Georgia

March 11, 2009 -- ATLANTA – Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue announced today the launch of the state’s stimulus accountability website, www.stimulusaccountability.ga.gov. The website provides details on the state’s use of funds made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

“The accountability website will allow all Georgians to hold their state government responsible for how we spend their tax dollars,” said Governor Perdue. “I want to be able to point to concrete results when my grandchildren ask me how we spent stimulus money.”    » read more »

March 10, 2009 -- DOUGLAS, Ga. -- Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue today announced that environmentally-friendly construction product maker GreenTech Manufacturing plans to locate a new facility in Douglas. The company will create 320 jobs and invest more than $20 million in a manufacturing and distribution facility.

“In Georgia, we work hard to support innovative companies such as GreenTech Manufacturing,” said Governor Perdue. “As the world focuses on green technologies and cleaner manufacturing processes, GreenTech Manufacturing is a perfect fit for our state.”    » read more »

February 19, 2009 -- ATLANTA – Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue, Lt. Governor Casey Cagle and Speaker of the House Glenn Richardson today announced the Transforming Transportation Investment Act, legislation that will dramatically improve the way transportation projects are planned, constructed and maintained in Georgia.

“Georgians deserve a transportation network that functions as a whole – not 13 gerrymandered parts,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “We need to abandon the scattered approach that spreads resources too thin, and instead focus investment on projects that actually move the needle on congestion, job creation and take full advantage of the investments we have made in our ports, rail lines and airports.”    » read more »

February 18, 2009 -- ATLANTA – Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue announced today that House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Rep. Larry O’Neal has introduced a legislative package that will position Georgia as a more aggressive competitor for economic development projects that grow jobs and investment in the state. The proposed changes to the “Business Expansion Support” Act (BEST) legislation in House Bill 438 and House Bill 439 would enhance and update existing tax credit programs for qualified businesses, including both new and existing companies.    » read more »

February 12, 2009 -- ATLANTA – Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue announced today the completion of an update to the State Energy Strategy for Georgia (Strategy). Published by the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority (GEFA), the 2009 State Energy Strategy Update includes a profile of Georgia’s energy consumption by sector, an implementation summary of the original Strategy’s recommendations, and an updated list of next steps to secure Georgia’s energy future.    » read more »

February 3, 2009 -- ATLANTA – Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue announced that five pieces of legislation were introduced today to improve education in Georgia.

“Even in challenging economic times, we can continue to improve education in Georgia,” said Governor Perdue. “The proposals we introduced today will pay dividends for years to come as more students prepare for the opportunities of the future.”    » read more »

January 28, 2009 -- ATLANTA – Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue announced today that Rep. Jimmy Pruett, one of the Governor’s floor leaders in the House, has introduced the Governor’s “Access to Flu Vaccines Act” legislation, HB 217, to the General Assembly. The legislation improves Georgians’ ability to receive a flu shot.

“Wide distribution of flu vaccinations is an important component of public health,” said Governor Perdue. “Receiving a vaccination reduces the likelihood of a recipient becoming infected with influenza, and is especially important to vulnerable populations like children and the elderly. The legislation we introduced today will make it easier for Georgians to receive their yearly flu shot.”    » read more »

January 23, 2009 -- ATLANTA – Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue today announced $1.6 million in federally-funded grants to four Georgia regions working toward earning Work Ready Region status. These regions bring together their assets and leaders to create regional talent pools targeting existing strategic industries and to increase economic development opportunities.

“By aligning our assets and working collaboratively to attract and grow jobs in our state’s strategic industries, Georgia Work Ready Regions are making our state a more attractive destination for companies,” said Governor Perdue. “This effort is reaping great rewards and I am happy to be able to add the four new regions.”    » read more »

January 22, 2009 -- SAVANNAH — Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue announced today the opening of the Chatham Intermodal Container Transfer Facility (ICTF) at the Georgia Ports Authority’s Garden City Terminal. The new facility features three working tracks at 2,145 ft. each and a total of 12,406 ft. of storage tracks. The Port of Savannah is the only single facility on the U.S. East Coast with two on-terminal ICTFs. Today, Governor Perdue drove the ceremonial last spike into the Chatham ICTF rail.

“A thriving business climate requires a transportation network that can support commerce and act as a catalyst to propel our economy forward,” said Governor Perdue. “The completion of the Chatham ICTF will help achieve this goal.”    » read more »

September 01, 2008 -- Chicago, IL - "I welcome the results of today's emergency summit of European Union leaders in Brussels. The EU made clear, as I have repeatedly insisted, that Georgia's territorial integrity must be respected, that Russia's recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states must be rejected, that the six-point peace plan of August 12 must be implemented in its entirety, and that Georgia must be given substantial humanitarian and economic assistance.    » read more »

August 26, 2008 -- Chicago, IL -- "I condemn Russia's decision to recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states and call upon all countries of the world not to accord any legitimacy to this action.

"The United States should call for a meeting of the United Nations Security Council to condemn Russia's decision in coordination with our European allies. The U.S. should lead within the UN and other international forums to cast a clear and unrelenting light on the decision, and to further isolate Russia internationally because of its actions. The OSCE must also send a serious monitoring group to Georgia.    » read more »

August 26, 2008 -- The United States condemns the decision by the Russian President to recognize as independent states the Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. This decision is inconsistent with numerous United Nations Security Council Resolutions that Russia has voted for in the past, and is also inconsistent with the French-brokered six-point ceasefire agreement which President Medvedev signed on August 12, 2008.*

The six-point agreement offered a peaceful way forward to resolve the conflict. We expect Russia to live up to its international commitments, reconsider this irresponsible decision, and follow the approach set out in the six-point agreement.    » read more »

United Nations -- 27 August 2008 -- Russia's U.N. envoy has defended his government's decision to recognize two breakaway Georgian provinces, saying Tblisi's attack on South Ossetia earlier this month canceled existing U.N. resolutions that assure Georgia's territorial integrity and created a "new reality".

Reading a statement from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said his government has recognized the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia in the face of an "aggressive, chauvinistic policy pursued by Tblisi."

He said Russia showed great patience in waiting this long to recognize the two breakaway regions and its decision to do so was unanimous in the Russian parliament.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, Aug. 26, 2008 – President Bush condemned what he called Russia’s “irresponsible decision” today to recognize the Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states.

“Russia's action only exacerbates tensions and complicates diplomatic negotiations,” Bush, in Crawford, Texas, said in a statement.

The president’s response comes after a reported announcement by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev that Moscow intends to formally recognize the two breakaway provinces in Georgia, where Russia continues to maintain troops in defiance of a cease-fire agreement and mounting international pressure to withdrawal.    » read more »

Aug 26, 2008 -- GORI, Georgia — Members of European Command's Joint Assessment team, accompanied by officials from the government of the Republic of Georgia, toured the embattled city of Gori to assess the level of damage, the status of relief efforts, and the return of displaced persons Aug. 25, 2008.

EUCOM Assessment Team Visits Gori For First Time Since Russian Invasion: TIBILSI, Georgia — U.S. service members from the 21st Theater Sustainment Command arrive on the flightline here, Aug. 18, 2008. (Department of Defense photo by Air Force Staff Sgt. Ricky A. Bloom)    » read more »