If you’re like me, you’re probably walking away from May asking, “When will enough be too much?”

In less than three weeks we’ve witnessed Black grocery shoppers killed in a white supremacist attack in Buffalo, New York, Taiwanese churchgoers gunned down in Laguna Woods, California, innocent elementary school students gunned down in their classrooms in Uvalde, Texas, and health care professionals shot and killed at a hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma. And those were just the stories that rocked the national headlines. We couldn’t even process one heartbreaking moment before the next one shook us.

As a member of Congress, I’m channeling that frustration into the fight to end gun violence and domestic terrorism. This month I voted with the House to pass the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act, which would set up offices within the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice and FBI specifically focused on domestic violent extremism. I was disheartened to see Senate Republicans block this legislation, but I remain resolved to fight for concrete action to keep all of our communities safe.

And through it all, we did have some reasons to celebrate this month. I joined the inaugural gala for the John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation. Especially now, we must build on the legacy set by Congressman Lewis to make #GoodTrouble for the change we wish to see. And speaking of good trouble, the gala launched the ‘good trouble’ talk series with a conversation featuring activist Charlayne Hunter-Gault and rapper & actor Common.

I also had the honor of returning to my alma mater, Talladega College, to share a few words of wisdom with the 2022 graduating class. Y’all, I am a third-generation HBCU graduate and will always fight to ensure our HBCUs can continue serving students for generations to come. On that note, I also joined a letter led by HBCU caucus chair Rep. Alma Adams that called on funding for HBCUs to be included in the final America COMPETES Act legislation.

Later in the month, I spoke to the rising 9th graders from both The RISE Schools and John Lewis Invictus Academy. Spending a little time with young scholars reminded me why all the work back in Washington matters.

My message to all the graduates was the same: live out loud and on purpose and find a way to change the world. As my friend and predecessor Congressman John Lewis taught us, age is nothing but a number–you’re never too young or too old to get into good trouble.

As always, if my office can ever be of assistance to you, please give us a call in the district at (404) 659-0116, or you can reach my team in Washington D.C. at (202) 225-3801

Yours in Service,

Congresswoman Nikema Williams

Georgia's Fifth District

The unprecedented infant formula shortage is hurting families everywhere.

HHS has compiled resources that may be able to assist families searching for formula. ➡️

Hurricane season starts June 1 and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts we will have an above-normal season in 2022.

Follow the National Hurricane Center for all the up-to-date information on storms that may come our way.

After any hurricane or natural disaster, scam artists will come out of the weeds. Beware of any disaster-related scams after storms and visit FEMA’s page for more information on reporting fraud.

The FDA approved Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 5-11 years. Find vaccines for your little ones at vaccines.gov. While there, you can also find out how to get a flu vaccine–no matter your age. Even if you’ve been vaccinated, boosted, and (if necessary) double boosted, you can still be at risk. The CDC has the latest COVID-19 data from across the country and every home in the U.S. is eligible to order a third round of at-home COVID-19 tests.

I’m working with my Congressional colleagues along with the Biden-Harris administration to improve families’ access to infant formula. This month, we passed two measures that will help ensure every baby has the nutrition they need and prevent this crisis from potentially happening again.

We passed an emergency supplemental funding bill that provides the US Food and Drug Administration urgently needed resources to increase the number of inspection staff, assist personnel working on formula issues, and more. We also passed the Access to Baby Formula Act to provide flexibility so that low-income families can continue purchasing safe infant formula with their WIC benefits during an emergency like a supply chain disruption.

I’m a mom, and I couldn’t imagine how terrifying it would be if I couldn’t find food for my Carter cakes. The two bills above are just a start. We must keep working so that every family can feed their children safely.

Standing Against the Criminalization of Essential Health Care

The draft Supreme Court opinion leaked in May painted a chilling picture of a post-Roe V. Wade country. In my decade of working for Planned Parenthood, I heard from countless patients–primarily women of color–who made tremendous sacrifices to get the abortions they needed. If Roe v. Wade is overturned, reproductive healthcare that was already difficult to obtain will simply be out of reach for millions.

That’s why I’m leading 122 of my colleagues in introducing a resolution opposing the criminalization of the full range of sexual and reproductive healthcare including abortion, gender-affirming care, and contraceptive care. The resolution also disapproves of the criminalization of pregnancy outcomes.

Criminalizing people who need or who provide reproductive health care won’t save lives. 68% of the American people do not want Roe v. Wade overturned and we must respect the will of the people.

In June of 2021, I introduced the Abolition Amendment, which would strike the “Slavery Clause” of the 13th Amendment that allows slavery to continue in the United States. The 13th Amendment abolished most–but not all–slavery, except “as a punishment for crime.”

