Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart and solemn remembrance that I rise today to pay tribute to a dedicated husband, father, community servant, and soldier, LTC (Ret.) Jerry ``Jay'' White II. Sadly, LTC White passed away on September 20, 2018. A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, February 27, 2019, at Old Post Chapel at Fort Myer and will be followed by a burial via caisson at Arlington National Cemetery.

LTC White was born on September 23, 1966, to the union of U.S. Army Major General (Ret.) Jerry and Linda (Pickens) White in St. Mary's, West Virginia. As a member of a military family, LTC White attended several schools before graduating from Leilahua High School in Wahiawa, Hawaii, and going on the receive a bachelor's degree in Business from the University of Hawaii, where he also attended ROTC. He later continued his studies and earned a masters degree in International Affairs from The Georgia Institute of Technology.

It has been said that ``Service is the rent that we pay for the space that we occupy here on this earth.'' LTC White paid his rent and he paid it well. His distinguished military career officially commenced when he entered the Army as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry after graduating from the University of Hawaii. Over the course of his career, LTC White distinguished himself as a great soldier. After graduating from the demanding Airborne, Ranger, and Air Assault Courses, he reported for duty at the legendary 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) in Fort Campbell, Kentucky. There he served in the 1/327 Infantry Battalion, the same unit where his father had served during the Vietnam War. He also excelled in leadership positions and was awarded the Bronze Star and Combat Infantryman's Badge for his service during the First Gulf War. His later assignments included duty at Fort Lewis, Washington; Paris, France, and Brussels, Belgium, where he trained as an Army European Foreign Area Officer; and Washington, D.C., where he served as a liaison officer for United States Southern Command and later as an advisor to the Washington, D.C. National Guard.

Even after honorably serving his country, he continued to give of himself in service to his community. As an avid Washington, D.C. sports fan, he enjoyed attending Redskins and Nationals games as well as working with youth by volunteering as the Braddock Road Youth Club softball commissioner and a team coach for many years.

LTC White achieved much in his life but none of it would have been possible without the love and support of his loving parents, Jerry and Linda; his wife Jennifer; his children, Juliana and Jameson; and a host of family and friends that will miss him deeply.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me, my wife, Vivian; and the more than 730,000 constituents of the Second Congressional District in recognizing LTC (Ret.) Jerry ``Jay'' White II for his dedicated service to our country and his community and in extending our condolences to his family and friends. May they be consoled and comforted by their abiding faith and the Holy Spirit in the days, weeks and months ahead.

Mr. Speaker, when I spoke on the floor about finishing the FY19 bills, we were in the midst of what turned out to be the longest government shutdown in our history. Thankfully, that is behind us. But to ensure it stays behind us, we need to pass this conference report.

The bipartisan leadership and staff and the conferees have done an admirable job. This bill is good but not perfect. It makes significant investments in rural development; it includes language setting aside funding for persistent poverty counties; it has a modest increase for the Farm Production and Conservation mission area; and domestic nutrition programs are all well-funded.

On the international side, the bill provides good funding for Food for Peace and the McGovern-Dole Program.

Finally, FDA gets $3 billion, including significant investments to fight the opioid epidemic.

But I must say, candidly, that I have some regrets. My strongest regret, however, is that we are not considering the disaster supplemental today.

The House and Senate passed separate bills a month ago that would have provided desperately needed relief to our farmers, ranchers, and communities coast to coast, in Hawaii and the territories that were devastated by tragic disasters, but those bills must still be reconciled. The country must get this disaster bill passed, and get it passed soon.

Mr. Speaker, the conferees have done well; nevertheless, I urge my colleagues to support this bill. It is a good bill.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a distinguished public servant, dedicated statesman, mentor, and dear friend of longstanding, The Honorable Jack T. Brinkley, Sr. Sadly, Jack passed away on January 23, 2019, at the age of 88. His passing marks the close of a long and prolific life, and his departure leaves a void in the hearts of many Georgians. He leaves behind an impeccable legacy of service that will never be forgotten. A funeral service was held on Saturday, January 26, 2019, at 2 p.m. at Evangel Temple in Columbus, Georgia.

Jack Thomas Brinkley, Sr. was born on December 22, 1930, to the union of the late Lonnie and Stella Brinkley in Faceville, Georgia. A product of the Decatur County Public School System, he graduated from Attapulgus High School in 1947 and Young Harris College in 1949 before working as an educator and basketball coach from 1949 to 1951. In 1951, he joined the United States Air Force where he served for 5 years as a combat crew pilot. After honorably serving his country, he obtained his Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Georgia School of Law, was admitted to the bar, and became a prominent lawyer with Young, Hollis, and Mosely and later with Coffin and Brinkley, both in Columbus, Georgia.

He served in the General Assembly of Georgia for two one-year terms from 1965 to 1966. While serving as the State Representative for District 112, he was appointed Chairman of the Local Affairs Committee, authored legislation to require phenylketonuria (PKU) testing for newborn infants, and spearheaded the protest against the closure of the Warm Springs Institute for which he later sponsored funding legislation.

In 1966, he was elected to Congress from the 3rd District of Georgia at age 35, and served for eight terms, retiring from the 97th Congress in 1983. While serving as the representative for Georgia's Third Congressional District, Jack authored several key pieces of legislation. Following the Vietnam War, he was the author of legislation establishing the Gold Star Wives Charter. He also authored dual use legislation in Civil Defense during the Carter administration which authorized, by statute, federal response to natural and wartime disasters. Jack was also the author of legislation designating Andersonville as a National Historic Site, which transferred it from the Department of the Army to the Department of Interior. With the help of his Co-Chairman, the Honorable Rudy Hayes of Americus, he was able to place the Georgia Memorial at the site.

During his last Congressional term before retirement, he was Chairman of the Military Construction Subcommittee, which had jurisdiction over military acquisitions and disposals, and as such, blocked the transfer of land at Fort Gillam chosen for the Region IV Veteran's cemetery. Subsequently, under Jack's leadership, the Fort Mitchell VA cemetery was approved by the Reagan Administration.

