Russian Cyber Attack a Wake-Up Call for Georgians

ATLANTA (June 21, 2023) | Recently the University System of Georgia and several federal agencies were the victim of a massive cyber attack. Russian hackers have claimed responsibility for the attack which exploited a vulnerability in a program called “MOVEit,” a popular tool for securely transferring data.

Senator Jason Anavitarte (R – Dallas), Chairman of the Senate Study Committee on the Creation of a Georgia Cybersecurity Force and author of legislation to ban CCP malware applications like TikTok on state government networks offered the following statement on the attack:

“This attack on our government systems is a wake-up call that American computer networks are constantly at risk from cyber-attack. Georgians in both the public and private sector should use this as a learning experience and ensure all of their computers, phones and tablets have the latest security updates. I also call on the Georgia House of Representatives to follow the Senate’s lead and immediately pass legislation to create a Georgia Cyber Command.”

During the 2023 Legislative Session, Sen. Anavitarte introduced the Georgia Cyber Command Act as Senate Bill 97. The Georgia Cyber Command Act passed the Senate with bipartisan support but it has not yet been considered for a vote before the House of Representatives.

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Sen. Jason Anavitarte serves as Chair of the Senate Majority Caucus. He represents Senate District 31 which includes Paulding and Polk Counties. He can be reached at 404.656.0085 or at Jason.anavitarte@senate.ga.gov

June 16, 2023

Senate Study Committee on Expanding Georgia’s Workforce to Hold First Meeting, Announces Informational Website

ATLANTA (June 16, 2023) | On Tuesday, June 20, 2023, the Senate Study Committee on Expanding Georgia’s Workforce, chaired by Senator John Albers (R – Roswell), will be holding its first meeting at 1:00 p.m. at the Georgia Experience Center. The Senate Study Committee was created pursuant to Senate Resolution 275, sponsored by Sen. Albers, which passed during the 2023 Legislative Session with bipartisan support. This committee was established to fulfill one of Lt. Governor Burt Jones priorities for the 2023 session. The committee will be comprised of both legislative and non-legislative members: Sen. Albers as Chairman, Sen. Brandon Beach (R – Alpharetta), Sen. Jason Esteves (D – Atlanta), Sen. Sonya Halpern (D – Atlanta), Sen. Billy Hickman (R – Statesboro), Champ Bailey, Joseph McDermott, Ryan Pernice, Technical College System of Georgia Commissioner Greg Dozier, Dave Williams, and Daniela Perry. The study committee will hold meetings throughout the remainder of the year, with a schedule of meetings located on the committee website listed below.

WHO: Sen. John Albers, Chairman of the Senate Study Committee on Expanding Georgia’s Workforce

Senate Study Committee Members

Representatives from a wide range of Georgia industries

WHAT: First meeting of the Senate Study Committee on Expanding Georgia’s Workforce

WHEN: Tuesday, June 20, 2023 1:00 p.m.

WHERE: Georgia Experience Center

75 Fifth St NW, Ste 150, Atlanta, GA 30308

WEBSITE URL: https://www.expandinggeorgiasworkforcestudy.com/

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Sen. John Albers serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Safety. He represents the 56^th Senate District which includes portions of Cherokee, Cobb and North Fulton counties. He may be reached at his office at 404.463.8055 or by email at john.albers@senate.ga.gov

June 16, 2023

Senate Majority Leader Steve Gooch Announced as 2023 Georgia Chamber ‘Legislator of the Year’

ATLANTA (June 16, 2023) | Last week, Majority Leader Sen. Steve Gooch (R – Dahlonega) was announced as one of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce’s 2023 Legislators of the Year. The award is given to three members of the Georgia General Assembly whose efforts have focused on promoting economic development, job creation and free enterprise.

“One of my top priorities as the Senate Majority Leader is to foster economic opportunity through innovation. I am honored to receive such recognition from the Georgia Chamber which utilizes strategic advocacy to achieve the very same goal across our state,” said Majority Leader Gooch. “It is imperative that Georgia maintains its record of being the best state to do business, and I will always strive to support our business enterprises both large and small through my work in the Georgia State Senate. I look forward to cultivating a strong partnership with the Georgia Chamber for many years to come.”

The Georgia Chamber of Commerce is the state’s largest business advocacy organization, with a focus of advocating for both state and federal issues.

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Sen. Steve Gooch serves as Senate Majority Leader. He represents the 51st Senate District which includes Dawson, Fannin, Gilmer, Lumpkin, Union and Pickens counties and a portion of White County. He may be reached at 404.656.7872 or via email at steve.gooch@senate.ga.gov

June 15, 2023

Sen. Shawn Still Honored as 2023 Freshman Legislator of the Year

ATLANTA (June 15, 2023) | Last week, Senator Shawn Still (R – Johns Creek) was announced as the Georgia Chamber of Commerce’s 2023 Freshman Legislator of the Year.

The award is given to members of the Georgia General Assembly whose efforts have focused on promoting economic development, job creation and free enterprise in their first term of office.

“It is an honor to be recognized as a pro-business legislator during my first year in office,” said Sen. Still. “The Georgia Chamber was an invaluable asset to me throughout the 2023 Georgia Legislative Session, and I look forward to continuing that partnership on behalf of Georgia’s business community throughout my tenure as a State Senator.”

The Georgia Chamber of Commerce is the state’s largest business advocacy organization, with a focus of advocating for both state and federal issues.

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Sen. Shawn Still represents the 48th Senate District which includes portions of Forsyth, Gwinnett, and Fulton counties. He can be reached by phone at 404.656.0044 or by email at Shawn.Still@senate.ga.gov.

June 9, 2023

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.