Sanford Bishop

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart and solemn remembrance that I come to the House Floor today to pay tribute to one of Macon, Georgia's most renowned attorneys and respected community leaders, the late Albert Phillips Reichert. Mr. Reichert passed away on Thursday, February 16, 2012 at the age of 98 years old. A memorial service will be held in his honor at Vineville United Methodist Church at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, February 21, 2012, with Dr. Marcus Tripp and Reverend James Duke officiating. A Georgia native, Mr. Reichert was born on January 25, 1914, in Columbus, Georgia, the son of Jacob and Ann Phillips Reichert. He graduated from Lanier High School in Macon and enrolled at Emory University in 1932, where he worked various jobs to help pay his way through college. After finishing his undergraduate studies, he attended Duke University and on December 22, 1936, married Elizabeth Walton Bowen from Macon, who was then also a student at Duke. Mr. Reichert received his Master's Degree in Philosophy from Duke in 1937. Following his marriage and his graduation from Duke University, Mr. Reichert served as an officer in the United States Navy during World War II in the Atlantic and Pacific Theaters. After the war, he worked for the Central of Georgia Railway in Macon while attending Mercer University's Walter F. George School of Law, where he graduated cum laude in 1948. After graduating from law school, Mr. Reichert embarked on what would be a tenured and highly successfully legal career. He began his professional legal career as an attorney with the firm of Anderson, Anderson & Walker, which later became Anderson, Walker & Reichert. Over the course of his distinguished legal career, Mr. Reichert received several awards and recognitions for his many notable legal achievements. The General Practice and Trial Section of the State Bar of Georgia awarded him the Tradition of Excellence Award. Mercer University awarded him the Algernon Sidney Sullivan Award and the Outstanding Alumnus Award. It is also worth noting that Mr. Reichert handled many pro bono cases throughout his career and he was listed in Best Lawyers in America. Mr. Reichert also played a very pro-active role in several community service initiatives throughout the State of Georgia, including serving as president and as campaign chair for the United Givers Fund (now United Way). As a youth, he was a Boy Scout and reached the rank of Eagle Scout. As an adult, he was Scoutmaster of Troop 19 in Macon and served as chair of the Central Georgia Council, and received the Silver Beaver Award. He is survived by his wife of 75 years, Elizabeth Walton Bowen Reichert; his son, Albert Phillips Reichert, Jr. and Albert's wife, Burnam ``Bebe'' Walker Reichert; his son, Stephen Allan Reichert; his son, Robert Adger Bowen Reichert and Robert's wife, Adele Dunwody Reichert; his grandchildren, Albert Phillips Reichert, Ill and Albert's wife, Dr. Gillian Tracy Braulik, John Walker Reichert, Elizabeth Bowen Reichert, and Thomas Dunwody Reichert; and his great-grandchildren, Eden Pape Reichert, Luna Walker Reichert, and Sarana Burnam Reichert; his sister, Mary Louise Reichert Earnhardt, and his sister, Beverly Reichert Kennon. I would like to ask my colleagues to join me in paying homage to Albert Phillips Reichert. He lived a full life and the people of Middle Georgia will always be indebted to him for his high legal acumen and years of dedicated community service. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and the Macon, Georgia community at this time of great loss.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a great American cotton farmer, U.S. agricultural advocate, businessman, administrator, and dedicated community leader from the great State of Georgia, James L. ``Jimmy'' Webb. Earlier this month, Mr. Webb was elected to serve as President of the Cotton Council International, CCI. CCI is the National Cotton Council's, NCC, export promotions arm and manages programs in more than 50 countries under the prestigious COTTON USA trademark. Mr. Webb was elected to his new position at CCI's recent board meeting which took place in Fort Worth, Texas during the NCC's 74th Annual Meeting. Previously, Mr. Webb served as CCI's first vice president and he succeeds John D. Mitchell as CCI's newly elected President. Mr. Webb hails from Leary, Georgia and he began farming with his uncle, Bob McLendon, back in 1980 and he made his first crop in 1986. After graduating from the University of Georgia with a B.S. in Agriculture, Mr. Webb continued to work alongside his uncle until 1994, when he decided to venture out on his own. Over the last several years, Mr. Webb has played a positively pivotal and instrumental role in advocating for sound agricultural policies that have benefited many of our nation's farmers on regional, national and global platforms. He currently serves as Delegate on the National Cotton Council; Treasurer of the Flint River Water Planning and Policy Center; Director of the Edison Gin Co-op Inc.; Director of the Cotton Council International; President of American Peanut Marketing; and Director of the Southern Cotton Growers. Due in large part to his successful farming career and his unyielding advocacy on behalf of America's farmers, Mr. Webb has been recognized repeatedly for his agricultural achievements. In 1998, he was selected to participate in the National Cotton Council's prestigious leadership program. A few years later, in 2005, he was selected as the Lancaster Georgia Farmer of the Year at the Sunbelt Agriculture Expo Farm Show in Moultrie, Georgia. Additionally, in 2009, he was named Georgia's Outstanding Young Peanut Farmer of the Year. Mr. Webb has achieved numerous successes in his life, but none of this would have been possible without the support of his loving wife of more than twenty-five years, Anjie Webb. Mr. and Mrs. Webb are the proud parents of three children--Parker, Devin and Harris. On a personal note, Mr. Webb has served as an advisor and friend to me for many years and he has frequently given me wise counsel and sound advice. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in paying tribute to Mr. James L. ``Jimmy'' Webb for his outstanding contributions to America's agricultural industry and his principled advocacy on behalf of our nation's farmers.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute one of our nation's most prestigious and accomplished United States Marine Corps bands--the Albany Marine Band stationed at the Marine Corps Logistics Base in Albany, Georgia. After 22 years of distinguished service, members of the Albany Marine Band will be performing a farewell concert on Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at the Albany Municipal Auditorium at 7 p.m. in Albany, Georgia. The farewell concert has been titled ``Thanks for the Memories'' and admission to the event is free. The musical performance will feature many of the band's greatest hits from over the last several years, including many of the group's most notable award-winning pieces. Mr. Speaker, last December, amid budgetary constraints, it was announced by the Marine Corps Headquarters in Washington, D.C., that the Albany Marine Band would be cut along with the Marine Corps band stationed at Twentynine Palms, California. Although their mission is coming to an end, the Albany Marine Band's legacy of musical excellence will not soon be forgotten. Over the last couple decades, the members of the Albany Marine Band have honorably represented our country and been recognized repeatedly for their harmonious innovations and inspiring melodic renditions. In December of 2003, the band was awarded the distinguished Commander in Chief Installation Excellence Award. This prestigious award recognized the members of the Albany Marine Band for their pride and commitment in performing their duties. In 2010 and 2011, the Albany Marine Band was recognized as the United States Marine Corps Band of the Year. Additionally, in 2011, the band also received the ``Best Live Recording Award'' in a competition among the twelve United States Marine Corps bands. Due to their musical excellence, the Albany Marine Band has performed at locations throughout the United States and around the world. The band has traveled more than fifty thousand miles to perform over one hundred commitments in destinations such as Essex Junction, Vermont; New Orleans, Louisiana; San Antonio, Texas; and the Statue of Liberty in Liberty, New York. It is also worth noting that the Albany Marine Band was given the great honor of being selected to represent the United States in 2004 as it performed for the Changing of the Guard at the Citadel in Quebec City, Canada. The Albany Marine Band has also performed for nationwide audiences during performances on Good Morning America and at the Outback Bowl in Tampa, Florida. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in applauding the exceptional musical achievements and patriotic commitment of the members of the Albany Marine Band. These fine men and women have served as excellent ambassadors for our country and the United States Marine Corps and I will remain eternally grateful to them for their many noteworthy accomplishments and selfless acts of service.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Congressman John Lewis and his staff for reserving time this morning for Members of the House to come to the floor to pay tribute to my friend, one of Georgia's former and notable legislators, the late Congressman Edgar Lanier Jenkins. Ed died January 1 of this year. The poet Longfellow wrote: ``Heights by great men reached and kept were not obtained by sudden flight but, while their companions slept, they were toiling on upward in the night.'' It was no sudden flight for Ed Jenkins, born in Young Harris, Georgia, to rise to prominence in Washington, DC under the dome of this great Capitol. No, it was the result of hard work and humble sacrifice. Although I didn't have the pleasure of serving in this body with Ed, as he retired from Congress in 1993 as I was beginning my first term, I and countless others from across the country looked to Ed as a role model. Ed came to me shortly after I was elected. He embraced me. He was always available to me for advice and counsel. Not only that, he and his friend of many years and his business partner, John Winburn, made it a point to offer continuous support for Democratic Members from the Georgia delegation, year in and year out; and Ed never asked for anything in return. He was a humble and able country lawyer. He practiced in Jasper, Georgia. He was born in Young Harris. He attended Young Harris College. He was in the Coast Guard. For many years he served as an aide to former Congressman Phil Landrum of Georgia. He was elected to this body, and he served from 1977 to 1993. As a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, he played an instrumental role in passage of key tax initiatives that benefited millions of working American families. He was a key figure in the investigation and uncovering the crimes committed during the Iran- Contra affair. Ed, through his illustrious legislative career, always remained a passionate and loyal advocate of the South's manufacturing and textile industry. In 1985, he wrote and passed the Textile and Apparel Trade Enforcement Act, which was ultimately vetoed by President Reagan, but would have rolled back the textile imports from foreign countries by 40 percent. As a conservative Democrat from the South, Ed Jenkins often received praise from his constituents for putting their interests ahead of political ideology or party affiliation. In his political life, he always embodied the adage of the turtle on the fence post, which was quoted so often by his childhood friend, former Georgia Governor and U.S. Senator Zell Miller. It goes like this: whenever you see a turtle perched on a fence post, you know one thing--he didn't get there by himself. Somebody put him there. Ed Jenkins always remembered who sent him to Washington. Ed is survived by his beloved wife of 51 years, Jo Jenkins; two daughters, Janice Anderson and Amy Dotson; two brothers, Charles and Kenneth; three sisters, Marilyn Thomasson, Ella Battle, and Patti Chambers; and two grandsons. My wife, Vivian, and I would like to extend our sincere condolences to Ed's family, friends, and former constituents as they mourn the loss of our dearly departed friend. There must have been something about the water at Young Harris College. It produced people who must have ingested something about public service: Zell Miller, Governor, Senator; Jack Brinkley, United States Congressman; Edgar Lanier Jenkins, United States Congressman par excellence. Isn't it strange how princes and kings and clowns that caper in sawdust rings and common folks like you and me are builders for eternity. Each is given a bag of tools, a shapeless mass and a set of rules, and each must make your life as flown a stumbling block or a stepping stone. Mr. Speaker, I'm so glad, and the people of Georgia and this Nation are glad, that Ed Jenkins was a stepping stone and not a stumbling block for a higher, better life for so many people across this country. We mourn his loss, but we are grateful that we knew him and that he passed this way.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this conference agreement. The MILCON/VA section of the conference agreement includes a discretionary total of $71.7 billion, a decrease of $1.4 billion below last year's level and a decrease of $2.1 billion below the President's request. For Military Construction, the conference agreement provides $13.1 billion for military construction projects. And reductions to the budget request are possible because of savings on projects that were appropriated in previous years. However, even with these reductions, the agreement funds family housing construction at $1.7 billion, which provides for a total of 48 new family housing units, 80 replacement units, and improvements to 216 family housing units. For Veterans Affairs, the conference agreement provides a total of $122.2 billion for the FY12 programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs, of which $58.5 billion is discretionary funding. The agreement also contains $52.5 billion in advance funding for the VA, the identical level that was requested by the President for the VA medical accounts. Mr. Speaker, I am also pleased that the conference agreement provides $45.8 million for Arlington National Cemetery, which is $700,000 over last year's level. Finally, Mr. Speaker, the conference agreement fully funds the Armed Forces Retirement Home request and includes $14.6 million for the Armed Forces Retirement Home to facilitate the repairs at the D.C. campus to repair damages sustained by the earthquake in August. Mr. Speaker, let me just thank the committee and the subcommittee staff for all of their hard work in putting the bill together in a bipartisan, bicameral, cooperative way, taking leadership from our chairman and our ranking member, who have worked tirelessly to get this appropriations process back to regular order. I urge the adoption of the conference report, and I urge all my colleagues to support it. It's a good bill.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. I am in its current form.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, in a few minutes I will offer a motion to recommit that would strike a misguided provision in the conference report that would exempt Tricare network providers from our labor protection laws. Section 715 of this conference report excludes the Tricare network health care providers from being considered subcontractors for purposes of any law. Section 715 is nothing but an attempt to override pending litigation and long-standing civil rights law under Executive Order 11246 of 1965, section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974. The civil rights protections contained in these laws have existed for decades, and they've served to protect millions of workers from race, sex, and other forms of illegal discrimination. Large Federal contractors are simply required to have an affirmative action plan to ensure that minority groups are not being discriminated against and that the Department of Labor reviews the records. The law currently exempts employers with fewer than 50 employees who do not meet minimum contract value requirements. The health care industry employed approximately 16 million workers in 2009. Hospitals and similar entities employ tens of thousands of minorities, women, veterans and