Rep Michele Henson

Thank you to everyone who has supported my re-election during this moment in our history. It is an honor to represent District 86 at the Capitol, and I hope to continue serving my constituents in the legislature.

Yesterday I was proud to join other legislators for a press conference outside of the Department of Labor office near Decatur to demand that backlogged unemployment claims be processed. Unemployment insurance is about people, not politics. Tens of thousands of hardworking Georgians are still waiting for much-needed money to help them get by in the middle of this devastating virus. We must do better.

Lawmakers target Georgia labor commissioner over unemployment backlog Nancy Lewis-Pegel owns a booking and management agency for musicians. With the coronavirus pandemic forcing live music into a long intermission, the industry — and Lewis-Pegel’s income — have been rocked hard.So earlier this year, the 58-year-old from Decatur applied for unemployment through t...

Drop your ballots off for the August 11 Runoff in a drop box near you!

There are two additional locations — Doraville City Hall and Sterling at Candler Village.

Ballots must be received by TOMORROW: Tuesday by 7pm.

Click here for latest: http://ow.ly/Rwxj50AOmvL

Drop your ballots off for the August 11 Runoff in a drop box near you. There are two additional locations -- Doraville City Hall and Sterling at Candler Village. Ballots must be received by Tuesday, 7pm. Click here for latest: http://ow.ly/Rwxj50AOmvL

I have always interacted with all residents in my district. I have always stood with PRIDE for those who have suffered discrimination, injustice, and marginalization. This certainly applies to the LGBTQ community. Opposition to the RFRA bill (I voted against it), stopping hate crimes, improved healthcare, and insurance coverage. I opposed the Erhart and Singleton bills from the past. I voted against the anti-gay marriage bill from years ago. I will continue to be an advocate, backed up by my legislative votes, for the LGBTQ community.

Thank you to the Georgia Equality PAC for their endorsement.

2020 Endorsements - Georgia Equality PAC Georgia Equality Endorsements for 2020 Primary Runoff Election The board of Georgia Equality is pleased to endorse these candidates for the critical 2020 primary runoff races. “Each of these candidates believes in fairness and safety for LGBTQ Georgians, and if elected will carry those beliefs wit...

I'm glad to be endorsed by a number of public figures and organizations that I respect and value. The Georgia runoff is Tuesday, and I hope you'll consider voting for me for re-election.

Now more than ever, we need a state representative that District 86 constituents can trust. I think my leadership, my strengths are very important as we move forward as a state during these uncertain times. I have the experience and the relationships to continue working hard for all citizens in my district.

An important runoff election is next Tuesday. I hope you'll consider supporting me for re-election as your state representative.

Longtime Georgia House members facing runoff competition Longtime state Reps. Sharon Beasley-Teague and Michele Henson are facing runoff competition

A quality education is a fundamental right, not a privilege - this is a core American belief, and I will fight for it. I am happy to receive an endorsement from the Georgia Association of Educators. With them, I will work to give all Georgia students the education they deserve. Our future depends on it.

If you haven't gotten a chance to vote early yet, you can still go this week! Here is a list of early voting sites in DeKalb County.
https://www.dekalbcountyga.gov/sites/default/files/users/user3587/AIP%20RUNOFF%20FLYER.pdf

Many people have learned in recent months a truth I have known for a long time: every working American is important and worthy of respect. I am proud to receive an endorsement from one of the country’s largest federations of unions fighting for better pay, workplace equality, and worker benefits.

We need strong health care advocates in the Georgia House of Representatives. I'm fighting for safe communities in District 86.

State Representative Michele Henson State Representative Michele Henson is proud to serve her constituents in Georgia's 86th District.

It is my strong belief that a woman’s body is no one’s business but her own. I am proud to announce that I am endorsed by Planned Parenthood Southeast Advocates because they know that I will fight to keep big government out of the private business of women in Georgia.

Today we celebrated John Lewis and his lifelong fight for justice, dignity and equal rights that will inspire generations to come.

What is America without its purple mountains and rolling hills? I am honored to receive an endorsement from the Sierra Club, one of America’s oldest environmental groups. The beauty of our country and state deserves to be preserved, and I vow to defend it from corporate threats as your representative for HD 86.

With local elections, it can be difficult to know who you can trust. It is an honor to say that community organizer and longtime Georgian Joe Arrington recently decided to endorse me for HD 86. I pledge to work everyday for the people of Georgia.

I'm honored to be endorsed by Rep. Dar'shun Kendrick, another intelligent, capable woman in our legislature. I look forward to continuing to fight for working families alongside her in Atlanta.

