Sanford Bishop

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I consider it my great honor and pleasure to extend my sincerest congratulations to the Easterseals Southern Georgia program as it celebrates 60 years of serving individuals living with disabilities and their families. The Easterseals Southern Georgia will celebrate this significant milestone with a celebration on July 15, 2017 at the Doublegate Country Club in Albany, GA. Easterseals Southern Georgia was brought to life by Mr. and Mrs. Carl Huie after they spent nearly eight years traveling back and forth from Atlanta with their daughter Carlton whose health was ailing. After struggling to find a facility that accommodated her daughter's needs, Mrs. Huie vowed to start a rehabilitation center in Albany to serve the disabled people of Southwest Georgia. After nearly two years of letter writing and talking with every women's group in Albany, Mrs. Huie convinced the Junior League of Albany to take on the sponsorship and they began working toward establishing what would become the Easter Seal Guild. In 1954, the Devane Home in Albany was rented, and later purchased for use. The center officially opened on November 25, 1957 and on November 21, 1961, the Easter Seal Guild was formed, boasting 25 charter members. However, in 1990, the Easter Seal Guild dissolved and Easterseals Southern Georgia became a direct affiliate of the National Easterseals Organization. Through the changes, the program continued to grow into a multi-faceted organization, becoming even more responsive to the needs of the region it set out to serve. The programs for adults and children created by Easterseals Southern Georgia over the years have helped families of individuals who are amputees and those who suffer from traumatic physical and emotional injuries, developmental or intellectual disabilities, and mental illnesses by providing programs that are customized to their needs. The Easterseals Southern Georgia continues to provide these and new services to help ensure that each group's needs are met. Beyond working to provide opportunities to adults with disabilities, Easterseals Southern Georgia opened ``Megan's House'' to serve families of children with disabilities. The house was so successful that the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities provided funds for a second home in Waycross, Georgia, and the U.S. Congress provided federal funds in 2009 for a third home in Valdosta, Georgia. Since its inception in 1957, Easterseals Southern Georgia has served over 70,000 citizens in need and has aimed to ensure that those with developmental disabilities have valued roles in the community by administering training and other services that support individual choices and opportunities. Easterseals has expanded its area of outreach to underprivileged adults and children in Northern Florida and East Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me and the more than 730,000 residents of Georgia's Second Congressional District in expressing our profound gratitude to Easterseals Southern Georgia for providing citizens with disabilities the long-lasting skills needed to be outstanding members of their communities.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to extend my sincerest congratulations and Happy Birthday wishes to an extraordinary nurse, activist, advocate, and pioneer, Ms. Mary N. Long, who is celebrating her 76th birthday on Monday, June 26, 2017. On this day, there will be a celebration at Paschal's Restaurant in Atlanta, Georgia. Mary N. Long was born in Guthrie, Kentucky in 1941. She moved to Atlanta in 1960 to attend the Grady Memorial Hospital's School of Nursing and went on to graduate in 1963. Soon after, Mary embarked on what would become a distinguished career. Starting as an ambulatory care nurse at Grady, she gained extensive experience while volunteering at Atlanta's free clinics and assisting local health organizations. She soon became an influential figure at Grady, developing the hospital's satellite clinics while at the forefront of Grady's participation in Economic Opportunity Atlanta's health affairs to reach the greater Atlanta community. In 1971, Mary developed and became the first Coordinator of the Central Referral Department at Grady. This program provided both information resources for those unfamiliar with the hospital system and advocacy within the community regarding policies and procedures so that proper treatment was readily available for patients. Her dedication and devotion built the program from the ground up and her work reflected such. While working at Grady, she became involved with the Georgia Nurses Association (GNA), and its philanthropic organization, Georgia Nurses Foundation (GNF). As an active member and chairperson of GNA's Government Affairs Commission, Mary became the first minority woman to be their advocate at the Georgia legislature. In 1981, Mary was the first African American to be elected as the President of GNA where she served two terms. As a member of the City of Atlanta's Homeless Task Force, she was instrumental in the partnership between GNF and the city that led to the establishment of Atlanta's first clinic for homeless. In 1985, Mary Long became the Vice President for Legislative Affairs for the Arthritis Foundation and was later promoted to the Foundation's Group Vice President for Public Policy and Advocacy in 1996. In addition, she was elected to the American Nurses Association (ANA) Board of Directors and served as ANA's Second Vice President. While Mary has made tremendous contributions to health care issues, she also made great strides in other areas. For example, she was active in the movement to pass the Equal Rights Amendment in Georgia. She has an extensive record of service at the local, regional, and national levels. Her work has transcended through organizations such as the YMCA, Atlanta Food Bank, Atlanta Habitat for Humanity, and the Atlanta Women's Foundation. She has received numerous awards for her groundbreaking innovation, actions, and creative thoughts. As an active member of her church, Trinity United Methodist in Atlanta, she has held onto her faith the entire journey. As a friend of long standing, I have had the great privilege of witnessing Mary's work and the impact she has had on our state and nation. She has established a legacy of providing support for underrepresented groups on health care issues and I am very grateful for her tireless advocacy to improve the health care system in Georgia as well as her steadfast support for patients and their families. A woman of great integrity, her efforts, her dedication, and her expertise in her field are unparalleled. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to join me and my wife, Vivian, in honoring an outstanding citizen, advocate, and cherished friend, Ms. Mary N. Long, for the inspiring life that she leads. We extend our best wishes to her as she, her family, and friends celebrate her 75th birthday.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an outstanding artist and homegrown legend, the late great Gregg Allman. Sadly, on Saturday, May 27, 2017, Gregg passed away peacefully at his home in Savannah, Georgia. A private funeral was held in his hometown of Macon, Georgia on Saturday, June 3, 2017 and he was laid to rest at Macon's Rose Hill Cemetery beside his brother and bandmate, Duane Allman, and bandmate, Berry Oakley. Born in the ``Music City'' of Nashville, Tennessee, Gregg Allman's connection to music runs deep. Appropriately, it was a concert in Nashville with Jackie Wilson, Otis Redding, B.B. King, and Patti LaBelle that jumpstarted Gregg's passion for music. Though he is best known as a keyboardist and singer, he also performed on acoustic guitar, which he learned to play from a neighbor. He worked as a paperboy to buy his first Silverstone guitar, which he and his brother often fought to play. Ultimately, it was Duane who became the paramount guitar player of the family. Gregg and Duane Allman formed a series of bands in cities ranging from Los Angeles to Jacksonville to Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Eventually, in Daytona Beach, they formed what is considered their first ``real'' band, the Escorts, which later evolved into the Allman Joys. Then in 1969, the Allman Brothers Band officially formed and moved to Macon, Georgia, captivating a generation of music lovers with their distinctive sound. Songs such as ``Whipping Post,'' ``Ramblin' Man,'' and ``Midnight Rider'' helped define what is known as Southern rock and set the stage for other musicians such as Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Marshall Tucker Band. In October 1971, Gregg's brother Duane was killed in a motorcycle accident in Macon. One year later, the band's bassist, Berry Oakley also died in a motorcycle accident just a few blocks from where Duane lost his life. Music was the best release the band members found, so they continued performing and recording over the next four decades. Throughout the years, the band dismantled and reformed several times, allowing Gregg to produce a few solo albums and even one with his former wife, Cher. Eventually, the Allman Brothers Band regrouped for the final time in 1989 and continued performing until 2014. As a member of the Allman Brothers Band, Gregg Allman was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1995. He was also inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 2006 and received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2012 Grammy Awards. Those who knew Gregg personally spoke fondly of him, describing him as a jokester and a man with a kind heart. Gregg Allman is survived by his wife, Shannon, five children, and three grandchildren. Not surprisingly, several of his children have played music professionally. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me, my wife Vivian, and the more than 730,000 residents of Georgia's Second Congressional District in recognizing Gregg Allman for his remarkable accomplishments as a pioneering and world-renowned musician. His timeless talent and everlasting legacy live on in the hearts of those who loved him and will continue to be remembered by generations to come.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor and pleasure to extend my personal congratulations to Mr. Richard ``Ricky'' McCorkle, Superintendent of the Marion County School District, on his retirement after 30 years as an educator and civic leader. He will be honored at a retirement celebration on Wednesday, May 24, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. at the Marion County Middle and High School cafeteria. Before becoming an educator, Mr. McCorkle was an insurance salesman from 1977 until 1987. That year, he earned a bachelor of arts degree in history from Georgia Southwestern College. He then became a history teacher and a basketball and baseball coach at Tri-County High School. In 1997, he earned a Master of Science degree in Educational Leadership from Troy State University. That year, he became the Tri-County High School principal. Within two years, he was elected as Superintendent of the Marion County School District. Aristotle once said, ``Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.'' Mr. McCorkle was an educator of both. He is rooted in the belief that children need constant love and encouragement. As such, he was most known for walking through Marion County schools on a regular basis and talking with students from pre-K to 12th grade. He frequently visited teachers and staff to show his care and support for them as well. Outside of his tremendous scholastic dedication, Mr. McCorkle is also very involved within the community. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for South Georgia Technical College and is the Executive Director of Chattahoochee-Flint RESA. He is also a Board Member of the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce Valley Partnership Joint Development Authority and the River Valley Regional Commission. He is a member of the Buena Vista/Marion County Chamber of Commerce, Georgia School Superintendents Association, Georgia School Boards Association, and Georgia Association of Educational Leaders. He is a founder of Pastors Partnering with Education. After retirement, Mr. McCorkle will enjoy spending time with his wife, Marie, and their two children and two grandchildren. His love for education was also instilled in his own children, both of whom are now educators and married to educators. Richard McCorkle has accomplished much in his life, but none of it would be possible without the love and support of the family he cherishes so dearly. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in extending our sincerest appreciation and best wishes to Superintendent Richard McCorkle upon the occasion of his retirement from an outstanding career spanning 30 years in education.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the omnibus appropriations bill. As the ranking member on the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, I would like to take a few moments to highlight a few areas in the bill's agriculture section. This has been a long time coming, beginning with a markup over 1 year ago in April 2016. Since then, many things have changed, but what has remained constant is the desire of the House Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee to address the needs of rural America by adequately funding programs that serve them and the country. While the total funding level is below 2016 and the House-reported bill, I believe we used what we had wisely. For example, we secured increased funding for agriculture research, food and plant health programs, the Farm Service Agency, and for rural development. The bill also expands telemedicine, broadband access, and STEM distance learning, as well as provides $400 million in Community Development Block Grant funding for disaster assistance. In rural development, which is central to rural communities and the economies vital for producing America's food and fiber products, the bill provides $37 billion in direct and guaranteed loans to support clean water, decent housing, telecommunications, electric services, and rural businesses, which is more than we provided last year. On the grant side, water and waste grants are more than 10 percent higher than the President's budget request, broadband grants are more than three times higher than 2016, and community facility grants are 25 percent higher than the 2016 request and what was appropriated. All the domestic nutrition programs, Mr. Speaker, are funded at levels that will fully meet estimated needs for the rest of the fiscal year. FDA is funded above both FY16 and FY17 requests. However, for the third consecutive year, I am disappointed that Congress continued to keep the Commodity Futures Trading Commission at $250 million, making it increasingly difficult for the CFTC to carry out its core mission as well as its responsibilities under Dodd-Frank. I am very disappointed the omnibus does not include carefully crafted cottonseed legislation to assist American cotton producers. I am looking forward to beginning FY 2018 reviews and farm bill negotiations to close the remaining gaps left with the FY 2017 omnibus. Despite those concerns, I think this is a good bill. As a proud Representative of the largest cotton-producing district in the State of Georgia and the number one peanut- and pecan-producing district in the country, I urge my colleagues to support it so that we can get started on FY 2018 work and complete it in a timely manner for the benefit of our fellow Americans. I want to thank the ranking member, chairman, and the majority and minority staffs for their bipartisan, hard work in getting this bill to the floor, along with my personal staff, particularly Ms. Ada Bacetty, who worked so hard.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to extend my sincerest congratulations and Happy Birthday wishes to Mrs. Pearl Biggs, who is celebrating her 100th birthday on Tuesday, May 2, 2017. A birthday celebration will be held for Mrs. Biggs on Saturday, April 29, 2017. In 1917, the United States entered World War I, women did not yet have the right to vote, and segregation was rampant in the South. This is the year Mrs. Pearl Biggs was born to Mahaley Jones and Wiley Bunkley. Indeed, Mrs. Biggs has seen much in her lifetime and through it all, she has relied on her faith in the Lord. Mrs. Biggs began working as a cook at a young age and so it was inevitable that she would become known as a very good cook. In 1937, she married Pedro Biggs and they would spend the next 76 years together until his passing in 2014. Pearl and Pedro Biggs opened one of the first Black-owned businesses in the Geneva and Box Springs area in Southwest Georgia. They owned several businesses, including Biggs Sandwich Shop, a movie theatre, and a pulpwood company. They were also farmers. Mrs. Biggs loves to sing and she sang in the choir at her church. Her favorite song is ``Let Jesus Lead Me.'' She loves collard greens and the color pink. She enjoys fishing and talking on the phone. Mrs. Biggs has never met a stranger--she always wants to feed people and no one ever goes hungry around her. George Washington Carver once said, ``How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong because someday in your life you will have been all of these.'' Mrs. Biggs has advanced far in life because she never forgot these lessons and always kept God first. As she celebrates 100 years of life, Mrs. Biggs will be surrounded by her sons, Monroe and Allen; daughters-in-law, Mildred and Cynthia; grandchildren, Timothy, Kelton, and Amelia; and great-grandchildren, Jackson and Christopher; plus a host of other family members and friends. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me, along with my wife Vivian and the almost 730,000 people of Georgia's Second Congressional District, in honoring an outstanding citizen and woman of faith, Mrs. Pearl Biggs, as she, her family, and friends celebrate her 100th birthday.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 222.

