Sanford Bishop

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, today marks the 20th day of the partial government shutdown. Each day pushes many of our government's vital services to the breaking point, further jeopardizing the 800,000 Federal employees who are furloughed and the countless other Americans feeling the shutdown's impact. The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act is a critically important piece of legislation for our Nation. From the food we eat to the medications we depend on, this bill touches the lives of every American. It must be passed now, and the furloughed employees at these vital Federal agencies, our farmers, our agribusinesses, and the other Americans who are depending on their livelihoods must be brought back to work. Because of the shutdown, USDA has stopped making loans and grants for rural development programs such as housing, water and wastewater facilities, and community facilities. New grants to our universities for agriculture research can't be made. Across the Nation, Farm Service Agency county offices have been closed since December 28. Farmers applying for relief from retaliatory tariffs are in limbo, waiting for the shutdown to end. Nearly 33,000 USDA employees who are funded by this bill are currently furloughed. At the Food and Drug Administration, more than 10,000 employees are working without pay, while another 7,000 have been furloughed, which is impacting everything from user fee collections to the reduction of food safety inspections, jeopardizing the food we eat. According to USDA, nearly 9,000 people are working without pay to inspect our meat, poultry, and egg products. This bill would fund the Food Safety and Inspection Service at over $1 billion and restore our safety. I will be the first person to admit that this bill is not perfect, but no bill ever is. However, this is about opening the government and putting it back to work for the American people. This bill has passed the Senate by a vote of 92-6. There is no reason why we should not pass this bill since it has already been adopted by the leadership of the Senate and the Members of the Senate overwhelmingly, so that we can put American workers back on the job. Specifically, this legislation provides over $23 billion in discretionary funding for USDA and FDA. That is $225 million above the 2018 enacted level. It provides $2.73 billion for agriculture research conducted by the Agricultural Research Service and NIFA, an increase of $114 million from fiscal year 2018. These increases will help to ensure American agriculture remains competitive with other nations. The Farm Service Agency, whose county offices were shuttered on December 28, is funded at $1.6 billion. In my district, all the county offices are now closed. These offices are the primary line of communication for our farmers and our ranchers, providing critical data, processing loans, and answering questions. Without this assistance and information, they are left in the dark when it comes to planning for next year's harvest. Peanut sellers and cotton growers, who suffered from Hurricane Michael recently, are at a loss. They have product that is stored in warehouses that they need to sell in order to get income, but they can't get those sales accomplished without an okay from the Farm Service Agency. Those offices are closed. Nobody is there. This legislation also makes significant investments in rural development by providing $3.8 billion. It takes a balanced approach with investments in water and wastewater facilities, broadband, housing, and rural businesses. Again, right now, as a result of the shutdown, loans and grants that help small towns and rural communities all across the country are not being made. This legislation rejects the President's proposed elimination of the Food for Peace program and instead funds it at $1.716 billion, which is $216 million above the House bill. The McGovern-Dole program, which was also proposed for elimination by the President, is funded at $210 million, slightly above the House level. I might note that the House funded both of these, contrary to the President's wishes. Finally, this legislation funds the Food and Drug Administration at $2.97 billion, which is $159 million above the fiscal year 2018 enacted level, a 6 percent increase. I would also like to point out that this bill does better than the House in addressing the opioid crisis that is hitting every single district in the country. It also provides more funding for food safety than the House bill. After nearly 3 weeks of uncertainty, it looks like the nearly 40 million people who are receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits will be able to keep their benefits at least through February. However, the funds for SNAP beneficiaries, for a single mother or a small shopkeeper, will run dry in March. This bill, which provides $73.2 billion in mandatory funding for SNAP, will end any doubt about this, and it will give these recipients the peace of mind that they deserve. Through a diverse urban-rural coalition, this legislation includes our farmer safety net, our food and nutrition programs. Families, farmers, ranchers, and producers go to work every morning; so should their government. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, at this point I would just like to say that it is unconscionable that we will hold the American people hostage in denying them the services and the protections of their government, the much- needed paychecks for the workers employed by these agencies, simply to satisfy the ego of someone at the end of Pennsylvania Avenue. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone), who is the chairman of the authorizing Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the motion to recommit.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Costa), who is a member of the authorizing House Committee on Agriculture. He represents an area in California that is called the salad bowl of our country.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, as many know, I have been and will continue to be an advocate and a supporter of rural broadband expansion. I view it as an obligation to provide adequate service for everyone, as it is vital to health, safety, the economy, and the welfare of all of our rural communities. The $425 million that is provided in this bill will complement the $600 million that was provided in the FY 2018 bill, which has not yet been spent. USDA recently completed the program design, and it can now begin implementing and, if this bill is enacted, awarding over $1 billion in broadband expansion funding to the communities that need it the most. This funding is in addition to the other programs that assist communities in getting broadband services, including the Community Connect Program, the Broadband Loan Program, and the Distance Learning and Telecommunication Program. We have funding in the works to accomplish the needs for rural broadband. We need to pass this bill because we need to open the government. We need to make sure that USDA and the Food and Drug Administration and all of the agencies that are shut down will open, and open quickly, to support the needs of the American people. Mr. Speaker, I urge that this motion to recommit be rejected, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I reserve a point of order on the gentleman's motion.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, may I inquire how much time remains.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I yield the gentleman from California an additional 20 seconds.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Let me just say that, as we said before, this bill is not perfect, but we should not let the perfect be the enemy of the good. Chief among the funding in this bill is funding that is included to combat one of the biggest public health risks today which is opioids. The bill provides strong support for the FDA to combat this opioid epidemic. In addition to funds provided last year, it provides $59 million to continue the activities involved in inspecting, investigating, and screening of opioids. As the agency that oversees these drugs, the FDA has a vital responsibility, I agree, to make sure that the public health impacts of opioid abuse is mitigated, but this funding is just one part of a broad strategy to address opioids. The committee strongly supports the FDA's role in intergovernmental efforts to confront the crisis, but since we must move forward and open the government, we urge adoption of this bill. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee), a member of the Committee on Appropriations, co-chair of the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, and a long-time advocate for the elimination of persistent poverty in America and across the world.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey), who is the first female chair of the United States House Committee on Appropriations.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to just say that the gentleman from Washington makes some salient points. I agree with the gentleman that the Freedom of Information Act and the SNAP retail sales language is something that we would love to have and should be in this legislation. Also, I look forward to working with the gentleman to take care of that as we move forward in the 116th Congress, as well as our work on the H-2A program, which is in bad need of repair. And persistent poverty, the 10-20-30 program, we are happy that the gentleman is supportive and that the committee has been supportive. We look forward to making sure that that is implemented fully as we move forward. But, right now, we have to open the government. We cannot afford to let this government remain closed to continue to hurt the American people. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott), who is my classmate and the chair of the Committee on Education and Labor.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. It has been said many times that we shouldn't pass this bill which has previously been adopted by the Senate because the President will not sign it. Well, I believe that we have three branches of government, and it is our obligation as the legislative branch to pass the laws. If we do our job, then we will let the President be held responsible for his failure to do his. We must keep this government open for the American people. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Maine (Ms. Pingree), a member of the Committee on Appropriations and a member of the Subcommittee for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 28, I call up the bill (H.R. 265) making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart and solemn remembrance that I rise today to pay tribute to a distinguished civil rights leader, an inspirational spiritual leader, and true man of God, Reverend Doctor Cameron Madison Alexander, the beloved Pastor of Antioch Baptist Church North in Atlanta, Georgia. Sadly, Reverend Alexander transitioned from labor to reward on Sunday, December 30, 2018. He leaves in his wake many heavy hearts among his church family, community, and across the world. His funeral service was held on January 7, 2019, at 11 am at Antioch Baptist Church North located at 540 Cameron M. Alexander Blvd NW, Atlanta, GA, 30318. What a celebration of life it was. Rev. Cameron Madison Alexander was born to the union of Reverend Homer M. and Augusta (Hutchins) Alexander on February 12, 1932. A product of the Atlanta Public School System, he graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in 1948, where he played football, ran track, and played saxophone in the band. After high school, he attended Florida A&M University, was in the Marching 100 band, and served his country in the United States Air Force. He then attended Morehouse College under President Dr. Benjamin E. Mays, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree, received his Master of Divinity degree from the Morehouse School of Religion, served there as the President and Treasurer as well as Trustee of the Morehouse School of Medicine. In recognition of his numerous contributions to society, he was awarded Honorary Doctor of Divinity degrees from the United Theological Seminary (1978), the Interdenominational Theological Center (1991), and Carver Bible College (2007). His pastoral ministry began at Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Cartersville, Georgia. From there he was called to the Flagg Chapel Baptist Church in Milledgeville, Georgia, then in 1958 to New Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Macon where he became an activist leader against injustice, resulting in desegregation of the city buses, lunch counters, the Bowden Golf Course, and Mercer University. In 1965, Rev. Alexander was called to St. John Baptist Church in Savannah where he took his ministry beyond the church walls and formed a partnership with C&S Bank to improve 109 blocks of real estate in Savannah and provide affordable housing and jobs. In 1969, while visiting Antioch as a guest, Reverend Alexander delivered a sermon so powerful that the church voted by write-in the next day to call him as Pastor. For almost 50 years, he was the driving force behind Antioch Baptist Church North. Under his leadership, the church grew from 600 members with an annual budget of less than $40,000 to 14,000 members and a multi-million dollar annual budget. He established over 75 ministries and outreach programs touching communities in Atlanta and across the world. Rev. Alexander's extraordinary servant leadership was prolific. For 29 years, he served as President of the General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia which claims a membership of more than 800 churches; Vice President of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.; and Dean for the Sunday School and Baptist Training Union Congress. He trained, licensed, and ordained 600 ministers, 150 of whom went on to pastor other churches. He established the Antioch International Macedonian Missionaries (AIMM) ministry to touch ``the least of these'' beyond our nation's borders, addressing issues of inadequate safe drinking water, food, and medical care in Haiti, South Africa, Turkey, Columbia, and Brazil where AIMM facilitated opening the first university for black Brazilians known as Afrobras. The City of Atlanta honored Dr. Alexander by naming a street for him. He was inducted into Atlanta Business League's Legends Hall of Fame and the International Civil Rights Hall of Fame at the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site. He was invited to submit one of his inaugural sermons to the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress which became part of the oral history and spoken word collections that preserve Americans' accounts of and reactions to important cultural events. On a personal note, I met Dr. Alexander 40 years ago through my Pastor and his good friend, Dr. J.H. Flakes, Jr. of the Fourth Street Baptist Church of Columbus. His friendship, advice, and counsel were pivotal in my political career in The Georgia General Assembly and in Congress. I am better for having known him. Dr. Alexander accomplished much in his life; yet, none of it would have been possible but for the Grace of God and the love and support of his family--including his beloved wife, Barbara; their four children, Gregory (deceased), Cameron, Kenneth, and Barbara; and his nine grandchildren, all of whom will miss him deeply. Madam Speaker, my wife Vivian and I, along with countless others throughout Georgia and the nation salute Reverend Doctor Cameron Madison Alexander for his outstanding accomplishments in the ministry and his service to humankind. I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join us in extending our deepest sympathies to Reverend Alexander's family, friends, loved ones, and all who grieve during this difficult time of bereavement. We pray that they will be consoled and comforted by an abiding faith and the Holy Spirit in the days, weeks, and months ahead.