Sanford Bishop

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart and solemn remembrance that I rise today to pay tribute to a great man and outstanding public servant, Mr. Washington Long, the first black Police Chief in the history of Albany, Georgia. Sadly, Chief Long died on Thursday, June 19, 2014. A funeral service will be held on Friday, June 27, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church of Albany, Georgia with interment following at Riverside Cemetery. Mr. Long was born in Marianna, Florida. He enlisted in the United States Army at an early age, before transferring to the Air Force. While stationed at Turner Air Force Base in Albany, he met then Albany Police Department Chief Laurie Pritchett. Chief Pritchett saw potential in Mr. Long and asked him to join the force if Chief Pritchett could convince the commissioners to hire black police officers. Mr. Long made up his mind to join the Police Department when he was stopped by a police officer in downtown Albany, where racial strife was profuse in the years following the Albany Movement, a part of the greater Civil Rights Movement. He believed he could be a better police officer than the one who stopped him and so in 1966, Mr. Long became one of the city's first black police officers. In the police department, Mr. Long rose through the ranks of Corporal, Detective, Captain, Major and Assistant Chief. In 1987, Mr. Long was named Chief of the Albany Police Department, becoming the city's first black police chief. He held this post until he retired in 1994. During his nearly thirty-year career with the Albany Police Department, Chief Long served the citizens of Albany, Georgia with devotion and distinction. Responsible for ensuring the safety and protection of the residents of Albany, Chief Long proved to be a strong and revered leader. A great number of challenges came with a position of this caliber, exacerbated by the lingering effects of segregation and racial tension. Chief Long met these challenges head-on with steadfast humility and strong moral fiber. Chief Long was a member of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church for over fifty years and served on the Deacon Board. He was also a member of numerous community organizations, the most notable being the Board of Directors for the Boys and Girls Club of Albany--East Albany Unit. He sponsored the membership for many children over the years so that they could have a support system in the community to encourage them to realize their full potential. Shirley Chisholm once said that, ``Service is the rent that we pay for the space that we occupy here on this earth.'' Chief Long's life was defined by service. He paid his rent and he paid it well through his distinguished service to his community, devotion to his work, and the compassion he showed for the people of Albany. He will truly be missed. Chief Long is survived by his daughter, Lisa; son, Ronald; and siblings Gertrude, Coriel, Paul, William, Frederick and Mariah. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me, my wife, Vivian, and the more than 700,000 residents of the Second Congressional District of Georgia in paying tribute to Chief Washington Long and his legacy of service to Albany, Georgia. He loved the people of Albany and he was committed to making the community safer to live in and to improving the quality of life. We extend our deepest sympathies to his family, friends and loved ones during this difficult time and we pray that they will be consoled and comforted by an abiding faith and the Holy Spirit in the days, weeks and months ahead.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today to pay tribute to an outstanding and truly one of a kind woman, Dr. Gloria D. Jones. Sadly, Dr. Jones passed away on Saturday, June 14, 2014. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, June 21, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at Disciples of Jesus Ministries in Thomasville, Georgia. Dr. Gloria D. Jones was born on February 27, 1954 in Columbus, Ohio. As the second of three daughters, Dr. Jones was constantly striving to forge her own identity in her youth. Growing up at the height of the Civil Rights Movement, she was greatly influenced to fight for what was right. Her experiences during this time led her to question authority, and to measure her success only by her own grade. As she watched her father struggle to recover from alcoholism throughout his life, she developed a passion for helping others overcome addictive behavior. Dr. Jones considered this a meaningful experience that influenced her practice as a leading therapist in her field of substance abuse counseling. Gloria's steadfast determination held true throughout her academic career. She was able to graduate high school in only three years, and attended a local college to pursue a degree in Physical Education. She went on to earn numerous other degrees, including a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Columbia University, a Master of Arts in Health Care Management from Webster College, and a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Capella University. Dr. Jones served in the U.S. Air Force for four years and held the position of Executive Secretary for Martin Marietta Aerospace Center in Denver, Colorado. In Thomasville, she worked as a Mental Health Intake Specialist with Archbold Memorial Hospital and as a Child and Adolescent Coordinator for Georgia Pines Mental Health Center. She was a certified national addiction counselor and a clinical supervisor for the state of Georgia. Her crowning achievement, however, was the Heritage Foundation Inc., which she founded in 1989 in