Congressman Sanford D. Bishop Jr.
Accomplishments
For 16 years has been a strong and effective advocate for one of largest and most diverse agricultural districts in the southeastern United States with a myriad of agricultural interests including: peanuts, pecans, cotton, poultry, beef-cattle and other livestock, peaches, watermelon, cantaloupe, vegetables, corn, wheat, soybeans, canola, tobacco, and dairy.
Helped to craft and pass the last 3 Farm bills, which have authorized billions for farm support programs, including the peanut program to make U.S.-grown peanuts competitive with growing foreign imports; rural development; soil and water conservation; agricultural research; obesity research; and the school lunch and other nutritional programs.
Successfully boosted the economy and created new jobs in the 2nd Congressional District of Georgia by securing over $13.5 billion in critical funding for agriculture, economic development, transportation, construction, education, disaster relief, defense, veterans’ affairs, crime prevention, research, and other projects over the past 16 years.
A leader in encouraging and supporting alternative energy production in the Southeastern United States through funding research and encouraging private sector investments for energy production from algae, peanuts, corn, wood, grasses, non-edible parts of plants, agricultural and animal waste. Advocated and secured research funding for the development of self-sustaining bio-fuel farms from peanut ethanol produced on the farm with surplus available for coop sale. Additionally, the 2nd Congressional district of Georgia is home to the largest corn ethanol facility in the southeast funded by 850 local investors and actively producing thousands of gallons of ethanol daily.
Represents a state with some of the largest privately owned forest tracts in the country. Continuously supports preservation and conservation of wildlife areas.
Worked continuously since 1994 with Black Farmers, the Civil Rights Action Team, the Secretary of Agriculture, and Congress towards resolving the black farmer discrimination issues in the Pigford class action lawsuit.
Helped secure estate tax exemption for most family farms and small businesses.
Worked successfully to repeal the ETI tax and stem EU tariffs that have been placed on certain US exports in order to spur economic growth.
Fought to ensure the passage of the Family Farmer Bankruptcy Relief Act.
Professional Experience
U.S. Representative –, Albany, GA
1993 – Present
Elected as a Democrat to the 103rd through 110th Congress; reelected to the 111th Congress; have served since January 5, 1993.
U.S. House Committee on Agriculture 103rd – 107th Congress
103rd (1993-1994)
Subcommittee on Department Operations Nutrition
Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities
Subcommittee on Specialty Crops and Natural Resources
104th (1995-1996)
Subcommittee on Department Operations, Nutrition & Foreign Agriculture
Subcommittee on Risk Management and Specialty Crops
105th (1997-1998)
Subcommittee on Department Operations, Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture
Subcommittee on Risk Management and Specialty Crops
106th (1999-2000)
Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Resource Conservation and Credit
Subcommittee on Risk Management, Research, and Specialty Crops
107th (2001-2002)
Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management
Subcommittee on Specialty Crops and Foreign Agriculture Programs
U.S. House Committee on Post Office and Civil Service 103rd Congress
Subcommittee on Postal Operations and Service
U.S. House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 103rd – 107th Congress
103rd (1993-1994)
Subcommittee on Hospitals and Health Care
Subcommittee on Housing and Memorial Affairs
104th (1995-1996)
Subcommittee on Hospitals and Health Care
105th – 107th (1997-2002)
Under House rules I was on leave with seniority while serving on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. I remained a Committee member continued to attend and participate in the panel’s hearings and deliberations.
U.S. House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence 105th – 107th Congress
105th (1997-1998)
Subcommittee on Human Intelligence, Analysis and Counterintelligence
106th (1999-2000)
Subcommittee on Technical and Tactical Intelligence (Ranking Member)
107th (2001-2002)
Subcommittee on Technical and Tactical Intelligence (Ranking Member)
Subcommittee on Intelligence Policy and National Security
Subcommittee on Human Intelligence, Analysis, and Counterintelligence
U.S. House Committee on Appropriations 108th – 110th Congress
108th (2003-2004)
Subcommittee on Military Construction
Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs, Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies
109th (2005-2006)
Subcommittee on Homeland Security
Subcommittee on Military Quality of Life and Veterans’ Affairs, and Related Agencies
110th (2007-2008)
Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
Subcommittee on Defense
Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies
Georgia General Assembly – www.legis.state.ga.us, - GA
1977 – 1992
Served in the Georgia Senate from 1991-1992.
Judiciary Committee
Re-apportionment Committee
Ethics Committee
Consumer Affairs Committee
Appropriations Committee (Chairman of the Education K-12 Subcommittee with $2.5 billion budget.)
