PAGE FOUR CONGRESSMAN SANFORD BISHOP Student Artist Honored A painting by Grace Hunt, a 2004 graduate of Crisp Academy, is now on dis- play at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC. Her entry is the Second District win- ner in the 2004 Congressional Arts Com- petition, sponsored by members of the U.S. House in an effort to help promote art edu- cation and encourage young people to de- velop their talent. The contest is held yearly and is open to area students. This year’s runners up were: Carrie Skalla from Deerfield Windsor School and Micki Williams of Deerfield Windsor came in third. Artwork by Grace Hunt, Jes- sica Thompson from Albany High School and Spencer Duncan Young of Tift Co. High School received honorable mentions. Grace Hunt and her family visted Washington, D.C. where she was honored as as For information on entering next year’s con- the Second District’s winner of the Congressional Art Competition. Her winning test, contact one of my offices. entry “Cousins” currently hangs in the U.S. Capitol Building. Appropriations Social Security Homeland Security (continued from page 2) (cointinued from page 1) (continued from page 1) · $45,000 - City of Shellman, GA - Police continue benefits at the current rate until exit system known as “US Visit,” as well as communications and security equipment 2021 rather than 2041. funding for the Coast Guard and anti-missile · $100,000- Baker County, GA - 911 communication Proponents of the plan argue that they technologies for commercial aircraft. system will find additional money to put into the · $350,000 – Moultrie - Technical improvement Congress also passed the $8.2 billion grants/police trust funds so that current beneficiaries can Coast Guard Reauthorization. This includes continue to count on their monthly checks, $1.1 billion to replace antiquated ships and INTERIOR: $775,000 however I have yet to see how this can be aircraft, as well as extended training bonuses · $150,000 - Albany Theater - Restoration and repair achieved without adding billions to the and increases to the Coast Guard’s law · $125,000 - Stewart County, GA - Courthouse - already skyrocketing budget deficit. enforcement authority to carry firearms, make Restoration of national historic site As members of Congress we need to arrests and seize vessels whose owners fail to · $500,000 - GA Streambank Restoration examine Social Security and look for ways comply with judgments for maritime security AGRICULTURE: $8,057,000 to improve the system and ensure that it will law violations. · $1,000,000 - Children’s Nutritional Research take care of our retirees for many years to While there is still much that needs to be Center/Peanut Institute-Study of overweight come. I look forward to working with my done, rest assured that in the years ahead we children; alternative uses of peanuts in diet colleagues on both sides of the aisle to see will continue fighting to keep Americans safe · $625,000 - Poultry-Agriculture-UGA-Gamebird this happen, however I believe that we must and secure. and wildlife restoration first acknowledge that the system we have · $3,600,000 - GA Water Soil & Water Conservation today works and Americans can not afford Commission-Water Conservation · $200,000 - SE Fruit Tree/Nut – Byron, GA for us to put it in jeopardy. · $350,000 - UGA-Community Nutrient Management ) · $898,000 - UGA-Water Policy Research · $500,000 - UGA-Cotton Fiber Quality Research Constituent Service · $100,000 – Pecan Scab – Byron, GA · $50,000 – Poultry Enteritis Mortality Syndrome Working for the People of Georgia’s · $474,000 Water Use Efficiency and Quality UGA · $260,000 – Agriculture Water Usage Second Congressional District ENERGY AND WATER: $8,471,000 My most important job as a While we are unable to order federal · $250,000 -Flint River Environmental Impact Study Member of Congress is serving my agencies to decide a matter in your favor, · $5,221,000 - Chattahoochee and Flint River constituents. Whether we are helping we are often successful in getting you a revitalization our young people start their military prompt response. Here are some areas DEFENSE: $185,660,000 career at one of the U.S. Service where we might be able to help: · $1,000,000- MCLB - Albany-Sewer Line Academies, making plans for your family Replacement to tour the U.S. Capitol or assisting you · Social Security and Medicare · $121,590,000 -MCLB - Albany-Marine Amphibious in your federal grant or appropriation Benefits Assault Vehicles application, my staff members and I are · Student Loans · $2,400,000 - Muscogee Co-Army Logistics- always pleased to assist you. We are able · Veterans Benefits and Military Dimensions Int’l. to secure U.S. Flags