Sanford Bishop

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart and solemn remembrance that I rise today to pay tribute to an extraordinary husband, father, grandfather, soldier, veteran, attorney, public servant, and dear friend of longstanding--Former Mayor of Columbus, Georgia, Colonel Robert Stephen ``Bob'' Poydasheff, Sr., USA, Ret. Sadly, Bob passed away on Thursday, September 24, 2020. A private family graveside service was held on Saturday, September 26, 2020, at Parkhill Cemetery in Columbus, Georgia, and a memorial service will be held at the National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center in Columbus, Georgia on Friday, October 30, 2020 at 3 p.m. A native of Bronx, New York, Bob was born with an innate determination to excel, which was apparent in virtually every aspect of his life--and especially in his pursuit of education. After completing his primary and secondary education in New York, he earned a B.A. in Political Science from The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, in 1954, along with his commission as a Second Lieutenant; earned his Juris Doctorate from Tulane University in Louisiana in 1957; and in 1967, he received an M.A. in International Relations from Boston College. In addition, he attended The Hague Academy of International Law in the Netherlands as well as The Army War College. He served in the U.S. Army for twenty-four years and retired at the rank of Colonel. He began his distinguished military career as an Infantry Officer and he was a parachutist, serving one combat tour in Vietnam. He then transferred to the Judge Advocate General Corps, where he was prominent in the trials of high-ranking officers involved in the My Lai incident. Bob also served as Legislative Counsel to Secretary of the Army, Howard (Bo) Calloway; Staff Judge Advocate at Ft. Belvoir, VA; and Legal Counsel to the Secretary of the Army and Secretary of Defense on Labor Relations (1955 to 1979). In recognition of his exemplary service to our country, he received the Vietnam Ribbon, Legion of Merit, Commendation Medal, 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, and he was elected to the Ranger Hall of Fame. In addition to these prominent awards, he later received the Clara Barton Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Red Cross. Following his military service, Colonel Poydasheff made Columbus, Georgia his permanent home and entered the private practice of law. Bob loved Columbus, Georgia, and through his leadership, the City of Columbus experienced extraordinary growth and prosperity which stemmed from his terms as a City Counselor from 1994 to 2002 and as Mayor from 2003 to 2007. During his tenure as Mayor, the area gained more than seven thousand new jobs and under his leadership the Columbus Consolidated Government exercised fiscal responsibility resulting in balanced budgets and a surplus. A staunch advocate for equal opportunity and diversity, he made history on February 1, 2005 by appointing the first African American City Manager, The Honorable Isaiah Hugley, who continues to serve the city. That was on top of his membership in a multitude of civic organizations that did positive work, which included: Chattahoochee Valley Citadel Club (President); Chattahoochee Boy Scout Council (Past President); Association of U.S. Army (Past President); Anne Elizabeth Shepherd Home (Past President); Fort Benning Sojourners (Past President); Board of Directors American Red Cross (Past Chairman); Military Affairs Committee, Columbus Chamber of Commerce (Past Chairman); Civilian-Military Council (Past Chairman); Military Order of World Wars (Past Commander); Minority Business Development Council; Black History Month Steering Committee; Urban League (Director); Columbus Lawyer's Club; Georgia Council of the Humanities; Kiwanis Club of Columbus; Leadership Columbus Alumni; Shriner; Scottish Rite; and Masons. He was recently selected for the Order of Saint Maurice for distinguished contribution to and loyal support of, Infantry, and demonstrating gallant devotion to the principle of selfless service embodied by the American Infantryman. Unfortunately, he passed before he could receive the award, but it will be bestowed posthumously by the National Infantry Association. During his life, he played many roles, and in each role, he gave it his all. In addition to being a successful attorney, dedicated soldier, and public servant, he was also a published author. His first published work, entitled ``A Banana in the Sun'', was published in Harper's Magazine in 2006. Yet, in all his roles, he embodied the Army values of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage. He never stopped serving and advocating for what was right even in the face of criticism. He was a longtime member of the Black History Observance Breakfast Committee in Columbus, and his most recent form of advocacy was on behalf of disadvantaged Veterans with regards to the location of the new VA Clinic in Columbus. On a personal note, Bob was my friend. He always gave me wise advice and sage counsel. He never told me what I wanted to hear, but he always told me what he felt I needed to hear and always ended with ``I love you.'' Audrey Hepburn once said, ``You have two hands. One to help yourself, the other to help others.'' Mayor Robert S. ``Bob'' Poydasheff, Sr. used his hand to help others with an abiding sense of friendship and brotherhood. He will be missed but his legacy will live on through all of those whose lives he touched. Bob accomplished much in his life, but none of this would have been possible without the Grace of God; the love and support of his wife of more than 60 years, Anastasia ``Stacey''; his children, Catherine (deceased) and Robert, Jr.; and a host of family, friends, and loved ones who will miss him deeply. