Agriculture & Rural Development
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Sanford Bishop (D-Georgia), Congressman Kevin Brady (R-Texas), U.S. Senator John Thune (R-SD), and Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) are calling on Congress to permanently repeal the federal estate tax, which takes up to 40% of a person's property (cash, real estate, stock, or other assets) that he or she leaves to his or her children. Also referred to as the "death tax," it punishes success and traditional American virtues of hard work and thrift.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop Jr. (GA-02), member of the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food & Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, applauded the appointment of Martin ‘Marty' L. McLendon of Leary, Georgia to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agriculture Marketing Service Peanut Standards Board.
GEORGETOWN, GA — Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) welcomed the United States Coast Guard's (USCG) decision to continue maintaining the Aids to Navigation Team (ANT) at the Lake Eufaula United States Coast Guard (USCG) station. The ANT Eufaula maintains the navigation system on the Apalachicola, Chattahoochee, and Flint River (ACF) waterway, which helps to keep Lake Walter F. George, Lake Seminole, and the river system safe for boaters and fishers.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02), issued the following statement regarding the retirement of Ralph Paige, the Executive Director of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund (LAF):
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.