Sanford Bishop

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and celebrate the life of a devoted wife, loving mother, doting grandmother, noted historian, professional librarian, distinguished author, thoughtful teacher, dedicated public servant and dear friend of longstanding, The Honorable Mary Jane Perkins Galer. Sadly, Representative Galer transitioned this life on Tuesday, February 7, 2023. A celebration of her remarkable life was held at 3:00 pm on Wednesday, February 15, 2023, at The First Presbyterian Church in Columbus, GA attended by a host of friends, family, and admirers. The genesis of Mary Jane Galers journey began with her birth in Port Arthur, Texas in 1924. Always seeking to quench her thirst for knowledge, she attended and graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 1945 with a B.A. in Education. This led to the commencement of her professional career as a teacher and librarian. She went on to earn a Master's degree in Library Science from the Carnegie Institute of Technology in 1947. Mary Jane was able to merge her love of travel and serving others when she became an Army Special Services Librarian. This responsibility involved setting up libraries for soldiers at bases around the world, helping these soldiers increase their love of knowledge and learning. In 1951, during one of these assignments, she met and married her husband of 66 years, the late U.S. Army LTC (Ret.) Robert Fulton Galer. The Galer Family moved to Columbus, Georgia in 1960, when her husband became Fort Benning's Inspector General and Mary Jane assumed the position of Post Librarian. In 1967, Mary Jane joined the staff of Columbus College, now Columbus State University, as a Librarian and Associate Professor. Because of her love of public service, in 1976 she interrupted her pursuit of an advanced degree in Political Science to run for a seat in the Georgia House of Representatives. She and I were both elected during that election, and we became not only colleagues but dear friends. We frequently traveled to and from Atlanta together and often shuttled packages to her daughter Robin, who was a student at Georgia Tech. She used her time as a legislator to champion the rights of women and children. Her legislative achievements include helping Georgia, Alabama, and Florida to agree on a water sharing plan, revising guardianship laws for incapacitated adults, removing the collaboration requirements in rape cases and strengthening child support laws to comply with Federal guidelines. Furthermore. she was a strong advocate for the Equal Rights Amendment and equal opportunity for all. She served in the Georgia General Assembly through 1988. As a result of her stellar public service, she received numerous public awards to include Certificate for Outstanding Achievement in Public Service, Soroptimist Award and the Maxine Shapiro Goldenstein Freedom Award. Mary Jane Galer accomplished much in her life but little of it would have been possible without the grace of God and the love and support of her husband, the late U.S. Army LTC (Ret.) Robert Fulton Galer and her three children--Frank Fulton Galer, Robin R. Galer, and Barbara J. Neufeld. Her life was certainly made complete with the love of her grandchildren Jeni Neufeld and Katie Benner, as well as her three great grandchildren. George Washington Carver once said that ``How far you go in life depends on your being tender with 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.'' Mary Jane, throughout her life exemplified these words. She was a lady of principle, character, dignity, grace, and grit. Our city, state, nation, and the world are better for her 98 years of life. To God be the Glory. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join my wife, Vivian, and me, along with the more than 765,000 people of the 2nd Congressional District of Georgia, in honoring the life and legacy of the Honorable Mary Jane Galer and in extending our deepest condolences to her family, friends, and loved ones during this 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. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an inspiring woman of God, a loving wife, dedicated, doting grandmother, pace setting trailblazer, and friend to humankind, Reverend Jacqueline Delorise Smith. A retirement reception attended by her family, many friends and well-wishers was held on February 18, 2023, at 3:00 pm in Columbus, Georgia. Reverend Smith's remarkable life began in Grady County, Georgia. She was educated in the Grady County School System at Washington Consolidated High School. She obtained her post-secondary education degrees in Sociology from both Thomas University and Bainbridge University. Her professional pursuits took her to be the lead Psychiatric Assistant at Southwestern State Hospital and a Social Worker at Georgia Pine for the State of Georgia, serving for a period of 31 years. A multi-talented individual, she also trained as a Practical Nurse and worked as a CPR Instructor, Emergency Medical Technician and Home Health Technician. Reverend's Smith's life was changed forever when she answered the call to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Because of her commitment to the Gospel and to God's people she was ordained as a Deacon in 1990 and in 1992 was elected to be an Intinerant Elder. She presented her first trial sermon in September of 1987. Her pastoral care has taken her to many churches, often serving as the first female Pastor in these houses of God. She has served at the following churches during her powerful ministry to include Bryant Chapel in Reno, Georgia, Rock Hill in Beachton, Georgia, Saint John AME Church, Cedar Springs AME in Whigham, Georgia, she was the second female Pastor in Bainbridge, Georgia. This was followed by service at the St. Peter AME Church in Camilla, Georgia and the Bethel AME Church (Circuit) in Attapulgus, Georgia. In 2004, her historical accomplishments on behalf of the Kingdom continued when she was appointed the first female Presiding Elder in the South Georgia Conference by Bishop Frank C. Cummings. She continued to pastor churches while serving as the presiding Elder to include Mount Olive in Ocilla, Georgia, Bethel AME in Alaptha, Georgia, St. Pete AMAE in Valdosta, Georgia, St. Paul AME in Valdosta, Georgia, Peyton AME in Claytonville/Valdosta, Georgia, Francis Lake in Lake Park, Georgia Bethel AME in Fitzgerald, Georgia and ATOC AME in Dawson, Georgia. Her life is an example of how one person can make a difference when carrying out God's will for their lives. Presiding Elder Smith has served her God and she has served him well. Presiding Elder has accomplished much in her life but none of her successes would have been possible without the Love of God and support of her husband, Charles Dewey Smith who serves as an area consultant of the Southwest Georgia District, their three children and nine grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, my wife Vivian, and I, along with the more than 765,000 people of the Second Congressional District and my colleagues extend their congratulations to Presiding Elder in honor of her distinguished career in service to God and humankind. May the next phase of her life be filled with happiness and a continued servant's heart.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a loving husband, dedicated father, community activist, dedicated public official, and dear friend of long standing, The Honorable Loyd Lewis. Sadly, Mr. Lewis passed away on Tuesday, February 21, 2023. A celebration of his remarkable life was held on Saturday, February 25, 2023, at 3:00 pm in the gymnasium of Quitman County High School in Georgetown, Georgia. The genesis of Loyd Lewis's story began on March 30, 1935, when he was born to the union of the late Lexton Lewis and Willie Mae Griffin Lewis in Georgetown, Georgia. He was educated in the Quitman County, Georgia school system and graduated from the Kaigler Training School. Mr. Lewis graduated from Fort Valley State College with a bachelor's degree in Social Studies and he obtained his certification in Guidance and Counseling from Tennessee State University, in Nashville, Tennessee. Mr. Lewis began his teaching career at his alma mater, the Kaigler Training School in 1958. On August 16, 1965, Mr. Lewis's life would change forever when he married the love of his life, Katherine Louise Mauldin of Fort Gaines, Georgia. To this blessed union a son, Carvel, was born. Loyd used his life's work to affect the lives of young people in a monumental way. He was a teacher, guidance counselor, and school bus driver. Mr. Lewis served as the Director of the Neighborhood Youth Corporation in Columbus, Georgia from 1966 to 1976. From 1976 until 1984, Loyd served as the Operations Manager for the Columbus Employment and Training Administration in Columbus, Georgia under Mayors Jack Mickle and Harry Jackson. Because of the profound impact of assisting his wife with her parent's funeral arrangements in Asheville, NC, Mr. Lewis was inspired to go into funeral service and in 1969, he and his beloved wife opened Lewis Mortuary in Fort Gaines, Georgia. For over 53 years, this business has brought comfort to families in Southeast Alabama and Southwest Georgia. Loyd was always involved in things that were for the betterment of his community. He was truly a humble and benevolent servant. For many years, the city of Georgetown was without an AME Church until Loyd Lewis stepped in with a group of ladies to reopen St. Stephens AME church. He and Katherine put their dreams of building a home on hold for this project. The church reopened in 1976 and is still going strong today. He continued to offer himself for service by serving on the Quitman County School Board. Loyd would serve as its Chairman for over 15 years. Because of his efforts, the school system would build a new elementary school, high school, and gym that would pave the way for the return of students from Stewart County. Loyd loved his God and served as a church Steward and Trustee as well as church school Superintendent at St. Stephens AME church. He served his God by serving the community as a member of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Cross Road Masonic Lodge No. 190, The State School Board Association and The Georgia High School Association. Mother Teresa, said ``A life not lived for others is not a life.'' I can say without a shadow of doubt that the Honorable Loyd Lewis lived his life for others. He accomplished much in his life but none of it would have been possible without the love and support of his late wife, Katherine, his son Commissioner Carvel Lewis and his grandson, Tristan. On a personal note, Loyd was my friend and supporter. He never told me what he thought I wanted to hear but he always told me what he felt I needed to hear. I will miss his wise advice and sage counsel. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join my wife, Vivian, and me, along with the more than 765,000 people in Georgia's Second Congressional District in commending the great service to humanity of the Honorable Loyd Lewis and in extending our deepest sympathies to his family. May their faith and the Holy Spirit console and comfort them in the days, weeks, and months to come.