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join my wife, Vivian, and me, along with the more than 730,000 residents of Georgia's Second Congressional District, in paying tribute to The Honorable Robert Stephen ``Bob'' Poydasheff, Sr., and in extending our deepest condolences to all who mourn his loss during this difficult time of bereavement. Moreover, we pray that we will all be consoled and comforted by an abiding faith and the Holy Spirit in the days, weeks, and months ahead.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this updated Heroes Act. This bill is about people and not about politics. As chairman of the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, I will highlight the important provisions of this bill from my section, which touches the lives of every American in some way. It provides a total of $15.4 billion to help Americans put food on the table, to keep their homes, protect agricultural products from pests and diseases, deliver stress assistance to our farmers and producers, and evaluate coronavirus vaccine applications. We provide $10 billion to SNAP, an additional $400 million for WIC, for working families who have lost their jobs and are laid off due to the COVID-19 emergency. We included $450 million for TEFAP food banks, and $1.2 billion for nutrition assistance for the territories. All of these programs will increase food security during this crisis. To keep our food supply safe and thriving during the COVID-19 pandemic, we provided $350 million for the Agricultural Quarantine Inspection Program. We included $2.5 million for the USDA Office of Inspector General to increase their monitoring and oversight activities. For our farmers and producers who are under increased pressure in an already difficult environment, we provided $20 million to activities and services to provide stress assistance resources. For our rural Americans, we included $10 million to address the increased workload for the Rural Development program employees; $2.6 billion for grants to our rural electric co-ops so the lights can stay on; and $309 million to the Rural Housing Service to assist rural tenants who have lost their jobs in this pandemic. Finally, so we can begin to see light at the end of this COVID-19 tunnel, we provided $1.5 million to the Food and Drug Administration to support their safety evaluations of the coronavirus vaccine applications going forward. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill. This is a good bill. It is long overdue. The American people need it and deserve it, and I urge my colleagues to pass it.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a compassionate medical doctor, fiery civil rights activist, a tremendous man of faith, and great friend of longstanding, Dr. John Dent Marshall, Jr. Sadly, Dr. Marshall passed away on August 12, 2020, at the age of 74 after a long and courageous battle with COVID-19. His homegoing service will be held on Saturday, August 22, 2020, at the Hillcrest Abbey West Cemetery at 1:00 p.m. in Savannah, Georgia. On Saturday, August 29, 2020, a memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. at the Restoration Church of Americus, Inc. in Americus, Georgia. His passing leaves a tremendous void in the lives of his family, friends, and the countless lives that he touched as a medical doctor and civil rights activist. Dr. John Dent Marshall, Jr. was born on June 13, 1946, in Savannah, Georgia, the eldest son of the late Lila S. and John D. Marshall, Sr. He was educated in the Chatham County Public School system, where he graduated from Alfred E. Beach High School with honors in 1964. He continued his education at Savannah State College (now University), graduating with a B.S. degree in Biology in 1968. He answered the solemn call to serve his nation during the Vietnam Conflict, proudly serving in the United States Air Force for four years where he was stationed at Fort Rucker, Alabama as a Weather Observer Specialist. Following his service in the Air Force, he engaged in further career and educational pursuits. He worked for Green Giant, Inc. in Chicago, Illinois and for Pfizer Pharmaceuticals in Nashville, Tennessee. Dr. Marshall also graduated from Meharry Medical College in 1982, fulfilling a lifelong dream of becoming a Medical Doctor. He began his three-decade medical practice in Plains, Georgia. The highlight of his time there was having our 39th President, Jimmy Carter, as one of his patients. After leaving Plains he opened a practice in Leslie, Georgia, but went on to make his greatest impact in Americus, Georgia, where he operated a Family Medical Practice for 24 years. Our late and beloved colleague, Congressman John Lewis, often said that ``When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have to speak up. You have to say something: you have to do something.'' Dr. Marshall was a dedicated civil rights activist who did just that. He said what others were afraid to say. He fought battles that others were afraid to fight. He truly gave a voice to the voiceless and hope to the hopeless. Dr. Marshall was actively involved and served faithfully as the president of the Americus-Sumter branch of The NAACP for 14 years. He was also the owner and publisher of the Americus Sumter-Observer Newspaper, which he used as a platform to expand his civil rights advocacy by exposing injustice, holding those in power accountable, and highlighting stories that may not otherwise have been told. Dr. Marshall loved his family and his patients. He was always pushing both groups to do the right thing for their physical, spiritual, and social well-being. He delighted in the successes of all of those that he pushed to be better and reach their full potential. He was indeed a very spiritual man who loved God and was guided by God's purpose for his life. He felt a calling to serve ``the least of these'' and gave his all in that service. On a personal note, Dr. Marshall was my friend and supporter. He always encouraged me, and I will miss his wise advice and sage counsel. He indeed spoke truth to power and always gave me the unvarnished truth. He never told me what I wanted to hear, but always told me what he felt I needed to hear. While we did not always agree, our mutual respect and friendship created an unbreakable bond. Dr. Marshall did so much for so many for so long to improve the lives of the people he encountered. Truly, the world is a better place because Dr. Marshall passed this way. Madam Speaker, my wife, Vivian, and I, along with the more than 730,000 people of the Second Congressional District and countless others across the nation salute Dr. John Dent Marshall, Jr. for his outstanding service to his community and our nation. Moreover, I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join us in extending our deepest condolences to Dr. Marshall's family, friends, loved ones, and all of those who mourn his loss. We pray that they will be consoled and comforted by an abiding faith and the Holy Spirit in the days, weeks, and months ahead.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart and solemn remembrance that I rise today to pay homage to an outstanding man of God, dedicated servant, and dear friend of longstanding, Bishop L.D. Skinner, Sr. Bishop Skinner transitioned from labor to reward on Saturday, July 18, 2020, at the age of 69. His homegoing service will be held on Friday, July 31, 2020, at the River Mill Event Centre in Columbus, Georgia. He leaves behind a loving family, a dedicated church family, and an appreciative community for his extraordinary life of serving God and humankind. Bishop L.D. Skinner, Sr. was born in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, to the union of Richard, Sr. and Alethia Bembry Skinner. He always had a thirst for knowledge and improving himself. A highly educated man, Bishop Skinner graduated from the North Carolina College of Theology with a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies, A Master of Arts in Theology, and a Doctor of Theology Degree. He also earned a Doctor of Divinity Degree from Christ United Theological School. He was a man of God who was devoted to his calling. He was the Founder and Senior Pastor of the Bread of Life Christian Center and the Founder and Presiding Prelate of Explosion Ministries Fellowship of Interdenominational Ministers. A gifted teacher and mentor, Bishop Skinner guided many in their ministerial calling. But Bishop Skinner also knew that involvement in his community was an integral part of his calling as a Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Accordingly, he was involved in many social and civic organizations that had as their purpose the uplift of humankind. He served as Vice President of the Columbus Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, Vice President of the Columbus NAACP, Chaplain and Counselor at the House of Mercy, Volunteer Chaplain at Jack T. Rutledge Correctional Institution, a member of Dr. Creflo Dollar's Ministerial Association, Board Member of the Columbus Salvation Army, the Columbus NAACP, and the Urban League of Greater Columbus. A man of many talents, he was also a gifted author. During his lifetime, he authored four books to include: Overcoming Grasshopper Mentality; How to Whip Negative Thinking in Eleven Easy Steps; Prayer an Awesome Weapon; Encounters with God; and his final publication, Ordered Stops. These books help to impart his message as given by God to a broader audience as he impacted the world for Jesus Christ. Mother Teresa once said that ``At the end of life we will be judged by whether we lived to the standard set by Jesus who said: ``I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat. I was naked, and you clothed me, I was homeless, and you took me in.'' Bishop L.D. Skinner, Sr. lived his life to help other people because of his love for Jesus Christ, and humankind is better because he traveled this way. Bishop Skinner accomplished much in his life, but none of it would have been possible with the Grace of God and the love and support of his wife, partner and co-laborer in the ministry, Lady Ruth McDaniel Skinner, his three sons, Darius, Darnell, and Darryl and his eight grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by his family but will also be missed by his community and all of those that he touched in his unique way. On a personal note, I will always appreciate the support that Bishop Skinner provided me over the years. As he did for so many others, his counsel and wisdom provided me with an unvarnished truth that helped me to deal with tough issues. He always had an open door and an open heart. For that, I will be forever grateful. Madam Speaker, my wife, Vivian and I along with countless others throughout Georgia and the nation salute Bishop L.D. Skinner, Sr. for his distinguished accomplishments in the ministry and his humble service to humankind. I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join us in extending our deepest sympathies to Bishop Skinner's family, friends, loved ones, and all those who mourn during this difficult time of bereavement. We pray that they will be consoled and comforted by an abiding faith and the Holy Spirit in the days, weeks, and months ahead.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Granger for her hard work and her commitment and her public service. Finally, I want to say a special thank you to Chairwoman Lowey. This is likely to be her last Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies appropriations bill, and it has been a tremendous pleasure and honor working with her. We will miss her. But Americans and people all over the world are better for her many years of service to this Congress.