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As you may have seen, House Democrats decided to hold a "sit-in" this week on the floor of the United States House of Representatives completely halting all legislative business preventing our ability to work for the American people. Democrats claimed they would sit on the floor until the House took a vote on gun control, but it was nothing more than a publicity stunt. The legislation they were demanding was already a lost cause as it had failed a vote in the Senate and only served as a distraction from what we should be focused on - terrorism.
It makes no sense that House Democrats would advocate to add more laws to the books that infringe on the Second Amendment rights of Americans that will not stop a terrorist who is more than willing to break the law. Why would we disarm law abiding citizens when a terrorist will clearly ignore what is right and wrong? It's pretty unbelievable if you ask me.
The root of these terrible tragedies in our nation is not the weapon used to commit the action, it's the dangerous ideology of radical Islamic terrorism and it must be stopped. However, unfortunately, our Commander-in-Chief and his administration refuse to realize this truth. Just this week, America's own Attorney General Loretta Lynch said at a press conference that love and compassion are the most effective responses to terror. This is absolutely insane. Barbaric radical Islamic terrorists who are capable of burning and drowning innocent humans in cages and massacring our fellow Americans will not be stopped with a hug.
We need an effective strategy to defeat this ever-evolving threat and that is what my colleagues and I on the Committee on Homeland Security are focused on. As I mentioned last week, the House recently passed a package of bills to address this threat as soon as possible. It's time for democrats and the administration to get on board. |
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Also this week, the Supreme Court ruled to uphold a lower court ruling to block President Obama's use of executive action to grant amnesty to illegal immigrants. This decision is a huge win for the Constitution and the American people.
The president of the United States is not a king and does not rule from a castle. This ruling affirms what every branch of government, including the president himself, has said - the president's backdoor attempt at granting amnesty to illegal immigrants is unconstitutional and cannot move forward.
I hope this serves as a wake up call and reminder to this administration that this is America and the people, through their elected representatives, will make the decisions in this nation. There is no room for executive fiat and it will not stand. |
| From our Nation's Capitol LXXI |
Tuesday, June 21, 2016: After a relaxing weekend spent in North Georgia with my family on our annual family vacation to Lake Russell, I’m back in Washington today and we start with our weekly staff briefing where we review the events of last week and preview this week’s upcoming schedule. One of the first things that I learned when I got to Washington was that it is a team sport and you have to surround yourself with good people. I have been very blessed to have such great people working with me in Washington and in the District. Our weekly Whip Team meeting is next and with only three more weeks left in our schedule before our summer district work period, we have a very aggressive agenda laid out for this week. Afterwards, we have our first vote series of the day where we vote on three resolutions including the End Taxpayer Funded Cell Phones Act, a piece of legislation sponsored by Rep. Austin Scott (R-GA) that he has been proposing for many years.
Wednesday, June 22, 2016: My first meeting this morning is with other members of the Georgia congressional delegation to discuss issues important to our state followed by our weekly Republican Conference where we discuss a number of issues including the initiatives that we will be rolling out this week called “A Better Way: Our Vision for a Confident America.” While some of the proposals, such as poverty have already been rolled out, this week we will be rolling out health care reform and tax reform. Afterwards, I head to a Homeland Security Committee member only briefing about the security at foreign airports with direct flights into the United States. These security briefings are held in soundproof rooms with limited access, no electronics and are led by counterterrorism and intelligence officials from across the government. Much of today’s briefing centered around Cuba and their ability to control screening in their airports as more flights to the U.S. are expected in the near future.
Congressman Carter meeting with University of Georgia President Jere Morehead
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Next, I head to my office where I meet with University of Georgia President Jere Morehead followed by a meeting with representatives from the Society for Human Resource Management including Rushe Hudzinski and Cheri Sale from Savannah. Before heading to a meeting of the Committee on Education and the Workforce to mark up five bills, I meet with Bryan County Middle School Principal Dr. Michael Tinney who is visiting from Pembroke. After the mark up in Education and the Workforce, I head to our weekly meeting of the Republican Study Committee before heading back to my office to meet with representatives from Wolfson Children’s Hospital in Jacksonville, FL., including 9 year old Jacob Lopez from Orange Park, FL who is a patient at Wolfson. At the age of 7, Jacob suffered a traumatic brain injury and paralysis from a motor vehicle crash and was treated at Wolfson. His favorite activities are power soccer, cycling and golf. And best of all, he’s a BIG Georgia Bulldog fan! Next, I meet with representatives from the Nature Conservancy of Georgia followed by the International Council of Shopping Centers. While my meetings today are taking place in my office and in committee rooms in the Capitol, a sit in is taking place in the House Chamber where House Democrats are protesting. Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-WI) has ordered the House in recess and halted all debate on pending legislation but the protest continues, bringing the House to a screeching halt. Later that evening, we have a meeting of the Republican Conference to discuss and review our plans and head to the House Chamber at 10:00 p.m. where we gavel the House back into session and have our first vote series of the day.
Congressman Carter with Jacob Lopez |
Our next action is to gavel out of session again while the Rules committee continues their work and the Democrats continue their protest. This is nothing less than a spectacle. I never imagined I would witness members of Congress sitting on the House Chamber floor, blatantly breaking rules and disrupting the business of the House. I sit in amazement and observe these proceedings until our next vote is called at 1:00 AM on what is now Thursday morning. This time we gavel back in and pass a motion to change the convening time and then pass a motion to adjourn, all above the shouts and objections of the minority party. Finally, at 2:40 a.m. we gavel back in, the House Chaplain leads us in prayer, we recite the pledge of allegiance, and start the day anew. At least the protestors were quiet during this time. Next, we pass the rule on the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Zika Appropriations Act followed by passage of the Act before adjourning at 3:00 a.m. after what has undoubtedly been the most interesting experience I have had in Washington.
Thursday, June 23, 2016: There’s no rest for the weary as, after 2 hours of sleep, I’m up to prepare for an early morning speech to members of the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB), who are in Washington for their annual fly-in. As a long-time member of this group, I am well aware of the challenges that they have faced as a result of the Obama Administration's bureaucratic overreach. Independent businesses in America are under attack and have been inundated with laws and rules promulgated by various agencies that threaten their very survival. Next, I head to a meeting of the Committee on Education and the Workforce where we have a hearing with Department of Education Secretary John B. King regarding the implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act that we passed last year. Later, I head to a television interview where I comment on protests in the House Chamber yesterday and this morning. Finally, I head to the airport, headed for home inspired by the thought of a good night’s sleep in my own bed.
Friday, June 24, 2016: After a good nights’ sleep in my own bed, I’m on a conference call first thing this morning with other members of the Republican Conference for the rollout of “A Better Way for Tax Reform,” one of the initiatives being proposed by House Republicans. Under the leadership of Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX), this proposal will give our nation a clear and dramatic path to strong economic growth and job creation.
Congressman Carter at the groundbreaking for the new marine sciences building at Savannah State University |
Afterwards, I have a conference call with Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx regarding a grant application for the Port of Savannah. Later in the afternoon, I join President Cheryl Dozier and other dignitaries at the groundbreaking of the new Marine Sciences building at Savannah State University. We are truly blessed to have a number of fine educational institutions in the First District and Savannah State University is certainly one of the leaders in our district and in our state. |
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