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a loving husband, dedicated father, seasoned law enforcement executive, dear friend of longstanding to my wife Vivian and me, Lieutenant Colonel John Darr. An event celebrating his remarkable career in law enforcement was held on Thursday, February 23 at the Saint Luke Ministry Center in Columbus, Georgia. The journey of Lieutenant Colonel Darr began in Fort Benning, Georgia. He attended Hardaway High School and Columbus State University. Lieutenant Colonel Darr began his career with Muscogee County Sheriffs Office in 1988 serving in a variety of bureaus to include The Fugitive Apprehension Bureau, The Jail Bureau, Patrol Bureau, Court Bureau, and Investigative Bureau. Because of his vast experience and his penchant for service, Lieutenant Colonel Darr ran for and was elected Sheriff of Muscogee County in 2008. He was subsequently reelected in 2012. During his tenure as Sheriff, Lieutenant Colonel Darr was a visionary leader who organized various community outreach programs. One of the first programs that he initiated was a program called project lifesaver. This program was the first of its kind in Muscogee County. The program provided tracking bands to families of program individuals with cognitive disabilities to Autism and Alzheimer's. A compassionate community servant, Lt. Col. Darr helped to secure funding for bands for families that could not afford them as well as provided training for his deputies to be able to locate these individuals if they were in distress. He also found resources to promote these two programs by having an Autism Patrol Car and the All Cancer Support Vehicle. Lt. Col Darr was also committed to reducing the recidivism rate at the Muscogee County Jail. Always the visionary, he began several initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life for inmates while housed at the jail. These initiatives include the Veterans Dorm, the Fatherhood Dorm, and the GED Dorm. The Veterans Dorm was the first such initiative in the country and provided vast resources for those Veterans who were incarcerated. It helped them to deal with the ever-present issues of PTSD and substance abuse. In short, this initiative helped to prepare these Veterans for life after incarceration. The Fatherhood Dorm initiative focused on inmates being able to be present fathers after their release from incarceration. This initiative focused to improving the literacy of fathers so that after their release they would have the literacy skills to better themselves and to be able to read to their children. Finally, the GED Dorm helped incarcerated individuals to obtain their GED's. Because of these initiatives and his focus of Mental Health, Lt. Col Darr was responsible for the removal of a Federal Consent Decree that the jail had operated under since 1999. Lt. Col Darr's remarkable service as Sheriff ended in 2016. He always looked for ways to help himself and his community. He came back at the Lt. Col for jail operations under current Muscogee County Sheriff Greg Countryman. John Darr has held many titles in his life, but the most befitting is that of Servant. It has been said that ``Service is the rent that we pay for the space that we occupy here on this earth.'' John Darr has paid his rent and he has paid it well. Lt. Col Darr has accomplished much in this life, but none of it would have been possible with the love and support of his wife Linda and their four children: Rachael, Michelle, Courtney and Troy. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join my wife Vivian and me along with the more than 765,000 people of Georgia's Second Congressional District in extending our sincerest appreciation and best wishes to Lt. Col John Darr on the occasion of his retirement from the Muscogee County Sheriff's Office and remarkable career in Law Enforcement. To God be the Glory.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a dedicated husband, loving father, accomplished professor, stellar researcher, and admiring trailblazer, Dr. Charles Magee. Dr. Magee was honored on Sunday, February 26, 2023, at an African American History Program at Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in Cairo, Georgia. The genesis of Dr. Magee's began in Prentis, Mississippi. He is a proud graduate of Johnson High School. Dr. Magee's higher education journey began at Alcorn State University where he received a bachelor's degree in Animal Science in 1970. He went on to receive a master's degree in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Minnesota at St. Paul in 1973. Finally, he received his Ph.D. in Agricultural and Biological Engineering from Cornell University in 1980. Excellence has defined his extraordinary professional life. His professional career has taken him to some of the finest universities in the world to include the University of Minnesota at St. Paul, North Carolina A and T, Cornell University; the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, Fort Valley State University, and Florida A and M University. Throughout his career he has been a trailblazing professor and scholar. He was the first African American to earn a master's degree from the University of Minnesota; the first African American to earn a Ph.D. in Agricultural and biological engineering from Cornell University; the first African American graduate of a historically black college or university (Alcorn State University) to earn a Ph.D. in Agricultural and Biological Engineering; and the first African American assistant professor in the college of Agriculture at the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville. He developed the first patent in the history of Fort Valley State University and the Biological Systems Engineering (BSE) program at FAMU. He is a founding and charter member of the National Society of Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences and the first African American Engineer to be elected in the National Institute of Food and Agriculture Hall of Fame in 2020. Although he has been a trailblazer, his life has not been without his share of difficulties and obstacles. He has persevered and our Nation and world are better for it. Sometimes he had to stand alone, but he stood tall. A selfless servant, Dr. Magee has always had at the forefront of his mind the fact that he must address the issue of underrepresented populations in STEM careers. Dr. Magee has meant the world to his students through his mentorship, some have even followed in his enormous footsteps. His influence has been paramount in their lives. Dr. Magee is a creative genius who has had eight U.S. patents that have been approved and eight that are pending. His life is an example of how one person can make a difference when carrying out God's plan for their life. The great Agricultural Chemist, George Washington Carver once said, ``It is not the style of clothes one wears, neither the kind of automobile one drives, nor the amount of money one has in the bank that counts. These mean nothing. It is simply service that measures success.'' Charles Magee is truly a servant. Dr. Magee has accomplished much in his life but none of this would have been possible without the love and support of his wife, Audrey and his children, Candace and Darian. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join my wife, Vivian, and me, along with the more than 765,000 people in Georgia's Second Congressional District in extending our sincerest gratitude to Dr. Charles Magee for his service to God, humankind, and our world. To God be the Glory.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to give honor, along with the members of the Georgia delegation, to my friend of longstanding for almost 50 years, Mr. Thomas Dortch of Atlanta, Georgia. Thomas is a fine gentleman, a Fort Valley State University graduate, a strong alumnus, a big supporter of the Fort Valley Foundation, and he is a founder of the National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame Foundation. He is a stalwart, a pillar of the 100 Black Men of the United States, and he has done so much for so many in mentoring youngsters. Winston Churchill said, ``We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.'' Tommy has given so much to so many for so long, and we are so delighted to honor him and his legacy today.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Boy Scout Troop 27 in Fort Benning, Georgia on the occasion of their centennial celebration. Chartered in January of 1923, Troop 27 is the oldest Boy Scout troop in the Chattahoochee Council and the second oldest in the state of Georgia. They will celebrate 100 years of scouting at their centennial banquet on February 8, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. at Fort Benning. Chartered on January 2, 1923, Troop 27 began as a group of 14 boys who conducted their meetings in a dugout on the side of a hill. The Troop was very active, and in addition to working on merit badges, they also volunteered around post selling tickets for the Infantry School Glee Club's winter concert and serving as ushers at the Georgia-Alabama game and at the Post Christmas tree celebration. Over the last century, Troop 27 has produced outstanding leaders who went on to fight for our country during wartime. In January of 1925, Troop 27 awarded its first Eagle Scout rank to Charles ``Tick'' Bonesteel III, who would later go on to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy, serve in the U.S. Army during World War II and the Korean War, eventually reaching the rank of four-star General. Three more Scouts in Troop 27 would go on to earn the rank of Eagle in 1925, including Joseph ``Cider Joe'' Stillwell, Jr. who trained as a Green Beret and served during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Truly, service to each other drives the engine that creates a better community, and world, and Boy Scout Troop 27 has a storied legacy of community service in the Chattahoochee Valley. Over the last 100 years, the Troop has produced over 200 Eagle Scouts who have collectively completed thousands of community service hours in support of the greater Columbus community. They collected more than 10 tons of scrap metal around Columbus, Georgia to be repurposed for the war effort during World War II. In the 1960's the Troop continued to serve by manning a holiday roadside rest area, providing refreshments, litter bags, road maps and safety pamphlets to weary travelers. In 1976, Troop 27 hosted the ``Slide for Life'' at the annual Scout-O-Rama, which was attended by thousands of scouts and Governor Jimmy Carter, who would be elected our Nation's 39th President in November of that year. During the 1990s, Troop 27 conducted numerous service projects, such as collecting food for the hungry, planting trees, collecting clothing for the Salvation Army, and bringing more than 200 dogs to the veterinarian for rabies vaccinations. And last December, the Troop volunteered for National Wreaths Across America, placing hundreds of holiday wreaths at the headstones of veterans at Fort Benning Main Post Cemetery. And I am proud to say that this year, Troop 27 will honor two more Scouts with the Eagle Scout rank. Scouting has shaped my life and the lives of millions of youth across America by instilling foundational principles of moral character, self reliance, responsibility, leadership, human dignity and service to others. As an Eagle Scout, it brings me great pride to see Troop 27 representing the Boy Scouts of America with such dedication to the values we hold so dear. For 100 years, the boys and men of Boy Scout Troop 27 have gathered and declared: ``On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.'' It is my sincere hope that Troop 27 Scouts will continue to do so for 100 more. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join my wife, Vivian, and me; and the more than 765,000 people of Georgia's Second District in recognizing Boy Scout Troop 27 of Fort Benning, Georgia for their dedication to scouting and outstanding service to others for over 100 years.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor and pleasure to rise today, to extend heartfelt congratulations to an extraordinary entrepreneur, corporate leader, philanthropist, political savant, patron of the arts and friend of longstanding, Mr. McKinley ``Mack'' Wilbourn. On Tuesday, January 17, 2023, friends, family, leaders in commerce, government, and others from across the country, gathered at the High Museum of Art, 1280 Peachtree Street NE, in Atlanta, Georgia to participate in ``The Mack Trilogy'' celebrating 50 years of excellence in business, Mack's 79th birthday and launching The Mack Wilbourn Legacy Foundation. It was a fitting tribute to a man who through hard work and perseverance used his God-given ``talent'', grew it to the pinnacle of financial success, and is reaching back to lift others behind him. Mack Wilbourn, a native of Magnolia, Arkansas, attended Tucson High School and the University of Arizona where he majored in accounting. From one of his first jobs as a youth at Jack in the Box, he began his experience in the restaurant industry and in 1971, along with his partner, Brad Hubbert, became one of the first minority McDonald's franchisees in the Atlanta area, growing to 4 restaurants and 150 employees. His current franchises include Atlanta Bread & Bar, Baja Fresh Mexican, Famiglia Pizza, Phillips Seafood, Popeyes and We Juice It at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. He is managing partner of MWJ, LLC, a vending company and has managed the Coca Cola Vending locations throughout the Atlanta airport since 2004. He started an angel investment firm focused on startup businesses that could potentially compete on the next level with proper resources and guidance. Mack has pursued joint business opportunities as a consultant with Parodies Midfield Corporation, The Rouse Corporation (Underground Atlanta), and Service America Corporation (Fulton County Jail Foodservice), started the first Popeye's Chicken in an airport