CONGRESSMAN HANK JOHNSON
Georgia's Fourth Congressional District

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The American Housing Rescue and Foreclosure Prevention Act

Posted by: Hank Johnson (May 13, 2008, 12:40 PM)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Posted in Economy, Housing, My Legislation | 3 Comments | Permalink

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Water Crisis Update

Posted by: Hank Johnson (October 19, 2007, 05:18 PM)

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

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

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

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

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

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

--Hank

 

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

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

Posted in Environment, The District | 4 Comments | Permalink

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On the Anniversary of 9/11

Posted by: Hank Johnson (September 11, 2007, 10:11 AM)

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

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

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


--Hank

Posted in Unspecified | 0 Comments | Permalink

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August 18: Congress on the Corner

Posted by: Hank Johnson (August 14, 2007, 03:45 PM)

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



--Hank

Posted in The District | 3 Comments | Permalink

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Friday Recap: August 3, 2007

Posted by: Hank Johnson (August 03, 2007, 06:54 PM)

Friends:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stay tuned for updates.

--Hank

Posted in Friday Recap | 5 Comments | Permalink

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Town Hall Meeting: "Serving Those Who Serve"

Posted by: Hank Johnson (July 03, 2007, 12:28 PM)

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

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

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

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

--Hank

Posted in Defense, The District | 6 Comments | Permalink

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Congratulate the District's Service Academy Appointees!

Posted by: Hank Johnson (June 14, 2007, 01:05 PM)

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

U.S. Air Force Academy:

  • Ms. Brittany Nichole Dutton, Tucker High School

U.S. Military Academy:
  • Mr. Daniel Conner Sutton, Marist School

U.S. Naval Academy:
  • Mr. John Charles White, Naval Academy Prep School

  • Ms. Logan Arielle Johnson, Chamblee Charter High School

  • Ms. Jacquelyn Nicole Williams, Martin Luther King Jr. High School
Those interested in more information on appointments to service academies should read the FAQ on this site and call my office at (770) 939-2016.

--Hank

Posted in Unspecified | 1 Comments | Permalink

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Save Your Home and Protect Our Neighborhoods

Posted by: Hank Johnson (June 05, 2007, 10:09 PM)

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

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

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

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

--Hank

Posted in Economy, Housing, The District | 3 Comments | Permalink

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Passport Fairs Across District on Sat, Apr 28

Posted by: Hank Johnson (April 26, 2007, 12:47 PM)

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

Best,
Hank

Traveling soon and need a passport?

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


TIME

OFFICE

ADDRESS

ZIP

1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Atlanta Buckhead Postal Store

3495 Buckhead Loop NE STE 115

30326

1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Atlanta Doraville Station

4700 Longmire Ext

30340

1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Atlanta Dunwoody Station

1551 Dunwoody Village Pkwy

30338

1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Atlanta Howell Mill Postal Store

1984 Howell Mill RD NW

30327

2:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Atlanta Old National Station

2385 Godby RD

30349

1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Atlanta Sandy Springs Postal Store

227 Sandy Springs PL NE STE G

30328

1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Cumming Post Office

525 Tribble Gap Road

30040

1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Decatur Main Post Office

520 W Ponce DE Leon AVE

30030

1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Fayetteville

250 E. Georgia Ave

30214

1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Gainesville Main Post Office

364 Green ST NE

30501

1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Lawrenceville North Postal Store

1557 Buford DR

30043

1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Lilburn Post Office

4370 Highway 29

30047

1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Mableton Post Office

5284 Floyd RD SW

30126

1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Marietta Main Post Office

257 Lawrence ST NE

30060

1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Marietta Sprayberry Branch

2886 Sandy Plains RD

30066

1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Riverdale Main Post Office

8060 Webb RD

30274

 

Bring these items to our Passport Fair:

 

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

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

● PASSPORT FEES (must be paid separately)

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

    16 and older             $67                              $30                          $97

    15 or younger          $52                              $30                          $82

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

 

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

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

Posted in The District | 2 Comments | Permalink

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April 21 Town Halls

Posted by: Hank Johnson (April 13, 2007, 00:15 AM)

FRIENDS:

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

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


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

Posted in The District | 2 Comments | Permalink

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Exit Strategy: Why I Supported the Iraq Accountability Act

Posted by: Hank Johnson (March 23, 2007, 03:54 PM)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I will solemnly lend it my support.

