Sanford Bishop

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Farr), the ranking member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture and a valuable member of the Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I believe that this amendment reflects the apparent obstruction of the Department of Defense on the electronic health record issue; and let me explain to you how we got here. The 2008 National Defense Authorization Act directed the two Departments to develop a single electronic health record system that will follow a servicemember from the time he or she enlisted in the military to the time they exited the VA care, by 2009. However, after a number of management, oversight, and planning snags and snafus, and the cost estimates that grew from $4 billion to now nearly $12 billion, former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and VA Secretary Eric Shinseki decided to alter their plans to focus on making that current electronic health record system more interoperable. Just recently, Secretary Hagel, the Department of Defense, made the decision to modernize the Defense Department's electronic health record through purchase of commercial software. A recent memo released by the Department of Defense makes no reference to the integrated electronic health records; and it seems more of the same go-it-alone, stovepipe approach that has been favored by the Pentagon in the past. In addition to the Department of Defense's memo, it also made no mention of the congressionally mandated role of the Interagency Program Office set up to run the integrated electronic health records project and staffed by more than 300 personnel from both Departments. Finally, by going the commercial route, I believe the Department of Defense has opened up its latest electronic health records scheme to protest and subsequent delays. With all these issues I laid out, some still want to think that the Department of Defense should be free to do whatever it pleases. Mr. Chairman, paper is a problem, and we cannot keep letting servicemembers leave the Department of Defense with paper records. Please know that this situation will be addressed further as we move through the process. And we support the gentleman's amendment. I think it is timely. I think it is necessary. With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Chair, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer) for the purpose of a colloquy.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. The gentleman from Oregon raises a really important issue that the subcommittee will look into and will work to address in some way as we move through this process.

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 educator and truly one of a kind woman, Mrs. Elizabeth Viola Jordan Gibson. Sadly, Mrs. Gibson passed away on Monday, May 27, 2013. A funeral service will be held on Monday, June 3, 2013 at 12:00 p.m. at the First African Baptist Church in Columbus, Georgia. The oldest of five children born to Alonza T. Jordan, Sr. and Olive Scott Jordan, Mrs. Gibson was born and reared in Petersburg, Virginia. She graduated with honors from Peabody High School and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Virginia State College. She earned a Master of Science degree in English Education from Tuskegee Institute. She also studied at Georgia State University and American University. Mrs. Gibson came to live in Columbus, Georgia when she accompanied her husband, Elwood T. Gibson, Sr., on his military assignment to Fort Benning during World War II. She joined First African Baptist Church and for the next 60 years plus, she served the church faithfully in many capacities, including the Rebekah Missionary Circle, Deaconesses Ministry, and the Music Ministry. In addition to showcasing her lovely voice as a soloist in the Senior and Smithsonian choirs, she served as a director and pianist for the Youth Choir. Due to her devoted leadership and service, the women of First African selected her to chair the Women's Day Program in 1972, and in 2000, the Women's Day Program was dedicated to her. Mrs. Gibson and her husband co-chaired the church's anniversary in 1993. Mrs. Gibson began her teaching career while still in Virginia and when she moved to Columbus, she taught briefly at South Girard High School in Phenix City, Alabama. Shortly thereafter, she was employed to teach at the historic William Henry Spencer High School in Columbus before joining her husband on a three-year tour in Germany. Extensive travel in Germany, Italy and Austria provided experiences which enhanced her teaching skills upon her return to the Muscogee County School System. In 1968, Mrs. Gibson was one of two black teachers selected to be transferred to Jordan High School when schools in Muscogee County were desegregated. Well respected at Jordan High, she was the faculty sponsor of the Frank David Chapter of the National Honor Society for 14 years until her retirement in 1991, after 42 years as an educator. Mrs. Gibson was not only an English teacher, she was also a dedicated mentor who taught her students to be of service to others. And she herself epitomized a life of service. She was a Golden Soror and Life Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. In 1979, she was elected Soror of the Year by the Gamma Tau Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha and was honored for her 20 years as chairman of the Senior Citizens Luncheon at which time the chapter changed the event's name to the ``Elizabeth Gibson Senior Citizens Luncheon.'' She was a Platinum member of the Links, Incorporated, as well as a member of the Columbus Community Center Board of Directors; Muscogee Retired Educators Association; West Central Georgia Chapter of American Red Cross Board of Directors; and the American Cancer Society Board of Directors. She was also a charter member of the local chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. and the Mr. and Mrs. Club; a member of the Pleasure Seekers Club; was named in the Model Club's first list of ``The Columbus Ten Best Dressed Black Women'' and was among the club's first ``Hall of Fame'' inductees. Fondly called ``Gip'' by her friends, she was known as a shopper extraordinaire. Mrs. Gibson was preceded in death by her beloved husband of sixty years, Elwood T. Gibson, Sr.; her sister, Mildred J. Campbell; and her brother, Alonza ``Buzzy'' Jordan, II. She is survived by her children; Olive, Elwood, Andre and Alan; her brothers, Benjamin Jordan and Samuel Jordan; her nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; and many other family members and friends. 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. Elizabeth Viola Jordan Gibson passed this way and during her life's journey did so much for so many for so long. Her smile, her affectionate mentorship, her beautiful singing voice, and her warm, shining presence will be greatly missed. Mr. Speaker, my wife Vivian and I, along with the more than 700,000 people of the Second Congressional District salute Mrs. Gibson for her outstanding achievements, service, and public distinction. I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join us in extending our deepest condolences to Mrs. Gibson's family, friends and the Columbus, Georgia community during this difficult time. We pray that they will be consoled and comforted by an abiding faith and the Holy Spirit in the days, weeks and months ahead.