low-wage workers, groups that historically and currently depend on the basic assurances of fair treatment. The health care industry is the largest growing sector of employment in this country. Veterans would be especially hard hit under this change in the law. There are close to 900,000 unemployed veterans in America right now. Despite their unique experience and leadership skills, wounded warriors and veterans often struggle to find meaningful employment in the civilian sector. That's why Congress passed laws, enforced by the Department of Labor, to protect the brave men and women who have served our country. The Office of Federal Contract Compliance ensures that Federal contractors and subcontractors do not discriminate against our veterans, and instead take steps to recruit, to hire, to train, and to promote qualified protected veterans. Tricare providers, the very people who provide health care to our Nation's veterans, are arguing that they should be exempt from adhering to the very regulations that were passed to protect our veterans. This action would gravely undermine our efforts to employ veterans. These large government health care contractors should not be exempted from civil rights responsibilities that apply to all other similarly situated contractors or subcontractors. Section 715 is a brazen attempt by large health care industries to overturn pending litigation and exempt themselves from civil rights scrutiny. Congress should vote against weakening these laws, and I urge my colleagues to join with me and support my motion to recommit the conference report.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, last week the state of Georgia lost one of its most committed community leaders, beloved public figures and dynamic elected officials with the death of former Georgia State Senator Robert Brown. Senator Brown was a close friend, confidant, and someone who I greatly admired not only for his notable legislative achievements on behalf of the people of Georgia but more importantly for his measured disposition, kind-hearted nature and uncompromising desire to help needy families and low-income communities. On Wednesday, December 14, 2011, Senator Brown's family members, friends, colleagues, and his constituents will pay tribute to his legacy of achievement and outstanding efforts on behalf of working families during funeral services at Greater Zion Hill Baptist Church in Macon, Georgia. Although we are all saddened by the unexpected and sudden passing of our friend and colleague, we can all take solace in remembering the positive, enduring impact that he had on our lives and the profound accomplishments that he achieved throughout his exemplary public service. Senator Brown was born on January 30, 1950 to Joe Brown and Ruby Lofton Brown. He spent his formative years in Greenville, Georgia before moving to Macon to attend and eventually graduate from Mercer University. Following college, Senator Brown permanently settled in Macon and began to gradually establish himself as one of Middle Georgia's most respected political leaders. While he will be remembered as a wise and thoughtful public figure, Senator Brown had to overcome many obstacles and conquer seemingly insurmountable challenges in his ascension to the status of becoming one of Georgia's most influential legislators. Despite two unsuccessful election attempts for a seat in the Georgia State House, he refused to give up and was eventually elected to the Bibb County School Board. Following his tenure on the school board, he once again beat the odds and in 1991 won a highly competitive election for the Georgia State Senate. While in the Senate he was appointed as the Governor's Assistant Floor Leader before being elected to serve as that legislative body's Minority Leader. He served as Senate Minority Leader for six years and while in this position he effectively advanced initiatives that improved public education, consolidated overlapping government functions, and preserved historic landmarks cherished by local residents. Senator Brown was preceded in death by his beloved parents and is survived by many cousins, close personal friends, an expansive network of professional colleagues and loyal constituents. Mr. Speaker, it has been said that, ``Service is the rent we pay for the space we occupy on this earth.'' There is no doubt that through his service, Senator Robert Lofton Brown paid his ``rent'' and the world is truly better because he did. Therefore, I ask my colleagues to join me today in paying tribute to the life of State Senator Robert Brown--an outstanding legislator, dedicated community advocate, loyal friend and faithful public servant.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart and feeling of fond remembrance that I rise today to pay tribute to a close personal friend, committed community leader, avid conservationist and one of America's most accomplished and legendary bass fishermen--the late Jack Wingate. Mr. Wingate, affectionately known as the ``Sage of Seminole,'' passed away on Thursday, December 8, 2011 at his residence in Recovery, Georgia. A large gathering that consisted of family members, friends, colleagues and his expansive network of admiring fans, paid their respects to Mr. Wingate at his funeral service that was held on Monday, December 12, 2011, at Calvary Baptist Church. The funeral service was followed by an interment at Cool Springs Cemetery and Masonic graveside rites were provided by the Faceville Masonic Lodge number 487 along with military honors that were bestowed by the United States Navy. Mr. Wingate, an immensely popular and universally respected public figure in the Decatur County, Georgia community for several decades, was born on September 1, 1929 in Faceville, Georgia. The son of William Paul Wingate and Myrtle Bates Wingate, he was a 1947 graduate of Faceville High School and was a Korean War veteran. After honorably serving in the military during the Korean conflict, Mr. Wingate returned to his home state of Georgia and founded the famous Lunker Lodge on Lake Seminole in Bainbridge, Georgia. This nationally renowned lodge has hosted several prestigious fishing tournaments and has earned a reputation as a favored compound for expert bass fishermen and notable celebrities. Jack also operated the Wingate's Fishing Camp for Boys at Lunker Lodge and introduced many young men and future expert anglers to the outdoors for 33 years. Along with operating the Lunker Lodge, Jack had a very successful career as a media commentator and columnist. Over several decades he served as a columnist for the Bainbridge Post-Searchlight newspaper and frequently made appearances on local TV and radio stations throughout Southwest Georgia to discuss current events, tell fishing stories, and provide in-depth updates on conditions at Lake Seminole. Jack Wingate achieved numerous successes in his life, but none of this would have been possible without the grace of God and his loving wife of 59 years, Joyce E. Wingate. Jack was also the proud father of three daughters--Katherine W. Kent and her husband, Lamar, of Chattahoochee, Florida; Peggy W. MacDonald and her husband, Wayne, of Macon, Georgia; and Jacquie Wingate of Recovery, Georgia. Jack is also survived by two beloved grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in paying tribute to Mr. Jack Wingate for being an outstanding ambassador and unyielding supporter of communities throughout Southwest Georgia and for all the outstanding work he did on behalf of working families throughout our United States of America.