Jack Kingston

Photo: Carl Elmore/Savannah Morning News

What began as a big idea from a small group last year, has turned in to an annual event to remember those who’ve given their lives.  As reported in today’s Savannah Morning News, Wreaths for Warriors Walk has begun its work to place a wreath at each tree along Warriors Walk on Fort Stewart.  To learn more, click here to read the article or click here to visit Wreaths for Warriors Walk’s website.

Congressman credits surge, courage of Iraqis for landmark agreement for withdrawal of U.S. troops by 2011

After Iraq’s parliament approved a measure that would provide for a structured withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq by 2011, Congressman Jack Kingston (R/GA-1) praised the action as a landmark step towards bringing troops home safely.

“Two years ago, this wouldn’t have been possible,” Congressman Kingston said, “but the success of surge combined with the determination of the Iraqi people has brought us an agreement that will bring our troops home safely.  That this came through the political process rather than through violence is a testament to the great progress we’ve made there.”

The agreement, which came after 11 months of negotiations, provides that Iraq’s army, the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), will take security responsibilities for all Iraqi cities, villages and localities by June of next year as a first step toward total withdrawal by 2011.  In the intervening time, U.S. troops will provide support as needed.

With the United Nations mandate authorizing the presence of U.S. troops expiring December 31, the agreement now serves as the legal framework governing the presence of Coalition Forces in Iraq.

The University of Georgia will partner with Georgia Power this year to power the annual Georgia-Georgia Tech game completely with renewable energy - a first for Sanford Stadium.

Once again, UGA and the State of Georgia are showing they’re ahead of the curve.  To learn more, click here.

With each day bringing new reports of the economic downturn and as Congress prepares to debate the ways to address the economic situation, I launched a new survey so I can better represent your views in Washington.  To take the survey, click here.

Free market labor reform group presents Congressman with worker-friendly award based

Congressman Jack Kingston (R/GA-1) today was honored by the Alliance for Worker Freedom (AWF) in being named a “Guardian of Worker Freedom.”  The free-market, worker-rights presented the award for Congressman Kingston’s work in favor of worker’s rights and free and open labor markets.

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CONGRESSMAN KINGSTON ANNOUNCES MEDICARE PART D TRAINING & OPEN ENROLLMENT WORKSHOP SCHEDULE
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Washington, Nov 26 -

Congressman Jack Kingston (R-GA/01) announced today that he will sponsor a series of workshops during the open enrollment season for the Medicare Part D prescription drug program.  Those who are enrolled or wish to enroll in the program must sign
up or make changes during the open enrollment period which began November 15 and ends December 31.  The following workshops are scheduled:

Date              Time                            Location

12/08              9 am – 12 pm             Armstrong Atlantic State University
                                                         RM 107, 11935 Abercorn St, Savannah

12/08              2 pm – 5 pm              Savannah Technical College
                                                         RM 107, Airport Rd. and Technology Dr,  Hinesville

12/09              9 am – 12 pm             Altamaha Technical College
                                                         RM 132, 1334 Golden Isle West, Baxley

12/09              2 pm – 5 pm              Altamaha Technical College
                                                         RM 435, 1777 W. Cherry St, Jesup

12/10              9 am – 12 pm            College of Coastal Georgia
                                                        Computer Lab, 8001 Lakes Ave, Kingsland

12/10              2 pm – 5 pm              College of Coastal Georgia
                                                         Jericho Computer Lab @ Continuing Ed�
                                                         3700 Altama Ave, Brunswick

12/11              9 am – 12 pm             South Georgia College
                                                         Ball Room, 100 College Park Dr, Douglas

12/11              2 pm – 5 pm              Okefenokee Technical College
                                                         RM 804, 1701 Carswell Ave, Waycross

12/15              9 am – 12 pm             Valdosta State University
                                                         University Center, 1215 N. Patterson St, Valdosta

Anyone eligible for this plan is encouraged to attend.  Staff from Georgia Cares, a program of the Georgia Department of Human Resources and Division of Aging Services and Area Agencies on Aging, will also be on hand to answer questions.

“Each year there are many changes to the prescription drug plan, namely the cost and coverage,” said Congressman Kingston.  “Now is the time for people with Medicare to review those changes to make sure they still have the plan that best fits their needs or the needs of their loved one.  Prescription drug coverage is crucial to many older Americans and we want to make sure that all of their questions are answered.”

To find out more about Medicare Part D, those interested may contact the Medicare offices at 1-800-MEDICARE or visit http://www.MEDICARE.gov or contact Georgia Cares at 1-800-669-8387 to find a plan that best suits their needs.  For those who have questions about the training workshop schedule, please call 912-367-7403.

