which includes expanding the Child Tax Credit from $1,000 to $2,000; Preserves the Earned Income Tax Credit and the home mortgage interest deduction for existing mortgages and maintains the home mortgage deduction for newly purchased homes up to $750,000; Lowers the corporate rate to 21%, down from 35%; and, Reduces the tax rate on small business to no more than 29.6%. Click here for policy highlights of the Conference Report to Accompany H.R. 1 - Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. -30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T22:19:19Z https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/cdc-director-disputes-scientific-words-have-been-banned,CDC director disputes that scientific words have been banned,2017-12-18,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,GA,Hank Johnson,J000288,hankjohnson.house.gov,,,legacy,"From the very beginning this administration has dealt in fake news and alternative facts, so it is no surprise that it would impose language restrictions on agency employees, said U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Ga. Censorship and the propaganda that results is dangerous. It smacks of what totalitarian regimes do to obfuscate the truth. Read More",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-johnson-s-statement-cdc-banned-words-phrases-controversy,Rep. Johnsons statement on CDC banned words & phrases controversy,2017-12-18,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,GA,Hank Johnson,J000288,hankjohnson.house.gov,,,legacy,"ATLANTA, GA Today, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04), a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee, issued a statement following reports that the Trump Administration is prohibiting top health officials, including those at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), from using a list of seven words or phrases when preparing 2018 budget documents. The forbidden terms are vulnerable, entitlement, diversity, transgender, fetus, evidence-based and science-based: From the very beginning this administration has dealt in fake news and alternative facts, so it is no surprise that it would impose language restrictions on agency employees, said Johnson. Censorship and the propaganda that results is dangerous. It smacks of what totalitarian regimes do to obfuscate the truth. Requiring federal agencies to produce political propaganda leads to the erosion of our Democratic principles, and the competitive edge that has made America great. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://hice.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1701,Hice to Host Telephone Town Hall Tuesday,2017-12-18,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,Jody Hice,H001071,hice.house.gov,,,legacy,"Hice to Host Telephone Town Hall Tuesday f t # e Washington, December 18, 2017 WASHINGTON, D.C On Tuesday, December 19th at approximately 6:00 p.m., Congressman Jody Hice (R-GA) will host a live telephone town hall with constituents from across the 10th District of Georgia. This is will be the seventh and final telephone town hall meeting of 2017 and the 13th Hice has held since taking office in 2015. During the event, residents will hear a brief legislative update from Representative Hice and will have the opportunity to ask questions regarding current events and issues of general concern. Constituents can submit questions prior to the call here. Im excited to once again connect with my constituents and talk about the important issues facing our country, said Congressman Hice. Telephone Town Halls are interactive, completely free to participate in and fully accessible by allowing thousands of individuals to share their views and get answers without having to leave their homes. This proven format is all about providing the most convenient service to every 10th District resident who wishes to engage in a constructive community discussion, and I look forward to speaking with many of you on Tuesday evening. Who:Congressman Hice and 10th District residents What:DecemberTelephone Town Hall When:Tuesday, December 19 from 6:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. The forum is open to the public. Residents can sign up to participate by clicking here or calling Representative Hices Washington D.C. office at202-225-4101. Constituents can also join the conference by calling (855) 756-7520 and using the passcode Ext. 38210# at any point during the event. ## f t # e",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://woodall.house.gov/media-center/e-newsletter-archive/washington-watch-121817,Washington Watch - 12/18/17,2017-12-18,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,Rob Woodall,W000810,woodall.house.gov,,,legacy,"HOUSE WILL APPROVE FINAL TAX BILL AND SEND IT TO THE SENATE As you all know, tax reform has beena goal for decades anda hot topic in recent months. Its been discussed around kitchen tables at dinner time and conference rooms during business meetings. Its been debated on live television by policy experts and political talking heads. Its been considered in various forms in hallways and committee rooms on Capitol Hill for years.The reason, of course, that all this debate and discussion has been happening is because our tax code impacts Americans from all walks of life, and that reality makes reaching a consensus on a reform plan an uphill battle. But Im pleased to report that we are nearing the top of the mountain. Last week the House-Senate Tax Reform Conference Committee successfully reconciled the separate tax reform bills passed in each chamber. Thats right, an agreement on the first fundamental overhaul of our tax code since 1986 has been reached, and the final tax reform bill has been signed by the conferees and posted online for the world to see. CLICK HERE TO READ THE BILL As I pointed out in last weeks newsletter, the final bill still needs approval from the full House and Senate before it can be sent to the Presidents desk. Myhope andexpectation is the House will pass ittomorrow(Tuesday), and the Senate will follow suit before the week ends. I invite you all to take a look at the bill and the accompanying summary documents to see exactly how you will benefit from the new plan. I think what youll find in the agreement are many of the ideas and policy proposals that many of you have contacted me about in recent monthsand thank you again to all who have reached out about tax reform over last few months and years! As you can see from the below tax reform timeline, this legislation has been years in the making. It is the result of countless hours of deliberation and debatemany of those hours occurring during the more than 100 tax reform hearings held in the House and Senate in recent years. In the few years that I have been entrusted with your voting card in the House, there has never been a conference report that has the potential to do as much for jobs and wages as this one, and I am very much looking forward to casting our vote on H.R. 1 this week. Lets get this bill to the Presidents desk, lock in these reforms that make it easier to keep and grow jobs in America, and then well roll our sleeves back up again and see what more needs to be done. HOUSE CONTINUES TO HOLD IRAN ACCOUNTABLE FOR ITS PROVOCATIVE ACTIONS While much of Americas attention is currently focused on the North Korean threat, Iran continues to finance terrorism, sowing violence and chaos in the Middle East and beyond. In the House, we passed two billsH.R. 4324 and H.R. 1638last week to address this illicit behavior and put a stop to their terror. These initiatives require the Treasury Department to lend greater scrutiny to the export of aircraft to Iran, report to Congress on any new transactions by U.S. or foreign financial institutions involving the export or re-export of commercial aircraft to Iran, and include additional measures to improve the deeply flawed Iran deal that was negotiated by the Obama Administration. The White House and Congress are working closely to leverage cooperation with global partners and continue to make progress against terrorism and the rogue regimes that finance it. We simply cannot allow Irans terrorist financing and support to continue unabated, and Im pleased that the House passed both of these bills with bipartisan majorities. BIPARTISAN SUPPORT TO EASE UNNECCESARY REGULATIONS Last week, the House approved H.R. 2396, the Privacy Notification Technical Clarification Act. This measure builds on legislation approved and signed into law during the last Congress that allowed financial institutions to forgo sending annual privacy notice disclosures to customers so long as those policies had not changed and the company did not share information with non-affiliated third parties. H.R. 2396 provides additional flexibility by allowing vehicle financing companies those companies that work with your local car dealer to help you buy your new car to post privacy policies on their websites as long as customers are notified about them in monthly billing statements. Right now, these financial institutions have to print and mail these notices to consumers each year, and this bill would update existing laws to reflect the technological advancements of recent decades. I was pleased to join an overwhelming majority of my colleagues in supporting H.R. 2396, and I look forward to its consideration in the Senate. GOING THE EXTRA MILE FOR OUR NEIGHBORS Once again, I have the pleasure of sharing with you all if you havent already heard or seen a heartwarming story thats happening right here at home. The Place of Forsyth County is doing amazing things for those in need in our community, and I cant describe the amount pride I feel when I see, time and again, members of our community going out of their way to help others often times in very new and innovative ways. The Place of Forsyth County is a non-profit organization led by Executive Director Joni Smith, and they recently held their third annual Holiday House, where Forsyth County residents who are experiencing hard times can come to ensure they are still able to make the Holidays a wonderful time for their children. Through the generosity of residents across Forsyth County and the region, and the selfless work of Ms. Smith and her whole team, thousands of lives have been touched by the kindness that shapes our part of the world. That is a reality to which weve grown accustom here, but not every community can claim such remarkable citizens. Thank you all for what you do! STATE LEADERS GATHER IN GWINNETT Its hard to believe, but with 2017 drawing to a close, its time to enjoy the holidays and gear up for a productive 2018! On Wednesday of last week, leaders from across the region and state gathered in Gwinnett County to do just that. At the Gwinnett Chamber legislative luncheon, folks had the opportunity to visit with and hear from colleagues, elected officials, local businesspeople, and to top it all off, a keynote address from Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle.The Lieutenant Governor discussed his vision for not only the upcoming state legislative session beginning next month, but also for the coming years. Now I know our community has differing opinions on exactly how we reach our common goals, especially when it comes to the specifics, but we all want the community we share to thrive in every way possible. The only way we get there is if we engage each other in productive conversation, and we turn to our elected and business leaders to often be the tip of that spear. Were fortunate to have these kinds of folks at every turn here at home. Irrespective of our disagreements, we work together in a way that builds consensus towards solving the challenges we face. Theres always more work to do, but Im grateful for the goals weve reached to this point, and the vision and commitment that keeps us striving towards those weve yet to achieve. HOUSE COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT: NAFTA AND THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT Overshadowed by the larger debate on Congress effort to reform our nations tax code last week were a number of important hearings that took place on Capitol Hill. Among the many hearings, Congress heard from Rod Rosenstein, the Deputy Attorney General at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), as well as from trade and foreign policy experts on the future of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). As you know, it is the responsibility of Congress to conduct oversight of federal departments and agencies to ensure that taxpayer resources are properly utilized as well as to ensure proper behavior of all federal employees as they conduct their official duties. That said, questions and concerns have been raised in recent weeks about the actions of some DOJ investigators and counselors assigned to Special Counselor Robert Muellers team and whether or not those actions had any influence over investigative decisions. In response, the House Judiciary Committee called on Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein, who appointed Mr. Mueller, to testify on his knowledge of this matter as well to discuss a number of other important issues. I believe that Americans deserve to know the extent to which Russia many have interfered in our elections, and I do hope youd agree with me that any and all investigations must remain free of political bias. My expectation is that most of the findings will be made public, but if any do need to remain classified, I commit to you that I will investigate those, as well. You can click here to watch the entire committee hearing or here to read Mr. Rosensteins opening statement. Additionally, members on the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade heard from policy experts on the future of NAFTA and its importance to both the U.S. economy as well as our national security. We live in a global economic marketplace and while NAFTAs continued success is critical to the future of Americas economic well-being, the increased trade between our three countries has forged relations that allow us to work together on a number of important issues that extend beyond trade. As Chairman Ted Poe (R-TX) exclaimed in his opening statement, we cooperate with the Mexican government on issues of border security, immigration, and the fight against organized crime and drug trafficking. Our southern border security depends on our joint efforts with Mexico. With that said, you can count on me to continue encouraging this Congress and Administration to move forward with renegotiation talks in a manner that does no harm to U.S. industries, workers, and consumers or to the important relations we have fostered with our North American neighbors. THE WEEK AHEAD This week the House is going to consider and pass two critically important bills: the final version of H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and H.J.Res. 124, a measure which will keep the government funded through January 19, 2018, will provide a two-year reauthorization of the Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and will fund the Department of Defense for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2018. Im so excited that were just a few days away from making tax reform a reality. Congress has been working on tax reform for many years, but the leadership of Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) has brought us to the edge of success. I look forward to telling you next week that President Trump has signed this landmark bill into law. Sincerely, Rob Woodall Member of Congress",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.perdue.