Newsletter: District Connection - 5/11/15

Statement

TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE LEADERS VISIT AND LEARN FROM GEORGIA

As Georgia's only member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I spend a lot of time sharing Georgia's successes in Washington. While we certainly have some transportation challenges here at home, we also have a lot of industry-leading and nationally-leading activity going on. Hartsfield International Airport and Delta, our hometown airline, are two such success stories, and last Tuesday House Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ) came to Atlanta to learn more.

Having Delta's world headquarters right here in our backyard is an invaluable tool for me. As the Chairman's and my subcommittee embarks upon a major reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and looks to modernize and strengthen our air traffic control system, it is imperative that Congressional leaders hear directly from airline industry leaders about how current and future regulations will impact American consumers and hard-working airline employees. America's aviation footprint is second-to-none, but we have a lot of work ahead to implement a next generation air traffic control system to further improve safety and efficiency in increasingly crowded skies. Here in Atlanta, we have many of the best and brightest airline minds in the world, and Washington can leverage those minds to craft better legislation going forward.

This month it was Aviation Subcommittee Chairman LoBiondo. Next month, the chairman of the full Transportation Committee, Bill Shuster, will be in Georgia. My role is to take the very best of what we have here in Georgia and ensure that it is utilized whenever Washington prepares to make new decisions. America is best served only when the best ideas are represented.

GEORGIA'S MILITARY ACADEMY DAY IS ANOTHER GREAT SUCCESS

Each year, Georgia's Congressional delegation sponsors a day at Dobbins Air Reserve Base with representatives from each of America's service academies. I have been participating in this event every year since I was elected four years ago, and every year I walk away even more impressed than the last at the quality of young men and women from Georgia who attend to learn more about a career of national service. This year, more than 1,200 young people and family members turned out to participate. The interested young people heard from experts on the academy application process and life during and after the academy. Family members had a chance to see and tour a Blackhawk helicopter and a C-130. It was a great way to spend a Saturday with your family!

If you know of a young person who is interested in national service but who did not attend, please know that it is not too late. Applications for service academies must be made in the fall of a student's senior year. If you know of a rising senior who is interested, please put them in touch with my office at 770-232-3005 so that we can make sure that they are prepared for the very rigorous nomination process. If the young person that you know is a rising junior or younger, please help me to make sure that they know about our academy day next year.

HEARING FROM OUR NATION'S EVEN YOUNGER LEADERS

I work hard to make sure I have time with our nation's young people during each district work period. Selfishly, I am lifted up by their hope for the future and their absolutely certainty that they can make a difference for America. The success of our Republic demands that every new generation bring its bold, innovative ideas to the table, take the reins, and lead our nation forward. The students that I met with last week at Collins Hill High School, White Oak Elementary School, and Mountain View High School would provide you with certainty that America's best days are still ahead.

CONGRESS ASSERTS OVERSIGHT OF IRAN ACCORD

The Senate passed with an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 98-1 a bill that would give Congress the ability to weigh in on any agreement that the Obama Administration negotiates with the government of Iran. The bill also prevents President Obama from lifting congressionally mandates sanctions against Iran for at least 30 days in order to give Congress the opportunity to discuss and decide on the issue of extending or ending sanctions.

Let me be perfectly clear: I do not trust the Iranian regime, and I am skeptical of Iran's true intentions during the current negotiations. Rather than trust, we must have a means to verify that Iran is working within the accepted international framework for the use nuclear power for peaceful, civilian power purposes rather than attempting to gain back-door entry into the concert of nuclear power nations. The House has long passed legislation to achieve this goal, and I am proud of the step that the Senate took last week to ensure Congressional oversight. I look forward to supporting this bill when it comes to the House floor.

CONTINUING OUR OPEN LINES OF COMMUNICATION

Last Thursday night I had the pleasure of hosting my 8th town hall meeting so far this year. I know how important it is for us to get together and share our goals for America's future, and I appreciate the expertise that so many of you bring to the table. We will have another opportunity to gather next week on the telephone, and I encourage you to make time to join me.

NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS WEEK COMES TO A CLOSE

From mini-town hall meetings in their cafeterias to small sit-downs with their CEOs, I traveled across the district last week focusing on our small businesses. I always enjoy these visits, not only because I leave with a greater pride and better understanding of the work that our neighbors do every day, but also because every business has a story about how a regulation or a law could be changed to increase productivity and employment.

I know that it isn't easy to take time out to visit with me about your business or your industry, but it makes a big difference! If you know of a regulation that was clearly drafted by a government lawyer rather than someone who actually works in the industry every day, share your story with me. You are an expert in your job, and I am an expert in bringing people together in mine. Your ideas and suggestions aren't Republican ideas or Democratic ideas; they are common-sense American ideas, and together, we can make them a reality.

Thank you to all of the small business owners and employees who invested intellectually in me this past week. Thank you also to the National Federation of Independent Businesses and the National Restaurant Association for your help in making our visits a success.

THE WEEK AHEAD

This week the House is going to consider a very important bill, the FY16 National Defense Authorization Act, which authorizes all our nation's defense programs for the upcoming fiscal year. I can't tell you how proud I am of the work that the House does every year on this bill, especially since members of the House are going to be able to vote on dozens of amendments to the bill and have their voices heard on this critical legislation. We will be debating this bill and the amendments to it late into the night this week, and that's a great victory for American democracy.

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