Congressman Sanford Bishop, representing the second congressional district, gave the federal legislative update during the second half of the Chamber’s Eggs and Issues legislative breakfast. “You renewed my contract for another two years, and for that I am deeply grateful. I am committed to working for and in your behalf in Washington.” The Congressman noted he would start his 33rd year as representative of the second congressional district in January. “’I’m glad to join you today as we close out 2024 so I can provide an overview of federal issues and how Congress has worked in partnership with our state partners, as well as Sumter County, the municipal folks and our organizational leaders to help our community to grow.”

Bishop told of congressional work with the current administration. “I’m proud to say that Congress worked very closely with the Biden-Harris administration to deliver some of the most transformative legislation in 2021 and 2022. We were able to pass some monumental laws, like the American Rescue Plan, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Inflation Reduction Act, the CHIPS and Science Act, the Safer Communities Act, and the PACT Act, vital funding bills, our annual appropriations bills, and disaster relief bills to help communities across the Country, including Georgia, recover from natural disasters like the hurricanes, flooding, tornados, droughts and wildfires.”

He totaled the federal spending on the community. “Over $94 million in federal funds were granted to Sumter County, [its] municipalities and organizations serving the community. That’s just grants alone, that does not include the millions of loans and disbursements of Social Security, VA, and other benefits.”

Bishop stated that even more federal money impacted the community. “That also does not include the millions of dollars that Congress has provided to the State of Georgia through the various block grants and the revolving funds that we provide.”

He gave an example. “In just the last two years, the State of Georgia received over $33 million each year, which were then redistributed by the State through the Department of Community Affairs. Americus was awarded $750,000, Community Development Block Grant, through the Department of Community Affairs and the U.S. Housing [and] Urban Development, for street and drainage improvements on Sun Valley Drive.”

Bishop told of securing funds for local institutions. “I led the charge to secure congressionally directed spending, we used to call them earmarks, for the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers, as well as the Southwest Georgia Children’s Alliance. In the fiscal year 2022, we got $1.1 million in community project funding for the Rosalynn Carter Institute to identify best practices, provide comprehensive training, and develop a virtual care giving assistance platform for the caregiving community nation-wide.”

He noted funding secured for additional organizations in the fiscal year 2023. “In FY23, I was able to secure over a million dollars to support the Rosalynn Carter Institute’s Dealing with Dementia program. The Institute remains one of the premiere organizations in America to help improve the quality of caregiving and provide much needed support for caregivers. We directly secured $1.85 million for the Boys and Girls Club of Albany, Georgia, to support its programs in Dougherty County, Sumter County and Macon counties and directly secured over $350,000 to help the Southwest Georgia Children’s Alliance help the victims of domestic violence.”

Bishop listed projects that had been funded. “We got $850,000 for Friends on a Mission Homeless Shelter, for construction of new shelters here in Sumter County.”

He gave further totals for the past four years. “Americus Housing Authority received over $16.5 million. The Cities of Americus and Leslie received $43,000 and $25,000, respectively.”

Bishop told of support to other local organizations. “Over the last four years, the federal government granted over $2.2 million [to] Americus-Sumter County Movement Remembered Committee, which works to preserve the legacy of Americus civil rights movement in this community. There were over $1.7 million in federal funds for the historic Campbell chapel restoration project.”

He also told of support for One Sumter. “The One Sumter Economic Development Foundation was awarded $1.2 million in federal funds for FY 22 directed by Senator Ossoff to help support its mission.”

Bishop also told of funding for power. “I wanted to note the investments that we made in the Rural Energy for America Program, through the inflation Reduction Act. Sumter EMC and the other 899 EMCS in the 48 lower states are receiving billions of dollars through the inflation Reduction Act to increase efficiency and lower costs to the rate payers.”

He gave further updates. “In 2020, the Jimmy Carter National Historic Park redesignation Act was signed into law by President Trump. This changed what was previously a National Historic Site into a National Historic Park, and with that change came increased access to resources and public awareness of this local treasure.”

Bishop told of further Carter related legislation. “This week, I anticipate a vote on a bill that I offered and which is supported by the entire Georgia congressional delegation, to. . . rename the post office in Plains after former President Jimmy Carter and his late wife Miss Rosalynn. I’m also working with my colleagues, both within and without Georgia, to honor President Carter with the congressional gold medal, which is the highest award that Congress can bestow.”

Joey Recker, Mayor of Plains, gave the closing address. He extended his thanks and appreciation for the Sumter County Chamber of Commerce and One Sumter. “We stand together in Sumter County, because we are Sumter strong.” He also honored John Crawford, with Coleman Talley Strategies, for lobbying on behalf of Sumter County.

For further information on the Eggs and Issues legislative breakfast, see Eggs and Issues Part 1.