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Dr. Larry E. Rivers, the eighth president of The Fort Valley State University in Fort Valley, Georgia, who will be leaving after seven years as President of the school. He will be honored at a farewell reception on Saturday, May 18, 2013, at the C.W. Pettigrew Center on the FVSU campus. Born in Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania, Dr. Rivers is an alumnus of Fort Valley State College (now University) with a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Science Education. He also earned a Master's in History from Villanova University, a Doctor of Arts degree in History and Curriculum Development from Carnegie-Mellon University, and a Doctor of Philosophy in History degree from Goldsmith's College of the University of London. Before he was the President of The Fort Valley State University, Dr. Rivers taught history at Florida A&M University for more than twenty years, ultimately achieving the rank of ``Distinguished University Professor,'' one of only two on campus. He also held a number of administrative appointments and was selected as Dean of the FAMU College of Arts and Sciences in 2002. Mr. Speaker, Dr. Rivers has revolutionized The Fort Valley State University in many ways during his seven-year tenure as President. In the beginning, he certainly had his work cut out for him because the school faced budgetary issues, decreasing student enrollment, aging facilities and low staff morale. Today, a dramatic change can be seen throughout the school, particularly in increased enrollment numbers and several new completed construction projects. Under Dr. Rivers' leadership, The FVSU has launched several projects including the construction of a $16.8 million Academic, Science and Classroom Building; a $9 million Wildcat Stadium; a $6 million Student Amenities Building; a new seven-building residential complex, a State Animal Facility for Emergencies (SAFE) Center, and several renovations to existing buildings. Georgia Trend magazine has highlighted Dr. Rivers' strong leadership and The FVSU's rapid growth by naming Dr. Rivers among the ``100 Most Influential Georgians'' and The FVSU among the ``Best Places to Work in Georgia'' in 2008. The magazine also named Dr. Rivers as one of ``Georgia's Top 25 Leaders'' in September 2010. Ebony magazine has recognized Dr. Rivers as one of America's notable black leaders as well. In addition, Dr. Rivers' Slavery in Florida, Territorial Days to Emancipation, published in 2000, won three national awards. His subsequent publications have also received scholarly acclaim and honors. One of the many things I admire most about Dr. Rivers is his unfailing dedication to The Fort Valley State University. After graduating from the school in 1973, he came back years later to take on the difficult challenge of turning the school around. And what a difference he has made! Enrollment for the 2012-2013 school year has almost doubled since he arrived in 2006. Previously, The FVSU was unranked by the U.S. News Media group, but the University made the list of ``America's Best Black Colleges'' four years in a row and was recognized by the 2013 U.S. News and World Report as the top public historically black college and university in Georgia. The city of Fort Valley has also felt the earthquake of change emanating from The FVSU campus. City officials are preparing for the growth of the town of 8,600 residents and existing infrastructure is expanding to accommodate new residents and businesses in large part because of The FVSU. Pr. Rivers has achieved many things in his life, but none of it would have been possible without the grace of God and his loving wife, the former Betty Hubbard, who has been an extraordinary engaging and dignified first lady to the University. Together, they reared two exceptional sons, Larry Omar and Linje Eugene, who like their parents, are achievers in their own right. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to Dr. Larry E. Rivers for his seven outstanding years as President of The Fort Valley State University. His energizing leadership has helped to transform this school for the better to provide students with state-of-the-art classrooms and facilities, a fulfilling college experience, and a quality education, and the tools with which to attain successful and productive lives.

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 Mt. Mariah Missionary Baptist Church in Omaha, Georgia as the church's membership and leadership celebrates a remarkable 200 years. The congregation of Mt. Mariah Missionary Baptist Church will celebrate this very significant anniversary with a Bicentennial Celebration on Sunday, May 12, 2013 at the Church in Omaha, Georgia. Tracing its roots back to the antebellum era, the church was an illustration of the segregation and slavery practices of the South. From 1813 to 1856, the black community of Omaha worshipped with the white community although only a select number of blacks were allowed to attend church, including the overseer, the maids and the cooks. They had to sit in the back of the church and were not allowed to participate. As time passed, more members of the black community were allowed to attend the worship service but remained unsatisfied with the arrangement of services being held at Summer Hill Baptist Church, as it was known then. After the Emancipation Proclamation was signed in 1865, the black community of Omaha was still discontented with the church service arrangement and called for a church of their own. In 1866, the white community had a church built within the city limits of Omaha and donated the old church to the black community. It was then used as both a school and a church and the name was changed to Mount Mariah Missionary Baptist Church. In 1890, a church was built within the Omaha city limits for the black families living and working there so they wouldn't have to walk as far on Sunday and be tired for work on Monday. The church continued to grow and formed an organization named the ``Mt. Mariah Baptist Church Association.'' In 1911, the church bought six acres of land for $412.00 to build a new church, fellowship hall and cemetery. This structure stood until a tornado tore through the Omaha area and destroyed the church. Through the sadness and the tears came a firm resolve and an unyielding faith in the Lord to build a new church. After working hard to raise the funds, on November 9, 1947, the new church was dedicated with much prayer, song, and joy. Throughout the years, the church was remodeled and improved with help, funds and donations from its members. It has seen many great leaders, each one leaving their lasting mark on the church. Today, under the leadership of Pastor Marcus B. Hunter, the prospering church looks back on 200 years of hardship, unending faith, and ultimate success. The story of Mt. Mariah Missionary Baptist Church, which began during a dark and divided time in our nation's history, is a truly 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 Mt. Mariah Missionary Baptist Church in Omaha, Georgia for their long history of coming together through the good and difficult times to praise and worship our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an outstanding Man of God, Pastor Lorenzo L. Heard, for twenty years of dedicated civic leadership and pastoral service to the Albany, Georgia community. Pastor Heard will celebrate his twentieth anniversary as the distinguished pastor of Greater Second Mount Olive Baptist Church with an anniversary celebration that will be held on Friday, April 26, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. on the campus of Albany State University in Albany, Georgia. A Georgia man through and through, Pastor Heard is a native of Leesburg, Georgia and a 1981 