Hank Johnson

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Madam Chair, my colleague from Alabama said that we all need to come together to find real solutions to create jobs. I submit that one way that we could create jobs, in addition to making sure that we have equal pay for equal work and that we increase the minimum wage to a living wage, another way to do that is through immigration reform. The Chamber of Commerce and small businesses everywhere have come together in support of comprehensive immigration reform. Why? Because it creates jobs. David Park, the cofounder and creator of Job Creators Alliance, wrote in 2012: Immigration reform is key to spurring innovation and getting the economy back on track. I am a small business owner who realizes the role legal immigrants play in creating new jobs. As founder and CEO of a boutique merchant bank, I have started or acquired nearly 30 small and midsize companies, creating hundreds of jobs for Americans across the country. I am also an immigrant and an example of how highly skilled immigrants educated in the United States can drive job creation right here. So immigration reform, Madam Chair, is a job creator. We can't seem to get an immigration bill--which, by the way, has been passed by the Senate. We can't get it heard by this Congress. We cannot bring a bill to the floor that would pass the House that would result in comprehensive immigration reform. We cannot bring a bill to the floor of the House that would provide for a raise for Americans who work for $7.25 an hour, full-time. $14,500 a year is simply not enough to feed the family and take care of one's self. We can't get job-creating bills that would stimulate our economy by providing for dollars to go towards transportation and towards repairing and enhancing our infrastructure. Instead, we get caught up on messaging bills like the achieving less excess in regulation and requiring transparency act of 2014, also known as the ALERRT Act. I oppose this bill for numerous reasons, the most important of which is that it would jeopardize critical public health and safety regulatory protections. For example, the bill requires agencies to consider potential costs and benefits associated with proposed and final rules, notwithstanding any other provisions of law. This supermandate would effectively trump all other statutes--such as the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Occupational Safety and Health Act--that prohibit or limit the use of cost information in setting health and safety standards. In addition, title II of the bill would require agencies and Federal courts to consider whether a rule has ``significant adverse effects on . . . the ability of United States-based enterprises to compete with foreign-based enterprises in domestic and export markets.'' The practical effect, Madam Chair, of this definition is that it will require agencies and the courts to consider the business and regulatory environment of other nations. Consider, for example, a proposed rule that imposes heightened clean air requirements on American steel manufacturers. H.R. 2804 would necessarily require consideration of whether this regulation--which could potentially result in higher compliance costs--could make American steel products less competitive in a country, such as China, that has a much less stringent or no regulatory regime. While the economic analysis under this requirement may be deceptively simple, its dangerous ramifications for public health cannot be underestimated. Chinese officials have only recently begun to acknowledge the health hazard risks presented by extensive air pollution; and if you have been over there and tried to breathe, you know that the air is greatly polluted over there. And so the Chinese have finally awakened to that fact, but the end result is that the public health of Americans and the safety of the environment would be compromised so that American manufacturers can better compete with their foreign counterparts. This is a shortsighted regulatory race to the bottom that prioritizes profits over saving lives. Another fundamental flaw with H.R. 2804 is that it will greatly lengthen and not shorten the already time-consuming process by which Federal rules are promulgated. Avoiding undue delay in rulemaking is important because strong regulation is vital to protecting Americans in nearly every aspect of their lives. On average, Madam Chair, it takes between 4 to 8 years for an agency to promulgate a new rule. But instead of streamlining the rulemaking process, this bill extensively adds numerous procedural hurdles to the process. In title II of the bill, 60 additional procedural steps to the rulemaking process are included. Not only that, title II reinstates a long discredited rulemaking process that requires trial-type procedures. Known as formal rulemaking, this time-consuming process was widely rejected decades ago as being highly ineffective. Recently proposed regulations that could be impacted by this and other provisions in the bill include rules implementing the Food Safety Modernization Act's standards to reduce food contaminants like salmonella, and that would help prevent 1.75 million cases of illness. Another thing that would be interrupted, another rules process, strengthening chemical facility accident prevention standards in response to the 2013 fertilizer explosion in West, Texas, that resulted in the deaths of 12 volunteer firefighters and two other individuals. Another interruption would be preventing the manufacture and distribution of tainted and counterfeit prescription drugs. Also impacted would be the implementation of the Justice Department's national standards to prevent, detect, and respond to prison rape. Another interruption would be adjusting the reimbursement rates to Medicare providers for end-stage renal disease and setting payments to primary care physicians under the Vaccines for Children Program. It would also stop the establishment of meal requirements for the National School Lunch Program under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. It would prevent implementation of the Labor Department's standards for H-2B aliens in the United States. For all of those reasons, Madam Chair, I oppose this legislation, and I would ask my colleagues to do the same. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Madam Chair, the gentleman speaks eloquently as a lawyer, and he makes excellent points. Regulations do cost. So out of a $15 trillion gross domestic product, $1.8 trillion dedicated for regulatory expenses which protect lives--I can't put a value on one human life--but tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of people are dying because of unsafe conditions on the job. It is certainly worth $1.7 trillion out of $15 trillion in a year. I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Cartwright).

