by: – CCDC Volunteer
(click on the blue highlighted text to read the original press release)
This week Senator Ossoff fought for us by:
1) WATCH: Sen. Ossoff Presses Trump Administration on Infant Formula Safety
May 23, 2025 Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff pressed the FDA Commissioner after the Trump Administration fired scientists responsible for infant formula safety.
In a U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration hearing yesterday, Sen. Ossoff pressed Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Martin Makary on the safety of infant formula, including the reported firings of scientists within the agency who work to prevent infant formula contamination.
The Trump Administration has reportedly fired scientists within FDA’s food safety labs, despite Commissioner Makary’s claims that none had been let go.
Last month, The New York Times reported that the agency did in fact fire “a few dozen scientists at the Food and Drug Administration’s food-safety labs” and were working to rehire them.
Despite this reporting, when asked by Sen. Ossoff, Commissioner Makary again refuted the claims that scientists had been fired.
Last month, Consumer Reports published an investigation that found traces of toxic chemicals in some infant formula. The nonprofit research and advocacy organization concluded that of the 41 types of powdered formula that its researchers tested for a number of toxic chemicals, about half of the samples contained “potentially harmful levels” of at least one contaminant.
Click here to watch Sen. Ossoff’s line of questioning
2) WATCH: Sen. Ossoff Urges Trump Administration to Support Blue Bird Manufacturing in Middle Georgia
May 21, 2025: Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff today pressed the Trump Administration’s Energy Secretary to support Blue Bird’s manufacturing expansion in Fort Valley, Georgia.
In a U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development hearing today, Sen. Ossoff pressed Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Chris Wright to continue supporting Blue Bird’s manufacturing work in Middle Georgia. The Trump Administration has canceled or delayed grants nationwide.
In 2023, Sen. Ossoff, alongside Senator Reverend Warnock and Congressman Sanford Bishop (GA-02), helped deliver a historic $80 million Federal grant to Blue Bird to expand its manufacturing facilities and to help build electric school buses.
“There is growing demand from local school districts for electric school buses for all kinds of good reasons, and the Blue Bird Corporation wants to get in on this and be able to meet that market demand. They’ve invested $80 million of private capital to retool an aging manufacturing facility — to produce those electric school buses. That was met, matched by an $80 million Federal grant from the Department of Energy,” Sen. Ossoff said to Energy Secretary Wright. “What I want to convey to you is how important this is to Middle Georgia. This is is one of the most storied and successful companies in Georgia history.”
When Blue Bird won the Federal grant, the Peach County Industrial Development Authority announced it as “an awesome WIN for our community.” Fort Valley Mayor Jeffrey Lundy said, “it’s a celebration day. … not only will [Fort Valley] be a place for people to come but will be affording more opportunities for them to have sit-down restaurants, have more entertainment, things of that nature.”
Former Fort Valley Councilman and former Blue Bird employee Alonzo Allen said, “normally when Blue Bird grows, the city of Fort Valley grows and that’s the way it always has worked. When Blue Bird goes down, the city goes down.”
Click here to watch Sen. Ossoff’s line of questioning.
May 21, 2025: Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff released the following statement.
“The White House must take immediate action to reopen these beautiful parks at Lake Lanier for Georgia families. This is a direct and predictable result of the Administration’s reckless and chaotic mismanagement.”
May 21, 2025: Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff today pressed President Trump’s Interior Secretary to reverse the closure of a Georgia water quality office.
Today, Sen. Ossoff pressed Interior Secretary Doug Burgum for answers about Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) reported decision to terminate the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Water Science Center’s lease in Norcross, Georgia.
This facility tests water quality to help ensure the safety of Georgians’ drinking water and maintains water gages that are used by local officials across the State to ensure enough water is provided to millions of Georgians every day.
“The staff at this office test water quality to ensure that Georgians don’t drink contaminated water. Senator Warnock and I have asked you not to close this office,” Sen. Ossoff said to Secretary Burgum. “No justification for such closure was offered. There’s significant public concern in Georgia about the potential impact on water quality.”
