Our Communities
AGRICULTURE: Georgia’s farmers, ranchers, and producers are the backbone of our state’s most important industry: agriculture. As a Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, the Co-Chair of the bipartisan Congressional Chicken Caucus, and Co-Chair of the Congressional Peanut Caucus, I am a staunch supporter of the agricultural community in Georgia's Second Congressional District and the entire nation. I support assistance to farmers affected by drought, wildfires, and other natural disasters that occur each year. In addition, I have worked to ensure that the peanut support program remained strong in the 2014 Farm Bill; strengthen our nation's nutrition programs; reform the H2-A program for non-immigrant agricultural workers; bolster child nutrition programs in our nation’s schools; prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from imposing burdensome regulations on agriculture; ensure that Mexican tomatoes and chicken do not drive down the prices of U.S.-produced tomatoes and chicken due to illegal dumping; and advance agricultural research, food safety initiatives, and broadband services to rural communities.
EDUCATION: As Benjamin Franklin said, “An investment in education always pays the best dividends.” I have worked tirelessly to make our nation’s schools and universities accessible and affordable. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I have secured millions of dollars for education programs, including new schools and libraries, after-school programs, math and science initiatives, school nutrition and physical education programs, as well as family counseling and youth mentoring. I strongly support legislation to make vital investments to modernize, upgrade, and repair school facilities across the country and to encourage service and volunteer opportunities for all Americans. I believe we must make education a top priority by bridging the digital divide, promoting healthier school lunches, enhancing educational opportunities for veterans, encouraging colleges to rein in tuition increases, boosting college aid, strengthening programs in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), and reinvigorating the Head Start program to help more children arrive at kindergarten ready to succeed.
HOUSING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: It is vital that individuals and families have access to the American Dream – namely, homeownership. I support legislation to help homeowners avoid foreclosure, stop predatory and irresponsible mortgage loan practices, increase the supply of affordable housing, expand veteran and rural housing opportunities, promote fair housing education and enforcement activities, and finance community development initiatives.
TRANSPORTATION: Investing in our nation’s transportation infrastructure will create millions of jobs and boost economic activity. I will continue to fight for Georgia’s Second Congressional District to receive its fair share of funding to improve its highways, roads, and bridges. I support more highway-related construction jobs, reduced gasoline prices, and the increased use of biofuels. I also support efforts to make our roads safer, increase fuel efficiency, and create an Infrastructure Bank to finance much needed investments in our nation’s roads, bridges, schools, hospitals, airports, railways, ports, broadband, and power grids.
IMMIGRATION: It is vital that immigration reform is addressed to secure our borders, protect our workers, and grow the nation’s economy. Immigration reform must include provisions that strengthen border security by increasing manpower, utilizing new technology and fencing, and providing the tools, resources, and infrastructure necessary to enforce existing immigration laws and punish offenders. In addition, it is vital that immigration reform ensures the needs of various economic sectors such as agriculture that depend on guest workers to fill labor shortages are significant. I have supported the DREAM Act, which would permit certain immigrant students who grow up in the United States to apply for temporary legal status and to eventually obtain permanent legal status and become eligible for U.S. citizenship, if they go to college or serve in the U.S. military.
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It might surprise many Georgians that, despite unprecedented job growth in the Atlanta area over the past 15 years, agriculture is Georgia’s largest industry, and still 1 out of 7 Georgians works in agriculture, forestry, or a related sector, according to the Georgia Farm Bureau. They contribute to the production of staple commodities included in some of our nation’s most commonly-used products. In fact, Georgia leads the nation in peanut, poultry, and pecan production, and is among the top producers of cotton, corn, eggs, and tomatoes.
I support the troops, their families, and those who have sacrificed so much in this war. And, as a member of the Defense Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, I am committed to making sure our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan get everything they need -- every dollar, every dime, and every penny. It is the number one priority of the Subcommittee to keep the troops safe, properly equipped, and in a position to return home safely. But, like others who supported the Iraq efforts in the past, I have serious reservations about the President’s new way forward.
WASHINGTON, D.C. Last night the Dougherty High Chorale received an overwhelming reception for their performance at the Gospel Extravaganza held at the Washington Convention Center. The gospel concert is a highlight of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference which is holding it 34th session this week. This is the second year that Congressman Bishop has hosted the Dougherty High Chorale for the event.
WASHINGTON, DC—This afternoon, Congressman Sanford Bishop joined his colleagues in introducing the “Protection of Family Farmers Act of 2004,” which if enacted would extend authorization of Chapter 12 of the bankruptcy code. Chapter 12 provides a valuable bankruptcy option that allows struggling family farmers to reorganize their debt and protect their farms.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today Congressman Sanford Bishop was proud to announce that Valdosta Technical College will receive $49,474 from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to implement the “Road Map to Success” project.
Albany, GA. - Grace Hunt, a senior at Crisp Academy is the winner of the 2004 Congressional Art Competition in Georgia’s Second District, U.S. Representative Sanford Bishop announced today Friday May 7th. The winning entry, entitled “Cousins” will be displayed for one year at the U.S. Capitol, along with the winning entries from other Congressional districts across the country.
WASHINGTON, D.C. Although he called it “better than nothing,” U.S. Representative Sanford Bishop said a “concurrent receipt” provision passed by the House Friday (7/11) fails to provide a fair deal for most of the 560,000 disabled military retirees who are currently denied disability benefits.
“Nothing justifies a denial of benefits to any veteran who has earned them through service and sacrifice, and Congress should correct this wrong right now,” the Second District Congressman told his U.S. House colleagues.
Thomas University has been awarded a $27,825 federal grant to draft a comprehensive plan for achieving its priority goals for the future, U.S. Representative Sanford Bishop has announced.
The funding is provided under the U.S. Department of Education’s Strengthening Institutions Program, the Second District Congressman said.
The Congressman explained that the funds were granted to formulate a comprehensive development plan that addresses Thomas University’s top needs and objectives, and to prepare a five-year development grant project.
Washington D.C. - U.S. Representative Sanford Bishop says a number of crucial education and health care programs are severely under-funded in an appropriations bill narrowly passed by the House of Representatives.
U.S. Representative Sanford Bishop will announce the winner of the annual Congressional Art Competition for high school students in Georgia's Second District on Friday (5/9) at a 10:00 a.m. ceremony at the Second District Office in Albany, located at Albany Towers, Suite 114, 235 Roosevelt Avenue.
This is the human interest value: the winning entry will be flown to Washington, D.C. where, along with the winning entries from other Congressional Districts around the country, it will be displayed at the U.S. Capitol for one year-seen by hundreds of thousands of visitors.