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Chairman, the majority deliberately downplays the benefits of regulation and exaggerates the cost of regulation, when in fact, the benefits of regulation far exceed the costs, whether those benefits are defined in monetary terms or in terms of promoting values like protecting public health and safety, and ensuring civil rights and human dignity. The explosion that occurred down in Texas not too long ago that wiped out an entire town, I believe it was a fertilizer plant. Many lives lost. If there had been adequate legislation and adequate regulation to protect those people and the workers in the plant, then those folks would still be here today. What we are doing with this legislation is preventing the promulgation of the kinds of rules that would protect the health and safety of people throughout America, not just workers, but people who have to eat, people who have to drink, people who have to breathe. The benefits of regulation far outweigh the costs. A 2012 draft of the Office of Management and Budget report to Congress on the costs and benefits of regulations concluded that the net benefits of regulation promulgated through the third fiscal year of the Obama administration have exceeded $91 billion. This amount, which includes not only monetary savings, but also lives saved and injuries prevented, is more than 25 times the net benefits through the third fiscal year of the previous administration, and these are important points that I believe my friends on the other side of the aisle like to omit from their analysis. With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Chair, oh, how I wish that my friends on the Republican side of the aisle cared as much about America's workers as they do about America's big businesses. Oh, how I wish that they cared more to let a minimum wage bill come to the floor, where I believe that most Members of the House of Representatives would find it within their hearts to realize that $7.25, you just can't make it on that without help. Everyone who goes out and works hard every day should be able to be paid a fair living wage and be able to support themselves and their family. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mining, construction work, manufacturing, those are the kinds of livelihoods that have made this country a great nation, people being able to go to work with a lunchbox in hand and work hard every day, make a decent wage. By the way, $7.25 an hour for a full-time worker would equate to about $14,500 a year. That is just simply not enough for a working person to raise a family and take care of that family. They need help when they make $7.25 an hour. They would need help from the government if they couldn't rely on friends and relatives for support. So that is a shame, in this day and time, where a person working a manufacturing job, or even a job in a mine or on a construction site, would be making $7.25 an hour. We should, perhaps, Madam Chair, be paying attention to income generators such as that kind of legislation, as opposed to legislation like H.R. 2804, which would simply make it difficult to protect those workers in those unsafe occupations like mining, like construction work, like manufacturing, keeping the work site, the job place safe. Regulations are what do that. With that, Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Madam Chair, I yield the gentlewoman an additional 1 minute.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Madam Chair, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Madam Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Barrow).