Last month, Sens. Ossoff and Reverend Raphael Warnock urged Secretary Burgum to clarify impacts on water quality and supply following DOGE’s apparent decision, but Secretary Burgum did not respond.
Click here to watch Sen. Ossoff’s line of questioning.
May 21, 2025: Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff today pressed against any sale of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, securing a commitment from the Interior Secretary.
In a U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies hearing today, Sen. Ossoff secured a commitment from Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to not pursue any sale of any part of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge.
Sen. Ossoff’s question to Secretary Burgum comes after House Republicans recently approved an amendment to sell thousands of acres of public lands in the West.
“I know there’s been some public discussion about sale of public lands. Can you give an unequivocal guarantee that you will not pursue any sale of any part of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge?” Sen. Ossoff asked Secretary Burgum, to which he said “Yes.”
Last fall, the Interior Department announced that the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge will be nominated to join the UNESCO World Heritage List — a prestigious honor that has widespread bipartisan support in Georgia and for which Sen. Ossoff has advocated for years.
Sen. Ossoff also asked Secretary Burgum to continue the Interior Department’s support for this designation.
Former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue, who served as Secretary of Agriculture during the last Trump Administration, has backed the Okefenokee’s bid, as have other local leaders across the State.
Click here to watch Sen. Ossoff’s line of questioning.
May 20, 2025: Washington, D.C. — In a solemn speech on the Senate Floor today, U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff demanded the release of Evyatar David and all the remaining hostages held in Gaza by Hamas.
Recently, Sen. Ossoff, alongside several synagogues and Jewish organizations across Atlanta, “adopted” Evyatar’s case to spread the word and advocate for his immediate release. Evyatar David was taken hostage by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023, while attending the Nova Music Festival.
Click here to watch Sen. Ossoff’s floor remarks.
7) Sen. Ossoff Presses Trump Administration to Investigate Racist Texts Targeting Georgians
May 20, 2025: Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is pressing the Trump Administration to investigate a campaign of racist texts targeting Georgia children.
Today, Sen. Ossoff is again pushing the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to fully investigate racist, threatening text messages targeting Black, Hispanic, and LGBTQ Georgians.
Sen. Ossoff previously pressed the Biden Administration to investigate the threatening texts.
Since Sen. Ossoff launched his inquiry, a February report by NPR revealed that the texts originated from between 15 and 20 different phone numbers, which flooded free mass text services with vitriolic missives, directly targeting vulnerable high school and college students.
“I write to follow up on my previous December 2024 request that the Department of Justice fully investigate the racist mass text campaign that targeted Black, Hispanic, and LGBTQ Georgians, including children, in November 2024,” Sen. Ossoff wrote to Attorney General Bondi and FBI Director Patel. “According to subsequent reporting, the texts may have been the result of a coordinated, sophisticated attack. In light of that reporting, I ask that you redouble your investigatory efforts to identify the perpetrators of this hateful campaign and hold them accountable.”
According to FOX5 Atlanta, some messages suggested Black recipients had been “selected to pick cotton” and warned of consequences if they didn’t comply. Victims, including a 14-year-old girl, and their families were left scared and in shock, prompting them to contact authorities.
Sen. Ossoff continues working to support victims of discrimination.
Earlier this month, Sen. Ossoff launched a push to pass the bipartisan Stopping Political Discrimination in Disaster Assistance Act to prohibit in Federal law any political discrimination when Federal agencies provide disaster assistance after a natural disaster.
This month, Sens. Ossoff and Ted Cruz (R-TX) introduced the bipartisan Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Reauthorization Act to help secure justice for civil rights cold case victims and their families.
In February, a controversial program targeting Black travelers at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport was stopped after an inquiry from Sen. Ossoff.
Click here to read Sen. Ossoff’s inquiry.
8) Sen. Ossoff Working Across the Aisle to Support Georgia Small Businesses
May 16, 2025: Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is working across the aisle to help Georgia small business compete for Federal contracts.
Sen. Ossoff is cosponsoring bipartisan legislation to support Georgia’s small businesses. The Simplifying Subcontracting Act would simplify the process for small businesses to win Federal contracts.