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-david-perdue-comments-on-president-trumps-national-security-strategy,Senator David Perdue Comments On President Trumps National Security Strategy,2017-12-18,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,David Perdue,P000612,www.perdue.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Skip to primary navigation Skip to content Meet David Connect Helping You News",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://johnlewis.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-john-lewis-statement-power-outage-hartsfield-jackson-international,Rep. John Lewis' Statement on Power Outage at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport,2017-12-17,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,GA,John Lewis,L000287,johnlewis.house.gov,,,legacy,"ATLANTA I am grateful to all the police, firefighters, electricians, and airport, airline, and MARTA employees for their efforts to assist stranded passengers. I would also like to thank the thousands of passengers who continue to remain calm and patient throughout this unprecedented ordeal. I know it is not easy, but I ask you to continue to follow the guidance of airport and emergency personnel. Once electricity is restored, I look forward to learning more about the cause of the power outage and what safeguards will be implemented to prevent any reoccurrence of this situation.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://austinscott.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/lawmakers-urge-congress-fund-warthog-wing-work,(Valdosta Daily Times): Lawmakers urge Congress to fund 'Warthog' wing work,2017-12-16,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,Austin Scott,S001189,austinscott.house.gov,,,legacy,"VALDOSTA -- Lawmakers are pressing for Congress to find funding for replacing worn-out wings for the Air Force's A-10C inventory, including Georgia congressmen who represent Moody Air Force Base, where some of the A-10Cs are located. The defense bill for 2018, signed by President Donald Trump last week, authorizes the wing replacements, but Congress still has to authorize spending the $103 million needed. The Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee omitted the funding, according to a statement from the office of Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga. Friday, Scott and 19 other lawmakers, including both Georgia senators, signed a letter to the Senate and House appropriations committees urging them to arrange for the needed A-10C funding. The A-10C ""Warthog"" is the Air Force's only plane designed for low-level ground-attack missions for troop support. As of 2015, the Air Force had 283 A-10Cs. In 2014, then-Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel proposed retiring the fleet of tank-killer planes for an estimated savings of $3.5 billion during five years. More recently, former Defense Secretary Ash Carter postponed the planned retirement of the planes. He cited the Warthog's success in strikes against ISIS forces as a factor in the decision. In September, Gen. Ellen Pawlikowski, commander of Air Force Materiel Command, said some Warthogs would have to be grounded in 2018 because their wings will have reached the end of their service life, meaning they cannot be safely flown, according to Daryl Mayer, media operations section chief for 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs at Wright-Patterson AFB in Ohio. ""We expect to ground up to 55 A-10s across the entire fleet by fiscal year 2025, although there are many factors which could change those projections,"" Mayer said in a statement. The lawmakers' letter says one-third of the Air Force's A-10Cs are in ""desperate need of wing set replacements"" and that 173 A-10Cs had already gotten them but, as the Air Force was considering retiring the Warthogs at the time, the contract for wing production was allowed to expire before the remaining 110 wing sets were completed. The Warthog is used by squadrons of the 23d Fighter Group at Moody. Terry Richards is senior reporter at The Valdosta Daily Times.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://austinscott.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-scott-colleagues-press-10c-wing-funding-fy18-appropriations,"Rep. Scott, Colleagues Press for A-10C Wing Funding in FY18 Appropriations",2017-12-15,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,Austin Scott,S001189,austinscott.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, Congressman Austin Scott (GA-08), a Member of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC), joined nineteen of his House and Senate colleagues in expressing their concern on the Senate Appropriations Committee omitting funding to begin re-winging the A-10C Thunderbolt II fleet. One third of the A-10C aircraft fleet are in desperate need of wing set replacements in order to safely continue their critical missions, and as the only plane in the U.S. military specifically designed for Close Air Support and Combat Search and Rescue it is critical the fleet undergo wing replacement to continue their important missions fighting ISIS and providing ground support to troops around the world, said Rep. Scott. Earlier this week, President Trump signed into law the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which authorized the wing replacement projects for Fiscal Year 2018, but without the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee appropriating the funding, the project cannot be completed. The A-10C, also known as the Warthog, has been instrumental in the fight against ISIS, and its armored capabilities have aided in its critical deployments to the Demilitarized Zone south of the North Korean border, Eastern Europe and the Baltics in face of Russian aggression, and missions in the South China Sea after illegal Chinese military expansion in the region. Joining Rep. Scott on todays letter are Senators Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and David Perdue (R-GA) and Representatives Martha McSally (AZ-02), Mike Turner (OH-10), Vicky Hartzier (MO-04), Ruben Gallego (AZ-07), Collen Hanabusa (HI-01), Tom OHalleran (AZ-01), Walter Jones (N.C.-03), Mike Coffman (CO-06), Paul Cook (CA-08), Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01), Thomas Suzzoi (NY-03), Matt Gaetz (FL-01), Jim Banks (IN-03), Adam Kinzinger (IL-16), Don Bacon (NE-02), Earl L. Buddy Carter (GA-01), and Kyrsten Sinema (AZ-09). Click here to read todays letter. -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://buddycarter.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2756,Carter Applauds Protection of Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives,2017-12-15,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,Buddy Carter,C001103,buddycarter.house.gov,,,legacy,"Carter Applauds Protection of Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives f t # e Washington, December 15, 2017 Congressman Earl L. ""Buddy"" Carter (R-Ga.) today praised the conferenced version of theTax Cuts and Jobs Actwhich maintains the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives program. Carter fought to protect these historic tax credits in the final agreement.""As soon as I heard these historic tax credits were on the line, I went straight to the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee,""said Carter.""I told him how lucky I am to be from one of the most beautiful places in the world, and an important part of this beauty is the continued historic preservation across the district. I also told him what I heard from constituents in the First District of Georgia to make sure he knew how important this program is for our area. Throughout the negotiations we maintained this dialogue and I am thrilled to see the program has been preserved to help protect the charm of our great cities for generations to come."" The Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives program encourages private sector investment in the rehabilitation and re-use of historic buildings. The program was eliminated in the original House version of theTax Cuts and Jobs Actand modified in the Senate version. The final compromised version released today maintains the programand requires that the credit has to be claimed over five years. f t # e",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/congressman-johnson-delivers-books-fourth-district-students,Congressman Johnson delivers books to Fourth District students,2017-12-15,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,GA,Hank Johnson,J000288,hankjohnson.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) delivered more than 50 books on Nov. 27 to three elementary schools in his district. Johnson delivered the books to schools in both DeKalb and Gwinnett counties: Anderson-Livsey Elementary School in Gwinnett; and Fairington Elementary School and Flat Rock Elementary School, both in DeKalb. Read More",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/humanities-grant-fund-library-projects-dekalb-rockdale,"Humanities grant to fund library projects in DeKalb, Rockdale",2017-12-15,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,GA,Hank Johnson,J000288,hankjohnson.house.gov,,,legacy,"The DeKalb County Public Library System and Conyers-Rockdale Library System will receive grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities totaling $61,922, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) announced. Read More",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/johnson-hice-split-fcc-s-net-neutrality-decision,"Johnson, Hice split on FCCs net neutrality decision",2017-12-15,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,GA,Hank Johnson,J000288,hankjohnson.house.gov,,,legacy,"The Federal Communications Commissions vote to roll back rules on net neutrality Thursday drew mixed reactions from two of Gwinnetts three congressmen. U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Ga., was among the list of people, businesses and groups, who spoke out against the decision after it was made by arguing it closed off some access to the Internet and limiting innovation. U.S. Rep. Jody Hice, R-Ga., praised the decision though while arguing that the FCCs action would actually help innovation. Read More",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/rosenstein-defends-mueller-probe-republicans-express-outrage-over-fbi-texts,"Rosenstein defends Mueller probe, as Republicans express outrage over FBI texts",2017-12-15,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,GA,Hank Johnson,J000288,hankjohnson.house.gov,,,legacy,"But Democrats also came after Rosenstein at times, as the Deputy Attorney General was repeatedly pressed to tell whether he had been called on the telephone by the President, and told to investigate certain people or issues Rosenstein fended off those questions as well. Youre being very artful in jumping around and evading, Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA) told Rosenstein at one point, prompting Rosenstein to disagree. Are you afraid of President Trump firing you? Johnson asked. Read More",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.isakson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-center?ContentRecord_id=1C2E65E8-D1F4-44D7-A7AF-EC7113BEB9E5,A Stronger Military and a Safer Nation,2017-12-15,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,Johnny Isakson,I000055,www.isakson.