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 an outstanding public servant and friend of longstanding, the Honorable Dawson Mathis. Sadly, former Congressman Mathis passed away on Monday, April 17, 2017. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 29, 2017, at 2 p.m. in Nashville, Georgia. A Georgia man through and through, Dawson Mathis was born on November 30, 1940, in Berrien County, to Marvin Wilbur Mathis and Nell Dawson Abell. He attended South Georgia College, now South Georgia State College, in Douglas. Before seeking public office, Dawson made a name for himself as the anchor and news director at WALB-TV in Albany, Georgia, from 1964 until 1970. That year, the young 29-year-old Dawson was elected to represent Georgia's Second Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives. He served on the House Agriculture Committee where he was a staunch advocate for the farmers, ranchers, and producers of the district and the Nation. He was known for working with lawmakers across the aisle to find common ground that would best serve the interests of Americans across the country. In 1980, Congressman Mathis ran unsuccessfully for the United States Senate. After being defeated in 1982 to regain his House seat, Congressman Mathis became a lobbyist in Washington, D.C., advocating on behalf of groups including Georgia peanut farmers. George Washington Carver once said: ``No individual has any right to come into the world and go out of it without leaving behind him distinct and legitimate reasons for having passed through it.'' Indeed, Congressman Dawson Mathis devoted many years of dedicated service to the people of Georgia through his meaningful contribution of energy, skill, and genuine passion, and for it, he will be remembered for years to come. On a personal note, Congressman Mathis was one of my predecessors in serving the Second Congressional District of Georgia, and I was blessed with his friendship, counsel, and mentorship over the years. Congressman Mathis was a great Representative for southwest Georgia and rural America, and I looked up to him as an example of how a public servant should serve his constituents. Mr. Speaker, my wife, Vivian, and I, along with the more than 730,000 residents of Georgia's Second Congressional District, salute Congressman Dawson Mathis for his outstanding public service and his everlasting commitment to improving the quality of life for our citizens. I ask my colleagues here in the House of Representatives to join us in extending our deepest condolences to Congressman Mathis' family and friends during this difficult time. 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. Speaker, I ask at this time for the House to observe a moment of silence in remembrance of the late Congressman Dawson Mathis.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize today to recognize National Volunteer Week, which will take place the week of April 23-29, 2017. During National Volunteer Week, organizations across the country celebrate the efforts of volunteers who share their time and talents with those in need--the homeless, the hungry, the elderly, the at-risk youth, and other marginalized populations. National Volunteer Week was established in 1974 by President Richard Nixon. Every U.S. president since then has issued a proclamation during National Volunteer Week, encouraging Americans to volunteer in their communities. This week serves to remind us all that we are a nation of people that thrives on serving others. The volunteering of time and resources has been an instrumental part of the essence and tradition of our country and remains essential to its spirit and vitality. I especially would like to recognize the great work of the Tri- Community Directors of Volunteer Services (Tri-DVS), which has been providing support to professionals working in the volunteer services field in Columbus and Fort Benning, Georgia and Phenix City, Alabama since 1985. In addition to promoting volunteerism, Tri-DVS provides support, training, networking opportunities, and professional skills accreditation to its members. Each year, Tri-DVS holds a luncheon during National Volunteer Week to recognize and thank the volunteers in the tri-city area. In September, the group sponsors a seminar, Investing in Volunteerism, to help organizations integrate volunteer services into their operations. Tri-DVS is a leader in the movement to improve communities through volunteerism and I applaud their resounding efforts to encourage and expand volunteer services for individuals and organizations throughout the tri-city area. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to join me in recognizing National Volunteer Week by acknowledging the positive impact volunteerism has on communities throughout the country. In addition, I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring the Tri- Community Directors of Volunteer Services for their efforts to provide support for the volunteers who tirelessly share their time and talents with those in need.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor and pleasure to extend my personal congratulations to an exceptional community leader and outstanding citizen, Mrs. Rhudine Warren Nelson Dorsey, fondly known as Dina, as she celebrates 45 years of service with the Georgia Legal Services Program. Dina was born to John and Minnie Warren in Columbus, Georgia. As an ``Army brat,'' her family moved around a lot and she attended several schools. She finished high school at William H. Spencer High School in Columbus, Georgia. She furthered her education at Columbus College (now Columbus State University) and Chattahoochee Valley Community College. In 1972, Dina began working at the Georgia Legal Services Program, formerly the Legal Aid Society, and has been an advocate for low-income clients with the organization ever since. She started as a receptionist under the management of attorney Rufe McCombs. She has since served as Domestic Relations Coordinator, Communications Coordinator, Pro Bono Coordinator, and Paralegal. In these roles, she has helped numerous clients collect countless dollars owed to them by government agencies such as the Social Security Administration. The Georgia Legal Services Program was founded in 1971, just one year before Dina began to work there. While independent of the Georgia State Bar, the organization was formed to establish a statewide legal services program and provide expanded legal services in Macon, Columbus and Savannah. Today, the Georgia Legal Services Program serves about 10,000 clients a year directly and many more through free legal clinics and ``Ask a Lawyer'' days. Dina's work with the Georgia Legal Services Program over the past 45 years has been widely recognized in the Columbus community. In 2006, she received the Liberty Bell Award from the Columbus Bar Association. That same year, she received the Mayor's Commission on Unity and Diversity Distinguished Woman Award. Dr. Benjamin E. Mays often said: ``You make your living by what you get; you make your life by what you give.'' Not only has Dina established a legacy in advocating for quality legal services for low- income people, but she has also done a tremendous job of giving back to the great city of Columbus, and I am very grateful for her tireless efforts to make the community stronger. A woman of great integrity, her efforts, her dedication, and her expertise in her field are unparalleled, but her heart for helping others is what has made her life's work truly special. On a personal note, I have been blessed to know Dina since 1972 when I first moved to Columbus. She and her family have been dear friends to me and my family and I can say without reservation that she is one of the most passionate and warmhearted individuals with whom I have had the pleasure of working. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in extending our sincerest appreciation to Mrs. Rhudine Dorsey as she celebrates 45 years of service with the Georgia Legal Services Program.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to extend my sincerest congratulations and Happy Birthday wishes to Mrs. Emma Brown, who is celebrating her 100th birthday on Sunday, March 12, 2017. On this day, the Greater Beallwood Baptist Church in Columbus, Georgia will honor and celebrate Mrs. Brown during the Sunday Worship Experience. In 1917, the United States entered World War I, women did not yet have the right to vote, and segregation was rampant in the South. This is the year Mrs. Emma Brown was born. Indeed, Mrs. Brown has seen much in her lifetime and through it all, she has relied on her faith in the Lord. Mrs. Brown and her family have been longtime fixtures at Greater Beallwood Baptist Church. Mrs. Brown's mother, Lillie McGruder Morris, was very active within the church as a deaconess and choir member. Her engagement laid the foundation for the family's commitment to the church. After Mrs. Brown accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior in 1942, she immediately became a servant of the church. She served as an usher for more than 50 years. She held the title of Church Mother for several years. In 2004, she was commended for her decades of service with a meritorious award from the Georgia Missionary Convention. She also received an achievement award from the Mount Calvary Women's Mission Christian Education Auxiliary in recognition of her lifetime commitment to modeling Christian values. In 1947, Mrs. Brown and her late husband Sgt. Lonnie Brown purchased their East Wynnton home in Columbus, where she still resides. For many years, Mrs. Brown worked at Saint Francis Hospital and as a private duty nurse. In her retirement, she has enjoyed participating in the Victory Play Girls Bowling League. In addition to serving her church, Mrs. Brown felt a great sense of duty to be involved in her local community. She worked diligently to protect, educate, and encourage the youth of Columbus, Georgia and organizations such as Carver Heights Against Drugs (CHAD) have honored Mrs. Brown for her years of devotion to this work. George Washington Carver once said, ``How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong because someday in your life you will have been all of these.'' Mrs. Brown has advanced far in life because she never forgot these lessons and always kept God first. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring an outstanding citizen and woman of faith, Mrs. Emma Brown, as she, her family, and the congregation of Greater Beallwood Baptist Church celebrate her 100th birthday.