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Earlier this week, we had a declaration that this week would be ``stop government abuse'' week. My colleagues on the other side called for us to commemorate this week by the introduction of draconian anti- safety legislation that would allow businesses to declare war on the rules that protect Americans, including babies, children, and the elderly. That is why, Madam Chair, I rise in opposition to H.R. 2804, the Achieving Less Excess in Regulation and Requiring Transparency Act of 2014, also known as the so-called ``ALERRT Act.'' The ALERRT Act is a continuation of the same Republican obstruct at all costs paradigm that led to the sequester and to the shutdown of the Federal Government. This race to the bottom approach to the regulatory process is wasteful and dangerous, and it prioritizes profits over protecting Americans. Although the ALERRT Act purports to ease the burden of regulations on American businesses, it would not create a single job, grow the economy or help any small business to thrive, nor does it address serious issues--the minimum wage, unemployment insurance, pay equity or immigration reform--that would help so many American workers and businesses. Instead, the only purpose of this bill is to straitjacket the same rulemaking process that protects countless Americans every day. Title I of the bill imposes a 6-month moratorium on rules. The rulemaking process is already transparent, deliberative, and exhaustively inclusive of the views of small businesses and other interested parties. Adding an additional 6 months to this process would do little except create uncertainty and increase compliance costs. Instead of cutting through red tape, title II of the bill would add over 60 additional procedural and analytical requirements to the rulemaking process. This is yet another clear message that this bill would lengthen, not shorten or streamline, the rulemaking process, thus undermining the regulatory certainty and predictability that small businesses rely on to make long-term decisions. In case the first two titles didn't adequately convey the message that Republicans are dead serious about helping deep-pocketed interests create regulatory mischief and confusion instead of offering serious solutions, titles III and IV would authorize virtually any party under the sun to challenge a proposed rule or intervene in litigation in Federal court no matter their connection, or lack thereof, to the issue. Make no mistake. This bill is a wolf in sheep's clothing. It would jeopardize critical public health and safety regulatory protections and undermine the very small businesses it claims to protect. By giving a handout to well-funded organizations to challenge proposed rules, consent decrees, and settlement agreements at every opportunity, the ALERRT Act would stack the deck against the public interest and the American taxpayer. And who would be harmed by this deregulatory train wreck? Every American who wants to be able to breathe fresh air and who wants to drink clean water; every mother who wants safe formula for her baby and cribs that don't collapse on the baby in the middle of the night; and every small business competing for an edge in a marketplace dominated by large, well-funded competitors. And the list goes on and on and on. I hope you will join me in my observation of stop government abuse by Republicans week and my opposition to the ALERRT Act. I urge my colleagues to oppose this dangerous legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I sincerely regret that, due to unavoidable flight delays, I was unable to vote on Monday, February 10, 2014. Had I been in attendance, I would have voted ``yes'' on all three bills considered that day. They were: (1) H.R. 2431--The National Integrated Drought Information Systems Reauthorization Act; H. Res. 447--Supporting the democratic and European aspirations of the people of Ukraine and their right to choose their own future free of intimidation and fear, as amended. (2) Journal vote.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in solidarity with the people of Bahrain as they mark the third anniversary of the February 2011 popular protest. More than 200,000 people took to the streets to demand basic human rights and government protection. Sadly, this anniversary will not be one of celebration. Rather than seeing a move toward reform, systematic human rights abuses and restrictions continue, and freedom of association and expression have been curtailed drastically. Human rights defenders are jailed for life for peacefully calling for reform, while police officers convicted of torturing a prisoner to death are allowed to walk free. As home to the 5th Fleet and thousands of U.S. servicemembers, the U.S. has an obligation to call on the government of Bahrain to enact meaningful reforms and adhere to its international human rights commitments. In the midst of increasing instability, it is time for the U.S. to hold its ally accountable and consider a contingency plan for a removal of the 5th Fleet.