U.S. Congressman Graves Visits WGTC Campus

Staff Report From Newnan CEO

Tuesday, August 22nd, 2017

U.S. Congressman Tom Graves, who represents Haralson County in the U.S. House of Representatives, visited West Georgia Technical College’s Thomas B. Murphy Campus in Waco last week, updating a gathered audience on recent legislation and what the 115th U.S. Congress has accomplished since January.

Graves visited the campus during a meet-and-greet event hosted by the Greater Haralson Chamber of Commerce. The congressman spoke on a variety of issues, calling the current iteration of Congress “the most productive in history.”

“One thing I’m glad to do when we are in recess is visit the local communities I represent and update everyone about what has been happening in Washington, D.C.,” Graves said. “I think too often we’re perceived as being so far removed from the communities we serve, and I love getting to meet members of the families I’m working for at events like this when I’m in Georgia.”

Graves spoke before an audience of more than 40 local community members, including several who asked questions during a question-and-answer session.

The congressman spent most of his time speaking on the health care legislation, with a proposed bill failing in the Senate in July.

“Unfortunately, the well-being of American families has become a partisan issue,” Graves said. “I don’t think the Affordable Care Act was ever intended to hurt anyone, but families are suffering and need our help. We’ve put a lot of work into reforming health care, and that work will continue.”

Graves praised the current presidential administration for terminating more than 180 federal programs, repealing more than 800 rules and regulations and creating one million jobs since January.

“It’s been a very interesting year, of course, but I think one thing that’s often overlooked is how much progress is being made in our country,” Graves said. “We are proud to say that there are one million Americans who have a purpose and dignity through work that they didn’t have at the beginning of the year.”

Graves was first elected to public office in 2002, when he won a seat in the Georgia House of Representatives. After serving in the General Assembly for more than seven years, he was sworn in to the U.S. Congress in June 2010, after winning a special election.

In Congress, Graves serves on the House Appropriations Committee, which determines how the U.S. government spends taxpayer dollars. On this committee, Graves serves as chairman of the Financial Services Subcommittee, where he authors the annual bill funding our nation's financial infrastructure, such as the Treasury Department and Small Business Administration.

Graves also serves on the Defense Subcommittee, which funds the national defense, and the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee, which funds the nation's transportation and infrastructure programs, as well as the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Graves lives in Gordon County with his wife, Julie, and children John and Janey. His eldest daughter, JoAnn, is a freshman at Georgia Tech.