During the last terms of his service in Congress, there was intense competition for the location of an army plan for One Station Unit Training (OSUT), where basic infantry training was to be combined with advanced infantry training to reduce costs. Endorsements from the New England Mid-West Coalition for Fort Drum in New York and Senator Strom Thurmond for Fort Jackson in South Carolina initially blocked the Army's choice of Fort Benning. However, Jack's move to Chairman of the Military Construction Subcommittee led to the authorization of the reception station at Sand Hill at Fort Benning. Jack was also pivotal in establishing Interstate 185 connecting Interstate 85 to Columbus, Georgia. As a Congressman, Jack placed a huge emphasis on constituent service and attendance, as he was known for passionately advocating for citizens facing the heavy hand of bureaucracy and rarely missed a vote or quorum call.

He was a CIVITAN, a Master Mason, and an attorney for 50 years, but he was a Christian for all of his life. He was baptized when he was almost ten years old at Betts' Mill Pond and he practiced the requirements of Micah to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with thy God. He faithfully took his family to Edgewood Baptist Church and taught Sunday School there for many years, before joining Evangel Temple, where he served until his passing.

Jack was more than a legislator, he was a servant to all humankind. He gave of himself to countless causes and organizations. Dr. Maya Angelou once said that ``I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back.'' Jack threw a prodigious amount of love and service back to the state and nation he loved so dearly.

Jack achieved much in his life but none of it would have been possible without the love and support of his loving family. While he was preceded in death by his late and dearly beloved wife, Lois Kite Brinkley, and his son, Jack, Jr.; his legacy lives on through his dearly beloved wife, Sally; his son, Fred; and a host of family and friends who will miss him deeply.

On a personal note, Jack Brinkley was a mentor to me. But more importantly, he was indeed a role model for my career in public service. From his strong example of constituent service, to his eloquent use of poems and appropriate quotations in his oral and written presentations. Jack Brinkley has been the model I have sought to emulate. He held fast to his promise to ``remember who I am, where I'm from, and who sent me.'' The world and human kind are better because Jack passed this way.

Jack was truly a great representative for Southwest Georgia and a stellar example of how a public servant should serve his constituents. His friendship, leadership, and counsel will be sorely missed.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join my wife, Vivian, and me, along with thousands in the Chattahoochee Valley and across America in paying tribute to former Georgia Congressman Jack T. Brinkley, Sr. for a life well lived and in extending our deepest sympathies to his family, friends, and loved ones during this difficult time of bereavement. Moreover, we pray that they will be consoled and comforted by an abiding faith and the Holy Spirit in the days, weeks, and months ahead.

Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart and solemn remembrance that I rise today to pay tribute to a great man and outstanding public servant, the former Sheriff of Early County, Georgia, Mr. Jimmie Ray Murkerson. Sadly, Sheriff Murkerson passed away on Sunday, January 27, 2019. Funeral services will be held on Friday, February 1, 2019, at 2 p.m. at the First Assembly of God Church in Blakely, Georgia.

The Blakely, Georgia native was born on June 7, 1947 to the union of the late Leon and Cherrie Murkerson. In addition to being a loving father, son, husband, and friend, Jimmie was also a Vietnam Veteran, store owner {Early Tree Service and Blakely Floor Covering), farmer, former Blakely City Councilman, and former Early County Sheriff.

Sheriff Murkerson was employed with the Early County Sheriff's Office for more than 34 years and he proved to be a strong and revered leader. As the chief law enforcement officer, he was responsible for patrolling and responding to calls within the 516 square mile area of Early County, where the population is just over 10,000 people. During his tenure as Sheriff, he spearheaded the consolidation of various law enforcement services in the county, which resulted in more efficient, resourceful, and proactive law enforcement for the citizens of Early County.

Sheriff Murkerson embodied the definition of a public servant through his strong leadership, steadfast dedication, and unwavering compassion. He served on the Georgia Peace Officers Standards and Training Council; the Governor's Children and Youth Coordinating Council; the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council; the Board of Directors of the ABAC Police Academy; and the Executive Board of the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education. He also served as the 1997-98 President of the Georgia Sheriffs' Association and the President of the Georgia Sheriffs' Youth Homes.

Sheriff Murkerson's dedication to enforcing the law and protecting the public earned him several awards including the 2011 Georgia Sheriffs' Association's Sheriff of the Year award; the Georgia Sheriffs' Association's Distinguished Humanitarian Award (which he received twice); and the Governor's Peace Officers Award.

Maya Angelou once said, ``A great soul serves everyone all the time. A great soul never dies.'' Sheriff Murkerson is undoubtedly great because of his distinguished service to his community, devotion to his work, and the compassion he showed for his friends and loved ones.

He is survived by his wife, Sarah; children, Tracie and Jimmie, Jr.; and a host of family, friends, and loved ones who will miss him deeply.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join my wife, Vivian, and me, along with the more than 730,000 people of Georgia's Second Congressional District in paying tribute to former Early County Sheriff Jimmie Ray Murkerson for his legacy of service to Early County and the great state of Georgia. We extend our deepest sympathies to his family, friends, and loved ones during this difficult time of bereavement. Moreover, we pray that they will be consoled and comforted by an abiding faith and the Holy Spirit in the days, weeks, and months ahead.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a loving husband, dedicated father, doting grandfather, distinguished educator, and committed servant to humankind, Mr. William ``W.T.'' Thomas Henry. Sadly, W.T. passed away on Monday, January 28, 2019. His funeral will be held on Thursday, January 31, 2019, at 2 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Albany, Georgia. He leaves behind a host of family and a legacy of service that will never be forgotten.

William ``W.T.'' Thomas Henry, Sr. was born on October 7, 1938, to the union of the late Jeff and Ludie Gray Henry in Colquitt, Georgia. He graduated from Miller County High school in 1956, where his athletic prowess allowed him to letter in several sports. W.T. went on to attend Young Harris College and Troy State University where he earned a Bachelor's degree in Education. Never one to rest on his laurels, he went on to earn Master's degrees in Physical Education and Administration Supervision from Florida State University.