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor and pleasure to extend my personal congratulations and best wishes to an exceptional community leader and outstanding citizen, Ms. Kay H. Hind, on the occasion of her retirement from the SOWEGA Council on Aging in Albany, Georgia on Friday, March 31, 2017. Kay Hind was born in Albany, Georgia. She attended Georgia Southwestern College (now University) in Americus, Georgia before transferring to the University of Georgia, where she earned a bachelor's degree in Home Economics in 1951. She then worked as a Home Economist Extension Agent in Crawford County and Lee County, Georgia. Since 1967, Ms. Hind has served as Executive Director of the SOWEGA Council on Aging, leading the organization for 49 of the 50 years it has been in operation. It was established to promote the well-being and independence of older and disabled people in the Southwest Georgia area. The Council started out with an $8,000 budget, one employee, and one volunteer. Under Ms. Hind's leadership, the agency has been designated as an Area Agency on Aging by the state and expanded into a $6 million operation with more than 20 programs. It serves more than 25,000 seniors per year and offers information and resources to 67,000 seniors living in fourteen counties in Southwest Georgia. In 2014, the SOWEGA Council on Aging opened a new Senior Center and Agency Office in Albany, fulfilling Ms. Hind's longtime vision. Prior to the construction of the building, the agency operated out of five old buildings spread out across town. This 45,000 square foot state-of- the-art facility allowed the agency to streamline operations, increase visibility in the community, and serve more seniors with new programs, including educational programs, computer classes, arts and craft courses, exercise programs, a fitness center, and more. In recognition of Ms. Hind's work and advocacy for seniors in the community, the Kay H. Hind Senior Life Enrichment Center was named after her, further cementing her great legacy. Ms. Hind is a familiar face around Albany, where she is an active member of the community. She has served in leadership roles for many professional and civic organizations, including the Southeastern Association of Area Agencies on Aging; National Association of Area Agencies on Aging; Southern Gerontological Society; and the Albany Hospice Board, among others. She is also a member of First United Methodist Church and Kiwanis Club, to name a few. She has been appointed as delegate to the White House Council on Aging several times and was honored by Georgia First Lady Sandra Deal with the Servant's Heart Award, which recognizes individuals dedicated to helping others. Ms. Hind has received numerous other awards and accolades for her work. Dr. Benjamin E. Mays often said: ``You make your living by what you get; you make your life by what you give.'' Not only has Ms. Hind established a legacy in fighting to improve the quality of life for seniors, but she has also done a tremendous job of giving back to the great city of Albany, and I am very grateful for her tireless advocacy to make the community stronger. A woman of great integrity, her efforts, her dedication, and her expertise in her field are unparalleled, but her heart for helping others, especially seniors, one of the most vulnerable populations, is what has made her life's work truly special. On a personal note, I have been blessed to know Kay Hind for many years and I can say without reservation that she is one of the most passionate and warmhearted individuals with whom I have had the pleasure of working. Although we will miss her leadership with the SOWEGA Council on Aging, we are consoled knowing that this will only free up more time for her to continue to be involved in the community and enjoy some well-deserved relaxation. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in extending our sincerest appreciation and best wishes to Kay Hind upon the occasion of her retirement from an outstanding career spanning nearly five decades with the SOWEGA Council on Aging.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Karen Baynes-Dunning for her noteworthy work as a lawyer and former Juvenile Court judge in the state of Georgia. Ms. Baynes-Dunning will be honored at the 18th Annual Justice Robert Benham Awards for Community Service on Tuesday, February 28, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. Since 1998, the Benham Awards have been presented to Georgia lawyers and judges in recognition of their commitment to volunteerism and the positive contributions to their communities. Karen Baynes-Dunning earned a bachelor's degree in Politics from Wake Forest University in 1989 and a juris doctorate degree from the University of California at Berkeley in 1992. She began her legal career as an associate at Alston & Bird in Atlanta. In 1996-1998, she served in the Fulton County Juvenile Court as the first Executive Director of the new Court Appointed Special Advocates program and then as Director of Program Development. In 1998, she was appointed as an Associate Judge in the Fulton County Juvenile Court. Following these legal roles, Ms. Baynes-Dunning became involved in the world of academia. She served in the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia and was appointed as an Associate Professor at the University of Alabama College of Human Environmental Science. Drawing upon her experience with juveniles in the court system, she was appointed in 2013 to lead the State Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative, an Alabama statewide juvenile justice reform effort. In Georgia, Ms. Baynes-Dunning now serves as President of Baynes-Dunning Consulting and as one of two Federal Monitors overseeing reform efforts in the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services. With a passion for improving the lives of children and young adults in the court system, Ms. Baynes-Dunning has been a strong advocate for juvenile justice reform. She served on the American Bar Association's Project for Judicial Excellence in Child Abuse and Neglect Proceedings and taught a juvenile justice course as a Visiting Clinical Professor at Emory University School of Law. Ms. Baynes-Dunning lives in Albany, Georgia, where her husband, Art Dunning, serves as president of Albany State University. She is an active member of many professional and civic organizations through which she continuously devotes her time to bettering the community, both in Albany and throughout the state of Georgia. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, ``Life's most persistent and urgent question is, `What are you doing for others?'' Karen Baynes- Dunning undoubtedly lives by this philosophy. From her advocacy for young people in court to her efforts to reform juvenile justice, her work has made a tremendous impact on the lives of children and families. Mr. Speaker, today I ask my colleagues to join me, my wife, Vivian, and the more than 730,000 residents of Georgia's Second Congressional District in congratulating Karen Baynes-Dunning on receiving a well- deserved Justice Robert Benham Award recognizing her commitment and contributions to the community.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the work and service of a prominent attorney, exemplary civil rights leader, and former Georgia State Senator, the Honorable Leroy Reginald Johnson. Senator Johnson will be honored at the 18th Annual Justice Robert Benham Awards for Community Service on Tuesday, February 28, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. Senator Johnson will be awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest recognition given by the State Bar of Georgia and the Chief Justice's Commission on Professionalism to a lawyer or judge who has demonstrated an extraordinarily long and distinguished commitment to volunteer participation in the community throughout his or her legal career. Leroy Reginald Johnson was born on July 28, 1928 in Atlanta, Georgia. He graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in 1945. He went on to earn a bachelor's degree from Morehouse College in 1949 and a master's degree from Atlanta University (now Clark Atlanta University) in 1951. From 1950 to 1954, Senator Johnson taught social science in the Atlanta school system. He then enrolled in law school at North Carolina Central University, earning his law degree in 1957. Following his graduation from law school, Fulton County hired him as a criminal investigator, the first African American to be hired by the solicitor general's office (now the district attorney's office). As the Civil Rights Movement ramped up, he became involved in demonstrations and protests. When black college students conducted mass sit-ins at Rich's Department Store lunch counters in October 1960, he was present as one of the several community leaders advising the students, who included Julian Bond. In 1962, he was elected to the Georgia State Senate, making him the first African American to be elected to the Georgia General Assembly since the end of the Reconstruction Era. He was also the first African American elected to public office in the Southeast United Mates that year. In the beginning, Senator Johnson faced many obstacles due to segregation but rose above the adversity, becoming an influential lawmaker and attaining the position of chairman of the Judiciary Committee. All the while, Senator Johnson has maintained a successful law practice. He was the driving force in getting the legendary Muhammad Ali's boxing license reinstated in 1970. Ali had been stripped of his boxing license in the prime of his career due to his opposition to the Vietnam War. After big cities across the country refused to host a match in which Ali would participate, Senator Johnson offered Atlanta as a location where the fight could take place. Senator Johnson fought behind the scenes to get state and local officials to agree so that ultimately, Muhammad Ali could fight inside the ring in a match that would lead the way for Ali to eventually reclaim the heavyweight crown. Over the years, Senator Johnson received many awards and accolades for his legal, political, and social work. In 1996, his portrait was hung on the third floor of the State Capitol near the Senate chamber where he served for twelve years. In 2000, the Senate passed a resolution renaming a portion of Fulton Industrial Boulevard as Leroy Johnson-Fulton Industrial Boulevard. Senator Johnson has accomplished much in his life but none of this would be possible without the love and support of his wife, Cleopatra, and son, Michael Vince. On a personal note, I have had the great pleasure of knowing Senator Johnson since high school in 1964 when he spoke in Montgomery, Alabama at the Alabama State Association of Student Councils' meeting where I was presiding as State Student Council President. I was inspired by this successful lawyer and public official and was motivated to emulate his career path. I became a lawyer and twelve years after meeting him, I was elected to the Georgia General Assembly and later, to the U.S. Congress. I have truly been blessed by Senator Johnson's friendship, counsel and mentorship throughout the years. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me and my wife, Vivian, and the people of the state of Georgia, in honoring former State Senator Leroy Johnson for his outstanding professional achievements and service. We congratulate Senator Johnson on receiving the Justice Robert Benham Lifetime Achievement Award.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to one of the most courageous and distinctive military leaders of our time, Lieutenant General Harold ``Hal'' G. Moore, the commander at the Battle of la Drang in the Vietnam War in 1965. Sadly, LTG Moore passed away on Friday, February 10, 2017. A funeral mass will be held on Friday, February 17, 2017 at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Auburn, Alabama, followed by a memorial service and internment at Fort Benning in Georgia. Hal Moore was born in Bardstown, Kentucky on February 13, 1922. He began his military career in 1945 upon graduating from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the infantry. His first tactical assignment was with the 187th Glider Infantry Regiment in Sapporo, Japan. After being reassigned, he made more than 130 test jumps with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he also jump-tested experimental parachutes. LTG Moore went on to serve in the Korean War as a regimental operations officer. In 1964, he was stationed at Fort Benning and commanded the newly formed air mobile 11th Air Assault Division. As a lieutenant colonel during the Vietnam War, Moore was commander of the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment during the first major battle between the United States and the North Vietnamese forces in November 1965, the Battle of la Drang. Arriving with about 450 soldiers at Landing Zone X-Ray, a field near the Drang River in South Vietnam situated six miles from the Cambodian border, LTG Moore quickly realized he and his men were vastly outnumbered. Nevertheless, he vowed: ``I'll always be the first person on the battlefield, my boots will be the first boots on it, and I'll be the last person off. I'll never leave a body.'' During the battle, American forces were able to gain the upper hand and lead the U.S. to a triumphant victory. Alongside award-winning journalist Joe Galloway, who was in la Drang as a war correspondent, LTG Moore documented his experiences during the battle in the highly acclaimed 1992 book, We Were Soldiers Once . . . and Young. The book received such recognition that it was made into the film, We Were Soldiers. The proceeds from the book helped establish the la Drang Scholarship Fund, which aimed to help the children and grandchildren of veterans of the la Drang battle. LTG Moore has certainly accomplished many things in his life but none would have been possible without the love and support of his late wife, Julia; his children, Harold Gregory Moore III, retired Lt. Col. Stephen Moore, Julie Moore Orlowski, Cecile Moore Rainey, and retired Col. David Moore; his eleven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, today I ask my colleagues to join me, my wife, Vivian, the nearly 730,000 people in Georgia's 2nd Congressional District, and all Americans, in extending our sincerest appreciation to Lieutenant General Hal Moore, an outstanding leader who, in addition to his selfless service and instrumental role in the Korean and Vietnam Wars, has the respect, admiration, and affection of his brothers-in-arms. Indeed, LTG Moore leaves behind a distinguished legacy of service and leadership in the United States Army.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor and privilege to rise today to recognize a legendary baseball player, great philanthropist, and outstanding citizen, Henry L. ``Hank'' Aaron. Hank and his wife, Billye, will be honored by the Mobile Area Mardi Gras Association (MAMGA) in Mobile, Alabama on February 26-27, 2017. Henry Louis Aaron was born in Mobile, Alabama, on February 5, 1934, the third of eight children born to Herbert and Estella Aaron. Hank was interested in sports from an early age. Although he worked several jobs to help support his family, he spent a lot of time playing baseball at a neighborhood park. He transferred to the Allen Institute in Mobile his junior year of high school to participate in the school's organized baseball program. After graduating from high school, Hank began to make a name for himself playing with local amateur and semi-pro teams, including the Pritchett Athletics and the Mobile Black Bears. In 1951, Hank was signed as a shortstop for the Indianapolis Clowns, which was part of the professional Negro American League. In 1952, the Boston Braves purchased his contract and he was assigned to Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Hank batted .336 and won the minor Northern League's Rookie of the Year Award. He was then assigned to the Braves' Jacksonville, Florida team, in the South Atlantic (Sally) League. Despite enduring racial insults from fans and fellow players alike, Hank batted .362, with 22 homers and 125 runs batted in. He was named the league's Most Valuable Player in 1953. In 1954, Hank began to play for the Braves' major league team. After the 1965 season, the Braves moved to Atlanta, where on April 8, 1974, Hank hit his 715th career home run, breaking Babe Ruth's 39-year-old Major League record. By the time he retired in 1976, Hank had raised his all-time homer output to 755. But although Hank had retired from baseball, baseball had not retired from him. He became Vice President and Director of Player Development for the Braves, scouting new team prospects and overseeing the coaching of minor leaguers, before becoming Senior Vice President for the team. Due to his efforts, the Braves became one of the strongest teams in the National League. While many people know of Hank Aaron because of his accomplishments in baseball, it is Hank's philanthropy that truly sets him apart. In 1995, Hank and Billye established the Hank Aaron Chasing the Dream Foundation to give young people with limited opportunities a chance to pursue their dreams. While Hank had initially envisioned helping 755 youngsters, the Foundation has provided vital financial assistance to more than 1,000 young people. The Foundation provides scholarships to college students and partners with Boys and Girls Clubs throughout the country to help young people develop their talents. Hank has received numerous awards and tributes for both his athletic ability and his charitable efforts. In 1982, he was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame at Cooperstown, New York. In 1997, Hank Aaron Stadium in Mobile was dedicated to him. In 1999, Congress passed a resolution recognizing him as one of baseball's greatest players and praising his work with the Chasing the Dream Foundation. That year, Major League Baseball announced the creation of the Hank Aaron Award, given annually to the best overall hitter in each league. In 2002, Hank received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award of the United States. On a personal note, I am proud to consider Hank and the Aaron family friends of longstanding. He and I grew up in the same area of Mobile, Toulminville, and his sister, Alfredia, was my classmate from elementary school through Central High School Class of 1964. She and her husband, Congressman David Scott, continue to be dear friends to my wife and me. Indeed, Hank is a baseball legend but he is also an entrepreneur, civil rights leader, philanthropist, humanitarian and just an outstanding human being, period. His humility is unparalleled and his heart for helping others has made a tremendous impact throughout our nation and the world. He continues to make Mobilians proud. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me and my wife, Vivian, in recognizing the perseverance, generosity, and legacy of Hank and Billye Aaron. Winston Churchill said: ``You make your living by what you get, you make a life by what you give.'' The Aarons embody this ideal perfectly and their spirit of giving is making lives for generations yet to come.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor and pleasure to rise today to recognize my alma mater, Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, as it celebrates 150 years of educating, training, and empowering outstanding leaders. The year-long sesquicentennial celebration began in January 2017, and will include many events for students, faculty, staff, administrators, donors, families, and friends of Morehouse College. The theme of the celebration is ``A House United,'' which highlights Morehouse's position as a unifying force around the globe and here at home. Tracing its roots back to the Reconstruction era after the Civil War, Morehouse was founded in 1867, as the Augusta Theological Institute in Augusta, Georgia. The school was founded by Reverend William Jefferson White, with the encouragement of Reverend Richard Coulter and Reverend Edmund Turney. It aimed to prepare Black men for ministry and teaching. In 1879, the Augusta Theological Institute moved to the basement of the Friendship Baptist Church in Atlanta and was renamed the Atlanta Baptist Seminary. In 1885, the institution relocated to its current site in Atlanta's West End community. The seminary became a liberal arts college and was subsequently renamed the Atlanta Baptist College. During these early years in Morehouse's history, the institution expanded its curriculum and established the tradition of educating leaders for all areas of life. In 1913, Atlanta Baptist College was renamed Morehouse College after the corresponding secretary of the Northern Baptist Home Mission Society, Henry L. Morehouse. Throughout its 150-year history, Morehouse College has made a significant mark on our