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GAFP Honors Sen. Blake Tillery with Healthcare “Champion” Award

ATLANTA, GA (August 16, 2024) —The Georgia Academy of Family Physicians (GAFP) has awarded Georgia Sen. Blake Tillery (R–Vidalia) with its Family Medicine Legislative Champion of the Year Award, recognizing his significant contributions towards improving healthcare access and outcomes in the state of Georgia. 

GAFP highlighted his efforts to tailor provider payments for access and support for primary care as a vital step toward enhancing health care across the state. “Sen. Tillery, through unwavering dedication and pivotal legislative contributions, has emerged as a steadfast advocate for the health care needs of Georgians,” says Georgia Academy of Family Physicians Chapter President Dr. Samuel L. “Le” Church. “His leadership showcases a profound commitment to not only advancing the health care landscape in Georgia but ensuring our patients have access to the comprehensive care they deserve.”

“I’m deeply honored to receive the Family Medicine Legislative Champion of the Year Award from the Georgia Academy of Family Physicians. Ensuring that all Georgians, regardless of zip code, have access to quality healthcare is a significant force behind my legislative and budgetary efforts,” shared Sen. Tillery. “This recognition is not just a reflection of our work but a reminder of the ongoing need to support our primary care providers and enhance healthcare access and promote preventative care across our state.”

Sen. Tillery was elected to represent Georgia’s 19th district in 2016, and in the last legislative session, served as the chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, vice chair of the Government Oversight Committee, vice chair of the State Institutions and Property Committee, and secretary of the Senate Retirement Committee. He also was a member of the Finance Committee. He has sponsored several healthcare laws during his tenure, including the ‘Patients First Act.’

He earned his bachelor’s degree in international affairs from the University of Georgia and his Juris Doctor at the University of Georgia School of Law in 2010. He is the managing partner at Smith and Tillery, P.C., and previously co-chaired the Leadership Toombs-Montgomery program. Tillery has also served as Chairman of the Toombs County Commission, the Heart of Georgia Workforce Investment Board, and the Toombs County Boys and Girls Club Board.

Founded in 1947, GAFP is a chapter of the American Academy of Family Physicians. Its mission is to promote Georgians’ health by advancing the family medicine specialty through education, advocacy, and service to family physicians. With more than 3,200 members—including family physicians, residents, and medical students—GAFP supports those who aspire to achieve and deliver excellence. Go to www.gafp.org or call 404.321.7445 for more information.

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Sen. Blake Tillery serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations. He represents the 19th Senate District, which includes Appling, Bacon, Jeff Davis, Long, Montgomery, Telfair, Toombs, Wayne, and Wheeler counties and a portion of Coffee County. He can be reached by email at blake.tillery@senate.ga.gov.

For all media inquiries, please email SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov.

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Senate Study Committee on Access to Affordable Childcare to Hold First Meeting

ATLANTA (August 26, 2024) — On Wednesday, August 28,2024, at 10:00 a.m., the Senate Study Committee on Access to Affordable Childcare, chaired by Sen. Brian Strickland (R–McDonough), will hold its first hearing.

EVENT DETAILS:                      

  • Date: Wednesday, August 28, 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:         

Members are tasked with recommending measures to increase access to affordable child care in Georgia. This committee was created pursuant to Senate Resolution 471 during the 2024 Legislative Session.

MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES:

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

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Sen. Brian Strickland serves as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary. He represents the 17th Senate District, which includes all of Morgan and portions of Henry, Newton and Walton County. Sen. Strickland may be reached by phone at 404.463.6598 or by email at Brian.Strickland@senate.ga.gov.

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Joint Agriculture Chairmen’s Ag Issues Summit to be Held in Perry

ATLANTA (August 26, 2024) — On Tuesday, August 27th,2024, at 9:30 a.m., the Senate and House Agricultural Issues Summit will take place at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter.

EVENT DETAILS:                      

  • Date: Tuesday, August 27, 2024
  • Time: 9:30 a.m.
  • Location: 

Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter

Miller Murphy Howard Building

401 Larry Walker Pkwy

Perry, Georgia 31069

West Gate Parking

  • This event is open to the public.

ABOUT THE MEETING:         

This annual event is a critical gathering for discussing key issues in the agricultural sector and will feature insights from various industry leaders. An agenda for this meeting is attached. The summit will be led by the Chairmen of the House and Senate Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committees, Sen. Russ Goodman (R–Cogdell) and Rep. Robert Dickey (R–Musella).

