Congressman Sanford Bishop

Representing the 2nd District of Georgia

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.

More on Our Communities

Oct 9, 2013 Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. –Today, Rep. Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA), Co-Chair of the Congressional Military Family Caucus, stood up for military families by joining Rep. Ron Barber (D-AZ), Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Rep. Christopher Gibson (R-NY), Rep. Danny Heck (D-WA), Rep. Lou Barletta (R-PA), Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI), and Rep.

Oct 8, 2013 Press Release

FORT BENNING, GA – Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) released the following statement lamenting the deaths of 1st Lt. Jennifer M. Moreno, Sgt. Patrick C. Hawkins, Sgt. Joseph M. Peters, and Pfc. Cody J. Patterson, killed in an improvised bomb attack in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. Sgt. Hawkins and Pfc Patterson were both assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Benning, GA.

Oct 3, 2013 Press Release

Washington, D.C. – Last night, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop (GA-02), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee of Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies, took to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to fight for a Fiscal year (FY) 2014 Continuing Resolution (CR) that funds the entire federal government and keeps it open for all Americans. The measure under consideration, House Joint Resolution (H.J.

Oct 1, 2013 Press Release

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop (GA-02) released a statement regarding the failure of Congress to pass a budget or ‘continuing resolution’ to fund the government and keep services open for all Americans:

Oct 1, 2013 Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) released the following statement today in recognition of the First Annual Tri-City Latino Festival, which was held on September 21, 2013 in Columbus, Georgia:

Sep 20, 2013 Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) released the following statement today in recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from September 15 to October 15:

“Each year, Americans join together during National Hispanic Heritage Month in celebration of the countless positive contributions of the Latino community throughout the history of our great nation.

Sep 20, 2013 Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop (GA-02) opposed increasing hunger in America by voting against H.R. 3102, the “Nutrition Reform and Work Opportunity Act,” which will cut basic food aid (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP) by nearly $40 billion over ten years, denying nutrition assistance for nearly 4 million Americans next year. The measure was passed by a vote of 217 to 210.

Sep 18, 2013 Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02), member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, stood in support of Georgia’s pecan industry in regards to unfair tariff discrepancies. In a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman, Congressman Bishop called for fair pricing of pecan imports from the United States to India.

Sep 18, 2013 Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) released the following statement regarding Monday’s tragic shooting at the Washington Navy Yard:

“The horrific events that unfolded at the Washington Navy Yard yesterday mark a tragic time for our nation. I offer my condolences to the families of those men and women killed yesterday, and my thoughts remain with the injured and their loved ones.

Sep 12, 2013 Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop Jr. (GA-02) released the following statement today to commemorate the 12th anniversary of 9/11:

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