W.T. found his true calling and purpose in life by working with our most precious resource, young people. His prodigious career in education spanned 46 remarkable years in both public and private schools. W.T. positively impacted the lives of students at Arlington High School, Damascus High School, Miller County High School, and Albany Junior High School. He taught math and coached basketball, track, football, and basketball. W.T. taught his athletes how to be successful on the courts and athletic fields, but more importantly he taught them skills that would help them to succeed in the game of life. W.T. left the classroom and the athletic fields to conquer his next challenge, School Administration. He became the principal of Miller County High School and blazed the trail for others by becoming the founding headmaster of Southwest Georgia Academy in 1970.

He left his true love for a short time and worked in the peanut industry. But, he quickly realized this endeavor was not for him and returned to education. He moved to Albany, Georgia and became the Lower School Director for Deerfield-Windsor School. Because he excelled in this position, he became the Headmaster of Deerfield-Windsor School, retiring after 20 years of extraordinary service in 2009.

His tentacles of service stretched far beyond the schools at which he served with distinction. He was a former President of the Georgia Independent Schools and he also served on the Georgia State Board of Education, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and the Georgia Accrediting Commission.

Most importantly, W.T. was a man of God and was guided by his faith. He was a faithful member of the First United Methodist Church and served on its Board of Directors.

W.T. loved his family and instilled in them the values of faith in God, hard work, and a commitment to serving their fellow man. He had an infectious personality and never met a stranger. He had a special gift of saying the right thing to someone who was in distress at just the right time.

W.T. Henry was a great man and accomplished many things in his life, but none of these things would have been possible without the love and support of his family. His legacy lives on through his wife, Ruth; his children, Lea, Bo, and Kristin; his grandchildren, and all of those whose lives he touched.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join my wife, Vivian, and me, along with the more than 730,000 constituents of the Second Congressional District of Georgia in saluting and honoring the life of Mr. William ``W.T.'' Thomas Henry for his commitment to young people and humankind and in extending our deepest condolences to Mr. Henry's family during this difficult time of bereavement. We pray that they will be consoled and comforted by an abiding faith and the Holy Spirit in the days, weeks, and months ahead.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, last fall we were very close to finishing this bill and bringing it up for a vote; had we passed it then we would not be in the mess we are in today. But we can't go back in time. We are now in the 33rd day of the shutdown. Vital services are eliminated or stretched to the breaking point. The shutdown must end. It can end if we pass this excellent bill.

I want to address my colleagues who objected to voting for the Senate-passed bill a few weeks ago because they said it did not protect House priorities. This bill does and was negotiated with all four sides, House and Senate majorities and House and Senate minorities. Each side had an equal voice.

Former Chairman Aderholt, Chairman Hoeven, Senator Merkley, and I, along with our staffs--committee staffs and personal staffs--worked together on the bill. I certainly would like to thank them for the very respectful and collegial way we worked through the various issues of agreement and disagreement to arrive at this bipartisan product. Additionally, we look forward to working with Mr. Fortenberry, the new ranking member of the subcommittee.

House priorities were protected whenever possible. Here are some examples: the bill is at the House level of $550 million for rural broadband expansion, above the Senate level. House language barring Chinese poultry in school meals is included. House language setting aside funding for persistent poverty counties is included. The House position to continue funding construction of Federal agriculture research buildings is maintained, where the Senate bill provided no funding. The higher House level for healthy foods financing, and the higher House level for rural housing assistance grants to help rural elderly and low-income homeowners stay in their homes is included.

Most importantly, this bill is good for the country. It provides over $23 billion in discretionary funding equal to the FY18 level. It reflects the more than 1,000 requests for agricultural research funding that we received from House Members, providing $3.4 billion, an increase of $388 million above the fiscal year 2018 level.

The farm production and conservation mission area, which includes the Farm Service Agency, is well funded at $2.75 billion.

I thank the Secretary, Secretary Perdue, and, most importantly, the Farm Service Agency employees for coming back to work for 2 weeks, and part-time thereafter, in order to process critical emergency loans, assist with additional administration services, and help with tax documents. But they need to be paid.

The bill also makes significant investments in rural development by providing $41 billion in loans and grants, including the House level of $550 million for rural broadband.

Domestic food programs are well funded. I am proud of the fact that the bill includes $110 million, a 72 percent increase over the normal funding level, to help our Nation's food banks handle the high volume of commodities that will become available as a result of the USDA's trade mitigation plan.

On the international side, the bill provides $1.7 billion for Food for Peace and funds the McGovern-Dole program at $210 million.

Finally, it provides FDA with $3 billion in discretionary funding, $269 million above fiscal year 2018. It includes more funding for House priorities than the Senate bill we considered a couple of weeks ago and includes important investments to fight the opioid epidemic that were not in the House bill.

This good bill will end the shutdown at USDA and FDA. Funds for economic development loans and grants for rural areas will begin to flow again. It will ensure the continuation of the National School Lunch Program, WIC, and SNAP without interruption.

It will allow some 8,400 USDA meat and poultry inspectors to be paid for the work that they have been doing for free and will allow FDA to conduct food safety inspections at the necessary level instead of the bare minimum.

As I have said before, this bill touches the lives of every American. I implore Members on both sides to support this bill. Reopen the government. It is time that we restore the services Americans count on and pay the people who provide them.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a dedicated woman of God, great wife, steadfast mother, and friend of longstanding, Mrs. Johnnie Lee Brown Collier. Sadly, Mrs. Collier passed away on December 27, 2018. Her funeral service was held on Thursday, January 3, 2019 at 11 a.m. at the Fourth Street Missionary Baptist Church in Columbus, Georgia.

