Bill

HR 445

COMMENDS-DR. PORTER/E. PORTER

104th Regular Session Introduced by Chris Welch

Commemorates two faith communities and leaders for decades of service, highlighting church history, community outreach, and ceremonial honors without policy changes.

Resolution Adopted

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Bill Summary · HR 445

Summary — H.R. 445 (Commends — Dr. Porter / E. Porter)

Status: Resolution Adopted
Introduced: January 15, 2025
Classification: House resolution (commemorative/commendatory)

Note up front: the available text appears to combine two commemorative resolutions with similar purposes — (A) a Georgia House resolution recognizing Fellowship Bible Baptist Church on its 45th anniversary and (B) an Illinois House resolution commending Bishop Dr. Claude Porter and Lady Bishop Earnestine Porter on 53 years of service to Proviso Missionary Baptist Church. This summary captures the substantive elements present in both texts and the listed legislative actions.

Purpose / Intent

To formally recognize and commend longstanding faith leaders and congregations for decades of service, ministry and community outreach.
Specifically: (A) commemorate Fellowship Bible Baptist Church’s 45th anniversary and its institutional history and community work; (B) commend Bishop Dr. Claude Porter and Lady Bishop Earnestine Porter for 53 years of service to Proviso Missionary Baptist Church and related community action efforts.

Key provisions and findings

Fellowship Bible Baptist Church (Georgia)
- Traces origins to a worship service on February 10, 1980 (Rev. Willie L. Reid Sr.).
- Describes land purchases (10 acres in 1981; 48 acres on May 1, 1983), additions (educational wing, 1984), further property acquisitions (48 acres in 1998), construction of a multi-purpose building (ground broken 2003, completed 2004 — “Willie L. Reid Multi-purpose Building”), and a new sanctuary (“Faith Dome”) occupied January 16, 2011.
- Notes the death of founding pastor Rev. Reid on May 4, 2012; Pastor Tolan Morgan called February 2015; current membership ~3,500 active members.
- Highlights community service during COVID-19 (food distribution, vaccinations, health screenings, virtual worship).
- Directs the Clerk of the House to make an appropriate copy of the resolution available to the church.
Bishop Dr. Claude Porter & Lady Bishop Earnestine Porter (Illinois)
- Recognizes 53 years of service to Proviso Missionary Baptist Church (Maywood).
- Notes their founding role in Proviso Leyden Council for Community Action (PLCCA) and longstanding community leadership.
- Indicates they will be honored at Founder's Day on September 14, 2025.
- Directs that a suitable copy of the resolution be presented to them.

Who is affected

The resolutions are ceremonial: they honor the named churches, pastors, leaders, congregations, and the communities they serve. There are no regulatory, appropriations, or legal changes affecting third parties.

Procedural / timeline highlights

Introduced in House: January 15, 2025.
Referred to committees/subcommittees (notably listed: Committee on Homeland Security; Committee on Financial Services; Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement — likely data overlap/inconsistency given the commemorative nature).
Referred to Local & Consent Calendars (Mar 11, 2025); placed on Congratulatory & Memorial Resolutions Calendar (Apr 17, 2025).
Adopted by the House: April 17, 2025 (record and nonrecord votes noted).
Reported enrolled: April 21, 2025.
Filed with the Clerk (Rep. Emanuel "Chris" Welch): Aug 20, 2025.
Placed on Calendar Agreed Resolutions / Resolution Adopted: Oct 14, 2025.

Legislative impact

Purely honorary/ceremonial recognition; no binding policy changes, funding, or regulatory effects. The resolutions document and celebrate institutional history and community contributions.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.