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Dear Friends, This week, President Trump signed into law the fiscal year 2018 National Defense Authorization Act, and it benefits Georgias more than a dozen military installations. The measure includes pay increases for service members and an increase in troop numbers, providing military leaders with additional forces needed to carry out critical mission assignments and confront threats to our nation. Georgia is the home to critical assets in our national defense. From cutting edge capabilities such as cyber warfare, to strategic defense platforms like Ohio-class submarines, to Armor Brigade Combat Teams, and intelligence assets like the E-8 Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS) program, Georgia heavily contributes to our national efforts to project power and strength.Our service members put everything on the line for our security, and Im glad that theyll receive a pay raise. This legislation addresses many of our military's needs and will provide stronger security. Keeping Our Promises to Veterans This week, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary David Shulkin notified Congress that funding for veterans community care, called the Veterans Choice Fund, will run out within the next month if Congress does not act. The Caring for Our Veterans Act of 2017, legislation I introduced with Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., addresses this funding deadline by providing an additional $4 billion for the program while permanently enhancing veterans access to care in their communities as well as expanding the caregiver assistance program for Vietnam-era veterans. It is critical that the Senate and House pass this bipartisan legislation before the end of the year to ensure veterans continue to have access to efficient, timely and quality health care. The legislation was passed out of the Senate VA committee by a vote of 14-1 and awaits action by the full Senate. In Other News: This week, the Senate joined the House in a conference to resolve differences between the two chambers tax reform bills. The final bill was released today applauding this once-in-a-generation opportunity to overhaul our outdated tax code to support and provide opportunities for future generations. The House and Senate will each need to pass the final bill before it can go to the president to be signed into law. This week, the Senate voted to confirm the 12th federal circuit court judge this year, marking the most approved judicial nominees in the first year of any president. On Tuesday, I delivered keynote remarks at an event hosted by the Bipartisan Policy Center focused on the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the importance of continued U.S. investment in global health, particularly through reauthorizing the PEPFAR program. On Wednesday, the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs hosted a Toys for Tots reception to aid the U.S. Marines program that provides gifts to deserving families across the country. Whats on tap? Next week, the full Senate is expected to consider the final Tax Cuts and Jobs Act legislation to provide tax cuts and jobs for hardworking families and small businesses. The Senate will also need to pass funding for the federal government before its current authorization expires on Dec. 22. Additionally, the Senate is expected to continue working to extend funding on several other expiring programs, including the Childrens Health Insurance Program. Sincerely, In Case You Missed It",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.isakson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=AEDB2A2A-DE52-458C-A8AE-411C6F1D4343,Isakson: Tax Reform Will Strengthen America's Future,2017-12-15,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,Johnny Isakson,I000055,www.isakson.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance with jurisdiction over tax reform, released the following statement regarding the agreement reached between the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives on a final tax reform package: Now is the time for Congress to finally deliver after years of work to overhaul the outdated federal tax code that has held our economy back. Combined with the rollback of regulations by this administration, comprehensive tax reform will put America on a strong path that will allow us to compete in a global marketplace well into the future. With this bill, we are helping hardworking families and small businesses now and providing greater opportunities for future generations. I look forward to voting on this final tax bill soon to provide stronger economic growth, increased wages and a higher standard of living for Americans. Highlights of the final tax bill for individuals and families include: Cutting individual income tax rates across the board, Doubling the standard deduction, and Doubling the child tax credit. For small businesses, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act provides tax relief that will enable them to expand and create jobs. Additionally, the legislation overhauls the U.S. corporate tax system by lowering rates and adopting new international tax rules similar to our trading partners. These changes will enable American companies to compete on a level playing field with the rest of the world while removing the incentive to move U.S. facilities and jobs overseas. The Senate and House must each pass the final, bicameral, agreed to bill before it can be sent to the president to be signed into law. Both chambers are expected to vote on it before Christmas. Related:Isakson: Tax Reform Helps Americans Now, Supports Future GenerationsIsakson Applauds Committee Passage of Tax ReformIsakson Statement on Tax ReformIsaksons Floor Remarks on the Senate Tax Reform ProposalFox News: Isakson Talks Tax Reform and Veterans Day on Fox NewsAtlanta Journal Constitution: Op-ed: Tax reform key to a prosperous future ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://austinscott.house.gov/press-releases?ID=7ED560BE-B58B-4526-B3EA-1030C778F781,"Rep. Scott, Colleagues Press for A-10C Wing Funding in FY18 Appropriations",2017-12-14,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,Austin Scott,S001189,austinscott.house.gov,austinscott,https://austinscott.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Austin Scott (GA-08), a Member of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC), joined nineteen of his House and Senate colleagues in expressing their concern on the Senate Appropriations Committee omitting funding to begin re-winging the A-10C Thunderbolt II fleet. “One third of the A-10C aircraft fleet are in desperate need of wing set replacements in order to safely continue their critical missions, and as the only plane in the U.S. military specifically designed for Close Air Support and Combat Search and Rescue it is critical the fleet undergo wing replacement to continue their important missions fighting ISIS and providing ground support to troops around the world,” said Rep. Scott. Earlier this week, President Trump signed into law the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which authorized the wing replacement projects for Fiscal Year 2018, but without the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee appropriating the funding, the project cannot be completed. The A-10C, also known as the Warthog, has been instrumental in the fight against ISIS, and its armored capabilities have aided in its critical deployments to the Demilitarized Zone south of the North Korean border, Eastern Europe and the Baltics in face of Russian aggression, and missions in the South China Sea after illegal Chinese military expansion in the region. Joining Rep. Scott on today’s letter are Senators Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and David Perdue (R-GA) and Representatives Martha McSally (AZ-02), Mike Turner (OH-10), Vicky Hartzier (MO-04), Ruben Gallego (AZ-07), Collen Hanabusa (HI-01), Tom O’Halleran (AZ-01), Walter Jones (N.C.-03), Mike Coffman (CO-06), Paul Cook (CA-08), Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01), Thomas Suzzoi (NY-03), Matt Gaetz (FL-01), Jim Banks (IN-03), Adam Kinzinger (IL-16), Don Bacon (NE-02), Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (GA-01), and Kyrsten Sinema (AZ-09). Click here to read today’s letter. -30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T22:19:19Z https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/gop-expresses-outrage-over-fbi-officials-political-texts,GOP expresses outrage over FBI officials' political texts,2017-12-14,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,GA,Hank Johnson,J000288,hankjohnson.house.gov,,,legacy,"• The DOJ official also said he's not afraid of Trump firing him. Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) pressed Rosenstein on whether Trump had asked him to investigate specific individuals, to which Rosenstein replied that he had seen no ""improper"" orders from the White House. “Are you afraid of president Trump firing you?” the congressman asked. “No, I’m not,"" Rosenstein responded. He also said no one has asked him to fire Mueller. Read More",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-johnson-announces-national-endowment-humanities-grants-fourth,Rep. Johnson announces National Endowment for the Humanities grants for Fourth District libraries,2017-12-14,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,GA,Hank Johnson,J000288,hankjohnson.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman reports that more than $60,000 in grants will be awarded between two Fourth District libraries    DECATUR, GA —Today, Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04) announced that Conyers-Rockdale Library System and the DeKalb County Public Library system are receiving grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities to the tune of $61,922. The Conyers-Rockdale Library System, under the direction of Project Director Mary Harrison, will use their $11,922 Common Heritage grant to fund their African-American Faith and Heritage in Rockdale County project. This program will serve as an interactive archive to celebrate the history of African-American churches in Rockdale County.    The DeKalb County Public Library System, under the direction of Gina Jenkins, will use their $50,000 Humanities Access Grant to fund their PRIME TIME Preschool program. This family literacy program assists low-income families with creative ways to education their children through expert storytellers.  “I am pleased to announce that these two great institutions in Georgia’s Fourth District are the recipients of these highly competitive grants,” said Congressman Johnson. “These quality projects will benefit this district, help boost public engagement and enrich our communities.”          For more information, visit https://www.neh.gov/ ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-johnson-s-statement-fcc-s-vote-destroy-net-neutrality,Rep. Johnsons statement on FCCs Vote to Destroy Net Neutrality,2017-12-14,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,GA,Hank Johnson,J000288,hankjohnson.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr. (GA-04) today made the following statement today after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted 3-2 to rollback rules on Net Neutrality. “I condemn the FCC decision today to do away with Net Neutrality. U.S. taxpayers paid for the research and development of the World Wide Web, and we deserve for the Internet to remain a platform open to all content treated equally and without discrimination. “An open Internet means access to all content and applications regardless of origin with no favoring of one source over another or any type of blocking or filtering. Openness is what drives growth and competition. Blocking content stifles innovation and creativity. Openness embraces our core value as Americans: equality of opportunity. Openness is who we are and what we are about. “Openness also separates us from closed, autocratic societies that limit the information that people receive -- and thus the educational and cultural achievements that can be attained -- and the freedoms they enjoy. Look no further than the Great Firewall of North Korea, where people live in a closed society. North Korea is the antithesis of an open Internet. Any restriction on openness is a step towards a closed society. It’s the wrong direction for America. “I condemn the FCC’s wrongheaded decision to undermine Internet openness through this rescission of net neutrality rules. History will not be kind to those who turned their backs on freedom and created rules today that quash an open Internet. ”Should the opportunity arise, I am open to working on a legislative solution that keeps the interests of the American people paramount.” ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://loudermilk.house.gov/news/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=1240,House Bill Puts Irans Terror-Financing Under the Microscope,2017-12-14,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,Barry Loudermilk,L000583,loudermilk.house.gov,,,legacy,"House Bill Puts Iran’s Terror-Financing Under the Microscope f t # e Washington, December 14, 2017 Rep. Loudermilk (R-GA) issued the following statement today after voting on legislation to call for greater transparency in Iran’s financial dealings:   “Iran has repeatedly proven that it cannot be trusted. As the world’s leading state-sponsor of terror, Iran continues to show a complete disregard for human life through its tangled, highly-financed web of terror. The bills passed by the House today put Iran’s illicit financial activities under the microscope, shedding light into the regime’s volatile mix of money laundering, human rights abuses, and terrorist financing.   “Iran provides millions of dollars of funds and weapons to Hamas and other terrorist organizations. These organizations use these funds and weapons to carry out attacks on United States citizens and our allies. That’s why I voted for legislation that would make it more difficult for Iran to purchase commercial aircraft from the United States – or companies that do business with us – without strict oversight and control.”   Background   H.R. 1638, the Iranian Leadership Asset Transparency Act Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to report to Congress on the assets held by Iran’s senior political, military, and business leaders, and on the probable sources and uses of the assets.  If necessary, this report could be classified and available to Members of Congress.   Urges the U.S. Treasury Secretary to seek information for the report from sources that would search and, if necessary, translate publicly available “high-veracity official records” overseas, and provide methods to search and analyze such data in ways that are useful to law enforcement.   H.R. 4324, Strengthening Oversight of Iran’s Access to Finance Act Requires the U.S. Treasury Secretary to make a certification to Congress regarding transactions authorized for financial institutions in connection with the export of aircraft to Iran.   This certification would verify that any authorized financial transactions would not benefit Iranians sanctioned for weapons proliferation, terrorism, or human rights abuses in Syria. f t # e",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://tomgraves.