graduate of Lee County High School. He attended Fort Valley State College, now known as Fort Valley State University and transferred to Morehouse College in Atlanta after two years. He earned a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management from Albany State University. Pastor Heard began preaching the Word of the Lord at the young age of seventeen. Just three years later, he began his first pastorate at Macedonia Baptist Church in Patterson, Georgia before becoming the pastor of Saint Galilee Baptist Church in Sparta, Georgia in 1987. In 1993, he became pastor of the Greater 2nd Mt. Olive Baptist Church, where he has been called to lead for the past twenty years. Under Pastor Heard's leadership, more than 2,500 people have joined the congregation of Greater 2nd Mt. Olive Baptist Church. A dynamic and ever faithful pastor, he has taught, mentored, and ministered to every soul who has walked through the doors of the church. Pastor Heard goes a step further by teaching people life skills such as how to manage their finances, and encourages everyone to become active in civic and political engagement to better the community. Always pressing towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, to better improve the craft of Christian ministry and discipleship, Pastor Heard has led the church in building a strong outreach program for the East Albany community, touching and changing many lives for the better. Pastor Lorenzo has been repeatedly acknowledged for his outstanding achievements, service and public distinction. He has authored two books, Stuck in a Storm and Missing Your Calm: Discovering God's Purpose for Your Life and Lessons in Money Management. Pastor Heard has achieved numerous successes in his life, but none of this would have been possible without the grace of God and his loving wife, Leslie Parrish Heard, and family. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in paying tribute to Pastor Lorenzo L. Heard for his life of selfless service to God, the church and to humankind.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1765 to provide the Secretary of Transportation with the flexibility to transfer funds to prevent further disruptions resulting from Federal Aviation Administration furloughs. If enacted, this bill will end the air traffic control furloughs that have congested commercial aviation traffic over the last week. Currently, the FAA is furloughing almost 10 percent of its air traffic controller workforce on a daily basis. Since the furloughs began on Sunday through Wednesday this week, the number of air travel delays has totaled 8,804 compared to 2,795 for the same time last week. These delays inconvenience passengers and cause serious economic disruptions throughout the entire country. H.R. 1765 will provide the Secretary of Transportation with the flexibility he needs to fix this problem without adding to the FAA's budget. The additional flexibility in this bill will also give the Secretary the ability to restore the FAA's Contract Tower Program. It is Congress' intent that the Secretary of Transportation will use the added flexibility to stop the closure of the 149 identified contract towers across the country. As I and those in my District can attest, these contract towers, such as the ones in Albany and in Macon, play an important role in serving as a link between rural communities and the larger aviation network. This bill should be approved to prevent both the FAA furloughs and the closure of these contract towers. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important aviation bill.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. I thank the gentlelady for yielding. Alabama named me, but Georgia claimed me. I remember vividly the Sunday of the bombing as a young boy in Mobile, Alabama. I'm reminded of the words of James Weldon Johnson: Stony the road we trod, Bitter the chastening rod, Felt in the days when hope unborn had died; Yet with a steady beat, Have not our weary feet. Come to the place for which our fathers sighed? We have come over a way that with tears have been watered, We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered, Out from the gloomy past, Till now we stand at last, Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast. Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, Cynthia Wesley: four little girls are bright stars in the constellation shining down now as beacons of light for freedom and justice. So today, 50 years after the senseless bombing in Birmingham, it's altogether fitting and proper that we should look back and commemorate the significance of the sacrifice of these young girls, these four young lives. Truly, it was a turning point; and the murder of these youngsters, whose only crime was going to the bathroom in church, sparked a Nation not only to mourn the death of innocence, but to act to quell the turmoil and to move us toward freedom. I'm happy to join my colleagues, Congresswoman Sewell, Congressman Bachus, and all of the colleagues here in this House, to appropriately pass legislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to these four young martyrs in the fight for freedom.

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 St. James Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in Columbus, Georgia as the church's membership and leadership celebrates 155 years. The congregation of St. James CME Church will celebrate this significant anniversary with a series of events including Revival and a musical extravaganza and culminating in a morning Worship Service and afternoon Anniversary Celebration on Sunday, April 21, 2013 in Columbus, Georgia. This upcoming anniversary celebration will enable church members, local religious leaders, elected officials and other individuals throughout the Columbus, Georgia metropolitan area to pay tribute to the members of St. James CME Church who have positively contributed to the spiritual maturation and personal development of those in the Columbus, Georgia metropolitan area and beyond. St. James CME Church traces its historical roots back to the 1800s when a group of dedicated Christian pioneers in Chattahoochee County, Georgia built with bushes and sticks a scant structure on land donated by white landowners. This structure was replaced by a log cabin built with wood also donated by the landowners. When the land was returned to the owners, the small congregation moved several times, ultimately settling on the present site where the first brick structure was built. In 1858, St. James CME Church was organized as a Negro congregation of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. It became St. James Colored Methodist Episcopal Church in 1870 in Jackson, Tennessee before the name ``Colored'' was changed to ``Christian'' at the 1954 General Conference. St. James received a donation of property in Chattahoochee County and remained there until 1918 before moving to Muscogee County, where it has had several locations. The first cornerstone at the present location, 380 Dawson Drive, later renamed Northstar Drive, was laid in 1936 with the Reverend I.D. Mitchell as Pastor and the Reverend S.A. Thomas as Presiding Elder. St. James Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, ``God's Glowing Star on Northstar,'' has been under the pastorate of the Reverend Leon C. Moore, Jr. since July 2012. The story of St. James, which began during a dark and divided time in our nation's history, is a truly 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 St. James Christian Methodist Episcopal 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.