Thomasville, Georgia. This organization came about from a community outreach program which she designed and established to teach disenfranchised, primarily African-American youth about their rich cultural heritage. During the course of this work, she discovered the socioeconomic and psychosocial issues rooted in these communities, which led her to create the foundation to help young people overcome these challenges. Through her position as Executive Director, she was able to directly influence change in the community. Her vision and determination has bettered the lives of countless individuals and families as she developed more than ten treatment programs for addictive disorders, child and adolescent mental health services and prevention programs. Dr. Jones was also very active politically on the local, state, and national levels. She was instrumental in organizing many voter registration, voter education and voter participation programs, promoting political empowerment in the region. She and her devoted husband, Dr. Leon Jones, were longtime supporters of mine and I count myself very fortunate to have had the benefit of their advice, counsel and hard work. Dr. Jones was known as a community activist, educator, counselor, wife, mother, grandmother, and author. However, all of these titles could be summed up under the title of ``trailblazer.'' She pioneered and championed for subjugated youths, and cleared a path to a better future for them through her work. George Washington Carver once said, No individual has any right to come into the world and go out of it without leaving behind distinct and legitimate reasons for having passed through it.'' We are all so blessed that Dr. Jones passed this way and during her life's journey did so much for so many for so long. She leaves behind a great legacy in service to her beloved family and to all those whose lives she touched and nurtured. She will truly be missed. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me and my wife Vivian in extending our deepest sympathies to Dr. Jones' loving husband of 36 years, Dr. Leon Jones, nine children, sixteen grandchildren, two great- grandchildren, and a host of other family, friends and loved ones during this difficult time. We pray that they will be consoled and comforted by an abiding faith and the Holy Spirit in the days, weeks and months ahead.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chair, during rollcall vote No. 273 on H.R. 4745, I mistakenly recorded my vote as ``yes'' when I should have voted ``no.'' Amendment Offered by Mr. Chabot

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the Westmoreland amendment to the fiscal year 2015 National Defense Authorization Act. It strikes section 341 which would negatively impact the venerable and highly effective F117 engine that powers the Air Force workhorse personnel and cargo transport, the C-17 aircraft. The existing language requires disclosure of proprietary information which would hamper contract negotiations, having the potential of posing a detrimental impact to the readiness of the fleet. Today, F117 engines are sustained through an award-winning performance-based logistics contract that minimizes life cycle costs with fixed fees based on flight cycles. This contract type requires comprehensive understanding and investment by the service provider along with the engineering design expertise to develop and implement improvements in response to actual mission experience. It is vital that we use every practical means of providing for the defense of this country and the protection of our warfighters, including the appropriate use of competition and any other contracting method. In fact, the Air Force has already taken steps to ensure these outcomes are achieved on the C-17 sustainment contract. Just last year, the Air Force held an open and transparent bidding process for the F117 and there was only one bidder. Under the current structure, the F117 service provider is incentivized to reduce total maintenance cost by improving reliability, increasing time on wing, and controlling shop visit cost. All of these factors have been good for the Air Force by minimizing operational disruption and reducing maintenance crew requirements and logistics infrastructure. Section 341 of this bill jeopardizes the efficiencies and success the F117 performance-based logistics contract has achieved. This language could be interpreted as requiring the Air Force to significantly change contract structure for maintenance instead of requesting a robust price reasonableness assessment as is already required by procurement regulations. Changes in the F117 maintenance structure could be less effective in supporting the C-17 and may result in higher sustainment costs and lower readiness. For these reasons, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart and solemn remembrance that I rise today to pay tribute to an outstanding citizen and servant of humankind, Mrs. Sue Marie Thompson Turner. Sadly, Mrs. Turner passed away on Thursday, May 8, 2014. Funeral services were held on Saturday, May 10, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Luke Methodist Church in Columbus, Georgia. A Columbus native, Mrs. Turner was born on August 28, 1929 to Dr. John Barkwell Thompson and Mildred Marie Dykes Thompson. She graduated from Columbus High School and attended Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia. In 1948, she returned to Columbus to marry the love of her life, William ``Bill'' B. Turner. During their remarkable sixty-five years of marriage, Mrs. Turner was the epitome of a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. A strong-willed woman, she