that have been flown Service · $2,000,000 -Ft. Benning-Ammunition Route · $58,670,000 -Sumter Co-Defense-Lockheed-Wind over the U.S. Capitol; we can help speed · Disaster Assistance Corrected Munitions Dispenser up your application for a passport and · Small Business Loan each of my offices offers internships to Applications MILITARY CONSTRUCTION: $ 114,277,000 give students a hands-on opportunity to · Immigration, Naturalization and · $9,600,000 - Moody AFB-Base Support Center learn about their government. Citizenship · $49,565,000 - Ft. Benning-Barracks Replacement Additionally we are happy to assist · FHA, VA and RHS Home Loan · $3,850,000 - Ft. Benning-Hazardous Cargo you with questions or problems that you Applications Loading Facility- · $18,362,000 - Ft. Benning-Physical Fitness might be encountering with the federal · IRS problems Complex government.

Contact Congressman Sanford Bishop...www.house.gov/bishop

ALBANY COLUMBUS WASHINGTON DAWSON VALDOSTA Albany Towers, Suite 216 18 Ninth Street 2429 Rayburn House Office City Hall 401 North Patterson St. 235 Roosevelt Avenue, Suite 201 Building 101 South Main Street Room 255 Albany Georgia 31701. Columbus, Georgia Washington, DC 20515 Dawson, Georgia 31742. Valdosta, Georgia 31601. (229) 439-8067 (706) 320-9477 (202) 225-3631 (229) 995-3991 (229) 247-9705 Fax: (229) 436-2099 Fax: (706) 320-9479 Fax: (202) 225-2203 Fax: (229) 995-4894 Fax: (229) 241-1035 E-Mail: [email protected] U.S. House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515 Postal Patron Official Business 2nd Congressional District Georgia M.C. Bulk Rate This mailing was prepared, published and mailed at taxpayer expense. ECRWSS Congressman Sanford Bishop Reports

2nd Congressional District, Georgia 2429 Rayburn HOB, Washington, DC 20515 Winter 2005

Dear Friends, Homeland Security Over the past year in Washington, DC, Congress has addressed issues of health care, Keeping Our Nation Safe homeland security, education, crime and foreign policy, but as Keeping all Americans safe is one of a we move into the 109th Congress, Member of Congress’s most sacred starting in January, there is more responsibilities. That is why I was pleased that that we can do and much that we Congress passed major intelligence and can do better. homeland security measures in the 108th Currently more than 200,000 Congress. American service members are First, Congress passed the 9/11 serving in harms way in Iraq and Recommendations Implementation Act, Afghanistan. We owe these brave which implements the recommendations of men and women the tools and the September 11 Commission. This equipment they need to get the job landmark measure represents the most done and get them home safely. sweeping intelligence reform in decades, They must be our priority. creating a new director of national Yet we must not allow our intelligence to oversee all intelligence overseas commitments to let us agencies, creates uniform security clearance lose focus on our priorities here at home. It is wrong for the protocol, temporarily permits the United States to rebuild schools government to search and monitor “lone in Iraq at the same time that wolf terrorists” — individuals who act alone, school construction in Georgia rather than for foreign countries, authorizes lacks funding. It is wrong to be at least 2,000 additional border security spending $2.1 billion on public agents, provides additional border security safety programs in Iraq, while and investigative resources, and establishes FIGHTING FOR OUR CHILDREN--Today chil- homeland security programs are strict federal standards for state-issued drivers dren of Southwest Georgia have more teachers, being cut here at home. And it is licenses and other forms of identification. smaller classes and better facilities. We have fought wrong to ask our armed forces to Additionally, as a member of the House for after school programs to keep our children on a risk their lives in Iraq, without Appropriations Committee, I was active in positive path and tax credits and educational sav- keeping our committment to them voting for and helping to secure $33.1 billion ings plans to see them succeed in college. Yet we and other veterans when they to fund the Department of Homeland must do more. Three years ago, I joined my col- return home. We must get our Security in fiscal year 2005. The measure leagues in an unprecedented bipartisan effort to priorities straight. increases funding by about 9 percent, and pass the “No Child Left Behind” initiative; how- As a nation we are facing provides funding for the immigration entry- ever this initiative has not received the full funding some of the most critical that it needs to succeed. This