Exciting News for Georgia’s Infrastructure
Friends,
Last week in Atlanta, we reached the halfway mark of the legislative session by working through Legislative Day 20. While the legislature is passing measures that will affect our state as a whole, we are also seeing developments that will directly impact the communities in District 159.
Improvements to Water and Sewer Infrastructure
On Wednesday, Governor Kemp announced that more than $422 million in preliminary awards will be issued to high-need communities to provide reliable and safe drinking water and wastewater systems. Over $12 million was awarded to cities in both Effingham and Screven counties, ensuring that the public health and environment of our communities are maintained now and for future generations. Learn more about these grants here.
2022 State of the Port
On Thursday, several exciting remarks were made at the annual “State of the Port” event in Savannah. Two key announcements include:
The Savannah Harbor Expansion Project that is deepening the river channel for heavier loads is due to be completed in March.
The Port of Savannah also plans to increase container capacity by 60 percent
The Port of Savannah continues to be a major job creator for our region and an economic driver in our state. Learn more about this year’s State of the Port here.
Legislation Highlights
House Bill 1217 - Over the past several years, we have seen increased use of technology by students in the classroom. With greater access to the internet, it is imperative that we protect our students from obscene and inappropriate material while at school. HB 1217 ensures that children are able to utilize technology safely, while also providing peace of mind to parents.
House Bill 1186 - HB 1186 passed the House unanimously and expands access to audiology screenings for children. This bill allows for screenings to be performed by audiology assistants and if any issues are identified, a screening will be performed by a licensed audiologist.
House Bill 1148 - HB 1148 passed the House unanimously and allows for restrictions on transporting harvested deer prior to processing from other states. This effort hopes to protect our wildlife from the deadly Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). Learn more about CWD here.
Crossover Day is March 15 and there is much work to still be completed before then and Sine Die on April 4. In the days ahead, I hope you’ll also join me in praying for the people of Ukraine. As you learn about issues that concern you or have questions about the work I am doing on your behalf in Atlanta, do not hesitate to reach out to me.