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 the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Columbus, Georgia, as the church's membership and leadership celebrates 50 years of providing spiritual guidance and moral counseling to the residents of Muscogee County, Georgia. The congregation of Bethlehem Lutheran Church will celebrate their 50th anniversary on Saturday, March 16, 2013, at the Columbus Convention and Trade Center. This upcoming anniversary ceremony will enable church members, local religious leaders, elected officials and other individuals throughout the Columbus, Georgia, metropolitan area to pay tribute to the members of Bethlehem Lutheran Church who have positively contributed to the spiritual maturation and personal development of those in the Columbus, Georgia, metropolitan area and beyond. The Bethlehem Lutheran Church traces its historical roots back to 1963. It was founded by the Reverend Robert Collins, who canvassed the entire city in search of members for his new congregation and conducted Confirmation classes in his home as the church was being built. The first Confirmation class consisted of Henry and Lydia McCullough, Joann Doleman, Thomas Mathis and Robert Sherald. Sadly, Mr. McCullough, Ms. Doleman, and Mr. Sherald have passed away but Mrs. McCullough and Mr. Mathis remain faithful to the congregation today. Over the years, Bethlehem Lutheran Church has seen many great spiritual leaders come and go, each having a lasting impact in their own way. In 2001, the Reverend Bradley Arnholt answered the calling to minister to the good people of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, and he still serves as pastor today. Also in 2001, the church was blessed to remodel the multi-purpose room and significantly increase their outreach programs. Today, the church continues to support the community and leans on the declaration in 1 Corinthians 2:9 that, ``No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.'' The story of Bethlehem Lutheran Church is a truly inspiring one of the dedication and perseverance of a faithful congregation of people who put all their love and trust in the Lord. They have put to practice the Word of Hebrews 10:24: ``And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.'' Mr. Speaker, today I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Columbus, Georgia, for all the many things this church's members have done and will continue to do to positively impact the lives of those seeking spiritual guidance and in need of charitable assistance.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. I thank the gentlelady for yielding. Mr. Speaker, today this body is voting on two updated bills that reflect the needs of FY 2013 and 10 outdated plans with outdated spending levels that were enacted over a year ago. Mr. Speaker, we need to complete the process on all the bills, not just two. Governing by continuing resolution is not governing. Furthermore, the legislation before us today does nothing to address sequestration. The failure to address sequestration will be devastating on military construction. For example, the Army's Barracks Modernization efforts will be delayed. For the Navy, sequestration will affect 10,000 Navy-owned and 3,000 leased homes by delaying housing construction and improvements. The Air Force has made it a goal to eliminate inadequate housing for unaccompanied airmen by 2017, and sequestration will delay that goal and cause airmen to continue to live in substandard housing. The most troubling aspect of sequestration to me is the impact it will have on the Department of Defense's school recapitalization efforts. A comprehensive assessment of DOD dependent schools and construction requirements indicated that 149 out of 189 schools had an overall condition rating of poor or failing, and required significant recapitalization. Sequestration will only exacerbate this problem. These reductions to military construction will only result in substandard facilities for our servicemembers and job losses in the construction industry and slowed economic growth. I remain hopeful that a balanced solution will win over rigid, ideological discussions in the coming weeks so that we can restore the irresponsible cuts. Sequestration is bad. This CR does not address it, not even to mention the nondefense related cuts. This is bad for Head Start, job training, title I, special ed, child care, cancer screening, the loss of WIC, and I could go on and on. This CR is not the way to govern. However, we need to come together across partisan lines, and we need to find middle ground so that we can do what is needed for the American people.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, throughout my twenty years representing Middle and Southwest Georgia in Congress, I have always done my dead level best to work with all of my colleagues, across the aisle to find reasonable solutions for the nation's issues. Today, I come before Congress to appeal to reason. Without a doubt, the across-the-board spending cuts we call sequester will undermine our economy and hurt job creation. My district, home to Fort Benning in Columbus, the Marine Corps Logistics Base in Albany, the area outside of Robins Air Force Base, and thousands of service members, veterans, families, and supporting businesses cannot sustain the cuts proposed by Sequestration. Furthermore, schools and teachers, law enforcement and crime prevention, public health and Head Start will be negatively impacted. The Second Congressional District of Georgia relies on these funds, as do many of your districts. Mr. Speaker, I ask for a balanced proposal. We may be in the 11th hour, but we must act. We owe it to our constituents, we owe it to our districts, and we owe it to our nation.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a distinguished public servant, devoted educator and dear friend to my wife, Vivian and me, The Honorable Maretta Mitchell Taylor. Sadly, Maretta passed away on February 17, 2013 at the age of 78. She leaves behind a legacy of service that will never be forgotten. Maretta was born on January 25, 1935, to the union of the late Mr. and Mrs. Zedic Deaner James. She was a 1953 graduate of William H. Spencer High School, a 1957 graduate of Albany State College (now university) with a Bachelor of Science Degree and later graduated from Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana with a Master's of Science Degree. Her life's work always centered on young people and helping them to reach their full potential. She truly understood the saying that, ``Education is the passport to the future; it belongs to those who prepare for it today.'' She touched and enriched the lives of countless young people during her 30 years as a teacher and media specialist. She retired from William H. Spencer High School in 1987. She also served on the Muscogee County Board of Elections and Registration. Maretta was never one to rest on her laurels and she decided to take up another calling as she succeeded me in the Georgia House of Representatives in 1991 following my election to the Georgia Senate. She used this position to continue to advocate for young