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to one of our nation's best known naturalists, accomplished conservationists, and recognizable television personalities, Jim Fowler. This weekend, the city of Albany, Georgia is proclaiming Saturday, December 3, 2011 as ``Jim Fowler Day'' and presenting him with a key to the city. The ceremony honoring Mr. Fowler will take place during Albany, Georgia's Celebration of Lights Christmas Parade. I am pleased to say that Mr. Fowler, a native of Albany, will be serving as the Grand Marshall of this year's Celebration of Lights Christmas Parade. Jim Fowler's five decade long career as one of America's leading wildlife experts began at Earlham College in Indiana, Pennsylvania where he graduated with degrees in zoology and geology. Following his studies at Earlham College, Mr. Fowler conducted the first studies of the world's largest eagle, the Harpy, in the Amazon Rainforest and later tracked the movement of the Andean Condor bird in Peru. Following his academic pursuits, Mr. Fowler served with Marlin Perkins as co-host and later became host of Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom television show and also hosted Mutual of Omaha's Spirit of Adventure. These acclaimed educational television programs received many awards including four Emmys and an endorsement by the National Parent Teacher Association (PTA) for family viewing. He has been a frequent guest on many network news and talk shows and served as the wildlife correspondent for NBC's Today Show. Mr. Fowler was also prominently featured in a news piece that the Animal Planet network did on the Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom in 2007. Jim Fowler serves as president of the Fowler Center for Wildlife Education in New York and serves as the honorary president of the Explorers Club. In 1994, he received the prestigious Explorers Club Medal, the club's highest honor. He was awarded the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa from Earlham College and in 2003 he was awarded the Lindbergh Award which recognizes individuals for significant contributions toward the balance of technology and nature. As a world renowned zoologist and leading wildlife expert, Mr. Fowler has dedicated his professional career to educating audiences on the importance of preserving and protecting some of earth's most precious habitats. He has inspired generations of Americans to pursue the altruistic goals of improving our global ecosystem and maintaining the existence of the world's wildlife communities. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in paying tribute to Mr. Jim Fowler for his many career achievements, outstanding service, and public distinction and most importantly for his unwavering support for the preservation of our world's natural habitats.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart and solemn remembrance that I come to the House Floor today to pay tribute to one of Columbus, Georgia's most renowned and respected public figures, the late Judge John Henry Land. Judge Land, who served on the Superior Court bench in the six-county Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit for nearly 25 years, died on Wednesday, November 30, 2011 at the age of 93 years old. His funeral will be on Monday, December 5, 2011 at the Striffer-Hamby Mortuary's Macon Road Chapel, followed by a committal service in Park-Hill Cemetery. His many years of dedicated public service and steadfast commitment to mentoring young lawyers, District Attorneys, and Judges are just two of the many reasons as to why Judge Land was such an influential and respected pillar in Georgia legal circles. A Columbus native, Judge Land was born on June 1, 1918, the son of Aaron Brewster and Mattie Miller Land. He is a graduate of Columbus High School and the University of Georgia. As a student at the University of Georgia, he epitomized the true meaning of a young and inspiring legal scholar by finishing a five-year law degree program in four years. Following his exemplary collegiate career, Judge Land was engaged in the private practice of law before being drafted into the Army in 1941, eventually rising to the rank of Major before being honorably discharged after World War II. After the war, Judge Land resumed his legal career and was subsequently elected to public office. He served in the Georgia State Senate from 1949 to 1950 and in 1955 he was appointed by Governor Marvin Griffin to serve as District Attorney. Following his service as State Senator and District Attorney, Judge Land was elected in 1964 to the Muscogee County Superior Court, a position in which he served until his retirement in 1988. As a Superior Court judge, he was lauded and respected for his high legal acumen, disciplined adherence to the rule of law and his stern, no-nonsense judicial temperament. Mr. Speaker, Judge Land possessed the intellect, courage, and fortitude necessary to grow as a lawyer and jurist and become one of our state's most renowned judges and preeminent judicial scholars. And, I will always respect him for his many outstanding professional achievements, substantive contributions to our community and his sage advice and counsel to me as I entered the Georgia political arena. But what I will remember most about Judge Land is his strength of character, his integrity, and his fidelity. My wife Vivian and I would like to extend our prayers and condolences to Judge Land's wife, Mary, and his four surviving children, John H. Land III, Martha Christensen, Jeffrey Land, and Jere Land. Though he will be greatly missed by his loving family and his many diverse friends of long standing, we can all be grateful that we had the opportunity to know, love, and have our lives touched by this exceptional human being! Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in celebrating the life of a great American and Georgia public figure of giant proportions--the late Judge John Henry Land of Muscogee County, Georgia.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. I am in its present form.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker and my colleagues, I offer the final amendment of the bill which, if adopted, will not kill the bill or send it back to committee. Instead, the bill will proceed to final passage, as amended. The purpose of my amendment is simple. It deals with one of my most valuable rights as an American citizen. It is a right which many Americans throughout the course of our history have shared blood, sweat, and tears to protect, including our colleague and my dear friend, Representative John Lewis of Georgia. He marched from Selma to Montgomery and endured billy clubs, horses, and tear gas to preserve this sacred right. The right to which I'm referring is the right to vote, as enshrined in the 14th Amendment to the Constitution and further protected in the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the Help America Vote Act of 2002 and various other measures. Today, nearly five decades after the Voting Rights Act was signed into law and nearly 10 years since the Help America Vote Act, there is still an unprecedented attack on voting rights in States across this country. Yet, the underlying legislation before the House today would abolish one of the key provisions of the Help America Vote Act, the Election Assistance Commission, which was designed to avoid a repeat of the turmoil surrounding the 2000 Presidential election in Florida, where problems with absentee and military ballots played a large role and led to many of these ballots not being counted. If the commission is abolished, it will undermine America's faith in the integrity of our elections. According to the Brennan Center for Justice, more than 5 million Americans in 2012 could be adversely impacted by laws that tighten or restrict voting that were put into effect just this year. The number is larger than the margin of victory in two of the last Presidential elections. Seniors, the disabled, and our Nation's veterans are now being turned away from the polls for not having the photo identification. Popular reforms like early voting and same-day voter registration are being rolled back. Mr. Speaker, this situation should not be happening in the United States of America today. My final amendment, therefore, is simple. It states that any successor to the Election Assistance Commission shall remain responsible for the administration or enforcement of laws relating to the rights of the elderly, the disabled, members of the uniformed services, and overseas citizens to vote and cast ballots in elections for Federal office. In signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965, President Lyndon Johnson said that ``the vote is the most powerful instrument ever devised by man for breaking down injustice and destroying the terrible walls which imprison men because they are different from other men.'' If this final amendment is approved, we can continue to tear down the walls of injustice and ensure that our democracy is open for all Americans to deliberate, to participate, and to engage with each other. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes,'' and I yield the balance of my time to my colleague, Representative Marcia Fudge of Ohio.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an outstanding academic, college administrator, education expert, community leader and good friend to me and the community of Albany, Georgia--Dr. Anthony O. Parker. On Monday, November 21, 2011, the administration at Albany Technical College, the institution of higher learning where Dr. Parker currently serves as President, paid tribute to him for his years of dedicated service to the college by having the school's library named in his honor. Throughout his successful career in the higher education field, Dr. Parker has had a profoundly positive impact on the lives of thousands of college students. One of the reasons he has been able to triumphantly guide the academic careers of so many students, is due in part to the impressive endeavors he was able to accomplish as a young collegiate scholar and graduate student. Dr. Parker's post-secondary academic career began at South Carolina State College in Orangeburg, South Carolina where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting. He commenced his graduate studies at Augusta State University where he obtained an Educational Specialist degree in Education Administration. Additionally, he later would go on to receive his Ph.D. in Higher Education from the University of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina. Over the course of his professional career in academia, Dr. Parker has successfully served in a multitude of roles in which he has progressively advanced the intellectual aptitude and social development skills of collegiate students. As Vice President of Student Services at Aiken Technical College and later at Southeastern Technical College, he was able to proactively develop programs, advise various student organizations and conduct research surveys designed to improve the schools' standards of educational enrichment. Additionally, as an instructor at Augusta Technical College, Dr. Parker played a hands-on role in counseling students, developing curriculum and teaching various classes aimed at improving the prospects of students looking to enter the workforce or acquire new occupational skills. During his 16 years at Albany Technical College, President Parker has established the school as a premier institution within the Technical College System of Georgia and as a stable workforce development training facility in Southwest Georgia through his vision of excellence and steadfast commitment to increasing enrollment rates and placing Albany Tech graduates in sustainable employment opportunities. By using his positively transformative vision as a guiding post for success, over the last two decades Albany Tech has propelled forward as one of Southwest Georgia's leading technical institutions. Dr. Parker has achieved numerous successes in his life, but none of this would have been possible without the grace of God and his loving wife of 38 years and junior high school prom date, Sandra Parker. Dr. and Mrs. Parker are the proud parents of three children--Dr. Kimberly Parker, a professor at Texas Woman's University; Andrea Parker, a Lt. Commander in the United States Coast Guard; and Richard Parker, an employee at the United Parcel Service. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in paying tribute to Dr. Anthony O. Parker for his life of selfless service to the students, institutions of higher learning and working families in the state of Georgia and throughout our United States of America.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Reverend Richard Walter Jordan Sr. for his decades of dedicated community service and pastoral leadership to the numerous church congregations and communities that he served in the great state of Georgia and throughout the United States of America. Reverend Jordan, a pillar in the Dougherty County, Georgia community, recently passed away at the age of 90 at the Wilson Hospice House in Albany. His funeral service was recently held at the Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church on Saturday, November 26, 2011. Reverend Jordan was born and raised in Albany, Georgia and his early spiritual rearing took place at the Saint Paul Missionary Baptist Church in Albany. During his early religious maturation and training in the Christian faith, Reverend Jordan served as an usher, choir member, and a deacon at Saint Paul Missionary Baptist Church before being called into the ministry in 1955. Over the course of his distinguished career in the ministry, Reverend Jordan served as the Senior Pastor at over 10 churches. His riveting and inspirational messages of adhering to the word of God positively impacted the lives of those he encountered. He was a principled man who devoted his life to Christ by not only preaching good sermons and practicing good deeds but by unrelentingly allowing God to direct his steps and use his immeasurable talents to bestow motivation and inspiration upon those who had neither but needed both. At the end of our mortal life's journey, our measure of greatness will not exclusively be determined by the number of degrees we have earned; the level of financial wealth we have obtained; the titles that have been imparted upon us; or by the tangibly expensive goods we have acquired. The true measures of greatness are those time-honoured standards established by Jesus Christ that tell us, he who is great among you shall be your servant and he who is greatest shall be servant onto all. Reverend Jordan was great because he served and he will forever be remembered as one of Albany, Georgia's greatest because he sought to be a servant onto us all. Mr. Speaker, my wife Vivian and I would like to extend our sincere sympathies and prayers to Reverend Jordan's beloved wife of 70 years, Martha Green Jordan, his lovely children and the congregation of Saint Paul Missionary Baptist Church. Reverend Jordan's mortal journey on this earth has ended but his devotional faith and inspirational courage will continue to live on in the countless individuals he counselled and served.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, It is my pleasure and honor to extend my sincere congratulations to the congregation of the Greater Beulah Baptist Church in Columbus, as the church's membership and leadership celebrates 108 years of providing spiritual guidance, moral counseling and dedicated community service to the residents of Muscogee County, Georgia. The congregation of Greater Beulah Baptist Church will celebrate their 108th anniversary on Sunday, November 20, 2011 at service ceremonies on the church's campus at 631 Sixth Avenue in Columbus, Georgia. 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 Greater Beulah Baptist Church who have positively contributed to the spiritual maturation and personal development of those in the Columbus, Georgia metropolitan area and beyond. As one of Columbus, Georgia's long-standing institutions of Christian excellence, the Greater Beulah Baptist Church traces its historical roots back to 1903. Throughout the last two centuries, the church's edifice has gone through numerous transformations, renovations and relocations. In the early 20th century, the church was located in a one-bedroom house on the corner of Dry Avenue and 12th Street. In 1904, the church relocated to a red church building on Magnolia Street and in the late 1940s, the church was reconstructed before moving to 6th Avenue. Over the years the church has expanded its external and internal outreach efforts through the establishment of a Senior Choir; Gospel Choir; Junior Choir; Inspirational & Mass Choirs; Chester Medley Hayes Young Adult Choir; Golden Age Ministry; Layman Ministry; Prayer and Praise Team; Intercessory Prayer Ministry; Women Outreach Ministry; Greater Beulah Women Inreach Ministry; and Children's Church. Over the years, the Greater Beulah Baptist Church has remained a dedicated community leader and supporter of projects that have assisted individuals in need. The church's Evangelistic Committee and Catherine Gordon Scholarship Fund have helped to advance educational charitable opportunities for students throughout Muscogee County, Georgia. Mr. Speaker, today I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to the Greater Beulah Baptist 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 distinguished gentleman for yielding. Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the Democratic and Republican leadership in both the House and the Senate for their timely consideration of the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011. As the House sponsor of the Hiring Heroes Act provisions that are in the bill, I would also like to thank the chairmen and ranking members of the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees for their outstanding work on this jobs measure, as well as to thank the chairs and ranking members of the House Ways and Means Committee. Just as this Nation has a responsibility not to leave our soldiers behind on the battlefield, we also have an obligation not to forget our veterans when they return home. Last month the unemployment rate for veterans who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan was 12 percent. The youngest of veterans, ages 18 to 24, had a 30 percent unemployment rate in October. Among African American veterans aged 18 to 24, the jobless rate is a striking 48 percent. These numbers, Madam Speaker, are unacceptable. H.R. 674 allows us to honor our veterans by ensuring that they have the resources and the tools they need to find suitable and sustainable employment. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 674 and to provide our Nation's veterans with the employment opportunities that they need and so rightly deserve. Madam Speaker, as the House sponsor of the Hiring Heroes provisions in this bill, I would be remiss if I did not also thank House Veterans' Affairs Committee Chair Jeff Miller; House Veterans' Affairs Committee Ranking Member Bob Filner; Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Chair Patty Murray; and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Burr for their outstanding work on this comprehensive 1 veterans' jobs measure. Last week as America celebrated Veterans' Day, patriots all across our great nation honored our brave veterans with parades, luncheons, and other ceremonies of remembrance. The many sacrifices members of our Armed Services have made for the freedoms we currently enjoy certainly warrants a national day of recognition and so much more. Our patriotic service members have been instrumental in building and defending our democracy. We, as a nation, have a responsibility to pay tribute to them and preserve the memory of their service in our history and in our hearts and minds. Just as this nation has a responsibility not to leave our soldiers behind on the battlefield, we also must not forget our veterans when they return home. In many respects, our soldiers need our help even more when they receive their discharge papers and return to civilian life. Last month, the unemployment rate for veterans who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan was 12.1 percent versus 9.1 percent for the U.S. overall. The youngest of veterans, age 18 to 24, had a 30.4 percent unemployment rate in October, an increase from 18.4 percent a year earlier. Among black veterans age 18 to 24, the jobless rate is a striking 48 percent. These numbers are unacceptable. H.R. 674 allows us to honor our veterans by ensuring they have the resources and tools they need to find suitable and sustainable employment. This wide-ranging legislation combines key components of President Obama's American Jobs Act, Chairman Miller's Veterans Opportunity to Work Act, and the Hiring Heroes Act. I sponsored the bipartisan Hiring Heroes Act in the House and Senator Patty Murray introduced the measure in the Senate. The bipartisan Hiring Heroes Act provisions included in this legislation will ensure that all service members transitioning to civilian life receive the job training skills they need to find a job. This legislation allows service members to begin the federal employment process prior to separation in order to facilitate a smooth transition from the military to jobs at the Departments of Veterans Affairs, Homeland Security, and other federal agencies in need of our veterans. This bill also makes the Transition Assistance Program--an interagency workshop coordinated by the Departments of Defense, Labor and Veterans Affairs--mandatory for service members moving on to civilian life. This initiative helps veterans secure 21st Century jobs by providing resume writing workshops, job search techniques, interview tips, and career counseling. Other provisions in the VOW to Hire Heroes Act will provide nearly 100,000 unemployed veterans with up to one-year of additional Montgomery GI Bill benefits to qualify for jobs in high demand sectors. In addition, the legislation provides tax incentives of up to $5,600 for hiring veterans, and up to $9,600 for hiring disabled veterans, if the veteran has been looking for work for six months or longer. Madam Speaker, we have an obligation to ensure our veterans land on their feet when they come home and help them find good paying jobs to support their families. These heroes have risked the most for our country. They shouldn't be coming home to unemployment checks. That's why providing this support to our nation's veterans is simply the right thing to do, and I look forward to voting in favor of this comprehensive veterans' employment initiative. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 674 and to provide our nation's veterans with the employment assistance opportunities that they need and so rightly deserve.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, it is my great honor to extend a heartfelt congratulations to the congregation, administration, and supporters of Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church of Leesburg, Georgia as this fine institution celebrates 150 years of providing spiritual guidance and dedicated community service to the residents of Lee County, Georgia and individuals throughout the Albany, Georgia metropolitan area. This tenured religious institution will commemorate its 150th anniversary on Sunday, November 6, 2011 at a service ceremony at 143 Mt. Pleasant Road in Leesburg. This upcoming anniversary ceremony will enable church members, local dignitaries, community leaders and other individuals throughout Georgia to pay tribute to a house of worship that has positively influenced many lives and served as a sanctuary for those in need of spiritual counseling. Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church traces its historical roots back to our nation's dark days of slavery. The Church was founded in 1861 by a band of baptized believers in Christ on property deeded to them by slave owners. Some of the church's early pastors, including Reverend Dough Johnson, Ben London, Gain Byrd, Tom Johnson and Reverend Gene Murray, worked endlessly to establish Mt. Pleasant as a stable institution that tended to the spiritual needs of its congregation and provided assistance to other churches in need of resources. Early in its existence, Mt. Pleasant graciously allowed members of Old Piney Grove Church to share its facilities and bury their members in Mt. Pleasant's cemetery until construction of Old Piney Grove's building was completed. Throughout the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries, Mt. Pleasant's edifice has gone through numerous transformations and renovations. In 1890, the first frame building was constructed on the eastern edge of the church's current location on Mt. Pleasant Road in Leesburg, Georgia. This building was built on a wood frame with four windows on each side and two doors at the front. In the late 1930s, under the leadership of Reverend Wallace Davis, Mt. Pleasant's church building was renovated. After the 1930s renovation, the church building also served as a school house. During the 1960s and 1970s, Reverend P.S. Sparks oversaw the construction of a new church building that included pews and pulpit furniture. In the early 1980s, under the direction of Reverend W.D. Slaughter, a new dining hall was added to Mt. Pleasant's campus. Over the years, Mt. Pleasant has remained a steadfast community leader and supporter of several humanitarian initiatives that have assisted those individuals most in need. Mt. Pleasant's Mission Outreach Ministry donates food and clothing to low-income communities throughout the Albany, Georgia metropolitan area. The church is also associated with charity efforts sponsored by the Christian outreach group, Samaritan's Purse. Mr. Speaker, today I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church in Leesburg, Georgia for all the many things this institution has done and will continue to do to positively impact the lives of those in Southwest Georgia.