From the Desk of Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr.

• Bishop on the Retirement of State Senator Ed Harbison Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. released the following statement on the retirement of his longtime friend and public servant, State Senator Ed Harbison:

 “Ed Harbison has been a steadfast champion for the people of the Fifteenth Senatorial District for over three decades, rising to the position of Dean of the Senate. As my successor in the Georgia State Senate, he carried forward a commitment to rural communities, public education, economic opportunity, and public service that has made a real difference in the lives of our neighbors.

 “Ed is the kind of leader who shows up. He has fought for better schools, stronger infrastructure, and fairer access to health care, always guided by a steady hand, a practical mind, and a deep, abiding belief in the dignity of every constituent. As a veteran, he fought for their issues.

 “Beyond his legislative record, Ed has been a beloved friend and mentor. I have relied on his counsel and celebrated his victories; I have learned from his patience and admired his tenacity. His service has been rooted in humility and an earnest desire to lift up others, and that spirit has strengthened our community and our state.

 “On behalf of the people of Georgia’s Second District and my colleagues in public service, I thank Senator Harbison for his decades of leadership and sacrifice. We wish him and his family health, joy, and many peaceful years ahead. His work will endure in the lives he helped change, and his example will continue to inspire those who follow in his footsteps.”

• Bishop Defends the Constitution with War Powers Vote Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) voted to support H.Con.Res. 38 to uphold Article I war powers granted to Congress by the U.S. Constitution. This was in response to President Trump’s ongoing U.S. military strikes against Iran. The resolution failed by a vote of 212-219. After the vote, Congressman Bishop issued the following statement:

 “War is one of the most solemn responsibilities of Congress, and the U.S. Constitution says that only Congress can declare war. Iran – like Russia, China, and North Korea – is one of the most dangerous and destructive adversaries of peace and freedom in the world. However, without proof of imminent threat to the United States, and with explanations that shift daily, President Trump has dragged our country into a war ‘of choice’ with no comprehensive strategy and no objective end game.

 “Americans overwhelmingly oppose the war with Iran which could become yet another forever war, paid for with taxpayer dollars and brave American lives. Six U.S. servicemembers are dead and over a dozen seriously injured with more casualties expected to come. We are eternally grateful for their service and sacrifice and will continue to pray for them and their families.

 “But this war has already increased the cost of oil and gas at the pump, taking big bites out of family budgets. Instead of putting hardworking Americans first and focusing on lowering the high cost of groceries, healthcare, housing, and utilities, the President has yet again broken campaign promises by going to war, raising costs, and violating the U.S. Constitution.

 “Upon taking office, I swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. And my vote today upholds that oath.”

• Bishop Opposes Funding Bill that Fails to Protect Americans’ Civil Rights and Security Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) was unable to support a full-year, Fiscal Year 2026 funding bill for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which includes Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP). Today’s bill offered no changes to address concerns that a majority of Americans have expressed regarding ICE’s aggressive actions which have hurt, and even killed, American citizens and law-abiding immigrant families.

 “The Homeland Security funding bill should keep our communities safe from both foreign adversaries and violent masked agents roaming our streets. We cannot let Congressional Republicans use a costly, aimless, and unauthorized war against Iran as an excuse to scare Americans’ off from demanding ICE and CBP reform. We can protect our boarders without sacrificing our civil rights,” said Congressman Bishop. “Furthermore, this funding bill continues to weaken counterterrorism and cybersecurity. Last year the President drove out nearly 1,000 seasoned Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency employees and following U.S. military strikes on Iran, we are at greater risk for cyberattacks.”

 Congressional Democrats have already introduced a bill that would fund all other elements of DHS, except ICE and CBP, until guardrails are put in place to address Americans’ concerns. Congressman Bishop remains committed to these commonsense measures which are:

• Require agents to get a warrant from a judge before kicking in someone’s door
• No masks
• Clear identifying information on uniforms
• Prohibit operations at sensitive locations like schools, houses of worship and polling places
• End racial profiling
• Establish use of force policy in law
• Allow independent investigations into misconduct
• Mandate use of body-worn cameras