State, our Nation, and the world. Here, many notable men gained the knowledge and training that enabled them to become some of the greatest influences of our time, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; noted theologian Dr. Howard Thurman; civil rights leader Julian Bond; filmmaker Shelton ``Spike'' Lee; Olympic gold medalist Edwin Moses; CEO of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, Emmitt Carson; and many more. Morehouse principles often instill a desire for public service to benefit mankind. In the United States Congress, Representative Cedric Richmond, chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, as well as many staff members and former Members of Congress, hold degrees from Morehouse. U.S. Presidents have relied on alumni such as former Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson, former Secretary of Health and Human Services Dr. Louis Sullivan, former Surgeon General Dr. Daniel Satcher, and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations James Nabrit, Jr. Around the country, State and local governments have been led by alumni such as Maynard H. Jackson, the first African-American mayor of Atlanta, Georgia. As a 1968 graduate of Morehouse College, this one-of-a-kind institution has a special place in my heart. During my matriculation, I got to know on a personal level the late Dr. Benjamin E. Mays, the most renowned president of Morehouse, who was a mentor to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Through him, I met Dr. King during his life, followed him in protest marches, and sang at his funeral, which was held on the campus and attended by many national and international luminaries. Today, under the leadership of the 11th president of Morehouse College, Dr. John Silvanus Wilson, Jr., also an alumnus, the school continues to be consistently ranked as one of the top colleges in the Nation and among the highest respected Historically Black Colleges and Universities. As the Nation's largest liberal arts college for men, Morehouse has conferred more bachelor's degrees on Black men than any other institution in the world. Mr. Speaker, today I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Morehouse College for 150 years of preparing young men to aspire to unique and distinctive goals while leading lives of leadership and service. This institution was born out of the death of slavery in America. It guided young Black men through the era of segregation in the South, and it continues to empower marginalized populations against the oppression still prevalent in the world today. It is my hope that the generations of Morehouse Men of today and tomorrow will continue the progress and continue to leave their marks on our Nation and the world.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor and pleasure to rise today to recognize my alma mater, Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, as it celebrates 150 years of educating, training, and empowering outstanding leaders. The year-long Sesquicentennial Celebration began in January 2017 and will include many events for students, faculty, staff, administrators, donors, families, and friends of Morehouse College. The theme of the Celebration is A House United, which highlights Morehouse's position as a unifying force around the globe and here at home. Tracing its roots back to the Reconstruction Era after the Civil War, Morehouse College was founded in 1867 as the Augusta Theological Institute in Augusta, Georgia. The school was founded by Rev. William Jefferson White with the encouragement of Rev. Richard Coulter and Rev. Edmund Turney, and it aimed to prepare black men for ministry and teaching. In 1879, the Augusta Theological Institute moved to the basement of Friendship Baptist Church in Atlanta and was renamed the Atlanta Baptist Seminary. In 1885, the institution relocated to its current site in Atlanta's West End community. The seminary became a liberal arts college and was subsequently renamed the Atlanta Baptist College. During these early years in Morehouse history, the institution expanded its curriculum and established the tradition of educating leaders for all areas of life. In 1913, Atlanta Baptist College was renamed Morehouse College after the corresponding secretary of the Northern Baptist Home Mission Society, Henry L. Morehouse. Throughout its 150-year history, Morehouse College has made a significant mark on our state, our nation, and the world. Here, many notable men gained the knowledge and training that enabled them to become some of the greatest influencers of our time, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; noted theologian, Dr. Howard Thurman; civil rights leader, Julian Bond; filmmaker Shelton ``Spike'' Lee; Olympic gold medalist Edwin Moses; CEO of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, Emmitt Carson; and many more. Morehouse principles often instill a desire for public service to benefit mankind. In the United States Congress, Representative Cedric Richmond, Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, as well as many staff members and former Members of Congress, hold degrees from Morehouse. U.S. Presidents have relied on alumni such as former Secretary of Homeland Security, Jeh Johnson; former Secretary of Health and Human Services, Dr. Louis Sullivan; former Surgeon General, Dr. David Satcher; and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, James Nabrit. Around the country, state and local governments have been led by alumni such as Maynard H. Jackson, the first African-American mayor of Atlanta, Georgia. As a 1968 graduate of Morehouse College, this one-of-a-kind institution has a special place in my heart. During my matriculation, I got to know on a personal level the late Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays, the most renowned President of Morehouse who was a mentor to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Through him, I met Dr. King during his life, followed him in protest marches, and sang at his funeral, which was held on the campus and attended by many national and international luminaries. Today, under the leadership of the 11th President of Morehouse College, Dr. John Silvanus Wilson, Jr., also an alumnus, the school continues to be consistently ranked as one of the top colleges in the nation and among the highest respected Historically Black Colleges and Universities. As the nation's largest liberal arts college for men, Morehouse has conferred more bachelor's degrees on black men than any other institution in the world. Mr. Speaker, today I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Morehouse College for 150 years of preparing young men to aspire to unique and distinctive goals while leading lives of leadership and service. This institution was born out of the death of slavery in America, it guided young black men through the era of segregation in the South, and it continues to empower marginalized populations against the oppression still prevalent in the world today. It is my hope that the generations of Morehouse Men of today and tomorrow will continue the progress and continue to leave their marks on our nation and the world.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 538, the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historic Park Boundary Revision Act of 2017. First, I thank the gentleman from the Northern Mariana Islands (Mr. Sablan) for yielding. And I thank the coauthor of the legislation, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Austin Scott), my friend and colleague. He has been a tireless advocate on behalf of this legislation, and we would not be here today without his help and his advice. I also thank Chairman Rob Bishop and Ranking Member Raul Grijalva from the full Committee on Natural Resources for their work in bringing this bill to the floor so early in the 115th Congress. In the 114th Congress, Chairman McClintock and Ranking Member Tsongas of the Subcommittee on Federal Lands were very helpful as well, and I commend them and their staffs, especially Terry Camp and Brandon Bragato, for their efforts. This legislation was approved last March by the full House of Representatives by voice vote. The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources also approved a companion bill, but it was not considered by the full Senate prior to the adjournment of the 114th Congress. Mr. Speaker, there are few, if any, historic sites in the United States that have evidence of continuous human habitation from so long ago when the first nomadic people came to North America to hunt ice age mammals and again to settle the Macon Plateau. It is what makes the Ocmulgee National Monument so unique. On its 702 acres, one can find archaeological evidence from these first nomads, the mound builders of the Mississippian Period, British traders of the late 17th century, as well as the Civil War period. Our bipartisan legislation consists of three parts. First, it will expand the boundaries from approximately 702 acres to over 2,800 acres, providing protection to additional archaeological resources, linking two currently noncontiguous areas and improving the site's connection to the city of Macon, Georgia. Most of the land will be donated from nonprofit associations and government agencies. Property will also be acquired only from willing donors or willing sellers, subject to the availability of funding. Second, the bill would change the name from Ocmulgee National Monument to Ocmulgee Mounds National Historic Park, which would increase name recognition and draw additional visitors. Finally, H.R. 538 would authorize a resources study to explore the possibility of expanding the park even further and include additional opportunities for hunting, camping, fishing, and other recreational activities. The legislation enjoys widespread local support, including Macon mayor Robert Reichert, the Macon Chamber of Commerce, the Macon-Bibb Visitors Bureau, the Macon-Bibb Commission, the Macon-Bibb Economic Development Commission, the Ocmulgee National Park and Preserve Initiative, and the Inter-Tribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes: Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee (Creek), and Seminole. In short, I believe that H.R. 538 will strengthen the current Ocmulgee National Monument and bolster the economy and cultural life of Georgia and beyond. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. I urge my colleagues to support the legislation and urge its passage.

