Sen. Bo Hatchett Praises Governor Kemp for Public Safety Grant Awards to Commerce Police Department

ATLANTA (June 9, 2023) | This week, Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that he has made preliminary grant awards totaling more than $83.5 million for 118 qualified projects that improve community-level public safety measures and address law enforcement staffing challenges that arose during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The program funds will be allotted to supplement local law enforcement staffing, support violent crime reduction or community violence intervention programming, and invest in technology and equipment to address and respond to the rise in community violence across the state.

“I appreciate Governor Kemp and his staff for awarding Commerce’s first responders with this grant funding,” said Sen. Bo Hatchett (R – Cornelia). “The Commerce Police Department is extremely deserving of this grant and I look forward to seeing these key initiatives implemented in the coming months.”

Funds awarded to the Commerce Police Department include $79,310 to implement 21st century intelligence-led policing strategies for crime reduction and enhance quality of life in the community of Commerce.

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Sen. Bo Hatchett serves as a Governor’s Administration Floor Leader. He represents the 50th Senate District which includes Banks, Franklin, Habersham, Rabun, Stephens and Towns County and portions of Hall, Jackson, and White counties. He can be reached by phone at 404.463.5257 or by email at bo.hatchett@senate.ga.gov.

June 6, 2023

Sen. Larry Walker III Appointed to 2023 Senate Study Committee on Rural Medical Personnel Recruitment

ATLANTA (June 6, 2023) | Last week, Senator Larry Walker III (R – Perry) was appointed by Lt. Governor Burt Jones to serve as a member of the Senate Study Committee on Rural Medical Personnel Recruitment.

“Healthcare facilities across the state currently struggle to attract and retain staff and specialty personnel, especially outside the metro Atlanta area,” said Sen. Walker III. “This discussion is imperative as we work to find realistic solutions to the shortage of rural medical personnel. Georgians deserve to have dependable care no matter where they are, and I look forward to hearing the perspectives of industry experts as we dive deeper into the workforce needs of this sector. I appreciate Lt. Governor Jones for his part in making sure this study committee is a priority for the Senate body.”

This five-member Senate Study Committee was established through the passage of Senate Resolution 371 during the 2023 Georgia Legislative Session. Rural hospitals are often left behind due to economic factors and a lack of available health care professionals. This Study Committee will aim to raise awareness of the obstacles faced by rural hospitals to recruit an adequate work force and retain their surgical personnel.

The committees will be tasked with holding meetings across the state, with dates and locations to be announced at a later time.

More information on the 2023 Senate Study Committees can be found here.

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Sen. Larry Walker serves as Secretary of the Senate Majority Caucus. He also serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Insurance and Labor. He represents Senate District 20 which includes Bleckley, Dodge, Dooly, Laurens, Pulaski, Treutlen, and Wilcox Counties and a portion of Houston County. He can be reached at larry.walker@senate.ga.gov

June 1, 2023

Sen. Bo Hatchett Appointed to Chair Senate Study Committee on Rural Medical Personnel Recruitment

ATLANTA (June 1, 2023) | This week, Senator Bo Hatchett (R – Cornelia) was appointed by Lt. Governor Burt Jones to serve as Chairman of the Senate Study Committee on Rural Medical Personnel Recruitment.

“Healthcare facilities across Georgia face numerous challenges when it comes to healthcare professional recruitment, especially in rural areas. A shortage of properly trained medical staff is dangerous for rural communities that are often hours away from large hospitals,” said Sen. Hatchett. “As a Senator from rural Georgia, I have seen firsthand the negative impacts that a lack of healthcare personnel can have on the health and wellness of families located outside of metro areas in our state. I appreciate Lt. Governor Jones for his diligence in creating this study committee and look forward to working with my Senate colleagues as we find creative solutions for the rural healthcare sector in the coming months.”

This five-member Senate Study Committee was established through the passage of Senate Resolution 371, which was sponsored by Sen. Hatchett during the 2023 Georgia Legislative Session. Currently, rural hospitals face a multitude of challenges when delivering services to their patients primarily due to economic factors and a lack of available health care professionals. This Study Committee will aim to raise awareness of the obstacles faced by rural hospitals to recruit an adequate work force and retain their surgical personnel.

