Sanford Bishop

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I rise in support of H.R. 4502. As chair of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, I am pleased to highlight the national priorities that are funded in our division. First, I would like to thank our distinguished ranking member, Mr. Fortenberry, and the entire subcommittee for their continued bipartisan cooperation. The jurisdiction of our bill is far-reaching and touches the lives of every citizen, and while we may disagree on matters of policy from time to time, agriculture, rural development, the safety of our food and drugs, and the livability and sustainability of our ecosystems here and across the globe are indeed bipartisan concerns, and we truly approach our work collaboratively to achieve the greater good for our country and humanity. However, our FY22 allocation is $26.55 billion, which is $2.85 billion over the fiscal year 2021. The bill addresses three key priorities: First, it ensures equitable participation in USDA programs. Second, it addresses the impacts of climate change. Third, it reinvests in staff and leadership offices at USDA. The bill provides $4.7 billion for rural development initiatives, including more than $900 million for broadband expansion to provide economic development opportunities and improved education and healthcare services in rural communities. The bill continues important funding for the Community Facilities Program that supports everything from libraries and fire stations to childcare centers and nursing homes. The bill provides $2.9 billion in farm and conservation programs, $3.4 billion for agricultural research including a significant increase for the 1890 land-grant institutions, $1.74 billion for Food for Peace grants, and $245 million for the McGovern-Dole program, both in support of our diplomacy. Food insecurity continues to hurt millions of Americans. Our bill fully funds the SNAP, WIC, and child nutrition programs and helps increase access to healthy, nutritious food. The Food and Drug Administration is funded at $3.47 billion in discretionary funding, with increases that help combat the opioid crisis, rare cancers, foodborne outbreaks, and heavy metals in baby food. Madam Speaker, I want to thank my personal staff, Michael Reed, Tynesha Boomer, and Danny Giddings; and the subcommittee staff, Martha Foley, Diem-Linh Jones, Perry Yates, Joe Layman, Randy Staples, Justin Masucci, and Echo Domingues for their hard work on the bill. Also, I would like to thank Tom O'Brien from the minority staff. And, of course, I thank Chair DeLauro and Ranking Member Granger for their tremendous leadership.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, it is with great pride and admiration that I rise today to honor and commend an extraordinary public servant, wife, mother, political operative and friend to many, The Honorable Vivian Creighton Bishop, upon her retirement as the elected Clerk of The Municipal Court of Columbus, Georgia. Ms. Bishop retired on December 31, 2020 after 28 years of distinguished service. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a retirement celebration was delayed and combined with a belated birthday party that was held at 6:30 pm on July 23, 2021 at Warehouse Nine, 920 9th Street, Columbus, Georgia. Vivian Francine Creighton was born July 9, 1951 to the late Frank Richard Creighton and Evelyn Rushin Creighton at Martin Army Hospital, Fort Benning, Georgia. Because her father was a career noncommissioned officer in the United States Army, she and her older sister, Jacqueline and her younger brother Frank, Jr. as military dependents lived and traveled in multiple places across the United States and abroad. Vivian graduated high school in Wurzburg, Germany, but frequently during her childhood and adolescence, the family lived in Columbus, Georgia where she and her siblings would attend school. Following graduation in 1969, she was accepted to the University of Maryland Campus in Wurzburg but had to withdraw when her father received orders for Viet Nam. She attended Columbus Technical College, Atlanta Junior College and Georgia State University. After perfect scores on the Georgia State Merit Exams she secured employment in Atlanta with the Department of Family and Childrens' Services and later with the Georgia State Department of Education where she managed Human Resources for Georgia Public Television. In 1999 she married Meldon Owens and they produced a daughter, Aayesha. They moved to Columbus where she was hired as an Accounting Clerk in Operations and Purchasing at Jack T. Rutledge State Prison where she rose through the ranks to become comptroller at the Prison, being among the first African Americans and females to do so at the Georgia Department of Corrections. Although her marriage ended in divorce, she worked hard in her career and was named Georgia Department of Corrections ``Employee of the Year for Administrative Support'' after she developed an innovative program for managing inmate accounts that was utilized system wide. After 16 years, Vivian left State government to become an entrepreneur, opening a gift and flower shop, ``Baskets of Delight.'' In 1992, Vivian was asked by a friend who was a victim of domestic violence to go with her to get a warrant from the Municipal Court of Columbus, Georgia. Witnessing the rude treatment she was receiving from Court employees, Vivian questioned their conduct and was told that if she did not like the way the office was being run she should run for it herself. And run she did. Vivian Creighton was elected countywide and became the first African American female to win countywide office in Muscogee County, Georgia--a position she held for 28 years. As Clerk she reorganized the office to maximize customer service, promote efficiency and achieved flawless audits with special recognition noted to City Council regarding her exit audit. During her years as Clerk she was loved and respected by all who used the court as being competent, kind, compassionate and helpful. In 2001, Vivian Creighton married yours truly, Congressman Sanford Bishop, after a long courtship. We recently celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary, having survived as a political couple in spite of conflicting views. She was Co-Chair of the Georgia Hillary Clinton Presidential Campaign and I was Co-Chair of the Georgia Barack Obama Presidential Campaign. In her own right she helped elect countless state and local officials including me, mentored others and is constantly sought out for political advice and counsel. Vivian was elected President of the Congressional Black Caucus Spouses. She was the first Georgian and the only African American elected President of the prestigious Congressional Club, the Congressionally Chartered bi-partisan organization of the spouses of members of Congress, ambassadors, Supreme Court Justices, and Cabinet secretaries. She chaired the annual ``First Lady's Luncheon'' with First Lady Michelle Obama. Moreover, she raised over$ I million for the National March of Dimes Gala and won top awards as a celebrity chef. On the local level Vivian has been active in numerous groups, including NAACP, Rotary Club, Girls Inc., The Links, Inc., American Cancer Society, Muscogee Democratic Party and more. She is a longtime member of M.L. Harris United Methodist Church although she regularly attends Mount Zion Baptist Church of Albany, Georgia wherein I am a Deacon. Vivian has accomplished much in her life but it would not have been possible without the continuous love and support of her family-- daughter, Aayesha; granddaughter, Londyn; sister, Jacqueline, nieces, nephews, cousins and legions of friends, all of whom love her dearly. And beyond the shadow of a doubt, she is the love of my life. It has been said that ``Service is the rent we pay for the space we occupy on this earth.'' Vivian Creighton Bishop has paid her rent and paid it well. She has done so much for so many for so long. Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues of the House of Representatives join me, along with the more 730,000 people of the 2nd Congressional District in honoring and commending The Honorable Vivian Creighton Bishop for her outstanding career of public service and her many contributions to her community, her State and this nation. Best wishes to her as she enters this new chapter of her life.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, this month marked the one-year anniversary of the passing of our dear friend and beloved colleague John Lewis. Sadly, while we reflect upon his legacy, there are efforts underway in State Houses across the nation to turn back the clock and erect barriers to voter participation in elections. We all know that the premise behind these efforts is a lie--namely, that the 2020 election was stolen and that there was rampant voter fraud. In my home state of Georgia, these falsehoods led to the passage and ultimate enactment of Senate Bill 202, which was given the misleading name, ``the Georgia Civics Renewal Act.'' The lie also provided the impetus for the attack on the United States Capitol on January 6. The measures being put forward in states like Georgia reduce voter access to the polls under the guise of protecting the vote. Georgia's SB 202 limits drop boxes, imposes ID requirements on absentee voting, restricts early voting on weekends, allows state officials to circumvent the work of election officials if they do not like the results they are seeing, and even makes it a crime to offer food and water to voters waiting in line. It is a ruse that disproportionately impacts voters whose voices have too often been silenced. Why? Because those voices--African American voices in Georgia--made all the difference in 2020. The integrity of our elections is enhanced by greater voter participation--not less. As Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, ``voting is the foundation stone of political action.'' Earlier this year, I co-sponsored H.R. 1, For the People Act, which is a voting and elections bill that protects access, promotes the creation of fairer districts, and supports public financing of campaigns. The legislation passed the House on March 3 by a vote of 220 to 210. I also supported H.R. 4, the John Lewis Voting Rights Enhancement Act, which the House had approved last Congress. H.R. 4 is intended to fix the enforcement provisions of the original Voting Rights Act that were gutted by the Supreme Court in the 2013 Shelby County v. Holder decision. The Court's conservative majority held that the formula for determining whether jurisdictions were subject to the law's Justice Department pre-clearance procedure for voting and election changes by state and local governments were outdated. This mostly focused on southern states with a long history of racially discriminatory voter suppression. Contrary to the court's opinion and since then, hundreds of bills across several state legislatures have been proposed that would make access to the ballot box increasingly difficult for many people--more so for communities of color, students, seniors, and disabled people. Some of these bills have become law. In many cases, those who are rolling back access to the vote are also involved in the decennial redistricting process in which congressional and state legislative maps will be set until 2032. These are precisely the kind of decisions the Justice Department was able to scrutinize under the pre-Shelby County Voting Rights Act. The John Lewis Voting Rights Enhancement Act will rectify this wrong and fine-tune that formula so that the Supreme Court cannot strike it down again. Madam Speaker, I know that John Lewis is looking down upon us now. If he were here with us today, I know that he would be on the House floor tonight and would be imploring us in that booming voice of his to continue the fight for voting rights to which he devoted his life and career. It is the same fight for which he endured unspeakable brutality while attempting to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge on the march from Selma to Montgomery. We cannot turn back now.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor, commend and extend personal congratulations to my friend of longstanding and my brother in Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Coach Bobby L. Wright. Coach Wright, the beloved and renowned former Head Coach and Athletic Director at Central High School in Phenix City, Alabama, recently retired after 44 years as a highly respected coach, mentor and consultant. A retirement celebration was held in his honor on Friday, July 2, 2021 at Green Island Country Club in Columbus, Georgia. Bobby L. Wright graduated from Buena Vista High School in Marion County, Georgia in 1970 and from Fort Valley State College (now Fort Valley State University) in 1974. The following year, he began his stellar teaching and coaching careers at Carver High School in Columbus, Georgia serving as the Head Coach for track and Assistant Coach for football and basketball. In 1977, he was recruited and hired across the Chattahoochee River at Central High School in Phenix City, Alabama where he taught, coached, and chaired the Health and Physical Education Department. There, for 12 years he served as an Assistant Coach under the tutelage of famed Coach James Redd before taking over as the Head Coach. During his impressive 32-year tenure as Head Coach for the Central High School Boys Varsity Basketball Team, ``The Red Devils'' he amassed an incredible record of achievement: 4 State Championship game appearances; 8 semi-final appearances; 26 playoff appearances; and winning 8 region titles and 23 area titles. Coach Wright had a 671-221 won-loss record with his 600th win being against archrival Auburn High School in 2017. Concurrently, he served as the Defensive Coordinator for the Central High School football team for 26 years, including in 1993 when they won the Alabama State High School Football Championship title. In addition to that, Coach Wright served as the school's Athletic Director from 1998 until his retirement earlier this year. Aristotle once said, ``Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.'' Coach Wright was an educator of both. He is rooted in the belief that children need tough love as well as encouragement. As such, he was known for his discipline-first approach when coaching basketball, football, and track. He used this firm coaching style to motivate the athletes under his direction to do their best and met them with laughter and support even if they missed the mark. Coach Wright has received countless awards and commendations for his achievements and accomplishments as a coach and educator, including a resolution on January 21, 2021 approved by the Phenix City Alabama Board of Education honoring his long and exemplary service to the Phenix City School system. But none is more impressive than his 2014 induction into the Alabama High School Athletic Hall of Fame. Coach Wright has accomplished much in his life but none of it would have been possible without the grace of God; the love and support of his wife of almost three decades, Carolyn; his family, students and the communities in Georgia and Alabama, to which he has given so much. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join my wife, Vivian, and me, along with the more than 730,000 people of the Second Congressional District, in extending our sincerest appreciation, our heartfelt congratulations and our best wishes to Coach Bobby L. Wright upon the occasion of his retirement after an outstanding 44 years impacting the lives of the countless people he has touched.