was fiercely committed to raising a loving family by instilling in each of them the good values and morals that she and her husband embodied. Known as ``Precious'' to her family, she showed her support for her six children, 21 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, and countless friends at hundreds of ball games, dance recitals and birthday parties. One of the things I admired most about Mrs. Turner was her ability to make each person she met feel special because he or she was indeed special to her. No person was ever a stranger to her because she could make anyone feel like part of the family from the moment they met. Mrs. Turner loved her community dearly and was constantly working to improve it. She was active in the Bradley-Turner Foundation, a charitable non-profit organization that has given millions of dollars to various projects in Columbus and the Chattahoochee Valley region. The Turner family also helped launch the Pastoral Institute forty years ago. The organization provides counseling and educational resources to assist people who are going through difficult and traumatic times in their lives. The Pastoral Institute established the Sue Marie and Bill Turner Servant Leadership Award to honor couples who have made significant contributions to the community. The Turners received the first award in 2012. In addition, the Turner family has long supported St. Francis Hospital. The new Women's Hospital was named in Mrs. Turner's honor last fall. George Washington Carver once said, ``No individual has any right to come into the world and go out of it without leaving behind distinct and legitimate reasons for having passed through it.'' We are all so blessed that Mrs. Sue Marie Turner passed this way and during her life's journey did so much for so many for so long. She leaves behind a great legacy in service to her beloved family and to all those whose lives she touched and brightened with her radiant smile and rich laughter. She will truly be missed. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me, my wife, Vivian, and the Columbus, Georgia community in paying tribute to Mrs. Sue Marie Turner for her outstanding contributions to her community. We extend our deepest sympathies to her family, friends and loved ones during this difficult time and we pray that they will be consoled and comforted by an abiding faith and the Holy Spirit in the days, weeks and months ahead.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an outstanding public servant and dear friend to my wife, Vivian and me, Georgia State Representative Carolyn Hugley. Representative Hugley was honored for her distinguished service at the Columbus Community Center Annual Fundraising Dinner on Tuesday, May 13, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. at the Columbus Convention and Trade Center in Columbus, Georgia. Representative Hugley was born in Forrest City, Arkansas to Mr. and Mrs. Walker Fleming, Jr. She earned a degree in Political Science from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and a Master's in Public Policy and Administration from Mississippi State University. Rep. Hugley was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1992 to represent District 136, which is located within the Second Congressional District of Georgia in Columbus and Muscogee County. She has been continuously re-elected and is currently serving her twelfth term. I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to work closely with Rep. Hugley over the years and we have become great friends. During her tenure, Rep. Hugley has built a repertoire of legislative accomplishments. She currently serves as the Democratic Caucus (Minority) Whip. She is a member of the Ethics Committee, Rules Committee, Appropriations-Health Subcommittee and the Insurance Committee. She is also a member of the Women's Legislative Caucus and the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus. Rep. Hugley loves her community dearly, and in addition to representing it in the state legislature, she is actively involved within it. She is a member of Franchise Missionary Baptist Church, where she serves as chair of the Hostess Committee and on the Deacon's Wives board. She is also a member of the Lower Chattahoochee Area Workforce Investment Board; Board of Directors of SISTERS, Inc.; Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority, Inc., Gamma Tau Omega Chapter; and the Columbus Chapter of The Links, Inc. Rep. Hugley is a strong advocate for children and family issues both in the Georgia General Assembly and in the Columbus community. She has been recognized for her fine leadership numerous times and has received many awards and accolades for her work in public service. Former Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm once said that, ``Service is the rent that we pay for the space that we occupy here on this earth.'' Rep. Hugley has paid her rent many times over and still continues to give a prodigious amount of love and service back to her community. Rep. Hugley has accomplished many things in her life but none of this would have been possible without the enduring love and support of her husband, Columbus City Manager, Isaiah Hugley; their two children, Kimberly and Isaiah, Jr.; two adopted children, Jaaliyah and Zajaiq; and two grandchildren, Kandyce and Adam. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me and my wife, Vivian, in honoring Georgia State Representative Carolyn Hugley for her dedicated service and exemplary leadership in the Columbus, Georgia community, the State of Georgia, and our country.