people and their betterment. When advocating for them, her favorite saying was, ``but it is for the children.'' All of the committees that she served on in the Georgia House were dedicated to the uplift and support of young people. Maretta was more than an educator, she was more than a legislator, she was a servant to all humankind. She gave herself to so many causes and organizations that are too numerous for me to mention. Dr. Maya Angelou once said that, ``I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back.'' Maretta threw a prodigious amount of love and service back to the Columbus, Georgia community that she loved so dearly. Maretta married the love of her life, Jesse Taylor in 1974 and they built a life that was based on the love of God, the love of each other, the love of family and the love of people. They knew that the love of these could lead one to a great relationship with God because they are an embodiment of his greatest commandments: to love him with all your ``heart, mind and soul'' and to ``love your neighbor as thyself.'' Maretta was truly one of a kind who left an incredible legacy on the world through all that she touched. I am proud to have known this very special woman who dedicated her life to uplifting others and I am proud to honor her life and legacy with this statement. To God be the glory for blessing the world with a woman the caliber of Maretta Mitchell Taylor. We are all better because she traveled this way. Vivian and I extend our deepest condolences to her loved ones during this time of bereavement. May they be consoled and comforted by their 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 pleasure and honor to extend my sincerest congratulations to Ms. Pamela Green-Jackson, Founder and CEO of the Youth Becoming Healthy Project (YBH), on being named a recipient of the 2012 Presidential Citizens Medal by President Barack Obama. Ms. Green-Jackson, along with the other medal recipients, will be honored at an event at the White House in Washington, DC on Friday, February 15, 2013. An Albany, Georgia native, Ms. Green-Jackson serves as Public Affairs and Community Relations Specialist at the Marine Corps Logistics Base in Albany, a role she performs exceptionally well. She attended Albany State University and graduated from LaGrange College with a degree in Organizational Leadership. She also earned a Master of Science in Management degree from Troy University and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration at Walden University. After watching her only brother, Bernard, suffer from obesity-related illnesses that led to his death at the young age of 43, Ms. Green- Jackson founded Youth Becoming Healthy (YBH), a non-profit organization dedicated to reducing childhood obesity and helping young people develop healthy lifestyles through nutrition, fitness education and physical activity programs. With obesity being the second leading cause of preventable death and the number one health threat in the U.S., Ms. Green-Jackson took it upon herself to lead the effort in implementing changes in schools and in policy to prevent children from suffering like her brother did. She has worked with school food service managers to promote healthier school lunches and vending machine contents as well as to implement safe physical activity programs. Expanding to the surrounding community, Ms. Green-Jackson spearheaded the Albany Savannah Family Wellness Challenge, which aims to engage the entire community in making healthy lifestyle and behavioral choices by creating a family and community support system. Established in 1969, the Presidential Citizens Medal, the Nation's second-highest civilian honor, recognizes American citizens who have performed meritorious deeds of service for their country or their fellow citizens. The President calls on members of the public to nominate people in their lives who have demonstrated commitment to service within the community, who have helped their country or fellow citizens through an extraordinary act, whose service relates to a long- term or persistent problem, and whose service has had an impact on others' lives. Ms. Green-Jackson was named as a 2012 Citizens Medal recipient because of her work in schools and the community to combat obesity in youth and promote healthy lifestyle patterns that will serve them now and into the future. Prior to receiving this prestigious honor, Ms. Green-Jackson was also named a 2009 CNN Hero for superior leadership, community service, and being an excellent role model and mentor. She was also recognized as the Department of Defense's 2010 Women's History Month STEM Winner for the Marine Corps and has been awarded the King Dream Award and the Congressional Black Caucus Leadership & Unsung Hero Award, among many others. In addition to her work at MCLB and YHB, Ms. Green-Jackson is also active in numerous community organizations including the Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors and Legislative Affairs Committees, UGA Extension Advisory Council, Liberty House, and the Southwest Georgia Rural Health Collaborative. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in paying tribute to Pamela Green-Jackson for her outstanding service to her community and her country. She is a dear friend and longtime supporter of mine and I know this award is well-deserved for she performs her numerous roles with humility, empathy and refinement. I commend Ms. Green-Jackson for her commitment to this worthy cause and her procurement of this esteemed and well-deserved award.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to extend my sincerest congratulations and Happy Birthday wishes to Mrs. Lillie Bell Carson Moore, who celebrated her 100th birthday on Wednesday, January 2, 2013. She will be honored with a birthday celebration on Sunday, January 27, 2013, at 11:30 a.m. at Shady Grove Baptist Church in Richland, Georgia. Known as ``Shug,'' Mrs. Moore was born in Brooklyn, Georgia on January 2, 1913. She is the fifth of 23 siblings. At an early age, Mrs. Moore's family moved from Stewart County to the Seminole Community in Webster County, where her father purchased land for the family. No stranger to hard work, Mrs. Moore would toil in the fields of the farm from dawn until dusk. She also maintained a garden and canned and preserved food for her family. Mrs. Moore joined Shady Grove Baptist Church as a young girl and was educated by night in the sanctuary of the church. They were not allowed to attend school during the day as there was always farm work to be done. Mrs. Moore loved to praise the Lord through song and she added her voice to the choir in 1973. Mrs. Moore married John Moore and gave birth to five children: Charlie, Fannie Mae, Annie, Jessie and Leroy. She has seven grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. Mrs. Moore was known as the first African-American woman in the area to drive a Model T car. Having lived under the administration of seventeen United States presidents, her greatest joy was to live long enough to see the first African-American president elected. She well remembers a time when she was not allowed to vote and now thoroughly enjoys exercising that precious right. She is proud that her hands, which once picked cotton, aided in picking the first African-American president, not just once, but twice. She has always taught others to ``treat people the way you want to be treated, no matter what color they are.'' George Washington Carver once said, ``How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong because someday in your life you will have been all of these.'' Mrs. Moore has advanced far in life because she never forgot these lessons and always kept God first. The race of life isn't given to the swift or to the strong, but to those who endure until the end. Mrs. Moore has run the race of life with grace and dignity and God has blessed her over her lifetime. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in paying tribute to an outstanding citizen and woman of faith, Mrs. Lillie Bell ``Shug'' Carson Moore, as she, her family and the congregation of Shady Grove Baptist Church prepare to celebrate her 100th birthday.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to extend my sincerest congratulations to Golden Soror Maggie Parrish Williams of the Gamma Tau Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. for fifty years of service to this great sisterhood. A reception will be held in her honor on Saturday, January 26, 2013 at 4:00 p.m. at the Columbus Community Center in Columbus, Georgia. Born in Swainsboro, Georgia to the late Ruben and Anna Gibbons Parrish, Mrs. Williams is the eighth of thirteen children. She graduated with honors from Emmanuel County High School in 1961 and went on to attend The Fort Valley State University in Fort Valley, Georgia. While a student at Fort Valley State, she participated in the Drama Club and Chorus, all while maintaining an above average GPA. As a sophomore, she was initiated into the Alpha Beta Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. on November 10, 1962. After graduating from Fort Valley State in 1965 with a Bachelor's degree in Science in Education and minors in Science and Mathematics, she was awarded the National Science Foundation grant to continue her studies at the University of Detroit, where she earned a Master's of Art in the Teaching of Mathematics in 1971. Her still unquenched thirst for knowledge and education led Mrs. Williams to complete additional coursework at Colgate University in Hamilton, New York, Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia, and Columbus State University in Columbus, Georgia. In 1965, Mrs. Williams worked as a Mathematics teacher at Pineville High School in Valdosta, Georgia. In 1967, she moved to Columbus, where she worked as a Mathematics teacher at George Washington Carver High School. In 1969, she met the love of her life, the late Mark A. Williams, and they were married in 1970. They were married for over 41 years. Mrs. Williams continued her service to the Muscogee County School District as a Mathematics teacher at Kendrick High School, Rothschild Middle School and Spencer High School. She retired in 2002 after 37 years of devotedly teaching and mentoring young adults and children. While teaching in Muscogee County, Mrs. Williams joined Gamma Tau Omega, a graduate chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., in 1972. She has faithfully supported and made various contributions to sorority activities and events such as city-wide tutorial programs, the Senior Citizens' Christmas Party, and Founder's Day. Mrs. Williams has supported scholarships and awards for deserving high school seniors in Columbus and surrounding areas through the chapter's foundation, SISTERS, Inc. She has also served on the Archives, Leadership, Programs and Heritage committees. Through the years, she has made generous donations to the chapter, including donations she made in the 1970s toward the purchase of the first Gamma Tau Omega sorority house on Broadway, and other chapter-owned properties in Columbus. In addition to her work and service through Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Mrs. Williams has been a devoted member of First African Baptist Church in Columbus for well over 41 years. She has served and still serves in many ministries, including the General Mission Society, the Senior Choir, the Deaconesses, the Budget and Finance Committee and Rebekah Mission Circle, where she served as Secretary for nine years. She has achieved the status of ``life member'' in several organizations, including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., the Fort Valley State University National Alumni Association, Inc., and the Georgia Teachers of Mathematics. She is also a member of the Muscogee County Retired Educators Association, the Georgia Retired Educators Association, United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley, and the Urban League. The presence of Alpha Kappa Alpha is evident in Mrs. Williams' family. Her only daughter, Monica Williams Smith, followed in her mother's footsteps and was initiated into the Kappa Upsilon Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha at Valdosta State University in 1996. Her sister-in- law, Marguerite Parrish, and four nieces, Yvonne Prater, Vanessa Parish, Tiffany Parrish and Bakia Parrish, have also all been initiated into the great sisterhood. Mrs. Williams lives by the following words: ``Our God has done great things for all people and we should strive to love more and continue to help each other through Jesus Christ Our Savior.'' Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in paying tribute to an outstanding citizen and woman of faith, Mrs. Maggie Parrish Williams, as she is honored for her fifty years of dedicated service to Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and the Columbus, Georgia community.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to extend my support for the American Energy Manufacturing Technical Corrections Act. The bill would lessen the regulatory burden on deli-style display cases (like the ones in grocery stores) by placing Service-Over-the- Counter (SOTC) refrigerator units into a separate product classification. Currently, SOTC refrigerator units must meet the efficiency standards designed for commercial refrigerators otherwise called ``reach-ins.'' These SOTC units are designed for maximum product visibility and presentation. They require more glass and lighting than conventional reach-ins. Their inherent design makes it impossible to reach the minimum efficiency standards established in the Energy Policy Act of 2005. There are a number of companies that would be affected by this regulation, totaling about 8,500 jobs across the country. One of those five companies is Lennox, employs approximately 1,700 people in the State of Georgia. Kysor/Warren became a subsidiary of Lennox International in 2011, and the company has been a leading manufacturer of refrigerated systems and display cases for supermarkets throughout North America. By creating a separate product class for service-over- the-counter products, we can help save jobs in many communities. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in support of this important legislation to protect American jobs in our communities.

