2024

Celebrating Progress on the Ocmulgee Mounds Initiative in the House and Senate

Last Tuesday, the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands held a legislative hearing where they reviewed the bipartisan Ocmulgee Mounds Park and Preserve Establishment Act.

This hearing was further progress toward making history by establishing Georgia's first National Park and Preserve.

I appreciate the Federal Lands Subcommittee listening to Middle Georgians about this greatly supported effort to preserve the Ocmulgee Mounds and surrounding areas for generations to come!

Also last week, the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources voted to approve the Senate companion of the Ocmulgee Mounds Park and Preserve Establishment Act.

Rep. Bishop, Senator Ossoff, Senator Warnock, and I are continuing to work together to make initiative this a reality!

Read more here.

Meeting with the U.S. Peanut Federation

Georgia is the number one peanut producer in the U.S., providing over 45% of our country's supply of peanuts each year! I met with members of the U.S. Peanut Federation in D.C. last week to discuss disaster assistance and ongoing Farm Bill negotiations.

It is always great to see friends with the Georgia Peanut Commission and the American Peanut Shellers Association!

Visiting with Students from the Medical College of Georgia

I also spent some time getting to know the students and faculty from the Medical College of Georgia’s Albany Campus.

I'm excited to see what these impressive young professionals accomplish in the future!

Read more here.

Reps Austin Scott & Sanford Bishop Speak in Favor of H.R. 8182

Southeast Ag Net | Hurricane Damage Prompts Bipartisan Agricultural Tour in Florida and Georgia

"A bipartisan group of U.S. House Agriculture Committee members, led by Chairman Glenn 'GT' Thompson, recently toured hurricane-damaged areas in Northern Florida and Southern Georgia. Hurricanes Milton and Helene left a trail of devastation in the agricultural sector, spurring calls for swift disaster relief efforts.

Chairman Thompson joined Representatives Austin Scott (GA-08), Kat Cammack (FL-03), Doug LaMalfa (CA-01), and Darren Soto (FL-09) to assess the impact and meet with affected farmers. The tour included stops at a pecan orchard in Pearson, Georgia, poultry farms in Broxton, and Florida sites such as Shenandoah Dairy and Adams Farm.

The economic toll is staggering. Georgia’s agriculture industry suffered an estimated $6.46 billion in losses from Hurricane Helene, while Hurricane Milton caused up to $2.5 billion in damage in Florida."

Read more here.

WABE | Planned central Georgia national park gains momentum with few days left before Congress adjourns

"A proposal to turn a prehistoric American Indian site in central Georgia into the state’s first national park advanced out of a U.S. Senate committee Tuesday...

A House version of the park proposal also received a hearing Tuesday, another sign of late momentum. Congressman Austin Scott, a Tifton Republican and lead sponsor in the House, tried to address concerns that often accompany a proposed expansion of public lands.

'The language prioritizes public hunting and fishing access while protecting the state’s rights and regulation and private property rights in middle Georgia,' Scott said.

The South Georgia congressman also touted the potential benefits of the proposal. He argued the park would bolster national security by helping to protect the encroachment zone near Robins Air Force Base. 

And he said it would be a relatively small addition to the nation’s public lands – and involve only willing sellers – yet would have a significant impact on central Georgia’s economy.

'Georgia is composed of roughly 38 million acres. Only about 5% of Georgia land is in the federal registry, so it is a very small expansion of property in the state of Georgia, in a state where we don’t have much federal land,' Scott said."

Read more here.