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 an extraordinary public servant, wife, mother and dear friend of longstanding to many, the Honorable Evelyn Wright Turner Pugh. Sadly, Ms. Pugh passed away on Saturday, July 10, 2021. A memorial celebration of her life will be held at 11:00 am, Monday July 19, 2021 at Revelation Baptist Church, 203 R.C. Allen Drive, Columbus, Georgia. A native of Columbus, Evelyn Wright was born on June 23, 1950 to the late Willie ``Son'' Wright and Mary Pearl Haynes. She attended George Washington Carver High School, graduating in 1968. Upon graduation she married Marcus ``Pancho'' Turner and they had 2 sons, Marcus Deon and Maurice. Determined to prepare herself for an amazing career, she attended Columbus College (now Columbus State University) where she received her Associate's degree in Secretarial Science, a Bachelor's in Management/Accounting and a Master's in Business Administration. Beginning her career as a secretary at Columbus College and Progressive Funeral Home she earned her tuition and was mentored by Columbus icon, Mr. George Washington Ford, being inspired by his example of selfless service in helping others. Evelyn gained employment at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia and rose quickly through the ranks holding a plethora of positions ranging from entry level to managerial across a span of 30 years. In 1999 she was appointed Vice President of Sun Trust Bank, West Georgia, a position she held until her retirement from the banking industry in 2012. When her marriage ended in divorce, she successfully managed her roles as mother and business executive but felt a calling to serve her community. Growing out of a group of young adults concerned about conditions in the Columbus community, ``People For A Cause'', Evelyn offered herself for public office and in 1988 was elected to the City Council of Columbus where she served for 30 years, 14 as Mayor Pro Tem, working to improve the quality of life for the people of Columbus. Due to her strong leadership and dedication to public service, she was selected for numerous other responsibilities. She was appointed by Governor Zell Miller to the Georgia Policy Council on Children and Families; to the University of Georgia Carl Vinson Institute of Government Advisory Committee; and the Mental Health Mental Retardation Substance Abuse Funding Study Committee. She was appointed Chair of the National League of Cities' Public Safety and Crime Prevention Steering Committee, working with U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno on the use of grants from the Community Oriented Policing Services Program; was elected Georgia Chair of Women in Municipal Government; President of the Georgia Municipal Association and Board of Directors of the National League of Cities. And if that was not enough, she continued service on local boards, including the Board of Directors of Girls, Inc.; St. Francis Hospital; Columbus Technical College; Liberty Theater and Muscogee Educational Excellence Foundation. She was a faithful member of the Columbus Chapter of The Links, Inc.; and Columbus Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., serving as Treasurer and Financial Secretary. She was awarded the Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Award, among other distinguished honors, including being named by Georgia Trend Magazine as one of Georgia's top public servants. Moreover, she served as Treasurer for my political campaign committees, both State and Federal, for over 4 decades and was a trusted friend. Evelyn was a devoted sister, mother, grandmother, aunt, mentor and friend to many. She poured herself into her sons, Deon and Maurice. She found love later in life, married the late Lieutenant Colonel (Ret) Reginald Pugh and lovingly embraced her new blended family, including Reggie, Jr., Tijuana and Talender. She was proud of all of her grandchildren and doted in their every achievement. Evelyn loved God and served him throughout her life in various capacities through Holsey Chapel CME Church, Fourth Street Baptist Church and Revelation Baptist Church. Shirley Chisholm often said that ``Service is the rent that we pay for the space we occupy on this earth''. Evelyn paid her rent and she paid it well. She gave so much to so many for so long and continued until she could give no more. Columbus, the State of Georgia, our nation and all those whose lives she touched are better because of her. Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House of Representatives join my wife Vivian and me, along with the residents of the 2nd Congressional District of Georgia in paying tribute to The Honorable Evelyn Wright Turner Pugh for her service and in extending our deepest condolences to her family, friends and all who mourn her loss. Moreover, 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. Madam Speaker, this June, we celebrate Pride Month in solidarity with our fellow Americans, and world citizens, who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer, also known as the LGBTQ community. We celebrate the courage it takes for LGBTQ people to openly and freely be their true selves, and we celebrate to show them compassion and understanding, even if they have not yet made the decision to affirm their identity publicly. The struggle to attain full equality for LGBTQ Americans is far from over, but we can take solace in recent triumphs: the repeal of ``Don't Ask, Don't Tell,'' Obergefell v. Hodges, which legalized same-sex marriage in the United States, Bostock v. Clayton County, GA, which prohibited employment discrimination based on sex or sexual orientation, and President Biden's lifting of the ban on Transgender people from serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. But also, during this Pride Month, we must not forget the struggles that lie ahead for the LGBTQ community--most notably, attaining the right to live freely, with equal protection of the laws and without fear of violence or persecution. For many LGBTQ people, especially those of color, this dream is not yet within reach. I implore those Americans that face adversity for their sex or sexual orientation not to despair; as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. paraphrased the words of the abolitionist Theodore Parker, `the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.' It is incumbent upon each and every one of us living in this country to extend the kindness and respect to our neighbor that we, in turn, would wish to receive. LGBTQ Americans live and work in every city and county in our nation. They live in communities that are rural, urban, suburban and everything in between. They are a diverse community that spans all races, ethnicities, nations, and creeds, but they all have one thing in common--they were created by God and in his image.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to extend my personal congratulations to an extraordinary man, leader, soldier, veteran, and true national treasure, Colonel Ralph Puckett, Jr. USA (ret.). On Friday, May 21, 2021, Colonel Puckett was awarded the Medal of Honor, our Nation's most prestigious military award, by President Joseph R. Biden for his valiant and commendable service to his nation. A dinner congratulating him on this momentous achievement will be held at The National Infantry Museum in Columbus, Georgia on Friday, June 18, 2021 at 6pm. Before receiving this momentous honor, the Tifton, Georgia native had already established an impressive career in the U.S. military. Colonel Ralph Puckett, Jr. graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1949. Assigned as an Infantry Lieutenant to occupation duty in Japan, he volunteered for the Eighth U.S. Army Ranger Company when the Korean War began. On November 25, 1950, the then-First Lieutenant began a multiday operation with the Eighth Army Ranger Company, a company of 51 U.S. and nine South Korean soldiers, against a plethora of Chinese troops on Hill 205. During the initial daylight assault, Colonel Puckett exposed himself to enemy fire, rallying pinned down U.S. troops to advance and take the hill from its defenders. In the following hours, temperatures dropped, and the Chinese attempted to retake the hill and Col. Puckett radioed in an artillery strike to stop the enemy's advance. Over the course of six brutal enemy attacks, Colonel Puckett incurred severe wounds on his left shoulder, feet, thighs, and buttocks. Although severely injured, he was still able to command his company and call on artillery to avert enemy attacks, before being carried to safety by two of his troops. Colonel Puckett was originally awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions at Hill 205, but John Lock, a retired U.S. Army officer, and assistant professor at the U.S. Military Academy, discovered Colonel Puckett's story and believed it met the criteria to be awarded our nation's most prestigious military award, the Medal of Honor. In 2003, Mr. Lock began the strenuous process to have Colonel Puckett's initial award upgraded to the Medal of Honor. After being met with unforeseen opposition, Lock submitted a petition for an upgrade to the Army Award Corrections Board. In 2020, the petition for Colonel Puckett was approved, and on Friday, May 21, 2021, Colonel Puckett was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Joseph R. Biden for his valiant and commendable service to his Nation. During his 22-year career, Colonel Puckett received several illustrious awards and commendations for his outstanding leadership and heroic actions in the line of duty and on behalf of his fellow servicemen. To date, he has received the Distinguished Service Cross twice, along with two Silver Stars for valor, two Bronze Star Medals, and five Purple Hearts. Similarly, in 1992, he became one of the first people to be inducted into the U.S. Army Ranger Hall of Fame. Former Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm once said that ``Service is the rent that we pay for the space that we occupy here on this earth.'' As one of our nation's most decorated military heroes, Colonel Puckett has paid his rent many times over and continued to give a prodigious amount of love and service back to his community following his military service. As a retiree, Colonel Puckett has remained actively involved with military affairs, including as a volunteer with the Ranger Brigade as well as serving as an executive with Outward Bound, a nonprofit educational organization that exposes students, especially those from cities, to wilderness settings. Colonel Puckett has accomplished many things in his life, but none of these would have been possible without the grace of God, and the enduring love and support of his wife, Jean; and their children, Martha and Thomas. Madam Speaker, today 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 recognizing and commending Colonel Ralph Puckett, Jr. USA (ret.) on receiving the prestigious Medal of Honor and his lifetime of service to his community and his nation.