Mrs. Johnnie Lee Brown Collier was born on October 22, 1926, in Columbus, Georgia to the union of Cleola Daniel Brown and John Brown, Sr. She gave her life to Christ and was baptized at an early age at Rosehill Memorial Baptist Church. From that time on, God continued to be the center of her life until her passing. She served as the Sunday School Superintendent and Church Clerk at Rosehill before moving her membership to the Fourth Street Missionary Baptist Church in 1957. Her first pastor at Fourth Street was the late Reverend Henry Harris. Mrs. Collier paved the way for others as she was the first Church Secretary at Fourth Street. She was a natural and gifted leader as she served in a variety of leadership positions at Fourth Street to include the Deacon's Wives (she served as Chairperson for two terms), PICCM Community Leader in Zebulon Community, Women's Day Speaker, 1961, Chairperson of Program and Pastoral Relations Committee, and was the Roast and Toast Honoree in 1996.

Mrs. Collier was the epitome of a great wife and mother. She married the late Deacon Samuel Lee Collier on April 26, 1950. God blessed this union for 34 years until Deacon Collier's untimely death on May 27, 1984. Six children were born to this union to include two sets of twins: Bernice Collier Collins, Bernard Collier (deceased), Agnes Collier Averett, Samuel Lee Collier, Jr., Michelle Collier McClain, and Michael Collier. Fred Rogers once said that, ``It's not so much what you have in life that matters, It's what we do with what we have.'' Mrs. Collier did a lot for others with what she had. In addition to her own children, she served as a mother figure to her siblings and countless others she found in need of guidance and a helping hand.

Former Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm once said that, ``Service is the rent that we pay for the space that we occupy here on this earth.'' Mrs. Collier paid her rent and she paid it well. She served in a variety of community organizations to include: Electric City Chapter 482 of the Order of the Eastern Stars (Worthy Matron), Spencer High Alumni (Class of 1943), Muscogee County Board of Elections (Voting Precinct Manager); and she traveled to various state conventions to further her knowledge of the voting process. She was also an entrepreneur and a photographer. Her professional career took her to the Medical Center, the Area Mental Health Clinic, and the Enrichment Services Program. Her benevolence extended throughout the community and she often used her influence and networking to help others to find gainful employment.

Madam Speaker, my wife Vivian and I, along with the more than 730,000 constituents of the Second Congressional District of Georgia, salute and honor the life of Mrs. Johnnie Lee Brown Collier. I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join us in extending our deepest condolences to Mrs. Collier's family during this time of bereavement. We pray that they will be consoled and comforted by an abiding faith and the Holy Spirit in the days, weeks and months ahead.

Madam Chair, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.

Madam Chair, I rise to speak on behalf of the bill before us.

Madam Chair, on October 10, 2018, Hurricane Michael, one of the most powerful storms to make landfall in the U.S., slammed into the Florida Panhandle, then directly into Georgia, and drove through much of the Southeast. It left a path of destruction all the way up to Virginia. My district, which spans middle and southwest Georgia, took a direct hit.

Across the State of Georgia, small towns and rural communities were devastated, as were production agriculture and forestry. Agriculture is the largest industry in Georgia, driving one in seven jobs. Many producers suffered near 100 percent crop losses.

Hurricane Michael destroyed some 97 chicken houses and killed more than 2 million chickens. It devastated the Georgia cotton crop, which was nearing peak harvest and was on track to be the best season in years.

Unfortunately, this is all too familiar for the region. This is the third straight year hurricane damage has caused significant losses to the pecan, peanut, cotton, vegetable, forestry, landscaping, and agritourism industries.

Less than a month before Hurricane Michael, Hurricane Florence crashed into the Carolinas, causing $22 billion in damage. The agricultural losses there are also overwhelming. Several lagoons responsible for containing animal waste were breached and are in drastic need of repair.

Last year, California witnessed yet another devastating fire season, including both the largest and deadliest fires on record. In Hawaii, volcanic activity caused farmers nearly $30 million in damage. Americans in the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa were also hit by violent storms.

This disaster supplemental bill provides the funds to begin addressing these needs. This bill increases payments for losses from 85 to 90 percent for producers with crop insurance and from 65 to 70 percent for producers without insurance. It also includes $150 million for the rural community facilities program. From debris removal to the repair of local infrastructure, such as drinking water and water systems, small communities across the Nation and the territories often struggle to rebuild in the aftermath of natural disasters.

The legislation includes $480 million for the Emergency Forest Restoration Program and $125 million for the Natural Resources Conservation Service. It provides $600 million in funds for the nutrition assistance program in Puerto Rico and $10.2 million to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

From coast to coast and beyond, there is an urgent need for this disaster bill. As I said in October after touring the damage from Hurricane Michael, responding to natural disasters and helping our communities recover is a responsibility we all share, regardless of geography, ideology, or political affiliation.

Madam Chair, I urge all my colleagues to support this bill and to bring relief to our communities that continue to recover and rebuild. Let's open the government and get this job done for the American people.

Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chair, I rise to speak on behalf of this amendment, which is cosponsored by my very good friend, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Austin Scott), and 12 other distinguished Members on both sides of the aisle.

As I said during general debate, Hurricane Michael devastated my district and left a path of destruction all the way up to Virginia. Across the State of

Georgia, many producers suffered nearly 100 percent crop loss. Damages were experienced by the pecan, peanut, cotton, vegetable, and timber industries, and this is the third straight year these folks were hit.

A few weeks before that, Hurricane Florence hit the Carolinas, causing $22 billion in damage. Last year, Californians witnessed another devastating wildfire season, while Hawaii suffered from volcano damage, the Northern Mariana Islands were hit by typhoons, and American Samoa, by a horrific cyclone.

This disaster supplemental bill provides funds to begin addressing these needs for our agriculture and our rural communities. The bill increases payments for losses from 85 to 90 percent for producers who have crop insurance and from 65 to 70 percent for producers without crop insurance.

Unfortunately, the $1.1 billion in the bill was based only on USDA's assessment of need, nationwide. However, the various State departments of agriculture, those States that were devastated by these disasters, submitted to the committee assessments which came to over $7 billion.

To ensure that more of these needs can be fully met, Mr. Scott and I put our heads together. We looked at the numbers and concluded that the original estimate by the Department of Agriculture of $1.1 billion in damages could very well and was, most likely, going to be too low; so we have offered this amendment to increase it by $1.9 billion, for a total of $3 billion.

