Welcome back to Rep. Nikema’s News You Can Use! February was Black History Month, and there is no better place to celebrate the roots of our power, 365 days of the year, than in Georgia's Fifth Congressional District.

Throughout the month, I uplifted Fighting Fifth Black leaders and worked on legislation to honor how far we’ve come and advance the work ahead to fulfill the full promise of America for Black communities and those most marginalized.

On the final day of Black History Month, I voted to pass legislation I co-sponsored, the Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act, to finally designate lynching as a federal hate crime. On March 7, the Senate did the same. After 200+ attempts to pass antilynching legislation and generations of activism, it's now on it's way to be signed into law by President Biden.

Read through February’s Nikema’s News You Can Use to learn all about the action in Congress and work I've been doing back home in the district this past month, and federal resources available for you.

The April 18th deadline to file your taxes is quickly approaching! The earlier you get your taxes filed, the earlier you can receive benefits like the Earned Income Tax Credit - that are now available for families.

Click here to know your filing status and get started.

Click here to use the Free File Tool.

I hosted a Virtual Workshop with the Deputy Director of Case Advocacy, Star Smith, and Tax Payer Advocate, Philip Oyofo from the Tax Payer Advocate Service on the big things Georgians need to know about Tax Season 2022.

Find out if you qualify for the expanded EITC and Child Tax Credit, how to avoid scams, and more by watching my Virtual Workshop below or on my official YouTube page.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has launched the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which is the permanent implementation of the temporary Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB)! The EBB program was created by the American Rescue Plan and now that the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act has been signed into law by President Biden, this discount on monthly internet bills for families is now PERMANENT. I was proud to vote for both these bills, and encourage all Georgians to check their eligibility and sign up!

I invite all 11th and 12th grade Black and African American Students to participate in the CBC Spouses Essay Contest! Submissions are due April 30th. Sign up to submit your essay HERE and learn more about the essay contest HERE.

Submissions are judged by a special committee of CBC Spouses and rewards are as follows:

Winners will participate in a panel discussion on the topic during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference (CBCF-ALC) in September.

In February, the House past this legislation to ends forced arbitration AND retroactively negate pre-existing arbitration contract clauses to protect the rights of workers to share their story and seek justice in court if they experience sexual assault or harassment in the workplace. President Biden Signed the bill into law March 3.

The America COMPETES Act

Legislation to strengthen our supply chain and global economic competitiveness. Two of my amendments passed as part of the bill:

Postal Service Act

The Postal Service delivers our Social Security checks, medication, bills and the basic goods we need to go about our daily lives. The postal Service Act is a vital infusion of funding to address the impact of COVID-19 so that families and businesses can depend on getting what they need, when they need it most.

Global RESPECT Act

Emmett Till Antilynching Bill

Since 1909, there have been over 200+ attempts to pass antilynching legislation. My vote to pass the Emmett Till Antilynching Bill in the House honored the lives lost and generations of Antilynching activism by finally designating lynching as a federal hate crime.

The Negating Neighborhood Noise Act

Noise pollution disrupts the peace of our neighborhoods and disproportionately impacts marginalized communities. The Negating Neighborhood Noise Act will enable Highway Trust Fund dollars to be used for noise barriers in residential areas built before the interstates that now impact them. This common-sense legislation provides a solution to an issue that Georgia Fifth District residents have been trying to remedy in their communities, and I'm proud to lead this legislation in Congress.

PRIDE Act

No matter who you love or how you identify, the promise of America excludes no one. LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs have been excluded from the same financial resources their non-LGBTQ+ counterparts currently receive from federal agencies. That's why I introduced the PRIDE Act to ensure LGBTQ+ small businesses can have equitable access to federal funding so they can start, grow and thrive.

Honoring Black Aviation Trailblazers and former Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson opening doors for Black professionals in the Aviation field as major contributors to making Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport one of the busiest and best airports in the world.

Health care is a human right and striking is a workers right. The Protecting Stiking Workers Act protects striking workers' right to health care, prohibiting employers from cutting off their health insurance as a form of retaliation.

Bans the use of no-knock warrants that have resulted in far too many innocent Black lives being taken at the hands of law enforcement.

You can keep track of how I'm voting here.

My office is always here to help YOU. For help with federal resources or to speak to one of our Constituent Advocates, contact my Atlanta District Office at 404-659-0116. For questions about legislation or to express your opinion, call my Washington D.C. office at 202-225-3801. If you would like to email me or find out all the ways our office can assist you, visit my official website at https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/contact-me.

Recent bomb threats against HBCUs are bringing the need for increased security to light. Colleges in the Atlanta University Center have already received multiple threats this year. We cannot sit idle while our students are terrorized. I sent an inquiry to Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona requesting a whole government task force to prevent and respond to racist threats against HBCUs. You can read the full letter here: bit.ly/HBCULetter.

I welcomed Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves to the district for a Black History Month Roundtable at Clark Atlanta University. Alongside Mayor Andre Dickens and students from across the AUC, we discussed the recently passed America COMPETES Act and strategies to create more employment opportunities in STEM for HBCU students. Together, we must break down barriers to high-paying jobs and diversify the workforce to truly foster Black wealth in our communities.

Money from President Biden’s Infrastructure law is already here in the Fighting Fifth. That means our communities can get to work repairing and improving our transit systems, roads, bridges, and more. Here’s a snapshot of the funds I secured in February:

Small businesses keep our community thriving–and well-fed! Our beloved Busy Bee Cafe recently received the prestigious “America’s Classics” James Beard Award – one of only SIX in the entire country! Since Miss Lucy first opened Busy Bee’s doors in 1947, the Busy Bee Cafe has fed civil rights leaders, hungry marchers, and families.

I stopped by with members of my team to congratulate the Busy Bee Cafe! Of course I couldn’t leave without grabbing my favorite order for lunch: pork chops and double cabbage!

The workers at the Howell Mill Starbucks are bravely organizing to form a union. As a card-carrying union member of Congress, I was proud to show union solidarity with the workers and get a caramel macchiato and a marshmallow dream bar while I was at it! To the Starbucks workers at the Howell Mill store and across the country: keep up the “Good Trouble” and don’t be afraid to use your voice!

Growing up, my family counted on help, so food insecurity is personal for me. I was proud to team up with Atlanta Councilman Julian Bond, Dekalb Commissioner Larry Johnson, and Frontline Ministries to distribute 8,000 meals to Fifth District families in need. We also toured Frontline Ministries’ brand new headquarters where they provide critical social services, including support for survivors of human trafficking.

Elaine Alexander always shows up for people fighting for women’s rights and civil justice. I was proud to present “Granny Elaine” with the first annual Elaine B. Alexander Service Award from Planned Parenthood Southeast. I’ve always been able to count on her support and guidance and her award was a fitting testament to a career of hard work.