The committees will be tasked with holding meetings across the state, with dates and locations to be announced at a later time.

More information on the 2023 Senate Study Committees can be found here.

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June 1, 2023

Senate President Pro Tempore Returns with Georgia Delegation from Trade Mission to Israel

ATLANTA (May 31, 2023) | President Pro Tempore Senator John F. Kennedy (R – Macon) recently joined Governor Brian P. Kemp, Speaker Burns and key Georgia economic development representatives on an international trade mission to the nation of Israel, our state’s 30th largest trade partner. The eight-day mission aimed to bolster economic ties between the nations and promote Georgia as a state primed for economic development and growth.

“America has always treasured its diplomatic ties with the nation of Israel. It is imperative that our state leadership does our part to continue to nurture future opportunities for economic development and tell Georgia’s story as the number one state to do business.” said President Pro Tempore Kennedy. “Georgia continues to be the focal point of a national conversation around economic opportunity and good governance. I was happy to share Georgia’s story with Israel’s top diplomats and begin a conversation about how our nations can work together to yield opportunity for our state throughout multiple sectors of our economy. I appreciate Governor Kemp for the invitation to join him on this key diplomatic endeavor and I look forward to seeing the Georgia Senate continue lead the way in courting economic opportunity for our state.”

Israel continues be among the nations leading the world with significant developments in its robust technological, military and intelligence industries. Georgia’s trade with Israel totaled $1.2 billion in 2022, growing 26.2% since 2021. Israel is also home to roughly 8 Georgia companies headquartered within its borders and 21 Israeli companies have operations in our state. Georgia currently exports $280 million in goods and services to Israel and Israeli companies employ more than 1000 Georgians statewide.

The economic development mission laid out a comprehensive itinerary including tours of world-class cyber security centers at Ben-Gurion University, in-person meetings and discussions with Prime Minister Netanyahu, President Herzog, and strategic meetings with many Georgia Companies in headquartered the region. The trip also included a visit to Yad Vashem, the Jewish people’s memorial to the Holocaust. There, President Pro Tempore Kennedy joined others in reflecting on the impact that the Holocaust had on Jewish Israelis and Georgians alike. The delegation also visited key historical areas, touring and meeting with Israeli business leaders at locations such as the Mount of Olives, Nazareth, and Tel Aviv before returning to Georgia.

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Sen. John F. Kennedy serves as the President Pro Tempore of the Georgia State Senate. He represents the 18th Senate District which includes Upson, Monroe, Peach, Crawford, and portions of Bibb and Houston Counties. He may be reached at 404.656.6578 or by email at john.kennedy@senate.ga.gov

May 23, 2023

Sen. Larry Walker III Praises Governor Kemp for Improving Neighborhood Grant Awards

ATLANTA (May 23, 2023) | Last week, Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that he has made preliminary grant awards totaling more than $225 million for 142 qualified projects that improve neighborhood assets like parks, recreation facilities, sidewalks, and healthy food access in communities all across the state disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The program funds will be allotted to local units of government, counties, and non-profits to utilize in improving or maintaining recreational facilities in Qualified Census Tracts or for repair or maintenance due to significantly greater use of public facilities during the pandemic.

“The Improving Neighborhood grants that are being awarded to our communities will have a positive impact on the health, safety, and wellbeing of families within the 20th Senate District,” said Senator Larry Walker III (R – Perry). “These funds will be used to update and modernize many recreational and outdoor spaces that Georgians utilize daily. I thank Governor Kemp and his staff for their support of these transformational projects that will provide Georgians of all ages with access to recreation and outdoor activity for generations to come.”

Funds awarded to the 20^th State Senate District include:

City of Abbeville, Georgia with $1,813,772 for Abbeville Lions Memorial Park and pedestrian sidewalks.
City of Dublin, Georgia with $2,200,000 for the Oconee Gym Renovation Project.
City of Cochran, Georgia with $1,155,000 for theCochran North Ash Street Park Development Project.
Bleckley County Board of Commissioners with $1,094,500 for Cochran Bleckley Recreational Sports Complex improvements.

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