past March I visited challenges in our history: (continued on page 4) with students at Valwood Christian Academy to challenges to our military, to our discuss the importance of participating in govern- security and to our very way of ment. (see picture above) life. These are challenges that can Battle Ahead not and must not be met along partisan lines, but rather we must put partisanship aside and work Strengthening Social Security together on a bipartisan basis to Social Security is among the most crisis. This is not true. According to the Social formulate a course of action. The revolutionary and successful programs in Security actuaries, the trust funds currently solutions to our problems are not our nation’s history. Operating as both carry enough reserves to pay benefits to all Republican or Democratic, but retirement security and social insurance, it who are eligible through 2042, and at that American solutions. This has has saved millions from poverty, reducing time, the trust funds will still have enough in always been my goal as your the number of seniors living at or below the revenue to pay 73 to 81 percent of benefits. Member of Congress. poverty line from 50 percent at its inception Clearly steps should be taken to shore This newsletter was prepared to less than 10 percent today. up this program and the sooner we do so the to give you a brief review of the As we move into the new legislative easier it will be; however proposals aiming to issues that we have and will continue to address in Congress year, the President and many in Congress replace the current system with private and at home. We hope that you are asking if Social Security is still a good accounts create concern. While privatization find it informative and hope that deal for Americans. I believe the answer is proponents claim that such a system would you will take the time to contact yes. While pensions, personal savings and strengthen Social Security, the fear is that it our offices with your thoughts Social Security are all key components of a may do just the opposite. and concerns. It is only with your retirement portfolio—only Social Security The president has suggested a plan put feedback and by working together provides a true safety net. Today, only 41 forth in 2001 by his Social Security that we will improve the quality percent of retirees have an employee- commission that he calls a “good blueprint” of life for all of South Georgia. sponsored pension and less than one in five for reform. Under this plan, one third of a low-income workers receive a pension. worker’s contributions to Social Security Sincerely, While 60 percent of retirees receive income would be diverted from the trust funds into from assets, the median retiree only receives private accounts. Current projections show Sanford Bishop about $2000 annually. Social Security is that as a result of this plan, the trust funds Member of Congress clearly the cornerstone of retirement would lose almost $2 trillion in the first 10 security for most Americans. years alone. This would mean that the trust Critics of the program argue that Social funds would only have enough money to Security is facing an immediate financial (continued on page 4) PAGE TWO CONGRESSMAN SANFORD BISHOP Congress Approves Funds for 2nd District As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I have worked diligently to secure federal support for worthy projects and activities in the Second Congressional District. I am currently a member of both the Military Construction Subcommittee, which is responsible for the funding of all military and defense installations worldwide, and the VA/HUD and Independent Agencies Subcommittee, which funds our veterans, housing, economic development environmental, space and science science GROWING SOUTHWEST GEORGIA—With the more than 10 billion dollars in federal funds brought programs. home over the last twelve years, we have paved roads, improved schools, built homes, hired police offic- This year we received literally hundreds ers, improved health care and implemented community programs. Above, at a community event, I am of proposals and requests for funding for meeting with representatives of the Columbus Housing Initiative and the Department of Housing and many worthy and important efforts. While Urban Development to discuss private-public partnerships to expand home ownership opportunities. we were not successful in securing funding for all of these requests, I am very pleased that this year’s appropriations bills included support for many projects in our district, Federal Money Making a particularly in some of our smaller communities. Difference in Southwest Georgia Following is a