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 7, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act. H.R. 7 is a dangerous bill, and it is an attack on women's health, particularly women who get subsidies based on their ability to purchase insurance under ObamaCare. This bill is also emblematic of a Republican Party that is utterly and completely out of touch with Americans. Americans want to grow this economy. They want jobs. The response of the Republicans, however, is more anti-gay, anti-woman legislation. They have even referred to this as a job-creating bill. Not one job will be created by the bill. Why don't we focus on getting Americans back to work instead of doing everything we can to restrict women's health care choices? Let's focus on helping the 1.3 million Americans whose unemployment benefits lapsed a month ago today.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to insert my statement into the Record in support of extending unemployment insurance for 1.6 million Americans instead of this radical Republican assault on women's health care rights. H.R. 7 is enumerated appropriately because it reflects the priorities of this Congress.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Safe Climate Caucus, I urge my Republican colleagues to lift their heads from the sand so that they can see the effects of climate change throughout our country. Scientists agree that climate change is causing the extreme weather that is devastating our citizens and our economy. The Republican response has been to deny the science. Year after year, Republicans in Congress not only refuse to do something about climate change, but they insist on policies that actually make things worse. Because Republicans are determined to ignore the threats posed by climate change, the President has no choice but to use executive authority to protect the American people. I look forward to hearing the President's proposals tomorrow at the State of the Union address. Hopefully, Congress can begin to show some leadership on this issue before it is too late.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Madam Speaker, today I rise in honor of 5- year-old Morgan Steward, who, despite suffering from spinal muscular atrophy that affects his muscle movement and leaves him in a wheelchair, has been an inspiration to us all. Some may question whether bipartisanship is real, and I say it is alive and getting better. Take, for instance, the recent joint venture by myself and my neighbor, Dr. Paul Broun, to bring cheer to a young man and his community. This young 5-year-old dreamed of being a policeman. I am proud to say that the Covington Police Department, which is split between Dr. Broun's district and my district, made this happen. Young Morgan always wanted to be a police officer. In conjunction with honoring him, 11Alive TV and we held an Officer Morgan Day. He was sworn in as the newest member of the Covington Police Department. And just hours after he was sworn in, he was able to solve a bank robbery, an art heist, and he secured the freedom of a kidnapped mascot. It was a great day in Covington, and his unwavering bravery grabbed all of our hearts and raised our spirits. I thank Dr. Broun for his involvement.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remind us that it has been 4 years since a 7.0 magnitude earthquake devastated Haiti, killing more than 300,000 people and displacing more than 2 million Haitians. Today, according to the International Organization for Migration, 350,000 people remain in impoverished conditions, squalid tent cities litter the countryside, and the nation deals with an ongoing food crisis as it fights a cholera outbreak. As we reflect on this ongoing tragedy and empathize with the continuing suffering of the people of Haiti, let's reinvigorate our resolute commitment to Haiti's full recovery and its future development.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following Proclamation: Whereas, Ninety years ago a virtuous woman of God was born in Collierville, Tennessee on December 30, 1923; and Whereas, Mrs. Annie Laura Word was born Annie Laura Walker to Mr. Albert and Mrs. Blanche Walker, she was educated in the local school system as a child, when she became a young lady, she married Mr. Henry C. Word on May 16, 1942 and through their union was blessed with three children, eighteen grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren; and Whereas, this Phenomenal Proverbs 31 woman has shared her time and talents as a Wife, Mother and Motivator, giving the citizens of Georgia a person of great worth, a fearless leader and a servant to all who wants to advance the lives of others; and Whereas, Mrs. Word has been blessed with a long, happy life, devoted to God and credits it all to the Will of God; and Whereas, Mrs. Word along with her family and friends are celebrating this day a remarkable milestone, her 90th Birthday, we pause to acknowledge a woman who is a cornerstone in our community; and Whereas, the U.S. Representative of the Fourth District of Georgia has set aside this day to honor and recognize Mrs. Word on her birthday and to wish her well and recognize her for an exemplary life which is an inspiration to all; Now therefore, I, Henry C. ``Hank'' Johnson, Jr., do hereby proclaim December 30, 2013 as Mrs. Annie Laura Word Day in the 4th Congressional District of Georgia. Proclaimed, this 30th day of December, 2013.