Healthcare

Albany and Dougherty County have had more than their fair share of challenges in recent years (straight-line wind events, a tornado, a hurricane and being Ground Zero for the COVID-19 pandemic in Georgia). However, residents and businesses in this Southwest Georgia county are resilient. They have worked hard to generate opportunities for a better quality of life that includes increased healthcare access, workforce development, a thriving downtown and improved economic prospects.

COLUMBUS – Congressman Sanford D. Bishop Jr., D-Ga., hosted a recent roundtable discussion at the National Infantry Museum attended by local veterans, community leaders, and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough.

The discussion was an opportunity for local veterans and leaders to share their insights with the secretary about VA care and ways in which it can be improved. Earlier in the day, Bishop participated in a ceremony at the newly named Robert S. Poydasheff VA Clinic in Columbus.

After opening its doors to patients on July 11, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Friday for the new Robert S. Poydasheff VA Clinic in Columbus.

Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough took part in the ceremony alongside U.S. Congressman Sanford Bishop, local elected officials and members of local veteran organizations. McDonough's visit to the Columbus area will help assess how President Biden's Unity Agenda can help improve local operations, according to a news release from Bishop's office.

[transcript]

Friday's grand opening brought state and national leaders to our area.

Beside them, the United States' Secretary of the Department of Veteran Affairs, Denis McDonough, who spent his time in Columbus hearing from Fort Benning soldiers and local veterans.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter understands the concerns his fellow Republicans have about "pork" spending, but he said they are missing an important part of their mission by refusing to submit requests for federal funding for specific projects in their districts.

These requests, known formally as "community projects" but better known as earmarks, could bring tens of millions of dollars to Georgia beyond anything the state receives through the normal allocation of program funding.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Sanford Bishop Jr., D-Ga., and Congressman Rick Allen, R-Ga., were joined by all members of Georgia's U.S. House of Representatives delegation — Buddy Carter, Drew Ferguson, Hank Johnson, Nikema Williams, Lucy McBath, Carolyn Bourdeaux, Austin Scott, Andrew Clyde, Jody Hice, Barry Loudermilk and David Scott (GA-13) — in introducing a bill that would name the Department of Veterans Affairs regional office in Atlanta after late U.S. Senator from Georgia, Johnny Isakson, who passed away in December 2021.