I urge a ``yes'' vote on the Bishop-Scott amendment. It was needed. We want to make sure that we can do what is necessary to allow Americans who were devastated by these natural disasters to have sufficient recovery.

Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, to close, I just want to reiterate how important it is for us to pass sufficient resources in order to allow these communities that have been devastated all across the United States, as well as the territories, to recover from these natural disasters.

Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a dedicated woman of God, great wife, steadfast mother, and friend of longstanding, Mrs. Johnnie Lee Brown Collier. Sadly, Mrs. Collier passed away on December 27, 2018. Her funeral service was held on Thursday, January 3, 2019 at 11 am at the Fourth Street Missionary Baptist Church in Columbus, Georgia.

Mrs. Johnnie Lee Brown Collier was born on October 22, 1926, in Columbus, Georgia to the union of Cleola Daniel Brown and John Brown, Sr. She gave her life to Christ and was baptized at an early age at Rosehill Memorial Baptist Church. From that time on, God continued to be the center of her life until her passing. She served as the Sunday School Superintendent and Church Clerk at Rosehill before moving her membership to the Fourth Street Missionary Baptist Church in 1957. Her first pastor at Fourth Street was the late Reverend Henry Harris. Mrs. Collier paved the way for others as she was the first Church Secretary at Fourth Street. She was a natural and gifted leader as she served in a variety of leadership positions at Fourth Street to include the Deacon's Wives (she served as Chairperson for two terms), PICCM Community Leader in Zebulon Community, Women's Day Speaker, 1961, Chairperson of Program and Pastoral Relations Committee, and was the Roast and Toast Honoree n 1996.

Mrs. Collier was the epitome of a great wife and mother. She married the late Deacon Samuel Lee Collier on April 26, 1950. God blessed this union for 34 years until Deacon Collier's untimely death on May 27, 1984. Six children were born to this union to include two sets of twins: Bernice Collier Collins, Bernard Collier (deceased), Agnes Collier Averett, Samuel Lee Collier, Jr., Michelle Collier McClain, and Michael Collier. Fred Rogers once said that, ``It's not so much what you have in life that matters, It's what we do with what we have.'' Mrs. Collier did a lot for others with what she had. In addition to her own children, she served as a mother figure to her siblings and countless others she found in need of guidance and a helping hand.

Former Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm once said that, ``Service is the rent that we pay for the space that we occupy here on this earth.'' Mrs. Collier paid her rent and she paid it well. She served in a variety of community organizations to include: Electric City Chapter 482 of the Order of the Eastern Stars (Worthy Matron), Spencer High Alumni (Class of 1943), and she was a Muscogee County Board of Elections Voting Precinct Manager and she traveled to various state conventions to further her knowledge of the voting process. She was also an entrepreneur and a photographer. Her professional career took her to the Medical Center, the Area Mental Health Clinic, and the Enrichment Services Program Her benevolence extended throughout the community and she often used her influence and networking to help others to find gainful employment.

Madam Speaker, my wife Vivian and I, along with the more than 730,000 constituents of the Second Congressional District of Georgia, salute and honor the life of Mrs. Johnnie Lee Brown Collier. I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join us in extending our deepest condolences to Mrs. Collier's family during this time of bereavement. We pray that they will be consoled and comforted by an abiding faith and the Holy Spirit in the days, weeks and months ahead.

Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart and solemn remembrance that I rise today to pay tribute to a distinguished civil rights leader, an inspirational

spiritual leader, and true man of God, Reverend Doctor Cameron Madison Alexander, the beloved Pastor of Antioch Baptist Church North in Atlanta, Georgia. Sadly, Reverend Alexander transitioned from labor to reward on Sunday, December 30, 2018. He leaves in his wake many heavy hearts among his church family, community, and across the world. His funeral service was held on January 7, 2019, at 11 am at Antioch Baptist Church North located at 540 Cameron M. Alexander Blvd NW, Atlanta, GA, 30318. What a celebration of life it was.

Rev. Cameron Madison Alexander was born to the union of Reverend Homer M. and Augusta (Hutchins) Alexander on February 12, 1932. A product of the Atlanta Public School System, he graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in 1948, where he played football, ran track, and played saxophone in the band. After high school, he attended Florida A&M University, was in the Marching 100 band, and served his country in the United States Air Force. He then attended Morehouse College under President Dr. Benjamin E. Mays, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree, received his Master of Divinity degree from the Morehouse School of Religion, served there as the President and Treasurer as well as Trustee of the Morehouse School of Medicine. In recognition of his numerous contributions to society, he was awarded Honorary Doctor of Divinity degrees from the United Theological Seminary (1978), the Interdenominational Theological Center (1991), and Carver Bible College (2007).

His pastoral ministry began at Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Cartersville, Georgia. From there he was called to the Flagg Chapel Baptist Church in Milledgeville, Georgia, then in 1958 to New Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Macon where he became an activist leader against injustice, resulting in desegregation of the city buses, lunch counters, the Bowden Golf Course, and Mercer University. In 1965, Rev. Alexander was called to St. John Baptist Church in Savannah where he took his ministry beyond the church walls and formed a partnership with C&S Bank to improve 109 blocks of real estate in Savannah and provide affordable housing and jobs.

In 1969, while visiting Antioch as a guest, Reverend Alexander delivered a sermon so powerful that the church voted by write-in the next day to call him as Pastor. For almost 50 years, he was the driving force behind Antioch Baptist Church North. Under his leadership, the church grew from 600 members with an annual budget of less than $40,000 to 14,000 members and a multi-million dollar annual budget. He established over 75 ministries and outreach programs touching communities in Atlanta and across the world.