The Abolition Amendment would end the reprehensible practice of slavery and forced labor in America. Today, in the United States, there are nearly two million people behind bars who are disproportionately Black and subject to forced labor.

In May, we reached a milestone of 127 cosponsors of this important legislation. I’m also pleased to share that every member of the Congressional Black Caucus in the House of Representatives has cosponsored the Abolition Amendment.

Eliminating the “Slavery Clause” is yet another opportunity to reckon with our past so that we can truly move forward. As we get closer to the second year where Juneteenth is a federal holiday, I am hopeful that more of my colleagues will stand up and say once and for all that we will end slavery with no exceptions.

Read the full text of the Abolition Amendment on my website.

Subcommittee on Aviation: Preparing for Take-off: Examining Efforts to Address Climate Change at U.S. Airports

Full Committee: Markup of H.R. 7776, the Water Resources Development Act of 2022

Full Committee: The Annual Report of the Financial Stability Oversight Council

Full Committee: May 17th Hybrid Markup (Parts 1 & 2)

Diversity and Inclusion Subcommittee: Diversity Includes Disability: Exploring Inequalities in Financial Services for Persons with Disabilities, Including Those Newly Disabled Due to Long-Term COVID

Full Committee: Digital Assets and the Future of Finance: Examining the Benefits and Risks of a U.S. Central Bank Digital Currency

I paid a visit to two very deserving organizations to present them with big checks for their Community Project Funding Requests.

Georgia State University’s School of Social Work Professional Excellence Program the Child Welfare Training Collaborative (CWTC) was presented with their $200,000 check. The money will support CWTC’s work improving mental health services for children throughout Georgia.

Hosea Helps Inc. received $2.2 million to expand their programming supporting Atlanta’s most marginalized communities. During the Big Check presentation Team Nikema also distributed meal boxes to hundreds of families that drove up to Hosea Helps Inc.’s headquarters for a food giveaway.

Everyone in the Fighting Fifth is a leader and I paid special tribute to a few this month. Congratulations to Rev. Gerald Durley on his 80th birthday and to Rev. Timothy McDonald on his 38th Pastoral Anniversary. You have both done so much for all of us and we are forever grateful!

As a working mom, I’m very sensitive to how hard it can be for moms to get everything they need to care for their families. That’s why I partnered with Helping Mamas, one of the country’s largest diaper banks, to get essential family items for Fifth District families in need. Together, we served 150 individuals and distributed 331 diaper bags, 2,870 diapers, 1,200 health and hygiene items and 739 period products. I also co-sponsored the End Diaper Need Act to increase access to diapers and related supplies primarily for low-income families.

Congratulations to everyone who entered this year’s John R. Lewis Fifth Congressional District Art Competition! I need to give big shoutouts to first place winner Jaylan Smith from Maynard Jackson High School (pictured above), second place winner Lucy Corkran from Drew Charter School and third place winner Tyler Harden from Cedar Grove High School!

All three winners’ artwork will be on display for a year! Jaylan’s will hang in the U.S. Capitol with every Art Competition winner’s art, Lucy’s will hang in my Washington D.C. office, and Tyler’s will be on display in my Atlanta office!

The Fifth Congressional District is a research hub and the winner of the Fifth Congressional District App Challenge shows our future is bright. Asanshay won the challenge with his app, Oxygen Planner. The app has been downloaded more than 1000 times by users all over the world to help hospitals and other medical care providers get oxygen to where it is needed the most.

Getting to speak to our future leaders is important because they have the power to inspire change. I had the opportunity to do that, celebrating the promotion of the scholars at the RISE Schools in East Point. These future ninth graders proved with their perseverance they are ready to change the world. Best of luck to all of you as you start ninth grade next year!

I also had the opportunity to share greetings with the rising ninth graders at John Lewis Invictus Academy! Our scholars remind us that the future is bright.

Women, particularly Black women, in business are used to having to work twice as hard to get just a fraction of what we're entitled to. My lived experience reminds me every day how much work we have to do to end the days that we are told to change our hair, our clothes, our names and ourselves, and I am a voice in Congress for everyone who believes in that fight. I joined the Clayton County Chamber of Commerce Women in Business Council lunch, to update them on how I am working to help the workforce be more equitable for women. We’ve made tremendous progress for Georgia’s women in business, but there is more work left. I am proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Clayton County Chamber of Commerce Women in Business Council as we increase equity and fairness for everyone.

On June 6, Team Nikema will be in East Point, making sure our constituent services team goes to the people! Stop by the East Point Library at 2757 Main Street, East Point, 30344 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM and find out how we can serve you.