complete list of projects The Second Congressional District did extremely well this year in securing more approved for FY05: than $350 million in federal grants – by far the most money secured during my 12 LABOR, HHS: $2,450,000 years in Congress, which totals at least $950 million to date. · $100,000 - Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital We do it in part by providing our constituents and communities with up-to-date · $225,000 - Dougherty County Schools – “Helping and comprehensive information on how and where to apply for funds and by tracking to Involve Parents for Better Schools” and supporting grant applications once funds have been applied for. Whether it’s a · $300,000 - Georgia Project – Dalton County new gymnasium for a local school, increasing first responder resources in a rural · $25,000 - Randolph County Board of Education community, or emergency food and shelter funds, the Second Congressional District · $350,000 - Albany State University/Darton College helps get it done. – Minority Male Initiative For example, we helped the Ashburn Fire Department receive $139,500 to replace · $650,000 – Darton College – Rural technology network its antiquated 1974 pumper with a new vehicle, bringing Ashburn into compliance · $150,000 – Hospital Authority of Miller County with the Georgia Fire Fighters Standards and Training, Insurance Services Office, · $250,000 – John Amos Cancer Center, Columbus and NFPA. The grant was made through the enormously successful Assistance to · $400,000 - Valdosta State University/Valdosta – Fire Fighters Grant program, administered by the Department of Homeland Security Health Care Facility (DHS) through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Other successful grants include: a $69,340 Rural Business Enterprise Grant to VA/HUD: $5,920,000 Seminole County; a $117,303 Supportive Housing Grant to the First Monumental · $72,750 – SOWEGA Council on Aging – Albany · $72,750 – Lowndes Association of Ministries to Faith Community Outreach program; a $220,000 Upward Bound education grant to People Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College; and a $566,723 Head Start child development · $72,750 – East Baker Historical Society grant to the Randolph County Board of Education, and many others. · $97,000 – Plains Rural Historical Resource Center · $97,000 – Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital · $97,000 – National Infantry Foundation, Honoring our Heroes Columbus, GA Helping · $97,000 – Flint River Auditorium Alliance · $97,000 – Albany Theater Providing for · $194,000 – Miller County Development Authority Our Students · $72,750 – America’s Second Harvest, Thomasville our Military · $900,000 – Albany, storm water infrastructure Succeed · $400,000 – Americus – sewer expansion We will never be able to fully repay the · $1,000,000 – Columbus Water Works It is proven that children do better in debt that we owe the brave men and women · $250,000 – Plains – Water/sewer school when their parents are involved. This in uniform who willingly risk their lives in · $100,000 - Thomasville sewer infrastructure fact has been the driving force behind HIP defense of our freedom. The least we can do · $150,000 – Moultrie wastewater (Helping to Involve Parents for better is never stop trying! · $750,000 – Moultrie water/wastewater schools), an organization devoted to getting This years Defense Authorization Bill · $150,000 – Coca Cola Space Ctr – Columbus parents involved and active in their children’s · $400,000 – Albany State/Darton – Science, helps by ensuring that our service members education, and thanks to $225,000 included in combat have the equipment they need to Engineering, Math in this years Labor/Health and Human · $250,000 – South GA Tech College – Science, get the job done and keep them safe, while Math, Engineering Services Appropriations bill, HIP is coming honoring our commitment to our veterans. · $250,000 – Albany State – “Jump Start” - Math, to Dougherty County Schools. Highlights of the bill include: Science for Pre College A pilot communications system—that if · $250,000 – Georgia Project/ABAC College successful could be expanded to schools · 3.5 percent across-the-board pay raise · $100,000 - GA SW College – math, science nationwide—HIP is an Internet and for military personnel telephone based software system that will · $25 billion to support the Global War TRANSPORTATION: $3,500,000 allow teachers to leave messages for parents · $1,000,000 - SW Georgia Airport - Runway and parents to leave messages for teachers. on Terror’s operational costs, personnel extension project expenses and equipment. · $1,000,000 - Flint River Bridge Homework will be posted on