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me the time, and I rise in support of H.R. 7608. As chairman of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, I am pleased to highlight the national priorities that are funded in the division that is covered in this bill. First, Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank our distinguished ranking member, Mr. Fortenberry. I hope he is not getting too embarrassed by my endless thanks and praise, but it is really genuine. Drafting legislation can be complicated, but we have been able to maintain an open line of communication, and I am proud of our bipartisan relationship. We have produced a good work product that makes important investments that will improve the life of every American. Our fiscal year 2021 allocation is almost $24 billion, 2 percent above the fiscal year 2020 and more than $4.1 billion above the budget request. The bill provides $3.2 billion for rural development initiatives to fund critical infrastructure, such as water and wastewater systems, and rural housing needs. The bill also funds the ReConnect Program at $990 million, which is an increase of $435 million, or 78 percent. I am extremely proud of the investments that we make to close the digital divide. The coronavirus pandemic has made everyone aware of just how important it is for students and workers to be connected to the internet, and our bill reflects that. The bill, once again, includes the 10-20-30 antipoverty formula for Rural Development programs that is designed to target much-needed Federal resources to rural communities in need. Persistent-poverty communities for too long have suffered from neglect, and this provision will assist in reversing that and help these communities to thrive. The bill provides $1.83 billion for farm production programs. I am particularly proud of the $33 million in loan authority that will help resolve ownership and succession of farmland issues, also known as the ``heirs' property'' issue, which predominantly affects Black farmers and has led to the loss of millions and millions of acres of privately held farmland for over a century. Since the beginning of the pandemic, hunger has become a new reality for millions of Americans, and our bill fully funds the SNAP, child nutrition, and WIC programs to meet the expected participation in fiscal year 2021. We also provided a big boost, $45 million, 18 percent, to the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, which serves the elderly poor. Our bill also blocks two unconscionable SNAP rules. The Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents final rule and the Standard Utility Allowance proposed rule are both designed to restrict program eligibility. The bill provides $3.3 billion for agricultural research to ensure that America retains its role as the leader of global agricultural science. That number includes an increase of $29.5 million for programs that support the 1890 land-grant institutions. We rejected the administration's proposed elimination of the Food for Peace and the McGovern-Dole programs. Respectively, we provide $1.775 billion and $235 million for these programs, which is an increase totaling $65 million, to ensure that American agriculture remains an essential tool of diplomacy. The Food and Drug Administration is funded at $3.2 billion in discretionary funding, the increased funding dedicated to new initiatives that would advance influenza vaccine technologies and enhance the safety of medical products and the Nation's food supply, especially in light of COVID-19. The bill also gives the FDA the authority to require mandatory recalls of unsafe prescription and over-the-counter drugs. This is the same authority that the FDA already has to recall unsafe foods, infant formula, vaccines, and medical devices, a need that has become increasingly apparent in the past few weeks. The bill also funds the Commodity Futures Trading Commission at $304 million, which is the same as the administration's request. Mr. Speaker, I am extremely proud of this division of the minibus, and I am supportive of the whole package. I urge my colleagues to support it. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my personal staff, Michael Reed and Maya Solomon; and the subcommittee staff, Martha Foley, Diem-Linh Jones, Perry Yates, Joe Layman, Randy Staples, Justin Masucci, and our intern Xavier Roberts for their hard work on the bill. Mr. Speaker, I also thank Tom O'Brien of the minority staff of the subcommittee as well as the minority staff of the full committee, and a special thanks to our majority clerk, Shalanda Young, for her steady hand in leading the majority full committee staff.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I appreciate my colleague's longtime interest in institutions such as Piney Woods. These institutions provide an opportunity to learn and to help these students go on to live extraordinary lives. As a matter of fact, my father's roots are in Mississippi. And about 60 years ago, when I was 13 years old, my parents were strongly considering sending me to Piney Woods to complete my high school education. Piney Woods has a strong reputation. I have worked with the gentleman on issues like this over the years. I, too, share your interest in preserving institutions like this for future generations. Congress has developed programs like the Community Facilities program to help institutions just like this. I look forward to working with my colleague to take steps toward making resources available to preserve historic institutions and facilities like the Piney Woods School in Mississippi.