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, on June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas, more than two years after President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation and six months after the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment outlawing slavery, Union Troops seized control of the area and declared all slaves free. Since then, ``Juneteenth'' has been observed in Texas and in many places as Emancipation Day and the end of slavery in the United States because many of those enslaved had not yet received the news of President Lincoln's January 1, 1863, Emancipation Proclamation. The news surrounding the Emancipation Proclamation and the end of slavery reached different regions at different times. While many commemorate this occasion on June 19, in areas such as Russell County, Alabama, the date marking the end of slavery is May 28, and as such, locals have established May 28 as a community holiday to celebrate the day of freedom. For many of the enslaved, in communities across the south, this news was purposefully kept from them--denying them the freedom and rights they were due. It is a dark legacy we see repeating itself today which reminds us that freedom and rights--even that most fundamental right to vote--are precious and precarious. It has been a long and continuing march towards equality and justice. So long as slavery existed and persisted, our country could never truly live up to its founding ideals of ``life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.'' The great strides made by courageous pioneers such as William Lloyd Garrison, Theodore Parker, John Greenleaf Whittier, James Russell Lowell, William Wells Brown, and Frederick Douglass were among the early steps to realize those ideals in America. Through Reconstruction, a Civil Rights Movement nearly 100 years later, and up through current efforts to eliminate the residual effects of slavery on the descendants of former slaves, the fight continues into this century. Every step forward seems to have been met with opposition--too often violent opposition--against recognition that ``all men are created equal''. The words of Frederick Douglass ring true today that ``freedom is a constant struggle''. As we remember the struggles and successes of the past, we must use this occasion to renew our efforts to wipe out the vestiges of slavery that still remain. Juneteenth is not only a reminder of the end of an odious era in our Nation's history, but a reminder of the work that still needs to be done before we can truly celebrate freedom.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today in sadness and in joy to celebrate the life of a good and great Morehouse Man, Dr. Tobe Johnson. Sadly. Dr. Johnson transitioned from labor to reward on Friday, May 7, 2021, at the age of 91. A homegoing service will be held on Friday, May 21, 2021, at 11 AM, on the campus of Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. While his passing leaves in its wake many heavy hearts, upon prayerful reflection the pain we share must melt into joy. For, Dr. Johnson leaves a remarkable legacy of service to humanity as a scholar, teacher, husband, father, mentor, confidant, and friend of longstanding to many. A native of Birmingham, Alabama, Dr. Tobe Johnson was born on September 16, 1929, to the late Mr. Tobe Johnson and Mrs. Evelyn Johnson. He grew up in a Black, working-class community, entered Morehouse College in Atlanta at age 16, but was forced to leave school and work at a steel plant back in Alabama. He joined the Air Force, serving in Japan, and following his discharge, returned to Morehouse College to complete his undergraduate degree--a B.A. in Political Science, in 1954. He attended Columbia University in New York, becoming the first Black person to receive a Ph.D. in Government from that institution. After receiving his Doctorate and teaching at Prairie View A&M University in Texas, he was recruited by Dr. Benjamin E. Mays to join the faculty at Morehouse College, where he served in many capacities before his retirement in 2018. Dr. Johnson graduated from Morehouse right as the Supreme Court outlawed racial segregation in public schools. This monumental decision stimulated his interest in analyzing political structures and influencing long-term change. This was an early victory followed by others such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and motivated Dr. Johnson to use his skills to help Black political advancement. Dr. Johnson, as a teacher, researcher, writer, and administrator, was an icon on the Morehouse College faculty, where he was hailed as the institution's longest-serving faculty member. He taught at the school for almost 60 years, was an Avalon professor, and served as Chair of the Political Science Department. He established and conducted, at Morehouse, a rare Peace Corps volunteer training program in the South. He impacted the lives of countless Morehouse men, such as Jeh Johnson, who would become the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security; Randall L. Woodfin, the youngest mayor ever elected in Birmingham, Alabama; and Maynard H. Jackson, Jr., Atlanta's first Black mayor. As a Student Assistant in the Political Science Department for 2 years, I worked directly for Dr. Johnson doing research. He was precise, analytical, data-driven, and brutally frank in his approach and had the highest standards of integrity and validation for his research. He became my mentor, role model, wise counsel, and friend of longstanding. He took great pride in my elections and my service in the Georgia General Assembly for 16 years and my service in the U.S. Congress for 29 years. I am truly blessed that he helped shape my life. During his career, he received numerous honors, awards, and special recognitions. Sir Winston Churchill often said: ``You make your living by what you get, you make your life by what you give.'' Dr. Johnson gave so much to so many for so long and truly made his life. His public service, his advocacy for students, his devotion to Morehouse College, and his service to his community and his nation, reflect the legacy he leaves and the joy we must celebrate. Truly the world is a better place because Dr. Tobe Johnson passed this way. Dr. Johnson accomplished much in his life. but none of it would have been possible without the Grace of God and the love and the support of his wife of 61 years. Goldie: his children, Cheryl and Tobe III; and a host of family and friends who will miss him dearly. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to join my wife, Vivian, and me, along with countless others throughout Georgia and the nation in saluting and honoring Dr. Tobe Johnson for his service in the education and political sectors, to his country, and to humankind; and in extending our deepest condolences to Dr. Johnson's family, friends, loved ones, and all those who mourn his loss. 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, millions of people here and around the globe were shocked to learn of the shootings at three Atlanta spas last March that killed eight people and injured one. Six of the eight victims were of Asian descent. Many of us saw a link between the discriminatory and often hateful rhetoric against the Asian-American community during the COVID-19 pandemic and this unspeakable act of violence. In fact, the last year has seen an unacceptable rise in anti-Asian racism and violent attacks, especially against the elderly. There are many such incidents across the nation that are said to be unreported as well. As the Dean of the Georgia Delegation, I strongly condemn these heinous acts of violence against our Asian-American brothers and sisters. They have no place in Georgia or anywhere else in our nation for that matter. I therefore urge my colleagues to support not only this important resolution to condemn this act of violence and to remember the lives that were so tragically taken from us last March in Atlanta. I also urge them to support the bipartisan COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act to bolster the investigation and prosecution of hate crimes in the United States.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Shakespeare wrote: All the world is a stage. And all the men and women, merely players. Each has his entrance and his exit. One man in his time may play many parts. So it was with our beloved Alcee Hastings. He was a son, father, grandfather, husband, civil rights activist, attorney, judge, Member of Congress, international parliamentarian, colleague, my brother in Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, a faithful friend, and a fearless foe. His performance in each of these roles was always par excellence. His was a life well-lived. He was authentic, brutally frank, but always a powerful advocate for marginalized humanity. He did so much for so many for so long. We will miss him, but the world is a better place because of the life of Alcee Lamar Hastings. My wife, Vivian, and I send our heartfelt condolences to his wife, Patricia, his other family, his staff, and all who mourn his loss.