the system and · $1,000,000 - SWGA Regional Airport - parents can be notified if their child is getting · Enhanced health care benefits for Completion of the Terminal Arrival Radar in trouble or having difficulty in school. The reservists and their family members. · $500,000 - Moultrie, GA - Intermodal Facility system will allow teachers, parents, students · An end to the “disabled veterans tax” and administrators to use the system 7 days a COMMERCE JUSTICE: $1,070,000 week 24 hours a day, which will allow parents for retirees considered 100 percent · $75,000 - Mitchell County: Youth Advocacy and disabled, as part of the 10-year phase in Outreach Program to stay involved in a way that best suits their · $150,000 - Dawson, GA – Youth advocacy and individual needs and schedules. As Brady plan for concurrent receipt, these retirees drug prevention Keys, Jr., Chairman and Co-Founder of the will now receive both their full military · $150,000 - Thomasville: Thomas Area Teen Center HIP system, states, “HIP levels the field for parents retirement pay and their VA disability - which gives them the comfort to use HIP often.” · $200,000 - Columbus, GA - Teenage Parenting We are looking forward to HIP being in compensation. Center use in Dougherty County and then hopefully · Increased funding to build and (Continued on Page 4) throughout all of Georgia. revitalize military housing. CONGRESSMAN SANFORD BISHOP PAGE THREE Taking Care of Our Farm Families Providing Real Relief Tobacco Farmers Get Long Keeping Drug Awaited Relief Costs Down As many of you know, last year Congress Years of fighting on behalf of our tobacco growers paid off this year when we passed passed the Medicare Prescription Drug the “American Jobs Creation Act of 2004.” The bill contained more than $550 million for Improvement and Modernization Act. While Georgia’s tobacco farmers and ends the Depression-era quota system that has devalued this law will not fully go into full effect until farms by as much as 60 percent in recent years. The “buyout” also answers many tobacco January 2006, seniors have seen the first critics by removing the federal government from the business of supplementing its growth. effects of this legislation in the form of a I was a cosponsor of the “Fair and Equitable Tobacco Reform Act of 2004” which was drug discount card program, which was included in the American Jobs Creation Act, a diverse, corporate tax bill designed to stimulate introduced in May 2004. For some this job growth (see story below). With bipartisan support from rural communities across the program has provided a degree of relief, South, we were able to get this legislation passed. We are proud of the work that the farmers, while for others it has fallen short. farm groups, businesses and others did to help get this legislation pushed through Congress. As prescription drug costs continue to rise at a dramatic rate, it is clear that for a plan to provide real savings it must at its core “The American address the price of prescription drugs. It Fighting for Our does no good to provide seniors with Jobs Creation Act” additional money to purchase drugs, if drug Values th companies just continue to raise their rates. Passed at the end of the 108 Rather, we need to look at options that keep Congress, “the American Jobs prices down. Unfortunately, the bill that Traveling around our district, one is Creation Act” was drafted in response constantly inspired by the values that define passed last year fails to do this. to a World Trade Organization ruling For example, the legislation which our region: the steadfast commitment to against U.S. export subsidies, but the family, the meaning of a hard day’s work, passed prevents the Secretary of Health and legislation contains so much more for Human Services from negotiating with drug devotion to God and a patriotic love of our American business. Aside from the country. These are the ideals that set our companies for lower prices on behalf of landmark tobacco buyout, long Medicare recipients. This is a practice community apart and make me proud to call awaited by our farm communities, the Southwest Georgia my home. These are also currently in place at the Veterans bill attempts to close abusive tax Administration that is estimated to save the values that I am fighting for in Congress. shelters and loopholes for This past year I cosponsored and voted veterans nearly 40 percent on prescription corporations, while working to help drug costs. It is also in practice in countries in favor of an amendment to the U.S. small businesses, manufacturers, Constitution that would define marriage as a like Canada where some drugs are available foresters and even racetrack