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, Ms. Edythe Y. Bradley. Sadly, Ms. Bradley passed away on Saturday, November 24, 2012. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, December 1, 2012 at 2 p.m. at Saint Mary Missionary Baptist Church in Baconton, Georgia. Ms. Bradley was widely known as the Sports Information Director at Albany State University. She became the school's first female SID in 1997 and served as the main media contact for Albany State's eleven NCAA Division II sports programs. But anyone who worked with her knew she went above and beyond the typical duties of a Sports Information Director. A one-woman show, she often worked more than eighty hours a week. Despite her busy workload, Ms. Bradley always made time to help someone or to brighten their day with her infectious smile. She was beloved by students, faculty, and the community at large. A Camilla, Georgia native, Ms. Bradley graduated from Mitchell-Baker High School in 1983. She attended Florida A&M University, where she worked with The Famuan student newspaper and was a member of the Society of Professional Journalists/Sigma Delta Chi and the Public Relations Student Society of America. She received her Bachelor's degree in Journalism/Public Relations in 1988. Prior to joining the ASU staff in 1993, Ms. Bradley worked at her hometown newspaper, the Camilla Enterprise. Ms. Bradley loved her job and all things Albany State. She was a member of the College Sports Information Directors of America, the Black College Sports Information Directors Association, and the Sports Information Directors Association. She also served as the SID chairman for Albany State's conference. In addition, Ms. Bradley was a member of St. Peter A.M.E. Church in Camilla. George Washington Carver once said, ``No individual has any right to come into the world and go out of it without leaving behind distinct and legitimate reasons for having passed through it.'' We are so blessed that Edythe Bradley passed this way and shared with us her bright smile and beaming personality. She touched the lives of so many and her warm, shining presence will certainly be missed. Mr. Speaker, my wife Vivian and I would like to extend our deepest sympathies to Ms. Bradley's daughter, Morgan Chelsea Dunlap, and her family members, friends, and the Albany State University community during this difficult time. May they be consoled and comforted by their 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 extend my sincerest appreciation to not only an outstanding public servant but an extraordinary banker and fiscal professional, Mrs. Evelyn Turner Pugh, Vice President of SunTrust Bank and Mayor Pro Tem of Columbus, Georgia, upon her retirement this year from SunTrust Bank. Retirement celebrations will be held on Friday, November 30, 2012 at 4:00 p.m. at SunTrust Bank in Columbus and at 7:00 p.m. at The Benning Club at Fort Benning, Georgia. A Columbus, Georgia native, Mrs. Pugh received an Associate's degree in Secretarial Science, a Bachelor's in Management/Accounting and an MBA in Business Administration from Columbus College before it was known as Columbus State University. Beginning her career as a secretary at Columbus College and Progressive Funeral Home, Mrs. Pugh rose quickly through the ranks, holding a number of positions ranging from entry-level to managerial at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia across the span of thirty years. In 1999, Mrs. Pugh was appointed Vice President of SunTrust Bank, West Georgia, the position she still holds today. In addition, Mrs. Pugh also serves as City Councilor--Post 4 and in 2007, was elected Mayor Pro Tem of Columbus Consolidated Government. Due to her strong leadership and dedication to public service, Mrs. Pugh was appointed by former Governor Zell Miller to the Georgia Policy Council on Children and Families in 1995; the University of Georgia Carl Vinson Institute of Government Advisory Committee in 1995; and the Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse (MHMRSA) Funding Study Committee in 1998. Mrs. Pugh was also appointed Chair of the National League of Cities' Public Safety & Crime Prevention Steering Committee in 1996, where she worked with former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno and the U.S. Department of Justice to increase the flexibility in the use of grants from Community Oriented Policing Services, COPS. Moreover, Mrs. Pugh was elected as Georgia Chair of Women in Municipal Government in 1995 and President of the Georgia Municipal Association in 1999. She was appointed to the Georgia Public Defenders Council by former Lieutenant Governor Mark Taylor. She has also served on the Board of Directors and Advisory Council of the National League of Cities. In conjunction with her professional accomplishments, Mrs. Pugh has served on a number of boards including the Board of Directors for Girls, Inc., St. Francis Hospital, Columbus Technical College, Columbus Housing Initiative, Liberty Theatre, and Muscogee Educational Excellence Foundation. She is also a member of the Columbus Chapter of The Links, Inc. and the Columbus Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and has served as President, Treasurer, and Financial Secretary, among other roles, continuing the sorority's tradition of far-reaching service to the community. In addition, she has been awarded the Martin Luther King. Jr. Unity Award, among other distinguished honors. Former Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm once said that, ``Service is the rent that we pay for the space that we occupy here on this earth.'' Mrs. Pugh has paid her rent and she has paid it well. Mrs. Pugh has accomplished many things in her life but none of this would have been possible without the enduring love and support of her husband Reginald; children Marcus, Maurice, Tajuana, Talender and Reggie; daughters-in-law Tasha and April; and grandchildren Lincoln, Lyric, Makaylah, Imani, Caleb, Taylor, McKenzie, Jaylon, Kennedy and Regan. 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.'' By any measure, Evelyn Turner Pugh has been successful because of her service to humankind. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join my wife, Vivian, and me, along with the almost 700,000 people in the 2nd Congressional District of Georgia, in paying tribute to Mrs. Evelyn Turner Pugh upon her retirement from SunTrust Bank, while she continues her exemplary service to the Columbus, Georgia community.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute the members and supporters of the Cardiology Associates of Albany, Georgia as they commemorate their 30th anniversary this year. A celebration event will be held on Thursday, November 29, 2012 at noon in the main lobby of Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany, Georgia. Thirty years ago, a young Cardiology Resident at Emory Medical School in Atlanta, Georgia was recruited to Albany, Georgia by several local physicians seeking to provide advanced Cardiology Services to Southwest Georgia. Dr. Jeffrey Hoopes accepted the challenge and set out to form Cardiology Associates in 1982. From one physician's vision and commitment, Cardiology Associates has grown into a network of world-class heart and vascular services. Cardiology Associates teamed with Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, itself a healthcare leader providing breakthrough technology and innovation to the communities it serves for 100 years. Together they bring the finest Cardiology talent and technology to the citizens of Southwest Georgia. Dr. Hoopes performed the region's first Cardiac Catheterization, a new and revolutionary diagnostic procedure at the time, at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital thirty years ago. Today, more than 50,000 life-saving cardiac catheterization procedures have been performed by Cardiology Associates. Many other Cardiology firsts for the region have followed. Building on that original foundation, Cardiology Associates through the Phoebe Heart and Vascular Center now provides patients and families facing heart disease access to services at one of the largest and most advanced heart centers in Georgia. These accomplishments, along with a dedication and commitment to the citizens of Southwest Georgia, have been rendered with compassion and professionalism. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in applauding the exceptional efforts of the Cardiology Associates at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany, Georgia for thirty years of healthcare excellence to the residents of Southwest Georgia.

