In his 45-year public service career spanning from the Georgia general assembly to the U.S. Senate, U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., has made a lasting impact on countless areas of public policy. As he prepares to leave the Senate on Dec. 31, much of Isakson’s Senate legacy is highlighted in a video released focusing on his impact on veterans, federal and state business policy, foreign policy and global leadership, education, and health care and how he has served more effectively by living his compassionate, bridge-building conservative values daily.
 
Isakson holds the distinction of being the only Georgian ever to have been elected to the state House, state Senate, U.S. House and U.S. Senate. In addition, in 2016 he became the first Georgia Republican ever to be elected to a third term in the U.S. Senate.
 
“Every day since I was first sworn in to the U.S. Senate on Jan. 4, 2005, it has been a privilege to serve Georgia in this role. I’ve done my very best to make sure Georgians’ best interests are reflected in my votes and policy work,” said Isakson. “Traveling our beautiful state and working with Georgians from Rabun Gap to Tybee Light to represent commonsense, conservative values and deliver meaningful results has been a joy, regardless of the political climate or season.
 
“I thank Georgians who have trusted me and the colleagues who have worked with me from the bottom of my heart. I thank my wife Dianne, and my family, my staff and many friends for their support. Without them, none of this would have been possible.
 
“I also thank our service members, veterans and their families for protecting the United States. It has been an honor to pay my gratitude through policy and constituent service work, which I hope has improved their lives.
 
“I look forward to remaining as active as possible in Georgia after my retirement from the U.S. Senate on Dec. 31.”
 
Veterans

Isakson, a veteran himself, served in the Georgia Air National Guard from 1966-1972. Isakson has been a member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs since he joined the Senate in 2005.
 
Isakson became chairman of the Senate VA Committee in January 2015. From 2015 to 2019, under Isakson’s leadership, the Senate passed 63 pieces of legislation, and 57 of which have become law. These include significant reforms to improve accountability at the VA, expand VA education benefits, modernize the process for veterans’ appeals of benefit determinations, and overhaul the VA’s community care programs.
 
Businessman

Applying the lessons learned throughout his 33-year real estate career, Isakson has aided Georgia communities during his 45 years in public service through planned development and by protecting Georgia’s transportation, energy and water interests, as well as job creators and employees.
 
Values

Isakson has earned a reputation as a compassionate, honest and bridge-building public servant throughout his long political career. Isakson’s faith has guided his entire life. He taught sixth-grade Sunday school at Mount Zion Baptist Church in Marietta, Georgia, for more than 30 years. Isakson has been a regular attendee at the weekly Senate prayer breakfast with Senate Chaplain Barry Black and served as co-chair of the National Prayer Breakfast in 2010.
 
Global Leadership and Foreign Policy

Isakson, who previously served as the top Republican on the Senate Subcommittee on African Affairs, has been a long-term member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. The U.S. Global Leadership Coalition recently honored Isakson with its Lifetime Achievement Award for his longstanding commitment to advocating for a strong U.S. foreign policy and strengthening America’s development and diplomacy tools across the globe.
 
Education

Isakson has served as chairman of the Georgia Board of Education and on the education committees in the Georgia general assembly and in Congress. He has helped write some of the most significant federal education policies in recent history and has always focused on bettering the lives of future generations through quality education.
 
Once in Congress, Isakson brought his experience to the U.S. House education committee, where he took part in writing the No Child Left Behind Act – comprehensive education reform enacted in 2002 to strengthen America’s public schools. In the Senate, Isakson became a member of the Senate education committee, and more a decade after No Child Left Behind was enacted, Isakson played a key role in the rewrite of the law to bring about much-needed updates to the country’s education policies.
 
Health Care

Isakson has sought common ground to improve the health of Americans and people throughout the world. Isakson’s efforts come amid his own challenges with Parkinson’s disease – a diagnosis that has not slowed down his commitment to helping others.
 
Isakson serves on two committees with jurisdiction over Americans’ health care: the Senate Finance Committee and the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. During his Senate career, Isakson has worked tirelessly on bipartisan legislation to improve health care for veterans and for seniors with chronic conditions, fund research for rare diseases and combat the opioid epidemic – all while fighting his own battle with Parkinson’s disease.