The bipartisan bill was first introduced by Senators James Risch (R-ID) and John Hickenlooper (D-CO).
“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and they deserve a fair shot at Federal contracts,” said Sen. Ossoff. “Our bipartisan bill will cut through red tape by ensuring that subcontracting solicitations are written in clear, accessible language—making it easier for Georgia small businesses to compete, grow, and create jobs in their communities.”
Sen. Ossoff continues working to support Georgia small businesses.
In 2024, Sen. Ossoff passed into law the bipartisan Investing in VETS Act to help service-disabled veteran business owners compete for Federal government contracts, helping expand their business opportunities to new markets.
Last December, Sen. Ossoff introduced the Small Business Contracting Fairness Act to help level the playing field for women- and minority-owned transportation small businesses and help them compete for funding opportunities through the bipartisan infrastructure law.
Click here to read the Simplifying Subcontracting Act.
9) Sen. Ossoff Fights Bureaucratic Delays That Could Bankrupt Georgia Family Farms
May 15, 2025: Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is fighting bureaucratic delays that could put Georgia family farms at risk of bankruptcy.
Sen. Ossoff and his colleagues are pressing the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for more information about reporting that certain farm loans and loan guarantees must be cleared through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which could cause delays in critical funds for family farms across Georgia at a time when farmers continue facing economic challenges.
“We write to express concern about a reported memorandum from the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to require certain farm loans and loan guarantees to be cleared through Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) employees,” Sen. Ossoff and the group wrote to Secretary Rollins.
“In addition to raising privacy questions, this change could create delays in FSA loans for qualified borrowers,” the group continued. “At a time when financial uncertainty is rising for America’s families and farmers, creating more red tape for customers who often have no other options for credit could prevent farmers from getting crops in the ground, animals fed, or cause a beginning farmer to miss out on the purchase of their first parcel of land.”
Sen. Ossoff continues to fight for Georgia farmers.
This month, Sen. Ossoff called on USDA Secretary Rollins to expedite relief to Georgia farmers impacted by Hurricane Helene.
Sen. Ossoff has repeatedly urged the Trump Administration to swiftly distribute Federal economic assistance secured by Congress for Georgia farmers, including testifying before the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations on the urgent need to support Georgia agriculture after the devastating impacts of Hurricane Helene.
Last August, Sen. Ossoff introduced the Protecting Our Produce Act to boost resources and support for Georgia specialty crop growers facing unfairly priced imports.
Click here to read the full letter.
10) WATCH: Sen. Ossoff Presses EPA Administrator on Cancellation of Health Clinic for Thomasville, GA
May 14, 2025: Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff pressed the Trump Administration’s EPA Administrator on the cancellation of a health clinic for Thomasville, Georgia.
Today, in a U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies hearing, Sen. Ossoff pressed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin on why the Trump Administration canceled a Federal grant for the City of Thomasville to open a new health clinic and upgrade wastewater infrastructure.
According to local officials, the grant would have helped open a new health clinic near childcare centers in a community that struggles with air pollution.
Thomasville Mayor Todd Mobley told Sen. Ossoff’s office the award represented a “transformative opportunity to make vital health and safety improvements.” Earl Williams, who leads the Thomasville Community Development Corporation, called the grant a “game changer.”
After the grant was canceled, Williams told WTXL Tallahassee, “We all worked so hard for this, and we won. And then, all of a sudden, one day, it’s gone. And it was just a great sense of disappointment. It was almost like I lost a good friend.”
“Oftentimes, these rural communities don’t get the love and attention of the Federal government. They can be forgotten. In Georgia, big cities tend to get a lot of the Federal support. So there was great news for the good people of Thomasville last year when they won an EPA grant to help build a new health clinic, rehabbing the gym and the school to build a new Federally qualified health center near three daycare centers, as well as to upgrade wastewater infrastructure,” Sen. Ossoff said in the hearing. “But Administrator, you canceled the grant, and I’d like to know why.”
Click here to watch Sen. Ossoff’s line of questioning.
