| This Week Serving Georgia's 12th District |
I spoke on the House Floor to share what I learned from the 12th District of Georgia during the recent district work period.
Like many of my colleagues, I spent the last six weeks meeting with constituents. I hope they got the same earful I did. Constituents want to know why Congress can’t work together to deliver results for the American people. Our President is willing and eager to work with us on many issues, including healthcare and immigration reform – so let’s get to work!
The National Association of Minority Contractors and the National Hispanic Contractors Association invited me to speak at their Joint Congressional Breakfast.
As a member of Congress with a background in the construction industry, I was honored to speak during their breakfast to discuss how Congress can do more to empower business owners and equip our students with the skills our job market demands.
I met with the Society for Human Resources Management.
This organization promotes the role of HR as a profession and provides education, certification, and networking to its members. We were able to discuss issues impacting our nation’s workforce.
The SRP Federal Credit Union stopped by my office for a meeting.
During the meeting, we were able to discuss issues important to the financial industry and their members.
I also met with members of Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Members from Georgia and I met to discuss veterans’ issues. Advocating on behalf of our heroes in Washington is truly an honor.
I held a Telephone Town Hall, which allows me to connect with thousands of people across the district to answer their questions.
If you would like to be contacted for every telephone town hall I conduct, please sign up on the website at allen.house.gov/live.
The House Education and Labor Committee, Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee, where I am the senior Republican, held a hearing on the importance of trauma-informed practices in education.
Sadly, far too many children are affected by trauma. The hearing examined the effects of trauma on school children, how to identify and address them, and most importantly, how we can help students have access to a safe, supportive, and healthy learning environment.
Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association visited my office and provided me with an update on their operations.
We also discussed how Congress can further roll back regulatory burdens and promote pro-growth economic policies.
The House considered legislation on energy policy, and the other side is moving in the wrong direction, jeopardizing energy independence for this nation.
Just this week, Senator Elizabeth Warren said she would phase out nuclear energy - the leading source of carbon free electricity in the United States. Georgia’s 12th district is home to two nuclear plants, Plant Vogtle and Plant Hatch. Units 3 and 4 at Plant Vogtle are the first new nuclear reactors to be built in the United States in more than 30 years. Calls to eliminate nuclear energy are dangerous, and doing so would hurt more than 470,000 high quality and long-term jobs that provide more than $60 billion to the economy.
The Trump Administration announced its final repeal of the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule, a regulation that was put in place under the Obama Administration.
I applaud the Trump Administration for taking crucial steps to permanently repeal WOTUS. This Obama-era rule is a prime example of government overreach. It gave unelected bureaucrats at the EPA the authority to use vague definitions to establish burdensome and costly regulations. After years of delays and uncertainty, this announcement is a win for our farmers, ranchers, and business owners in Georgia and across our nation.
While Congress was out of session focusing on the recent district work period, there were mass shootings in several cities across our country. There is no excuse for unconscionable acts of violence and these incidences leave me speechless and heartbroken. During trying times, my thoughts and prayers remain with the victims, their families, and their communities as a whole.
While many are quick to say we need more gun control laws, I want to be clear that more red tape for law abiding citizens will not stop the evil acts of a few. Just because the law states that an act is a crime doesn't stop a person who is intent on committing a crime. However, Congress can and must do more to prevent these crimes before they happen.
That’s why I am proud to co-sponsor H.R. 838, the Threat Assessment, Prevention, and Safety (TAPS) Act of 2019. This legislation would standardize a behavioral threat assessment and management process across the federal government. In doing so, it will provide state and local entities with the training, support and resources needed to prevent targeted violence. This process, developed by the Secret Service, will equip law enforcement, mental health professionals, and educational providers with the tools needed to identify, prevent and then manage potential threats before they occur.
Do you have a bill that you would like to see highlighted or that you would like me to support? Share your thoughts with me! You can email me ⇒ HERE, contact any of our offices or join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
Sincerely,
Rick Allen
Member of Congress |
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