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 dear friend of longstanding, Rev. Dr. Cordy Tindell ``C.T.'' Vivian. Sadly, Rev. Vivian transitioned from labor to reward on Friday, July 17, 2020, at the age of 95. 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 Thursday, July 23, 2020, at Providence Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia. Cordy Tindell Vivian, or ``C.T.'' as he was affectionately known, was born on July 30, 1924, in Boonville, Missouri to the late Mr. Robert Cordie and Ms. Euzetta Tindell Vivian. In 1930, his mother and grandmother moved to Macomb, Illinois to allow C.T. to attend non- segregated schools and a local college. He attended Macomb High School, where he graduated in 1942, before matriculating at Western Illinois State Teachers College (now Western Illinois University). At Western Illinois, he planned to major in English literature, but when he was prohibited from joining a club for English majors, he withdrew from school in protest. He then moved to Peoria, Illinois to work at the Carver Community Center as a Recreation Director. While in Peoria, he participated in his first series of sit-in demonstrations, which resulted in the successful integration of Barton's Cafeteria in 194 7. While studying for the ministry at American Baptist Theological Seminary (now called American Baptist College) in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1959, he met Rev. James Lawson and some of his ``disciples'' including Diane Nash, Bernard Lafayette, James Bevel, and John R. Lewis. He and his fellow disciples led a months-long, nonviolent desegregation protest at public facilities that forced the city to change its policy. After spearheading the campaign in Nashville, Rev. Vivian served as a replacement for an injured member of the Congress of Racial Equality (C.O.R.E) on the Freedom Ride to Mississippi. Later, he helped organize Tennessee's contingent for the 1963 March on Washington and was invited to join the staff of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. By 1965, Rev. Vivian had become the Director of National Affiliates for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), a close ally of Dr. King, and a key figure in organizing nonviolent civil rights protests throughout the South. That same year, he led a group of protesters to the steps of the Dallas County courthouse in Selma, Alabama, where he encountered Sheriff Jim Clark, who blocked the group and responded by knocking him down with a billy club in front of live cameras. Rev. Vivian, nonviolently, stood up and continued to preach and advocate for the right to vote. The footage from that incident and others including one involving John Lewis were broadcasted on national television creating outrage and widespread support for the movement and ultimately resulting in the passage by Congress of the Voting Rights Act 1965. Yet, Madam Speaker, Dr. Vivian's profound servant leadership did not stop there. In 1972, Dr. Vivian became Dean of the Chapel at Shaw University and National Director of the Seminary Without Walls. He worked with the Community Organization for the National Council of Churches, for a division of overseas ministries, and participated in a number of agricultural missions. He served on the United Nations Commission on Human Rights Education where he organized the National Center for Human Rights Education. He then returned to lead the SCLC in 2012 as its Interim President helping to restore and enhance its credibility. He received numerous awards, but the most prestigious was the Presidential Medal of Freedom presented by President Barack Obama in 2013. Rev. Vivian accomplished much in his life, but none of it would have been possible without the Grace of God and the love and the support of his late wife, Octavia Geans Vivian; his children, Jo Anna, Denise, Cordy Jr. (deceased), Kira, Mark, Anita, and Albert; and other loved ones, all of whom will miss him dearly. Rev. Vivian once said ``Leadership is found in the action to defeat that which would defeat you . . . You are made by the struggles you choose.'' To that end, he founded the C.T. Vivian Leadership Institute in 2007 with the sole purpose of educating visitors on the correlation between the Civil Rights Movement in the U.S. and contemporary Human Rights Movements across the globe. Madam Speaker, my wife, Vivian, and I, along with countless others throughout Georgia and the nation salute Reverend Doctor C.T. Vivian for his outstanding accomplishments in the ministry and his life of service and sacrifice for the betterment of humankind. I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join us in extending our deepest condolences to Reverend Vivian's family, friends, loved ones, and all who grieve his loss. We pray that they will be consoled and comforted by an abiding faith and the Holy Spirit in the days, weeks, and months ahead.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Evans).