owners. at a fraction of the cost here at home. While union between one man and one woman. Some of the bills highlights include: This is the most responsible way to protect such savings would clearly cut into drug the traditional definition of marriage and · 3% tax reduction on domestic company profits, if our goal is real while the amendment did not pass the House manufacturing prescription drug relief for our seniors, this of Representatives. · Incentives for small businesses investment provision must be reexamined. I am also diligent in fighting to protect · Repeal of the fuel excise tax We should also take another look at the Pledge of Allegiance from those who · Subsidies for fuel alternatives allowing Americans to import drugs from want to remove all references to a higher countries such as Canada.Of course, we must power from our public discourse. This is not · Reduction in restaurant depreciation. always put the safety of our consumers first; reflective of us as a nation. This year I yet many of these drugs were actually cosponsored the Pledge Protection Act of manufactured in the United States. 2004, which sought to elevate our nation’s The situation can be overwhelming, pledge of allegiance from the jurisdiction of Tax Relief for Families confusing and even frightening, as few things our court system. Activists should not be are as serious as our health and the health of able to amend our nation’s values. Ending the our loved ones. Our goal is not to scare I believe that students should be allowed seniors, but rather to reexamine the issue so to worship in schools and it is wrong to burn that we might provide the best relief possible. a flag. While we are a nation of many religions Marriage Penalty No one should ever be forced to choose we are also a nation based on faith and I will between a meal and life saving medication. continue to work for those values Tax time is difficult enough; yet for too If you have any questions or concerns long married couples have been punished about the drug discount card program or by the U.S. Tax Code simply for being benefits that will be available through married. During the last year, we fought to Medicare you may call 1-800-MEDICARE, Government in Crisis correct this by permanently setting the www.medicare.gov, www.familiesusa.org or standard deduction for married couples at call one of our offices for assistance. twice that of single taxpayers, while Deficit Keeps increasing the 15% tax bracket for married couples to twice that for single taxpayers. Growing While these measures are not yet COMING SOON permanent, thanks to legislation passed this This past November, for the third time year, married couples filing jointly will have Congressman Bishop’s in three years, the House of Representatives relief from the marriage penalty until 2010. E-Newsletter voted to increase the limit on the national Until then, we will continue the fight to see For more information, visit: debt—this time by a $800 billion to a total that these provisions become permanent. www.house.gov/bishop $8.18 trillion. The reason: the government is spending more money than it is taking in.. While drastic cuts to domestic spending have been made across the board, record amounts continue to be spent on the military action Recovering from Charley, Frances, and reconstruction in Iraq. That, coupled with a slowed economy and generous tax cuts Ivan and Jeanne... causes the budget deficit to keep growing. This is irresponsible and members on This summer, South Georgia receive its fair share of assistance. In boths sides of the aisle are encouraging the experienced one of the worst hurricane October, as we worked to complete the reinstatement of the “pay as you go” rules seasons in history. Agricultural producers Military Construction Appropriations that were in effect in the 1990’s, when the were among the worst affected by the high bill, we recognized an opportunity to federal budget was on its way to record winds and heavy rains which caused include $11.6 billion to assist hurricane budget surpluses. incalculable devastation. victims, including $2.9 billion for “Pay as you go” means that before tax Federal assistance is crucial to national agriculture disaster assistance. cuts or spending can be approved, they must alleviating the short and long-term impact For more information on disaster be paid for. This is a common sense provision that these storms will have on our family assistance contact one of our offices or that each of us put in to practice when we farmers, which is why we fought to www.FEMA.gov or www.gemainfo.gov. balance our own checkbooks. Congress needs guarantee that South Georgia would to be more responsible.