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 an outstanding spiritual and community leader, the Reverend Richard Gammage, Pastor of New Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Macon, Georgia. Sadly, Reverend Gammage passed away on Wednesday, January 11, 2017 at the age of 85. A memorial service was held in his honor on Thursday, January 19, 2017 at 5:30 p.m. at his church in Macon, Georgia. Richard Gammage was born in Sylvester, Georgia in 1931. He accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior at the young age of twelve. He was a member of Beulah Missionary Baptist Church and served in the various roles of deacon, Sunday school teacher, choir president and Chairman of the Sick Committee. Always seeking to improve his craft of Christian ministry and discipleship, he furthered his education at Carver Bible College, the Morehouse School of Religion, and the Interdenominational Theological Center. He earned a Master's degree from Brown College of Transoral Science. For the past 37 years, Reverend Gammage pastored the New Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Macon. He loved each member of his congregation, and they loved him back. He believed that in addition to existing in a building, the church should exist in a community. The church took pride in serving breakfast on Sunday mornings to many homeless people and people in need who were able to eat a good meal immediately after the early service. In Reverend Gammage's many years of service, he ordained more than one hundred deacons, including seven women to preach. He served as President of the Evangelical Ministers Alliance for several years and most recently held the title of President Emeritus. Reverend Gammage also stood firm as a strong believer in Christian education, providing Bibles and other instructional materials to every individual who attended his Bible studies. Reverend Gammage made a difference both in and out of the pulpit. He was a renowned and passionate community leader in Macon, Georgia. For more than three decades, he led the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Freedom March in Macon. He also hosted forums at New Pleasant Grove during nearly every political election for candidates to discuss issues and their campaigns. Acts 20:35 says, ``I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, `It is more blessed to give than to receive.' '' Truly, Reverend Gammage abided by this scripture, understanding his calling and purpose to serve God's people and his community. Reverend Gammage achieved much in his life, but none of this would have been possible without the love and support of his wife, Myra Gammage, and their three children. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me, my wife Vivian, and the more than 730,000 residents of the Second Congressional District of Georgia in extending our sincere condolences to Reverend Richard Gammage's family, friends, and followers during this difficult time. I pray that we may all be 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, in my hometown of Albany, Georgia, four of my neighbors lost their lives due to the tornadoes and storms that tore through our city. Many more in both Albany and the larger region had their homes destroyed and their lives upended. For the second time this month, our region has confronted the worst that Mother Nature had to offer. However, I am confident that, with the grace of God, we will continue to see the best in human nature as we come together as a community to support each other during these very, very trying times. I ask that the Members of this House, the Senate, and the administration join my colleagues from Mississippi and Georgia to ensure that all of those impacted by these disasters are provided the necessary resources to recover and to rebuild their lives as soon as possible. In this moment, though it is but a small gesture, given the magnitude of the disaster, I ask that the House observe a moment of silence to recognize and remember the victims of the storms and tornadoes that struck the Southeast region of our Nation.

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 an outstanding civic leader, public servant of Georgia, and friend of longstanding, David Bryan Poythress. Sadly, David passed away on Sunday, January 15, 2017. A Georgia man through and through, David Poythress was born in Bibb County on October 24, 1943 to John Maynor Poythress, head of Macon's water department, and Dorothy Bayne Poythress, a school teacher and the founder of Georgia's special education program. His parents' dedication to public service would inspire David from a young age to pursue public service himself. David earned a political science degree, law degree, and commission as a U.S. Air Force officer at Emory University in the 1960s. In 1967, he entered active duty as an assistant staff judge advocate at Bergstrom Air Force Base in Texas. He served four years on active duty, volunteering for service in Vietnam and spending a year as defense counsel and chief of military justice at Da Nang Air Base. After active duty, he served in the Air Force Reserve, retiring in 1998 with the rank of Brigadier General. Before seeking elected office, David made a name for himself serving as an assistant attorney general, Deputy State Revenue Commissioner, and chairman of a study committee formed by Governor George Busbee to study nursing home reimbursements from Medicaid. These roles, in addition to his tenure as the first Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Medical Assistance, led to him being nicknamed the ``Mr. Fix It'' of state government. In 1979, Governor Busbee appointed David Secretary of State after the death of incumbent Ben Forston. In 1982, David ran for a full term as Secretary of State but was defeated in the Democratic Primary. He took a 10-year break from politics to practice law in Atlanta. In 1992, he won a special statewide election for Labor Commissioner and two years later, he was elected to a full four-year term. In 1999, Governor Roy Barnes appointed David to lead the Georgia Army and Air National Guard. In 2002, Governor Sonny Perdue reappointed him and promoted him to Lieutenant General, making him Georgia's first three- star Adjutant General. George Washington Carver once said, ``No individual has any right to come into the world and go out of it without leaving behind distinct and legitimate reasons for having passed through it.'' We are all so blessed that David Poythress passed this way and during his life's journey did so much for so many for so long. He devoted many years of dedicated service to the people of Georgia through his meaningful contribution of energy, skill, and genuine passion, and for it, he will be remembered for years to come. David Poythress accomplished much in his life but none of this would have been possible without the love and support of his wife, Elizabeth; son, Cullen Gray Poythress; stepdaughters, Candace Pinnisi and Kristin Placito; eight grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. Mr. Speaker, my wife Vivian and I, along with the more than 730,000 residents of Georgia's Second Congressional District, salute David Bryan Poythress for his outstanding public service and his everlasting commitment to improving the quality of life for our citizens. I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join us in extending our deepest condolences to David's family and friends during this difficult time. 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, it is my honor and pleasure to extend my personal congratulations and best wishes to an outstanding leader and exceptional public servant, Chattahoochee County Sheriff Glynn Cooper. Sheriff Cooper will be retiring from his position as Sheriff and a surprise celebration will be held for him on Saturday, January 7, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. at the Roscoe Robinson Recreation Center in Cusseta, Georgia. Glynn Cooper was born in Schley County, Georgia on April 15, 1934 to Wesley and Mozelle Cooper. He, along with his brothers, Fred, Leonard, and Drane, worked on farms in Stewart and Webster counties in Georgia. He met the love of his life, Estelle, at a dance and they married on December 11, 1954. As a newlywed couple, they lived with his parents until Sheriff Cooper could secure a home in Cusseta, Georgia, where he still lives today. They welcomed a daughter, Glynda, on October 12, 1957. Estelle was Sheriff Cooper's partner, supporter, and best friend until she passed away in 1998. Growing up on a farm taught Sheriff Cooper to be a jack of all trades. He worked at Preston's Garage in Columbus, Georgia until he opened Cooper's Garage in Cusseta. He and Estelle, who was Senior Clerk at the Post Office, began purchasing and building Cooper Rental Properties, a business which remains in the family to this day. He had set his sights on being elected Sheriff of Chattahoochee County but initially suffered a loss. Never a quitter, he was elected Sheriff in 1973 and maintained a one-man office with the radio call number 651. He soon dubbed Estelle as 651\1/2\ on the radio. With his family's support, Sheriff Cooper has been a faithful servant to the people of Chattahoochee County for a remarkable 43 years. He has earned the distinction of being the second-longest-serving Sheriff in the state of Georgia. Sheriff Cooper is also actively involved in the community. He previously served on the school board and City Council. He also volunteered his time and efforts to serving on numerous civic organizations. Raised in a Christian home, he joined Louvale Missionary Baptist Church at a young age. Today, he is a faithful member of Cusseta Baptist Church. Dr. Benjamin E. Mays often said: ``You make your living by what you get; you make your life by what you give.'' Not only has Sheriff Cooper made his living by keeping watch over the citizens of Chattahoochee County, but he has also made his life by giving back to the County in so many ways. We are all very grateful for his tireless advocacy in keeping our community safe. A man of great integrity, his efforts, his dedication, and his work ethic are unparalleled, but his heart for helping others utilizing these qualities has made his life's work truly special. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me, my wife Vivian, and the more than 730,000 residents of Georgia's Second Congressional District in honoring Sheriff Glynn Cooper for his dedicated service to the people of Chattahoochee County as he retires from his position as Sheriff.

