Dear Friend,
I hope you had a safe and enjoyable Halloween with your family! This week, Congress is back in D.C. working on passing appropriations bills and other legislation. Now that we are finally back in regular order, House Republicans are hard at work to keep our government funded and tackle some of our country's toughest challenges.
I'm glad to be able to work on what matters most – getting results for the good people of Georgia's Third District. |
Last week, I reintroduced the PARTNERS Act, a bipartisan bill that would establish a grant program to help small and medium-sized businesses develop work-based learning programs. The bill would also provide mentoring and support services for workers. In order to stay competitive on the world stage, communities across the country need the flexibility and resources to create work-based learning opportunities catered to their local job markets.
In Georgia, employers are seeing the value of putting skills-training directly in the workplace – and programs like the Central Education Center in Newnan have been implementing an innovative style of apprenticeship that prepares our young people for 21st century careers. I’m proud to reintroduce this important legislation, which is an innovative solution that will give every American the opportunity to live the American dream.
Click here to read the entire bill. |
Last week, I chaired a Social Security Subcommittee hearing on improving the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) disability adjudication process. Over 1 million people are waiting on the SSA to process their disability claims, and that number is only growing by the day. It also takes 220 days on average for claims to be decided – that is 100 days longer than it was in 2019.
Instead of focusing on addressing the backlog, the SSA is pouring money into Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. As a result of these poor policy decisions and use of resources, beneficiaries are suffering. The SSA is making life harder for applicants and continuing to burden taxpayers. I am grateful for the witnesses who testified at last week’s hearing and the insights they provided on how the SSA can do better – and how we can lessen the burden on beneficiaries.
Click here to watch my opening remarks. |
In my first set of questions, I touched on the personnel and retention issues within the SSA. I also pressed the witnesses abut why the agency is spending hundreds of millions of dollars to expand the SSA's caseload, when they cannot handle the caseload that already exists.
Click here to watch my first set of questions. |
In my closing remarks, I reminded everyone that the SSA has failed to implement necessary technology to speed up the disability claims process. I also talked about how the SSA's massive budget is not being used efficiently, and how we will continue to hold it accountable to ensure taxpayer dollars are not wasted.
Click here to watch. |
Last Wednesday, the Ways and Means Committee held a hearing titled, “Educational Freedom and Opportunity for American Families, Students, and Workers.” The focus of this hearing was on Republican efforts to expand 529 accounts – which have a successful track record of empowering parents to make the educational choices that best fit the needs of their children. House Republicans want to expand educational freedom and provide workers with the skills they need to be successful in a changing economy.
My questions in the hearing focused on how potential programs could provide students in rural communities with more educational options.
Click here to watch my questions. |
Last week, I had the pleasure of meeting with my friends at Resource Management Service in my office. It’s always great to hear about the work they’re doing to help the timber industry in Georgia continue to thrive. |
Guthrie, Bonamici, and Ferguson introduce bipartisan bill to expand apprenticeship programs WCLU Radio | by Shannon Presley October 25, 2023
Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-1), and Congressman Drew Ferguson (GA-03) reintroduced the PARTNERS Act, a bipartisan bill which would establish a grant program to help small and medium-sized businesses develop work-based learning programs in addition to providing mentoring and support services for workers. Guthrie, Bonamici, and Ferguson released the following statements following the bill’s introduction:
“In order to stay competitive on the world stage, communities across the country need the flexibility and resources to create work-based learning opportunities catered to their local job markets,” said Congressman Ferguson. “In Georgia, employers are seeing the value of putting skills training directly in the workplace – and programs like the Central Education Center in Newnan have been implementing an innovative style of apprenticeship that prepares our young people for 21st century careers. I’m proud to reintroduce the PARTNERS Act, which is an innovative solution that give every American the opportunity to live the American dream.”
Click here to read the full article. |
Lawmakers grill Social Security leader over disability system’s failures The Washington Post | Lisa Rein October 27, 2023
Lawmakers from both parties Thursday pressed a top Social Security Administration official to defend what they described as widespread failures in the disability benefits system, from chronic claims backlogs to growing customer service phone delays.
Instead of recovering from pandemic closures and slowdowns, Social Security’s drawn-out claims system has treaded water for close to two years, experts told the congressional panel. More than 1 million Americans are still waiting for initial decisions on benefits that now take an average of 220 days, agency data show — almost double the processing time in 2019 and far above the 60 days Social Security itself defines as its minimum level of performance.
“The consequences are devastating,” said Rep. Drew Ferguson (R-Ga.), chairman of the Social Security panel of the House Committee on Ways and Means, which held Thursday’s 2½-hour hearing.
Click here to read the full article. |
This week, the House will consider the following pieces of legislation on the floor.
H. Res. 559 – Declaring it is the policy of the United States that a nuclear Iran is unacceptable H. Res. 599 – Urging the European Union to designate Hizballah in its entirety as a terrorist organization H.R. 3266 – Peace and Tolerance in Palestinian Education Act H.R. 340 – Hamas International Financing Prevent Action, as amended H.R. 3774 – SHIP Act, as amended H. Res. 798 – Condemning the support of Hamas, Hezbollah, and other terrorist organizations at institutions of higher education, which may lead to the creation of a hostile environment for Jewish students, faculty, and staff, as amended H.R. 4364 – Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2024 H.R. 4821 – Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024 H.R. 4820 – Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024 H. Res. 773 – Providing for the expulsion of Representative George Santos from the House of Representatives H. Res. 807 – Censuring Representative Rashida Tlaib for antisemitic activity, sympathizing with terrorist organizations, and leading an insurrection at the United States Capitol Complex H. Res. 610 – Censuring Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene
As always, I’m here to serve you. Please contact my office with any questions, comments, or concerns. Be sure to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Instagram to keep track of upcoming legislation and events!
If you are having issues with a federal agency or have a casework question, don’t forget to reach out to my Newnan District office at 770-683-2033.
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Sincerely,
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Drew Ferguson
Member of Congress
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