A Tradition Unlike Any Other

Congressman Allen's E-Newsletter:

"A Tradition Unlike Any Other"

Congratulations to Scottie Scheffler on his decisive victory at the 2024 Masters Golf Tournament, bringing home his second green jacket!

Every April, sports fans across the world get a glimpse into the beauty and majesty that Georgia's 12th District has to offer, and I thank Chairman Ridley and members of the Augusta National for hosting yet another historic and memorable Masters Week.

House Republicans Stand with Israel

Israel is the United States’ closest ally and friend in the Middle East, and over the weekend, they faced a vicious and unjustified attack from Iran.

House Republicans stand with the Israeli people and will bring legislation to the floor supporting Israel and holding Iran and its terrorist proxies accountable.

Strengthening America's Workforce

Last week, the House passed H.R. 6655, the bipartisan Stronger Workforce for America Act, with my support. Having built a small business from the ground up, I have experienced firsthand just how hard it can be to find skilled and qualified workers, and as I travel the 12th District of Georgia, the number one issue I hear about from business owners and job creators is workforce development.

That’s why, with nearly nine million unfilled jobs across the nation, it is imperative we move past the status quo and recognize that many good-paying jobs do not require a traditional four-year college degree.

H.R. 6655 will make much-needed improvements to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to ensure federal dollars are dedicated to upskilling the workforce and making the shift to skills-based hiring. Additionally, I am proud that provisions from my Startup Act were included in this critical legislation to incorporate entrepreneurial skills development training into the current workforce development system.

Watch my remarks on the House floor HERE.

Examining America's Spent Nuclear Fuel Policies

The Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Energy, Climate, and Grid Security held a hearing entitled: "American Nuclear Energy Expansion: Spent Fuel Policy And Innovation."

In Georgia's 12th District, Plant Vogtle is home to the first two new nuclear reactors to be built in the United States in over thirty years. Unit 3 entered commercial operation last year, and Unit 4 recently achieved 100% power. This was a significant milestone for nuclear energy in the United States, further underscored by House passage of the bipartisan Atomic Energy Advancement Act earlier this year.

As we work to expand nuclear energy capabilities in the United States, it is imperative that we address the management of spent nuclear fuel. With Plant Vogtle and the Savannah River Site both currently housing spent nuclear fuel, I asked our witnesses about the Department of Energy's failures as it relates to high-level waste disposal.

Watch HERE.

Recognizing Faith Week

I participated in a special order on the House floor in recognition of Faith Week to reflect on all that God’s word has meant to me in my life and how it guides me as your Representative in Congress.

As the Chairman of the Congressional Prayer Caucus, I also work to highlight how prayer has played a vital role in strengthening the fabric of our society. The Congressional Prayer Caucus is a bipartisan Congressional Member Organization consisting of members from across the country who believe in the power of prayer.

If you visit my website, you can submit your prayer requests and Members of the Prayer Caucus will lift up your prayers.

Watch my remarks on the House floor HERE.

Prime Minister of Japan Addresses Congress

I was honored to attend a Joint Session of Congress to hear from His Excellency Kishida Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan.

The partnership between the United States and Japan is critical as we continue to combat global threats from our adversaries and promote increased collaboration in the Indo-Pacific and around the world.

Watch Prime Minister Fumio's full address to Congress HERE.

Additional Committee Activity

Energy and Commerce

Subcommittee on Communications and Technology Hearing

“Where Are We Now: Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996”

Section 230 protects Big Tech companies from being held liable for user-created content. It has not been updated since 1996, despite the evolution in the tech marketplace. In this hearing, I asked our witnesses about potential reforms to Section 230 that can help rein in Big Tech.

Watch HERE.

2024 Congressional Art Competition

REMINDER: Submissions for the 2024 Congressional Art Competition are due by Friday, April 19th! Every year, Members of the U.S. House of Representatives sponsor a nationwide high school arts competition. This contest is open to all high school students (9th – 12th grade) in Georgia’s 12th District. The winning piece will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol, and its student artist will receive an invitation to travel to Washington, D.C. to attend the national winners’ reception.

The Congressional Art Competition is a special tradition that provides high school students the opportunity to display their art for the country to see. I look forward to seeing submissions from our young artists in Georgia’s 12th District, and encourage all interested high school students to participate.

To find out more information about the rules and drop-off locations click HERE.

Office Visitors

As always, it was great to meet with several groups to talk about the issues that matter most to them.

Those pictured include:

American Dental Association
Alzheimer's Association
Fraternal Government Relations Coalition
Georgia Motor Trucking Association
Georgia Farm Bureau

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Sincerely,

Rick Allen
Member of Congress