Please join Congressman John Lewis
for two important upcoming events:

Rep. John Lewis Hosts Veterans Disability Forum
with Senator Max Cleland & House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Filner
on
Monday, June 9, 2008 from 10am to 1pm
At
The WestChester Complex
758 Scott Blvd.
Decatur, GA 30030

AND

5th Congressional District Annual Multicultural Festival
on

Sunday, June, 22, 2008 from noon to 4pm.
At
Perkerson Park
 770 Deckner Avenue SW
Atlanta, GA 30310

Rep. John Lewis Hosts Veterans Disability Forum
with Senator Max Cleland & House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Filner

Too many of our young veterans are suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and the numbers are growing at an alarming rate.  Because of this disturbing trend, I am hosting a Veterans Forum on Monday, June 9, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. at the WestChester Complex to discuss Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury in Veterans and the impact of the existing VA disability claims backlog.  

The participants in our discussion will include:

Rep. John Lewis
Rep. Bob Filner, Chair, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
Former Senator Max Cleland
Mr. Al Bocchicchio, Atlanta VA Regional Office
Ms. Catrina Pach, Atlanta VA Regional Office
Dr. Barbara Rothbaum, Emory University, Director, Trauma, Anxiety Recovery Program
Mr. Frank Pascarelli
Dr. Inge Thomas, Atlanta VA Medical Center
Dr. Barbara Boyan, GA Tech, Ctr for Advanced Biotechnology for Soldier Survivability
Mr. Jonathan King, Atlanta VA Medical Center
Mr. Bobby Rand, AMVETS
Mr. Brian Poole, Disabled American Veterans (DAV)
Mr. Robert Love, Vietnam Veterans of America
Mr. Ron Hackney, Atlanta VA Medical Center

First of its kind analysis performed by the RAND Corporation recently discovered one in five troops who served in Iraq or Afghanistan have symptoms of major depression or PTSD.  With an average wait time of more than 180 days for veterans trying to resolve disability claims, I am more and more concerned over the growing number of servicemen and women believed to be suffering from PSTD and TBI. 

With the documented Army suicides increasing and mental health issues a growing concern among the military and veterans, I am worried not just about the short-term effects we are seeing.  If we don’t do right by these men and women, we risk having more people end up on the streets because they didn’t get the care we owe and promise.  We risk pushing families past the brink into collapse.  We must not sit by and let this happen.  I support legislation that would make it easier for veterans to receive benefits and for the VA to do what they know is right.  This discussion will help us find solutions to the problems we are facing here in Atlanta and across the nation.

Click here for Veteran’s Legislation Cosponsored by Congressman John Lewis.

Rep. John Lewis Hosts Multicultural Festival

Because of my pride in the cultural and ethnic diversity in the 5th Congressional District, I am again hosting my annual Multicultural Festival on Sunday, June 22, 2008, from noon to 4:00p.m. at Perkerson Park – 770 Deckner Avenue SW, Atlanta, GA 30310.

The Annual Multicultural Festival recognizes the strength of ethnic diversity within the City of Atlanta and neighboring communities in the 5th Congressional District.   This year’s theme is global community awareness and efforts to combat global warming.  We all need to work together to leave this little planet we call home a little greener and cleaner for our children and grandchildren. 

Please join me for live performances of multicultural dance and music, taste a sampling of foods from around the world, and enjoy an array of international arts and cultural displays and to learn about ways we can work together to combat global warming.