Congressman Sanford Bishop is serving his sixth term in the U.S. House of Representatives from Georgia's Second Congressional District, which covers all or parts of 27 southwest Georgia counties:

Baker, Brooks, Calhoun, Chattahoochee, Clay, Colquitt, Crisp, Decatur, Dougherty, Early, Grady, Lee, Lowndes, Miller, Mitchell, Muscogee, Quitman, Randolph, Seminole, Stewart, Sumter, Terrell, Thomas, Tift, Turner, Webster and Worth.

Defining his goal in public life, the southwest Georgia legislator says he is seeking a higher, better quality of life for all citizens by promoting jobs and a stronger, more diversified economy; a better educated population; safe and secure communities, free of crime and drugs; a clean environment; affordable, accessible health care; and a strong national defense, all within the context of a balanced budget.

LEGISLATIVE RECORD

Congressman Bishop has emerged as a leader among the fiscally moderate-to-conservative Democrats in Congress. Within the bounds of limited federal resources, he has supported a strong defense, a sound infrastructure, and an efficient and secure social safety net. He has supported tax relief during times of surplus budgets in order to return unused revenue to the citizens who earned it, and supported targeted tax relief to promote economic growth during times of budget deficits. At the same time, he has always supported measured, responsible levels of tax cuts that would not lead to unmanageable deficits or destructive reductions in defense, education, health care, economic development, homeland security, and other critical federal responsibilities.

He has authored and sponsored a wide range of bills and resolutions that have been enacted by Congress. One of them is the new Farm Bill, which authorizes $45.1 billion more over six years than the previous six years for farm support programs, including the peanut program to make U.S.-grown peanuts competitive with growing foreign imports; rural development; soil and water conservation; agricultural research; and the school lunch and other nutritional programs. He has introduced legislation to create a new grant program to upgrade forensic laboratories, a proposal which passed and become law. He has cosponsored bills to strengthen the veterans health care system and other veterans programs. He has introduced legislation to make quality child care affordable for low income families, crack down on underage tobacco sales and use, and correct regulatory work disincentives for low income housing occupants. He has cosponsored Constitutional amendments to require balanced federal budgets, protect the U.S. flag against acts of desecration, and clarify the law to allow voluntary, non-denominational prayer in schools and other public localities.

He has pushed through many initiatives of special concern to the Second District, including legislation to name the new U.S. Courthouse in Albany for civil rights leader C.B. King; bills to expand and improve the Andersonville and Jimmy Carter Historic Sites; efforts to sustain and build the Second District's military installations; and has helped secure more than $750 million in federal grants and loans for communities throughout the Second District, making the area one of the nation's leaders in qualifying for federal community development funding.

PUBLIC LIFE

Congressman Bishop was first elected to Congress in 1992 after serving in the Georgia House of Representatives from 1977 to 1990 and the Georgia Senate from 1991-1992.

He serves on the House Appropriations Committee. At the outset of the 108th term, he was elected by fellow House Democrats to fill one of two vacant seats open to members of their party on the appropriations panel, which is widely regarded as the most powerful committee assignment in Congress.

While other committees authorize programs in specific areas of federal government, the appropriations committees in the House and Senate determine exactly how much shall be spent, or not spent, in all areas of government-including defense, agriculture, education, homeland security, transportation and other infrastructure needs, health care, foreign relations and trade initiatives, economic development initiatives, and the country's safety net.

Congressman Bishop holds a number of other leadership positions.

He serves as Chairman of a Democratic House task force on homeland security, the Working Group on Defense of Physical Infrastructure and Natural Resources. He also serves as Co-Chairman of the Forestry 2000 Task Force, promoting sound forestry policy; Co-Chairman of the Peanut Caucus, promoting sound policy for growers, agri-businesses, and consumers; and a member of the "Blue Dog" Coalition of fiscally-conservative House Democrats; Congressional Black Caucus, Rural Health Care Coalition, Rural Caucus, National Guard and Reserve Components Caucus, Air Power Caucus, Depot Caucus, Children's Working Group, Law Enforcement Caucus, National Security Caucus, Impact Aid Coalition, Vietnam Era Veterans in Congress, Arts Caucus, Sportsmen's Caucus, Fire Services Caucus, Federal Government Service Caucus, and the Council on Foreign Relations, a privately-funded research and educational organization.

He has held leadership positions at the community, state and national levels, including serving as Georgia's representative on the Southern Growth Policies Board and on the Governor's Advisory Council on Drug Abuse.

PERSONAL BACKGROUND

Congressman Bishop was born February 4, 1947 in Mobile, Alabama, the son of the late Sanford D. Bishop, Sr., the first president of Bishop State Community College, and Mrs. Minnie S. Bishop, a librarian. He is married to the Honorable Vivian Creighton Bishop. Mrs. Bishop is serving her fourth term as the elected Clerk of the Municipal Court of Columbus, Georgia (court administrator). They have a daughter, Aayesha J. Owens of Lithonia

He graduated from Morehouse College in 1968 and from Emory University Law School in 1971 with a Doctor of Law Degree. He served in the U.S. Army, completed basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia, entered Advanced Reserve Officers Training, and received an Honorable Discharge in 1971. He resided in Columbus, Georgia, from 1972 to 1996, where he was the primary partner in the law firm of Bishop and Buckner, P.C. He is an Eagle Scout, a 32nd Degree Mason, and a Shriner. He is a resident of Albany, Georgia, where he is a member of the Mount Zion Baptist Church.

He has received numerous awards, including the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award from the Boy Scouts of America, given to Eagle Scouts for distinguished career achievement; Spirit of Enterprise Award from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; Man of the Year Award from the Men's Progressive Club of Columbus, Georgia; Friend of the Children Award from the Child Advocacy Coalition; and commendations from the National Federation of Independent Business, Georgia Association of Educators, Georgia Municipal Association, Georgia School Bus Drivers Association, Georgia Council for the Arts, the Fraternal Order of Police, and the American Legion.

Rep. Sanford Bishop's Official Website

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250 million children between the ages of five and fourteen work in developing countries – at least 120 million on a full time basis. (Human Rights Watch)