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the fiscal year 2019 Financial Services and General Government appropriations bill as an effective vehicle for reopening the Federal Government agencies that are funded by this bill as expeditiously as possible. The legislation before the House today is vitally important to ensuring the Federal Government and the U.S. economy can work for the American people. It safeguards our financial system, ensures a fair playing field for taxpayers, supports new businesses, cultivates the vibrancy and effectiveness of our telecommunications system, safeguards our workers, provides for the safety of our products, and protects the integrity of our elections. Among the agencies funded under the bill are the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Federal Communications Commission, the Federal Trade Commission, the Federal Election Commission, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Small Business Administration. With this current, unnecessary, misguided government shutdown, the agencies responsible for these objectives are not able to fulfill their mission for the American people. Hundreds of thousands of Federal workers are being furloughed without pay; consumer help lines are going unanswered due to a lack of staff; enforcement activities are being suspended; and loans from the Small Business Administration are not being processed. In addition, with the closure of the Federal Election Commission, reports of political malfeasance are not being investigated. And of great significance, without this funding, millions of Americans will not be able to have their tax returns processed so that they can receive the refunds on which they rely to make purchases and pay bills and school tuition. These refunds, when spent by taxpayers, contribute immensely to the national economy, creating and maintaining countless jobs. As a member of the House Appropriations Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this legislation, which passed the Senate last month on a bipartisan vote of 92-6. Let's reopen these agencies and put the government back to work for the people, for the American people.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart and solemn remembrance that I rise today to pay tribute to a remarkable statesman, public servant, Georgia State Representative, and friend of longstanding--Mr. Robert ``Bob'' Paul Hanner, Sr. Sadly, Representative Hanner passed away on Wednesday, January 2, 2019. His passing marks the close of a long and prolific life, and his departure leaves a void in the hearts of many Georgians. A funeral service for Representative Hanner was held on Saturday, January 5, 2019, at First Baptist Church of Dawson in Dawson, Georgia. Robert Paul Hanner, Sr. was born in Americus, Georgia on April 19, 1945, to the union of the late Jack and Yip Hanner. A product of Georgia's educational systems, he attended Parrott Grammar School and Terrell High School before graduating from both Gordon Military College in Barnesville and Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus. He served his country honorably in the U.S. Coast Guard in Vietnam from 1967 to 1968. In 1975, Bob was elected to the Georgia General Assembly, where he served until 2013, and represented House District 148, which included portions of Chattahoochee, Quitman, Lee, Terrell, Webster, and Stewart counties. During his 38 year tenure, he served as a member of the House Appropriations Committee, Rules Committee, Natural Resources and Environment Committee, Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee, Chairman of the Reapportionment Committee, and Chairman of the Game, and Fish and Parks Committee. He also served as Co-Chair of the State- wide Water Management Commission. Bob served as Co-Chair of the Joint Blue Ribbon Study Commission on State Government Decentralization and the Joint Comprehensive Water Study Committee. He also worked with the Agriculture Water branch of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division. His contribution to agriculture and the environment is memorialized in the Hooks-Hanner Environmental Resource Center which was established through the legislative efforts of Bob and his longtime Southwest Georgia legislative partner, State Senator George Hooks. The name of the Center honors their legacy of service to Georgia agriculture and the environment. Bob's community involvement included membership in the Dawson Lion's Club, the P.T. Schley Lodge No. 229, the Terrell County Chamber of Commerce, as well as Vice President of both the Georgia and local chapters of Jaycees. Bob accomplished much throughout his life, but none of this would have been possible without his enduring faith in God and the love and support of his wife, Linda; his three sons, Robert Jr., Jeff, and Matt; and his two grandsons. On a personal note, Bob and I served under him in the State House together and I was blessed with his friendship, counsel, and support over the years. His help with my initial campaign and subsequent reelection campaigns for Congress were pivotal. Bob was truly a great representative for Southwest Georgia and a stellar example of how a public servant should serve his constituents. His leadership will be sorely missed. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join my wife, Vivian, and me, along with the more than 730,000 residents of Georgia's Second Congressional District, in paying tribute to State Representative Robert ``Bob'' Paul Hanner, Sr. for his remarkable leadership in our great State of Georgia and in extending our deepest sympathies to his family, friends and, loved ones during this difficult time of bereavement. Moreover, we pray that they will be consoled and comforted by an abiding faith and the Holy Spirit in the days, weeks, and months ahead.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, it is my honor and pleasure to extend my personal congratulations and best wishes to a dear friend of longstanding and servant of humankind, The Honorable Judge William C. Randall, Chief Judge of the Civil and Magistrate Courts of Macon-Bibb County, Georgia. Judge Randall was honored in a retirement ceremony on Friday, January 4, 2019, at 5:00 pm at the Terminal Station in Macon, Georgia. Judge Randall was born on October 14, 1943, in Macon, Georgia to the union of the late William P. and Lillian Randall. He is a product of the Bibb County Public School System, where he attended L.H. Williams Elementary School and Peter G. Appling High School. He went on to receive his Bachelor of Arts degree from Morgan State University and his Juris Doctorate degree from Emory University School of Law. Following his graduation from law school, Judge Randall was an Earl Warren fellow with the NACCP Legal Defense Fund, Inc. in New York City. After which, he returned to his hometown of Macon and established a very successful law practice. In 1974, Judge Randall was elected from Bibb County to the Georgia House of Representatives, where he served until 1999. During his 24 years of service in the Georgia General Assembly, he served on several committees, but most notably rose to become Chairman of the House Special Judiciary Committee. He received several awards including the Outstanding Legislative Award by the Concerned Citizens League of Macon; the Outstanding Legislative Award from the Afro-American Law Enforcement League of Macon; the Outstanding Legislative Award from the Bibb Association of Educators; the Legislator of the Year Award by the Georgia Association for the Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse; and the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus, Inc. In 1999, he was appointed by Georgia Governor Roy Barnes to be Chief Judge of the Civil and Magistrate Courts of Bibb County. In addition to Judge Randall's legislative service, he is also a member of the Macon Bar Association; the State Bar of Georgia; The National Bar Association; the American Bar Association; the American Judicial Association; and the Executive Committee of the Magistrate Judges Council. Judge Randall is also a member of the Prince Hall Masons; the Elks; and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). After his retirement, Judge Randall is planning to spend quality time with his wife, Lauretta; his five children; and his 11 grandchildren. He has accomplished much in his life, but none of it would have been possible without the love and support of the family he cherishes so dearly. On a personal note, I would like to thank Judge Randall for his friendship, advice, counsel, and support over the years. We were schoolmates at Emory Law School, shared the Earl Warren Legal Fellowship experience together and as a young lawyer, he assisted me by allowing me to work out of his Macon office when I had cases and trials in Bibb County Superior Court and the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia. I served under him in the Georgia House when he chaired the House Special Judiciary Committee. When I ran for Congress, his early support was pivotal in my gaining nomination and election as Congressman from the Second Congressional District. He and his family provided countless Sunday dinners during my weekend visits to Bibb County. A true Georgian devoted to serving his great state, Judge Randall embodies Georgia's state motto, ``Wisdom, Justice, and Moderation.'' Judge Randall is a man of great integrity who sets a high standard for himself and for others. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join my wife, Vivian, and me, along with the more than 730,000 constituents of Georgia's Second Congressional District in extending our sincerest appreciation and best wishes to The Honorable Judge William C. Randall upon the occasion of his retirement.