Representative Rick Allen

Congressman Allen's E-Newsletter:

traveling the 12th district

Attending the Mount Vernon Post Office Renaming Ceremony

On Friday, I delivered remarks at the renaming ceremony for the United States Post Office in Mount Vernon, Georgia—to be officially named the Second Lieutenant Patrick Palmer Calhoun Post Office.

Second Lieutenant Patrick Palmer Calhoun was an American patriot, Vietnam veteran, and native of Mount Vernon, Georgia whose service to our nation and his community will never be forgotten. I was honored to introduce legislation to officially rename the Mount Vernon Post Office after Second Lieutenant Calhoun and was proud to get this over the finish line and signed into law. His name being displayed on the Mount Vernon Post Office for years to come will forever fill us with profound happiness and pride.

Meeting with Local Leaders in Wrightsville

Last week, I gathered with local leaders and elected officials in Johnson County, including Wrightsville Mayor Janibeth Outlaw, to provide an update on my work in Washington and answer questions about issues impacting our local communities.

Catching up with Dublin Mayor Joshua Kight

I also had a productive discussion in Laurens County with Mayor Joshua Kight of Dublin. These invaluable and informative conversations allow me to better serve you at the federal level.

Honoring Local Business Owners in Wrens

Georgia is consistently ranked as the top state for business nationwide. I enjoyed being in Wrens for a breakfast hosted by Mayor David Hannah to honor our local business owners and small businesses—the heartbeat of our communities!

Visiting TruVista in Soperton

TruVista in Treutlen County is doing tremendous work to close the digital divide and ensure our rural communities have access to reliable, high-speed connectivity. It was a privilege to learn more about their operation in Soperton and the many services they provide to residents of the 12th District.

this week in Washington, D.C.

A Moment of Silence for the Victims of the Tragic Shooting at Apalachee High School

On Wednesday, I joined my colleagues in a moment of silence on the House floor in memory of the victims of the horrific shooting that occurred in Barrow County at Apalachee High School. Robin and I are continuing to pray for the families and all those impacted by this senseless violence.

I also joined my Georgia Delegation colleagues in introducing a House Resolution condemning this tragic violence, recognizing the victims, and expressing support to their families and the Winder community.

Combatting the Threat of Communist China

Since Joe Biden and Kamala Harris took office, their failed foreign policy agenda has diminished our standing on the world stage, emboldened our adversaries, and plunged the world into a state of constant chaos. This week, House Republicans passed a series of bills to restore the strength and dominance of the United States, combat the existential threat of the Chinese Communist Party, and protect American values and national security.

Legislation passed this week:

H.R. 1516—DHS Restrictions on Confucius Institutes and Chinese Entities of Concern Act: Prohibits the Department of Homeland Security from providing any funds to a U.S. institution of higher education that has a relationship with Confucius Institutes funded by the CCP.
H.R. 1398—Protect America’s Innovation and Economic Security from CCP Act: Reestablishes a Trump Administration initiative within the National Security Division of the Department of Justice to address espionage by the CCP on U.S. intellectual property and academic institutions.
H.R. 9456—Protecting American Agriculture from Foreign Adversaries Act: Ensures foreign, agriculture-related investments—including those by CCP-linked entities—are heavily scrutinized.
H.R. 7980—End Chinese Dominance of Electric Vehicles in America Act: Prevents the CCP from receiving any taxpayer dollars from subsidies for electric vehicles created by the Biden-Harris Inflation Expansion Act.
H.R. 2864—Countering CCP Drones Act: Increases the competitiveness of U.S. drone companies, enhances U.S. national security, and ends our reliance on Chinese drones by ending China’s monopoly over our domestic drone market.

Participating in a Discussion with the Georgia Chamber

I also participated in a panel discussion with the Georgia Chamber of Commerce about my work on the House Education and the Workforce Committee. Since coming to Congress, my main goal has been to foster an educational environment that successfully prepares students to enter the workforce and fill in-demand jobs—aligning the education and business communities.

I enjoyed the robust discussion and talking about the Committee's efforts to provide the best opportunities for students to learn, workers to succeed, and job creators to thrive.

September Community Office Hours

Problems with a federal agency? My staff is here to help. I recently announced September Community Office Hours, which began last week, to be offered in all Georgia-12 counties where I do not have a permanent office.

Throughout the month of September, members of my staff will be available to assist constituents closer to home with a variety of federal issues, including help navigating various federal agencies such as Social Security, Veterans Affairs, Medicare, and others.

For the full list of dates, times, and locations, CLICK HERE.

This Week's Committee Activity

Energy and Commerce

Communications and Technology Subcommittee Hearing:

"From Introduction to Implementation: A BEAD Program Progress Report"

During this hearing, the subcommittee conducted oversight of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration's (NTIA) Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. Closing the digital divide in rural America is critical to residents of Georgia's 12th District, and I asked our witnesses about ensuring the plethora of available broadband funds leads to connectivity rather than wasted funding.

Watch my remarks HERE.

Energy, Climate, and Grid Security Subcommittee Hearing:

"From Gas to Groceries: Americans Pay the Price of the Biden-Harris Energy Agenda"

The Biden-Harris Administration's war on fossil fuels and harmful regulatory environment are making energy prices unsustainable. During the August District Work Period, I heard from residents across Georgia-12—including farmers, workers, and employers—about increased costs. I asked one of our witnesses about how this Administration's anti-domestic energy policies are increasing farmers' input costs, including the price of fuel. Food security is national security, and our producers are facing the dire economic consequences of the Biden-Harris agenda.

Watch my remarks HERE.

Education and the Workforce

Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee Hearing:

"ERISA's 50th Anniversary: The Value of Employer-Sponsored Health Benefits"

This hearing commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and the critical role that employer-sponsored coverage plays in delivering high-quality, low-cost health care. I asked our witnesses about potential compliance risks employers face and the lack of transparency as it relates to Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) practices.

Watch my remarks HERE.

Full Committee Markup of Six Bills

During this markup, the Committee advanced six bills to protect kids, deter hazing, and strengthen employer-sponsored health care. The legislation advanced by the committee included:

H.R. 5646, the Stop Campus Hazing Act
H.R. 7233, the Jenna Quinn Law of 2024
H.R. 736, the PROTECT Kids Act
H.J. Res. 181, Congressional Review Act resolution to stop the Biden-Harris rule limiting access to Association Health Plans (AHPs)
H.R. 3120, the Healthy Competition for Better Care Act
H.R. 9457, the Transparent Telehealth Bills Act of 2024

This Week's Office Visitors

As always, it was great to meet with several groups this week to talk about the issues that matter most to them.

Those pictured include representatives from:

MEAG Power
Georgia Power
Georgia Cotton Commission
Georgia Veterans of Foreign Wars
U.S. Peanut Federation
International Franchise Association

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As always, my office is here to help. If you'd like to email me, please click here.

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Sincerely,

Rick Allen
Member of Congress