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, May 17, 2014 marked the sixtieth anniversary of the landmark United States Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education. As Chief Justice Earl Warren wrote in his unanimous decision, ``In the field of public education the doctrine of `separate but equal' has no place. Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal.'' The Brown ruling declared that state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students were unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Although initially met with resistance, Brown v. Board of Education provided an impetus to education reform, paved the way for integration, and proved an integral part of the American Civil Rights Movement. As we commemorate the sixtieth anniversary of this case, we celebrate the achievements that have been made in our country's classrooms to ensure that all students--regardless of color--receive a quality education. We still have a long way to go, however, to ensure that the promise of Brown is fully realized. Many school districts today have not fully desegregated. In addition, many students--particularly those who are minorities and come from low-income families--lack access to advanced placement classes; the latest education technology; safe learning environments; extracurricular activities; and clean, well- functioning classrooms. As we commemorate the sixtieth anniversary of Brown, it is vital that we take stock of its legacy and do all that we can to ensure that our children have equal opportunities to succeed. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in applauding the achievements that have come to fruition over the past six decades in the American classroom since Brown v. Board of Education. Let us work together to fully realize its promise and create a more perfect Union.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor and pleasure to extend my sincere congratulations to the congregation of Greater Peace Baptist Church in Columbus, Georgia as the church's membership and leadership celebrates a remarkable 75 years. The congregation celebrated this very significant anniversary on Sunday, May 18, 2014 at 3 p.m. at the church in Columbus, Georgia. Greater Peace Baptist Church was founded by a group of Christian missionaries from New Mount Zion Baptist Church in 1939. Rev. H. Hunter served as the church's first pastor during its humble beginnings. With the hard work and perseverance of dedicated deacons and members, Rev. Hunter was able to keep the church alive until Rev. George E. King became the pastor in 1940. Unfortunately, the church was completely destroyed by a fire in 1951. Instead of regarding the event as a tragedy, the members of Greater Peace Baptist Church saw the fire as an opportunity to come together, reconstruct the church, and help it move forward. In 1952, Rev. Oliver L. Holston became the pastor and brought new ideas to enhance the church. He oversaw the renovations and expanded the church to accommodate new members. Rev. Holston ordained many Christian men during his leadership, some of whom later became pastors themselves. In 1984, Rev. Holston passed away and later in the year, Rev. E.L. Sullivan took over leadership of the church. Under Rev. Sullivan, numerous new ministries were formed to meet the needs of the church, including the Missionary Circles, Pastor's Cabinet, and Church Program Committee. Rev. Sullivan also helped establish reliable transportation and church hymnals, and procured robes and other items for the church's members. Several members were licensed and ordained under Rev. Sullivan's leadership including the current pastor, Rev. Corey J. Neal. In 2004 and 2005, many amenities were added to the fellowship hall, an administrative office was constructed, and the Pastor's study was remodeled. In December 2007, after 23 faithful years, Rev. Sullivan preached as Senior Pastor and prepared to pass the torch to his grandson, Rev. Corey J. Neal. Rev. Neal was installed as the new Shepherd of Greater Peace Baptist Church on December 30, 2007. Since his installation, the church membership has increased tremendously. Rev. Neal has continued his grandfather's legacy of forming and developing many new ministries at the church. After Pastor Emeritus Rev. E.L. Sullivan was called home to the Lord, the fellowship hall was graciously named in his honor. By following the vision God gave Rev. Neal, the church was able to pay off the E.L. Sullivan Fellowship Hall two and half years early. The story of Greater Peace Baptist Church is telling of the dedication and perseverance of a faithful congregation of people who put all their love and trust in the Lord. What began as a small group of people worshipping 75 years ago has grown into an expansive and successful church that has overcome fire and other hardships. Mr. Speaker, today I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to the membership of Greater Peace Baptist Church in Columbus, Georgia for their long history of coming together through the good and difficult times to praise and worship our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and for serving the community through Him.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart and solemn remembrance that I rise today to pay tribute to a great man and dedicated public servant, Lt. Col. Walter ``Randy'' Randall, USAF (Retired). Sadly, Lt. Col. Randall passed away on Saturday, May 3, 2014. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 10, 2014 at the Base Theater at Robins Air Force Base. Interment with full military honors will be held on Monday, May 12, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. in Jacksonville National Cemetery in Jacksonville, Florida. ``Randy'' was born on November 13, 1946 to the late Katie Randall and Walter Randall, Sr. in Chicago, Illinois. He grew up in Jacksonville, Florida and earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Bethune Cookman College and a Master of Science degree from Florida A&M University. After teaching Biology in the Jacksonville Public School System for a few years, he enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1975. He earned his commission through Officer Training School at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas in May 1975; completed several assignments at McConnell Air Force Base in Kansas before serving a three-year tour in Germany; was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel (Lt. Col.) and served in the Aeronautical Systems Division at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio before coming to Robins Air Force Base in Georgia in August 1994. He served as the C-5 Transition and Supportability Manager for the C-5 System Program Office since April 1999. In addition to his faithful service to our country, Randy has served his community with much loyalty and dedication. As the Chairman and longtime member of the Warner Robins Regional Chamber of Commerce, he strongly advocated for a regional approach to improving the Middle Georgia community as a whole. He was a firm leader but his friendly approach to all he met gained him tremendous respect in the region. Randy served as Vice President of Operations for Cirrus Technology and was Senior Vice President of Progressive Consulting Technologies, Inc. (PCTI). He was also a member of the Warner Robins Rotary Club, Tuskegee Airmen's Association, and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 9998. He was an active member of Robins Air Force Base Chapel, a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and the Museum of Aviation Foundation's National Board of Advisors, and a longtime official of the Georgia Recreational Football League. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, golfing, and ballroom dancing. Maya Angelou once said, ``A great soul serves everyone all the time. A great soul never dies.'' We are all so blessed that Mr. Randall passed this way and during his life's journey did so much for so many for so long. He leaves behind a great legacy in service to all those whose lives he touched. On a personal note, I have been truly blessed by Randy's steadfast friendship and support. I was delighted when, several years ago, his good friend Colonel Curtis Wright, USAF (Retired) introduced us. My wife, Vivian, and I will cherish the wonderful memories we have of Randy's bright smile, upbeat personality, and close friendship. Randy is survived by his two sons, Walter Andre and Marshall; three sisters, a niece, three nephews, and other beloved relatives and friends. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me and my wife, Vivian, in saluting Lt. Col. Walter ``Randy'' Randall, USAF (Retired) for his outstanding service to his country and to his community. We extend our deepest sympathies to Randy's family, friends and loved ones during this difficult time and we pray that they will be consoled and comforted by an abiding faith and the Holy Spirit in the days, weeks and months ahead.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor and pleasure to extend my sincere congratulations to the congregation of Bethel Baptist Church in Vienna, Georgia as the church's membership and leadership celebrate a remarkable 150 years. The congregation of Bethel Baptist Church will celebrate this very significant anniversary with a celebration on Sunday, May 18, 2014 at the church in Vienna, Georgia. Tracing its roots back to the Civil War era, the church was founded in 1864 as a brush arbor church by Reverend Randolph Beach. Along with Rev. Beach, Deacons William Cobb, E.D. Brown, Sandy Nealy, and Adam Lewis cut logs and rolled them together to form seats. The building was called Bethel. During the first year, Rev. Beach and the members purchased the one acre of land on which the church still sits today. The first church built on this land was a ``shanty'' church. The membership continued to increase and Rev. Beach served as pastor for eighteen years until he was called home to be with the Lord. Rev. Beach was succeeded by Rev. Nathan Brown, who facilitated improvements to the church's structure. Rev. Brown resigned and was succeeded by Rev. Daniel Amica, who then resigned after one year. Rev. Brown returned to Bethel and continued to serve for eighteen more years until he was called from labor to reward. Rev. Brown was succeeded by Rev. Amos Reid, a strong and beloved leader. For the next several years, the church was served by a number of pastors, each leaving their lasting mark on the church in some form or fashion. Perhaps the most notable were Reverend S.P. Miller, who advocated for a brick building to be erected, resulting in the foundation of the present brick structure being laid, and Rev. C.S. Wilkins, who continued the work by raising money to complete the erection of the brick building. The main auditorium and a tower, which cost $10,000, were built, and a seven-hundred-pound bell was installed. Rev. Wilkins, who had stepped up to lead the church at a time when it was experiencing difficulties, set high goals for Bethel Baptist Church. He instituted many internal changes, including organizing the membership into clubs, which raised the spirit and morale of the church. The membership was very sorry to see him resign due to his poor health. Throughout the years, the church would continue to improve both aesthetically and spiritually under the leadership of several devoted