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following Proclamation: Whereas, today we pause to recognize a remarkable young man, Morgan Steward, who has shown great tenacity and courage; and Whereas, this very brave kindergartner has expressed his dream to be a police officer and help the citizens of his community by protecting and serving; and Whereas, the City of Covington Police Department has seen fit to bestow upon him the title of Honorary Police Officer, so that today he is known as Officer Morgan; and Whereas, many residents of Covington, Georgia also reside in the 4th Congressional District; and Whereas, all the citizens of Covington and Newton County, GA are coming together to recognize and congratulate Officer Morgan; and Whereas, this day is being celebrated as Officer Morgan visits with Covington businesses and residents using policing techniques and highlighting safety and security measures; and Whereas, the U.S. Representative of the Fourth District of Georgia has set aside this day to honor and recognize Officer Morgan Steward; Now therefore, I, Henry C. ``Hank'' Johnson, Jr., do hereby proclaim December 17, 2013 as Officer Morgan Steward Day in the 4th Congressional District of Georgia. Proclaimed, this 17th day of December, 2013.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following Proclamation: Whereas, First Afrikan Presbyterian Church has been and continues to be a beacon of light to our district for the past twenty years; and Whereas, Reverend Dr. Mark A. Lomax and the members of the First Afrikan Presbyterian Church family today continues to uplift and inspire those in our district; and Whereas, the First Afrikan Presbyterian Church has been and continues to be a place where citizens are touched spiritually, mentally and physically through outreach ministries and community partnership to aid in building up our district; and Whereas, this remarkable and tenacious Church of God has given hope to the hopeless, fed the needy and empowered our community for the past twenty (20) years; and Whereas, this Church has produced many spiritual warriors, people of compassion, people of great courage, fearless leaders and servants to all, but most of all visionaries who have shared not only with their Church, but with DeKalb County their passion to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ; and Whereas, the U.S. Representative of the Fourth District of Georgia has set aside this day to honor and recognize the First Afrikan Presbyterian Church family for their leadership and service to our District on this the 20th Anniversary of their founding; now therefore, I, Henry C. ``Hank'' Johnson, Jr., do hereby proclaim December 8, 2013 as First Afrikan Presbyterian Church Day in the 4th Congressional District of Georgia. Proclaimed, this 8th day of December, 2013.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I urge my Republican colleagues to recognize the devastating consequences of air pollution, which is causing, or at least contributing to greatly, the drastic changes in the Earth's climate. Last year we experienced severe record-setting weather across the country, yet Republicans and climate deniers argue that no single weather event can be proven to have been caused by climate change. Paradoxically, climate deniers are now using the extreme cold snap as evidence to support their cause, which is to do away with all laws and regulations that protect our precious air quality. The maddening denial of the link between air quality and climate change is reckless, and it is a denial of scientific fact. Our posterity deserves more. We know, and 95 percent of scientists agree, that climate change leads to more severe weather overall, and the evidence is overwhelming. Now is the time for a real debate on climate change before another devastating year of extreme weather that takes lives, destroys communities, and wreaks havoc on our society and our economy.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following Proclamation. Whereas, one hundred years ago a virtuous woman of God, Edna Louise Flint House was born in Decatur, Georgia on December 7, 1913 to John and Louise Flint; and Whereas, she was raised up in DeKalb County, Georgia and married Mr. Jesse House and their union has blessed our district and nation ever since; and Whereas, this phenomenal Proverbs 31 woman has shared her time and talents as a wife, mother and motivator, becoming a Georgia citizen of great worth, a fearless leader and a servant to all by always advancing the lives of others; and Whereas, Mrs. House has been blessed with a long, happy life, devoted to God and credits it all to the Will of God; she serves as a Mother at New Beginning Full Gospel Baptist Church in Decatur, Georgia; and Whereas, Mrs. House along with her pastor, Bishop James H. Morton, her family and friends are celebrating a remarkable milestone, her 100th Birthday, we pause to acknowledge a woman who is a cornerstone in Decatur, DeKalb County, Georgia; and Whereas, the U.S. Representative of the Fourth District of Georgia has set aside this day to honor and recognize Mrs. House on her birthday and to wish her well and recognize her for an exemplary life which is an inspiration to all; Now therefore, I, Henry C. ``Hank'' Johnson, Jr., do hereby proclaim December 7, 2013 as Mrs. Edna Louise Flint House Day in the 4th Congressional District of Georgia. Proclaimed, this 7th day of December, 2013.