WEEKLY REVEREND WRAP: White House Backs Reverend Warnock’s Months-Long Push to Suspend the Federal Gas Tax; Progress On Warnock’s Plan To Cap Insulin Costs

Also This Week, Warnock Condemned Decision Striking Down Roe: ​​”Decision To Overturn Roe V. Wade Ends A Core Protection For Women To Make Their Own Health Care Decisions”

This week, Reverend Warnock secured major wins in his ongoing fight to lower Georgians’ costs and protect military jobs. 

• President Biden heeded Reverend Warnock’s months-long calls to suspend the federal gas tax to provide relief at the pump for hardworking Georgians. 
• In a bipartisan push led by Reverend Warnock, a House of Representatives subcommittee rejected a Biden Administration’s proposed budget cuts that would force the closure of the Savannah Combat Training Readiness Center. 
• And after months of pushing, Warnock’s Affordable Insulin Now Act, which cap insulin prices at $35, was included in a larger bipartisan bill introduced this week. 

This week, Warnock also helped pass bipartisan legislation to protect Georgians and Americans from gun violence.  And on Friday, Warnock expressed his outrage at the Supreme Courts ruling overturning Roe. 

Read more below. 

WHITE HOUSE FINALLY BACKS WARNOCK’S MONTHS-LONGPUSH TO SUSPEND FEDERAL GAS TAX

Reverend Warnock’s call to suspend the federal gas tax gained significant traction this week as President Biden declared his support for a federal gas tax holiday at Warnock’s urging. This comes after months of Warnock’s advocacy calling on Congress and the Biden Administration to take up his legislation to suspend the federal gas tax to provide relief at the pump for Georgia’s hardworking families. 

AJC— Biden backs suspension of federal gas tax, boosting Warnock proposal

• President Joe Biden will advocate for a three-month halt on collecting the 18-cents-a-gallon federal gas tax, lending his support to a plan that U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock and others first proposed in February.

• Under the White House plan, announced early Wednesday morning, Biden is also asking Congress to ensure any suspension of the gas tax will not have a negative effect on the federal Highway Trust Fund.

• “With our deficit already down by a historic $1.6 trillion this year, the President believes that we can afford to suspend the gas tax to help consumers while using other revenues to make the Highway Trust Fund whole for the roughly $10 billion cost,” the statement says.

WTVM Columbus — Senator Warnock reaction to Biden administration gas tax 

• Senator Raphael Warnock of Georgia is reacting to president Joe Biden’s comments yesterday on lowering gas prices across the nation. 

• Senator Warnock says he has pushed the Biden administration on working on a bill for a gas tax suspension. 

• He says he’s pleased the president is finally listening to him and his colleagues on quote,“the urgent importance of taking this step to lower costs for georgians across the state.”’ 

BIPARTISAN VICTORY FOR SAVANNAH READINESS CENTER, LOCAL MILITARY JOBS  

Watch WJCL’s Coverage HERE

After months of bipartisan advocacy by Reverend Warnock to save military jobs and maintain critical funding for the Savannah Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC), a House subcommittee rejected President Biden’s proposed cuts to the center’s funding — saving hundreds of Georgia military jobs in his hometown. 

Watch WJCL’s coverage HERE and read more below.

AJC — U.S. House subcommittee rejects Biden plan to close Savannah military facility

• A U.S. House Appropriations subcommittee said it will not move forward in closing a military facility in Savannah that has been the subject of an intense lobbying effort by Georgia’s congressional delegation.

• The White House recommended closing the one in Savannah, which would reduce the Air National Guard’s 165th Airlift Wing’s presence there by about 5%, or 121 people. The administration said closure would allow the Defense Department to save money by eliminating what was perceived as a redundant operation without any unique capabilities compared with the three others.

• But the president merely makes recommendations. It is up to Congress to pass annual appropriations legislation that determines how the government spends its money. While Carter praised the report, he said he would keep working to ensure nothing changes as the appropriations process continues.

• Warnock already had plans to visit the training center on Friday to speak about a decision he believes is “bad for Savannah and bad for our national security.” Calling the Biden proposal “misguided,” he said he will continue to work to ensure no cuts move forward.

Fox 28 Savannah — Savannah Combat Readiness Facility back on track in potentially staying open

• Savannah’s Air Force Combat Readiness Training Center is back on track to potentially staying open.

• The center was facing a possible closure after the Biden Administration proposed to cut funding for the center.

• Through bipartisan support, the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee rejected Biden’s proposal and was able to secure funding for the center.

• U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), along with Congressman Buddy Carter, (R-GA) worked together on these efforts.
  
• “I’ve been working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to reverse the President’s misguided decision to close the Savannah CRTC because it’s bad for Savannah and bad for our national security,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. “I’m pleased to see that, at my urging, the House Appropriations Committee took an important step to keeping this center open. I look forward to speaking with the Georgia National Guard on the importance of this base to our military’s readiness and reaffirming my commitment to fighting these cuts when I visit the Air Dominance Center and the Savannah CRTC this Friday.”
  
• A full vote from the House Appropriations Committee must take place before advancing to the House and Senate for final passage.

WARNOCK AFFORDABLE INSULIN NOW ACT INCLUDED IN BIPARTISAN BILL

Reverend Warnock’s legislation to lower prescription drug costs, the Affordable Insulin Now Act, was included in a larger bipartisan bill addressing insulin prices. This comes after months of Reverend Warnock calling for action on his bill which will lower prescription drug costs for millions of Georgians.  

