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
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) released the following statement regarding last night’s storms in Middle and Southwest Georgia:
“My prayers go out to all those impacted by the terrible storms that swept through the Middle and Southwest Georgia region. The damage was significant, and my office stands open and ready to assist those affected.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) voted in support of H.R. 34, the 21st Century Cures Act, which passed the House of Representatives by a roll call vote of 392-26 on Wednesday. This bipartisan legislation provides $6.3 billion over 10 years to fund innovative research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), modernize the Federal Drug Administration (FDA), and help prevent and treat opioid addiction.
SPOKANE, WA – Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA), Co-Chair of the Congressional Military Family Caucus (CMFC) and Ranking Member of the U.S.
WASHINGTON, D.C. –Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) released a statement regarding the recent sit-in over gun control in the U.S. House of Representatives.
“Like most other Americans, I am appalled by the recurrent tragedies involving gun violence. No one wants terrorists, criminals, or mentally ill persons to have guns.
MACON, GA – Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02), co-chair of the Congressional Military Family Caucus, introduced H.R. 5248, the Agent Orange Reconciliation Act of 2016, in an effort to help heal the post-conflict, human cost of war by caring for children living with Spina Bifida due to Vietnam veteran parent’s exposure to Agent Orange. Spina Bifida requires costly surgeries and extensive medical care because of potential paralysis resulting from damage to the spinal cord.
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) released the following statement regarding his disapproval of H.J. Res. 88, a U.S. House joint resolution disapproving and nullifying a Department of Labor rule published on April 8, 2016 relating to the definition of the term "fiduciary" and the conflict of interest rule with respect to retirement investment advice.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The public has been invited to share their views and ask questions in an online townhall event hosted by Congressman Sanford D. Bishop Jr. (GA-02) on his Facebook page. Question submissions began yesterday, April 11, and will continue through Friday, April 22. Congressman Bishop will release 3 to 5 answers each day of the week beginning Monday, April 18, and continuing through Friday, April 22.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) and Rep. Austin Scott (GA-08) welcomed the unanimous passage of the bipartisan H.R. 482, the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historic Park Boundary Revision Act in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Congressmen Steven Palazzo (R-Miss.), Sanford Bishop (D-Georgia), and Brad Ashford (D-Nebraska) introduced The Small Public Housing Agency Opportunity Act of 2016 (H.R. 4816), bipartisan legislation addressing the administrative burdens facing small and rural housing authorities across the country.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Lugar Center and Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy recently unveiled their new Bipartisan Index, naming Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) as the 13th United States Representative most willing to work across party lines in 2015. The Index is a non-partisan tool, ranking all 535 members of Congress on their willingness to reach across the aisle by evaluating legislation sponsorship and co-sponsorship data.