Nikema Williams

Member of Congress

Congressional App Challenge Announcement

Calling all middle and high school students in the Fighting Fifth. The 2023 Congressional App Challenge is here! The Congressional App Challenge gives students an opportunity to create and submit their original apps for a chance to win. Winning teams have the chance to visit the U.S. Capitol and have their apps highlighted in the Capitol for one year. Students must submit apps by November 1st so don’t delay. See more details and how to register at:

https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/congressional-app-challenge

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.

Medicaid Redetermination

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.

Extreme Heat

Summers are getting hotter and extreme heat poses health risks to everyone. Learn more about extreme heat and how you can prepare for hot temperatures at heat.gov. Visit @CityOfAtlanta on Twitter, and dekalbcountyga.gov for updates on cooling center openings.

Additionally, the DeKalb County Community Development Department is currently housing homeless residents in local hotels and motels. Persons in DeKalb County who need homelessness assistance or housing services can contact DeKalb County Coordinated Entry by calling (404) 687-3500.

Energy Bill Assistance

The Georgia Energy Assistance Program (EAP), known nationally as the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), is a Federally-funded program that helps low-income households with their home energy bills. LIHEAP can help you stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer. By doing so, you can reduce the risk of health and safety problems (such as illness, fire, or eviction).

The Georgia EAP program may be able to offer you one or more of the following types of assistance:

Bill payment assistance.

Energy crisis assistance.

Weatherization and energy-related home repairs.

For more information on LIHEAP visit benefits.gov/benefit/1554

Meals for Kids

The US Department of Agriculture works closely with states to ensure that children who receive free or reduced-price school meals can get the nutrition they need when schools are closed – whether during summer break or unexpected closures during the school year. Through USDA's summer meal programs, approved sites in communities across the country can serve meals to kids up to age 18 at no cost. Families can use this tool to find directions to nearby meal sites, as well as their hours of operation and contact information. To find the nearest summer meal program visit fns.usda.gov/meals4kids.

Hurricane Season

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.

Passport Applications

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, we urge you to 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.

Reintroduction of the Abolition Amendment

Coming away from our second Juneteenth as a federal holiday, it is important to remember that Slavery is still legal in the United States. A loophole in the 13th Amendment allows slavery to exist as punishment for a crime. It is time to end the exception. Just before Juneteenth, I re-introduced the Abolition Amendment so that we can finally end slavery once and for all. Senators Cory Booker and Jeff Merkley introduced companion legislation in the Senate.

In the 117th Congress, we had 194 co-sponsors on this important bill–Democrats and Republicans. I look forward to building on that momentum in the 118th Congress.

Protecting Reproductive Freedom

June 24 marked one year since the Supreme Court gutted reproductive freedom with their ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade. In the year since the ruling, we have seen the devastating impacts of limits on access to abortion around the country and in Georgia, where Governor Brian Kemp rushed to enact a six-week abortion ban shortly after the Supreme Court decision.

I believe your personal medical decisions are just that–YOURS. I will continue to work alongside House Democrats to restore full reproductive freedom while House Republicans seek to take it away. I reintroduced a resolution condemning the criminalization of sexual and reproductive healthcare. Criminalization creates barriers to care and leaves marginalized communities to suffer the most.

I also co-led the Abortion Justice Act. Codifying access to abortion is only the beginning: we must also work to ensure care is accessible and affordable to those who need it. The legislation would create the infrastructure needed to increase access to care without barriers, stigma or fear.

And while the Supreme Court ruling immediately only impacted abortion, we see that contraception is the next target. I also co-led the reintroduction of the Right to Contraception Act. Millions of Americans use contraception–not only to prevent pregnancy, but as treatment for medical conditions. I am one of them, I’ve used contraception as treatment in my struggle with endometriosis. Although nine out of 10 American adults support access to all forms of birth control, extremist Republicans have made clear their intent to restrict access. I will continue to support policies that protect your right to make personal decisions about your health, your bodies and your futures.

John Lewis Civil Rights Fellowship Act advances

The John Lewis Civil Rights Fellowship Act was introduced earlier this year on what would have been Congressman Lewis’ 83rd birthday. The legislation would create a John Lewis Civil Rights Fellowship within the Fulbright Scholarship Program. The fellowship will support scholars who want to study nonviolent civil rights movements abroad.

District Visit with Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm

President Biden’s clean energy policies are working for the people of Georgia. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm visited Georgia Tech to highlight how these policies will create jobs in Georgia and why we need more investments in clean energy. Secretary Granholm, it was great hosting you in Georgia’s Fifth Congressional District–you can come back any time to bring more resources to Georgia!

Big Tigger’s Beltline Bikefest

At Big Tigger’s Beltline Bikefest, Atlanta community leaders came together to keep our youth moving forward–literally! I was honored to join in the festivities with my co-conspirator for justice Big Tigger to make sure kids had brand new bikes.

Farewell to CNN Center

On June 1, I brought a proclamation to CNN alumni celebrating the 43rd anniversary of CNN and the 35th anniversary of CNN Center. CNN Center is one of iconic sites in Georgia’s Fifth Congressional District and CNN is another example of how Atlanta influences everything. CNN is moving just up the road to the original headquarters where I know 43 more years of cable news excellence will be broadcast.