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398874,Rep. Tom Graves Statement on FCC Vote to Repeal Net Neutrality Regulations,2017-12-14,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,Tom Graves,G000560,tomgraves.house.gov,,,legacy,"Contact: Garrett Hawkins 202-225-5211 Rep. Tom Graves Statement on FCC Vote to Repeal Net Neutrality Regulations Washington, December 14, 2017 - Rep. Tom Graves (R-GA-14) issued the following statement after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to dismantle net neutrality regulations: “I commend Chairman Pai and the FCC for approving this plan to restore internet freedom. It’s the result of an open and transparent process that provided all relevant documents and information to the public ahead of the vote. The plan will repeal Obama-era net neutrality regulations, which stifled innovation and competition on the internet and did nothing to protect consumers. Returning to a free and open internet will ensure the online marketplace continues to flourish while increasing broadband access for rural and low-income Americans.” ### Print version of this document",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.perdue.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-david-perdue-un-report-on-iran-validates-us-concerns,Senator David Perdue: UN Report On Iran Validates U.S. Concerns,2017-12-14,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,David Perdue,P000612,www.perdue.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Skip to primary navigation Skip to content Meet David Connect Helping You News",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://ferguson.house.gov/media/press-releases/ferguson-votes-pass-prosper-act-out-committee,Ferguson Votes to Pass PROSPER Act out of Committee,2017-12-13,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,A. Ferguson,F000465,ferguson.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON D.C. –Congressman Drew Ferguson (R-Ga.), a member of the Education and the Workforce Committee, today voted to pass The Promoting Real Opportunity, Success and Prosperity Through Education Reform (PROSPER) Act out of the committee following a markup. The PROSPER Act will reauthorize the Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965 for the first time since 2008. “While the last half century has seen millions of students gain access to higher education, the reforms added to the 1965 HEA over the years have created cumbersome policies for students and institutions alike,” said Ferguson. “With six million jobs unfilled, there is clearly a skills gap between our higher education system and the realities of our economy and a growing number of students who are struggling to afford or even complete their educations. The PROSPER Act addresses these issues by limiting the federal government’s over-regulation of higher education and instead creating more transparency, accreditation accountability and modernized market-alignment to put downward pressure on college costs. I look forward to continuing to support this bill as it heads to the House floor.” Ferguson’s bill, the Help Students Repay Act, aimed at helping students make progress towards paying down their student loan debt is included in the PROSPER Act. Currently, student loan borrowers must choose from nine different loan repayment plans, five of which are income-driven. Ferguson’s proposal would replace these five plans with a single, simplified income-based repayment plan. A bill Ferguson cosponsored, the Reverse Transfer Efficiency Act of 2017, was also included in the final package. Ferguson also introduced an amendment to the PROSPER Act to ensure high school students receive information about the financial aid options available for higher education. The amendment passed with bipartisan support. The PROSPER Act passed out of committee by a vote of 23-17. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://ferguson.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=105,Ferguson Votes to Pass PROSPER Act out of Committee,2017-12-13,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,A. Ferguson,F000465,ferguson.house.gov,,,legacy,,0,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/johnson-delivers-books-anderson-livsey-elementary-school,Johnson delivers books to Anderson-Livsey Elementary School,2017-12-13,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,GA,Hank Johnson,J000288,hankjohnson.house.gov,,,legacy,"Johnson delivers books to Anderson-Livsey Elementary School U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Ga., recently got to play Santa Claus to three local school libraries, including one in Gwinnett County. Johnson delivered books to Anderson-Livsey Elementary School in Snellville as part of his Nov. 27 tour of three schools. The congressman’s office said the books were made available to the schools through the Library of Congress’ surplus books program. In addition to Anderson-Livsey, Johnson also visited two schools in Lithonia, Fairington Elementary School and Flat Rock Elementary School. In addition to the supplies of books, Johnson also gave school principals and media specialists copies of “Women in Congress,” “African Americans in Congress” and “Hispanic Americans in Congress.” Each school also received a flag that had been flown over the U.S. Capitol. “The guiding principle behind the program is to build library collections, but I must say the short tour served as a great opportunity to talk to some of country’s future leaders,” Johnson said in a statement. “I thoroughly enjoyed talking to the children about what they want to be when they grow up, their favorite books and what they want for Christmas.” Political Notebook appears in the Wednesday and Sunday editions of the Gwinnett Daily Post.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-johnson-grills-deputy-attorney-general-rosenstein-judiciary,Rep. Johnson Grills Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein in Judiciary Oversight Hearing,2017-12-13,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,GA,Hank Johnson,J000288,hankjohnson.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04), a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee, pressed Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein on whether the President obstructed justice in the Russia investigation, the appropriateness of the President to publicly comment on the Russia investigation and whether he feared for his job: Rep. Johnson Grills Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein in Judiciary Hearing: Link HERE Chair: The chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia, Mr. Johnson, for five minutes. Mr. Johnson: Thank you Mr. Chairman. Thank you for your service to the country, Mr. Rosenstein. Based on the language in your special counsel order or your order appointing the special counsel, does the special counsel have the authority to investigate any individual who may have obstructed the investigation that FBI Director Comey confirmed on March 20th of this year, which was the Russian interference with the 2016 (U.S) elections? Mr. Rosenstein: The Special Counsel does have the authority to investigate any obstruction related to his jurisdiction. Mr. Johnson: Does this authority to investigate possible obstruction include investigating President Trump? Mr. Rosenstein: I hope you won't take an inference one way or the other, but we do not discuss who may or may not be under investigation. Mr. Johnson: I’m not asking you whether or not the president is under investigation. I’m just simply asking whether or not your order appointing the special counsel authorizes the special counsel to investigate the president. Mr. Rosenstein: It authorizes him to investigate anybody who there’s predication to believe obstructed justice. Mr. Johnson: And that includes the president, correct? Mr. Rosenstein: It would include anybody who’s suspected of obstructing justice. Mr. Johnson: All right. Do you think that it's appropriate for the president to comment publicly on any pending investigation? Mr. Rosenstein: Congressman, the decision about whether people in political positions comment on investigations is not my responsibility is to ensure that our investigations are not impacted improperly by any opinion. Mr. Johnson: It would not be appropriate for you to comment about any pending investigation, isn't that correct? Mr. Rosenstein: Correct. Mr. Johnson: And the president is the chief law enforcement officer. …at least he considers himself to be in the country. It would be inappropriate for him then to comment on a pending investigation, would it not? Mr. Rosenstein: I believe over the years there have been presidents who have made comments about investigations. It’s simply not my responsibility to make that decision. Mr. Johnson: Do you think it’s appropriate for the president to call for investigation of specific individuals? Mr. Rosenstein: I’m simply not going to comment on that congressman, other than to tell you it’s my responsibility along with the attorney general to make sure those decisions are made independently by the department based upon the facts and the law. Mr. Johnson: Has the president ever contacted you to urge action in any pending investigation? Mr. Rosenstein: Congressman, I have not received any improper orders and I’m not going to be talking about particular communications I may have which are appropriate communications with the White House. Mr. Johnson: What would be your legal basis for refusing to answer the question whether or not the president has contacted you to urge any action in any pending investigation? What would be your legal basis for refusing to answer that question? Mr. Rosenstein: This is not a partisan issue. I worked on an investigation where the previous president encouraged the department to do an expeditious investigation. So the question for me is are we or are we not appropriately making an independent determination regardless of who comments on it. Mr. Johnson: My question is: Has the president ever con you to urge action in any pending investigation, yes or no? Mr. Rosenstein: I have nothing further to say. Mr. Johnson: So, you're going to refuse to answer a question from a member of Congress seeking to do oversight? Mr. Rosenstein: I’ve told you I have not received any improper orders and I’m simply not going to talk about communications. I think in every administration senior law enforcement officers have to be able to communicate with the president and his officials about appropriate matters within their responsibility and not comment on it. You shouldn’t draw any inference. It’s simply not appropriate for me to talk about communications I may have with the administration. I would tell you if something happened that was wrong if somebody ordered me to do that was something improper but that has not happened. Mr. Johnson: It would be improper for the president to ever contact you about initiating an investigation of someone, would it not? Mr. Rosenstein: We’ve discussed this previously Congressman. Presidents have commented publicly. Mr. Johnson: No, no, no. My question is it would be improper for a president to contact you about initiating an investigation of someone? It would be improper wouldn’t it? Mr. Rosenstein: It would be improper for the president to order me to conduct an investigation. Mr. Johnson: It would be improper for the president to ask you to initiate an investigation, would it not? Mr. Rosenstein: If it were for improper reasons, yes. Mr. Johnson: Is it your testimony today that the president has not asked you to investigate someone specifically? Mr. Rosenstein: I understand what you’re getting at. But as I said, I was in the last administration and the president of the last administration commented on matters. There’s nothing wrong about that. Mr. Johnson: You’re being very artful in jumping around and evading answering my question. So you're not going to answer and that’s unfortunate. Are you afraid of President Trump firing you? Mr. Rosenstein: No, I am not Congressman. Mr. Johnson: With that, I will yield back Chair: The time of the gentleman has expired. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://loudermilk.house.gov/news/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=1238,Rep. Loudermilk Sponsors Regulatory Relief for Community Banks and Credit Unions,2017-12-13,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,Barry Loudermilk,L000583,loudermilk.house.gov,,,legacy,"Rep. Loudermilk Sponsors Regulatory Relief for Community Banks and Credit Unions f t # e Washington, December 13, 2017 Rep. Loudermilk (R-GA), a member of the House Financial Services Committee, introduced the Comprehensive Regulatory Review Act, H.R. 4607. This legislation will strengthen, improve, and expand the Economic Growth and Regulatory Paperwork Reduction Act’s (EGRPRA) review process.   “When I meet with community banks and credit unions across Georgia, I consistently hear of one issue that makes it difficult for them to best serve their customers. Most describe it as the “death by a thousand cuts,” administered by excessive, and often non-applicable or outdated, regulations from federal bureaucracies.   “In the short time I have been in Congress, one truth I have learned is that there are some bureaucrats who never saw a regulation they didn’t like, no matter how outdated, non-relevant or burdensome it may be. The Comprehensive Regulatory Review Act requires financial regulatory agencies to complete a review of their regulations every seven years and identify those regulations that are duplicative, outdated or over-burdensome.   “The CRRA will require these agencies to eliminate, modify or tailor unnecessary regulations every seven years, not just pencil-whip a report to Congress, as is required by the current EGRPRA laws. This bill is about rightsizing government regulators so they are more efficient, effective and up-to-date.”The Comprehensive Regulatory Review Act: o       Requires EGRPRA (Economic Growth and Regulatory Paperwork Reduction Act) reviews to be done every 7 years instead of every 10 o       Expands EGRPRA reviews to include all regulated institutions, not just insured depository institutions o       Expands EGRPRA to include the CFPB in addition to the OCC, Fed, and FDIC o       Codifies the NCUA’s participation in EGRPRA, as the NCUA participated in the most recent EGRPRA review voluntarily o       Requires regulators to tailor regulations that they find to be outdated, unnecessary, or unduly burdensome, instead of just producing a report o       Overall, the bill modernizes and improves the EGRPRA review process to account for the many changes that have taken place since EGRPRA was enacted   Original co-sponsors of this legislation include Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Rep. Sean Duffy (R-WI).     Rep. Josh Gotteimer stated, ""We need targeted guardrails to protect consumers from scam artists and polluters, but our economic growth is bogged down by outdated and duplicative regulations. A smart, pragmatic process requiring regular review of regulations will keep businesses on track instead of buried in paperwork and hamstrung by red tape. The Comprehensive Regulatory Review Act will ensure that consumers are protected, businesses can grow, and [our] robust financial sector will thrive.""   To Read the full text of H.R. 4607, click HERE. f t # e",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.perdue.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-david-perdue-introduces-atlanta-based-us-circuit-judge-nominee-in-confirmation-hearing,Senator David Perdue Introduces Atlanta-Based U.S. Circuit Judge Nominee In Confirmation Hearing,2017-12-13,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,David Perdue,P000612,www.perdue.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Skip to primary navigation Skip to content Meet David Connect Helping You News",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.perdue.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-david-perdue-introduces-georgia-federal-judge-nominee-in-confirmation-hearing,Senator David Perdue Introduces Georgia Federal Judge Nominee In Confirmation Hearing,2017-12-13,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,David Perdue,P000612,www.perdue.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Skip to primary navigation Skip to content Meet David Connect Helping You News",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://dougcollins.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=943,"President Trump Signs NDAA, Collins TRICARE Language into Law",2017-12-12,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,Doug Collins,C001093,dougcollins.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump today signed the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) into law. The NDAA included language authored by Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) to require pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to update their MAC pricing lists every seven days so that those lists reflect market prices accurately. Without this provision, PBMs routinely wait weeks and months to update the MAC reimbursement lists, enabling them to underpay pharmacies and overcharge TRICARE.    “PBMs keep their operations in the shadows in order to take advantage of patients and taxpayers. I worked to have this language included as part of the NDAA to help America’s service members and their families get the medicines they need while keeping drug prices appropriately competitive for patients and taxpayers under the TRICARE program,” said Collins. Collins’s provision can be found in section 714 of the NDAA and took effect immediately upon becoming law.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://austinscott.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/president-trump-signs-national-defense-authorization-act,President Trump Signs National Defense Authorization Act,2017-12-12,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,Austin Scott,S001189,austinscott.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Austin Scott (GA-08) released the following statement upon President Trump signing the Fiscal Year 2018 National Defense Authorization Act: “Today, President Trump and Congress continued their commitment to our Armed Forces by authorizing critical funding for our troops to address our readiness crisis, confront aggression, address threats, rebuild our military, protect force structure, and provide for our military families,” said Rep. Scott. “One of the most important responsibilities as a Member of Congress is providing for our men and women in uniform. I am proud to have worked on this piece of legislation, and we are ready to begin work on the FY2019 NDAA.” In addition to providing new resources to address troop and infrastructure readiness, this bill also continues Congress’ commitment to our warfighters and their families including fully funding a 2.4% pay raise for our warfighters and permanently preserving the Special Survivor Indemnity Allowance (SSIA) payments to surviving military spouses, among other things. As the only Republican from Georgia on the House Armed Services Committee and a negotiator to the House-Senate Conference Committee, Congressman Scott was instrumental in fighting on behalf of Georgia’s military installations during the Committee’s markup of the NDAA. PROVIDING FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE JSTARS NEEDS AT ROBINS: The E–8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS) is a joint Air Force and Army program that provides critical airborne surveillance, intelligence, and command and control to our military through on-board radar and computer subsystems equipment that gathers and distributes detailed battlefield information. Combatant commanders utilize the JSTARS fleet around the world, and it is based at Robins Air Force Base in Warner Robins. JSTARS’ mission is enabled by leveraging its extremely capable active radar system providing invaluable moving target indicator (MTI) intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance targeting information to multiple users both on the ground and in airborne attack platforms. The demand for MTI capability within each geographic combatant commander’s area of responsibility far exceeds what JSTARS can currently provide due to the limited size of the legacy fleet and overburdened crew resources. Rep. Scott was able to secure $417 million for the JSTARS Recapitalization program and $36.9 million for the current legacy fleet of 16 E-8C to make critical equipment upgrades to maintain viability until the current fleet is replaced by the Recapitalization program beginning in the late 2020s.  SECURING FUNDS FOR A-10C REWINGING AT MOODY: Additionally in today’s legislation, the A-10C Wing fleet is set to receive $103 million in funds for re-winging, which Moody Air Force Base will benefit from to keep A-10s flying in the fight against ISIS. REBUILDING OUR NATION’S FORCE STRUCTURE AND INFRASTRUCTURE: The 2018 NDAA also addresses force structure concerns by increasing the size of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Army Guard and Reserve, Naval and Air Reserve, as well as Air Guard. It also dedicates $1.9 billion for facilities maintenance and $4.4 billion to strengthen missile defense, better equip ground forces, bolster aviation readiness, and address critical munitions shortage. It also makes major reforms in Pentagon buying practices including e-commerce, defense contract auditing, and increased oversight into service contracts. OTHER PROVISIONS REP. SCOTT SECURED IN FY18 NDAA: Rep. Scott was also able to include provisions in the final bill to: Create a Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) Cyber Institute to address the Air Force and Department of Defense’s needs to train and recruit individuals into the fields of cyber security and cyber defense, including at the University of North Georgia in Dahlonega; Support the modernization of the U.S. Army’s small arms acquisitions and capabilities by directing the Secretary of the Army to conduct and present to HASC a briefing on the advisability and feasibility of developing a small arms acquisition process, in particular for free-float rail systems for service rifles; and Address the disparity between combat pilot training and the lack of budgetary and programmatic attention to address it. Click here to read more about the FY2018 NDAA. -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-johnson-oversees-hearing-opioid-epidemic,Congressman Johnson Oversees Hearing on Opioid Epidemic,2017-12-12,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,GA,Hank Johnson,J000288,hankjohnson.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, as Ranking Member of the Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, & Emergency Management, Rep. Johnson examined impact of opioid crisis in Appalachia.    Rep. Johnson focused on the importance of the Affordable Care Act in combating the opioid crisis and how economic development is effected by the explosive use of opioids in places such as North Georgia, Kentucky, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. “This is a full-blown crisis that demands the attention of Congress,” said Johnson. “The high rates of substance abuse and mortality in Appalachia compared to the rest of the United States is a serious impediment to sustained economic growth. Although the mortality rate is lower in the Georgia counties in my congressional district covered by the Appalachian Regional Commission, I think there are important lessons to be learned. We must not repeat the mistakes of the past where drug abuse was over criminalized as it was the during the crack epidemic of the 1980s.  The government’s response to drugs in the 1980s did not have the effect of easing the problem but instead only intensified the severity of the problem.  Hopefully, we have learned some things from our past.” For Rep. Johnson’s full statement, click HERE. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/speeches/opioid-epidemic-appalachia-addressing-hurdles-economic-development-region,The Opioid Epidemic in Appalachia: Addressing Hurdles to Economic Development in the Region,2017-12-12,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,GA,Hank Johnson,J000288,hankjohnson.house.gov,,,legacy,"Statement of The Honorable Hank Johnson Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management hearing on “The Opioid Epidemic in Appalachia: Addressing Hurdles to Economic Development in the Region”​ December 12, 2017   Good morning. I would like to thank the Chairman for holding this hearing on the opioid epidemic in Appalachia. Since the formation of the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) in 1965, Appalachia has made significant progress in executing its mission of addressing persistent poverty and economic despair. However, the progress made in attracting industry to Appalachia and reducing poverty has been threatened by the current opioid epidemic sweeping the nation.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drug overdoses are now a leading cause of death in the United States, resulting in approximately 52,000 deaths in 2015, or 142 deaths every day. In Appalachia, the problem is even worse.  In 2009, the mortality rate in the Appalachian Region was 24 percent higher than the non-Appalachian United States. By 2016, the mortality rate was 37 percent higher than the rest of the nation.  The opioid epidemic also happens to strike in the most devastating way to men and women between the prime working ages of 25 to 44. Although the mortality rate is lower in the Georgia counties in my congressional district covered by the ARC, I think there can be important lessons learned for the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission, another economic development commission that I introduced legislation reauthorizing earlier this year. This is a full-blown crisis that demands the attention of Congress. The high rates of substance abuse and mortality in Appalachia compared to the rest of the United States is a serious impediment to sustained economic growth. Employers are seeking a healthy workforce when making decisions about where they will locate their businesses. High rates of substance abuse and mortality make it difficult for employers to find and hire qualified candidates. The ARC, in its mission to promote economic development in the region, has understood the grave threat of opioid addiction to the economic viability of the region. In 2017, the ARC commissioned two reports that clearly outline that men and women of prime working ages are beset with high rates of substance abuse and mortality.  I support ARC’s conclusion that increased access to treatment services, prevention, and overdose medications to address the opioid epidemic is necessary. I am pleased that the approach to the opioid epidemic in all of ARC’s commissioned reports discuss this problem in the context of it being a public health issue as much as it is a law enforcement issue.  We must not repeat the mistakes of the past where drug abuse was over criminalized as it was the during the crack epidemic of the 1980s.  The government’s response to drugs in the 1980s did not have the effect of easing the problem but instead only intensified the severity of the problem.  Hopefully, we have learned some things from our past.  Today the comprehensive reports and testimony before this committee make clear that the genesis and driving force for this epidemic starts with the proliferation of prescription drugs.   I am glad we will have a former DEA official talk about how changes in the law and policy at DEA contributed to the explosion in prescription pills in Appalachia. There is no silver bullet to solve the opioid epidemic but I look forward to hearing from today’s witnesses on how a comprehensive multi-faceted approach could address the crisis.  Back to previous page. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://hice.