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, as a legislative body, one of Congress' core responsibilities is to keep the government open and working for the people. Another core responsibility is to help communities struck by disaster to recover and rebuild. The continuing resolution before us is not a sufficient response to these vital needs. It includes only token disaster relief for rural communities and farmers in middle and southwest Georgia that were devastated by Hurricane Michael and other disasters that occurred in 2018. It does not include a number of provisions that were being negotiated. It only includes $8 million for impacted rural communities, instead of $150 million. It does not change the percentage recovery for crop losses from 85 percent for those with crop insurance to 90 percent and from 65 percent for those without crop insurance to 70 percent. It includes less than half of the estimated need for the Emergency Forest Restoration Program, $200 million instead of $480 million. It does not include the lower threshold for pecan tree mortality to 7.5 percent, but leaves it at the current level of 15 percent, which is totally inadequate. It does not include the most recent estimate for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Disaster Nutrition Assistance, which is $8.5 million instead of $9.3 million. Finally, it does not include any of the $600 million for Puerto Rico nutrition assistance. Unfortunately, it does include significant funding for a misguided and wasteful wall on our southwestern border. This wall would do nothing to improve our Nation's security and is a serious misallocation of taxpayer dollars. It should have been stripped from this important legislation and considered separately. Furthermore, this legislation is dead on arrival in the Senate. We must do better. We must meet the significant needs of my Georgia constituents and Americans across the country who are still rebuilding from Hurricane Michael. We must pass a government bill that would avoid the damage caused by a government shutdown. I urge my colleagues to reject this bill.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart and solemn remembrance that I rise today to pay tribute to a distinguished educator, political activist, and dear friend of longstanding, Mrs. Eunice L. Mixon. Sadly, Eunice departed to her eternal reward on Thursday, November 22, 2018. On Sunday, December 2, 2018, friends and family will gather to celebrate the wonderful life of this exceptional woman at a homegoing service held at First Baptist Church in Tifton, Georgia. Eunice Lastinger Mixon was born in Tifton, Georgia on November 1, 1931, to the union of the late Robert and Carrie Lastinger. A product of the Tift County School System, she went on to attend classes at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Norman Park Junior College, Valdosta State College, and the University of Georgia where she earned both Master's and Specialist Degrees in Science Education. Winston Churchill said, ``We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.'' Through every stage of her life, Eunice always gave herself to others. She served as an educator for 30 years within the Tift County School System and at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College before redirecting her passion to politics. Her first official post in politics came in 1974 when she became the Tift County campaign chair for former Governor George Busbee. She also served as a delegate to the 1988 and 1992 National Democratic Conventions, and as a member of the Georgia Democratic Executive Committee. Over the years, she has helped campaign and fundraise for several political figures including former Georgia Lieutenant Governors Zell Miller, and Pierre Howard, former Georgia Governors Roy Barnes, Joe Frank Harris, and Sonny Perdue, former Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy Irvin, former Georgia Secretary of State Max Cleland, U.S. Representative Charles Hatcher, former U.S. Senator Sam Nunn, former U.S. Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton as well as yours truly. Eunice's distinguished civic service was mirrored by her extensive involvement in her community. In conjunction with her professional accomplishments in politics, she served on several boards, including the Georgia Student Finance Commission; Vocational Education Task Force; Advisory Council on Consolidation of Education Programs; Georgia Civil War Commission; Joint Board Liaison Committee; and the Georgia State Bar Disciplinary Board. She has served as the doorkeeper to the Georgia State Senate, and has served on the State Bar of Georgia's Investigative Panel; the Tifton/Tift County Library Board; the Coastal Plain Regional Library Board; the Heritage Trust Commission Board; and the State Election Board. Eunice received several awards for her extensive achievement, service, and public distinction. These include induction into the Tift County Chamber of Commerce's Wall of Fame in 2014; the Liberty Bell Award by the Tifton Judicial Circuit Bar Association in 2016; the Eunice Mixon Award from the State Bar of Georgia in 2010; the Distinguished Older Georgian by the Georgia Council on Aging in 2018; and a listing as one of the 40 Most Influential South Georgians. Eunice is survived by her loving sons, Johnny and Jimmy; and a host of other family members and friends. On a personal note, I was blessed to know Eunice and her husband, Albert, for many years and I can say without reservation that she was one of the most passionate and warm-hearted individuals I have ever met. I am proud to have considered Eunice and the Mixon family as friends of longstanding. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join my wife Vivian and me, along with the more than 730,000 people of the Second Congressional District, and all across the state of Georgia, in paying tribute to Mrs. Eunice Lastinger Mixon, for her legacy of service to state of Georgia, and extending our deepest condolences to Eunice's family, friends, and loved ones. We pray that we will all be consoled and comforted by an abiding faith and the Holy Spirit in the days, weeks, and months ahead.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart and solemn remembrance that I rise today to pay tribute to a beloved entrepreneur and dear friend of longstanding, Kim Porter. Sadly, Kim departed to her eternal reward on Thursday, November 15, 2018 . On Saturday, November 24, 2018, friends and family gathered to celebrate the wonderful life of this exceptional woman at a homegoing service held at Cascade Hills Church in Columbus, Georgia. Kimberly Antwinette Porter was born on December 15, 1970, in Columbus, Georgia to the union of Jake and Sarah Goodwin Porter. From the time she was eight years old, she was reared by her mother, as a single parent, and her grandmother, Ms. Lila Star, the owner of the renowned Royal Cafe in Columbus. As a young teenager, Kim attended the Mabie Bailey School of Modeling in Columbus, Georgia, and in 1988, graduated from Columbus High School where she was a musician in the marching band and Homecoming Queen. At the age of 17, Kim won the Fresh Faces Model of the South Pageant in Hilton Head, South Carolina. Following her high school graduation, she moved to New York to embark on her journey to become a model, where she met Marsha Irving who became one of her closest friends. Her stunning looks and poised presence made her a contender for several of New York's top modeling agencies. Kim ultimately signed with the Wilhelmina Agency and garnered worldwide recognition, gracing the runways and covers for numerous global brands and premiere fashion magazines. She also worked alongside such legendary models as Kimora Lee Simmons, Veronica Webb, and Naomi Campbell. In addition to her stellar career on the runway, Kim made a name for herself in the entertainment industry. She was the visionary behind Uptown Records, providing creative optics and a visual narrative that propelled the label and connected the culture of the South with New York City and the East Coast. As an actress, Kim appeared in numerous television series and films including Law & Order, The Brothers, The Cosby Show, and Mama, I Want to Sing. With her cherished ``best friends'', Eboni Elektra and Nicole Johnson, she co-founded Three Brown Girls, an Atlanta based marketing firm that promoted celebrity events and emerging artists. William Shakespeare wrote, ``All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts. . . .'' Kim elegantly played many parts and graciously used her influence to inspire others, leaving a lasting impact. Maya Angelou once said, ``A great soul serves everyone all the time. A great soul never dies.'' Kim was one such great soul, who served humanity in a very special way. Each day she graced the people around her with an enthusiastic sincerity of presence. Her legacy on this earth extends beyond herself to those whom she inspired and supported, and for it, she will always be remembered. Kimberly is survived by her beautiful children, Quincy, Christian, Jessie, and D'Lila; her father, Jake Porter; her grandmother, Ms. Lila Star; aunts, uncles, and a host of other family and friends including R&B singer, Albert Brown (Al B. Sure!) and music mogul, Sean John Combs (P-Diddy), all of whom will miss her deeply. On a personal note, I have known and been associated with Kim and her extended family for more than 40 years. When she became Homecoming Queen at Columbus High School, her mother asked me to escort her during the half time activities when her father was unable to attend. Kim was a special young woman who had a sweet and gentle spirit and an infectious personality that endeared her to many. She gave others strength by always seeing and focusing on the positive side of life. I can say without reservation that Kim was one of the most sincere and warm-hearted people I have known. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join my wife, Vivian, and me, along with the constituents of Georgia's Second Congressional District and people all across America and the world, in paying tribute to Ms. Kimberly Antwinette Porter for the inspiring life that she led. Moreover, we extend our deepest sympathies to her family, friends, and loved ones during this difficult time. We pray that we will all be consoled and comforted by an abiding faith and the Holy Spirit in the days, weeks, and months ahead.