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. Russ Goodman serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Consumer Affairs. He represents Senate District 8 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

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Senators John Albers and Randy Robertson to Hold Press Conference on Findings of Senate Fulton County Jail Subcommittee

ATLANTA (August 20, 2024) — On Friday, August 23rd,2024, at 8:00 a.m., Senate Committee on Public Safety Chairman Sen. John Albers (R–Roswell) and Majority Whip Randy Robertson (R–Cataula) will hold a press conference to release the final report of the Senate Subcommittee on the Fulton County Jail to the public.

EVENT DETAILS:                      

  • Date: Friday, August 23, 2024
  • Time: 8:00 a.m.
  • Location: Senate Press Conference Room, 203 Coverdell Legislative Office Building, 18 Capitol Square SW, Atlanta, GA 30334

ABOUT THE MEETING:         

The subcommittee, chaired by Sen. Robertson, investigated the current challenges and incidents plaguing Fulton County’s jail system. During this press conference, Senators Albers and Robertson will discuss the subcommittee’s final report.

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.

Sen. Randy Robertson serves as Majority Whip of the Senate Majority Caucus. He represents Senate District 29, which includes Harris, Meriwether, and Troup Counties and a portion of Muscogee County. He can be reached at 404.656.0045 or at randy.robertson@senate.ga.gov

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President Pro Tempore John F. Kennedy – Interim Committee Work

ATLANTA (August 19, 2024) — As summer transitions into fall, the Georgia Senate continues its critical work on issues that will shape the future of our state. On Tuesday, August 13, I had the privilege of chairing the first Senate Advancing Forest Innovation in Georgia Study Committee meeting—dedicated to exploring how Georgia can continue to stand at the forefront of the nation’s forestry sector.

At our first meeting at the Georgia Forestry Association Headquarters, we laid the groundwork for the important work ahead. Our committee is dedicated to addressing the pressing issues facing Georgia forestry, especially the shrinking markets for forestry products. Many families in our state rely on forestry and forestland investments, not just for their daily lives but also to achieve their dreams—whether it’s owning a home, educating their children, securing a comfortable retirement or maintaining a good standard of living. The challenges we face impact landowners, businesses and communities throughout Georgia and we must work together to find solutions.

At the heart of our discussions was the need to innovate and adapt in the face of these challenges. Georgia’s forestry industry has long been a cornerstone of our economy, and our committee is committed to ensuring that it remains so by exploring new technologies, sustainable practices and emerging markets. We’re not just aiming to hold our ground, but to grow and lead in new directions that will keep Georgia at the forefront of the industry on a global scale.

Our speakers emphasized the importance of advocating for our state’s 22 million acres of working forests and the need to protect the private property rights of forest landowners. Their perspective highlighted the industry’s significant role in our state’s economy and the importance of creating a favorable business environment for its producers. These foundational presentations gave us a comprehensive understanding of the current state of Georgia’s forestry sector, helping to identify the strengths that have made us a national leader and the obstacles that could hinder future progress.

The work of this committee is about more than just economic growth; it’s about ensuring the future viability of an industry that supports countless families and communities across Georgia. As we look ahead, the potential for Georgia to shape the future of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is particularly exciting. With global demand for SAF on the rise, Georgia’s vast forest resources present a unique opportunity to pioneer advancements in this field. By harnessing innovative approaches from around the world—like those I witnessed firsthand at a groundbreaking SAF conversion plant in Bordeaux, France—we have the chance to create solutions that fuel our economy and set a new standard for environmental responsibility.

A key aspect of our discussions included learning about the environmental benefits of working forests. These forests contribute to our economy and play a crucial role in maintaining environmental health by sequestering carbon, supporting biodiversity and preserving water quality. Understanding these benefits will be central to our efforts to promote sustainable practices within the industry.

This committee will delve deeper into these issues throughout the coming months, hearing from various experts, industry leaders and community stakeholders. The recommendations emerging from our discussions are intended to guide the state in leveraging its vast forest resources in economically beneficial and environmentally responsible ways. I’m honored to lead this committee and look forward to the progress we will make together. Thank you for your continued support and trust as we work to secure a vibrant and sustainable future for Georgia’s forestry industry.

You can find more information about the committee’s work and upcoming meetings here.

*Attached is a photo for your use.*

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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, as well as portions of Bibb and Houston County. He may be reached at 404.656.6578 or by email at john.kennedy@senate.ga.gov.

Please direct all media inquiries to SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov.