Taxpayer dollars at work: Hurricane Debby; Ossoff on specialty crops, Warnock on military education

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Sen. Jon Ossoff joined other Georgia human rights advocates Aug. 6, 2024, to speak about a new law requiring federal prisons to face regular independent investigations.

Credit: Amanda Andrew/GPB News

Note: In this recurring digital news series, GPB follows your federal tax dollars back to the state of Georgia each week. 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.

For the week ending Aug. 9, the senators joined a delegation of Georgia congressmen to urge President Joe Biden to approve Gov. Brian Kemp’s emergency delegation request ahead of Hurricane Debby, support specialty crop farmers, expand the number of pathways for service members to military schools, and help Georgians become homeowners.

Chinese companies manufacturing tax credits

On Aug. 1, Sens. Ossoff, Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), and Rick Scott (R-Fla.) introduced bipartisan legislation to stop Chinese companies from using American tax credits meant to boost solar manufacturing.

Per a press release, the American Tax Dollars for American Solar Manufacturing Act aims to “strengthen American energy independence and solar manufacturing.”

“Our federal manufacturing incentives are driving historic economic development in Georgia and across the country,” Ossoff said in a statement. “As these policies fuel record growth in solar manufacturing, tax incentives shouldn’t be used by Chinese solar companies that threaten our energy security.”

Service members pathways

Also on Aug. 1, Sens. Warnock and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) introduced bipartisan legislation to create a system allowing applicants to Military Services Academies (MSAs) to choose to have their information shared with senior military colleges (SMCs).

The Improving Military Recruitment at Senior Military Colleges Act ensures that “highly qualified candidates” without the opportunity to go to MSAs receive the opportunity “to consider alternative paths to military service,” per a press release.

“The Improving Military Recruitment at Senior Military Colleges Act will help connect aspiring leaders who desire a world-class military education and training with our nation’s storied military schools like the University of North Georgia, which is a win for our state and for our country,” Warnock said via statement.

Family farms

On Aug. 5, Ossoff and U.S. Rep. Sanford D. Bishop Jr. (D-Ga.) introduced legislation to increase resources and support for Georgia specialty crop farmers facing unfairly priced imports. 

According to a press release, the legislation would establish a five-year pilot program "to provide support for certain specialty crop producers when a crop's national average market price (effective price) falls below its five-year average price (reference price)" if imports cause the difference."

The specialty crop producers include those who grow:

• Blueberries
• Squash
• Bell pepper
• Cucumber 
• Asparagus

"Georgia family farms are getting buried by unfair crop imports from South and Central America," Ossoff said in a statement. "That's why we are introducing this bill — to ensure Georgia's family farms and rural communities can thrive."

Hurricane Debby

On Aug. 5, Warnock joined U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.) and 13 Georgia congressional delegation members to urge President Biden via letter to approve Gov. Brian Kemp’s emergency declaration request for Georgia ahead of Hurricane Debby’s landfall.

“Given the potential catastrophic impact that this hurricane may have on Georgia, the state and federal government must work together in order to help reduce the potential loss of life and destruction of property," the delegation wrote. "As we have witnessed with previous hurricanes in the area, like Hurricane Idalia, preparation and up-front resources are paramount in mitigating the impacts of the storm and providing quick response in its aftermath.”

The declaration’s efforts succeeded after President Biden approved the request the same day.

The delegation of 13 Georgia congressional members outside of Warnock and Carter included:

• Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.)
• Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.)
• Rep. Drew Ferguson (R-Ga.)
• Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.)
• Rep. Nikema Williams (D-Ga.)
• Rep. Rich McCormick (R-Ga.)
• Rep. Lucy McBath (D-Ga.)
• Rep. Austin Scott (R-Ga.)
• Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.)
• Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.)
• Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.)
• Rep. Rick Allen (R-Ga.)
• Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.)

Georgia homeowners

On Aug. 8, Ossoff introduced legislation to help renters buy homes by including their good rental payment history in reports to credit bureaus, therefore helping increase their credit ratings.

The Access to Homeownership Act, per a press release, would require “landlords that receive financing through the federal government, including through Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, for multifamily properties like apartment buildings to offer tenants the ability to have their on-time rental payments reported to credit bureaus.”

Also, under the legislation, tenants’ positive rental payments would be incorporated into the risk assessment standards for Georgians who apply for federally insured mortgages under the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), ”further boosting families’ ability to access affordable homeownership opportunities.”

In other news

On Aug. 3 and 4, both senators encouraged Georgians to be alert of the Nation Weather Service’s updates for potential flooding and rainfall caused by Tropical Storm Debby.

In a Twitter/X thread, Ossoff advised Georgians affected by Hurricane Debby to:

1. Prepare a ready kit in case you lose power or have to evacuate — including non-perishable food, water, first aid kit, any medicines you may need, flashlights, and batteries;
2. Make a family evacuation plan — know where you will go if ordered to evacuate from your homes;
3. Make a family communications plan;
4. Prepare to secure your home or business;
5. Help your friends and neighbors prepare. We all play a role in helping our communities prepare. 

On Aug. 4 and 5, the senators shared their condolences to Spc. Travis Jordan Pameni and Spc. Owen James Elliott, the two Georgia National Guard service members who lost their lives in Iraq.

On Aug. 6, Ossoff joined civil rights leaders at the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Park in Atlanta, to share his criminal reform legislation was signed into law.

Caption

Sen. Jon Ossoff and Andrew Young joined other Georgia human rights advocates Aug. 6, 2024, to speak about a new law requiring federal prisons to face regular independent investigations.

Credit: Amanda Andrews / GPB News

The Federal Prison Oversight Act will require the Department of Justice to complete regular inspections of all U.S. federal prisons and publish the inspection results within 60 days.

GPB’s Amanda Andrews reported on the story here.