Rev. Alexander's extraordinary servant leadership was prolific. For 29 years, he served as President of the General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia which claims a membership of more than 800 churches; Vice President of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.; and Dean for the Sunday School and Baptist Training Union Congress. He trained, licensed, and ordained 600 ministers, 150 of whom went on to pastor other churches. He established the Antioch International Macedonian Missionaries (AIMM) ministry to touch ``the least of these'' beyond our nation's borders, addressing issues of inadequate safe drinking water, food, and medical care in Haiti, South Africa, Turkey, Columbia, and Brazil where AIMM facilitated opening the first university for black Brazilians known as Afrobras.

The City of Atlanta honored Dr. Alexander by naming a street for him. He was inducted into Atlanta Business League's Legends Hall of Fame and the International Civil Rights Hall of Fame at the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site. He was invited to submit one of his inaugural sermons to the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress which became part of the oral history and spoken word collections that preserve Americans' accounts of and reactions to important cultural events.

On a personal note, I met Dr. Alexander 40 years ago through my Pastor and his good friend, Dr. J.H. Flakes, Jr. of the Fourth Street Baptist Church of Columbus. His friendship, advice, and counsel were pivotal in my political career in The Georgia General Assembly and in Congress. I am better for having known him.

Dr. Alexander accomplished much in his life; yet, none of it would have been possible but for the Grace of God and the love and support of his family--including his beloved wife, Barbara; their four children, Gregory (deceased), Cameron, Kenneth, and Barbara; and his nine grandchildren, all of whom will miss him deeply.

Madam Speaker, my wife Vivian and I, along with countless others throughout Georgia and the nation salute Reverend Doctor Cameron Madison Alexander for his outstanding accomplishments in the ministry and his service to humankind. I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join us in extending our deepest sympathies to Reverend Alexander's family, friends, loved ones, and all who grieve during this difficult time of bereavement. We pray that they will be consoled and comforted by an abiding faith and the Holy Spirit in the days, weeks, and months ahead.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 28, I call up the bill (H.R. 265) making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, today marks the 20th day of the partial government shutdown. Each day pushes many of our government's vital services to the breaking point, further jeopardizing the 800,000 Federal employees who are furloughed and the countless other Americans feeling the shutdown's impact.

The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act is a critically important piece of legislation for our Nation. From the food we eat to the medications we depend on, this bill touches the lives of every American.

It must be passed now, and the furloughed employees at these vital Federal agencies, our farmers, our agribusinesses, and the other Americans who are depending on their livelihoods must be brought back to work.

Because of the shutdown, USDA has stopped making loans and grants for rural development programs such as housing, water and wastewater facilities, and community facilities. New grants to our universities for agriculture research can't be made.

Across the Nation, Farm Service Agency county offices have been closed since December 28. Farmers applying for relief from retaliatory tariffs are in limbo, waiting for the shutdown to end. Nearly 33,000 USDA employees who are funded by this bill are currently furloughed.

At the Food and Drug Administration, more than 10,000 employees are working without pay, while another 7,000 have been furloughed, which is impacting everything from user fee collections to the reduction of food safety inspections, jeopardizing the food we eat. According to USDA, nearly 9,000 people are working without pay to inspect our meat, poultry, and egg products.

This bill would fund the Food Safety and Inspection Service at over $1 billion and restore our safety.

I will be the first person to admit that this bill is not perfect, but no bill ever is. However, this is about opening the government and putting it back to work for the American people.

This bill has passed the Senate by a vote of 92-6. There is no reason why we should not pass this bill since it has already been adopted by the leadership of the Senate and the Members of the Senate overwhelmingly, so that we can put American workers back on the job.

Specifically, this legislation provides over $23 billion in discretionary funding for USDA and FDA. That is $225 million above the 2018 enacted level.

It provides $2.73 billion for agriculture research conducted by the Agricultural Research Service and NIFA, an increase of $114 million from fiscal year 2018. These increases will help to ensure American agriculture remains competitive with other nations.

The Farm Service Agency, whose county offices were shuttered on December 28, is funded at $1.6 billion. In my district, all the county offices are now closed. These offices are the primary line of communication for our farmers and our ranchers, providing critical data, processing loans, and answering questions. Without this assistance and information, they are left in the dark when it comes to planning for next year's harvest.

Peanut sellers and cotton growers, who suffered from Hurricane Michael recently, are at a loss. They have product that is stored in warehouses that they need to sell in order to get income, but they can't get those sales accomplished without an okay from the Farm Service Agency. Those offices are closed. Nobody is there.

This legislation also makes significant investments in rural development by providing $3.8 billion. It takes a balanced approach with investments in water and wastewater facilities, broadband, housing, and rural businesses.

Again, right now, as a result of the shutdown, loans and grants that help small towns and rural communities all across the country are not being made.

This legislation rejects the President's proposed elimination of the Food for Peace program and instead funds it at $1.716 billion, which is $216 million above the House bill. The McGovern-Dole program, which was also proposed for elimination by the President, is funded at $210 million, slightly above the House level. I might note that the House funded both of these, contrary to the President's wishes.

Finally, this legislation funds the Food and Drug Administration at $2.97 billion, which is $159 million above the fiscal year 2018 enacted level, a 6 percent increase.

I would also like to point out that this bill does better than the House in addressing the opioid crisis that is hitting every single district in the country.

It also provides more funding for food safety than the House bill.

After nearly 3 weeks of uncertainty, it looks like the nearly 40 million people who are receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits will be able to keep their benefits at least through February. However, the funds for SNAP beneficiaries, for a single mother or a small shopkeeper, will run dry in March.

This bill, which provides $73.2 billion in mandatory funding for SNAP, will end any doubt about this, and it will give these recipients the peace of mind that they deserve.

Through a diverse urban-rural coalition, this legislation includes our farmer safety net, our food and nutrition programs.

Families, farmers, ranchers, and producers go to work every morning; so should their government.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey), who is the first female chair of the United States House Committee on Appropriations.

Madam Speaker, I am delighted to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), a member of the Committee on Appropriations and chair of the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, and is the former chair of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee of Appropriations.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Let me just say that, as we said before, this bill is not perfect, but we should not let the perfect be the enemy of the good. Chief among the funding in this bill is funding that is included to combat one of the biggest public health risks today which is opioids. The bill provides strong support for the FDA to combat this opioid epidemic.