Served in the Georgia House from 1977-1990.
1977-1978
Highways Committee
Special Judiciary Committee
Temperance Committee
1979-1984
Special Judiciary Committee
Temperance Committee (Vice Chairman 1983-1984)
Ways and Means Committee
1983-1990
Special Judiciary Committee
Regulated Beverages (Vice Chairman)
Ways and Means
Attorney and Primary Partner – Bishop & Buckner, Attorneys P.C. - GA
1972 – 1992
Practiced law in State and Federal Courts in Georgia and Alabama until being sworn in as a Member of Congress in 1993.
Practice included Civil Rights, Civil and Criminal Litigation, Domestic Relations, Juvenile, Probate, Real Estate, and Bankruptcy.
This firm was originally started by Sanford D. Bishop Jr. Attorney at Law as a sole proprietorship. Then with the joining of Richard A. Hudlin Jr. it became a partnership of Bishop & Hudlin, Attorneys. When Richard Hudlin left the firm Mary A. Buckner became a partner and it became a partnership of Bishop & Buckner, Attorneys and later became a P.C.
Earl Warren Fellow – NAACP Legal Defense Fund - NY
1971-1972
Extensive internship for legal training in Civil Rights and Litigation Issues.
Sol Clark Fellow - Emory Neighborhood Law Office – Atlanta, GA
1970-1971
Practiced law as a third year law student under the Georgia Legal Aid Act.
U.S. Army – www.army.mil
1969 – 1971
Served in the U.S. Army, completed basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia, entered Advanced Reserve Officers Training, and received an Honorable Discharge in 1971.
Leadership Positions and Memberships
Served as Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus Task Force on Homeland Security and the Working Group on Defense of Physical Infrastructure and Natural Resources. Served as a senior Whip in the Majority Whip operation for the 110th Congress. Also served as Co-Chairman of the Forestry 2000 Task Force, promoting sound forestry policy; Co-Chairman of the Peanut Caucus, promoting sound policy for growers, agri-businesses, and consumers; and a member of the "Blue Dog" Coalition of fiscally-conservative House Democrats; Congressional Black Caucus, Rural Health Care Coalition, Rural Caucus, National Guard and Reserve Components Caucus, Air Power Caucus, Depot Caucus, Children's Working Group, Law Enforcement Caucus, National Security Caucus, Impact Aid Coalition, Vietnam Era Veterans in Congress, Arts Caucus, Sportsmen's Caucus, Fire Services Caucus, Federal Government Service Caucus, and the Motorsports Caucus.
Education
Doctor of Law – Emory University School of Law, Atlanta, GA ▪ 1971
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science w/English minor – Morehouse College,
Atlanta, GA ▪ 1968
Travel
Have traveled to many countries including Canada, Mexico, Cuba, the Republic of Panama, Jamaica, England, Scotland, Germany, Iceland, Israel, South Africa, Iraq, Kuwait, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Belgium, Turkey, Russia, Thailand, Laos, North and South Vietnam, North and South Korea, China, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand.
Travels related to service on the Permanent Select and Standing Committees of the Congress. Trips of specific agriculture interests were Israel (tour of Hula Valley agriculture/irrigation utilization), Canada and Mexico (reviewing the impact of NAFTA, Scotland (with the Agriculture Committee investigating value added agriculture products), South Africa (as part of a bilateral commission with U.S.D.A and the South African Ministry of Agriculture post apartheid), Laos (for the study of alternative crops to opium), North Korea (for post drought agriculture recovery), and Cuba (for potential opportunities for Georgia agriculture on passage of the Ashcroft Amendment lifting the embargo on food and medicine).
Commendations and Awards
Received commendations from the American Farm Bureau Federation, the National Cotton Council, the American Peanut Shellers Association, the Georgia EMC, the National Peanut Buying Point Association, the Farm Credit Association, the National Federation of Independent Business, Georgia Association of Educators, Georgia Municipal Association, Georgia School Bus Drivers Association, Georgia Council for the Arts, the Fraternal Order of Police, the American Legion, and others. Received numerous awards, including the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award from the Boy Scouts of America, given to Eagle Scouts for distinguished career achievement; Spirit of Enterprise Award from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; Man of the Year Award from the Men's Progressive Club of Columbus, Georgia; Distinguished Service Award from the Federation of Southern Cooperatives; Friend of the Children Award from the Child Advocacy Coalition; Distinguished Alumnus Award from Emory University School of Law; Bennie Achievement Award from Morehouse College; Order of St. Maurice Award for service to the U.S. Army Infantry; and the Dick Award from the National Guard Association of the United States.
