Commissioner Larry Johnson Attends White House Holiday Reception

DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson accepted the invitation to attend the White House Holiday Reception at the request of President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden. 

“I am honored to attend this event at the White House in honor of the spirit of celebration,” said Commissioner Johnson.  “It is imperative that we continue to work with our federal, state and local leaders to help us move forward and develop the best possible solutions for all humankind.”

Commissioner Johnson serves in various roles at the local, state, and federal levels.  He has actively worked with federal partners to help advance change for the people.

In Commissioner Johnson’s former role as NACo’s president, he helped lead the charge that provided $65.1 billion in direct flexible funding to counties to help mitigate challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.  As a result of this effort, DeKalb County was able to receive $147 million in America Rescue Plan funds to make investments in workforce challenges, behavioral health, public health preparedness, food insecurities, rent and mortgage assistance.  Therefore, each commission district received $2.8 million to partner with community-based organizations to help provide immediate relief as the county worked collectively on behalf of the residents.

During his tenure as NACo’s president, his THRIVE initiatives championed change through commitment and effective implementation, including:

• Advocating for additional Federal COVID-19 relief in the form of direct, flexible aid to counties of all sizes
• Restoring the balance of federalism and optimizing intergovernmental partnerships t
• Promoting county infrastructure priorities
• Advocating for mental health and substance use treatment and address essential criminal justice reforms
• Boosting advanced broadband deployment and accessibility while preserving local decision-making
• Supporting full funding for payments in lieu of taxes securing the Rural Schools Program
• Promoting county priorities in future U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other federal rulemaking
• Strengthening election integrity and safety
• Enhancing community resilience through regional and local disaster preparedness
• Promoting workforce opportunities and supportive services for county residents in changing economies

For more information, contact Commissioner Larry Johnson’s office at 404-371-2425 or visit www.commissionerlarryjohnson.com.