Rep. Hank Johnson's E-Newsletter for Oct. 26, 2012

Dear Friends,

I want to thank the Gwinnett League of Women Voters, The United Ebony Society of Gwinnett and the Annsbrooke Homeowners’ Association in Rockdale County for inviting me to participate in their community forums last week.

It was an honor to meet with constituents, answer the important questions of the day and listen to citizens’ concerns.

Our democracy works best when engaged and interested citizens come together to discuss the pressing issues facing our communities.

ROCKDALE JOBS FAIR: I want to commend Rockdale County and Chairman Richard Oden for holding such a successful career fair on Oct. 12. I was encouraged and inspired by many of the job seekers I met at the fair, and my office was pleased to take part.

The national unemployment rate is down to 7.8% – its lowest in 44 months – but we have more work to do, especially here locally as we continue to see unemployment rates above the national average. The Rockdale Career Fair is a good place to start. 

To visit the Jobs Center on my website, click HERE. To sign up for our jobs notice e-blast, click HERE.

UPCOMING JOBS FAIRS: Military veterans seeking work will have a chance Nov. 8 to shop their skills at a job fair in Atlanta that will feature more than 300 employers. For more, click HERE. New Mercies Christian Church in Lilburn is holding its MEGA Fair on Saturday, Oct. 27, featuring more than 50 employers. My office will be there along with dozens of other agencies with resources to help with your job search. For more, click HERE.

CONSUMER PROTECTIONS: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is accepting consumer complaints about credit reporting, giving consumers individual-level complaint assistance for the first time at the federal level. But for consumers who believe that there is incorrect information on their credit reports or who have an issue with an investigation, before filing with the CFPB, first file a dispute and get a response from the consumer reporting agency itself. For more on the CFPB, click HERE.

ART AS ECONOMIC ENGINES: The National Endowment for the Arts has just posted guidelines and application materials for Our Town, the agency’s program that supports communities that are using the arts to revitalize neighborhoods and reignite local economies. Pending availability of funding, grants will range from $25,000 to $200,000. Application deadline is January 14, 2013 at 11:59 pm. For more, click HERE.

MEALS ON WHEELS: Earlier this month, I spent the morning delivering Meals on Wheels to seniors in my district. I joined Senior Connections CEO Debra Furtado and board member Walt Bryde. It was eye-opening experience, and I want to thank Debra and Walt for helping me better understand the needs of our seniors throughout the community. For more, click HERE.

TURNING LANDFILL GAS INTO GREEN FUEL: As a former County Commissioner who voted for local clean energy projects, and now as a Congressman in position to help fund these projects, it was a pleasure to attend DeKalb County’s “Trash to Gas” ceremony last week. Seeing county-run vehicles fueled by compressed natural gas converted from landfill gas is not only the right thing to do to get us off foreign oil, but it’s the right thing to do for our environment. For more, click HERE. 

MLK JR BOULEVARD: I want to thank the students and faculty at Martin Luther King Jr. High School, John Evans and the DeKalb NAACP, state Sen. Ronald Ramsey and many others for allowing me to be a part of the ceremony officially renaming Snapfinger Road to MLK Jr. Parkway on Oct. 18. Being entertained by the MLK Band in the Coretta Scott King Auditorium, interacting with the students and listening to Mr. Evan’s Civil Rights lessons made it a special occasion. For more, click HERE.

HIGHER EDS’ HIGHER PURPOSE: I’m pleased to announce an opportunity for colleges and universities in the Fourth District to receive recognition for their achievements in community service. The President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll annually awards honors in two categories: (1) General Community Service and (2) Special Focus Area, which includes projects related to three priorities in education and innovation. The deadline for applications is November 29, 2012. For more, click HERE.

NEW MERCIES: Thank you to entire New Mercies Christian Church congregation in Lilburn for having me to their monthly empowerment meeting on Oct. 24. There’s so much misinformation and talking heads out here today, I always enjoy meeting with constituents and explaining the truth about President Obama’s healthcare reform law and his job creation legislation.

NATIVE AMERICAN MUSEUM GRANTS: The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is accepting applications for the Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services grant program. The new deadline is January 15, 2013.

Museum and Library personnel are invited to participate in a web conference to learn more about the program on Thursday, November 15, from 3-4 p.m. EST. Click HERE for more information about this funding opportunity, including program guidelines, contacts, and Webinar access information.

As always, I appreciate your time and feedback. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to represent you in Congress.