and his Edy's Ice Cream, also at the airport, and became an Olympic Licensee for color changing mugs for the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games. Mack has earned numerous awards and been recognized by the Atlanta Business League, Minority Business Entrepreneur, Franchise Update, Georgia Restaurant Association, City of College Park, the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau, among many. Always politically active, he has hosted 4 Democratic Presidents: Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Barrack Obama; and Joe Biden; as well as Congressional, State and local leaders from Mayor Maynard Jackson and Ambassador Andrew Young to Reverend Senator Raphael Warnock. Believing that service is the rent we pay for the space we occupy on this earth, Mack has been a servant leader in the larger community with Atlanta Business League, Butler Street YMCA, The Urban League, the NAACP, Zoo Atlanta, The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center, The National Black Arts Festival, The Atlanta Tip Off Club, Brain Injury Association of Georgia, The High Museum and Center for Puppetry Arts and numerous youth organizations. Mack serves on the boards of Georgia Primary Bank, The Center Helping Obesity in Children End Successfully (CHOICES), The Piedmont Foundation, the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery Museum, and the Democratic National Finance Committee. Moreover, he is an active member of Salem Bible Church. Mack Wilbourn has accomplished much in his 79 years of life. However, as a man of deep faith he knows that none of it would have been possible without the Grace of God and the love and support of his family including his sons, McKenzie and Marquis along with his 3 grandchildren. It has been said that the true person of success is not the one who climbs the ladder of life with 2 hands but climbs with 1 hand and reaches back with the other. Mack is reaching back as he launches the McKinley ``Mack'' Wilbourn Legacy Foundation to transform, inspire and provide opportunities for the underserved in the areas of Art and Culture, Entrepreneurship and Financial Literacy. His vision is to revolutionize the outlook and provide life changing opportunities for marginalized communities. Mr. Speaker, McKinley ``Mack'' Wilbourn has done so much for so many for so long. I therefore ask my colleagues to join my wife, Vivian, and me, along with the other Members of the Georgia Congressional Delegation and all those whose lives Mack has touched, in extending our heartfelt congratulations and best wishes on 50 years of excellence in business, 79 years of life and the launching of the McKinley ``Mack'' Wilbourn Legacy Foundation. To God be the Glory.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the 2022 University of Georgia Football team on their outstanding season and most importantly their victory last night at the College Football Playoff National Championship. Head Coach Kirby Smart and his remarkable student athletes represented the University--and the State of Georgia--incredibly by pulling off an undefeated season this school year. This is the Bulldogs' second consecutive title, as they continue to excite the college football world with their dominating performance on the field. Finally, it is a point of pride to note that six student athletes hailing from Middle and Southwest Georgia contributed to this historic season. Go dawgs.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a dedicated public servant, community activist, trailblazer, and dear friend of longstanding to my wife, Vivian, and me, Councilor Evelyn ``Mimi'' Woodson. She will be honored at an event on December 15, 2022, at the Columbus Convention and Trade Center for her 28 years as a member of the Columbus City Council. Councilor Woodson's story is truly the epitome of the American Dream. She was born in Manati, Puerto Rico and spent her formative years in New York and Chicago before her family eventually settled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Because of her love of country, she joined the Wisconsin National Guard as a part time soldier before entering the United States Army where she served her country faithfully for 13 and a half years. During her distinguished military career, she was honored with the Good Conduct Medal, two Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Army Commendation Medal. Councilor Woodson moved to Columbus in 1993 and immediately became involved in the community, establishing Kids and Things, a successful business that had as its focus the importance of youth in the community and civic engagement. Because of her love of her community and her belief that she could make a difference, Councilor Woodson offered herself as a candidate for the Columbus City Council. The voters of District 7 elected her, and she took her first oath of office on January 3, 1995. She made history by becoming the first Latino City Councilor in the history of Columbus, Georgia. She would be re-elected 6 more times because of the trust placed in her by her constituents. During her tenure in elective office, Councilor never lost sight of the importance of community and remained closely connected. She has been involved with many community organizations during her time on the City Council to include Columbus Against Drugs, Winterfield on the Move, American Red Cross, South Columbus Revitalization, Georgia Municipal Association, National League of Cities, Community Advancement, Hispanic Elected Officials (served as President), Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials Board of Directors, Community Warriors, American Legion, and the Columbus Steam Center. Along with the late Harold ``Lefty'' Encarnacion, she was one of the driving forces behind the Tri City Latino Association's cultural festival in Columbus, Georgia that honors the significant role that Latinos have played in our country's rich history. The festival celebrated its 9th year in September. Because of her great work and advocacy in her community, Councilor Woodson has been honored with many awards during her public service to include: Keep Columbus Beautiful Litter Presentation Award, Perty Favorite City Leader Award; Ernestine Aurelia Mack Service to Mankind Award; the Rainbow Push Coalition Woman on the Rise Award; Women of Action, The Courier Community Service Award; the Harold ``Lefty'' Encarnacion Community Service Award; the Dr. Ophelia Devore Young Unsung Hero Honors; Mundo Hispanic Atlanta Distinguish Person of the Year; The Panamanian Association of Columbus, Georgia Mother of the Year; William H. Spencer High School Generosity in Service; Spencerian Service Award; Davis Broadcasting Women of Excellence Award; Columbus Georgia Chapter of J.U.G.S. Women of Action Honoree; and she was a 2022 inductee into the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame. Councilor Woodson has used her time on the Columbus City Council for good. She would always ask the questions that others were afraid to ask. During her time in office, she truly served as a voice to the voiceless and gave hope to the hopeless. It has been said that ``Service is the rent that we pay for the space that we occupy here on this earth.'' Councilor Evelyn ``Mimi'' Woodson has paid her rent and she has paid it well. 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 District in congratulating and commending Councilor Evelyn ``Mimi'' Woodson for her years of service to our country, state, and the Columbus City Council. May God continue to ``order the steps'' of her life as she embarks on her next journey.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for allowing me to speak on this bill. I rise in support of H. Res. 1156. I thank my colleague from Massachusetts, whose bipartisan efforts more than 20 years ago led to the creation of the George McGovern-Robert Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program. Since then, this program has enjoyed bipartisan support. The United States continues to produce the highest quality, safest, most abundant, and most economical food and fiber anywhere in the world. Drawing on this abundance, we are able to provide school meals, teacher training, and nutrition programs for pregnant and nursing women. Whether at home or abroad, we know that by reducing hunger and improving nutrition, we help support better educational outcomes. This program is a win-win for America, supporting America's farmers and producers by providing donated U.S. agricultural commodities and using them to help reduce child hunger, improve education, and support greater security in the world. I believe this program has been and will continue to be an essential tool for diplomacy. As chair of the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, it has been my honor to fund this program each year. It is true to the spirit of service and compassion that Ambassador and former Senator George McGovern and former Senator Bob Dole embodied. This program helps bring the bounty of America's farmers, ranchers, millers, producers, shippers, and commodity groups to assist vulnerable children and mothers around the world. So, in celebrating the first 20 years of its success, I look forward to the program's enduring impact in the years ahead. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and I urge its passage.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a dedicated husband and father, trailblazing Law Enforcement Officer and public servant, Sheriff Gregory D. Countryman. Sheriff Countryman was honored as the Community Service Person of the Year by the Controllers Civic and Social Club in Columbus, Georgia on December 3, 2022. Born in Plains, Georgia, Countryman's family moved to Columbus, Georgia when his father was assigned to Fort Benning. He is a product of the Muscogee County School System, graduating from Baker High School in 1984. Although he struggled in his early life to overcome a learning disability, this challenge did not deter him from seeking higher education. He would go on to earn an impressive collection of degrees, including an Associate's Degree from Georgia Military College; a Bachelor of Science Degree from Troy State University; a Master of Public Administration Degree from Columbus State University; a Master of Arts in Practical Theology from Ohio Christian University and, finally, a Doctor of Philosophy in Christian Counseling from Saint Thomas Christian University. Countryman has been a dedicated public servant who has consistently gone above and beyond for the people of the Chattahoochee Valley region. He has dutifully served his community for thirty years as a highly respected law enforcement professional. As a Deputy in the Muscogee County Sheriffs Department, he served in the bureaus of Field services, Court Services, and the Fugitives and Jail Divisions. In 2004, he was elected to serve as the Marshal of Muscogee County, and he would go on to serve three terms. As Marshal, Countryman was a visionary leader for law enforcement officials in Muscogee County and the state of Georgia. Desiring to improve public safety services beyond his community, he founded the Georgia Marshal Training Network, a non-profit organization to provide education and training to Marshals across the state and served as president of the organization. He believes that education is the passport to the future, and the future belongs to those who prepare for it today. With that vision in mind, he created the Junior Marshal Program for Middle School students which mentored and instilled within them the essential values of citizenship, leadership, education, fun, and teamwork. Since 2005, the Junior Marshal Program worked with nearly 2,000 young people, building lasting relationships between law enforcement and future generations, and making Muscogee County a safer place to live. In 2020, Marshal Gregory Countryman made history by becoming the first African American to be elected Sheriff of Muscogee County, Georgia. After serving his community faithfully and effectively for over two decades, the people of Muscogee elected him sheriff with nearly 75 percent of the vote, demonstrating great trust in his ability to fairly enforce the laws and make our community safer. It has been said that ``Service is the rent that we pay for the space that we occupy here on this earth.'' Sheriff Countryman has paid his rent and he has paid it well. In addition to serving as the top law enforcement official for the second largest city in the state, he has given dedicated service to various organizations in his community to include Omega Psi Fraternity, Inc.; Electric City Masonic Lodge No. 322; the Georgia Marshal Training Network; American Legion 267 (SAL Member); the Fraternal Order of Police; the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives; the Police Benevolent Association and the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police. Knowing that public safety is a crucial and everchanging field, Sheriff Countryman has not rested on his laurels and has always tried to stay on the cutting edge of Law Enforcement Training and initiatives. He is a graduate of the Georgia Regional Command College Class No. 26, attended the FBI's Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar (L.E.E.D.S) training, and served as a former Assistant Adjunct Professor at Georgia Military College where he helped effectively train new prospective recruits in the field of law enforcement. Sheriff Countryman has served and achieved so much in his life, but none of it would have been possible without the grace of God and love and support of his wife, Angela, and their three sons, Christopher, Gregory, Jr. (a Muscogee County Deputy Sheriff) and William. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join my wife, Vivian, and me, along with the more than 730,000 people of the Second Congressional District in recognizing, honoring, and commending Sheriff Gregory D. Countryman on receiving the Community Service Person of The Year Award from the Controllers Civic and Social Club in Columbus, Georgia. We commend and thank him for his selfless service to God, his community, and humankind.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart and solemn remembrance that I rise today to honor the life and legacy of a loving husband, dedicated father, distinguished Army Veteran, determined Civil Rights Advocate, faithful public servant, a benevolent man of God and my friend of longstanding, Deacon Lucius Holloway, Sr. Sadly, Deacon Holloway transitioned from labor to reward on Thursday, November 24, 2022. His life will be celebrated on Saturday, December 3, 2022, at Cooper Carver Elementary School in Dawson, Georgia. The remarkable journey of Deacon Lucius Holloway, Sr. began on April 1, 1932, as he was born to the union of Mr. Bobby Holloway, Sr. and Mrs. Mary Louise Thornton Holloway in Dawson, Georgia. Deacon Holloway was educated in the Terrell County School System. He received his Auto Body and Frame Construction certification from the Albany Vocational Technical College in Albany, Georgia. He was married to his beloved wife and life partner, the late Emma Kate Holloway, for 60 years and they built a life of service and advocacy for humankind. Armed with a servant's heart, Deacon Holloway gave of himself to serve our country for three years of active duty in the United States Army during the Korean War. He retired as a Staff Sergeant after serving 22 years in the Army National Guard. His professional journey also took him to Delco Remy and Delphi, where he retired after 18 years of service. Deacon Holloway was a committed freedom fighter for the cause of justice and equality. He truly believed in the words that Dr. King penned from the Birmingham Jail: ``Injustice anywhere is threat to justice everywhere.'' Deacon Holloway was one of Terrell County's most influential Civil Rights activists, always speaking up for the voiceless and the hopeless. He was always concerned about African Americans exercising their rights as American citizens through the ballot box. Deacon Holloway engaged in many voter registration drives and mass meetings during his lifetime. His advocacy did not come without great cost to him and his family. Deacon Holloway had to endure many challenges during his Civil Rights advocacy, including having the gas line at his house cut during a cold day in the 1960s because he housed Freedom Riders and members of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee at his home. He was also arrested; he and his family were threatened, and a cross was burned in his front yard. But through all these indignities, he never wavered in his support for the cause of Civil and Human Rights. His relationship with the NAACP is long and storied. Deacon Holloway became the first Vice President of the Terrell County Branch in 1955. He served as Vice President for 65 years and President for one year. Deacon Holloway cemented his commitment by becoming a lifetime member of the organization that he had given so much to for so long. Deacon Holloway was also a committed public servant. He served on the Terrell County Board of Commissioners for 27 years, retiring in January of this year. Deacon Holloway was a tireless advocate for his constituents, constantly pushing to do the right thing for those that he represented. Most importantly, Deacon Holloway was a man of God who allowed Him to order his steps. He began his walk with Christ at an early age, first fellowshipping with the saints at County Line Missionary Baptist Church in Sasser, Georgia. In 1956, his Christian journey continued when he became a member of Sardis Missionary Baptist Church in Dawson, Georgia where he served faithfully in many capacities, including as Ordained Deacon, Chairman of the Deacon Board, Sunday School Superintendent, Youth Sunday School Teacher, Adult Sunday School Teacher and Vice Treasurer of Finance. Anne Morrow Lindbergh once said that ``Only when a tree has fallen can you take the measure of it. It is the same with a man.'' A great tree has fallen, and we can all agree that we can take the measure of this great man for the great things he has done to uplift humanity. Deacon Lucius Holloway, Sr. achieved countless successes in his life. But none would have been possible with the grace of God and love and support of his dearly departed wife of 60 years, Emma Kate Holloway, his five children, one of whom preceded him in death, and his eleven grandchildren. On a personal note, Deacon Holloway was my friend. He always supported and encouraged me with his wise counsel and sage advice. He will be sorely missed, but the world is better because of him. Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House of Representatives join my wife, Vivian, and me, along with the more than 730,000 people of the 2nd District in honoring and celebrating the life and legacy of Deacon Lucius Holloway, Sr. for his service to God, his country and humanity and in extending our deepest condolences to his family, friends and all who mourn his loss. May they be consoled and comforted by their 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 honor the life and legacy of a loving wife, dedicated mother, doting grandmother and a woman after God's own heart, First Lady Emeritus Barbara Tharpe Raines. Sadly, First Lady Raines passed from labor to reward after a long and fruitful journey of service to humankind. A service celebrating her remarkable life will be held on Saturday, December 3, 2022 in Macon, Georgia at 12:00 p.m. at the Macon Centreplex. She leaves a legacy of service that is worthy of emulation. Barbara Tharpe Raines was born on January 30, 1951, in Macon, Georgia to the late James Bryant and Alma Jones Tharpe. She was the oldest of six children. First Lady Raines was a lifelong learner and was a proud product of the Bibb County School System, graduating from Ballard Hudson High School in 1968. The next stop on her educational journey was Fort Valley State College (now University), graduating in 1972 with a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Education. She also received a Master's Degree in Counseling from Georgia College and State University with more study at Georgia Southern University . Equipped with great educational tools, she embarked on a thirty-year education career, serving in multiple roles, including First Grade Teacher, Second Grade Teacher and Guidance Counselor. She retired from the Bibb County School system with her final duty station at Burghurd Elementary School. Never one to rest on her laurels or one to stop trying to help those in need, she came out of retirement to do independent counseling for the school system, setting up independent counseling programs and serving as she did so often in her life as a mentor for new counselors. First Lady Raines was also an instructor with Hicks and Hicks Associates of Atlanta, Georgia, where she taught child development courses. Central to her life and character was her commitment to God that she formed at an early age. An unbreakable bond was cemented with her beloved husband and life partner, the Reverend Curtis Raines as they were both founding members of the Mount Vernon Baptist Church. She and Rev. Raines were members of the church's Youth Department and played an integral role in the Church's spiritual and social development. First Lady Raines and Reverend Raines formed a true partnership as she became a deaconess and he became a deacon under the leadership of their pastor at Mount Vernon, the Reverend Dr. Henry Ficklin. Applying the lessons that he learned at Mount Vernon, Reverend Raines began his own ministerial journey along with First Lady Raines who supported him at every turn, as a sterling example of what a First Lady should be. She served as the First Lady of New Pilgrim Baptist Church for 34 years and Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church Bolingbroke for 31 years. First Lady Raines was involved with many ministries that had as their goal the development of the whole person. When Reverend Raines became President of the General Missionary Convention of Georgia, First Lady Raines was once again a full partner with her husband serving in numerous capacities with the Convention. 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 with the weak and strong, because someday in your life you will have been all of these.'' First Lady Emeritus Barbara Raines used her life's work to help people from all walks of life. She was a member of many social and civic organizations to include the Macon Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Bibb Retired Education Association and Retired Counselors, Mentor at the Macon Youth Development Center, Rainbow Grief Counselor, Co-Team Captain of American Cancer Society, Former Member of the American Lung Association, and Cancer Relay for Life. Because of her remarkable service to others, she has been recognized by local, state and national organizations. Besides being one of God's Children, her greatest role in life was being a dedicated wife, loving mother and grandmother. As outlined already, she supported and served as the greatest cheerleader to her husband of almost 44 Years, Rev. Curtis Raines in various endeavors. Moreover, she always supported her children and grandchildren, Madam Speaker, I am proud to have known a woman with the grace, class and dignity of First Lady Emeritus Barbara Tharpe Raines. I ask my colleagues to join my wife Vivian and me, along with the 730,000 people of the Second Congressional District in extending our deepest condolences to her family, friends and all who mourn her loss. May they be comforted by their faith, the grace of God 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 honor a social science educator, prolific writer, political philosopher, and African American Civil Rights Activist, Dr. Preston King. Dr. King was born in Albany, Georgia on March 3, 1936, to the union of Clennon Washington King, Sr., and Margaret Slater King. Dr. King obtained his bachelor's degree from Fisk University in 1956. He went on to obtain his Master of Science in 1958 from the London School of Economics and his PhD in 1966. Dr. King was subjected to the draft board process and after the board refused to address him as Mr. King, he refused to respond. He was charged with draft evasion and went into exile in the United Kingdom because of the unjust charges that were levied against him. His exile began his storied career in Academia as he has served at many institutions of higher learning in England and Africa to include Keele University, The University of Ghana, The University of Sheffield, the University of East Africa and as department Chair at the University of Nairobi. Dr. King moved to Australia in 1976 where he served as Chair of the School of Economics until 1986, when he returned to the United Kingdom and Lancaster University, resuming his position as Chair. During his extraordinary career, Dr. King has published many books. His first book was published in 1967, Fear of Power. Other dynamic publications included Politics and Experience, as well as multiple editions of The Ideology of Order in 1974 and 1999 and Toleration in 1978 and 1998. Other books include An African Winter, Socialism and the Common Good: New Fabian Essays and Friendship and Politics. Additionally, Dr. King has authored, narrated, and edited the Critical Review International Social and Political Philosophy. Despite his numerous commitments in academia, Dr. King has found time to share his talents as a visiting professor at multiple institutions of higher learning to include McGill University in Canada, Auckland University in New Zealand, Australian National University in Australia, Macquarie University in Australia and Birkbeck College, a part of the University of London System. Dr. King's philosophy in academia and activism has always been centered around social issues, especially as they relate to scientific matters. He has extensively studied the structure of societies and how they function and evolve, and he has played an integral role in tying questions of history and the philosophy of history to questions of tolerance and the ways societies may or may not be managed. Dr. King was pardoned by President Bill Clinton in 2000. He has been active as a scholar-in residence at the leadership center of Morehouse College in Atlanta since 2006. Shirley Chisholm once said that ``Service is the rent that we pay for the space that we occupy here on this earth.'' Through much adversity, Dr. Preston King has paid his rent and he has paid it well. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join my wife, Vivian; and me, along with the more than 730,000 people of the Second Congressional District in honoring Dr. Preston King for his many years of service to academia and humankind.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart and solemn remembrance that I rise today to honor the life and legacy of a loving husband, dedicated father, distinguished Army Chaplain, humble pastor, veterans advocate, tireless community servant and my friend of longstanding, Colonel (Ret) Roy George Plummer. Sadly, Colonel Plummer transitioned from labor to reward on Sunday, October 23, 2022. A celebration of his life was held on Thursday, November 3, 2022 at the Columbus, Georgia Civic Center. Roy George Plummer was born on February 6, 1938 in Saint Andrew Parish, Jamaica in the West Indies to the late Wilfred Plummer and Lucille Annita Plummer. He was reared by his grandmother, ``Mama'', in May Pen, Jamaica, attended school there and became a lightweight boxer in his youth before traveling to England and then to the United States. He attended Azusa Pacific University in California where he studied pre-law, but during his undergraduate studies he heard the Lord's call to Christian ministry which took him to the Phillips School of Theology in Atlanta, Georgia where he earned a Master of Divinity in 1969. On January 4, 1971 Roy joined the United States Army as a Chaplain where for 23 years he served the spiritual and pastoral needs of countless United States Army military and civilian personnel and their families, including at Atterberry Chapel in Frankfurt, Germany and Sightseeing Road Chapel at Fort Benning, Georgia. He attended and completed Command and General Staff College and the U.S. Army War College. In 1994 he completed his active duty career as Chief of Chaplains and Post Command Chaplain at Fort Benning, retiring at the rank of Colonel. Also in 1994, always ``pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus'', Colonel Plummer founded and became Senior Pastor and CEO of Faith Tabernacle Community Church, an active and growing congregation in Southeast Columbus. Then, in 1998 while maintaining his pastoral ministry, he became Director of Army Instruction for the Muscogee County School District JROTC where he was responsible for 8 high school JROTC programs and 4 other County JROTC programs. He worked tirelessly to create a formidable program and under his leadership it grew from 400 to1200 cadets and the Muscogee County School District JROTC program earned GHSA State Rifle Championships, State level awards in Drill Team and Raider competitions and honorable recognition in the annual JROTC Academic Bowl. Known for his eloquent golden baritone voice with a pronounced British accent, Colonel Plummer was prolific in his community service. He was Chaplain for Rotary International District 6900; served on the boards of St. Francis Hospital Foundation; Columbus Hospice; United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley; Boy Scouts of America and the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce. He served as Assistant Professor in the Department of Graduate Studies at Columbus State University, holding Masters degrees in Human Relations and Group Process; Guidance and Counseling; Pastoral Care and a Doctorate of Divinity. Colonel Plummer's solid educational background, coupled with his compassion for ``the least of these'' inspired him to establish the Plummer Home for homeless and disenfranchised military veterans, providing support and resources to veterans who encountered severe challenges in their transition from military to civilian life. His legacy in the fight to eradicate homelessness among veterans and for expansion of veterans benefits will long be remembered. Colonel Roy G. Plummer achieved countless successes in his life. But none would have been possible without the grace of God and the love and support of his Wife, Kenyetta, his 4 daughters and his 7 grandchildren. On a personal note, Roy was my friend. He always supported and encouraged me with wise counsel and sage advice. His prayers were genuine. His friendship was golden. He will be sorely missed, but the world is better because of him. Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House of Representatives join my wife, Vivian and me, along with the more than 730,000 people of the 2nd District in honoring and celebrating the life and legacy of Colonel (Ret) Roy George Plummer for his service to God, his Country and humanity and in extending our deepest condolences to his family, friends and all who mourn his loss. May they be consoled and comforted by their 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 recognize a distinguished jurist who has served as the Chief Superior Court Judge of the South Georgia Judicial Circuit for the past fourteen years, The Honorable J. Kevin Chason. His retirement as Chief Judge for the South Georgia Judicial Circuit was celebrated on October 20, 2022, at five p.m. at the United National Bank in Cairo, Georgia. The Honorable J. Kevin Chason was born on August 15, 1962, in Grady County, Georgia, to the union of the late Judge Willard H. Chason and Carolyn H. Chason. Judge Chason began his educational journey at Georgia Southwestern College (now university) earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1984. He interned with the Georgia Supreme Court in the summer of 1985. In 1987, he would follow in his father's footsteps by earning his Juris Doctorate from the Mercer University School of Law. He would be admitted to the Superior Courts of Georgia on July 3, 1987. After being admitted to the Superior Courts of Georgia, Kevin continued to pursue servant leadership within the legal profession as a practicing attorney before serving as Solicitor General for the State Court of Grady County from 1997 through 2008. In 2008 he ran for and was elected to the Superior Court for the South Georgia Circuit. Throughout his lifetime, Judge Chason has been revered as a steadfast mentor and has had a positive impact on his community. His stellar career on the bench has always been modeled by the motto of our great state--``Wisdom, Justice, and Moderation.'' Because of his adherence to these principles, in 2017, he was appointed as Chief Judge of The South Georgia Judicial Circuit. He also leads by example outside of the courtroom serving on the Board of Directors for the Grady Chapter of the American Heart Association, and a member of the Bainbridge College Foundation. Judge Chason also served as President and a member of the Board of Directors of Cairo Rotary Club, the Cairo and Grady County Chamber of Commerce and the American Heart Association. A man of faith, Judge Chason also serves as a member of the Administrative Board of the First United Methodist Church of Cairo. It is because of Judge Chason's commitment to his craft and the betterment of his community that he has been recognized with numerous awards and distinctions to include the 1995 Grady County Young Professional of the Year and best judge in Grady County from 2018 through 2022 as selected by the readers of the Cairo Messenger. A Visionary leader, he was one of the founders of the United National Bank in Cairo, Georgia Former Congresswoman Shirley Chisolm once said that ``Service is the rent that we pay for the space that we occupy here on this earth.'' Judge Chason has paid his rent many times over and continues to give back to the community that molded and shaped him. Judge Chason has served countless people and accomplished many things throughout his life, but none of these could have been possible without his faith, the love and support of his wife, Mary, and their two children--Sarah, a graduate of Mercer University Medical School and resident doctor in Savannah, Georgia and Jonathan, who received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Georgia and is a successful law clerk at the Georgia State-wide Business Court, following in his father's and grandfather's footsteps. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join my wife, Vivian; and me, along with the more than 730,000 people of the Second Congressional District, in extending our sincerest appreciation and best wishes to the Honorable J. Kevin Chason upon the occasion of his retirement from his over two decades of service to his community, state and nation. His distinguished judicial service has improved the lives of countless communities across Georgia by dispensing fairness in the pursuit of justice for all.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a devoted wife, dedicated mother, outstanding educator, and friend to humankind, Mrs. Annie ``Ann'' H. Flowers. An event celebrating her 80th birthday was held on Saturday, October 22, 2022, at 2 p.m. at the New Grady Baptist Association meeting in Cairo, Georgia. Mrs. Flowers is a native of Decatur County, Georgia. She has used her life's work to uplift humanity through selfless service. She dedicated thirty-two years of her life to molding and shaping our most precious resources, our young people. Her career in education is indeed a storied one. During her career in education with the Grady County School system, she served in numerous capacities to include Classroom Teacher, Math Coordinator, Title V. Director, Assistant Principal, and Principal. Never one to rest on her laurels after retirement, she came back to serve as an Interim Principal for one year. It has been said that ``Service is the rent that we pay for the space that we occupy here on this earth.'' Mrs. Flowers has paid her rent and she has paid it well. Her commitment to service is evident in all of the different professional causes that she has given her time and treasures. Those include: The Grady County Retired Educators, Georgia Association of Education Leaders, Georgia and National Associations of Education, National Middle School Association, National Executive Female Organization, Southwest Regional Director of Middle School Principals, Governor's School Leadership Institute, Georgia Council of School performance and Georgia Department of School Improvement Specialists. The great Agricultural Chemist George Washington Carver once said that ``How far one goes in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the strong and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will have been all of these.'' Mrs. Flowers has used her life's work both professionally and socially to minister to people from all walks of life. She is the Founder of the Boys to Men Mentoring Programs, a member of the Board of Directors for Grady County United Way, Friends of Roddenberry Memorial Library, The Thomas Grady Service Center Board, Southwest Georgia Board of Easter Seals of Grady County, and Georgia Pines Community Service Board. She has also served on the Advisory Board for the Head Start of Grady County. Mrs. Flowers is also a life member of the Order of Eastern Star Chapter No. 36. Mrs. Flowers has also received numerous awards and honors during her life, most notably the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drum Major for Peace Award and has the distinction of being the First African American Principal in Grady County, Georgia after integration. Mrs. Flowers is a woman after God's own heart. She is a member of the Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in Cairo, Georgia, where she is a Deaconess, a member of the Minister's wives Ministry and Pastor's Aide Ministry. She truly embodies the words of Acts 9:36: ``She was abounding in good deeds and acts of charity.'' Mrs. Flowers has accomplished many things in her life, but none of these would have been possible without her faith, the love and support of her husband, The Reverend Henry C. Flowers, Jr. and their three children. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join my wife, Vivian and me along with the more than 730,000 people of the Second Congressional District in extending our sincerest appreciation and best wishes to Mrs. Annie ``Ann'' H. Flowers on the occasion of her 80th Birthday and her phenomenal service to God and Humankind. May God continue to bless her and her family.

