WELCOMING THE HONORABLE EVERTON BLAIR, JR., TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

On 2026-09-01, Representative Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA-2) delivered a floor speech titled "WELCOMING THE HONORABLE EVERTON BLAIR, JR., TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES" in the House.

WELCOMING THE HONORABLE EVERTON BLAIR, JR., TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 138 (Tuesday, September 1, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 138 (Tuesday, September 1, 2026)] [House] [Page H5386] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] WELCOMING THE HONORABLE EVERTON BLAIR, JR., TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Mr. BISHOP. 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). Mr. BLAIR. Mr. Speaker, it is such an honor and a privilege to be here. Mr. Speaker, growing up in Gwinnett County, my parents, who are here, imbued in us a real responsibility. I know that they are proud of me, but above all, I thank them for how tirelessly they worked to support me, even when I had these crazy ideas to do things that I didn't even ask their permission for. They showed up and made it all possible. I thank them again. I also acknowledge and thank a colleague, a dear mentor and friend of mine without whom I don't even know if I would have known anything about running for Congress, and that is Congresswoman Lucy McBath. Lucy McBath sees in young people an ability and a prospect of leadership that I think a lot of us should adopt. I was so fortunate to have had her as my Congresswoman and to now be her colleague. I thank her again for all of the things that she has done. Mr. Speaker, I will briefly acknowledge that my story is not really that unique. Born and raised in a very American household with immigrant parents, we acclimated. So many of the things that I have been able to achieve and accomplish, I have just sought to try and do and make sure everybody else can. The reality is that it is getting a lot harder for way too many of us, especially in younger generations, to fulfill that American Dream. My mandate here is clear: I will do everything in my capacity to make life more affordable for the hardworking Americans in Georgia's 13th Congressional District. I will do everything in my capacity to make sure that district maintains its representation and retains the majority Black representation that it currently has. There are too many Black Americans who look at the progress that we have had over decades and wonder if their children and grandchildren are going to have as much access to prosperity, economic opportunity, voting rights, and the American systems that we know to be dear and true writ large. It is up to us now. I didn't get here by accident. I got here by working really, really hard to earn the support of a lot of people and to introduce myself again and again. I will continue to do that as I work to build relationships with all of you and partner in the good work ahead of us. I cannot wait to spend the remainder of this term with all of you. I am thankful for the opportunity. ____________________