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 homage to an outstanding man of God, dedicated public servant, courageous soldier, and friend of longstanding, Reverend Bryant Wardell Raines. Reverend Raines transitioned from labor to reward on Wednesday, February 24, 2021. His homegoing service was held on Saturday, March 6, 2021, at 11 a.m. at the Macon City Auditorium in Macon, Georgia. He leaves behind a loving family, his dedicated church congregation at the New Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church (NPMBC), and an appreciative community for his extraordinary life of service to God and humankind. A native son of Macon, Reverend Bryant Wardell Raines was born on February 3, 1977, to the union of Mrs. Barbara Tharpe Raines and the late Reverend Curtis Raines, Sr. He thirsted for knowledge and self- improvement. He was a 1995 graduate of Central High School and a 1999 graduate of Clark Atlanta University, where he received B.A. Degrees in English, Philosophy, and Religion. In addition to attending Georgia Southern University (in pursuit of an M.A. Degree in Public Administration) and The Morehouse School of Religion at the Interdenominational Theological Center, he was also a 2001 graduate of the United States Army Chaplain Center and School. He was pursuing an M.A. Degree in Evangelism and Church Planting at Liberty University when the Lord called him home. Reverend Raines served his country honorably in the United States Army as the Chaplain Assistant for the Installation Garrison Command, 3rd Infantry Division and the 4th Battalion 64th Armor Regiment of Fort Stewart, Georgia. He received awards for his valiant service including Army Service Ribbon (2001); Army Commendation Medal (2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004); National Defense Service Ribbon (2001); Primary Leadership Development Ribbon (2003); Presidential Unit Citation (2003); and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (2003). Reverend Raines was a man of God, truly devoted to his calling--a calling from God, passed to him through his father, Reverend Curtis Raines, Sr., who was his predecessor at NPMBC and the past president of the General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia. As the beloved Pastors of NPMBC, they utilized their roles as spiritual leaders to fully engage with their community by creating numerous outreach programs and opportunities to enrich the lives of those around them. Before his transition, Reverend Bryant Raines worked tirelessly with The Curtis Raines, Sr. Foundation on the development of The Curtis Raines, Sr. Health and Wellness Facility. This holistic community center seeks to minister to the total person by providing programs and resources to promote both physical and spiritual wellness. Reverend Raines believed strongly that involvement in his local and state-level sacerdotal communities was an integral part of his calling as a Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Accordingly, he served in numerous roles that had as their purpose the uplift of humankind. In addition to being the beloved Pastor of NPMBC, he served the Deacon, the Audio and Video, and the Evangelism Ministries at NPMBC; President of the Sixth District of the General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia, Inc.; Vice President of the Sixth District of the General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia, Inc.; Member of the Board of Trustees at Wesley Glen Ministries; Member of the Rotary Club of Macon, Georgia; Member of the Baptist Minister's Union of Macon and Vicinity; and as Founder of the Heal the Hood Initiative, a community initiative to combat violence and address the needs of the total community. Mother Teresa once said that ``At the end of life we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made, how many great things we have done. We will be judged by ``I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was naked and you clothed me. I was homeless, and you took me in.'' Reverend Bryant Wardell Raines, in his life, did just that, and the world is better because he passed this way. On a personal note, the advice, counsel, friendship, and support that I have received from Reverend Raines as Congressman for the Second Congressional District has been immeasurable. He never told me what I wanted to hear, but he always told me what he felt I needed to hear. And, for that, I will be forever grateful. Reverend Raines accomplished much in his life, but none of it would have been possible without the Grace of God and the love and support of his family including his wife, Mrs. Ilashia Brezial Raines; and his siblings, Shun, Curtis, Jr., and Varina. He loved his family. His family loved him back. And they will miss him along with all of us whose lives he touched. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to join my wife, Vivian, and me, along with countless others throughout Georgia and the nation in saluting Reverend Bryant Wardell Raines for his service in the ministry, to his country, and to humankind; and in extending our deepest condolences to Reverend Raines' family, friends, loved ones, and all those who mourn his loss. 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 with a heavy heart and solemn remembrance that I rise today, to pay tribute to a man of God, respected public servant, and entrepreneur, Mr. Henry Lee Jackson, Sr. Sadly, Mr. Jackson transitioned from labor to reward on Sunday, January 31, 2021 at the age of 91. His funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, February 6, 2021 at Floral Memorial Gardens in Albany, Georgia. A native son of Albany, Georgia, Henry Jackson, Sr. answered the call to serve his nation at the age of 17, when he joined the United States Marine Corps. He served our nation honorably among the ranks of the first black Marines, known as the Montford Point Marines because they received basic training at the segregated Montford Point Base adjacent to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. This historic troop went on to fight in the gruesome Battle of Peleliu in Japan during World War II. More than 50 years later, he and all of the Montford Point Marines, the first African-Americans allowed to serve in the Marine Corps, were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal by President Barack Obama recognizing their personal sacrifice and service to their country during World War II. Yet, Madam Speaker, Mr. Jackson's profound service did not stop there. He went on to fight in the Korean war, and upon returning home and finishing his education, he enlisted in the United States Air Force (USAF), where he served for 24 years before retiring as a Master Sergeant. After his retirement from USAF, Mr. Jackson served as the Chief of Airport Security at the Southwest Georgia Regional Airport for several years before retiring and dedicating his time to his businesses. He was the owner of Jackson Income Tax Service and a lawn service. Maya Angelou once said, ``A great soul serves everyone all the time. A great soul never dies.'' Henry Lee Jackson, Sr. is one such great soul, who served humanity in a special way. He devoted decades of service to fighting for the freedoms of others. 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 wellbeing of his beloved city, state, and nation, and for it, he will be remembered for time to come. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join my wife, Vivian, and me, along with the more than 730,000 people of Georgia's Second Congressional District, in honoring the life and legacy of Mr. Henry Lee Jackson, Sr. for his remarkable service to humankind. Moreover, we extend our deepest sympathies to Mr. Jackson'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 weeks, months, and years ahead.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, it is my honor and privilege to extend my heartfelt thanks to the members of the Georgia National Guard who were deployed to the District of Columbia and the National Capitol Region for the inauguration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr. as the 46th President of the United States and Kamala D. Harris as the 49th Vice President of the United States. Since 1636, the National Guard has consistently served the American people in much-needed roles that range from homeland defense, overseas combat, humanitarian aid, and defense support for civil authorities. As all of us are aware, sustained military operations worldwide, coupled with declining numbers of active-duty personnel, have required the Department of Defense to rely more and more on the use of the Georgia National Guard. Following the violent and deadly attempted coup at the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021, 2,284 members from the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 121st Infantry Regiment, 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the Georgia National Guard, and the 116th and 165th Security Forces Squadrons of the Georgia Air National Guard selflessly arrived in Washington, D.C. in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic--risking their health and safety in multiple ways to do their duty. Their mission was to aid and support the United States Capitol Police, the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia, the United States Secret Service, the United States Park Police, and other Federal law enforcement agencies as they worked to keep our nation's capital secure after its occupation by domestic terrorists. In keeping with the National Guard's motto of ``Always Ready, Always There,'' these citizen-soldiers from Georgia were committed and ready on a moment's (short) notice to protect the U.S Capitol and ensure that there was a peaceful transfer of power on January 20 in response to their deployment orders. Thanks to these brave men and women from Georgia, there were no incidents of violence that threatened the inaugural ceremonies. There is no doubt in my mind that their service prevented further loss of life and threats against our democracy. At one of our darkest times, the Georgia National Guard was there to protect America--from all enemies foreign or domestic. Madam Speaker, I am very proud of the Georgia National Guard. Because of their service, the will of the People was honored, and the institutions of our government remain intact. I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me and the people of Georgia, in extending our sincerest appreciation, pride, and utmost gratitude to the Georgia National Guard, the Adjutant General of Georgia Thomas Carden, and his staff, for their outstanding work, morale, and dedication to duty during the inauguration.