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 man of God, iconic civil rights pioneer, dedicated leader and friend of longstanding, Rev. Charles Melvin Sherrod. Sadly, Rev. Sherrod transitioned from labor to reward on Tuesday, October 11, 2022, at the age of 85. He leaves in his wake many heavy hearts among his family, friends, community and across the nation. A homegoing service celebrating his life was held Saturday, October 15, 2022 at Mount Zion Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia at 11:00 a.m. Charles Sherrod was born on January 2, 1937 in rural Surry, Virginia to the late Mr. Raymond Sherrod and Ms. Martha Mae Gibson. After moving with his grandmother and siblings to nearby Petersburg, Charles would go on to become president of his student body at the all-black Peabody High School where he played sports, participated in theatre, and served as school chaplain (Quiros, 2022). Having heard the call to God's ministry at an early age, his strong Christian faith steeled his resolve to challenge the stain of racial segregation in the Jim Crow south and in 1954 at the age of 17, he participated in a kneel-in at a segregated white church. Following graduation from high school, Charles attended Virginia Union University in Richmond where he earned a Bachelor's in Sociology and a Master's in Theology. In February 1960, he and 33 other student activists staged a sit-in at the lunch counter of Thalhimer's Department Store in downtown Richmond, were arrested and became known as the ``Richmond 34''. In April of that year, Sherrod and other students attended a meeting at Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina where the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) was founded. Sherrod volunteered to be placed anywhere and was sent by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference to Albany in Southwest Georgia as SNCC's first field secretary along with Cordell Reagon and Charles Jones. Working with others in Albany, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., he launched a full assault against racial violence and segregation through nonviolent demonstrations and the registration of thousands of disenfranchised Black Americans in the region. Unfortunately, Police Chief Laurie Prichett, ``unlike so many other Southern lawmen, avoided the spectacle of publicly attacking protesters'' and just jailed successive waves of them in separate remote locations in surrounding counties until there were no more protesters (Quiros, 2022). The ``Albany Movement,'' as it was called, ended and Dr. King left, but Sherrod persevered with successful Black voter registration. Ultimately, within months the Albany City Commission voted to repeal all segregation laws from its books. Charles Sherrod continued his work in Albany, Americus, Moultrie, and other cities, later changing the focus to school integration. In 1964, Sherrod left Albany and went to Union Theological Seminary in New York to earn a Master's of Divinity. Meanwhile, he impacted the greater American Civil Rights Movement by recruiting for the 1963 March on Washington and marching for voting rights in Selma on Bloody Sunday. He returned to Albany and brought with him white seminarians to create a moral society where Black and white Americans could live and work together in unity and peace (Quiros, 2022). By 1966 SNCC became more militant, the Black Power Movement emerged and Sherrod broke with SNCC and worked with the Georgia Freedom Project (Quiros, 2022). Also in 1966, Charles Sherrod married Shirley Miller of Baker County and they founded a farming collective, New Communities, which was the largest Black-owned plot in the United States where they worked the land and helped people (Quiros, 2022). Unfortunately, a severe drought occurred in 1980 and the Sherrods were repeatedly denied help from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the farm was taken by foreclosure (Quiros, 2022). Devastated by the loss of the farm, Charles and Shirley nevertheless continued their work in southwest Georgia. Charles was elected to the Albany City Commission serving 14 years, was a prison chaplain and a professor at Albany State University. The Sherrod's sued USDA, alleging racial discrimination and were awarded a settlement for wrongful dispossession of New Communities; they used the money to purchase Cypress Pond Plantation, an antebellum plantation now managed by descendants of slaves, to help rural Black landowners profit from farming and to be a model for solving the nation's affordable housing shortage (Quiros, 2022). ``From marching in the Albany Movement, being beaten and jailed, registering rural folks to vote, serving in local politics, and founding New Communities,'' wrote Professor Ansley L. Quiros in a piece published by the Washington Post, ``Sherrod stayed with the course of freedom and the beloved community until his death'' (2022). Rev. Charles M. Sherrod accomplished much in his life, but none would be possible without the grace of God and the love and support of his wife, Shirley; his two children, Russia and Kenyatta; his 5 grandchildren, and other family and loved ones who will miss him dearly. Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House of Representatives join my wife, Vivian and me, along with the 730,000 people of the 2nd Congressional District of Georgia in honoring the life and legacy of Rev. Charles Melvin Sherrod and in extending our deepest condolences to his family, friends and all who mourn his loss. May they be consoled and comforted by an abiding faith and the Holy Spirit in the days, weeks and months ahead. [From the Washington Post, Oct. 13, 2022] A Vital Civil Rights Activist you Never Heard of Has Died (By Ansley L. Quiros) Charles Melvin Sherrod died on Tuesday at the age of 85 in Albany, Ga., a place he went to in 1961 and never left. If you are not from southwest Georgia, his name might not be familiar. But Charles Sherrod is the most important civil rights figure you've never heard of. Recovering his story offers us a chance not only to honor a civil rights hero, but also to better understand the struggle for freedom to which he committed himself for so long. Sherrod was born on Jan. 2, 1937, in Surry, Va., a place he described as a ``speck.'' He never knew his father and was raised primarily by his grandmother within a broad community of friends and cousins. Even as a young child, Sherrod possessed a deep faith in God and a precocious theological imagination. Probably inspired by the sermons he heard at Mount Olive Baptist Church, he would often play church, preaching to other children and soon sensing a real call to the ministry. ``I was preaching when I was about 6 years old,'' Sherrod told me, adding, ``I was born a preacher.'' He would carry that preacher's zeal and deep moral vision with him for the rest of his life. Despite the racism and suffocating poverty he experienced in childhood, Sherrod excelled in school. He attended the all-Black Peabody High School where he played sports, acted in plays and served as student body president and school chaplain. Sherrod then attended Virginia Union University where he earned his undergraduate degree in sociology, and then an M.A. in theology, fulfilling his ambition to become a minister. During this time, Sherrod's Christian commitments first led him to challenge the dehumanization of Jim Crow. He participated in a ``kneel-in'' at a segregated church in 1954 and later joined a picket in front of Thalhimer's department store. ``I saw the [lynching] rope in my mind,'' he confessed, but he also felt a sense of responsibility since people were ``coming to me, asking me for leadership.'' Shenod was a natural leader: smart and calm with a ready, broad smile. In April 1960, his civil rights activities took Sherrod to a meeting at Shaw University, where the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) was founded. SNCC's vision-- nonviolence, collective action and the pursuit of a beloved community in which all people are afforded dignity, respect and care--appealed to Sherrod's calling, both to Christianity and racial justice. After the meeting, Sherrod told Ella Baker, the veteran activist who was then the executive secretary for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference who convened the students, that ``I'd be willing to be placed anywhere.'' She sent him to southwest Georgia, a place W.E.B. Du Bois had once called the ``Egypt of the Confederacy,'' where he would spend the next six decades working for freedom. Sherrod arrived in Albany as SNCC's first field secretary, ``full of zeal and empty of almost everything else.'' But soon, he and the men and women of Albany launched a full- scale assault on Jim Crow unlike anything that had been seen before. The Albany Movement, as it became known, was a dramatic mobilization of people against racial violence and segregation. In traditional accounts of the civil rights movement, Albany is depicted as a failure, a place where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was outmaneuvered by Police Chief Laurie Pritchett, who unlike so many other Southern lawmen, avoided the spectacle of publicly attacking protesters, and simply locked them up. This is why Sherrod's story is crucial. The Albany Movement was only a failure when considered from the perspective of King. The movement continued after King left, making important, if slow, gains. ``Nothing could stop the people,'' Sherrod said, ``certainly not jail or the threat of jail, not [even] death.'' Sherrod stayed, organizing in the rural counties, though he did take a ``Movement sabbatical'' in 1964, heading to Union Theological Seminary in New York. He earned a Master's of Divinity and then returned to southwest Georgia, bringing White seminarians with him as part of an exchange program called the Student Interracial Ministry. For Sherrod, this was a continuation of his civil rights work. He insisted, always, that the end was not simply political but moral: a society where Black and White Americans, all created in the image of God, could live and work together in unity and peace. In 1966, this philosophy led to a breach with SNCC, which was moving away from interracialism and Christian nonviolence and toward a more militant stance of Black Power. As Sherrod put it: ``I didn't leave SNCC, SNCC left me.'' But he stayed with the work of racial justice--voter registration and community organizing--under the auspices of the Southwest Georgia Freedom Project. In the late 1960s, Sherrod, along with his wife, Shirley Miller Sherrod, a Baker County native whom he married in 1966, helped found New Communities, a farming collective that was, at one point, the largest Black-owned plot of land in the United States. For decades, New Communities was the fulfillment of a dream for the Sherrods, a place where they could work the land and care for others. But in the 1980s, when a devastating drought afflicted southwest Georgia, they were repeatedly denied relief and the farm was foreclosed on. In asking for a loan, Sherrod heard from White loan officials the same message he'd heard from segregationists decades earlier when trying to vote: ``Over my dead body.'' Though devastated by the loss of New Communities, the Sherrods kept working faithfully in southwest Georgia. Charles Sherrod had been elected to the Albany City Council in 1976, a post he held until 1990, and also served as a prison chaplain, while Shirley worked for the Federation of Southern Cooperatives before being named the U.S. Department of Agriculture Georgia Director of Rural Development in 2009. Shirley was fired after conservative blogger Andrew Breitbart posted selectively edited, misleading video clips from a speech she gave. The White House and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack apologized to Sherrod two days after her firing. After seeing her name dragged through the mud, Shirley got better news. She heard about a class-action lawsuit, Pigford v. Glickman II, alleging systemic racial discrimination toward Black farmers by the USDA. The Sherrods filed a claim and were awarded a settlement for the wrongful dispossession of New Communities. They used the money to purchase a new farm. It was a bittersweet moment. And one that reveals how long the Black freedom struggle has been. Charles Sherrod embodied this enduring struggle over the long haul, in all of its breadth and character. From marching in the Albany Movement, being beaten and jailed in Americus, Ga., registering rural folks to vote, founding New Communities, to serving in local politics, Sherrod stayed with the cause of freedom and beloved community until his death. His story reminds us that the work of racial justice is ongoing, that it occurs in rural spaces as well as urban ones and that it can look like political organizing, preaching, farming or just the ordinary miracle of Black love in America.