WMGT Macon — Sen. Warnock’s insulin cap included in bipartisan bill

• Lawmakers in Congress are working together to make insulin more affordable. One of the law makers is Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock.

• He proposed the Affordable Insulin Now Act in February. It would cap costs for insulin at $35 a month.His bill is now included in a bipartisan bill with Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Susan Collins, who will address the high cost of insulin and lower out of pocket costs.

• Senator Warnock says he’s looking forward to getting the bill passed.“If you need insulin it’s not optional. It’s not something you could decide to skip this week or that week,” he said. “It’s a matter of life and death, and we got to make sure people can get the medication they need.”

• The House of Representatives passed the $35 insulin cap with bipartisan support. The legislation is expected to go to the Senate floor for a vote soon.

FOX 28 Savannah — U.S. Senator Warnock creates bill to cap insulin cost at $35

• U. S. Senator Raphael Warnock is pushing for the Senate to vote and pass a bill that would make insulin no more than $35 for Georgians.
  
• Warnock introduced the Affordable Insulin Now Act in February and says about 12% of Georgians have diabetes.

• Warnock says the bill comes after hearing directly from Georgia residents on the cost of insulin and that people should not have to pay high cost to get the medicine they need.

• “Everybody knows somebody with diabetes. I’ve seen this up close as a pastor. I’ve also seen the impact of the evolution of this disease and when diabetes is untreated,” he said. “I’ve been there when people have gotten the sad news that they’ve got to get an amputation or kidney failure related to this disease and they now have to go on dialysis. Most blindness is caused by diabetes. So, we have to do everything we can to manage the care around this disease.”

• The act gained bipartisan support and has already passed in the House.

• “There is now strong momentum to break through the partisan gridlock in Washington and finally make some progress on this issue, so I’m going to keep pushing even harder for Senate leaders to prioritize taking action on the Senate floor to pass our insulin legislation. Georgians shouldn’t have to wait any longer for us to get this done,” said Warnock.

WARNOCK CONDEMNS SUPREME COURT DECISION OVERTURNING ROE 

On Friday, following the release of the Supreme Court’s ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, Reverend Warnock expressed his outrage at the devastating decision stripping women of their freedom to make health care decisions.

Watch WTOC’s Coverage HERE

The Brunswick News — ROE V. WADE: State, federal politicians weight in on overturn on landmark decision

• Candidates for federal office and their opponents wasted little time letting voters know what they think of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade today.

• The high court voted to pass responsibility for abortion to the states, many of which have passed restrictive laws against it. Georgia is one of them.

• U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., says it is none of the government’s business what a woman does with her body.

• “I’ve always believed a patient’s room is too small a space for a woman, her doctor and the United States government,” Warnock said. “The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade ends a core protection for women to make their own health care decisions, and is a departure from our American ideals to recognize and protect basic rights.

• “This misguided decision is devastating for women and families in Georgia and nationwide.”

WARNOCK SCHEDULES THREE DEBATES

This week Reverend Warnock accepted three invitations for general election debates. This comes after Warnock committed to three debates with Walker last month. The debates Warnock has agreed to will take place in Atlanta, Savannah, and Macon. Walker hasn’t officially agreed to any debates with Warnock despite his request for a general election debate, saying he would debate Reverend Warnock “any day of the week.”

Watch WJCL’s coverage HERE. 

WARNOCK BACKSBIPARTISAN GUN LAW

After senseless shootings in Buffalo and Uvalde, this week Senator Warnock helped pass bipartisan legislation to keep Georgians safe from gun violence. This legislation is the first major action taken by the Senate on gun violence in over 20 years. 

WSB — Georgia Senator says he’s hopeful gun safety measure will pass through U.S. Senate

• The U.S. Senate voted 65 to 33 to pass the bipartisan gun control bill in an initial vote Thursday evening.

• This legislation is considered to be the most comprehensive gun safety measure this country has seen in decades.

• Georgia U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock told Channel 2′s Justin Wilfon he is hopeful the bill will fully pass within the next week.

• Now, Warnock believes lawmakers might finally agree on how to prevent some of them.

• “I think we’re seeing movement in that direction. And I’m hoping we will get this done, very soon,” he said.

• The bill includes more money for red flag programs, school security, mental health programs and more comprehensive background checks for people ages 18-21 who want to buy guns.

• “Listen, we witnessed 19 babies slaughtered in their school. If we can’t act to protect our children, then we have failed,” Warnock said.

WARNOCK CELEBRATES JUNETEENTH

Last weekend, Reverend Warnock Marched in the 3rd Annual Juneteenth Celebration Parade hosted by the Atlanta NAACP and the City of East Point. Reverend Warnock spoke at the end of the celebration and highlighted the significance of commemorating Juneteenth — the day when slavery in America truly ended. 

Read more about Warnock’s Juneteenth celebration below.

The Atlanta Voice — Senators Ossoff and Warnock celebrate Junteenth in East Point

• U.S. Senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock were joined by U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams and a host of State legislators as they marched in the East Point Juneteenth parade Saturday morning.

• Warnock delivered the keynote speech in which he called for the patrons to exercise their right to vote in the upcoming primary runoff elections and in the November midterms.

• “And so Juneteenth reminds us that democracy is not a noun. It is a verb and freedom is our ongoing project,” Warnock said. “And it is our obligation and our responsibility to keep fighting for that freedom. E Pluribus Unum: out of many one. That is the covenant we have with one another as an American people the realization of that covenant only happens when all of us have a voice.”

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