Johnny Isakson
R-Georgia, National Guard
Bio: Johnny Isakson is a businessman who has built a respected record of public service to the state of Georgia.
Isakson began his business career in 1967 when he opened the first Cobb County office of a small, family-owned real estate business, Northside Realty. During Isakson’s 20 years as president of Northside, the company grew into the largest independent residential real estate brokerage company in the Southeast and one of the largest in America.
Isakson entered politics in 1974 and served for 17 years in the Georgia Legislature in both the House and Senate. In 1997, then-Gov. Zell Miller appointed Isakson to lead of the Georgia Board of Education as chairman. Isakson was elected in 1999 to the U.S. House for the first of three terms, and he was elected in 2004 and 2010 to the U.S. Senate, where he is currently serving his second term.
Isakson brings commonsense leadership to Congress through his bipartisan efforts to address federal spending, reduce the debt, create jobs, and reform burdensome federal regulations.
As a member and current chair of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, Isakson has worked tirelessly to bring oversight and accountability to the agency responsible for providing care and support to our nation’s veterans. A veteran himself, Isakson has been a member of the Senate VA Committee since he joined the Senate in 2005, and played a crucial role in the massive VA reform bill, the Veterans’ Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014. Georgia is home more than a dozen military bases, as well as more than 750,000 veterans. In addition to aiding veterans who served in years past, he has worked to strengthen our Armed Forces and continues to show unwavering commitment to the men and women serving our country today.
Military Bio: Johnny Isakson is chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and has served on the committee since joining the Senate in 2005.
A veteran himself, Johnny served in the Georgia Air National Guard as a Staff Sergeant from 1966-1972. His home state of Georgia includes more than a dozen military installations representing each branch of the military, as well as more than 750,000 veterans.
As chairman, Johnny has worked to change the culture at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). He introduced the Veterans First Act — sweeping reform legislation supported by several veterans service organizations that would increase accountability at the VA and improve care and services for our nation’s veterans.
Johnny is also a member of the Congressional Veterans Jobs Caucus and is commitment to reducing the barriers to veterans’ employment opportunities. He has worked on bipartisan legislation that would help veterans translate their military training into a civilian career.
Johnny and his wife, Dianne, have been married since 1968. They have three children and nine grandchildren.
Legislation:
S.1094- 115th Congress (2017-2018)
Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act
Sponsor: U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga. (Introduced 05/11/2017) Co-sponsors (39)
Committees: Senate – Veterans Affairs
Latest Action: 06/09/17 Passed U.S. Senate by voice vote
S.1024 – 115th Congress (2017-2018)
Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017
Sponsor: U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga. (Introduced 05/03/17) Co-sponsors (12)
Committees: Senate – Veterans Affairs
Latest Action: 05/17/17 Committee on Veteran’s Affairs. Hearings held.
6416 – 114th Congress (2015-2016)
Jeff Miller and Richard Blumenthal Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2016
Sponsor: U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga. (Introduced 12/01/16)
Committees: House – Veterans’ Affairs; Budget; Armed Services
Latest Action: 12/16/16 Became Public Law No.114-35
3032 — 114th Congress (2015-2016)
Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2016
Sponsor: Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA] (Introduced 06/08/2016) Cosponsors: (19)
Committees: Senate – Veterans’ Affairs
Latest Action: 06/29/2016 Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings held. (All Actions)
2921 — 114th Congress (2015-2016)
Veterans First Act
Sponsor: Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA] (Introduced 05/11/2016) Cosponsors: (45)
Committees: Senate – Veterans’ Affairs
Latest Action: 05/16/2016 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 467. (All Actions)