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1700,Hice Applauds President Trump on Restoring Military Readiness,2017-12-12,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,Jody Hice,H001071,hice.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Jody Hice today applauded the President’s signing of the Conference Report of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2018 into law. The NDAA authorizes funding for the U.S. Department of Defense, establishes our national security priorities for the next fiscal year, and provides crucial resources for servicemembers and their families. “After too many years of inadequate funding, outdated equipment, and readiness shortfalls, this NDAA supports increasing defense spending and prioritizes the safety and security of the American people,” said Congressman Hice. “Our top priority is and has always been to keep America safe. The policies within the FY’18 NDAA achieve the goal of countering threats from rogue nations like North Korea, support cyber operations at the U.S. Army’s Cyber Center of Excellence at Fort Gordon in Augusta, and provide our troops with a well-earned 2.4% pay raise. I’m very proud of the work on this legislation by Chairman Thornberry and members of the House Armed Services Committee, and I applaud President Trump's leadership in strengthening our national security as we work to modernize the Department of Defense.” Hice spoke in opposition to an amendment offered by Representative Jared Polis (D-CO), which would mandate a one percent reduction in defense spending, except for personnel and health accounts. Hice also delivered remarks in favor of amendments offered by Representatives Ron DeSantis (R-FL) and Robert Pittenger (R-NC), which would prohibit the U.S. Department of Defense from contracting with telecommunication companies found to be complicit with North Korean cyberattacks or any Chinese company found to be providing support for the North Korean regime. Additionally, Hice praised an amendment offered by Representative Mike Bishop (R-MI), which calls upon President Trump to encourage our NATO allies to fulfill their commitments and recognize those allies that currently meet them. Specifically, the bill: Authorizes $696.1 billion in base level funding; Provides a 2.4% pay raise to our men and women in uniform; Sets $203.5 million for military construction projects in Georgia at Fort Benning in Columbus, Fort Gordon in Augusta, Robins Air Force Base in Warner Robins, and Marine Corps Logistics Base in Albany; Funds a recapitalization of the Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS) and the acquisition of 87 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters and 20 C-130Js, both of which are assembled in Marietta, Georgia at a facility adjacent to Dobbins Air Reserve Base; Allocates $8 billion to cyber operations, including the U.S. Army's Cyber Center of Excellence at Fort Gordon in Augusta, Georgia; Increases missile defense funding by $2.5 billion to help ensure we can protect the homeland from threats posed by advanced, long-range missiles; Maintains restrictions against transferring detainees from the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay to the United States; and Approves requests from the Army, Navy, and Air Force for additional personnel. For a comprehensive summary of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY’18, click here. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://tomgraves.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398873,"Rep. Tom Graves Votes to End Operation Chokepoint, Help Consumers",2017-12-12,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,Tom Graves,G000560,tomgraves.house.gov,,,legacy,"Contact: Garrett Hawkins 202-225-5211 Rep. Tom Graves Votes to End ‘Operation Chokepoint,’ Help Consumers Washington, December 12, 2017 - Rep. Tom Graves (R-GA-14) yesterday voted for and the House passed the Financial Institution Customer Protection Act (H.R. 2706), bipartisan legislation prohibiting the Department of Justice and federal banking regulators from forcing financial institutions to terminate customer accounts for political reasons.“The Obama administration used Operation Chokepoint to block businesses they disliked – such as gun stores and short-term lenders – from accessing bank loans and other financial services,” said Rep. Graves. “It was an undeniable abuse of power. This legislation eliminates Operation Chokepoint and prohibits any future administration from implementing a similar program.”Rep. Graves also included a provision to end Operation Chokepoint in this year’s Financial Services Appropriations bill, which passed the House in September.  ### Print version of this document",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.perdue.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-david-perdue-on-the-signing-of-major-defense-bill-into-law,Senator David Perdue On The Signing Of Major Defense Bill Into Law,2017-12-12,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,David Perdue,P000612,www.perdue.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Skip to primary navigation Skip to content Meet David Connect Helping You News",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.perdue.senate.gov/news/press-releases/what-they-are-saying-annual-defense-bill-critical-to-georgias-military-community,What They Are Saying: Annual Defense Bill Critical To Georgias Military Community,2017-12-12,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,David Perdue,P000612,www.perdue.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Skip to primary navigation Skip to content Meet David Connect Helping You News",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://austinscott.house.gov/press-releases?ID=117CE3DC-83A7-47DB-80D8-658F64E5CB0D,President Trump Signs National Defense Authorization Act,2017-12-11,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,Austin Scott,S001189,austinscott.house.gov,austinscott,https://austinscott.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Austin Scott (GA-08) released the following statement upon President Trump signing the Fiscal Year 2018 National Defense Authorization Act: “Today, President Trump and Congress continued their commitment to our Armed Forces by authorizing critical funding for our troops to address our readiness crisis, confront aggression, address threats, rebuild our military, protect force structure, and provide for our military families,”said Rep. Scott. “One of the most important responsibilities as a Member of Congress is providing for our men and women in uniform. I am proud to have worked on this piece of legislation, and we are ready to begin work on the FY2019 NDAA.” In addition to providing new resources to address troop and infrastructure readiness, this bill also continues Congress’ commitment to our warfighters and their families including fully funding a 2.4% pay raise for our warfighters and permanently preserving the Special Survivor Indemnity Allowance (SSIA) payments to surviving military spouses, among other things. As the only Republican from Georgia on the House Armed Services Committee and a negotiator to the House-Senate Conference Committee, Congressman Scott was instrumental in fighting on behalf of Georgia’s military installations during the Committee’s markup of the NDAA. PROVIDING FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE JSTARS NEEDS AT ROBINS: The E–8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS) is a joint Air Force and Army program that provides critical airborne surveillance, intelligence, and command and control to our military through on-board radar and computer subsystems equipment that gathers and distributes detailed battlefield information. Combatant commanders utilize the JSTARS fleet around the world, and it is based at Robins Air Force Base in Warner Robins. JSTARS’ mission is enabled by leveraging its extremely capable active radar system providing invaluable moving target indicator (MTI) intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance targeting information to multiple users both on the ground and in airborne attack platforms. The demand for MTI capability within each geographic combatant commander’s area of responsibility far exceeds what JSTARS can currently provide due to the limited size of the legacy fleet and overburdened crew resources. Rep. Scott was able to secure $417 million for the JSTARS Recapitalization program and $36.9 million for the current legacy fleet of 16 E-8C to make critical equipment upgrades to maintain viability until the current fleet is replaced by the Recapitalization program beginning in the late 2020s. SECURING FUNDS FOR A-10C REWINGING AT MOODY: Additionally in today’s legislation, the A-10C Wing fleet is set to receive $103 million in funds for re-winging, which Moody Air Force Base will benefit from to keep A-10s flying in the fight against ISIS. REBUILDING OUR NATION’S FORCE STRUCTURE AND INFRASTRUCTURE: The 2018 NDAA also addresses force structure concerns by increasing the size of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Army Guard and Reserve, Naval and Air Reserve, as well as Air Guard. It also dedicates $1.9 billion for facilities maintenance and $4.4 billion to strengthen missile defense, better equip ground forces, bolster aviation readiness, and address critical munitions shortage. It also makes major reforms in Pentagon buying practices including e-commerce, defense contract auditing, and increased oversight into service contracts. OTHER PROVISIONS REP. SCOTT SECURED IN FY18 NDAA: Rep. Scott was also able to include provisions in the final bill to: Create a Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) Cyber Institute to address the Air Force and Department of Defense’s needs to train and recruit individuals into the fields of cyber security and cyber defense, including at the University of North Georgia in Dahlonega; Support the modernization of the U.S. Army’s small arms acquisitions and capabilities by directing the Secretary of the Army to conduct and present to HASC a briefing on the advisability and feasibility of developing a small arms acquisition process, in particular for free-float rail systems for service rifles; and Address the disparity between combat pilot training and the lack of budgetary and programmatic attention to address it. Click here to read more about the FY2018 NDAA. -30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T22:19:19Z https://woodall.house.gov/media-center/e-newsletter-archive/washington-watch-121117,Washington Watch - 12/11/17,2017-12-11,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,Rob Woodall,W000810,woodall.house.gov,,,legacy,"TAX REFORM LEGISLATION MOVES TO CONFERENCE COMMITTEE For those of you who are following the tax reform process closely, you’ll know that last week brought us another step closer to wrapping up our work on a comprehensive tax overhaul before the end of the year. The House led the way last Monday by voting to meet the Senate in Conference Committee to hash out the differences in each chamber’s tax reform plan, and the Senate followed our lead on Wednesday. Once the members of the Conference Committee reach an agreement on a unified tax reform bill, it will come before the House and Senate for final passage, and if approved by each chamber, the tax reform bill will head to the President’s desk for his signature. You may be wondering what those outstanding differences are in the House and Senate tax bills. The good news is that the bills are pretty similar, but there are several areas in which the plans differ. For example, the House-passed version of H.R. 1 would consolidate the current seven tax brackets into four, while the Senate bill maintains all seven of today’s brackets. Another outstanding issue is how to deal with certain deductions and credits, including the deduction for medical expenses, which the House bill eliminates and the Senate bill retains, and the child tax credit, which both bills expand but in different ways, to name a few. Even in areas where there is agreement, such as lowering the corporate tax rate to 20%, the two chambers currently disagree on whether the changes should take place in 2018 or be delayed a year until 2019. My expectation is that, after much consideration and debate, the Conference Committee will reach an agreement on each and every one of these issues in the coming days. For those of you who are interested in learning more about each of chamber’s tax reform bill and the sections that need to be reconciled, I encourage you to take a look at the Tax Foundation side-by-side comparison. And as I’ve said many times in past newsletters, I hope you all will continue to reach out to me about those parts of our tax reform bill that you like and those parts that you believe could be improved. My commitment to you all is that I will continue working until the very last minute of this debate to deliver a tax reform plan that makes the American taxpayers proud!   PRESIDENT TRUMP RECOGNIZES JERUSALEM AS ISRAEL’S CAPITAL CITY President Trump fulfilled yet another one of his campaign promises last week by recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Israel. This move was lauded by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and described by many as an important step toward peace in the troubled region. The President wants what we all want—peaceful coexistence between the Israeli and Palestinian people—and the simple fact is that bipartisan majorities in Congress have voted multiple times to recognize Israel’s self-identified seat of government.  The Jerusalem Embassy Act became the law of the land in 1995 during President Bill Clinton’s Administration, and I’m pleased that this law is finally being implemented by President Trump, as it should have been long ago.   