All Legislative Issues
Georgia is home to over a dozen military bases and installations, including Fort Moore, Robins Air Force Base, and Marine Corps Logistic Base Albany. Congressman Bishop frequently works across the aisle to ensure America maintains a strong national defense with well-trained troops equipped with cutting-edge technology for the battlefields of the 21st Century.
Benjamin Franklin said, “an investment in education always pays the best dividends.” America is most successful when it taps the full range of its potential. It is vital that the nation’s schools and universities have the resources needed to prepare students while remaining affordable and accessible.
I have long supported the development and exploration of domestic energy sources which will revitalize our economy, create millions of new jobs, lower energy bills, and strengthen our national security. I am a strong supporter of the Keystone XL pipeline, increased exploration of energy sources on federal lands and offshore, renewable energy research, and promoting rural electric cooperatives and nuclear energy.
One of Congressman Bishop’s top priorities has been for the United States healthcare system to emerge from the recent COVID-19 pandemic not only stronger than it was in the past but more prepared for the future as well.
Congressman Bishop led the fight at the outbreak of the pandemic to give the Food and Drug Administration the tools it needs to quickly approve safe and effective vaccines and treatment options for COVID-19. He also worked to ensure that the COVID-19 vaccines reached the most rural areas of Georgia and the entire nation.
The family is the cornerstone of American life. Throughout his career in Congress, Congressman Bishop has worked tirelessly to ensure that families remain stable and strong now and into the future. He has supported policies including expanding parental leave and the child tax credit; championing affordable child care; promoting telework and flexible working arrangements; providing increased resources for health care, education, and job training; and advocating for the special challenges faced by military families.
It is vital that individuals and families have access to the American Dream – namely, homeownership. I support legislation to help homeowners avoid foreclosure, stop predatory and irresponsible mortgage loan practices, increase the supply of affordable housing, expand veteran and rural housing opportunities, promote fair housing education and enforcement activities, and finance community development initiatives.
As of spring 2023, the Social Security Trust Fund is projected to become depleted in 2034, with 77% of benefits payable at that time. The Disability Insurance Trust Fund asset reserves are not projected to become depleted during the 75-year projection period.
Two key estimates this year extended the life of Medicare’s Hospital Insurance Trust Fund: the Medicare Trustees report moved its estimate from 2026 to 2028, and the Congressional Budget Office’s estimate moved from 2027 to 2030.
Congressman Bishop is a gun owner and believes that most gun owners are law abiding citizens who possess guns for hunting, recreation, and self-defense. Many citizens also collect guns as a hobby.
The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution, which Congressman Bishop strongly supports, is appropriately subject to reasonable, commonsense measures, including background checks to limit access by those whose mental health or criminal history demonstrates a lack of requisite responsibility.
Congressman Bishop knows that our men and women serving in America’s military put their lives on the line to protect and defend this country. They and their families have made great sacrifices in order to fulfill this mission. The Congressman strives to ensure that when they put down the uniform, our veterans and their families should know that this country will honor their service and sacrifice by caring for them the way they cared for us.
Small businesses are the cornerstone of our economy. I support legislation to establish a lending fund to provide community banks with capital to increase small business lending. I also support investing in innovative state small business lending programs, providing tax incentives to purchase employee health insurance coverage, reducing regulatory burdens and unnecessary paperwork, and enacting measures to spur small business creation and new jobs.
Extreme weather, including hurricanes and tornadoes, have caused significant damage to Middle & Southwest Georgia. These events can have lingering effects on families and communities. Congressman Bishop has worked hard in Congress to ensure residents and communities have resources to recover when natural disasters strike or large-scale accidents occur, overwhelming local and Georgia's state emergency resources. He also works with local leaders to help direct federal resources to improve water infrastructure and emergency services so that Georgians are better prepared for the future.
Congressman Bishop understands that an effective foreign policy makes the United States more secure and strengthens its economy. He has supported legislation to promote human rights, bolster security assistance to America's allies, prevent nuclear proliferation, protect religious freedom across the world, and uphold international law, while also respecting the sovereignty of foreign nations.
It is vital that Congress modernize and reform America’s immigration laws to secure its borders, protect American workers, and grow the domestic economy.
Any immigration reform must include provisions that strengthen border security by increasing law enforcement manpower, utilizing new technology and fencing, and providing the tools, resources, and infrastructure necessary to enforce existing immigration laws and punish offenders.
Agriculture & Rural Development
Farmers, ranchers, and producers are the backbone of America's more than $1 trillion dollar agriculture industry. As a leader of the U.S.
Congressman Bishop supports federal investments to in America's infrastructure and transportation networks. These are fundamental to people's quality of life and the well-being of the country's economy.
Federal support helps bridge the large upfront costs that local governments must overcome to implement infrastructure and transportation projects which are crucial for connecting Middle & Southwest Georgia's cities, suburban communities, and rural areas with one another and the world.
Federal Budget, Appropriations, and Taxes
Congressman Bishop is a senior member and leader within the U.S. House Appropriations Committee. He supports a responsible federal budget which makes crucial investments in federal programs affect Americans' lives and draws its revenue from a tax code that is fair, balanced, and fiscally responsible both in the short and the long term.
I am a member of the fiscally conservative Democratic Blue Dog Coalition, which is "dedicated to a core set of beliefs that transcend partisan politics, including a deep commitment to the financial stability and national security of the United States." I support amending the United States Constitution to require a balanced budget and ensure that lawmakers act in a fiscally responsible manner.
“America is at the forefront of innovation which strengthens our national defense and made us a world economic leader. Scientific, technological, and telecommunications advances have improved quality of life and connected Americans in ways that previous generations could have only dreamed.” – Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr.
Healthcare
One of Congressman Bishop’s top priorities has been for the United States healthcare system to emerge from the recent COVID-19 pandemic not only stronger than it was in the past but more prepared for the future as well. As a senior member of the U.S.
Voting & Civil Rights
Congressman Bishop believes that faith in and integrity of America's elections are strengthened when citizens are empowered to vote and that it should not be difficult to exercise your most basic right and civic duty. Read More.
The threat to the integrity of our elections is real. In 2021, Georgia changed its state laws to restrict the accessibility of mail-in voting, requiring mail-in voters to include their driver’s license numbers or other documentation to verify their identities, instead of using signature verification. Georgia also restricted drop box locations to election offices and shortened the window to request absentee ballots. In addition, Georgia’s law prevented people from distributing food and water to the voters who often wait hours in the heat.
Armed Services
Georgia is home to several military institutions and bases. Congressman Bishop is a staunch supporter of military servicemembers and their families as well as the civilians and scientists that support them. Read More.