We ended the month of March in a place that’s all too familiar: grieving the loss of children and educators in yet another school shooting. My heart breaks for the families forever broken by the senseless violence at the Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee.
Our children are counting on us to do something. Nothing kills more children in America than gun violence. In the previous Congress, House Democrats passed the most significant gun safety legislation in a generation. We took on the gun lobby to help keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people and protect kids and communities.
We have much more work to do. But House Republicans haven’t held a single hearing on gun safety. Instead, they chose to advance the Politics Over Parents Act, legislation that does nothing to deliver the support schools need.
But while House Republicans play games, I’m working hard alongside House Democrats to put People over Politics to meet the real needs of the American people.
In March I was proud to announce over $1 million in funding for the Fighting Fifth to support digital literacy for students. We live in an increasingly digital landscape and it is vital that all students are prepared to lead in every arena.
And speaking of future leaders, I enjoyed hosting students from Deerwood Academy visiting Washington D.C. this month. The students got a chance to sit in the House Chambers, where we talked about their policy ideas for a better future. Moments like this remind me to be hopeful, and most importantly remind me why the work we do is so important.
| I want to hear your policy ideas, too. To share your thoughts on legislation you can call my Washington DC office at 202-225-3801. If you need help with a federal agency please call my District office at 404-659-0116. | Nikema Williams Member of Congress | Taking Care of Our Veterans | Veterans have sacrificed so much for our country and we must repay them. If you are a veteran, ensure you are receiving all your benefits through an Accredited Veteran Service Office. More information is available at: https://www.benefits.va.gov/vso/
The VA also wants to stay connected to our veterans through events. Find out more at:
https://www.va.gov/outreach-and-events/events/ If you are a veteran and facing homelessness or housing insecurity, contact the VA's Homeless Veteran Program. They work with Gateway Center to house Homeless Vets through short term and long term programs. More information is available at https://www.va.gov/homeless/nationalcallcenter.asp or 1-877-4AID VET (877-424-3838) As always, apply for and manage the VA benefits and services you’ve earned as a veteran, Servicemember, or family member. This includes things like healthcare, disability, education, and more at https://www.va.gov. | Supporting Endometriosis Awareness and Health Education | March was Endometriosis Awareness Month. I’ve lived with endometriosis since I was 14 years old. I remember doctors dismissing me at first as a child, saying that I was exaggerating. It’s an experience that is all too familiar for the one in 10 people living with the condition.
To close out Endometriosis Awareness Month, I re-introduced the Know Your Body Act, which would direct the Department of Health and Human Services to create educational materials for school-aged children on uterine, ovarian and related hormonal and menstrual disorders. Basic health information must be available to all, and it’s time to help young people take control of their health and their futures.
| Women still make on average 77 cents for every dollar men make. The gender wage gap is even worse for women of color and for moms. Black women make only 64 cents for every dollar white men make. Moms only make 62 cents for every dollar dads make. Latinas make only 54 cents for every dollar white men make. Native women make only 51 cents for every dollar white men make.
I’m fighting to end the gender wage gap once and for all. I co-sponsored the Paycheck Fairness Act, straight-forward legislation that will increase accountability and transparency to ensure all workers are paid fairly.
| Protecting Reproductive Freedom: Women's Health Protection Act in the 118th Congress | After spending more than a decade working for Planned Parenthood, I know just how important it is for everyone to have the freedom to make their own personal health decisions with dignity. This month, we reintroduced the Women’s Health Protection Act, which will protect access to abortion even in a world without the constitutional protections once afforded by Roe v. Wade. | Ensuring Access to Higher Education for All | I joined Congressman Ruben Gallego (AZ-03) in reintroducing the Higher Education Dream Act, which would remove the barriers preventing Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients–often referred to as Dreamers–from receiving federal financial aid. Dreamers are our neighbors, colleagues, and classmates. To unlock the full promise of America for everyone, we must ensure access and affordability for higher education. | Funding for Digital Literacy at Agnes Scott College | Agnes Scott College empowers women to claim their space as they change the world. That’s why I secured a $1,024,940 Community Project Funding Grant for Agnes Scott College to promote digital literacy. This money will help future Scotties compete in an increasingly digital landscape–and the work will be done through a lens of equity. I look forward to working with Agnes Scott College to help every student thrive! | Celebrating AmeriCorps Week | What a joy it was to host AmeriCorps’ CEO Michael D. Smith to announce I secured nearly $600,000 in AmeriCorps VISTA Grants for three deserving non profits! And we made the announcement during AmeriCorps week! The Center for Black Women’s Wellness, Covenant Community, and Alonzo A. Crim Center for Urban Educational Excellence will use these funds to hire AmeriCorps members to continue doing the work of the people. | Supporting Creators at Spelman with Spotify | There are a lot of people talking about what they will do for HBCUs, but Spotify is doing the work. On March 21, I joined Spotify Creator Day at Spelman College to hear how Spotify is empowering HBCU students to pursue their podcasting careers. I can’t think of a better place to get started than Atlanta because Atlanta influences everything! | A Lifetime of Service: Ambassador Andrew Young | It was an honor to celebrate Ambassador Andrew Young’s 91st birthday! In addition to being one of my predecessors, Ambassador Young has a lifetime of service as a civil rights giant, pastor, Mayor, Ambassador to the United Nations and so much more. You are one of the finest leaders Atlanta has ever known, and I am proud to count you as a mentor. | A Lifetime of Activism: Bernice A. King | Bernice A. King is a testament to her family’s civil rights legacy. Presenting her with a Congressional Proclamation at her birthday celebration was inspiring. Thank you for your tireless work as CEO of the King Center and uplifting the people of Georgia’s Fifth Congressional District! | Named a “Central Servant Leader” by Central United Methodist Church | My very own Central United Methodist Church honored me with their Central Servant Leader Award on March 26. I can’t tell you how humbling this recognition is. My faith sustains and guides me as I tackle social injustice in our communities. I will never forget my church’s call to “do good and share with others!” | Reconnecting Communities with The Stitch | I helped pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to reconnect communities. I secured a $1 million grant from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to fund the Stitch. This comes on top of my $1.16 million Community Project Funding Grant for this visionary project. When finished, the Stitch will cap the Downtown Connector and undo some of the damage done to the Black neighborhoods of Buttermilk Bottoms and Bedford Pines. | Heads up: Passport Processing Delays | If you are planning on traveling this year, The State Department encourages you to check the status of your passports as early as possible. If you need to get or renew a passport, begin that process now.
Americans are traveling internationally again and the State Department is seeing unprecedented demand for passports. In Fiscal Year 2022, the State Department issued nearly 22 million passports - more than ever before - and is on track to break that record again for Fiscal Year 2023.
Because of this unprecedented demand, starting March 24, the State Department updated its passport processing time. That means 10-13 weeks for routine passport processing, and seven to nine weeks for expedited processing. These processing times do not include mailing times and only apply to new applications submitted on or after March 24.
More information is available at travel.state.gov. If you have travel upcoming in the next two weeks, you can call my office for help at 404-659-0116.
| Washington, D.C.
1406 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-3801 | Atlanta
100 Peachtree Street NW | Suite 1920
Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: (404) 659-0116 | |
.png)