STRONG BIPARTISAN OPPOSITION TO ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT Amongst the other matters considered in the House of Representatives this past week, Representative Al Green (D-TX) offered articles of impeachment against President Trump, describing the President as a divisive and controversial figure, but failing to actually cite any criminal actions. The articles were overwhelming dismissed, with only 58 members, all Democrats voting in favor of taking the matter up on the House floor, and 364 members, the vast majority of the House – both Democrats and Republicans – in opposition to such an action. While demands for impeachment are not rare, even George Washington faced such calls; the actual impeachment of a federal official is incredibly rare. In fact, only two Presidents have ever been successfully impeached, and both were acquitted by the Senate, where the trial is adjudicated. Impeachment is very serious action and should be reserved for the most grave of circumstances and with appropriate evidence of “Treason, Bribery, or other High Crimes and Misdemeanors,"" as prescribed in the Constitution. If a Member of Congress proposed articles of impeachment every time he or she disagreed with the President, our country would not be able function. Just because we disagree on policies does not justify removing someone from office or overturning free and fair elections decided by the American people. The wonderful thing about the great experiment of American democracy is that we can disagree on many issues, and, despite those differences, still be able to come together to govern the country. I was pleased to see the vast majority of my colleagues—both Republican and Democratic— agree that this was a distraction from the vital work that faces the House, especially with pressing issues such as tax reform, immigration, and our national security on our plate.    HOUSE PASSES A BILL TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES AND KEEP THE GOVERNMENT OPEN Last week, the House passed an important financial services bill – H.R. 477, the “Small Business Mergers, Acquisitions, Sales, and Brokerage Simplification Act of 2017,” with overwhelming bipartisan support. This bill seeks to modify the current U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulatory structure that subjects merger and acquisition brokers who advise small privately held companies to the same SEC registration requirements as larger, publicly traded companies, and such registration requirements typically come with a hefty fee that is oftentimes passed on to small businesses. I know that we can do better for our nation’s small, family-owned businesses, especially when it comes time to pass on a company that someone has invested their life’s work and passion into, and by exempting certain merger and acquisition brokers who assist these companies when that time comes, I am confident that H.R. 477 will provide small business owners with the sound financial confidence they need to finalize a transfers or a sale, as well as the fair treatment they deserve.  In addition to H.R. 477, Congress passed and sent to the President a Continuing Resolution (CR) to extend funding for the federal government through December 22, 2017. As many of you already know, the House passed earlier this year, on time and ahead of schedule, an entire Fiscal Year 2018 spending package to fund the priorities of the American people. As I pointed out on the House floor, Congress should not be in the business of funding the government by way of CR’s, but unfortunately, we cannot continue to wait any longer for the Senate to take up and consider the House-passed FY18 spending package and let the federal government’s funding lapse.  Similarly, the Senate has not yet taken up a bill that passed the House weeks ago with my support and would provide a five year reauthorization for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Because many states and families can no longer wait for the Senate to get itself moving either, this CR includes a provision that allows the government to provide reserve CHIP funds to states most in need of it.  CLICK BELOW to watch me speak about the CR and H.R. 477.   ROB WOODALL PARTICIPATES IN TRANSPORTATION ROUNDTABLE On Thursday, I joined many of my colleagues on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for a roundtable on emerging technologies in the trucking industry.  We have seen advancements over the last several years in technology related to efficiency and safety that are poised to reinvent this industry for the 21st Century.  Today there are more than 10 million commercial trucks on the road, and a growing economy with better trade deals will only result in more commerce.  Commercial trucks on the road are a good sign—that means there are more jobs available, Americans have more money to buy things, and businesses are succeeding. That economic activity does bring its own set of challenges, however. We have to make sure that our infrastructure is able to accommodate it, our roadways don’t become hopelessly congested with new traffic, and that we all can drive on our public roads safely.     Rep. Rob Woodall participates in a bipartisan roundtable discussion on emerging technologies in the trucking industry On the Committee, we are working with safety organizations, industry stakeholders, and folks back home to build consensus on the steps we can take to begin integrating semi-autonomous vehicles on the road and improve the safety technology that truck drivers have access to, such as automatic emergency braking systems, forward collision warning, lane keeping support, and more. These conversations will intensify once the President announces his infrastructure proposal early next year, and I am excited to be in a position to influence such an important issue.   UPHOLDING STATES’ RIGHTS WHILE PROMOTING THE SECOND AMENDMENT As a gun owner and concealed carry permit holder myself, I value the opportunity to exercise my Second Amendment right while home in Georgia. But as many of you know, not all states will honor a Georgia concealed carry permit. Congress had attempted to address this problem back in 2011, but it failed to offer protections to uphold the rights of states to make their own laws in this area. Last week, however, the House passed a bill, H.R. 38, the “Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act,” that would address not only the reciprocity issue, but also many of the Tenth Amendment concerns regarding the protection of state sovereignty. With the additional endorsement of Georgia’s chief law enforcement officer, Attorney General Chris Carr, and twenty three other attorneys general across the United States, I am encouraged that this bill will uphold the Second and the Tenth Amendments equally. I am hopeful that as H.R. 38 continues to move through the legislative process, Members of this body remain mindful of the importance of each Amendment in the Constitution.    THANK YOU AGAIN FOR PARTICIPATING IN MY TOWN HALL I’m so grateful to each one of you for taking the time to participate in my town hall meeting last week. We had a great discussion about Congress’ effort to reform our nation’s outdated tax code, and we were joined by my good friend Representative Tom Rice (R-SC) who sits on the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee in the House. Representative Rice shared with us his insight on Congress’ reform effort as well as his tax policy expertise from his twenty-five plus years of practicing tax law before being sent to Congress. We also heard from a number of Seventh District residents who shared their thoughts about the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act,” and from those folks who simply wanted to get their facts straight, which seems harder and harder to do now-a-days with the news media’s sensationalized coverage of the issues.  If you weren’t able to participate in this event, please know I’ll be doing more, and I certainly hope you’ll be able to participate at that time.  I’ll be sure to let you know when those are coming up, so please keep an eye on future newsletters and on my website.  Thank you again for your continued partnership, and please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have.   LOCAL LEADERSHIP IN THE SPOTLIGHT Of all the things that make me proud of our community, the way in which we take ownership of the big challenges with a sense of partnership and vision certainly rises to the top.  One of those issues is how we partner to address our growing transportation needs not only in the Seventh District, but across the State of Georgia, and throughout the country.  As a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, with your help, I’ve been able to carry our message of local leadership and decision-making, the ways in which we invest with our own time and resources before asking others to do so, and the results we have to show for it to Washington.  Not every community has that story to tell, but irrespective of the issue – whether education, taking care of those in need, transportation, and so much more, we work together to reach our goals.  We’ve accomplished a great deal together, and there’s absolutely more to do.  As the region continues to grow and change, so do our infrastructure needs.  Arriving at the best solution requires the kind of discussion and leadership we’re fortunate to have with so many of our local officials – Gwinnett County Commission Chairwoman Charlotte Nash being among them.   In recent years, we’ve made great strides together at the local, state, and federal level.  From the bipartisan enactment of the FAST Act, to Georgia’s own billion dollar investment in transportation and infrastructure, to county and local projects in Gwinnett and Forsyth, we’re making tangible progress, but we’re also keenly aware of the work and hurdles that remain before us.  Here at home, we don’t always agree on every step forward, but I’m grateful that where we do agree is that we all want to move towards those common goals, and we don’t shy away from the dialogue that gets us there.  Thank you all for your continued partnership in these conversations, whether just around the corner, down at the Gold Dome, or in Washington.   FORSYTH COUNTY COMMISSIONERS GO TO WASHINGTON It was a productive week in Washington, and that included visiting with several of our fantastic Forsyth County Commissioners who were in town on behalf of the good people of Forsyth County.  While our paths cross often here at home, it’s not every day that I have the pleasure of hosting them in my office on Capitol Hill. Now mind you, they had important business to attend to that included meeting with Vice President Pence and White House staff, not to mention many others on Capitol Hill, but I like to think they didn’t feel any more welcome there than when they were in the Seventh District’s office in Washington.  We discussed many things, but one of their biggest areas of concern and reasons for their trip was to advance a resolution that would establish a water intake pipe in Lake Lanier.     Rep. Rob Woodall meets with members of the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners in Washington, D.C. Here again we have yet another example of the forward-thinking leadership of our local leaders, and I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to partner with them on this issue and so many others.  Water resources is a topic near and dear to all of us, especially as it relates to Lake Lanier and its responsible use, which is an on-going conversation we have on Capitol Hill as well.  Most recently, in last year’s Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA), you and I successfully partnered to preserve our local decision-making authority surrounding Lake Lanier.  Without a doubt, it is one of our community’s most valued resources, and it is because of that reality that I will always make the case for our superior stewardship of it.  No one values its beautiful shores or precious drinking water more than we do here at home.  It was my pleasure to visit with our Commissioners about their vision and goals for our shared community, and I’m looking forward to continuing that partnership on this issue and many more.   THE WEEK AHEAD I’m especially excited to announce that this Tuesday, the House Judiciary Committee will approve a bipartisan bill that I introduced along with my colleague Representative Jackie Speier (D-CA).  H.R. 2595, the “Strengthening the Department of Homeland Security Secure Mail Initiative Act,” is a common-sense bill that directs DHS to allow someone to pay a small fee and have their important DHS documents held for them at the post office or delivered only with signature confirmation. While this is a simple bill, it’s fixing a complex problem. Too many of our 7th District neighbors have seen their critically important immigration documents – work permits, visas, green cards – lost in the mail. This increases the chances of identity fraud for the unsuspecting immigrant, and it provides criminals an opportunity to engage in terrorism. By allowing folks to pay a nominal amount up front, we’re helping save time and aggravation later by keeping these documents safe. I’m so proud that the Judiciary Committee is moving the bill forward, and I hope that it will come to the House floor soon. The House is also expected to move four bills through the Rules Committee and across the floor this week: H.R. 1628, the “Iranian Leadership Asset Transparency Act,” H.R. 2396, the “Privacy Notification Technical Clarification Act,” H.R. 4015, the “Corporate Governance Reform and Transparency Act of 2017,” and H.R. 4324, the “Strengthening Oversight of Iran’s Access to Finance Act.” The Rules Committee will be holding its hearing on these measures Tuesday afternoon at 3:00PM, and I hope you’ll take a moment to tune in online to watch the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee discuss these important pieces of legislation.  Sincerely, Rob Woodall Member of Congress",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.perdue.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-david-perdue-we-must-remain-vigilant-in-protecting-our-homeland,Senator David Perdue: We Must Remain Vigilant In Protecting Our Homeland,2017-12-11,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,David Perdue,P000612,www.perdue.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Skip to primary navigation Skip to content Meet David Connect Helping You News",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://bishop.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-bishop-statement-on-continuing-resolution,CONGRESSMAN BISHOP STATEMENT ON CONTINUING RESOLUTION,2017-12-08,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,GA,Sanford Bishop,B000490,bishop.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA) released the following statement in response to the House passage of the two week Continuing Resolution (CR). The CR passed the House yesterday by a vote of 235 to 193.   “Our responsibility is to keep the government open and working for the people. We should have continued to work to meet the December 8th funding expiration date with a responsible appropriations measure, instead of kicking the can down the road for two more weeks.    “Federal agencies and our communities require long-term certainty. There continues to be a number of outstanding issues needing immediate attention, which are not addressed in this two week CR. These items include: Providing disaster assistance to communities that have been impacted by storms, hurricanes, and wildfire, including communities in Southwest and Middle Georgia, Reauthorizing the Children’s Health Insurance Program and Community Health Centers, which provide vital health services for our most vulnerable citizens, Passing the DREAM Act, to protect hardworking individuals that are threatened with deportation despite contributing to the American Dream, Funding the fight against the opioid epidemic, Modernizing our defense capabilities and ensuring our service members have adequate resources on the field, and Raising the draconian budget cap that threatens to starve off much needed investments in agriculture, child and adult health, disease research, infrastructure and community development, Social Security disability, nutrition assistance, before and after school programs, student aid and loan assistance, job training, economic and business development, housing assistance, and scientific and environmental research.    “I urge my colleagues to come to the table to finalize a long-term appropriations measure that reflects our priorities and values as Americans and strengthens our country.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.isakson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-center?ContentRecord_id=66AB5335-6520-4BA3-A560-597099DA8B9D,Keeping Our Promises to Veterans,2017-12-08,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,Johnny Isakson,I000055,www.isakson.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Dear Friends, This week, I joined a number of members of our Georgia congressional delegation who represent Robins Air Force Base in Warner Robins, Ga., in our second annual Robins Air Force Base congressional breakfast hosted by the 21st Century Partnership, an organization that supports Robins Air Force Base in Warner Robins, Ga. I also had the pleasure of meeting with Robins Air Force Base officials regarding the Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS) platform.  As home to the Air Force Reserve Command, the 78th Air Base Wing and Air Logistics Complex, and the entire U.S. fleet of JSTARS aircraft, Robins Air Force Base plays a vital role in our national defense and provides support to all branches of the military throughout the world. The efficiency and effectiveness of the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center contributes significantly to U.S. military operations worldwide, and I am proud to support this, and all of our Georgia-based installations in Washington. Reducing Opioid Abuse Across America, communities and families are dealing with the devastating effects of the opioid crisis, and drug overdose deaths are on the rise. Georgia, unfortunately, is no stranger to the malicious effects of the epidemic. Sadly, 982 Georgians lost their lives due to opioid-related overdoses in 2016. Unfortunately, too many of our brave veterans are now dependent on opioids to address chronic pain as a result of injuries sustained in combat. Between 2010 and 2015, the number of veterans addicted to opioids rose 55 percent to roughly 68,000 individuals, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). While our veterans' military service may have concluded, our duty as a country to support and honor our veterans continues. It is critical that we do everything we can to combat this tragic opioid epidemic. This week, I penned an op-ed along with Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr focused on our shared commitment to making sure that veterans and all Georgians are protected from the devastation of opioid abuse. Support from Key Stakeholders for Veterans Healthcare Last week, the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs unanimously passed a bipartisan bill I introduced with Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., the Caring for our Veterans Act, that would permanently enhance veterans’ access to care in their communities as well as expanding the caregiver assistance program for Vietnam-era veterans. Since then, the Caring for Our Veterans Act has won the support of several veterans groups that represent millions of veterans in the United States.The committee is committed to working in a bipartisan manner to develop legislation that addresses issues that are important to America’s servicemembers, veterans, and their families. In Other News: On Monday, the Senate confirmed Kirstjen Nielsen, of Va., to be secretary of Homeland Security. With responsibilities ranging from cybersecurity, to protecting our borders, to the continued recovery efforts from the recent natural disasters, the Department of Homeland Security requires strong leadership to get the job done. Ms. Nielsen is a qualified candidate with the talent and experience to succeed. On Wednesday, the president officially recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and began taking steps to move the U.S. embassy there from its current location in Tel Aviv. For nearly seven decades, Jerusalem has been recognized as the capital of Israel and the seat of its democratic institutions. This decision solidifies that the United States is steadfast in our commitment to Israel. Last week, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act passed the full Senate to provide jobs and tax relief for American families. On Wednesday, the Senate formally voted to join the House in a conference to resolve differences between the two chambers’ bills. The House and Senate will each need to pass the final bill before it can go to the president to be signed into law. Also this week, both chambers of Congress acted to continue funding the federal government. What’s on tap? The Senate is expected to act soon to allow funding for the state Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which has expired, and to enact the Veterans Choice legislation that we passed out of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs last week. Sincerely, In Case You Missed It",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.perdue.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-david-perdue-tax-changes-are-a-win-for-americans,Senator David Perdue: Tax Changes Are A Win For Americans,2017-12-08,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,David Perdue,P000612,www.perdue.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Skip to primary navigation Skip to content Meet David Connect Helping You News",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://austinscott.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/georgia-delegation-hosts-second-annual-robins-air-force-breakfast,"Georgia Delegation Hosts Second Annual Robins Air Force Breakfast, Features U.S. Air Force Secretary",2017-12-07,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,GA,Austin Scott,S001189,austinscott.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Austin Scott (R-GA-08) and Sanford Bishop (D-GA-02), along with U.S. Senators Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and David Perdue (R-GA) welcomed U.S. Secretary of the Air Force Dr. Heather Wilson at the second annual Robins Air Force Base congressional breakfast today in Washington, D.C. Highlighted at today’s meeting were the economic and military contributions that Robins Air Force Base brings to Georgia. As home to the Air Force Reserve Command, the 78th Air Base Wing and Air Logistics Complex, and the entire U.S. fleet of Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS) aircraft, Robins Air Force Base plays a vital role in our national defense and provides support to all branches of the military throughout the world. The efficiency and effectiveness of the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center contributes significantly to U.S. military operations worldwide. The Georgia congressional delegation members were joined at the Washington, D.C., event by Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson and other senior leaders from the Air Force, Brigadier General John Kubinec, commander of the Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex and other Robins Air Force Base officials, as well as 21st Century Partnership members, community representatives and local elected officials from Warner Robins, Ga. “I’d like to thank Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen Goldfein, Lt Gen Levy, Brig Gen Kubinec, Warner Robins Air Logistics Center Commander Col Drew, and JSTARS Active and Guard component commanders Col Bass and Col Grabowski, as well as 21st Century Partnership and the greater Warner Robins community for their continued support of Robins,” said Congressman Austin Scott, member of the House Armed Services Committee. “Robins Air Force Base is a boon to Middle Georgia, and I will continue to fight for their missions and the active duty and DOD civilians supported by the base.” “With its logistical and maintenance facilities, Robins Air Force Base serves as an integral part of our national defense and a key part of the Middle Georgia community,” said Congressman Sanford Bishop. “Robins Air Force Base generates 56,000 area jobs, has an economic impact of $2.87 billion, and serves as home of the Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (J-STARS). It is a multi-functional installation with the capacity to grow, and it has the backing of a strong defense community. I stand committed to ensuring this installation receives the resources it needs to thrive in today's security environment.” “I’m so glad to have so many stakeholders from Robins Air Force Base, the U.S. Air Force and the Department of Defense come together to discuss the pertinent issues confronting our military and Robins Air Force Base in particular,” said Sen. Isakson, chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. “This installation delivers a huge benefit to our national security and to Middle Georgia, and I am committed to protecting both.” “I’m constantly impressed by the significant impact Robins Air Force base has on our national security,” said Sen. David Perdue, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. “Robins is mission-ready and provides direct support to our women and men in uniform around the world. It is because of the hard work of many of the people at today’s event, the Warner Robins community, the base leaders, and our troops, that Robins remains a bastion of strength today. I’m committed to helping Robins carry on this legacy and meet our growing national security needs far into the future.” More than 100 participants were in attendance at the breakfast, including Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson, Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. David Goldfien, Brigadier General John Kubinec, Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex Commander, Colonel Will Ball, former secretary of the U.S. Navy and member of the Governor’s Defense Initiative, Lieutenant General Lee Levy, Air Force Sustainment Center Commander at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City, Okla., Hap Arnold, Senior Research Analyst, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Shaw Blackmon, Georgia State Representative, District 146, Warner Robins Mayor Randy Toms, Centerville Mayor John Harley, Dr. Todd Kinnebrew, Museum of Aviation Foundation Chairman, as well as representatives from Robins Regional Chamber, the Houston County Commission, the 21st Century Partnership and the American Federation of Government Employees Local Chapter 987. Robins Air Force Base directly employs more than 23,600 people and contributes more than $2.87 billion to the Georgia economy annually. Robins Air Force Base and its community partners have focused on education in Middle Georgia to help shape Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) development throughout Georgia and the country. The Georgia delegation has been fighting in particular for the JSTARS program at Robins Air Force Base. In September 2017, Isakson and Perdue led a letter to U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis with other members of the Georgia congressional delegation about their concerns regarding the Air Force’s position on the JSTARS program and to reiterate that Congress had repeatedly expressed its position on the program through its votes to extend the program and prevent the premature retirement of this aircraft. The delegation offered amendments to maintain the E-8 JSTARS program in the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act and require the secretary of defense to meet certain requirements, should the Air Force decide to abandon the current JSTARS recapitalization plan. The fiscal year 2018 National Defense Authorization Act passed the U.S. Senate on Nov. 16, 2017. It provides the requested funding authorization and provisions to preserve the Georgia-based JSTARS mission, prevent the U.S. Air Force from retiring the program and require that it move forward with recapitalization of that critical intelligence platform. It is awaiting the president’s signature to become law.   -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z