Happy Labor Day weekend! Whether you are traveling out of town or simply enjoying an extra day of rest, I hope you have a wonderful and safe long weekend. This federal holiday is a time for us to remember and honor the hardworking men and women of America--people just like you--for their contributions to the American labor movement. It is because of their sweat, blood, and tears that we have many of the rights and privileges we enjoy today. Before you take off for the weekend, here are three things I want to share from my week in the district:

The Paces Mill Palisades Unit Rehabilitation has officially broken ground! On Tuesday, I was honored to participate in the groundbreaking ceremony for Phase One of the New Day Palisades project along the Chattahoochee River. In 2021, I was proud to secure $1 million in federal funding to support Phase One construction for these new developments. None of this would be possible without the vision and foresight of President Jimmy Carter, who in 1978 established the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, which preserved a series of fifteen park units along 48 miles of the Chattahoochee in metro Atlanta. My colleagues and I have an obligation to continue being good stewards of the precious natural resources that make our region such an attractive place to live, work, and raise a family. And as your Congresswoman, I will always keep a focus on projects that connect people with the places we love.

The small business community is the backbone of our economy. I have frequently echoed this sentiment, and it remains true especially as we close out National Black Business Month and celebrate Labor Day weekend. On Tuesday, I convened a roundtable conversation at the Gwinnett Entrepreneur Center with local businesses, the U.S. Small Business Administration, and the UGA Small Business Development Center. This remarkable facility--located within the Ride Gwinnett Lawrenceville microtransit zone--supports local entrepreneurs and fosters startup businesses right here in our community. This investment by Gwinnett County is truly a blueprint for how local government can spur economic development and grow the economy.

Throughout the week, I enjoyed many more visits with small business owners, manufacturers, and other important workforce development entities within our community. As a member of the House Committee on Education and Workforce, I will always champion opportunities for small businesses, particularly for veteran-owned, women-owned, and minority-owned small businesses, as well as improved access to capital for all small businesses.

The Inflation Reduction Act continues to make a meaningful difference in the lives of our seniors. On Thursday, I welcomed Department of Health and Human Services Deputy Secretary Andrea Palm and Region IV Director Antrell Tyson to Gwinnett for a tour and briefing at the Norcross Senior Center. Over lunch, we discussed the Biden-Harris Administration's ongoing efforts to support seniors through lowering healthcare and prescription drug costs, with a focus on the first ten prescription drugs for which Medicare will negotiate the price. Along with the out-of-pocket caps for Medicare Part D beneficiaries, these policies will make a tangible impact on the finances for American seniors, many of whom live on a fixed monthly income.

Deputy Secretary Palm joins a growing list of administration officials who have come to see firsthand how our community is truly a microcosm of the entire nation, and I was honored to show off the incredible local resources Gwinnett County provides to our residents. When Congress returns to Washington, I look forward to continuing our efforts to bring down costs, including our push to cap the cost of insulin for all Americans at $35 per month.

Thank you for taking the time to read this update. It is my honor to serve our community in Congress. If you ever have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to get in touch with my office.

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