Agriculture & Rural Development

Washington, DC – U.S. Representatives Kevin Brady (R-Texas) and Sanford Bishop (D-Georgia), who are leading the charge to repeal the controversial federal estate tax, this week introduced the Death Tax Repeal Act of 2015.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02), member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture and Co-Chairman of the Congressional Peanut Caucus, welcomed a recent win for the U.S. pecan industry. China recently announced that they have lowered the import tariff on in-shell and shelled pecans from 24% to 10%. Last summer, Congressman Bishop hosted representatives from the China Nut Roasters Association in Georgia to discuss issues surrounding trade in pecans.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) and Rep. Austin Scott (GA-08) re-introduced bipartisan legislation which will create Georgia's first National Historical Park.

ALBANY, GA — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is improving farm loans by expanding and increasing lending limits to help more beginning and family farmers. USDA is simplifying the lending process by raising the borrowing limit for the microloan program from $35,000 to $50,000, simplifying lending processes, broadening the requirements of "farming experience", and expanding and updating eligibility requirements for business entities interested in loans. These changes will become effective November 7, 2014.

DONALSONVILLE, GA – Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) strongly urged the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to undertake a more proactive strategy to halt and ultimately eradicate the growth of hydrilla from Lake Seminole in Georgia. The following concerns were sent by letter to Lieutenant General Thomas Bostick, the Commanding General and Chief of Engineers of the Army Corps of Engineers.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02), member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, advocated for Georgia's pecan industry during a brief meeting with India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, in New York City on Sunday. After a private conversation, he gave Prime Minister Modi and his staff a letter calling for India to reduce pecan tariff rates.

FORT VALLEY, GA – Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) is proud to announce that Fort Valley State University (FVSU) has been awarded two 1890 Capacity Building Grants from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA); $299,500 for the US-Honduras Partnerships to Strengthen Faculty and Students` Global Agricultural Research, Education, and Cultural Experiences project, as well as $149,500 for the Career Awareness and Opportunities in Agricultural Biotechnology project.

WASHINGTON D.C. – Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) fought against overreaching governmental regulation by supporting the passage of H.R. 5078, the Waters of the U.S. Regulatory Overreach Protection Act of 2014. The bill rights the balance between the need to protect the environment and protect the livelihoods of Georgians by prohibiting the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from executing proposed rules and definitions regarding streams and waterways under the Clean Water Act: