Clairmont Heights Civic Association

MONEY FOR MARTA, GLENWOOD ROAD: I’m happy to report that among my appropriation requests for FY 2011, the House is expected to pass $3 million for MARTA and $450,000 for Glenwood Road improvements this week. Once passed, the measure must pass the Senate, too.

MARTA will use the funds for buses, bus facilities and security improvements. The funds will be used for much-needed equipment updates, bus replacements and on-board security camera systems. The Glenwood Road Pedestrian Safety Improvement project will receive $450,000 to improve pedestrian safety along Glenwood from Candler Road to Covington Highway.

SMALL BUSINESS TAX CREDIT: More than 84 percent of Georgia small businesses with fewer than 25 employees will be eligible this year for tax credits to help pay the cost of employee health coverage, according to a new report issued by the consumer health organization Families USA and small business advocacy group Small Business Majority. The tax credit program, a key element of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, targets small employers with up to 25 workers.

In Georgia, this means 120,300 small businesses will qualify. Nationally, more than 4 million small businesses – 83.7 percent – are eligible now for the credit. For more on this program, click here.

FOCUSING ON VETERANS: If you’re a Georgia veteran who has a service-related disability, you might be eligible for faster service if your injury-related symptoms are growing worse. The Department of Veterans Affairs is offering a new program – Rapid Evaluation of Veterans’ Claims (REV) – only offered through the Atlanta Regional Office. For more on this, click here.

LILBURN TURNS 100: Congratulations to Lilburn, which turned 100 years old on July 27! I look forward to participating in their celebration that will be held in September. I am also going to present a resolution to the House proclaiming July 27 as City of Lilburn Day. Through good times and bad, Lilburn continues to set the example of what’s best about America and Georgia.

NEGLECTED DISEASES OF POVERTY: I introduced a bipartisan bill this week to address a growing problem of parasitic diseases – mostly in poor, minority communities – along the U.S.-Mexico border, the rural South, Appalachia and distressed urban areas. The “Neglected Infections of Impoverished Americans Act of 2010” would require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to report to Congress annually on the impact of these diseases, address their threat and make funding recommendations on how to eradicate them. My friend Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-GA) is an original co-sponsor.

As always, thank you for your time and please help spread the word about our “Help for Homeowners” event this weekend. 

Thanks,