Last week, I voted no on the GOP’s debt ceiling bill. It wasn’t an easy decision, but here’s why–
In Congress, I always center the most marginalized communities, communities that too often are left behind at the negotiation table. These same communities look to me to protect lifelines that put food on the table or provide safety nets that make up for generations of underinvestment. I represent the district with the widest racial wealth gap in the country. I could not vote for an agreement that puts my constituents at risk for food insecurity, rolls back environmental protections and ties the administration and Department of Education’s hands when it comes to student debt forgiveness.
While I voted no on the final agreement, I fully understand that President Joe Biden negotiated the best deal possible with an extreme MAGA Republican Party that was willing to create an economic catastrophe by defaulting on our debts. A default would have been unprecedented: since 1960, Congress has come together to raise the debt ceiling 78 times to ensure our country fulfills its financial obligations.
This year, Republicans did not come to the table in good faith. They were prepared to make cruel cuts targeted at our most marginalized communities to protect their billionaire friends. Republicans were ready to take 300,000 children out of child care and Head Start while rescinding more than $2 billion in cuts for veterans benefits through Speaker McCarthy’s Default on America Act. Last night’s bill prevents those cuts.
Let me be clear: we can reduce our spending without cuts that make it harder for seniors to put food on the table, families to secure child care, or veterans to receive the benefits they deserve.
Throughout this entire process, House Democrats worked diligently to put people over politics saving our country from a catastrophic default. The full faith and credit of the United States must never again be used as a weapon and we cannot continue to use poor people as a bartering chip under the guise of saving a few dollars.
In the meantime, the Senate just passed the bill and it has been signed by President Biden, preventing the United States from defaulting on our debt and averting a crisis caused solely by House Republicans.
| 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. | An extremist Supreme Court stripped people of their right to healthcare when they overturned Roe v. Wade. Reproductive healthcare–including abortion–is essential. For more information on your rights and resources, visit ReproductiveRights.gov. | Medicaid recipients pay attention: there is a process called “redetermination” going on. That means you need to make sure your information is up to date in the Gateway portal at gateway.ga.gov. And, check your mailbox! If you receive a redetermination letter you have 30 days from the day the letter was sent to take action. I hosted a Tele Town Hall with HHS Region IV Director Antrell Tyson to give you all the information you need to not lose coverage. Listen to it here. | Hurricane season officially starts on June 1. Don’t get caught unprepared. Follow the National Hurricane Center on Twitter (@NHC_Atlantic) or visit hurricanes.gov for the latest information and tips on how to prepare for a hurricane. | 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.
| Seeking Answers to Current Passport Backlog | The Summer travel season is upon us, but lengthy passport delays are causing added stress for constituents preparing for long-awaited travel. This month I led 194 bipartisan colleagues in a letter to the State Department seeking answers for the current backlog. I hear every single week about constituents who have experienced backlogs in the passport process. This costs time and money in passport expediting fees, and I want to put money back in people’s pockets. Read the letter here. | Keeping Kids Safe While Traveling | Parents like me know that flying with little ones can be dangerous. I remember flying and holding my Carter Cakes in my arms, wondering what would happen if we hit severe turbulence. We must be intentional about the safety needs of young fliers. The Kids Fly Safe Act would require the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct the first-ever comprehensive study of children’s safety and needs on airplanes and in airports, because safety isn’t one size fits all. | Standing up for Reproductive Freedom Globally | I will always stand with marginalized communities, no matter where they live. Women in countries around the world–including our own–continue to fight for their Reproductive Freedom. When I was a Georgia State Senator, I traveled to El Salvador where I met women who were imprisoned for having miscarriages and other obstetric emergencies. It was horrifying. This month I introduced a resolution condemning abortion bans across the globe, highlighting the case of Beatriz, a young woman living in rural El Salvador who fought for her life against the state to allow her to terminate a life-threatening pregnancy. Our fight for freedom is interconnected and the United States must protect access to abortion everywhere. | Bringing Harassment in the Workplace to Light | Harassment and abuse have no place in the workplace. This month I joined Senators Elizabeth Warren and Jacky Warren to introduce the Sunlight in the Workplace Harassment Act. This legislation would require large, public corporations to report all settlements and judgements related to incidents of discrimination, harassment and sexual abuse each year. Bringing greater transparency is a strong step towards making our workplaces safer for everyone. | Protecting free and fair access to the ballot requires safeguarding all the ways people access their vote. The 2020 and 2022 election cycles proved the necessity of voting by mail. I introduced the Election Mail Act to ensure our system of voting my mail remains strong. Among other things, the legislation requires USPS to postmark all ballots and tasks election officials and USPS to use special tags to help identify ballots in mail processing facilities. These steps will help ensure we count every vote in every election. | Welcomed Secretary of State Antony Blinken | I hosted Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the Atlanta Passport Agency. Secretary Blinken thanked the Agency’s hardworking staff for all they are doing to meet the overwhelming demand for passport applications. Y’all the staff is doing excellent work, and they need some more help in the Agency. I am doing all I can to get them that help. | Speaking at Interdenominational Theological Center Graduation | Thank you to the Interdenominational Theological Center for awarding me a Doctorate of Humane Letters. It was an honor joining you for the 2023 commencement exercises and encourage this year’s graduating class. Graduates, remember that your life is the greatest sermon you will ever preach: the sermon we see. | Connecting with Fighting Fifth Seniors | Seniors are the backbone of our community and because of that, I will always make time to bring Congress to them. This month I hosted Congress in Your Community at QLS Senior Center to help constituents with their case work and discuss the largest Social Security benefit increase since 1981. Then I went to the City of Forest Park’s Senior Center for lunch and share how the GOP’s Dirty Debt Ceiling Bill puts seniors on the chopping block. | Congratulating Paideia Soccer Champs | The Paideia Pythons Boys soccer team are state champions! (And the girls team didn’t too shabby, either – they were runners up!). The boys showed true resilience, stepping up to the challenge. So, I stopped by to congratulate them and present them with some brand new challenge coins! | Hank Aaron Bridge Dedication | Hank Aaron was one of the strongest supporters of the Morehouse School of Medicine. Team Nikema attended the dedication ceremony of Hank Aaron Bridge and Plaza on Lee Street just next to the MSM. What a fitting tribute for a great Atlantan! | New electric school buses are coming to Atlanta Public Schools thanks to a $9.9 million grant I secured from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law! I joined the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments and Climate Action Campaign at Dunbar Elementary School to celebrate the grant. As a parent (an APS parent, in fact!) I know that every child needs a healthy school day—it begins at the bus stop! Read more about how Midtown High School students feel about the announcement at the Southerner. | Constituent Success Story | After lengthy delays, we were pleased to help recover $39,282 in Social Security back pay for Earnest G. from the Fighting Fifth. The funds include back pay from February 2022 through April 2023, and additionally we were able to recover monthly Social Security payments for Earnest for the remainder of 2023. If you’re having trouble with Social Security or any other federal agencies, please give my district office a call 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 | |
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