On August 7, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce hosted the 2024 Congressional Luncheon, the state’s premier event brought together Georgia’s federal elected officials and influential business leaders. Held at the Classic Center in Athens, the luncheon attracted an impressive crowd of 1,500 attendees. AT&T and Georgia Power proudly served as presenting sponsors.

Pedro Cherry, President and CEO of Atlanta Gas Light and Chattanooga Gas and 2024 Georgia Chamber Chairman said:  

"As Chairman, I am proud of the Georgia Chamber’s significant impact at the 2024 Congressional Luncheon, where we provided business leaders with crucial insights for the upcoming federal election cycle. In a pivotal battleground state like Georgia, informed decision-making is essential. I extend my gratitude to our speakers, including Governor Brian P. Kemp as well as Congressmen Sanford Bishop, Mike Collins, Drew Ferguson, and Austin Scott, for their valuable participation. I commend Georgia’s entire Congressional Delegation for their dedication to keeping Georgia as the number one state in the country to do business.” 

Georgia Governor Brian P. Kemp welcomed the Georgia Chamber to his hometown of Athens and announced his continued commitment to commonsense lawsuit reform, a key legislative priority for the Georgia Chamber.

Amy Walter, Publisher & Editor-in-Chief of the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter provided the keynote address, equipping attendees with the most accurate and reliable information about the crucial role Georgia will play in the 2024 Presidential election. 

Representatives Sanford D. Bishop (GA-02) and Austin Scott (GA-08) engaged in a broad bipartisan conversation, moderated by Georgia Chamber President and CEO Chris Clark. They addressed topics including the reauthorization of the Farm Bill, extending federal tax cuts for Georgia’s small businesses, the importance of the military installations in their districts, and strategies for federal representatives to support business leaders in achieving their goals.

Representative Drew Ferguson (GA-03) joined Norfolk Southern Chief Marketing Officer and Georgia Chamber Vice Chair Ed Elkins for a retrospective on his congressional career. Representative Ferguson is retiring after four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives.  

Representative Mike Collins (GA-10) welcomed the Georgia Chamber to Georgia’s Tenth Congressional District, reaffirming his commitment to working at the federal level to promote Georgia’s economic interests.  

The 2024 Congressional Luncheon was made possible thanks to a diverse group of sponsors. Presenting Sponsors were AT&T and Georgia Power The Official Partners of the Georgia Chamber included Wellness Partner Anthem, Car Partner Kia, and, Sustainability Partner Woodard & Curran. Platinum Sponsors comprised Atlanta Gas Light, Georgia EMC, Oglethorpe Power, and Georgia Transmission. The Board Meeting Sponsor was the W.C. Bradley Company, Reception Sponsor The Coca-Cola Company, and the Networking Sponsor Jackson EMC. Gold Sponsors featured The Athens Area Chamber of Commerce, The Coca-Cola Company, Delta Air Lines, Gas South, Georgia CEO, Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, The Home Depot, Koch Industries/Georgia Pacific, MEAG Power, Norfolk Southern, Piedmont Healthcare, PruittHealth, State Farm Insurance Companies, University of Georgia, and WellStar Health System. The full list of sponsors is available here.