Our Livelihoods
My top three priorities are (in no particular order): (1) jobs; (2) jobs; and (3) jobs. In order to grow the economy, maintain our nation’s competitiveness across the globe, and put Americans to work, I have supported investing in rebuilding our nation’s roads, schools, ports, and other infrastructure; raising the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour to put more money into the hands of working Americans; bolstering education and worker training initiatives at the federal, state, and local levels; providing tax credits to employers to provide affordable health insurance to their employees; and reducing regulatory burdens and paperwork requirements to unleash initiative.
I am a strong supporter of policies that make health care more accessible and affordable to all Americans regardless of their background and income. These policies include protecting Medicare beneficiaries’ access to physicians; increasing funding for medical research; expanding community health care centers; reducing physician shortages; preventing childhood obesity; lowering the costs of prescription drugs; holding insurance companies accountable to keep premiums down and prevent denials of care and coverage, including for pre-existing conditions; and improving veterans’ health care.
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.
I am a strong proponent of Second Amendment rights under the United States Constitution. I believe that law-abiding adults should be free to exercise their right to purchase, own, and carry firearms for the protection of their homes and families. I received an A+ from the National Rifle Association for the 110th Congress (2007-2008) and the 111th Congress (2009-2010).
Small businesses are the cornerstone of our economy. I support legislation to establish a lending fund to provide community banks with capital to increase small business lending. I also support investing in innovative state small business lending programs, providing tax incentives to purchase employee health insurance coverage, reducing regulatory burdens and unnecessary paperwork, and enacting measures to spur small business creation and new jobs.
More on Our Livelihoods
COLUMBUS, GA – Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) released the following statement regarding the passing of the Reverend Dr. Johnny H. Flakes, Jr:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02), member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, welcomed notification of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s preliminary decision to terminate an antidumping investigation that has hurt U.S. tomato growers. In a July 2012 letter to Acting Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce Rebecca Blank, Congressman Bishop stood in support of Georgia’s tomato industry concerning unfair Mexican trade practices.
ALBANY, GA – Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) toured Lincoln Elementary Magnet School in Albany, Georgia, met with cafeteria staff, ate lunch with the students, and held a media availability regarding the changes made to the lunch program at Lincoln Elementary Magnet School and schools throughout the entire nation. USDA Food and Nutrition Service’s Deputy Regional Administrator Erin Swanson–Hall, USDA Deputy Director of the Special Nutrition Program Steve Hortin, and Dougherty County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Joshua Murfree, Jr.
CAIRO, GA – Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) delivered an address at the Cairo High School Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps Program Pass and Review Ceremony. Rear Admiral David Steindl, Commander of the Naval Service Training Command, was in attendance as well as NJROTC cadets, students, teachers, administrators, and city and county officials.
Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) voted in favor of H.R. 3409, the “Coal Miner Employment and Domestic Energy Infrastructure Protection Act” in order to keep energy prices affordable, to streamline the federal regulatory process, and to prevent regulatory initiatives that unnecessarily impede economic growth.
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:
“Every year, we join together during National Hispanic Heritage Month to celebrate the many positive contributions that one of our nation’s fastest-growing populations and largest ethnic communities has made to our great nation.
Mr. Bishop (GA) – Mr. Speaker, it is my great honor to extend a heartfelt congratulations to Ms. Erin Daly and the rest of the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program team at the National Institute of Food and Agriculture for being selected to receive a 2012 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary’s Honor Award in the category of “assisting rural communities to create prosperity so they are self-sustaining, repopulating, and economically thriving.” The team and its program leader, Dr. S.
ALBANY, GA – On Friday, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02), member of the Friends of Jobs Corps Congressional Caucus, addressed the 2012 Graduating Class of Turner Job Corps Center in Albany, Georgia. A unique national program with 125 centers across the country, Job Corps offers at-risk youth varied academic opportunities and career pathways in business and industry.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA) and Congressman Rick Crawford (R-AR), Co-Chairs of the Congressional Chicken Caucus, welcomed advance notification of the Mexican government’s decision to delay the implementation of anti-dumping duties on U.S. chicken leg quarters. In June 2012, the Congressional Chicken Caucus sent a letter to Ambassador Ron Kirk, the U.S. Trade Representative, expressing its concern that antidumping duties would have a devastating economic impact on the U.S. Chicken Industry and supporting industries.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) released the following statement today announcing the awarding of five new and continuing grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to assist socially disadvantaged farmers, ranchers, and landowners in Georgia. A total of 70 grants were awarded throughout the United States through the Outreach and Assistance to Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers (OASDFR) Competitive Grants Program, also known as the “2501 Program.”