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding. This is a wonderful opportunity for me to come and to congratulate the chair, my colleague, Senator Warnock, and my colleague, Nikema Williams, for the naming of the VA Medical Center of Atlanta the Joseph Maxwell Cleland Atlanta Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Senator Cleland and I were friends. He was my friend, he was my mentor, and he was truly an inspiration. I had the opportunity to know him. He served as secretary of state for the State of Georgia for 12 years. During that time, I was in the Georgia General Assembly. When he was elected to the United States Senate in 1996, I had the occasion to be a colleague with him as I was a Member of the House of Representatives. He truly represented and embodied what it meant to be a veteran: service and sacrifice. He was a triple amputee because of his wounds in Vietnam as a veteran and, of course, he was appointed by President Carter to head the VA. Of course, he served as the head of the American Battle Monuments Commission and I, as a member of the Military Construction/Veterans' Affairs Committee, had to work with him in making sure that these monuments were well-funded and well-maintained. He did a tremendous job. Mr. Speaker, I had to come and speak because he was my friend, and he was my colleague and my inspiration. It is very, very fitting that this facility should be named for him because of his legacy. Longfellow wrote: ``Lives of great men all remind us, we can make our lives sublime, and, departing, leave behind us, footprints on the sands of time.'' Senator Cleland lost both legs and an arm, but the footprints that he left and is leaving are his legacy for veterans that will be there forever. I am happy to urge my colleagues to support this legislation which appropriately names the facility in his honor.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I am honored to speak in support of S. 4359 to rename the VA's Atlantic regional office after a good and great man, the late Senator Johnny Isakson. This is a companion bill to one that I introduced in the House with my colleague across the aisle, Congressman Rick Allen, and which the entire Georgia congressional delegation cosponsored. A son of Georgia, Johnny Isakson was born in Atlanta and graduated from the University of Georgia. He was first a businessman and then a public servant. I served with him in the Georgia General Assembly and then in the United States Congress where he served as a Congressman and as a U.S. Senator. We stood side by side in support of Georgia's military bases, families, and veterans. Together we worked on many projects to improve the lives of Georgians and Americans. During his many years as a public servant and as the chair of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, he worked tirelessly on behalf of the Nation's most deserving citizens: our military veterans. It is fitting that we are taking up consideration of this bill just as we conclude commemorating Veterans Day. One of the fundamental ways Congress can demonstrate its thanks to our veterans is to provide the care they have earned and deserved. Renaming the VA facility in Atlanta after Senator Isakson is a fitting recognition of his service to our country and his lifelong work ensuring Congress upholds America's commitment to its veterans. I am proud to call Johnny a friend, and I know he continues to look down on us. I hope that we are inspired by his example to always give our best to our veterans. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill and to honor Johnny Isakson's legacy of service.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Historic Savannah, Americus, & Montgomery (SAM) Shortline Excursion Train on the 20th anniversary of its first public run on October 26, 2002. While the current SAM Shortline Excursion Train had its maiden voyage only twenty years ago, its ancestor and namesake, the Savannah, Americus, & Montgomery (SAM) Railroad Company, was founded during the 1880s by Americus attorney and banker, Colonel Samuel Hugh Hawkins. The Americus region saw its first population and construction booms with the arrival of Southwestern Railroad in the early 1850s. Following the American Civil War, the people of southwest Georgia saw the railroad as a bright new opportunity for economic development and prosperity. But Southwestern and its lessee, the Central Railroad & Banking Company of Georgia, held a monopoly on the railroads and many in Americus began to feel the effects of exorbitant and discriminatory rates, thus contributing to a decline in local trade. When surrounding cities began proposing new rail lines to bypass Americus, Colonel Hawkins led the charge to construct new lines that would pass directly through the city, leading local investors to organize the Americus, Preston & Lumpkin Railroad (AP&L) in 1884 to ensure that Americus would continue to dominate the region's trade and continue to grow into the Twentieth Century. In 1888, Hawkins and his associates decided to extend the AP&L both east and west to create a direct route between Montgomery, Alabama, and Savannah. Later that year, the 265-mile project would be renamed as the Savannah, Americus, Montgomery Railway, known simply as ``The SAM.'' Before the SAM's mainline was constructed through the city, the lands surrounding Americus in Sumter County were largely undeveloped and sparsely populated. Following the boom in trade and wealth brought by the SAM, several new towns were founded throughout the region, including Richland, Cordele, Vidalia, and Lyons among others. The first new community, however, was created in Sumter County a few miles west of Americus near an older community called the Plains of Dura. Once SAM's main rail line approached the Plains of Dura community, residents of surrounding settlements began moving closer to the railroad and eventually chartered the town of Plains--the renowned home of famous Georgia peanut farmer and our 39th President, Jimmy Carter. Once fully developed, SAM Railway became the lifeblood of the city of Americus and spurred a second construction and population boom that would reshape the city as a powerful economic nexus in the region. During this period, the city saw the founding of several vital local businesses, such as the Americus Guano Company, the Americus Oil Company, the Americus Illuminating and Power Company, the Americus Construction Company, the Americus Grocery Company, as well as the town's crowning achievement--the Windsor Hotel. Despite its transformational success, SAM was not immune from the economic struggles of the era, and in 1893, amid a financial panic, Colonel Hawkins and his associates were forced to sell their beloved SAM Railway Company to John Skelton of Richmond, Virginia who would reorganize the company as the Georgia and Alabama Railway in 1895. Samuel Hawkins went on to lose nearly $1 million of his own money in an unsuccessful attempt to keep the railroad under local control. Nevertheless, the railroad he initially founded proved vital to the southwest Georgia community as it provided jobs, trade, freight transportation, as well as an economic engine for the budding towns and cities across southwest Georgia and Alabama. At the start of the Twenty-first Century, local residents of the southwest Georgia region developed plans to revive the former SAM Railway as a passenger excursion route. By 2002, the excursion founders had recovered and refurbished several state-owned vintage railcars to seat up to eighty people. They rebranded the railway as the Historic SAM Shortline Railroad to honor the rich history that shaped the region. The reborn SAM Shortline Excursion Train follows the legendary route from Cordele to Plains and gives riders scenic views of cotton fields, pecan groves, and peanut farms while riding in climate-controlled, train cars to visit sites such as the Georgia Rural Telephone Museum, Historic Downtown Americus, President Jimmy Carter's hometown of Plains and his boyhood home and farm in Archery, Georgia. Being Georgia's only rolling state park, the excursion train hosted an impressive passenger load in 2021, even despite the COVID-19 pandemic. That year alone, the SAM Shortline Excursion Train boarded 17,000 passengers who were able to experience the fascinating history of President Carter's several political campaigns and life, as well as a glimpse of rural life at the turn of the Twentieth Century. The SAM Shortline also offers special rides throughout the year, including Halloween trick-or-treat trains, Christmas trains, dinner trains, and fundraisers, marking it a community treasure to be enjoyed by all throughout the year. The success and immense popularity of the excursion train resulted in an impressive economic impact of $2,697,496.00 across Sumter and Crisp Counties in 2021. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join my wife, Vivian; and me, along with the more than 730,000 people of the Second Congressional District, in recognizing the Historic SAM Shortline Railroad for twenty wonderful years of bringing people closer to southwest Georgia's beautiful landscape and rich history.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Lundy Chapel Missionary Baptist Church of Macon, Georgia for its 154 blessed years of faithful service and ministry to the greater community. Lundy Chapel will celebrate their anniversary on Sunday, October 2, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. during their Sunday service in Macon. Throughout its long history, Lundy Chapel has proven that patience, faith, and the hard work of dedicated leaders can lead to great accomplishments for the service of others. The story of Lundy Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, which began as a small group of people worshipping 154 years ago and has grown into an expansive and successful church, is truly an inspiring one of the perseverance of a faithful congregation who put all their love and trust in the Lord. Having humble beginnings, the first service of the Lundy Chapel Missionary Baptist Church was held under a bush arbor in 1868 on Old Lundy Road by Rev. Dan Parsons. Shortly thereafter, the congregation constructed a log cabin church which would eventually burn down. Judge R.S. Lundy was moved by the Lord to deed the church a plot of land on Forest Hill Road from the Lundy Estate on which the Lundy Chapel could construct a new house of worship, and in 1963 the congregation constructed its new home under the leadership of Rev. L.H. Hendrix. Over the years, it is here that the church continued to thrive through the dedicated service of several pastors, including Rev. O.R. Redding, Sr., Rev. H.C. Cain, Rev. Lewis E. Lockett, Rev. Wallace B. Herring, Sr., and Rev. James H. Hall. On April 5, 1998, Rev. Anthony Q. Corbett, Sr. was called to pastor Lundy Chapel Missionary Baptist Church. Under Pastor Corbett's shepherding and the grace of God, the church bounded to new heights. In addition to its fast-growing membership, the Lord instilled within Pastor Corbett a vision to construct a new sanctuary for the faithful congregation. On October 28, 2001, a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony was held as the church marched into its new sanctuary for Sunday School, followed by the first worship service. After the construction was completed, the Lord turned Pastor Corbett's eye to the spiritual enrichment and upbringing of Lundy Chapel's young people. In March 2005, Pastor Corbett and church leadership