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5472, the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park Redesignation Act. The legislation would change the name of the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site in Plains, Georgia, to the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park, thereby ensuring that its nomenclature conforms to other noncontiguous sites within the National Park System. It would also honor the wishes of our Nation's 39th President, who is a dear friend of mine, as well as my constituent. On March 22, 2019, President Carter also became our Nation's longest- living President, surpassing the lifespan of George H.W. Bush. In October, he celebrated his 96th birthday. As many of you are aware, President Carter has had a number of health challenges recently, which has created a sense of urgency around this legislation and the rich legacy that he and Mrs. Rosalynn Carter want to leave for their longtime home in Plains, Georgia. After the Carters left the White House, the Carters and Plains community took the initiative to preserve and protect the history of this small, rural, agricultural community. In 1987, Congress established the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site. As you have heard, it consists of the Plains Railroad Depot, which served as Jimmy Carter's campaign headquarters during the 1976 Presidential campaign; Jimmy Carter's boyhood farm; Plains High School, which the Carters both attended, and which now serves as the visitor center and museum; and the Carter home and compound, where the Carters currently live, which is now closed to the public. In fact, the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site is the only site in the National Park System, aside from the White House, that is still an active Presidential home. I have taken my entire staff there on a number of occasions so that they could get a better feel and understanding of the values that shaped this great Georgian. Madam Speaker, H.R. 5472 enjoys the bipartisan support of the entire Georgia congressional delegation, as well as the Plains community. Madam Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Grijalva and Ranking Member Bishop on the full committee, and Chairwoman Haaland and Ranking Member Young on the National Park Subcommittee. I thank Mr. Gallego and his able staff members, Brandon Bragato and Lily Wang, for all of their help in bringing this legislation to the House today under suspension of the rules. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this measure.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, it is my honor and pleasure to extend my congratulations to a gifted educator, great team builder, loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend of longstanding, Dr. Ed Helton. Dr. Helton will retire from Columbus State University (CSU) on Wednesday, December 16, 2020, after a distinguished career that culminated in his selection as Interim Chief of Staff for the University. Dr. Ed Helton earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and English and a Master of Arts in Philosophy and Religion from Samford University, and a Doctor of Divinity from Judson College. He has been a student of leadership development and communication throughout his career. In addition to his educational achievements, Dr. Helton completed the Executive Education course, The Art and Practice of Leadership Development, at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government in May of 2013. And in March 2015, he attended Minds at Work's Immunity to Change (ITC) instrument training in Cambridge, Massachusetts. For almost two decades, Dr. Helton has been a highly trusted leader in the higher education sector. He built quite an impressive career, which began in 2002 when he became an Adjunct Professor in Philosophy at CSU. In 2004, in addition to his teaching duties, Dr. Helton started serving as a consultant with CSU's Leadership Institute, where he became instrumental in promoting the Institute. In May 2005, he assumed the position as Director of the Leadership Institute at the Cunningham Center for Leadership Development. Dr. Helton played an integral part in the Jim Blanchard Leadership Forum that brought distinguished leaders to Columbus, Georgia such as Former President George W. Bush, Former First Lady Laura Bush, Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Dallas Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban, and Dr. Mae Jemison, among others. A man of many talents, Dr. Helton is certified by several leadership organizations that qualifies him as an expert on team building, conflict resolution, and human behavior. Ed is also an ordained minister whose spiritual insights inform his extraordinary ability to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the human character. He has also lent his time and talents to serve as a consultant and keynote speaker for a wide range of other organizations. Winston Churchill once said: ``You make your living by what you get, you make your life by what you give.'' Dr. Ed Helton has given so much to Columbus State University, his community, his friends, and most importantly, his God. Ed has cast a wide net in his service to humankind, and the world is a better place because of his work. Ed has accomplished much in his life, but none of this would have been possible without the Grace of God and the love and support of his wife, Lana, and his son, Brett. On a personal note, Ed has had a significant impact on my life, both personally and professionally. He has offered sage advice and counsel as a consultant and has often been a sounding board for me when grappling with thorny issues. His ability to balance critique and encouragement in a way that is constructive in achieving a positive outcome is exceptional. I will be forever grateful for his professional guidance and his friendship. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join my wife, Vivian, and me along with the more than 730,000 residents of the Second Congressional District, in extending our sincerest appreciation and best wishes to Dr. Ed Helton upon the occasion of his retirement from an outstanding career in Higher Education Administration and his continued service to humanity.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Butterfield) for allowing me to share in this commemoration. I rise to commemorate the 155th anniversary of the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution. 155 years ago, slavery was abolished in the United States after Georgia's State legislature ratified the Thirteenth Amendment, pushing it over the three-fourths requirement. This was a monumental step for civil rights in America, the first of three constitutional amendments during the Reconstruction period that sought equality for the former slaves and their descendants, Black Americans. Unfortunately, we know that these amendments did not achieve equality, and in fact outraged many of the former slaveholders. Slavery was the backbone of the southern economy and way of life. Systems like that do not disappear overnight. After slavery was abolished, sharecropping came in its place; in theory, free and fair, but in practice, anything but. The Ku Klux Klan was organized by former Confederate officers to violently keep Black people in their places. The exception written into the Thirteenth Amendment that allowed involuntary servitude as a punishment upon conviction of a crime gave rise to what was known as the chain gang: free prison labor, which still exists in many places today. Although the Thirteenth Amendment passed, southern legislatures enacted Black Codes and Jim Crow laws, legislation that technically abided by the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments, but still allowed discrimination against Black Americans, maintaining white supremacy and still giving White Americans preferential treatment. This persisted up through the second half of the 20th century and persisted until the blood, sweat, and tears of the civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s. John Lewis, Jim Clyburn, Bennie Thompson, Hosea Williams, Joe Lowery, Medgar Evers put their lives on the line to stand up for the humanity of Black Americans. We often hear that slavery has been over for a long time, 155 years. It may be long for an individual, but not for a nation. But we should make clear and make no mistake about it that the legacy of slavery still haunts America and it still handicaps our ability to realize the noble principles that this country stands for, that all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, keeping in mind that we have made a lot of progress, but we are not where we need to go. There is still much work to do. Mr. Speaker, I challenge my colleagues in this body to keep in mind and ask themselves a question: What are we doing today to make America a more perfect union for the next 155 years?