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 the Reverend Dr. Johnny H. Flakes, Jr., an inspiring spiritual and community leader and the beloved Pastor of Fourth Street Missionary Baptist Church in Columbus, Georgia for fifty-one years and Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Phenix City, Alabama for fifty-three years. Sadly, Dr. Flakes passed away on Monday, November 12, 2012. His passing leaves a tremendous void in the hearts of his family, friends, and the Columbus and Phenix City communities. On Friday, November 16, 2012, a funeral service will be held in his honor at Fourth Street Baptist Church in Columbus, Georgia. Dr. Flakes was born on January 12, 1934 in Phenix City, Alabama. His story is a truly inspiring one. As a young man, he dropped out of high school, married young, and was unable to adequately provide for his family due to alcohol and gambling addictions. However, he heard the sound of God's voice and answered the call, surrendering his life to Jesus Christ. He was called to the monumental task of pastoring two rapidly-growing churches in two different states. Even so, he still found the strength, discipline, and dedication to drive back and forth from Columbus to Nashville, Tennessee each week over four years to earn his GED and Bachelor of Arts degree from American Baptist College, for which he would later go on to serve as Chairman of the Board of Trustees and have the administration building on the school's campus named in his honor. Throughout his pastoral career, always seeking to improve the craft of Christian ministry and discipleship, Dr. Flakes became a leader in the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education, served as President of the Congress of Christian Education for the General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia for many years and ultimately served on the Executive Committee Board of the National Baptist Convention. Dr. Flakes also received honorary doctorate degrees from A.B. Lee Theological Seminary in Jacksonville, Florida and his alma mater, American Baptist College. A fierce believer in equality and justice for all, Dr. Flakes was not only a profound theologian but also a strong civic leader. He served as President of the Columbus branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) for several years; was the President and Founder of ``A Call To Talk'' (ACTT); Chairman of One Columbus; and Chartering Pastor of the General Missionary Baptist Church Convention of West Germany. He is also the recipient of the Outstanding Personality of the South Award; Ten Outstanding Ministers in the State of Georgia Award; Alpha Phi Alpha Martin Luther King Jr. Award; Operation PUSH Martin Luther King, Jr. Award; Jack T. Brinkley, Sr. Service Award, and the Knighthood Award from the Congress of Christian Education. In addition, Dr. Flakes was recently awarded the Whitney M. Young Service Award by the Boy Scouts of America Chattahoochee Council for his support of Scouting in the community. On a personal note, I have been truly blessed by Dr. Flakes' spiritual counsel and guidance over the twenty-four years I was a member of Fourth Street Missionary Baptist Church. His courage, perseverance, and dedication to his church and his Savior will always be a source of inspiration for me. Dr. Flakes was an outstanding man of God who, through his deep and abiding faith, made a tremendous impact on his community. He will truly be missed but his unwavering spirit will live on through the many whose lives were touched and inspired by this remarkable man. Dr. George Washington Carver once said, ``No individual has any right to come into the world and go out of it without leaving behind distinct and legitimate reasons for having passed through it.'' We are so blessed that Dr. Johnny Flakes, Jr. passed this way and shared with us his legacy of service that will stand the test of time. Mr. Speaker, my wife Vivian and I, along with the almost 700,000 people in the 2nd Congressional District of Georgia, would like to extend our deepest sympathies to Dr. Flakes' wife of more than fifty- seven years, Robena Gaines Flakes, their three children Sincera, Johnny and Merle, their grandchildren, and the members of Fourth Street Missionary Baptist Church and Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church during this difficult time. May they be consoled and comforted by their 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 pay tribute to Dr. Robert M. Franklin, the tenth president of Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, in honor of his retirement after 5 years as head of the school. He will be honored at a reception on Friday, November 9, 2012, in Atlanta. A native of Chicago, Dr. Franklin is an alumnus of Morehouse College. He also received a Master of Divinity degree from Harvard Divinity School in 1978 and a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago Divinity School in 1985. In 1973, he received an English Speaking Union scholarship to attend the University of Durham in England. Dr. Franklin is also the recipient of honorary degrees from Bethune Cookman University, Bates College, and Swarthmore College. Before he was the President of Morehouse College, Dr. Franklin served as the Presidential Distinguished Professor of Social Ethics at Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. He was also President of the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta. In addition, he served as a program officer in the Human Rights and Social Justice Program at the Ford Foundation in New York. Dr. Franklin is the author of three books: Crisis in the Village: Restoring Hope in African American Communities (2007), Another Day's Journey: Black Churches Confronting the American Crisis (1997), and Liberating Visions: Human Fulfillment and Social Justice in African American Thought (1989). Mr. Speaker, Dr. Franklin has revolutionized Morehouse College in many ways during his five-year tenure as President. His vision for Morehouse College is that the institution will shape its students into Renaissance men who are well-educated and ethical leaders with a social conscience and committed to championing the causes of equality, justice and peace. During Dr. Franklin's tenure as President, Morehouse has continued to develop future leaders who are disciplined, altruistic, and wise. Under Dr. Franklin's administration, Morehouse College has been recognized as the Nation's best liberal arts college by Washington Monthly and has been a recipient of more than $60 million in federal grants as well as a number of gifts from prestigious organizations and donors. Dr. Franklin has been instrumental in the school's plan for the internationalization of its campus, with a special emphasis on curriculum and study abroad experiences. Moreover, significant updates and renovations have been made to Graves Hall, the oldest building on campus, as well as many other structures. In 2010, the Ray Charles Performing Arts Center was dedicated and this state of the art facility now serves as the practice and performance space for the College's world renowned Glee Club; the Morehouse Jazz Band; Morehouse College Jazz Ensemble; and ``House of Funk'' Marching Band. One of the many things I admire most about Dr. Franklin is his unfailing dedication to Morehouse College. After graduating from the school in 1975, he came back years later to lead Morehouse in its mission to develop men with disciplined minds who will lead lives of leadership, service and self-realization. And he is still not gone for good! After a sabbatical as a Scholar in Residence at Stanford University's Martin Luther King, Jr. Institute, Dr. Franklin will return to Morehouse College as President Emeritus and Distinguished Professor, the college's highest honor. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to Dr. Robert M. Franklin for his 5 outstanding years as President of Morehouse College, my beloved Alma Mater. He has transformed the lives of countless young men and inspired them to become our future leaders.