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Demings).

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Lawrence).

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Georgia (Mrs. McBath).

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, may I request the amount of time remaining.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Mfume).

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, how much time remains?

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Kelly).

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee).

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, how much time is remaining?

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, we make our living by what we get. We make a life by what we give. John Lewis certainly made a life. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Alabama (Ms. Sewell).

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, we are here to honor Congressman John Robert Lewis, our hero, our colleague, our brother, our friend. Having known John for 52 years, I can tell you honestly that even in his humanity, he lived his life in the image of Jesus. John was a voice of the voiceless--African Americans, for women, for LGBTQ people, for the least and the left out, for anyone mistreated by society. His unwavering sense of right and wrong was a North Star for this Nation, which is why we called him the conscience of the Congress. People as good as John don't come our way very often. Despite all of the accolades and recognition he received, John remained humble, unfailingly kind, and always fueled the capacity of people to be better, despite their past transgressions. Where would America be today if it were not for John Lewis? Without his activism, without his courage, without his perseverance for voting rights, I doubt if I would be here today. Thank you, John, for your lifetime of advocacy, for sacrifice of friendship and counsel. And thank you, God, for the life of John Robert Lewis. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Carson).

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, it has been said that service is the rent we pay for the space we occupy on this Earth. John Lewis paid his rent, and he paid it well. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hurd).

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. George Washington Carver once said: How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and strong, because someday in your life you will have been all of these. That was our friend, John Lewis. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Beatty).

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, as we come to the close of this first hour of tribute to our friend and our colleague and our hero, John Robert Lewis, I leave you with the words of Douglas Malloch, who wrote: The tree that never had to fight For Sun and sky and air and light, But stood out in the open plain And always got its share of rain, Never became a forest king But lived and died a scrubby thing. The man who never had to toil To gain and farm his patch of soil, Who never had to win his share Of Sun and sky and light and air, Never became a manly man But lived and died as he began. Good timber does not grow in ease; The stronger wind, the stronger trees; The further sky, the greater length; The more the storm, the more the strength. By Sun and cold, by rain and snow, In trees and men, good timbers grow. Where thickest lies the forest growth, We find the patriarchs of both. And they hold counsel with the stars Whose broken branches show the scars Of many winds and much of strife, This is the common law of life. John Robert Lewis was indeed good timber. God bless his soul. May he rest in peace and in power. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, William Cullen Bryant said: So live, that when thy summons come to join The innumerable caravan which moves To that mysterious realm where each shall take His Chamber in the silent halls of death, Thou go not, like the quarry-slave at night, Scourged to his dungeon, but sustained and soothed By an unfaltering trust, approach thy grave, Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams. Ladies and gentlemen of the House, it has become my solemn duty as dean of the Georgia delegation of the United States House of Representatives to announce and include in the records and proceedings of this august body notice that since we last convened, and specifically, on Friday, July 17, 2020, the Honorable John Robert Lewis, Representative of the Fifth Congressional District of Georgia, our hero, our colleague, our brother, our friend received and answered his final summons from God almighty and at that moment transitioned from labor to reward. The world is a better place because John Lewis spent his life pursuing freedom, justice, opportunity, love, and peace for all of humanity. While he is an icon in the history of America for his courage and his sacrifice in making ``good trouble,'' his enduring humility reflected the true timbre of his character. He inspired us as the conscience of the Congress, and we have all been truly blessed to know, love, and share the life and legacy of this extraordinary human being. I ask that you join my wife, Vivian, and me, along with the Members of the Georgia delegation, in extending our deepest condolences to John's family; friends; staff, including his faithful and devoted chief of staff, Michael Collins; and all those around the world who mourn his loss. John, rest in peace and lie down with pleasant dreams, knowing that this current generation will continue the fight for the ultimate realization of your beloved community. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Graves), my distinguished colleague.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I ask that all Members rise for a moment of silence in remembrance of the Honorable John Robert Lewis.