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following Proclamation. Whereas, over thirteen years ago, Mr. Bob Thiele accepted a calling to serve others by becoming a consultant with the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center (SBDC); and Whereas, he has served small business clients with great care, concern and professionalism, by inspiring, educating and motivating; giving a much needed boost to the economic backbone of America; and Whereas, he has shared his time and talents, giving the citizens of our District a friend, a community leader and an inspiring servant, ensuring that economic opportunity is available to all; and Whereas, Mr. Thiele is a cornerstone in our community enhancing the lives of thousands for the betterment of our District and our Nation; and Whereas, on his retirement from the University of Georgia SBDC, the U.S. Representative of the Fourth District of Georgia has set aside this day to honor and recognize Mr. Bob Thiele and to wish him well in his new endeavors; now therefore, I, Henry C. ``Hank'' Johnson, Jr., do hereby proclaim November 21, 2013 as Bob Thiele Day in the 4th Congressional District of Georgia. Proclaimed, this 21st day of November, 2013.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following Proclamation. Whereas, in the Fourth Congressional District of Georgia, there are many individuals who are called to contribute to the needs of our community through leadership and service; and Whereas, one of those individuals, Pastor Jasper Williams, Jr., has given of himself to lead Salem Bible Church for fifty years; and Whereas, under the guidance of God he has pioneered and sustained Salem Bible Church as an instrument in our community that betters the spiritual, physical and mental welfare of our citizens; and Whereas, this remarkable and tenacious man of God has shared his time and talents for the betterment of our community by preaching the gospel, singing the gospel and living the gospel; and Whereas, Pastor Jasper Williams is a spiritual warrior, a man of compassion, a man of great courage, a fearless leader and above all a visionary who has shared not only with his church, but with our District and the world a passion to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ; and Whereas, the U.S. Representative of the Fourth District of Georgia has set aside this day to honor and recognize Pastor Jasper Williams for his leadership and service for our District as he celebrates his 50th Pastoral anniversary; now therefore, I, Henry C. ``Hank'' Johnson, Jr., do hereby proclaim November 10, 2013 as Pastor Jasper Williams, Jr. Day in the 4th Congressional District of Georgia. Proclaimed, this 10th day of November, 2013.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following proclamation. Whereas, Turner Monumental African Methodist Episcopal Church has been and continues to be a beacon of light to our district for the past one hundred fourteen years; and Whereas, Pastor Jai S. Haithco, Sr., and the members of the Turner Monumental African Methodist Episcopal Church family today continues to uplift and inspire those in our district; and Whereas, the Turner Monumental African Methodist Episcopal Church family has been and continues to be a place where citizens are touched spiritually, mentally and physically through outreach ministries and community partnership to aid in building up our district; and Whereas, this remarkable and tenacious Church of God has given hope to the hopeless, fed the needy and empowered our community for the past one hundred fourteen (114) years; and Whereas, this Church has produced many spiritual warriors, people of compassion, people of great courage, fearless leaders and servants to all, but most of all visionaries who have shared not only with their Church, but with DeKalb County their passion to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ; and Whereas, the U.S. Representative of the Fourth District of Georgia has set aside this day to honor and recognize the Turner Monumental African Methodist Episcopal Church family for their leadership and service to our District on this the 114th Anniversary of their founding; now therefore, I, Henry C. ``Hank'' Johnson, Jr., do hereby proclaim October 13, 2013 as Turner Monumental African Methodist Episcopal Church Day In the 4th Congressional District of Georgia. Proclaimed, this 13th day of October, 2013.