Posted in Defense, Foreign Affairs, Iraq | 28 Comments | Permalink

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March 31 Town Halls

Posted by: Hank Johnson (March 23, 2007, 01:14 PM)

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


OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS

Posted in The District | 0 Comments | Permalink

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Fired U.S. Attorneys Deserve our Defense

Posted by: Hank Johnson (March 15, 2007, 01:04 PM)

This has been a troubling week.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stay tuned to this blog for further updates.

 

Posted in Bush Administration, My Legislation, U.S. Attorneys Scandal | 11 Comments | Permalink

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A Plan for PeachCare

Posted by: Hank Johnson (March 13, 2007, 02:34 PM)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Posted in Health, PeachCare | 2 Comments | Permalink

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Academy Day is March 24

Posted by: Hank Johnson (March 11, 2007, 11:23 PM)

IMPORTANT:  March 16 Deadline for Registration!

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

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

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

Directions to Naval Air Station Atlanta:

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

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


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

United States Military Academy
Admissions Office
Building 606
West Point, NY 10996-1797
(845) 938-4041

United States Naval Academy
USNA Admissions Office
117 Decatur Road
Annapolis , MD 21402-5019
(410) 293-4361

United States Air Force Academy
HQ USAFA/RRS
2304 Cadet Drive, Suite 200
USAF Academy, CO 80840
(719) 333-2520

United States Merchant Marine
Academy
Admissions Office
Kings Point , NY 11024-1699
(516) 773-5391

United States Coast Guard
Academy
Admissions Office
New London , CT 06320-4195
(203) 444-8444

Posted in Defense, The District | 2 Comments | Permalink

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District Office Open House

Posted by: Hank Johnson (March 08, 2007, 05:49 PM)

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

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

    MapQuest
    FROM:
    Address or Intersection:
    City:
    State: ZIP Code:
    Country:

Posted in The District | 1 Comments | Permalink

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We Must Protect PeachCare

Posted by: Hank Johnson (March 06, 2007, 11:24 PM)

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

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

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

Posted in Health, PeachCare | 2 Comments | Permalink

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Speaking Out Against Escalation

Posted by: Hank Johnson (February 20, 2007, 06:31 PM)

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

Posted in Foreign Affairs, Iraq | 8 Comments | Permalink

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Charlie Norwood, 1941-2007

Posted by: Hank Johnson (February 13, 2007, 08:08 PM)

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

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

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

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

Posted in Unspecified | 0 Comments | Permalink

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A Cartoon

Posted by: Hank Johnson (February 13, 2007, 07:18 PM)

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

Nobody wants a nuclear Iran. 

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

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

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

Posted in Foreign Affairs, Iran, Iraq | 4 Comments | Permalink

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PeachCare Needs a Policy, not a Partisan, Solution

Posted by: Hank Johnson (February 12, 2007, 05:25 PM)

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

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

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

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

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

But I can't do it alone.

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

Posted in Health, PeachCare | 2 Comments | Permalink

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A More Nuanced Approach to Resolving the Iraq Quagmire

Posted by: Hank Johnson (February 08, 2007, 05:05 PM)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Posted in Iraq | 21 Comments | Permalink

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We Must Fund PeachCare!

Posted by: Hank Johnson (February 06, 2007, 05:02 PM)

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

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

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

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

 

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

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Welcome.

Posted by: Hank Johnson (February 02, 2007, 01:27 PM)

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

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

--Hank

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Welcome to Hank’s Blog

Welcome to my blog. Here you’ll find informal commentary, updates, and announcements written by me and my staff.

Add this page to your bookmarks so you can get the inside scoop from Washington. Leave your comments and I will do my best to respond to some of them.
--Hank

Hank

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