I had the honor of knowing Congressman John Lewis since the early 80's when I first became involved in Democratic politics in Atlanta and DeKalb counties.

His lifelong fight for justice, dignity and equal rights will inspire generations to come. Every step along his path from Troy, through Selma, Atlanta and eventually to D.C., John Lewis left a deliberate, thoughtful mark that made our country a better place. He lived the truth that he spoke. I’m confident he would want us to honor him by continuing to make the “good trouble” he was known for.

Tomorrow is Election Day, Georgia!

TODAY ONLY: Free pop-up COVID-19 testing in DeKalb

Free FDA-approved COVID-19 testing will be available at the House of Hope in Decatur (4650 Flat Shoals Parkway, Decatur, GA 30034) this afternoon from 3–7pm.

Here's what you need to know:

-Testing is free. No insurance is required.

-Anyone above the age of eighteen can be screened for testing, including those who are asymptomatic but suspect they have come in contact with the virus or who are asymptomatic but have underlying conditions that put you at higher risk. Those under eighteen must be accompanied by a parent.

-You must pre-register by calling (404) 294-3700, then select Option 1, to schedule an appointment. Participants are emailed and sent a text of their scheduled testing time based on availability and site capacity.

-Area residents will be guided through the House of Hope parking lot and remain in the comfort of their cars for the test. For those who arrive without a vehicle, a walk-up testing booth will be available with on-site screening.

Five Star and the Today Show showed their appreciation for Georgia Pre-K Teacher of the Year Johnathan Hines with a surprise $45,000 donation in school supplies for Barack H. Obama Elementary Magnet School of Technology.

https://vimeo.com/411639980/b81f817616

'Leadership Looks Like' - 165s Social Media Spot GAHDC This is "'Leadership Looks Like' - 165s Social Media Spot GAHDC" by Noah Slade Cosimano on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people…

http://www.emoryhealthcare.org/covid/symptom-checker.html

COVID-19 Coronavirus Symptom Checker - Atlanta, GA - Emory Healthcare Information on Emory's free online tool that assesses symptoms to determine risk of having COVID-19 and provides guidance based on risk level.

DeKalb Schools
Feed the Community
On Friday, April 3, 2020, students will receive five (5) days of meals in addition to their Friday meal. This will ensure that our students have food during the week of April 6-10, 2020.
MEAL SERVICE PLAN –
Beginning Monday, March 30, 2020, we will transition to a modified meal service plan. Under the new plan, meals will be distributed on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Meals will no longer be delivered daily. Students will receive a two-day meal package on each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday as shown in the chart below: The 21 meal distribution sites will remain operational and the bus meal delivery will continue following the amended plan of meal service on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

Georgia Democrats are calling for action.

Today Brian Kemp finally called for a stay-at-home order, after dragging his feet for weeks and failing to protect Georgians.
Public health experts and medical professionals have been calling for Kemp to take statewide action for weeks, warning that a delayed response could be too little, too late.
More than 34 other governors of both parties have already called for statewide stay-at-home orders, while Kemp’s lack of action led to confusion and uncoordinated orders in counties across Georgia.

Georgians need help to combat this pandemic — we should start by fully expanding Medicaid to get health care coverage to Georgians in need.
For the last decade, Georgia Republicans have refused to fully expand Medicaid, which would save rural hospitals and bring 56,000 jobs to our state, along with ensuring coverage for half a million Georgians.
Medicaid expansion would grant much-needed funding to our vulnerable rural hospitals, and much needed support for our most vulnerable populations that will be overwhelmed by this crisis.

We need action to help the workers confronting this pandemic firsthand - that means protecting our essential personnel, from medical professionals to hospital staff to grocery & retail workers keeping us fed.
Our hospital staff and medical professionals are worried for their lives as they care for COVID-19 patients without proper protective equipment. We should help them get the resources they need to care for us all.
Grocery, retail, and food processing workers are helping to feed Georgia families in dangerous conditions — we should give them the protections they deserve as essential emergency personnel.

Key Updates
Last week, 12,140 Georgians filed for unemployment, which was more than twice as many filings as the week before.
As of April 1st, 36 Governors and the Governor of Puerto Rico had issued stay-at-home or shelter-in-place orders statewide, prior to Kemp issuing his shelter-in-place order.

https://wideopenschool.org/

Wide Open School Schools are closed. Minds are wide open.

You should receive a letter from the 2020 Census. This letter is very important because it will have a unique ID that assures you and everyone you live with will get counted by April 1st. Everybody needs to be counted. It is 100% confidential. Funds for schools, hospitals, parks and libraries for the next 10 years depend on you getting counted. Please participate in the 2020 Census.

https://www.nytimes.com/article/coronavirus-stimulus-package-questions-answers.html?action=click&module=Spotlight&pgtype=Homepage

F.A.Q. on Stimulus Checks, Unemployment and the Coronavirus Bill The Senate relief bill would send money to Americans and greatly expand unemployment coverage.