implemented the Lundy Higher Heights Community Enrichment Corporation to provide special programs that would provide the church's youth with a sense of direction and motivation, a source of inspiration, and financial support through college scholarships. Additionally, the Enrichment Corporation seeks not only to uplift the church's youth, but also to extend support to that of the greater Middle Georgia community; the organization provides incredibly useful information and resources meant to assist community organizers to develop their own service programs. This mission of aiding and inspiring community youth to pursue an education and meaningful careers was exemplified by the creation of the Lundy Higher Heights Community Enrichment Corporation's Lundy Wonderland Summer Day Camp, where young campers can participate in academic studies, field trips, recreational activities, hear weekly career speakers, and more. Through this programming, campers have the opportunity to gain useful career skills so they can go on to lead fruitful lives rooted in God's greater plan. On March 3, 2013, Lundy Chapel Missionary Baptist Church continued to grow its ministry by building a Family Life Center which includes an administrative and educational building and a gymnasium. Lundy Chapel's facilities have proven very popular among the greater community as many groups often rent out its spaces to hold meetings, dinners, sports camps, weddings, funerals, and more. In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus tells his followers, ``All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.'' Under Pastor Corbett's dedicated leadership, several ministers have been licensed and ordained to spread the word of God to other congregations, including Rev. Roosevelt Glover, Rev. Richard Vaughn, Rev. Tony Lowden, Rev. Anthony Stewart, Rev. Ernest Lawson, and Rev. Alexander Gibson. It is without a doubt that Lundy Chapel Missionary Baptist Church's ministry has touched so many lives in the Middle Georgia community and inspired so many to do what they may not have previously thought possible. Pastor Corbett has done great things for Lundy Chapel, but none of these accomplishments would have been possible without the grace of God and the love and support of his extraordinary wife, Juanita. Madam Speaker, today I ask my colleagues to join my wife, Vivian, and me, along with the more than 730,000 people of Georgia's Second Congressional District in recognizing and honoring the Lundy Chapel Missionary Baptist Church on its 154th anniversary for its congregation's enduring commitment to each other and to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. May their actions continue to inspire the community in courage, in dedication, and in faith.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a man who has served as a distinguished community leader from a young age and has continued to enrich future generations as a Boy Scouts of America (BSA) Scoutmaster for the past 37 years, Michael A. Johnson. Recently, Michael was awarded the Book of Golden Deeds Award by the Exchange Club of Albany in May 2022 for his exemplary record of community service and improvement, volunteering, and improving the lives of young people. His retirement as Scoutmaster for St. Teresa's Catholic Church Troop 3 will be celebrated on October 9, 2022 at three o'clock p.m. at the church's school cafeteria in Albany, Georgia. Born into an Air Force family by the union of Michael and Marcia Johnson, Michael moved to Southwest Georgia when his father was transferred to Albany in 1971. He began his Scouting journey as a young boy in the Cub Scouts and in 1971 joined as a Boy Scout in St. Teresa's Catholic Church Troup 3 where he would earn several awards and distinctions. Additionally, Michael attended high school in Albany and went on to earn a degree in Architecture from Auburn University. After achieving the rank of Eagle Scout in 1977, Michael continued his servant leadership within the Scouting community by serving as a Troop 3 Assistant Scoutmaster from 1985 to 1990, and then as Scoutmaster in 1990, a position he still holds today. Throughout his life in Scouting, he has been revered as a steadfast mentor and positive influence on the hundreds of young people who have passed through his troop. It was important to Michael that all Scouts had the opportunity to experience trips to BSA's National Jamborees, summer camps, and other high adventures activities, and he personally made sure that funding was never an issue for them to attend. And notably, of the 194 Eagle Scouts from Troop 3, 145 achieved the rank under Michael's leadership, affirming his record of dedication to each of these young people as they completed service projects to improve their neighborhoods and the greater community. Michael demonstrates impeccable community leadership in so many ways. He currently serves as a Leader in Boy Scouts of America's South Georgia Council, which is comprised of 28 counties in the region. As the Vice President of Properties for the South Georgia Council, he spearheaded the efforts to restore the Council's 2 Scout camps following damage sustained by three tornadoes and a hurricane in 2017 and 2018. He also leads by example by participating in many community service projects, such as Flint River Cleanups with Keep Albany- Dougherty Beautiful; food drives to support St. Clare's Neighbors in Need; Christmas tree recycling with the YMCA and the City of Albany; parking cars for Phoebe events; and supporting the Exchange Club's car shows. But his dedication goes beyond community service and mentoring youth and young professionals; Michael's strong faith in God led him to contribute greatly to the spiritual development of countless young men and women. As Scoutmaster, he initiated a program that dedicates at least one weekly meeting each month for Scouts to work toward religious awards appropriate for their age and denominations. It is because of Michael's commitment to his Scouts and the betterment of his community that he has been recognized with numerous awards and distinctions. As a Cub Scout, he earned the Arrow of Light rank--the only Cub Scout award that can be worn once a Scout enters Boy Scouts. While a Boy Scout, he achieved membership in the Immokalee Lodge, Order of the Arrow, and the Ad Altare Dei religious award, as well as earning the rank of Eagle Scout. As an adult, Michael received BSA's District Award of Merit; has been awarded the St. George Religious Emblem for his service to youth; was honored by the Blue Angels as one of their Hometown Heroes; the Silver Beaver; Outstanding Eagle recognition; and most recently, the Book of Golden Deeds Award, which is the most prestigious award presented by the Albany Exchange Club. Former Congresswoman Shirley Chisolm once said that ``Service is the rent that we pay for the space that we occupy here on this earth.'' Michael has paid his rent many times over and continues to give back to the community that raised him. As a member of the American Cancer Society, he was a Captain on the American Cancer Relay for Life Team, a member of the Albany Clean Community Commission and American Institute of Architects. He is also a member of the Knights of Columbus Lodge Number 3607 and attends St. Teresa's Catholic Church in Albany. Michael has served countless people and accomplished many things throughout his life, but none of these could have been possible without his faith, the love and support of his wife of 36 years, Linda, and their four children--Patrick, Ivy, Hope, and Grant. Being a family rooted in community involvement, Linda Johnson was for many years an elementary school teacher and now serves as the Assistant Principal at St. Teresa's school, while both Patrick and Grant have earned the rank of Eagle Scout, following in their father's footsteps. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join my wife, Vivian, and me, along with the more than 730,000 people of the Second Congressional District, in extending our sincerest appreciation and best wishes to Michael A. Johnson upon the occasion of his retirement from his over three decades of service to the community through Scouting, youth mentoring, and servant leadership, all of which has improved the lives of so many.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church on the anniversary of its inception after 136 blessed years of contributing to and serving the surrounding community through ministry and service. Mt. Moriah celebrated their anniversary on Sunday, September 25, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. during their Sunday service in Macon, Georgia. The Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church was founded in 1886 by Rev. Harrison Hall and Rev. Henry A. Williams. Starting as a humble wooden structure on Powell Street, the church began to expand over the years to include a Sunday School and other additions that would become meeting spaces for community groups and clubs such as the Loyal Matrons, Richardson Literary, Cooperative Women, the Brotherhood, and a new Boy Scout Troop. After many fruitful years of ministry and expansion, the Lord provided Mt. Moriah with the means to relocate to its present-day home on Millerfield Road in 1967 where it was able to further expand and serve its members with even greater impact. The Mt. Moriah Baptist Church has for a century played a vital role in the spiritual and overall development of several generations through its active involvement in the Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Brownies, and Vacation Bible Schools. The church has always prioritized educating its members, and especially its youth, in positive life skills and encourages all members to join Prayer Meetings and Bible Study. And truly, the congregation of Mt. Moriah has always demonstrated a genuine concern for uplifting the surrounding community. Mt. Moriah continued in this mission in the foundation of the Family Life Center. Built and dedicated in 1992, the Center houses a nursery, library, six classrooms, and a gymnasium to be used and enjoyed by the church's members and ministries such as the Single's Ministry, the Couple's Ministry, Mission Board, YDC Ministry, Keenagers (Senior Saints), the Men of Mt. Moriah, and Women of Mt. Moriah. In 2006, the church established the Travel Ministry and took on the worthy cause of spreading its mission of evangelism and altruism abroad. Over the years the Travel Ministry would spread its ministry wide, including travel to Barbados, Jamaica, Liberia, South Carolina, Florida, and many other places with people in need. Over the decades, none of Mt. Moriah's accomplishments could have been possible without the hard work and dedication of the church's many dedicated members, deacons, ministers, and, most importantly, its pastors. Each pastor has contributed to the growth and excellence of the church through various initiatives; under Reverend Lonzy Edwards, Sr.'s leadership Mt. Moriah saw the establishment of a college scholarship fund, a new radio ministry, and a property expansion. Mt. Moriah's current lead pastor, Reverend Dr. Stanley Kimble, has not only continued to advance the church's long-held mission of uplifting the greater community; he has also brought forth a newfound passion for youth engagement and local charities. Dr. Kimble founded the ``Get Your Glory Youth Praise Dance Ministry'' and the Youth Cafe on every third Sunday, as well as the Feeding of the Homeless Ministry and the Red Cross Blood Drive. It is without a doubt that these pastors' contributions inspired so many to do what they may never have thought possible. The story of Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church, which began as a small group of people worshipping 136 years ago and has grown into an expansive and successful church, is truly an inspiring one of the dedication and perseverance of a faithful congregation who put all of their love and trust in the Lord. Ephesians 4:4 tells us, ``There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling.'' Mt. Moriah from its inception has served as one body and spirit in service to God and Jesus Christ. Madam Speaker, today I ask my colleagues to join my wife, Vivian, and me, along with the more than 730,000 people of Georgia's Second Congressional District in recognizing and honoring the Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church on its 136th anniversary for its congregation's enduring commitment to each other and to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. May their actions continue to inspire the community in courage, in dedication, and in faith.