pastors. In May 1957, Rev. Moses A. Lee became pastor of Bethel Baptist Church. The church was transformed during the first twelve months of his pastorate and continued to make progress under his remarkable forty-one year tenure. In September 1998, longtime Bethel member and ordained deacon, Rev. Dr. Bobby G. West, accepted the pastoral invitation and continues to serve as pastor today. He and his family not only serve the church and its members, but also work hard to serve the surrounding community through an active and expansive outreach ministry. The story of Bethel Baptist Church, which began as a small group of people worshipping in a brush arbor 150 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 of people who put all their love and trust in the Lord. Mr. Speaker, today I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to the membership of Bethel Baptist Church in Vienna, Georgia for their long history of coming together through the good and difficult times to praise and worship our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and for serving the community through Him.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Both Chairman Cole and Ranking Member Wasserman Schultz were greatly aided by their excellent staff: Liz Dawson, Chuck Turner, Jenny Panone, and Shalanda Young. I look forward to supporting the bill and doing all that I can to ensure its swift passage by the full House of Representatives.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. I thank the gentlelady for yielding to me. Madam Chair, I just wanted to say a few words in support of this year's Legislative Branch Appropriations Act. I have been honored to serve on this subcommittee for the last 4 years. I am the only member, in fact, to have served on the subcommittee for the last two Congresses. It may have the smallest budget of the 12 appropriations bills, but it is vital to the work we do here in Congress and our ability to serve our constituents. From paying our staffs, to maintaining a digital and printed record of our work, to getting cost estimates of our legislative proposals, the legislative branch is so important to the proper functioning of our system of government. It is especially gratifying that this year's bill reverses some of the draconian cuts from the legislative branch which have occurred over the last few years. I said last year that including these cuts would have been like cutting off our nose to spite our face. After all, agencies under the bill's jurisdiction, like the Congressional Budget Office and the Government Accountability Office, help Congress to identify potential savings and efficiencies throughout the government. Or consider the Architect of the Capitol, which is responsible for the maintenance, operation, development, and preservation of the United States Capitol. Two years ago, the House couldn't find the necessary funds to complete the restoration of one of the most vital symbols of our democracy, the Capitol dome. I am pleased this year that the legislation includes $21.2 million for the last phase of the Capitol dome restoration. Other agencies in the bill receive much-needed investments, including the Library of Congress, the United States Capitol Police, and the Government Printing Office. I would like to commend the outstanding bipartisan work of Chairman Cole and Ranking Member Wasserman Schultz in crafting this year's bill. Chairman Cole has done a yeoman's job stepping in at the last moment following the retirement of our colleague Rodney Alexander and shepherding this measure for the full House Appropriations Committee this morning. I am also greatly appreciative of Ranking Member Wasserman Schultz, whose institutional knowledge of the agencies in this measure is really unmatched.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Lieutenant General Michael Ferriter, Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management and Commanding General, Installation Management Command, for his distinguished service to the United States of America. Lieutenant General Ferriter will be retiring from the United States Army after nearly 35 years of service. He will be honored at a retirement ceremony on Friday, May 2, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. at McGinnis- Wickham Hall at Fort Benning, Georgia. LTG Ferriter graduated from The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina in May 1979, and was commissioned in the Infantry as a Second Lieutenant. After the Infantry Officer Basic Course, his first troop assignment was Platoon Leader, 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry, Fort Riley, Kansas. From there, he successfully completed numerous command and staff assignments at Fort Wainwright, Alaska; Fort Lewis, Washington; Fort Benning, Georgia; and Fort Bragg, North Carolina. LTG Ferriter's first Joint Staff assignment was as Deputy Director for Operations and Plans before he became Executive Assistant to the Commander of the United States Joint Forces Command. In June 2004, he was called to duty as Assistant Division Commander of Operations of the 82d Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He completed a combat tour in Operation Restore Hope in Somalia with the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment; two tours in Iraq as Deputy Commanding General (Operations), Multi-National Corps, Iraq; and one tour as Deputy Commanding General (Advising and Training), United States Forces--Iraq. The Second Congressional District of Georgia gained a respected and compassionate leader when LTG Ferriter was appointed Commanding General of the United States Army Infantry Center and the Maneuver Center