Neither Sen. Jon Ossoff nor Sen. Raphael Warnock is up for reelection this year — the former will run again in 2026 and the latter in 2028. But 2024 is off to a busy start for both senators. In this recurring digital news series, GPB follows your federal tax dollars back to the state of Georgia each week.
For the week ending June 7, 2024, Warnock and Ossoff focused on protecting former Georgia U.S. Rep. John Lewis's legacy, introducing legislation to stop fentanyl trafficking at the southern border, protecting women's rights to contraception, and previewing new legislation that would help new farmers enter the profession.
On May 30, Sen. Ossoff celebrated the beginning of production of Kia’s first American-made electric vehicle at West Point, Georgia, as a part of their EV production line.
The celebration comes nearly two years after his success in pushing for the passage of manufacturing policies.
“I congratulate KIA Georgia on this huge milestone, which reached less than two years after the enactment of made-in-America manufacturing incentives we passed into law," Ossoff said in a statement. I thank all at the state, local, and Federal levels who have for years supported KIA’s success in our state. Georgians are proud these beautiful cars are produced in Georgia and made in America.”
On June 3, Sens. Ossoff, John Cornyn (R-TX), James Lankford (R-OK), and Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) announced they are introducing bipartisan legislation to prevent fentanyl trafficking at the southern border.
The Detection Equipment and Technology Evaluation to Counter the Threat of (DETECT) Fentanyl and Xylazine Act strengthens the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's ability to "detect, identify, and disrupt illicit substances being trafficked across the southern border," per a press release.
The DETECT Act would require the DHS Science and Technology Directorate to research and develop technologies for drug trafficking.
The legislation comes after, in 2023, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency seized 400,000 pounds of non-marijuana drugs, including about 1.2 million doses of fentanyl seized by the Atlanta Field Office.
On June 4, Warnock, as a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, previewed new legislation at a Senate Agriculture Commodities, Risk Management, and Trade subcommittee: "Pathways to Farming: Helping The Next Generation Of Farmers."
The legislation, known as the Southern CROPS Act, would help support beginning farmers by increasing the availability of U.S. Department of Agriculture subsidies that make it financially easier for farmers to enter the field.
It includes a provision allowing "for a one-time additional base designation allocation for beginning farmers and other eligible producers," per a press release.
"[Land with base acres] is expensive and hard to come by," Warnock said at the committee hearing. "This bill would lower the barriers to entry for the next generation of farmers and I was glad to see Chairwoman Stabenow… included my Southern CROPS Act in our Farm Bill reauthorization framework and will continue to work to see that it's included in the final Farm Bill. I think when we send our people, we have a chance to get the public policy right."
Also on June 3, Warnock and Ossoff gathered with John Lewis and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation supporters at its third Good Trouble gala, celebrating the lives of the late Georgia congressman and his wife.
According to a press release, the event, in honor of the Lewises, "supports its year-round efforts to ensure ordinary citizens have the tools they need to create their own version of 'Good Trouble.'"
In addition, on June 5, both senators announced that they are delivering $600,000 in federal funding to help the Foundation digitize and protect Lewis's archives and teaching from his time in Congress, preserving his legacy.
With the original materials housed at the National Archives, digitizing the archives will allow students, historians, academics, and people worldwide "to study and explore Congressman Lewis' commitment to justice and equality for all and his lifelong commitment to peace," per a press release statement.
"The digitization will also launch the development of a virtual center and serve as the basis of a physical space in Atlanta for leadership and professional development as well as civic engagement through the Good Trouble curriculum designed to inspire and empower young people for generations to come," the statement said.
Funding for the project comes from the 2024 bipartisan government funding package.
"Congressman Lewis' life-long commitment to civil rights, nonviolence, and universal human dignity remain essential to local, national, and global progress," Ossoff said in a statement. "No one's ideas or approach to public life have had more of an impact on me than Congressman Lewis."
"I was Congressman Lewis' pastor, but I'm clear he was my mentor," said Warnock, who is senior pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, in a statement. "[Lewis] is one of Georgia's greatest sons, and he taught us all how to make 'good trouble," which is why I was proud to work with Sen. Ossoff to secure these federal funds for the John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation so that future generations may learn and benefit from the lessons of his life and his tireless work to advance democracy, equality, and justice."
On June 5, Ossoff released a statement following Senate Republicans blocking legislation aimed at establishing a right to success birth control pills.
"Today, Senate Republicans blocked the Right to Contraception Act and refused to defend access to birth control for Georgia women," Ossoff said in a statement. "I will continue to fight back against any effort by extremists to ban birth control for Georgia women."
Ossoff has worked to protect women's access to reproductive health care since several states have restricted women's access to reproductive health care following the overturning of Roe v. Wade, per a press release.
The Right to Contraception Act would create a right to access sources of birth control like the pill, IUDs, and other contraception and stop state governors from enforcing laws restricting access.