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor and pleasure to extend my sincere congratulations to the membership and leadership of Washington Avenue Presbyterian Church in Macon, Georgia for 180 years of remarkable service. The congregation of Washington Avenue Presbyterian Church commemorated this milestone with a celebration on Sunday, November 11, 2018. Tracing its roots back to the pre-Civil War era, the Church was organized around 1838 when Pastor Samuel Cassels was instructed to preach and minister to the slaves of the members of the 1st Presbyterian Church's congregation. The ``African Chapel,'' a separate facility, was built on Fourth Street (now M.L. King Drive) but remained associated with the 1st Presbyterian Church. With a request for full independence by ``African Chapel'' members that was granted on May 5, 1866, the present Washington Avenue Presbyterian Church was formed. Joseph Williams, David Laney, and Robert Carter were the first Ministers ordained to serve the church following its formal establishment. The Church had humble origins due to racial and social stratification in the post-Civil War South. With the end of the Civil War, the bells of Washington Avenue Presbyterian Church rang to celebrate emancipation. Under the pastorate of David Laney, most notably, the distinguished Gothic Revival structure of the Church was constructed. The Washington Avenue Presbyterian Church is not only the o19est African-American congregation in the state of Georgia, but also bears the distinct honor of being one of the oldest minority congregations in the country. Named for the street on which it is located, the Church has become the primary place of worship for many generations of the most prominent black families in Macon. It also enjoys the privilege of being listed in the National Register of Historic Places in America, another indication of its importance in the local, state, and national communities. The story of Washington Avenue Presbyterian Church, which began as a small group of slaves worshipping in a small `` African Chapel'' and has grown into an expansive and successful church, is truly an inspiring one of the dedication and perseverance of a faithful congregation of people who put all their love and trust in the Lord. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the House to join me in paying tribute to the Washington Avenue Presbyterian Church in Macon, Georgia for its congregation's enduring commitment despite adversity, to each other and to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ for over 180 years. May their actions continue to inspire the community in courage, in dedication, and in faith.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor and pleasure to extend my sincere congratulations to the congregation of Saint James African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church in Columbus, Georgia as the church's membership and leadership prepare to celebrate a remarkable 155 years. The congregation of St. James A.M.E. Church will celebrate this very significant anniversary with a worship celebration on Sunday, November 18, 2018 at the Church located at 1002 Sixth Avenue in Columbus, Georgia. Tracing its roots back to the Civil War era, the St. James congregation emerged from the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with Reverend William Gaines serving as the first pastor in 1864. Today, the physical body of the church serves as a reflection and memorial of past members and pastors who contributed to its preservation. On September 29, 1980, the church was listed on the National Historic Register. In an 1873 act, the Georgia Legislature granted St. James A.M.E. Church the land on which it stands and the first cathedral construction was completed in 1876. The ornately carved front doors, built by slaves, are the oldest parts of the church and are a reminder of the history of strength and perseverance behind the congregation. Since its founding, St. James has endured several additions and renovations, all of which help tell the story of the church, its members and its fifty-one former leaders. In 1886, Reverend Larry Thomas oversaw the construction of the bell tower, which still stands today as a symbol of the Church's concrete mission to serve its congregation and community. Reverend Harold I. Bearden, who served from 1940 to 1948, installed the pipe organ that is still heard during church services today. In 1988, St. James purchased property for a new parsonage, and by 1996, the conversion of the old parsonage into an administrative building was completed under the leadership of Reverend Scottie Swinney. The building now houses offices, a conference room, music room, clothing and food bank, and archives room, which collectively aid in the fulfillment of the church ministry. After Reverend Swinney's tenure, Reverend Richard Washington was pastor of the church. The church is now pastored by Reverend Joseph Baker, Sr. In 2004, St. James erected an Elevator Tower to accommodate all members of the congregation. The building includes classrooms, accessible bathrooms, a stewardess room, and an elevator that services the Fellowship Hall and Sanctuary. To commemorate this achievement, a time capsule was deposited behind the Elevator Tower cornerstone to be opening in 2054. Throughout all of these changes, the church has consistently maintained its presence as a center for spiritual, educational, professional, and civic gatherings within the African-American community. The second oldest church of its denomination in Georgia, St. James A.M.E. Church has served as pillar of faith in the community for 155 years. The spirit within the congregation and their commitment to the growth of St. James is both admirable and inspiring. Mr. Speaker, today I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to Saint James A.M.E. Church in Columbus, Georgia for their dedication to helping one another, serving the community, and above all, worshipping our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.