In addition to funds provided last year, it provides $59 million to continue the activities involved in inspecting, investigating, and screening of opioids. As the agency that oversees these drugs, the FDA has a vital responsibility, I agree, to make sure that the public health impacts of opioid abuse is mitigated, but this funding is just one part of a broad strategy to address opioids.

The committee strongly supports the FDA's role in intergovernmental efforts to confront the crisis, but since we must move forward and open the government, we urge adoption of this bill.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee), a member of the Committee on Appropriations, co-chair of the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, and a long-time advocate for the elimination of persistent poverty in America and across the world.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

It has been said many times that we shouldn't pass this bill which has previously been adopted by the Senate because the President will not sign it.

Well, I believe that we have three branches of government, and it is our obligation as the legislative branch to pass the laws. If we do our job, then we will let the President be held responsible for his failure to do his. We must keep this government open for the American people.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Maine (Ms. Pingree), a member of the Committee on Appropriations and a member of the Subcommittee for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, at this point I would just like to say that it is unconscionable that we will hold the American people hostage in denying them the services and the protections of their government, the much- needed paychecks for the workers employed by these agencies, simply to satisfy the ego of someone at the end of Pennsylvania Avenue.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone), who is the chairman of the authorizing Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to just say that the gentleman from Washington makes some salient points. I agree with the gentleman that the Freedom of Information Act and the SNAP retail sales language is something that we would love to have and should be in this legislation.

Also, I look forward to working with the gentleman to take care of that as we move forward in the 116th Congress, as well as our work on the H-2A program, which is in bad need of repair. And persistent poverty, the 10-20-30 program, we are happy that the gentleman is supportive and that the committee has been supportive. We look forward to making sure that that is implemented fully as we move forward.

But, right now, we have to open the government. We cannot afford to let this government remain closed to continue to hurt the American people.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott), who is my classmate and the chair of the Committee on Education and Labor.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Costa), who is a member of the authorizing House Committee on Agriculture. He represents an area in California that is called the salad bowl of our country.

Madam Speaker, I yield the gentleman from California an additional 20 seconds.

Madam Speaker, may I inquire how much time remains.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee), who is a member of the House Committee on Ways and Means and who is also the chief deputy whip.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz), the chair-designate of Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Panetta), as I prepare to close and urge my colleagues to open the Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration, and all the agencies. He is a member of the House Committee on Agriculture and Committee on Ways and Means. He also represents the salad bowl of this country.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve a point of order on the gentleman's motion.

Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of a point of order.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the motion to recommit.

Mr. Speaker, as many know, I have been and will continue to be an advocate and a supporter of rural broadband expansion. I view it as an obligation to provide adequate service for everyone, as it is vital to health, safety, the economy, and the welfare of all of our rural communities.

The $425 million that is provided in this bill will complement the $600 million that was provided in the FY 2018 bill, which has not yet been spent.

USDA recently completed the program design, and it can now begin implementing and, if this bill is enacted, awarding over $1 billion in broadband expansion funding to the communities that need it the most.

This funding is in addition to the other programs that assist communities in getting broadband services, including the Community Connect Program, the Broadband Loan Program, and the Distance Learning and Telecommunication Program.

We have funding in the works to accomplish the needs for rural broadband. We need to pass this bill because we need to open the government. We need to make sure that USDA and the Food and Drug Administration and all of the agencies that are shut down will open, and open quickly, to support the needs of the American people.

Mr. Speaker, I urge that this motion to recommit be rejected, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the FY19 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. This bill protects American families from being kicked out into the street in the dead of winter, ensures the safety of our skies, and quite literally, keeps our country moving.

This bill pays our hardworking air traffic controllers and reopens our air traffic training facilities. It allows our highway safety agencies to get back to work, including the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which investigates automotive defects and formulates automotive safety standards.

This bill ensures the National Transportation Safety Board can continue its investigations into deadly road, rail, marine, and aviation accidents, as well as its issuance of safety recommendations that drive policy changes that save thousands of lives.

This bill also reopens HUD, ensuring families aren't evicted due to this unnecessary shutdown. It enables FHA loans to be processed for prospective homebuyers across the nation, and it protects renters who rely on HUD inspectors to ensure safe and sanitary housing.

Finally, it allows the FAA to resume its issuance of aviator and engineer certifications, as well as its development and testing of next generation safety technologies.

Without these vital functions, our economy will be dragged to a halt, and American families will be left in the cold. I will be voting yes on this bill, and I hope my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will do the same.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the fiscal year 2019 Financial Services and General Government appropriations bill as an effective vehicle for reopening the

Federal Government agencies that are funded by this bill as expeditiously as possible.

The legislation before the House today is vitally important to ensuring the Federal Government and the U.S. economy can work for the American people. It safeguards our financial system, ensures a fair playing field for taxpayers, supports new businesses, cultivates the vibrancy and effectiveness of our telecommunications system, safeguards our workers, provides for the safety of our products, and protects the integrity of our elections.

Among the agencies funded under the bill are the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Federal Communications Commission, the Federal Trade Commission, the Federal Election Commission, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Small Business Administration.

With this current, unnecessary, misguided government shutdown, the agencies responsible for these objectives are not able to fulfill their mission for the American people.

Hundreds of thousands of Federal workers are being furloughed without pay; consumer help lines are going unanswered due to a lack of staff; enforcement activities are being suspended; and loans from the Small Business Administration are not being processed. In addition, with the closure of the Federal Election Commission, reports of political malfeasance are not being investigated.

And of great significance, without this funding, millions of Americans will not be able to have their tax returns processed so that they can receive the refunds on which they rely to make purchases and pay bills and school tuition. These refunds, when spent by taxpayers, contribute immensely to the national economy, creating and maintaining countless jobs.

As a member of the House Appropriations Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this legislation, which passed the Senate last month on a bipartisan vote of 92-6.

Let's reopen these agencies and put the government back to work for the people, for the American people.

Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart and solemn remembrance that I rise today to pay tribute to a remarkable statesman, public servant, Georgia State Representative, and friend of longstanding--Mr. Robert ``Bob'' Paul Hanner, Sr. Sadly, Representative Hanner passed away on Wednesday, January 2, 2019. His passing marks the close of a long and prolific life, and his departure leaves a void in the hearts of many Georgians. A funeral service for Representative Hanner was held on Saturday, January 5, 2019, at First Baptist Church of Dawson in Dawson, Georgia.

Robert Paul Hanner, Sr. was born in Americus, Georgia on April 19, 1945, to the union of the late Jack and Yip Hanner. A product of Georgia's educational systems, he attended Parrott Grammar School and Terrell High School before graduating from both Gordon Military College in Barnesville and Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus. He served his country honorably in the U.S. Coast Guard in Vietnam from 1967 to 1968.

In 1975, Bob was elected to the Georgia General Assembly, where he served until 2013, and represented House District 148, which included portions of Chattahoochee, Quitman, Lee, Terrell, Webster, and Stewart counties. During his 38 year tenure, he served as a member of the House Appropriations Committee, Rules Committee, Natural Resources and Environment Committee, Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee, Chairman of the Reapportionment Committee, and Chairman of the Game, and Fish and Parks Committee. He also served as Co-Chair of the State- wide Water Management Commission. Bob served as Co-Chair of the Joint Blue Ribbon Study Commission on State Government Decentralization and the Joint Comprehensive Water Study Committee. He also worked with the Agriculture Water branch of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division.

His contribution to agriculture and the environment is memorialized in the Hooks-Hanner Environmental Resource Center which was established through the legislative efforts of Bob and his longtime Southwest Georgia legislative partner, State Senator George Hooks. The name of the Center honors their legacy of service to Georgia agriculture and the environment.

Bob's community involvement included membership in the Dawson Lion's Club, the P.T. Schley Lodge No. 229, the Terrell County Chamber of Commerce, as well as Vice President of both the Georgia and local chapters of Jaycees.

Bob accomplished much throughout his life, but none of this would have been possible without his enduring faith in God and the love and support of his wife, Linda; his three sons, Robert Jr., Jeff, and Matt; and his two grandsons.

On a personal note, Bob and I served under him in the State House together and I was blessed with his friendship, counsel, and support over the years. His help with my initial campaign and subsequent reelection campaigns for Congress were pivotal. Bob was truly a great representative for Southwest Georgia and a stellar example of how a public servant should serve his constituents. His leadership will be sorely missed.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join my wife, Vivian, and me, along with the more than 730,000 residents of Georgia's Second Congressional District, in paying tribute to State Representative Robert ``Bob'' Paul Hanner, Sr. for his remarkable leadership in our great State of Georgia and in extending our deepest sympathies to his family, friends and, loved ones during this difficult time of bereavement. Moreover, we pray that they will be consoled and comforted by an abiding faith and the Holy Spirit in the days, weeks, and months ahead.

Madam Speaker, it is my honor and pleasure to extend my personal congratulations and best wishes to a dear friend of longstanding and servant of humankind, The Honorable Judge William C. Randall, Chief Judge of the Civil and Magistrate Courts of Macon-Bibb County, Georgia. Judge Randall was honored in a retirement ceremony on Friday, January 4, 2019, at 5:00 pm at the Terminal Station in Macon, Georgia.

Judge Randall was born on October 14, 1943, in Macon, Georgia to the union of the late William P. and Lillian Randall. He is a product of the Bibb County Public School System, where he attended L.H. Williams Elementary School and Peter G. Appling High School. He went on to receive his Bachelor of Arts degree from Morgan State University and his Juris Doctorate degree from Emory University School of Law. Following his graduation from law school, Judge Randall was an Earl Warren fellow with the NACCP Legal Defense Fund, Inc. in New York City. After which, he returned to his hometown of Macon and established a very successful law practice.

In 1974, Judge Randall was elected from Bibb County to the Georgia House of Representatives, where he served until 1999. During his 24 years of service in the Georgia General Assembly, he served on several committees, but most notably rose to become Chairman of the House Special Judiciary Committee.

He received several awards including the Outstanding Legislative Award by the Concerned Citizens League of Macon; the Outstanding Legislative Award from the Afro-American Law Enforcement League of Macon; the Outstanding Legislative Award from the Bibb Association of Educators; the Legislator of the Year Award by the Georgia Association for the Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse; and the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus, Inc.

In 1999, he was appointed by Georgia Governor Roy Barnes to be Chief Judge of the Civil and Magistrate Courts of Bibb County.

In addition to Judge Randall's legislative service, he is also a member of the Macon Bar Association; the State Bar of Georgia; The National Bar Association; the American Bar Association; the American Judicial Association; and the Executive Committee of the Magistrate Judges Council. Judge Randall is also a member of the Prince Hall Masons; the Elks; and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

After his retirement, Judge Randall is planning to spend quality time with his wife, Lauretta; his five children; and his 11 grandchildren. He has accomplished much in his life, but none of it would have been possible without the love and support of the family he cherishes so dearly.

On a personal note, I would like to thank Judge Randall for his friendship, advice, counsel, and support over the years. We were schoolmates at Emory Law School, shared the Earl Warren Legal Fellowship experience together and as a young lawyer, he assisted me by allowing me to work out of his Macon office when I had cases and trials in Bibb County Superior Court and the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia. I served under him in the Georgia House when he chaired the House Special Judiciary Committee. When I ran for Congress, his early support was pivotal in my gaining nomination and election as Congressman from the Second Congressional District. He and his family provided countless Sunday dinners during my weekend visits to Bibb County.

A true Georgian devoted to serving his great state, Judge Randall embodies Georgia's state motto, ``Wisdom, Justice, and Moderation.'' Judge Randall is a man of great integrity who sets a high standard for himself and for others.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join my wife, Vivian, and me, along with the more than 730,000 constituents of Georgia's Second Congressional District in extending our sincerest appreciation and best wishes to The Honorable Judge William C. Randall upon the occasion of his retirement.