In meetings with the House and Senate Democratic caucuses and Republican state legislators, Senator Reverend Warnock thanked the legislators for their work on behalf of Georgians as the legislative session continues

Senator Reverend Warnock encouraged the legislators to keep working on urgent issues like expanding Medicaid, easing access to SNAP benefits, strengthening voting rights and investing in workforce development 

ICYMI: “Warnock tries to jolt state GOP lawmakers into expanding Medicaid” – more from the AJC

Senator Reverend Warnock also addressed the State Senate and attendees of the 2^nd Annual Latino Day at the Capitol event during his visit

This is the Senator’s first formal visit to the legislative session under the Gold Dome since being first elected in 2021

WATCH: Senator Reverend Warnock Prays, Addresses the Georgia State Senate – FULL VIDEO HERE

Senator Warnock addresses the Georgia State Senate

Atlanta, GA — Yesterday, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) made his first visit to Georgia’s legislative session as a United State Senator to meet with Georgia state lawmakers in both parties and discuss their shared priorities for people and communities across the state. Senator Warnock addressed both the state House and Senate Democratic caucuses, and met with individual lawmakers, including Georgia House Democratic Leader James Beverly and Republican State Senators Chuck Hufstetler and Ben Watson. Additionally, the Senator addressed the full State Senate, where he led the chamber in prayer, and said hello to attendees at the 2^nd Annual Latino Day at the Capitol event happening during his visit.

(WATCH full video of Senator Reverend Warnock’s remarks to the State Senate Chamber HERE.)

In his conversations with legislators, Senator Warnock thanked the lawmakers for their continued work on behalf of the people of Georgia and uplifted his willingness to work with leaders on both sides of the aisle to deliver on priorities for the state. The Senator discussed how his office can support work happening on the state level from Washington and encouraged the lawmakers to keep pushing to address the urgent issues facing Georgians across the state, including protecting the fundamental freedom to vote, easing access to federal SNAP nutrition benefits, investing in workforce development, and finally expanding Medicaid to close the health care gap for more than 640,000 Georgians.

Senator Warnock takes questions from members of the Georgia Senate Democratic Caucus

Senator Warnock speaks with Georgia House Democratic Leader James Beverly 

Senator Warnock greets a young Georgian during the 2^nd Annual Latino Day at the Capitol

Senator Warnock poses with the Georgia House Democratic Caucus after speaking during their caucus meeting

See additional coverage of Senator Warnock’s first formal visit under the Gold Dome below:

AJC: Warnock tries to jolt state GOP lawmakers into expanding Medicaid

Wednesday, January 31

• U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock crisscrossed Georgia during his 2022 reelection campaign urging lawmakers to expand Medicaid. This week, he brought his message directly to the General Assembly at a pivotal moment.

• “I believe that the time is now and I hope that the state legislature will find a path to getting this done,” he told lawmakers, adding that he’s “heartened” at the prospect of a bipartisan compromise.

• He reminded legislators that he and U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff secured $1.2 billion in incentives in the 2021 coronavirus relief package to speed an expansion. 

GPB: ‘Lawmakers’: Georgia legislators remember Richard Smith and soldiers killed in Jordan on Day 12

Tuesday, January 30

• U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock (D) addressed the Georgia Senate today, imploring bipartisan cooperation in agreeing to accept $1.2 billion in Medicaid funds for working class Georgians.

• And finally, the Georgia Senate received a visit from U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, who brought a bipartisan message to the floor to speak about Medicaid and the success of the American Rescue Plan. 

Georgia Recorder: Will Georgia Republicans embrace full Medicaid expansion by another name?

Wednesday, January 31

• Georgia is one of 10 states that have not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, which was former President Barack Obama’s signature health care law. In Georgia, which has one of the highest uninsured rates in the country, about a half million people could gain health care coverage. 

• U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, who made his first official visit to the state Capitol Tuesday, reminded lawmakers of the federal incentive packed into the American Rescue Plan Act available if Georgia does decide to move forward with expanded coverage.

• “If we can find a bipartisan path to getting this done, there’s $1.2 billion sitting there for the citizens of Georgia to make the glide path easier to get Medicaid done for working families in Georgia,” Warnock said to the state Senate. “And so, I hope we can find a way to do it.”

• “There’s a great deal of negotiation that must happen here. I just hope that at the end of the day, that we will center the people rather than the politics. Only politics can get in the way of this happening right now, and I think that would be a shame,” Warnock said.

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