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Just ten months after tragedy struck at Imperial, the plant is back to business and resumed refining sugar and will roll out its first truckloads today.  From the AP:

Imperial Sugar resumes refining sugar after blast

Imperial Sugar has resumed refining sugar in Georgia for the first time since a February explosion killed 14 people and workers celebrated Wednesday at the groundbreaking of a new 75,000-square-foot packaging plant to replace the one destroyed.

The refinery near Savannah, the second-largest in the U.S., had to sit idle for months as federal investigators worked to determine the cause of the explosion and workers removed debris and cleaned machinery clogged with hardened sugar.

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Even as they’re closing plants, laying off workers, and begging for a government bailout, the CEOs of the “Big 3″ automakers can’t lower themselves to flying like the rest of us - even first class wasn’t good enough for them…

From ABC News:

Big Three CEOs Flew Private Jets to Plead for Public Funds Auto Industry Close to Bankruptcy But They Get Pricey Perk

The CEOs of the big three automakers flew to the nation’s capital yesterday in private luxurious jets to make their case to Washington that the auto industry is running out of cash and needs $25 billion in taxpayer money to avoid bankruptcy.

The CEOs of GM, Ford and Chrysler may have told Congress that they will likely go out of business without a bailout yet that has not stopped them from traveling in style, not even First Class is good enough.

All three CEOs - Rick Wagoner of GM, Alan Mulally of Ford, and Robert Nardelli of Chrysler - exercised their perks Tuesday by flying in corporate jets to DC. Wagoner flew in GM’s $36 million luxury aircraft to tell members of Congress that the company is burning through cash, asking for $10-12 billion for GM alone.

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After a successful experiment last year, President Bush announced today that he would again open “Thanksgiving Express Lanes” and that the program would be expanded.  From a White House fact sheet:

Today, President Bush visited the Department of Transportation (DOT) and discussed measures to improve air travel, both during the upcoming holiday season and in the future, and highlighted his Administration’s transportation safety record.  Over the holidays, millions of Americans will take to the roads, railways, and skies to visit loved ones.  For too many travelers, though, it means long delays, cancellations, and lost bags.  Today the President announced new measures that bolster the Administration’s those problems. 

• This year, the military is expanding “Thanksgiving Express Lanes” to areas of the Midwest, Southwest, and West Coast, including the skies over Phoenix and Los Angeles.  As they did last Thanksgiving, the Federal Aviation Administration and Department of Defense will make military airspace available for use by civilian airliners over the holiday season – but this year even more airspace will be open, and it will be available for a longer period of time. 
• The Administration has also launched an unprecedented effort to reduce air congestion by boosting flight capacity at some of America’s busiest airports.  DOT has completed 13 major airport improvement projects, including 11 new runways.  This week, three more runways (for a total of 14 during this Administration) will open at Seattle-Tacoma, Washington-Dulles, and Chicago-O’Hare. 
• The Administration is working with the Federal Aviation Administration and Transportation Security Administration to make more staff available to speed up check-in and boarding and to help passengers affected by cancellations and delays.  
• DOT has completed new regulations that provide increased protections for consumers.  Recent actions include requiring airlines to provide greater compensation for lost bags and imposing tougher penalties when airlines fail to notify travelers of hidden fees.  We expect these new rules to take effect in December, in time for Christmas and the New Year.

The Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau released today its estimate of the economic impact of the SEC Championship and the Chikfila Bowl.

Here’s how the numbers breakdown:

This month, we try to bring increased awareness and attention to the seriousness of diabetes, its deadly complications, and the importance of proper diabetes control.

 Each year, Diabetes costs the First District $382,700,000 in medical and indirect costs.  It costs the State of Georgia more than $5 billion.

To learn more about what you can do, click here to visit the American Diabetes Association.

For those of you who’ve seen the signs on Highway 80 on your way out to the islands but didn’t understand, there’s a planned power outage this weekend for Wilmingston, Talahi, and Tybee Islands.  According to Georgia power, this outage is necessary to conduct maintenance on six spans of overhead ground wire on the transmission structures across Tuner Creek, adjacent to the Islands Expressway.

Power will be out on Saturday, November 15 from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Should inclement weather prohibit the work, it will be postponed until Saturday, November 22.  This will affect nearly 12,000 households.  If you’ve got any questions, feel free to call Georgia Power’s customer service line at 1-888-660-5890.

Savannah’s own Dave Puckett has been selected as one of CNN Hero’s competition’s Top Ten.  Puckett started Positive Image Prosthetics and Orthotics Missions — PIPO — to provide artificial limbs and braces and care to people in southeastern Mexico. Since November 2000 his mission has helped more than 420 people, free of charge.

To vote for David, click here.  If you’d like to read about his work or watch videos of what he does, click here.

Today we remember all those who served and all those who continue to serve our Nation.  Thank you for your service.