of Excellence at Fort Benning. He became a close friend and confidant as he served in my district and when he was appointed Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management and Commanding General, Installation Management Command, he demonstrated tremendous support for the Congressional Military Family Caucus, which I co-chair with Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA). LTG Ferriter and Mrs. Ferriter graciously participated in the CMFC's annual Military Family Summit held at Fort Benning in 2012, demonstrating strong support for our nation's military families. LTG Ferriter's service to his country is but a small testament of the high caliber of character that he embodies. As the head of a family heavily involved in the military, he recognizes the challenges that face service members, veterans and military families across the nation. Throughout his tenure, he has worked tirelessly to find and implement solutions to these challenges. LTG Ferriter has certainly excelled in all areas of life, but none of this would be possible without the love and support of his wife, Margie Ferriter. LTG Ferriter's motivation also comes from being a role model to his four children Dr. Meghan Ferriter, MAJ Dan Ferriter, CPT Paddy Ferriter, and former CPT Mary Whitney Whittaker. Mary Whitney and her husband, Garret, are the proud parents of Parker, LTG Ferriter's and Margie's first grandchild. Mr. Speaker, today I ask my colleagues to join me, my wife, Vivian, the nearly 700,000 people in Georgia's 2nd Congressional District, and all Americans, in extending our sincerest appreciation and best wishes to Lieutenant General Michael Ferriter, a ``Soldier's Soldier,'' and Mrs. Ferriter, upon the occasion of his retirement from a stellar career of 35 years in the United States Army.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. I would like to thank the gentleman from Washington for bringing this issue to our attention. I will certainly work with you, as well I am sure the chairman will and the members of our subcommittee, as we go forward to find a meaningful solution to this problem.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I make a point of order against the amendment because it proposes to change existing law and constitutes legislation in an appropriation bill and, therefore, violates clause 2 of rule XXI. The rule states, in pertinent part: ``An amendment to a general appropriation bill shall not be in order if changing existing law.'' The amendment imposes additional duties or requires a new determination. Mr. Chairman, I ask for a ruling from the Chair.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of order.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, we are all outraged in regards to the claims backlog and the incidences of poor quality health services and safety. The current claims backlog is, indeed, unacceptable. There is no question that the VA has struggled to successfully deliver one of its key missions: to provide timely ratings of disability. However, the VA has reduced the backlog by 44 percent. Should we ignore that? It is also clear that some VA health facilities have had serious issues that put the health, safety, and well-being of our veterans at risk. This too is unacceptable. Where have these failures occurred? It is hard to imagine how the VA leaders of these facilities could have received high performance ratings and substantial bonuses. However, this amendment will not provide any solution in the short term and, in fact, may have the long-term consequences and compound the very problems that it attempts to address. This amendment would make the VA a less attractive option than other agencies when it comes to recruiting and retaining quality executive leaders, and it will not have the very talent it needs to solve the problems it faces today, like the claims backlog and the health care deficiencies. Furthermore, SES pay and bonuses are governed by title 5 of the United States Code and administered by the Office of Personnel Management. Any change to title 5 to address the VA would then also apply to all other Federal agencies. Attempting an across-the-board, one-size-fits-all fix will penalize those who are dedicated VA executives who are working hard and doing a good job to find solutions to the VA problems. I urge all Members to vote ``no'' on this amendment. We are throwing out the baby with the bathwater. This is not a good amendment, and I urge this House to defeat it. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this amendment. I believe we need to set the conditions for the closure of the detention facility at Guantanamo. It is in the United States' national security interest to do so. Guantanamo has become a rallying cry. It serves as a recruitment tool for terrorists and increases the will of our enemies to fight, while reducing the will of others to work with America. Part of the rationale for establishing Guantanamo in the first place was the misplaced idea that the facility would be beyond the law--a proposition that has been soundly rejected by the Supreme Court. As a result, continued operation of this facility creates the impression in the eyes of our allies and our enemies that the United States selectively observes the rule of law. There is no reason that we should impose on ourselves the legal and moral problems arising from the prospects of indefinite detentions at Guantanamo. Working through civil courts since 9/11, hundreds of individuals have been convicted of terrorism or terrorism-related offenses and are now serving long sentences in Federal prison. Not one single person has ever escaped custody. For these reasons, I believe that the time has come to take the actions needed to initiate closure of the detention facility at Guantanamo. I think this amendment sends that strong message. I support the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. I thank the gentleman. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. As you all know, this bill has a strong reputation for finding bipartisan common ground as members work together to fund the construction of military facilities and strive to improve the quality of life and the care afforded to our veterans and our military families. Once again, Chairman Culberson has continued this tradition. The bill before us provides funding levels that, I think, most Members on both sides of the aisle agree are appropriate while avoiding the contentious legislative riders that complicate passage. I am pleased to join Chairman Culberson as the House takes up the fiscal year 2015 appropriations bill for Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies. The MilCon-VA bill is critically important to the strength and well-being of our military, our veterans, and the families who sacrifice so much to defend our country. In working with Chairman Culberson and the members of the subcommittee, we have crafted a bill that will address the funding needs for military construction and family housing for our troops and their families as well as other quality-of-life construction projects. In addition, it will provide funding for many important VA programs as well as for agencies like the Veterans Court of Appeals and the American Battle Monuments Commission. The bill before us today touches every soldier, sailor, marine, and airman. In addition, this bill will also impact military spouses, their children, and every veteran who participates in VA programs. I want to commend the chairman for his work. Together, we sat through hearings and gained valuable insight to the workings of all agencies under the subcommittee's jurisdiction. I also want to thank all of our subcommittee members and recognize them for their hard work in crafting this bill. I believe that the minority was treated fairly during this process, and I want to thank Chairman Culberson for ensuring this bipartisan result. Chairman Culberson has already provided the funding highlights in the bill, so I won't repeat them all, but I will say this: In my opinion, the FY '15 bill adequately provides for the Department's priorities in military construction for each of the services. If the Department needed something, it is in the bill, and if it didn't need it, it is not in the bill. The Department of Veterans Affairs is funded at $64.7 billion, which is $1.8 billion above the '14 enacted level. Overall, the bill meets the discretionary budget request in all areas of administrative expenses, research, and facilities. In addition, the bill includes $58.7 billion in advances, which is the same as the budget request. While I am pleased with the healthy funding increase for the VA, many constituents from my district are still extremely frustrated with the claims backlog. Frankly, I would have to agree. Now, while the VA has made some progress on lessening the backlog, there are still over 300,000 claims considered as backlogged, so I was pleased that an additional $20 million was included in the bill to assist the VA in making even more progress on the backlog. In addition, Mr. Chairman, it is my hope that coupling the Veterans Claims Intake Program with continued rigorous reporting requirements, while fully funding the Veterans Benefit Management System, will help the VA reach its goal to end this backlog in 2015. On the issue of electronic medical records, you all know my frustration, and I could spend all of the time yielded to me just on this one topic, but I will say this: We have finally gotten the two Departments' attention, and I expect to see some real progress on this soon. The bill continues the practice of fencing money for this endeavor to make sure that when it is completed we have a system that works, and works well. Mr. Chairman, I believe that we have a strong bipartisan bill that supports our military, their families, and our veterans, and I would hate to see the hard work of our committee upended by contentious, partisan riders intended to serve in scoring political points instead of those that serve our Nation. I also believe the most important things of this bill are the resources and accountability provided to assist the VA in tackling the claims backlog. So I say to my colleagues that our committee strongly shares the deep commitment of this body in fixing the claims backlog issue. We have looked at numerous approaches and firmly believe our bill has found the optimal approach in dealing with this pressing concern for our veterans. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey), the ranking member of the full Appropriations Committee, a very, very, very eloquent and hardworking lady, and who is committed to the support of our veterans and their families.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Farr), who has offered invaluable help on the committee in crafting the bill and who has a particular interest in the Defense Language School in Monterey and on maintaining our commitment to previous BRAC rounds in the State of California that they not be forgotten.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. I yield the gentleman 10 seconds.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, at this time I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Cuellar), a strong member of the Appropriations Committee and a tireless fighter for our military veterans and their families.