It’s been another busy week serving Georgia’s 12th District; here are some highlights of the week:
Jack Hill Park Dedication Ceremony
This week I had the privilege of joining Governor Brian Kemp, First Lady Marty Kemp, and members of the General Assembly as we dedicated a state park in honor of Sen. Jack Hill in his hometown of Reidsville.
While some will say Sen. Hill was a pillar of the community, I believe he wasn't just a pillar; he was the foundation upon which the pillars were built. He will be deeply missed, but his impact - especially his work to ensure a fair and balanced budget so our state can best serve Georgians - will be felt for years to come.
Visiting Richmond County Schools
It was great joining Superintendent Dr. Kenneth Bradshaw and RCSS teachers and staff for a tour of Lake Forest Hills Elementary School and Langford Middle School to see how they are keeping students and staff safe while providing quality education this school year through both face to face and virtual learning.
This school year has been tough on families who are trying to navigate learning in the age of coronavirus. I’m so proud of the teachers, faculty and entire school community in Richmond County for rising to the challenge.
Welcoming Perspecta to the Georgia Cyber Center
Perspecta is a leading U.S. government services provider, and it was wonderful to join Governor Kemp, Mayor Hardie Davis, and the Augusta Chamber in welcoming them to their newest home in the Georgia Cyber Center. Augusta continues to lead in the cyber domain, and we are thrilled to have Perspecta as a part of this growth.
Protecting Children From Online Exploitation
As a father and a grandfather, I do not take issues of children’s safety lightly. This pandemic has wreaked havoc on so many lives, but our nation’s children are truly vulnerable to some of the most despicable crimes of online exploitation. Unfortunately, reports of online child exploitation have increased as much as 126 percent during COVID-19.
That’s why this week I signed the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s Safety Pledge – a commitment to raise awareness and share useful resources about the dangers children face from online exploitation.
Response From USPS on Delays
As you may remember, in August I sent a letter to the U.S. Postal Service asking why there have been extreme delays in delivering mail. I know this has been a concern to many Georgians in the 12th District so I wanted to share the response I recently received. According to postal officials, several facilities in our area have experienced a personnel shortage related to the COVID-19 pandemic and an increase in parcel volumes at the same time, thereby causing delays in delivery. They have assured me they are working to rectify this as quickly as possible.
Urging the IRS and NPRC to Fully Reopen
It’s come to my attention that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) still have not reopened to full strength, causing Georgians with tax issues, as well as veterans with benefits claims, healthcare claims, and other matters, to experience enormous delays with getting their issues resolved. I recently joined some of my colleagues in the Georgia delegation in sending a letter to these agencies asking them to reopen at full capacity. You can read it here.
REMINDER: Upcoming Deadlines for GA-12 Students
I’m proud that my office sponsors a variety of activities each year that give students the opportunity to learn and grow. There are two very important upcoming deadlines that I want to remind you of:
China is responsible for the outbreak of COVID-19, and we must ensure that no funding goes to entities like the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV), where the Chinese were studying bats and coronavirus. There is no clear end-use reporting for the types of research grants that went to the WIV. This is unacceptable, and the American people deserve to know what the research funding is used for.
That’s why I am a cosponsor of H.R. 8058, the Chinese Research Funds Accounting Act. While no funding should go toward any Chinese Communist Party entity, this legislation will provide clarity on where exactly U.S. research dollars are sent. The recently released China Task Force report has recommended the passage of this bill.
As always, my office is here to help. 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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