Last night, I hosted a very successful telephone townhall meeting with citizens in Cobb County.  Tele-townhalls are a new way I’m working to communicate with residents of Georgia’s 11th District and hear their thoughts on today’s pressing issues. Here’s how it works: each month, I choose a county and place phone calls to the residents who live there.  I invite them to join in a live, toll-free tele-townhall meeting, and then conduct the meeting over the telephone.  Those who are listening can ask me questions or share their thoughts on a particular issue.

So far this year, we’ve called Floyd, Chattooga, Bartow, Paulding, Cobb, Polk, Haralson and Carroll Counties.  We’ll continue hosting a tele-townhall meeting each month, so if you missed me the last time I called your county, you can be sure I’ll be calling again in the upcoming months. For those of you who weren’t on the call last night, here are the topics we discussed:

Immigration reform and ending chain migration
Tax relief and the Fair Tax
Gas prices
The War on Terror and our efforts in Iraq
Healthcare reform
Combating drug abuse, especially methamphetamine abuse

I really enjoy these opportunities to hear your thoughts and concerns. But you don’t have to wait for a tele-townhall to let me know what’s on your mind. Feel free to email me by clicking HERE, or click HERE to get contact information for my offices in Washington, Marietta and Rome.

You may have heard that Dr. Harlon Crimm has announced his retirement as president of Chattahoochee Technical College.

In the past 24 years, Dr. Crimm’s contributions to Chattahoochee Tech have been profound.    He quadrupled enrollment, making Chattahoochee the largest technical college in Georgia.  He oversaw the college’s accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.  He instilled a sense of mission and pride in the institution, helping it gain national prestige.

But Harlon has been molding Georgia’s young minds for nearly half a century.  He began his career as a high school teacher in Mississippi, later becoming the principal of Lockheed Elementary School in Marietta and director of personnel for Marietta City Schools.

I want to publicly thank Dr. Crimm for his years of service educating Georgia’s young minds.  In fact, Dr. Crimm eloquently summed up his own work when he referred to the past 44 years in education not as a job or career, but as a calling.

If you’d like to watch the video of a speech I delivered before Congress today honoring Harlon Crimm, click HERE.

I was honored to spend this past Memorial Day with veterans and their supporters in Paulding County.  The service took place at the Veterans Memorial Site located behind the Henry Winn Community Development Building in Dallas. It was a moving program, and I was heartened to see so many citizens – young and old – come out to thank our veterans for their selfless sacrifice to our nation. Below, I’ve posted some great photographs from the event.

Saluting the flag

The marching band

Thanking our veterans

Watching the procession

Saying hello to friends

Our flag

Remembering the fallen

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Posted in 11th Congressional District, Defense , Paulding County | No Comments »

One of Georgia’s star teachers

Wednesday, May 23rd, 2007

Last week, I had the honor of meeting with Pam Krohne-Googe, a second grade science teacher at C.A. Roberts Elementary School in Dallas, Georgia. She was in Washington, D.C. to accept her Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching from the National Science Foundation.

I serve on the House Committee on Science and Technology, and started my public career with the Marietta City School Board – so I understand how much our communities need good teachers. For America to stay globally competitive, we need students engaged in science. And for students to engage in science, we need inspiring teachers like Ms. Krohne-Googe. I know her hard work will pay dividends for years to come, and Paulding County is fortunate to have this star teacher educating its youth.

Posted in 11th Congressional District, Paulding County | No Comments »

Surprise visit…

Tuesday, May 1st, 2007

It’s not too often I get to see my friend and Georgia Speaker of the House Glenn Richardson here in Washington. But today, he stopped by my office with some very important guests: 8th grade students from Mount Paran Christian School in Kennesaw.  Glenn’s son, Will, is a student at Mt. Paran, and I appreciated having the opportunity to share a little insight on Congressional life with the students.

Pictured above (from left to right): Will Richardson of Hiram, James Henderson of Dallas, U.S. Congressman Phil Gingrey, Darryn Hutchinson of Marietta, Jordan Hoffman of Powder Springs, Georgia Speaker of the House Glenn Richardson, Jackson Corn of Marietta.

Posted in 11th Congressional District, Cobb County, Marietta, Paulding County | No Comments »

Hiram Solider Dustin Kirby

Tuesday, January 30th, 2007

Today, I had the honor of eating lunch with Petty Officer Dustin Kirby, a solider from Hiram, Georgia who was injured by sniper fire outside of Falluja on Christmas Day.  He’s been recovering at the Bethesda Naval hospital, where I’ve had the opportunity to visit with him and his family (see the photo above). Dustin’s wife, Lauren, and his parents, Jack and Gail, were able to join us, and also enjoyed a tour of the White House and the Capitol.

Our lunch together was inspiring. Dustin is so full of enthusiasm and humor, it is hard to remember he was injured a mere 4 weeks ago while defending the freedom of our nation. His attitude made me so proud to live in a country where brave men and women dedicate themselves to upholding the liberties we enjoy every day.

I wish Dustin a speedy recovery.  I know the support of his family and his sharp sense of humor will help him grow in strength every day.

Posted in 11th Congressional District, Defense , Georgia, Paulding County | No Comments »

Listening Sessions kick off in Cartersville

Wednesday, October 4th, 2006

Yesterday, I hosted the first 11th District Listening Session in Cartersville.  It was a great event, with nearly 40 people coming out to discuss today’s pressing issues with me.  I appreciated hearing so many opinions from around the Bartow community.

If you don’t live in Cartersville, don’t worry – there’s a Listening Session coming soon to a town near you.  Click HERE for a complete list.  Next week: Carroll and Paulding counties. I look forward to seeing you there!

Posted in 11th Congressional District, 11th District, Bartow County, Carroll County, Cartersville, Chattooga County, Cobb County, Floyd County, Haralson County, Marietta, Paulding County, Polk County, Rome | No Comments »

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