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 respected civic leader, outstanding citizen, and friend of longstanding, the Honorable J. Lamar Reese, Jr. Sadly, Lamar passed away on Saturday, December 10, 2016. Funeral services to celebrate his life will be held on Wednesday, December 14, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at Porterfield Memorial United Methodist Church in Albany, Georgia. John Lamar Reese, Jr. was born on February 14, 1933 in Rome, Georgia. His family later moved to LaGrange, Georgia, where he graduated from LaGrange High School in 1951. He attended the Georgia Institute of Technology and graduated in 1955 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Management. While at Georgia Tech, he was a member of the Chi Phi Fraternity and the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps. After graduation, Lamar served our nation honorably as a lieutenant in the United States Navy for two years. In 1957, he moved to Albany, Georgia where he founded Reese Construction Company and was a founding partner of LRA Constructors. Lamar Reese was widely known as a driving force in his community. He served on various boards and organizations including the Albany Board of Realtors; Albany Home Builders Association, and the Kiwanis Club. He was a board member of SunTrust Bank, Darton College, the Hospital Authority of Albany/Dougherty County, and the Albany Chamber of Commerce, where he was awarded the Chamber's first Lifetime Service Award. Further demonstrating his enduring community commitment, Lamar dedicated his time and talents to serving the city of Albany, Dougherty County, and the State of Georgia. He served on the Dougherty County Board of Education for sixteen years, including thirteen years as Chairman. The Dougherty County Board of Education established the Lamar Reese School of the Arts in honor of Lamar's contributions to the education of young people in Dougherty County. Lamar also served as Chairman of the Dougherty County Board of Commissioners for four years and was elected President of the Georgia School Boards Association. He was a longtime member and advocate for the Albany YMCA and the Porterfield Memorial United Methodist Church, where he served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees and on the Administrative Board. A devoted alumnus of Georgia Tech, he was a trustee of the Alumni Association, member of the Scheller School of Management Advisory Board, recipient of the Dean Griffin Community Service Award, and President of the Albany Area Georgia Tech Club. Maya Angelou once said, ``A great soul serves everyone all the time. A great soul never dies.'' Lamar Reese is one such great soul, who served humanity in a special way. He devoted many years of dedicated service to the people of Dougherty County through his meaningful contribution of energy, skill, and genuine passion. He was an honorable human being who loved deeply and, in return, was deeply loved. His impression on this earth extends beyond himself to the very well-being of Dougherty County, and for it he will be remembered by the community for time to come. On a personal note, Lamar was a friend of longstanding. I have truly been blessed by his friendship, counsel, and inspiration throughout the years. Lamar is survived by his loving wife, Sandra, dedicated sons, John, Marvin, and Franklin, eight wonderful grandchildren, a great- granddaughter and a host of other family members and friends. Mr. Speaker, my wife Vivian and I, along with the more than 730,000 people of Georgia's Second Congressional District salute J. Lamar Reese, Jr. for his dedicated service and exceptional impact on Dougherty County. I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join us in extending our deepest sympathies to the Reese family, friends and loved ones during this difficult time. 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, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today to pay tribute to the fallen law enforcement officers of Georgia's Second Congressional District. The last few weeks have been especially difficult in Middle and Southwest Georgia as we have lost four officers to senseless violence. On Wednesday, December 7, 2016, Officer Nicholas Smarr of the Americus Police Department responded to a domestic disturbance at an apartment home in Americus, Georgia. While Officer Smarr was awaiting backup from another Americus officer, his friend Officer Jody Smith of the Georgia Southwestern State University Department of Public Safety heard the radio call and responded to assist. As the officers attempted to pursue the suspect, who had fled, the suspect opened fire on the officers. Both officers were struck by bullets. In spite of being wounded, Officer Smarr ran to Officer Smith, turned him over from his face-down position, and began to perform CPR. While trying to save Officer Smith's life, Officer Smarr died from his injuries. When backup officers arrived, they found Officer Smarr slumped over Officer Smith. Nick Smarr and Jody Smith were lifelong best friends. On Thursday, December 8, 2016, Officer Smith succumbed to his injuries and passed away. The Americus Police Department and the Georgia Southwestern State University Department of Public Safety are each mourning the loss of one of their own. The Americus community as a whole is grieving over this terrible tragedy. This incident brings to mind another senseless tragedy that happened in the Second Congressional District not long ago. On Sunday, November 6, 2016, Sergeant Patrick Sondon and Deputy Daryl Smallwood of the Peach County Sheriff's Office were responding to a dispute between neighbors when a suspect opened fire on them. Deputy Sondon was killed and Deputy Smallwood passed away from his injuries two days later. Each of these four brave men loved, and in return, were deeply loved. They were sons, brothers, husbands, fathers, significant others, and friends. What is more important, they were law enforcement officers and they put their lives on the line every day to protect our communities. Sergeant Patrick Sondon served our nation in the U.S. Air Force. He had been with the Peach County Sheriff's Office for 13 years, after having served the Fort Valley and Byron Police Departments. He had a pilot's license and enjoyed flying and driving charter buses. Deputy Daryl Smallwood served our nation in the U.S. Marine Corps. He worked as a jailer before becoming a mandated officer in 2005 and served the Crisp County Sheriff's Department before joining the Peach County Sheriff's Office. He enjoyed listening to music and riding his Harley motorcycle. Officer Nicholas ``Nick'' Ryan Smarr graduated from the Police Academy in Forsyth, Georgia. He served as a Corrections Officer in Telfair County, a Police Officer in McRae and Vienna, and a Deputy with the Sumter County Sheriff's Department before joining the Americus Police Department. He was an Atlanta Falcons fan and loved watching movies and spending time with his friends, which included Officer Jody Smith. Public Safety Officer Jody Smith graduated from Americus-Sumter County High School in 2009, along with his friend, Officer Nick Smarr. In 2012, he graduated from the Georgia Public Safety Training Center and served with the Sumter County Sheriff's Office and Plains Police Department. In addition to serving with Georgia Southwestern's Department of Public Safety, he was a student at the University. He was known for being friendly and energetic and was a huge fan of the Atlanta Braves. Mr. Speaker, my wife Vivian and I, along with the more than 730,000 people of the Second Congressional District honor these four brave officers for their dedicated service and for making the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join us in extending our deepest sympathies to their families, friends and loved ones during this difficult time. We pray that they will be consoled and comforted by an abiding faith and the Holy Spirit in the days, weeks and months ahead.