Tips for Parents During COVID-19 Pandemic
1. Limit Media and Social Media Exposure – This is good advice for people of all ages. The target
audience of media outlets is adults, so their broadcasts can cause even more confusion and anxiety for
younger children.
2. Have a Routine – With school being out, it is important to establish a new daily routine. Wake up, get
dressed, complete distance learning school work, eat meals, and go to bed at the same time each day.
Create a schedule that includes these things plus relaxation time, chores, exercise, creative time, etc.
3. Allow Your Child to be in Closer Proximity to You – With so much change and uncertainty, children
may need additional reassurance.
4. Make Time to Allow Your Child to Talk About How They are Feeling – Ask open ended questions,
listen without interruption and avoid the temptation to quickly provide a solution to their concerns.
5. Provide Factual Reassurance AFTER They Have Had a Chance to Express How They are Feeling –
Honesty and accuracy is critical. Facts to consider sharing:
 Most people do not have COVID-19 and most people who have it don’t get seriously ill.
 We can control the spread of the disease by washing our hands and avoiding contact with
people who have it.
 The nation’s best medical professionals are working to help people with COVID-19 some of
which are right here in Georgia.
 If true, remind them that everyone in their family is fine.
6. Tell Your Children You Love Them and Spend More Time with Them – Make more time than usual to
share activities together; play games, read to each other, watch a movie or TV show, create art, make
crafts, sing and dance, go for a walk outside. There are many free online resources to help generate
ideas.
7. Encourage Teens to Do Stress Reducing Activities – Read, journal, write poetry or short stories, draw,
exercise, listen to music, or simply close their eyes and focus on taking slow deep breaths.
8. As Much as Possible, Have Your Child Eat Healthy Well-Balanced Meals – This has an impact on
mental and physical health.
9. If You Have Concerns, Reach Out to Your Child’s School Counselor – If your school district is doing
some kind of distance learning, chances are the school counselor is working from home and is prepared
to support you and your child during this difficult time. Reach out to them via their school email address.
Keep in mind each school district has its own set of criteria for school counselor ability during this time.

Hotline # 1-844-442-2681
Georgia Department of Public Health: To ensure that the numbers being provided through the COVID-19 data tool are the most current numbers available, the updates are done at NOON and 7:00 pm every day. These data represent confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported to the Georgia Department of Public Health as of 12:00pm 03/26/2020. A confirmed case is defined as a person who has tested positive for 2019 novel coronavirus.
Please see link below: https://dph.georgia.gov/covid-19-daily-status-report
1. Members of the general public who have general coronavirus related questions, they should call the Governor's hotline at (844) 442-2681.
2. Clinicians who are seeking medical guidance, they should call 1866-PUB-HLTH.
3. If a person is feeling ill and suspects that they have COVID19, they should call their primary care provider to seek medical advice. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html.
Georgia Department of Revenue: Georgia Department of Revenue: The website: https://dor.georgia.gov/
DDS - Extending vehicle registrations dates: Vehicle registrations that expire between March 16, 2020 and May 14, 2020 are being extended through May 15, 2020.
Office of Planning and Budget: All FY and AFY budgets for 2020 and 2021 can be located on this site: https://opb.georgia.gov/
Georgia Department of Education: Governor Kemp has just signed an Executive Order that mandates public schools will remain closed for in-person instruction through April 24th - students may return on Monday, April 27th. Prior to this date, the Governor will make a decision on the remainder of the school year. Woods’ office has suspended Milestones testing for end of this school year and suspended attendance requirements for schools.
Small Business Administration: Georgia SBA application approved! https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/Declarations Here is a good link to circulate for those with questions regarding the SBA
Disaster Loan Program:https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/Documents/Three_Step_Process_SBA_Disaster_Loans.pdf It outlines who is eligible, for how much they are eligible, and the process and requirements to receive the loan.

disasterloan.sba.gov

For new homeschooling parents, please check out readworks.org for reading skills.

ReadWorks Assign articles and research-based reading comprehension curriculum to your students at www.readworks.org, completely free.

