Dear Friends,
With a new year comes fresh hope and the promise of a better year ahead. I’m energized and excited about 2010 and the possibilities it holds for all of us for a healthy, happy New Year.
FREE CANCER SCREENINGS – Part of the promise of the new year is promising to take better care of yourself and your loved ones. That’s why I support “ZERO - The Project to End Prostate Cancer” in their effort to help stamp out this disease. ZERO is holding free screenings at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church and the Mall at Stonecrest on Sunday, Jan. 17 and Monday, Jan. 18. For more on these free screenings, click here. The Radiotherapy Clinics of Georgia are also holding free screenings in the parking lot outside Kroger on Highway 138 in Conyers on Wednesday, Jan. 20 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
SPEAKING OF HEALTH CARE – As the House and Senate reconcile the historic health care bill, I’m urging leadership – if the final healthcare bill has no public option – to include a repeal of the current antitrust exemptions. This would help eliminate collusion by insurance companies that has resulted in ever higher rates and the denying of claims. Asking health insurance companies to play by the same rules as every other corporation in America is a common sense reform with broad support across the many ideologies. Please send me your thoughts.
JOBS IN THE FOURTH – To better serve constituents of Georgia’s Fourth Congressional District, I’m featuring as many available government positions as possible as part of this e-letter. The IRS opportunity below is the third in a series of federal jobs I want to bring to your attention. I am also posting this information on my Website under “Hot Topics: Jobs for the Fourth District.” I hope you find this useful.
IRS HIRING – The Internal Revenue Service is seeking an Equal Employment Specialist in Atlanta. The specialist would develop and support Federal Equal Opportunity Recruitment, Affirmative Employment, Special Emphasis Programs, Diversity, Persons with Disabilities, and Prevention of Sexual Harassment. Specialists also administer the EEO Complaints Program, and provide service, guidance and training to employees and to managers on all EEO process matters. For more information or to apply, click here.
EMERGENCY FOOD AND SHELTER – I’m pleased to announce that the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) plans to award Georgia more than $6 million for the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) for Fiscal Year 2010. DeKalb, Gwinnett and Rockdale counties will receive nearly $1.8 million. These funds provide supplemental funding to shelters, soup kitchens and food banks. One-month awards for rent, mortgage and utility assistance are also available. The funds are used to help individuals and families with non-disaster, temporary emergency needs. For more on this program, click here.
PARTNERSHIP ALLIANCE LEARNING SERIES (PALS) – I have two important PALS initiatives coming up to help non-profits and small businesses connect to a myriad of resources that will help them achieve their missions. My first meeting is Friday, Feb. 5, 2010 at DeKalb Technical College at 9 a.m., where we’ll have resources available for non-profits and 501(c)(3) organizations to help them grow and succeed. On Friday, Feb. 19, 2010 – also at DeKalb Tech at 9 a.m. – our small business initiative will help local small businesses navigate Small Business Administration resources, learn how to partner with financial institutions and procure government contracts. For more information, call PALS coordinator Paulette Suggs in my Tucker office at 770-939-2016. Sign up for these meetings on my Web site.
FULBRIGHT SCHOLARS – I’m very proud that six District Four residents have been awarded Fulbright awards for 2009-10 to study, lecture, teach or conduct research abroad. Congratulations to Ari Levine of Decatur, who will be traveling to China; Kelly McCray of Decatur will be working in Thailand; Bret McKee of Tucker is going to Germany; Durba Mitra of Decatur will be working in India; Stone Mountain’s Leslie Reed will be studying in Germany; and Thomas Rotnem of Decatur is going to Latvia. For more on the Fulbright, click here.
WINTRY WEATHER – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reminds people to be ready for winter storms and extreme cold. You should practice your family’s preparedness plan and make sure the contacts in it are up to date. For more information and winter preparedness tips, click here.
HELPING THE ENVIRONMENT – I was recently awarded a 100 percent score by Environment America, a leading environmentalist advocacy group, for my pro-environment voting record in 2009. I supported legislation to establish a cap-and-trade climate change mitigation policy, invest $80 billion of Recovery Act funds in clean energy and green transportation and protect more than 2 million acres of public lands and national treasures. I’m very proud of my record on the environment. For more on this report, click here.
FOURTH DISTRICT SCHOOLS – According to U.S. News & World Report study, Redan High School in DeKalb County is one of the best high schools in America for providing services to its students. And in Rockdale County, Conyers Middle School was once again named a Georgia Lighthouse School to Watch for their outstanding academic achievement. Congratulations to both schools!
CONSTITUENT SERVICE – Lastly, I’d like share with you one of the many positive stories coming out of the great work my staff conducts on the behalf of constituents. Two years ago an Army veteran was on the verge of being evicted from the two-bedroom apartment she shared with her four children. But today, thanks to the dogged determination of our Veterans Affairs Specialist based in Tucker, she and her kids are in a four bedroom house with a yard. Through the Housing and Urban Development Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) voucher program, our staff member was able to help the veteran improve her living situation. The Army veteran in turn called our staff member “the person who has impacted my life the most this decade.” This is what serving the community is all about. I am so happy that my staff is always working hard to assist the citizens of the Fourth in many and sundry ways.
Thank you for taking the time to read this e-letter. Until next time, be safe and have a great start to your New Year!