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the gentleman from Georgia, the Honorable Kwanza Hall, be permitted to take the oath of office today. His certificate of election has not arrived, but there is no contest and no question has been raised with regard to his election.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, ladies and gentlemen of the House, the Honorable Kwanza Hall is a native of Atlanta, attended Atlanta public schools, and attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He worked for the Fulton County Government. He was vice president of technology for GoodWorks International, and he is currently director of business development at Mactech Engineering. In 2002, he was elected to the Atlanta Board of Education. In 2005, he was elected to the Atlanta City Council, District Two, where he served three consecutive terms. Following the death of our beloved colleague, Congressman John Lewis, Kwanza qualified to run in the special election to fill the unexpired term of Congressman Lewis, which was held on November 3. There were several candidates, but none received the required majority under Georgia law. On December 1, Kwanza won the runoff special election. His election means that the people of the Fifth Congressional District of Georgia, in Atlanta, will be represented and have a voice during this lameduck session of the 116th Congress as we debate and, hopefully, enact, among other things, the FY 2021 appropriations bill funding the operations of the Federal Government and much-needed COVID-19 relief for America's families, businesses, and our State and local governments. He is married to Fulton County Commissioner Natalie Hall, and they have two sons. Madam Speaker, I yield to my colleague from the Seventh District of Georgia, the Honorable Rob Woodall.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, as dean of the Georgia delegation, it is my pleasure to present and to welcome to this House and to yield to the gentleman from Georgia's Fifth Congressional District, the Honorable Kwanza Hall.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an inspiring woman, respected community leader, and a transgenerational pillar in Dawson, Georgia--Mrs. Grace Virginia Richardson Humphrey Cutts. Sadly, Mrs. Cutts passed away on Tuesday, November 17, 2020, at the remarkable age of 108. But she leaves behind a legacy of impact upon countless people whose lives she touched. Her funeral service was held on Tuesday, December 1, 2020, at 11 am at the Adoration Temperance Obedience Charity (ATOC) African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in Dawson, Georgia. Mrs. Grace Virginia Richardson Humphrey Cutts was born on March 2, 1912, in Dawson, Georgia, to the union of Walter Revenna Richardson and Clara Louise Cochran Richardson. Mrs. Cutts was a person who overcame many obstacles to make a difference in the lives of others. She was raised in a time during which African Americans were limited in their opportunities to better themselves. But, Mrs. Cutts was undeterred and set out on a path to overcome all obstacles that would prevent her from carrying out God's calling upon her life. She graduated from Allen Normal and Industrial High School and enrolled in Georgia Normal and Agricultural College--now Albany State University, graduating in 1949. She served as a teacher for 45 years, using her gifts to impact the lives of thousands of young people who went on to achieve in no small part because of her influence. Even after she retired, she continued to make a difference in the lives of young people through tutoring and mentoring. The course and the direction of her life were set by the name she was given at birth--Grace. She was proud of her character and used that character to exhibit grace and compassion to all with whom she came in contact. She kept God as the center of her life and the captain of her ship. She was a member of the ATOC AME Church for an astonishing 102 years. Besides being the Mother of the Church, she served during various times as the church pianist, secretary, and Stewardess. In addition to being dedicated to her church and her community, she was a wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Her family was always supportive and through the years, allowed her to give her time and treasure to God and her community. She was married to the late Calvin Homer Humphrey and the late Sammie Lee Cutts; was the loving mother to the late Calvin Walter Humphrey; and she was a doting grandmother and great grandmother. Former Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm once said that ``If they don't give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.'' We are so thankful that Mrs. Grace Cutts always brought a folding chair and used her life's work to make a difference. 1 Peter 4:10 says, ``Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms.'' Mrs. Cutts exemplified that grace because of her faith in God and used God's grace to serve others in a mighty way. To God Be The Glory for the amazing and meaningful life of Mrs. Grace Virginia Richardson Humphrey Cutts. Madam Speaker, my wife, Vivian and I, along with the more than 730,000 people of the Second Congressional District, and all those who mourn her loss, salute Mrs. Grace Virginia Richardson Humphrey Cutts for her lifetime of service to humankind. I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join us in extending our deepest condolences to Mrs. Cutts' family 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. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an inspiring woman, educator, and woman of God, Mrs. Anna Mae Hooper Debro. Sadly, Mrs. Debro passed away on Wednesday, November 25, 2020, at the remarkable age of 104. But, she leaves behind a legacy of impact upon countless people whose lives she touched. Her funeral service was held on Wednesday, December 2, 2020, at the Charles E. Huff International Funeral Home, Incorporated in Columbus, Georgia. Mrs. Anna Mae Hooper Debro was born in Coffeeville, Mississippi, on October 3, 1916, to the union of Reverend Louis W. Hooper and Mrs. Minnie Hooper. As the daughter of a preacher, she committed her life to being a believer and servant of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, at a very early age. She graduated from Delta Industrial High School, a historical boarding school for gifted Black children in the Mississippi Delta, before earning her undergraduate degree from Alcorn and Campbell College in 1941. She continued her education at Atlanta University (now Clark Atlanta University), where she received her Master's degree in Math Education in 1960. A lifelong learner, with an immense passion for education, she sought to further her studies at the University of Georgia, Florida A & M University, and Tuskegee University as a National Science Foundation Scholar. Mrs. Debro committed her life to education. She held the position of Math Department Chair at Carver High School in Columbus, Georgia, she was the Tri Hi Y Chair, Student Advisor, and the PTA Chairwoman from 1954 to 1971. Later, she taught at Columbus High School from 1971 to 1978, where she was among the first African American teachers to desegregate the Muscogee County School District. Mrs. Debro's life story was so impactful that it was featured in the SIS Oral History Project at Spelman College in Atlanta, GA. In addition to her dedication in the classroom, she was also a devout servant of God and a member of St. Mark A.M.E. Church for over 70 years, where she chaired the Women's Missionary Society and served in several leadership roles. Her pledge to Christ was echoed in her compassionate leadership, which made her a guiding light within her community. Mother Teresa once said that ``At the end of life we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made, how many great things that we have done. We will be judged by ``I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat. I was naked, and you clothed me, I was homeless, and you took me in.'' Mrs. Anna Mae Hooper Debro lived her life to help other people. Because of her love for Jesus Christ and her service to the least of these, the world is indeed a better place. Mrs. Debro accomplished much in her life, but none of it would have been possible without the Grace of God and the love and support of her late husband of 30 years, Mr. James Debro, Sr.; and her children, James Jr., William, Lisa, Harriette, and Dwight. She will be greatly missed by her family but will also be missed by her community and all of those whose lives she touched. Madam Speaker, my wife, Vivian, and I, along with the more than 730,000 people of the Second Congressional District, and all those who mourn her loss, salute Mrs. Anna Mae Hooper Debro for her lifetime of service to humankind. I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join us in extending our deepest condolences to Mrs. Debro's family 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. Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart and solemn remembrance that I rise today to pay tribute to an outstanding educator, man of God, and dear friend of longstanding, Dr. Joseph Donnell Carley, Jr. Sadly, Dr. Carley passed away on Sunday, November 22, 2020. A home-going celebration was held graveside on Sunday, November 29, 2020, at 2pm in Thomasville, Georgia at Peaceful Rest Cemetery. Dr. Joseph Donnell Carley Jr. was born on November 11, 1955, in Thomasville, Georgia, as the fourth of seven children to the late Mr. Joseph Eugene Carley, Sr. and Mrs. Rosamond Louise ``Colvin'' Carley. He grew up in the Tockwotten community and went on to earn an Associate's degree in Biology and Early Childhood Education from Birdwood Junior College (now Thomas University); a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Valdosta State University (then Valdosta State College); and a Master's in Early Childhood Education from Valdosta State University. In addition to receiving an honorary Doctorate degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of America, an affiliate of New York University, he also attended Continuing Education training for Early Childhood Education for Child Care leaders with the National Early Childhood Program Accreditation's National Administrators Credential (NECPA-NAC) and at University of Georgia, Albany State University, Bainbridge College, and Georgia State University. Dr. Carley had an immense passion for knowledge and bettering the lives of others through teaching. During his professional career as an educator, he taught at every level of education. He was the owner of Mu-Dear Child Care Center and Preparatory Preschool, where he served in a number of roles for 39 years. He taught in the Thomas County School System, the Thomasville City School System, and the Bainbridge State Hospital Special Education Department, also serving as an Adjunct Professor at Albany State University and Thomas University. In addition to his extensive career in Education and Administration, he was also a Consultant, Gospel Announcer, Gospel Recording Artist, Motivational Speaker, Counselor, Mentor, School Board Member, and a National Instructor for the NECPA-NAC. Dr. 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 so blessed that Dr. Joseph Donnell Carley, Jr. passed this way and shared with us his legacy of service that will stand the test of time. Surely, the pearls of wisdom that Dr. Carley has given to all those whose lives he has touched will forever resonate in their hearts and spirits. On a personal note, Donnell Carley wowed me as a dynamic choral director of soul stirring capacity. His body drama in directing a gospel choir drove countless congregations to stand on their feet and wave their hands during worship and concert renditions. His passion for excellence and his God-given talents made a joyful noise of praise to God from whom all blessings flow. Donnell's zeal for Early Childhood Education, his years of dedication to Mu-Dear's Child Care Center, and his effective service on the Thomasville City Board of Education resulted in numerous phone calls, letters, and visits to my Congressional Office in Washington, DC. in support of improving education in America. Over the 28 years that I have known Dr. Carley, he has given me sage advice and counsel. He was direct and always told me not what he thought I wanted to hear, but what he thought I needed to hear. Dr. Carley was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Armogene, but his legacy lives on through his siblings Barbara, Susan, Gail, Rosamond, and Eugene; and a host of family and friends, who will miss him dearly. 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 honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Joseph Donnell Carley, Jr. and in extending our deepest sympathies to his family, friends, and loved ones during this difficult time of bereavement. Moreover, 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. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Major Ryan T. Reilly for his exemplary dedication to duty and service as an Army Congressional Fellow and Congressional Budget Liaison for the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Financial Management and Comptroller). Major Reilly is transitioning from his present assignment to continue his service to our nation and America's Army. A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Major Reilly was commissioned from West Virginia University's ROTC Program as an Adjutant General Officer. He completed his undergraduate studies at Waynesburg University earning a Bachelor of Arts degree. Major Reilly also has a Master's degree in Legislative Affairs from George Washington University. Major Reilly has served in a broad range of assignments during his Army career. He served as the Battalion Personnel Officer (S-1) for the 3rd Battalion 27th Field Artillery Regiment (HIMARS), 18th Fires Brigade (Airborne), Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He then transitioned to the Brigade Personnel Strength Manager for the 18th Fires Brigade (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Upon completion of this assignment, he attended and completed the Adjutant General Captains Career Course at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. After completion of this course and completion of Airborne School, Major Reilly was assigned as Battalion Personnel Officer for the 1st Battalion 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Following this assignment, Major Reilly became the Personnel Strength Manager for the 82nd Airborne Division. Upon completion of this job, Major Reilly was selected to serve as a Basic Officer Leader Course Instructor for the Adjutant General Corps located at the United States Soldier Support Institute at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Major Reilly was then selected for the Army's Office of the Congressional Legislative Liaison's Fellowship Program. In 2018, as an Army Congressional Fellow, I had the privilege of working with Major Reilly in my office for a year and my office, and I have worked closely with him during his subsequent assignment as a Congressional Budget Liaison for the U.S. Army. Major Reilly worked tirelessly with Members of Congress and their staffs to accurately articulate the Army's budget positions to the Appropriations Committees. His professionalism, diligence, and commitment to the mission are unmatched, and his work both as a fellow and as a liaison enabled him to successfully represent the U.S. Army and the Department of Defense to the United States Congress. The foundation of Ryan's military success is his family. Raised in Pittsburgh by Jim and Karen Reilly as one of two children, particular values were established early as paramount: service, sacrifice, hard work, and compassion. He is a devoted husband to his wife, Sara, and a committed father to his son, Jackson, and daughter, Amelia. Sara, Jackson, and Amelia provide the foundation for Ryan's service. Their attitude of service and care for others permeates every organization and activity they participate in; true examples of servant leaders in the Army and the communities they engage. Throughout his career, Major Reilly has positively impacted soldiers, peers, and superiors. Our country has benefited tremendously from his extraordinary leadership, judgment, and passion. Today, I applaud Major Reilly for a job well done, and I know that my House colleagues join me in wishing Ryan and his family the very best in their future Army assignments and beyond. Madam Speaker, it has been a genuine pleasure to have worked with Major Ryan Reilly over the last three years. On behalf of a grateful nation, I join my colleagues today in recognizing and commending Ryan for his service to our country, and we wish him all the best as he continues his service in the United States Army.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the City of Cairo, Georgia, located in Grady County, in my Congressional district, as they celebrate and commemorate their 150th Anniversary. The city was founded in 1835 and incorporated as a town in 1870 and a city in 1905. In 1906, it was designated as the county seat for the newly formed Grady County. It is an honor and a privilege to have represented the City of Cairo since my election to Congress in 1992. There was a commemoration event held on Monday, October 26, 2020, at 6 PM during the Cairo City Council Meeting. The city has served as the catalyst to improve the quality of life for thousands of citizens. The City of Cairo is a city that is steeped in a rich history and accomplishments that reflect the absolute best that our nation has to offer. Cairo, Georgia, was first settled in the early 1800s by William Hawthorne, a Baptist Preacher. Hawthorne cut a forty-mile trail through the area. Another early settler was Henry Miller, who moved to what was then Thomas County. He had a stagecoach stop. By 1860, The Atlantic and Gulf Railroad had bought land from residents Nancy and Malachi Collins, as well as from Phoebe and Washington Baggett. In 1866, H.H. Tooke and James H. Hayes sold land so that the town could be founded. In 1862, Seaborn Anderson Roddenberry bought land from Mr. Miller and began his medical practice in a horse-drawn buggy by selling his open- kettle sugar cane syrup. By 1867, Roddenberry had a medical office and opened a general store and people from near and far bought syrup from large barrels and filled their own jars with his molasses. The nickname of the local Cairo High School is the Syrupmakers and Syrupmaids because of the importance of this industry in the formation and vitalization of this community. The Cairo plant of the Roddenberry Company was closed in 1993, and now serves as a regional community center. The town council began meeting in 1871, and its first mayor was Wiley Pearce. Many dedicated men and women have served in elective office since the beginning of this historic town. The city is now led by Mayor Howard Thrower, III, and a five-member city council. The city has not strayed from the foundation that was set by its early leaders with an attentiveness to the needs of the people above all else. Dr. George Washington Carver once said that ``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.'' The City of Cairo, Georgia, has overcome storms and difficult situations, but has stood the test of time. Through dedicated community servants, they have sought to meet the needs of their community and to move it forward for the betterment of all of its citizens. This city holds dear to the values that make this community and our country great--God, country, and family. Madam Speaker, I am proud to represent this community in Congress and I look forward to seeing their growth and progression in the years to come. I urge my colleagues to join me in commending and congratulating the City of Cairo for 150 years of dedicated service to God, the citizens of Cairo, and humankind.