House of Representatives BOB T. TRAMMELL, JR. STANDING COMMITTEES:

MINORITY LEADER ETHICS REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 132 COVERDELL LEGISLATIVE OFFICE BUILDING, ROOM 609 GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS

128 NORTH MAIN STREET ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30334 INFORMATION AND AUDITS LUTHERSVILLE, GEORGIA 30251 (404) 656-5058 (OFFICE) JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL EMAIL: [email protected] MOTOR VEHICLES

RULES WAYS & MEANS

Hon. Brian P. Kemp Governor of Georgia Office of the Governor Suite 203, State Capitol 206 Washington Street Atlanta, GA 30334

March 23, 2020 Dear Governor Kemp,

As we face the threat and disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic together as Georgians, we wholeheartedly stand behind you taking immediate action to mitigate the risk of the devastating outbreak that has occurred in other parts of the world and now appears to be ensuing in parts of the United States.

Last week the General Assembly ratified the declaration of a state of public health emergency, granting you the emergency powers, pursuant to statute, to take the necessary actions to mitigate the risks to Georgians posed by this novel virus. In that spirit, we humbly request that you issue an executive order as soon as possible that sets forth a statewide order to “shelter in place” for the next 14 days with only essential personnel being deployed during this emergency. In addition, until COVID-19 testing is more widely available we also request a self-quarantine of 14 days for individuals returning from domestic and international travel. Every day of delay before uniform statewide restrictive measures are taken will lead to an earlier and higher peak of infected Georgians that will completely overwhelm many of our hospital systems.

It is the expert guidance of a litany of infectious diseases experts such as Dr. Carlos del Rio, Dr. Wendy S. Armstrong, and Dr. Johnathan Colasanti, among many others, that we are on borrowed time to “flatten the curve.” The order we are suggesting will give us the best chance of "flattening the curve" and slowing the spread of the virus. By taking action now, we give ourselves the best chance to avoid the catastrophe that Northern Italy is facing.

Governor, this is a non-partisan issue- this virus sees no color or political affiliations, it doesn’t care about status or economic positioning. We must be proactive in the fight against this “invisible enemy” and protect our citizens. We are all in this fight together. We thank you for your consideration of this urgent request, and we are ready to work with you in any way we can in the fight against COVID-19.

Sincerely yours,

/s/ Bob Trammell /s/ William Boddie /s/ James Beverly Rep. Bob Trammell Rep. William Boddie Rep. James Beverly House Minority Leader House Minority Whip House Minority Chair

/s/ Dar’shun Kendrick /s/ Erica Thomas /s/ Kimberly Alexander Rep. Dar’shun Kendrick Rep. Erica Thomas Rep. Kimberly Alexander House Minority Chief Deputy Whip House Minority Vice-Chair House Minority Treasurer

/s/ Pat Gardner Rep. Pat Gardner House Minority Secretary

https://www.ajc.com/news/local/breaking-dekalb-county-puts-restrictions-businesses-gatherings/8xXdjjMmYIZSez27orXJ4K/

BREAKING: DeKalb County puts restrictions on businesses, gatherings DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond held a virtual news conference to discuss coronavirus plans on Monday morning.

DeKalb Implements ‘Socially Distant Service Delivery’ Strategy - County restricts public access to county facilities. In order protect county workers from the spread of COVID-19, DeKalb County will restrict access to all government buildings and facilities to the public starting today,Monday, March 16th.

“We are implementing a ‘socially distant service delivery’ strategy to protect our employees from the spread of the virus so that DeKalb County can continue to provide essential services to our customers,” DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond said.

While physical access to county facilities will be restricted to the general public, county services will still be available. The county has made it possible for its customers to engage with any department they would normally have a face-to-face encounter with via email, telephone, standard mail delivery, and any other electronic platform available to the county.

“We are following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other federal and state agencies to limit contact between people as a means of protecting public health,” CEO Thurmond said.

“DeKalb County Government remains open for business,” CEO Thurmond said. “We will continue to offer a high level of services and support for DeKalb County.”

For information on accessing county services during this time, visit www.dekalbcountyga.gov or call 404-371-2000 or 311 from a landline Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For information about COVID-19, visit www.dekalbcountyga.gov/coronavirus.

Home | DeKalb County, GA   In order to protect county workers from the spread of COVID-19, DeKalb County will restrict access to all government buildings and facilities to the public starting Monday, March 16. read more

GBPI Letter Urges Governor, State Leaders to Remove Barriers to SNAP During Pandemic - Georgia Budget and Policy Institute It is commendable that Georgia is taking proactive and necessary steps to fight the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), and it is imperative that the state consider support for families with tight budgets and few savings who will face great financial strain.

Fighting COVID-19 in Georgia With Medicaid and New Funding - Georgia Budget and Policy Institute The first cases of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Georgia were reported on March 3, 2020, and the number of people with the virus continues to rise statewide and across the nation. Efforts are underway to help slow the spread of the virus and increase health system capacity for testing and treatmen...