Sanford D. Bishop, Jr.

“Former Georgia Congressman Charles Hatcher recently died. I am honoring his years of service to rural Georgia and our country, and I send my condolences to his family.”

“Mr. Speaker, 2 days ago, Georgia lost a true public servant and leader. Former Congressman Charles Hatcher was born in Georgia, served our country in the United States Air Force, earned his law degree, and returned to Southwest Georgia to practice his profession. He served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 1973 to 1980 and subsequently in the U.S. House of Representatives, this House, from 1981 to 1992. He loved rural, Southwest Georgia. During his years of public service, he was a champion for agriculture and rural development. While we competed in the 1992 Democratic primary for Georgia’s Second Congressional District, which I won, I was glad to have his support and counsel, nonetheless, as I started my tenure on Capitol Hill. He and his wife, the Honorable Krysta Hardin, became friends of longstanding, and I will always cherish that friendship. He continued to serve Americans as a Presidential appointee in the U.S. Department of Agriculture during both Clinton administrations, and he continued to serve the Virginia community in which he resided thereafter, volunteering his time with a number of local charities, including Meals on Wheels, and through his local church, the Washington Street United Methodist Church in Alexandria. He leaves behind a legacy of love and compassion through his work and the relationships that he built. I extend my heartfelt condolences to his wife, Krysta; his children; his grandchildren; and loving family; as well as all of those whose lives he touched and helped make better. I will miss him dearly. Mr. Speaker, I now yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Austin Scott), my colleague and friend.”

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  Speech in the House

  Signal 44 of 100

  Much of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

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“I welcome Everton Blair, Jr., to the House of Representatives. He won a special election to represent Georgia's 13th District.”

“Mr. Speaker, as dean of the Georgia congressional delegation, I am pleased to welcome Dr. Everton Blair, Jr., as the newest member of our delegation, representing Georgia’s 13th Congressional District. Our delegation is diverse, consisting of ordinary citizens with an extraordinary passion for improving lives and representing the great State of Georgia. Most of all, regardless of our differences, we consistently and tirelessly pursue common ground, uplifting our communities and addressing their needs and interests. Everton is 34 years old, born and raised in Gwinnett County in the metro Atlanta area. His parents are both Jamaican immigrants. His father is a computer scientist and his mother a pediatrician. Everton earned a B.A. in mathematics from Harvard College; a master’s in policy, organization, and leadership from Stanford University; and a doctorate of educational leadership from the Harvard Graduate School as a Presidential Public Service Fellow. He taught for 2 years in the Atlanta public school system through the Teach America Program, and in 2018, at the young age of 26, he ran for a seat on the Gwinnett County Board of Education, defeating a longtime incumbent and becoming the youngest and first person of color to serve on the board. Moreover, he was unanimously selected to chair that board and led the Gwinnett system through the COVID-19 pandemic. In April 2025, along with several others, he filed to run for a seat in the 120th Congress for the 13th Congressional District that was represented by our late colleague David Scott. Sadly, David passed and Everton announced that he would run in the special election for the remainder of David Scott’s unexpired term, which he won last month. We welcome this dynamic, young leader to the Georgia delegation and to this House as he begins his service to the people of Georgia’s 13th Congressional District for the remainder of this Congress. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Blair).”

“I ask that Everton Blair, Jr. be sworn into office today. His official election papers have not arrived yet, but no one is challenging his win.”

“Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the gentleman from Georgia, the Honorable Everton Blair, Jr., be permitted to take the oath of office today. His certificate of election has not arrived, but there is no contest and no question has been raised with regard to his election.”