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I come to the House floor today to pay tribute to a remarkable group of African American trailblazers and patriotic servicemen, the Montford Point Marines. These distinguished veterans did not just defend our Nation in a time of war; but through their courageous acts, they helped to spearhead a movement where the goals of achieving equal opportunity and respect for universal human rights are now more intricately woven into our society. In 1942 President Roosevelt established a Presidential directive allowing African Americans to be recruited into the United States Marine Corps. These African American recruits were trained at a segregated compound known as Montford Point, a facility at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Over 20,000 African Americans bravely served in the Marine Corps during World War II. They selflessly and voluntarily put themselves in harm's way to defend our homeland and to safeguard these freedoms. This past summer, Mr. Speaker, I had the honor of attending the reburial ceremony of Montford Point Marine Private James Benjamin. Private Benjamin's remains and surviving family members were escorted by the Patriot Guard Riders and members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars from the West Mortuary in Montezuma, Georgia; and he was laid to rest with full military honors at the Andersonville National Cemetery this past Memorial Day weekend. He was disinterred from a segregated cemetery because at the time of his service he could not be buried where white servicemen were buried. When it comes to recounting our Nation's history and looking back at the trials and tribulations that were endured by the Montford Point Marines, I doubt there is a generation or group of World War II veterans who had it tougher than they did. People sometimes forget that they were fighting two wars, both foreign and domestic. But I would like to commend the spirit of these brave men because they guide me in my duties to maintain our government's commitment to our fighting troops and for helping the troops who protect our freedoms at this time. Not only does that mean that we have to, today, maintain adequate salary and benefit levels for the military, but we've got to keep our promise to our veterans, our armed services retirees, and their families. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend my colleague, Corrine Brown, who has championed this issue and brought the story of the Montford Point Marines to the attention of our entire Nation. I commend the Commandant and Marine Corps for their efforts in making sure that our Nation doesn't forget. I urge my colleagues, therefore, to support H.R. 2447 and to honor the first black Marines with the recognition that they deserve and that they have patiently been waiting for. Mr. Speaker, following is my statement in its entirety: Mr. Speaker, I come to the House Floor today to pay tribute to a remarkable group of African-American trailblazers and patriotic servicemen--the Montford Point Marines. These distinguished veterans did not just defend our nation in a time of war; through their courageous acts they helped to spearhead a movement where the goals of achieving equal opportunity and respect for universal human rights are now more intricately woven into our society. In 1942, President Franklin Roosevelt established a presidential directive allowing African-Americans to be recruited in the United States Marine Corps. These African-American recruits were trained at a segregated compound known as Montford Point, a facility at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Approximately 20,000 African-Americans bravely served in the Marines Corps during World War II. These men selflessly and voluntarily put themselves in harm's way to defend our homeland and safeguard our freedoms. This past summer, I had the honor of attending the reburial ceremony of Montford Point Marine PVT James Benjamin. PVT Benjamin's remains and surviving family members were escorted by the Patriot Guard Riders and members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars from the West Mortuary in Montezuma, Georgia, and he was laid to rest with full military honors at the Andersonville National Cemetery this past Memorial Day Weekend. When it comes to recounting our nation's history and looking back at the trial and tribulations that were endured by the Montford Point Marines, I doubt there is a generation or group of World War II veterans who had it tougher than them. People sometimes forget that these Marines were fighting two wars, one foreign and one domestic. Hitler, Mussolini and the Japanese Empire were not the only foes that the Montford Point Marines had to encounter. Every day they went into battle against Jim Crow, bigotry and racism here at home. During World War II, there were some German and Italian prisoners of war that were treated better than the black soldiers serving in our Armed Services. Some American establishments that refused to serve blacks serving in the military would allow imprisoned German and Italian soldiers to patronize their facilities. Not many people would have had the will to overcome such disparate treatment. But instead of harboring bitterness or vengeance, this group stood tall and remained above the fray. The Montford Point Marines have demonstrated that patriotic service means more than just saying you love this country and the promise it offers. Their resilience and resolve show that true patriots are those individuals who prioritize the needs of their country ahead of their own, even if they do so at their own peril. These Marines gave our nation a gift that extends beyond their heroic war service. In being the best of the very best, both on and off the battlefield, they helped to change perspectives and broaden peoples' horizons. They showed the entire world that when given an opportunity, people can meet any challenge and achieve any goal. As a Member of Congress, I rely on the spirit of these brave men to guide me in my duties to maintain our Federal Government's commitment to our fighting troops and those who preceded them. That means not only maintaining adequate salary and benefit levels for our nation's military, but keeping our promise to our veterans, Armed Services retirees and military families. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend my colleague, Corrine Brown, who has championed this issue and brought the story of the Montford Point Marines to the attention of the entire nation. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2447 and to honor the first black Marines with the recognition they deserve and have patiently been waiting for.