Federal Budget, Jobs, & the Economy
(Published in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
When President Obama took office, nearly 3.6 million Americans had lost jobs; millions more were working harder in jobs that paid less with fewer benefits. Nearly $8 billion in wealth was lost in retirement savings and the stock market.
Consumer spending and commercial lending had drastically contracted. Health care and education costs escalated. Bankruptcies, consumer debt and foreclosures were exploding. The economy was on life support. Emergency action was needed.
It might surprise many Georgians that, despite unprecedented job growth in the Atlanta area over the past 15 years, agriculture is Georgia’s largest industry, and still 1 out of 7 Georgians works in agriculture, forestry, or a related sector, according to the Georgia Farm Bureau. They contribute to the production of staple commodities included in some of our nation’s most commonly-used products. In fact, Georgia leads the nation in peanut, poultry, and pecan production, and is among the top producers of cotton, corn, eggs, and tomatoes.
WASHINGTON, D.C. Last night the Dougherty High Chorale received an overwhelming reception for their performance at the Gospel Extravaganza held at the Washington Convention Center. The gospel concert is a highlight of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference which is holding it 34th session this week. This is the second year that Congressman Bishop has hosted the Dougherty High Chorale for the event.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today Congressman Sanford Bishop was proud to announce that Valdosta Technical College will receive $49,474 from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to implement the “Road Map to Success” project.
WASHINGTON, DC—This afternoon, Congressman Sanford Bishop joined his colleagues in introducing the “Protection of Family Farmers Act of 2004,” which if enacted would extend authorization of Chapter 12 of the bankruptcy code. Chapter 12 provides a valuable bankruptcy option that allows struggling family farmers to reorganize their debt and protect their farms.
Albany, GA. - Grace Hunt, a senior at Crisp Academy is the winner of the 2004 Congressional Art Competition in Georgia’s Second District, U.S. Representative Sanford Bishop announced today Friday May 7th. The winning entry, entitled “Cousins” will be displayed for one year at the U.S. Capitol, along with the winning entries from other Congressional districts across the country.
Thomas University has been awarded a $27,825 federal grant to draft a comprehensive plan for achieving its priority goals for the future, U.S. Representative Sanford Bishop has announced.
The funding is provided under the U.S. Department of Education’s Strengthening Institutions Program, the Second District Congressman said.
The Congressman explained that the funds were granted to formulate a comprehensive development plan that addresses Thomas University’s top needs and objectives, and to prepare a five-year development grant project.
Washington D.C. - U.S. Representative Sanford Bishop says a number of crucial education and health care programs are severely under-funded in an appropriations bill narrowly passed by the House of Representatives.
U.S. Representative Sanford Bishop will announce the winner of the annual Congressional Art Competition for high school students in Georgia's Second District on Friday (5/9) at a 10:00 a.m. ceremony at the Second District Office in Albany, located at Albany Towers, Suite 114, 235 Roosevelt Avenue.
This is the human interest value: the winning entry will be flown to Washington, D.C. where, along with the winning entries from other Congressional Districts around the country, it will be displayed at the U.S. Capitol for one year-seen by hundreds of thousands of visitors.