July 26 to August 1, 2011
The House of Representatives is out of session for 2011. I hope that you find this update about information around District 81 and at the State House helpful and informative:
Congressional Redistricting: The House of Representatives and the Senate both passed a Congressional redistricting plan in a short session last Tuesday. All of Aiken County is included in the 2nd Congressional District represented currently by Congressman Joe Wilson. The new 7th Congressional District is centered primarily between Florence and Myrtle Beach. The map can be seen here.
Importance of Reading: Last summer and fall, I wrote several columns in this email update about the importance of reading in the effort to end generational poverty. Recently, a report was released finding that one in six children who are not reading proficiently in third grade do not graduate from high school – 4 times the rate of those who can read at grade level in the third grade. This report emphasizes why it is so important for our children to be able to read at grade level by the third grade. To see the report, go here. I appreciate all input that you may have on this important topic.
Legislative Scorecard: SC BIPEC (South Carolina Business and Industry Political Education Committee) released its 2011 legislative scorecard. Fellow Aiken County Republican Representative Bill Taylor and I both scored a 93.44 which was higher than all but 4 other members of the House of Representatives. To see the scorecard, go here.
No Email Update Next Week: I do not plan to send an email update next Monday, August 8. I do plan to send one on Monday, August 15.
SRS Draft Strategic Plan: Three weeks ago, the DOE released the draft 2011 SRS Strategic Plan with further details regarding how DOE will start moving toward and achieving a future vision for SRS. The plan can be seen on the SRS website by accessing the link on the right hand side of this website: www.srs.gov. According to DOE, the plan outlines how current missions support Site operations and identifies high level assumptions and strategic objectives that will drive DOE’s planning as DOE looks to transform SRS for future missions that effectively utilize the site’s physical, technological and human assets. DOE seeks your input and welcomes your comments which may be sent electronically to Richard.Olsen@srs.gov or mailed to his attention at:
Richard Olsen
U.S. Department of Energy
Building 730-B, Room 3468
Aiken, S.C. 29803
Comments will be accepted through the end of August and the final plan released in early fall.
Area Churches Together Serving (ACTS): ACTS in downtown Aiken will celebrate 25 years of service to our community this Thursday, August 4. Thank you to ACTS, its staff, and the many volunteers working to help others in our community. Along these lines, ACTS is currently very low on children’s clothing from size 2T up to size 12. Please remember ACTS if you or anyone you know has gently used clean clothing that can used for other children in our community. The next several weeks will be some of the busiest for clothing requests as parents get ready for school to start soon! The number to ACTS is (803) 649-3800.
Grass Cutting in the SCDOT Right of Way: Grass is growing in right of ways around our district. DOT has hired a contractor to cut the grass. If you are aware of an area where high grass is obstructing vision for drivers as they enter or exit certain roads in our County, please call the SCDOT at 641-7665 or let me know and I will pass on the information.
End of Session Town Meetings: Like the past two years, I plan to hold end of session town meetings around the district. Based on constituent requests, I will hold those after the summer vacation season ends. The dates, times, and locations will be provided in future updates.
Aiken County Animal Shelter & SPCA: You may have read about the overcrowding at the Aiken County Animal Shelter in the paper two weeks ago. You can follow this weblink at http://aikenspca.org/adopt to see a list of adoptable pets at both the Aiken SPCA and the Aiken County Animal Shelter.
Help for Displaced SRS Workers: If you or someone you know lost a job at SRS, there is a One-Stop Transition Center open in downtown Aiken at Park Avenue and Laurens Street to assist workers displaced at SRS with finding new work. The Center is open from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday. For more information, visit www.workforce.psa-inc.com.
Report Waste, Fraud and Abuse in State Government: To report waste, fraud and abuse in state government, you can call: 1-855-SC-FRAUD.
Roll Call Voting: There is a new link available to keep up with all the roll call votes in the S.C. House. That link can be accessed at either my website at www.reptomyoung.com or at the www.scstatehouse.gov website.
Facebook: I have a Facebook page for Representative Tom Young. Please “like” the page to receive updates during the week from me on Facebook.
Tom Young’s Website: My updated website can be reached at www.reptomyoung.com. There are links to a variety of constituent services; the status of sponsored bills; and roll call votes. Please add my web site as a bookmark on your computer.
State House Tours: Tours are available for the S.C. State House by calling (803) 734-2430.
Email Updates: If you know of people in or around District 81 who do not receive my updates but they would like to, please email their names and email addresses to me.
Road Issues: If you see a road problem, call the SCDOT at 641-7665 or Aiken County at 642-1532 to report the problem. If you do not get a prompt response, please let me know at TomYoung@schouse.gov or call me. Generally, most paved roads in the County are maintained by SCDOT and are identified on the road sign poles by a small black and white sign listing the road number, such as S-2-1669. Most unpaved roads in the County are maintained by the County.
Thank you for the opportunity and the honor to represent you. Please let me know if I can help you in any way or if you have questions about these or other issues. Your feedback is meaningful and appreciated.
Sincerely,
Tom Young
649-0000 (o)
215-3631 (cell)
P.S. Please visit www.reptomyoung.com for more posts, news, video updates, and, if you have Twitter, please click here to start following me!
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