Emily Leonard – Page 5 – Georgia Senate Press Office

November 5, 2024

Sen. John Albers Statement on the Passing of Bernie Marcus

ATLANTA (November 5, 2024) — Sen. John Albers (R–Roswell) today issued a statement following the passing of Bernie Marcus:

“Today, we mourn the loss of Bernie Marcus, a visionary whose influence reached far beyond the walls of the iconic company he co-founded, Home Depot. Every time I spoke to Bernie, I was inspired by his humble brilliance and drive to make the world a better place.

Bernie was a giant not only in business but also in character, serving as an inspiration for what it means to lead with both vision and heart. His dedication to creating opportunities for others, his unwavering patriotism and his commitment to service will not be forgotten.

On behalf of my family, I would like to extend my deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. We honor Bernie’s legacy and will work to carry forward his values of hard work, generosity and service. May he rest in peace.”

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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.

For all media inquiries, please reach out to SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov.

November 4, 2024November 6, 2024

MEDIA ADVISORY: Senate Study Committee on Artificial Intelligence to Hold Seventh Meeting

ATLANTA (November 4, 2024) — On Friday, November 8^th,2024, at 10:00 a.m., the Senate Study Committee on Artificial Intelligence, chaired by Sen. John Albers (R–Roswell), will hold its seventh hearing, in conjunction with the House Technology and Infrastructure Innovation Subcommittee on AI.

EVENT DETAILS:

Date: Friday, November 8^th, 2024
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Location: 450 State Capitol, 206 Washington St SW, Atlanta GA 30334
This event is open to the public and will be live-streamed on the Georgia General Assembly website here.

ABOUT THE MEETING:

The committee is tasked with promoting responsible innovation, competition, and collaboration in public and private sectors will allow Georgia to be a leader in ensuring that such technology will advance in a way that enforces the existing consumer protection laws and principles for its citizens while enacting any additional appropriate safeguards against, fraud, unintended bias, discrimination, infringements on privacy, and other potential harms from AI.

MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES:

We kindly request that members of the media confirm their attendance in advance by contacting Jantz Womack at SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov.

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Sen. John Albers serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Safety. He represents the 56th 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.

October 31, 2024October 31, 2024

Senate Public Safety Chairman John Albers, Majority Leader Steve Gooch Demand Border Security Action Following Murder of Minelys Zoe Rodriguez-Ramirez

ATLANTA (October 31, 2024) — Senate Committee on Public Safety Chairman, Sen. John Albers (R–Roswell) and Senate Majority Leader Sen. Steve Gooch (R–Dahlonega) today issued statements following the tragic murder of Minelys Zoe Rodriguez-Ramirez, whose body was recovered last week after her disappearance from Cornelia, Georgia.

October 31, 2024

Sen. Jason Anavitarte Celebrates Acceleration of SOLARCYCLE Expansion in Polk County, Bringing Jobs and Economic Growth to the 31st District

ATLANTA (October 31, 2024) — Today, Sen. Jason Anavitarte (R–Dallas) celebrated SOLARCYCLE’s announcement to expedite its solar recycling operations in Polk County. The expansion will create 640 new full-time jobs and inject over $62 million into the local economy. This growth will not only increase Georgia’s recycling capacity but also continue to position northwest Georgia as a hub for clean energy innovation and domestic manufacturing.

“SOLARCYCLE’s decision to accelerate their operations in Polk County brings exactly the kind of jobs and forward-thinking industries our district needs,” said Sen. Anavitarte. “I am grateful to our partners and SOLARCYCLE for their commitment to creating high-quality, long-term job opportunities right here in our community. This expansion is proof of the vibrant future that clean energy and manufacturing can offer Georgia families, and I look forward to seeing its impact across the region.”

SOLARCYCLE’s new recycling facility, located adjacent to the company’s future solar glass manufacturing plant, will recycle up to 10 million solar panels per year. The glass produced will contribute directly to the company’s solar glass manufacturing, supporting a full-circle, sustainable energy production process. As Georgia ranks among the top states for cumulative solar capacity, this expansion underscores the state’s leadership in sustainable energy and innovation.

Residents interested in joining SOLARCYCLE’s growing team can find open positions in manufacturing, engineering and more at www.solarcycle.us/careers.

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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 404.656.9221 or at Jason.anavitarte@senate.ga.gov.

For all media inquiries, please reach out to SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov.

October 30, 2024October 30, 2024

Sen. Russ Goodman Urges USDA Secretary to Extend Indemnity Coverage to Georgia Counties Impacted by Hurricane Helene

ATLANTA (October 30, 2024) —Sen. Russ Goodman (R–Cogdell), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Consumer Affairs, has formally requested that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) re-evaluate its coverage area for the Hurricane Indemnity Program to include several Georgia counties heavily impacted by Hurricane Helene. In a letter sent to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, Sen. Goodman emphasized the urgent need for support for Georgia’s agricultural community, citing an estimated $6.4 billion in total damage to the state’s agricultural industry, with direct crop losses expected to exceed $3 billion.

Several counties—Bulloch, Burke, Candler, Effingham, Evans, Jenkins, Lincoln, Long, Pierce, Richmond, Screven, Tattnall and Wayne—were excluded from the USDA Risk Management Agency’s initial coverage, potentially leaving local farmers without access to vital resources for recovery. Sen. Goodman’s letter, co-signed by several of his legislative colleagues, calls for a thorough analysis of the hurricane’s impact on these areas, leveraging all available data from reliable sources such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and IBTrACS.

“Seeing almost every Senator in our state come together on this issue speaks volumes about the gravity of the situation our farming families are facing,” said Sen. Goodman. “These farmers did their part by investing in Hurricane Indemnity policies. Now, they deserve to see the USDA step up to the plate. The impact of Hurricane Helene is apparent, and our farmers are counting on Secretary Vilsack to act, ensuring they are able to financially recover and rebuild from this devastation. As a legislative body, we’re united in backing our farmers and the belief that they deserve the support they were promised.”

Sen. Goodman’s letter also highlighted challenges due to Hurricane Helene’s impact on the National Center for Environmental Information, emphasizing that these data limitations should not hinder the assessment of damages in affected regions.

You can find a copy of the letter to Secretary Vilsack here.

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Sen. Russ Goodman serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Consumer Affairs. He represents the 8^th Senate District, which includes Atkinson, Clinch, Echols, Lanier, Lowndes and Pierce Counties and a large portion of Ware County. He may be reached at 404.656.7454 or at russ.goodman@senate.ga.gov