Congressman Bishop honors late Michael Reed on U.S. House Floor

Feb. 5—WASHINGTON, D.C.- Congressman Sanford Bishop put a pause on the regular proceedings of the House Floor on Thursday, February 1, to honor his former Chief of Staff, Michael Reed, who passed away on Monday, January 15, 2024.

Reed was a long-time public servant who began as a Presidential Management Intern at the U.S. Department of Transportation. He went on to work for two Appropriators, former Congressman Louis Stokes of Ohio and Congressman William Gray of Pennsylvania, before joining Bishop's team in 2003.

"When I was selected to serve on the House Appropriations Committee in 2003, I needed a seasoned specialist and adviser," Bishop told his colleagues. "I was blessed to have Michael Reed join my team starting as a policy adviser and special assistant, then my deputy chief of staff, and finally my chief of staff, where he served until his Capitol Hill retirement in 2021."

Bishop said during Reed's time on his staff, he matriculated in the "Michael Reed School of Budgetary Policy."

Reed was known to Bishop as a master of nuance and process, constantly growing and expanding his expertise.

"Initially unfamiliar with agriculture issues, he quickly became steeped in the knowledge of the field," Bishop explained. "He was an invaluable asset to me and respected by my colleagues on both sides of the aisle."

Upon his retirement, Reed was honored by the communities and industries he touched, most notably the University of Georgia and the Georgia Peanut Commission.

UGA's College of Agriculture bestowed its Medallion of Honor on Reed. The award recognizes outstanding individuals for their dedication to the college's mission and is an expression of the university's gratitude for the time, advice, support and influence the individual has provided.

The Georgia Peanut Commission also presented Reed with its Distinguished Service Award, which is a testament to the decades of work Reed did that helped protect Georgia peanut farmers and grow the industry.

Bishop concluded by saying that Reed's legacy will forever live on.

"Though we wish we had more time with him, we take comfort in the fact that Michael's legacy will live on," he said somberly before thanking the Speaker of the Floor for allowing him to commemorate his friend and colleague.