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to one of Morehouse College's most distinguished graduates and accomplished alumni, Mr. Arthur J. McClung, Jr. I am very happy to point out that earlier this year Morehouse College President, Dr. Robert M. Franklin, presented Mr. McClung with the school's Presidential Award of Distinction in recognition of his many outstanding professional achievements, unyielding support for his alma mater and heartfelt philanthropic endeavors. As a graduate of Morehouse College and as one who matriculated at Morehouse during the same period as Mr. McClung, I am very proud to call him a fellow alumnus and personal friend. As a dedicated family man, successful business professional and role model for young African- American men, Arthur J. McClung, Jr. has worked tirelessly to effectively balance his multitude of roles of being a loving husband, committed father, skillful senior executive and dedicated community leader. Arthur J. McClung, Jr. is a native of Columbus, Georgia, the perennial site of this weekend's 76th Annual Tuskegee-Morehouse Football Classic. This classic is one of our nation's longest running football rivalries and Mr. McClung, Jr. along with his father, the late Arthur ``A.J.'' McClung, Sr., have played instrumental roles in this beloved event's ongoing success. The stadium that has hosted this game since its inception is named in honor of the late A.J. McClung, Sr. This classic also created a fierce but friendly rivalry between the late A.J. McClung, Sr., a graduate of Tuskegee University, and his loving son who not only graduated from Morehouse College but was also a member of the school's renowned Maroon Tiger Marching Band. The McClung men's love for their respective colleges and their dedication to one of Columbus, Georgia's most treasured football traditions has reaped tremendous benefits for Tuskegee University, Morehouse College and the Columbus, Georgia community at-large. In light of the McClung family's tenured involvement in the classic's success over the last five decades, this weekend Mr. Arthur J. McClung, Jr. will be named as an honorary alumnus of Tuskegee University, even though he is in fact a diehard Morehouse Maroon Tiger. This esteemed designation is one of the many outstanding accomplishments that Mr. McClung has enjoyed during his life's journey. After graduating from Morehouse College in 1966, Mr. McClung, Jr. began his professional career at Westinghouse Electric. He later would go on to serve in important roles at IBM, the Atlanta Urban League and the United States government's ACTION Agency before eventually joining Georgia Power as a Consumer Affairs Representative. Throughout his twenty-six year career at Georgia Power, he served as an executive in the utility company's External Affairs, Economic Development and Corporate Relations divisions. In concurrence with his notable career accomplishments, Mr. McClung has been repeatedly acknowledged for his outstanding community service and support for civic organizations throughout the state of Georgia. He is the recipient of awards from Ben Hill United Methodist Church; the Atlanta Area Council of Boy Scouts; Concerned Black Clergy; the Georgia Association of Black Elected Officials; and the Rotary International. Furthermore, he has played a proactive role in supporting initiatives sponsored by Habitat for Humanity; the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta; Boy Scouts of America; the Butler Street YMCA; the Atlanta Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP); Georgia Citizens for the Arts; and the Fulton County Planning Commission. It cannot be disputed that Mr. McClung has achieved numerous successes throughout his life. However, none of this would have been possible without the grace of God and the support of his loving wife, Angela. Mr. and Mrs. McClung, Jr. are the proud parents of Arthur J. McClung III, who like his father is also a proud graduate of Morehouse College. Art III went on to earn a Doctorate degree from Stanford University in Mechanical Engineering and in December 2010, he completed his post doctoral studies at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in paying tribute to Mr. Art ``Bullwinkle'' McClung, Jr. for his many career achievements, outstanding service, and public distinction and most importantly for his unrelenting support of the Tuskegee-Morehouse Football Classic.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an outstanding Man of God who has been a long-standing source of personal inspiration, spiritual guidance and moral leadership to me and the Columbus, Georgia community at-large, the Reverend Dr. Johnny H. Flakes, Jr. Later this year, Dr. Flakes will celebrate his fiftieth anniversary as the distinguished pastor of the Fourth Street Missionary Baptist Church in Columbus. What makes this extraordinary feat even more remarkable is that his fifty years of accomplished service at Fourth Street Missionary Baptist Church runs concurrently with his fifty-two years of service as the senior pastor of Good Hope Baptist Church in Phenix City, Alabama. Dr. Flakes' dynamic ability to successfully multitask the management of two flourishing churches, in two different states, over the last fifty years, is a monumental accomplishment that highlights his passion to reflect Christ through his thought-provoking sermons, pastoral leadership, unyielding love for the members of his congregations and his deep and abiding faith. Despite the numerous challenges he has encountered along his life's journey, Dr. Flakes has not relented nor retreated in the face of insurmountable hardships. While his rebellious early life was filled with challenges--being a high school drop-out and suffering with both alcohol and gambling addictions--he surrendered his life to the calling of God through Christ Jesus and was transformed. He was called to pastor Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church and Fourth Street Missionary Baptist Church and while pastoring both churches full-time, drove from Columbus, Georgia to Nashville, Tennessee and back each week over four years to earn his GED and Bachelor of Arts degree from American Baptist College. He later would go on to serve as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for American Baptist College and recently the administration building on the school's campus was named in his honor. 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, he became a catalytic leader in the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education, for many years served as President of the Congress of Christian Education for the General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia and ultimately served on the Executive Committee Board of the National Baptist Convention. Dr. Flakes has also received honorary doctorate degrees from A.B. Lee Theological Seminary in Jacksonville, Florida and his beloved alma mater, American Baptist College. Throughout his pastoral career, Dr. Flakes has played a leading role in several other religious-affiliated and community-based organizations. He served courageously as President of the Columbus branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) for several years; is 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. Reverend Flakes has been repeatedly acknowledged for his outstanding achievements, service and public distinction. He is 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; and the Knighthood Award from the Congress of Christian Education. Dr. Flakes has achieved numerous successes in his life, but none of this would have been possible without the grace of God and his loving wife of more than fifty-seven years, Robena Gaines Flakes. Dr. and Mrs. Flakes are the parents of three children--Sincera, Johnny and Merle-- and the proud grandparents of three granddaughters. One of Dr. and Mrs. Flakes' sons, Johnny H. Flakes III, is an emerging community leader in Columbus, Georgia and now co-pastors at Fourth Street Missionary Baptist Church and Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church with his father. As the scripture tells us, ``Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.'' Dr. Flakes has encouraged his children and grandchildren not to be carbon copies of him but to glean from his wisdom and experience and be available to the leadership of the Holy Spirit. On a personal note, Dr. Flakes has served as a spiritual advisor to me for many years, particularly during the twenty-four years I was a member of the Fourth Street Missionary Baptist Church. Through trouble or triumph, he was always available and has always given me wise counsel. Mrs. Flakes is like a mother to me and I am proud each time she refers to me as ``son.'' The great theologian and mystic scholar, Dr. Howard Thurman, once said that: ``There is something in every one of you that waits and listens for the sound of the genuine in yourself. It is the only true guide that you will ever have. And if you cannot hear it, you will all of your life spend your days on the ends of strings that somebody else pulls.'' To God be the glory that the Rev. Dr. Johnny H. Flakes, Jr. heard the sound of God's voice and answered the call for his life. Because he answered that call, my life and the lives of countless others throughout the world are better for it. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in paying tribute to Dr. Johnny H. Flakes, Jr. for his life of selfless service to God, the church and to humankind.