PASSED: 21st Century Cures
This week the House passed the 21st Century Cures Act with my support to pave the way for the next generation of disease cures and treatments. 

We've all been affected by disease in some way. As a lifelong health care professional, I've seen diseases devastate the lives of far too many who came into my pharmacy.

Fortunately, health care innovation is better than ever before and groundbreaking medical breakthroughs are happening all around us. Unfortunately, our laws and agencies can't keep up preventing these incredible discoveries from reaching patients. That is why the 21st Century Cures Act is so important.

This legislation is a game-changer in the way we treat disease. Cures will break through bureaucratic barriers allowing the development and delivery of new treatments and cures. 

Specifically, Cures will:
  • Remove barriers to increased research collaboration;
  • Incorporate the patient prospective into the drug development and regulatory review process;
  • Identify diseases earlier through personalized medicine;
  • Modernize clinical trials;
  • Fund the cancer moonshot initiative;
  • Provide new incentives for the development of drugs for rare diseases, and;
  • Help the entire biomedical ecosystem coordinate more efficiently to find faster cures.
Disease does not discriminate by political party and this legislation was crafted by the hard work of Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle. I am proud this critical, bipartisan legislation passed the House because families across the country deserve access to the best treatments possible.

From our Nation's Capitol xcii
Monday, November 28, 2016:  After a very enjoyable Thanksgiving holiday, I’m back in the District this morning and my first meeting is in the Savannah Office with representatives from the Georgia Child Care Association, including my good friend Audrey Singleton from the Richmond Hill Montessori School, to discuss rules that have been passed by the current Administration that are severely impacting their practice. My next meeting is with a group of local activists who are interested in our prison system, including sentencing reform and recidivism risk reduction.  Afterwards, I head to Pembroke where I speak to a school assembly at Bryan County High School.  After sharing my story of what led me to run for Congress, what my responsibilities are and what a typical day in Washington is like, I enjoy a question and answer session with these fine young people.  This is without question one of the most enjoyable parts of my job as these sharp, intuitive students ask impressive questions and strengthens my faith that our country is in good hands with this upcoming generation.

Congressman Carter Speaking to Students at Bryan County High School
Next, I head to Glynn County and Sea Island where I speak to the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Middle School class in the G8 Summit Room at the Cloister and congratulate them on winning the statewide Model United Nations competition this year.  The competition was held at Georgia Southern University and this is the sixth time in the last 14 years that St. Francis has won the Outstanding School Award.  After congratulating the students and sharing my thoughts on the importance of public service, I engaged in a question and answer session with these bright, articulate young people.  The only thing better than interacting with a group of students during the day is the opportunity to interact with two groups in the same day!

Tuesday, November 29, 2016:  We are blessed in the First Congressional District of Georgia to be the home of Fort Stewart, the largest Army installation east of the Mississippi, and home of the 3rd Infantry Division.  I visit this great installation frequently and this morning I take time out before heading to Washington to visit with Gen. James Rainey for an update and visit with the troops.  My visit includes a briefing and tour of the Gray Eagle unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) system followed by a visit to the Red Cloud range to see the ABCT Tank Gunnery where I inspect the tanks up close and am given a demonstration of these great weapons before having the opportunity to fire the weapons myself.

Congressman Carter at Fort Stewart
For the record, I was proudly two for two in hitting targets with the weapons.  Next, I head to the Foxtrot range to view the ABCT Bradley Gunnery and visit with the outstanding troops that we have stationed in the great facility.   Afterwards, I head to the Savannah Airport for my trip back to Washington.  Once back, I head straight to a meeting of Members of Congress who, like me, endorsed President-Elect Donald J. Trump with members of his transition team as they bring us up to date on the progress of the transition.  Next, I head to the House Chamber where we have our first and only vote series of the day before heading to a Republican Conference meeting where we elect Republican Steering Committee members for the 115th Congress.  These are members who represent every region of the country to nominate Committee Chairmen and elect members to committees.

Wednesday, November 30, 2016:  My day starts today as it ended yesterday and that is with a meeting of the Republican Conference where we discuss our schedule for the remainder of the week and leadership brings us up to date on plans for the remainder of the lame duck session.  Afterwards, I head to the House Chamber where I honor long time Savannah Christian basketball coach and Principal Doyle Kelly who recently passed.  A link to my speech can be found here.  Next, I head to a meeting of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee where we have a hearing on the DEA’s Confidential Source program.  After our weekly staff briefing, I have a series of meetings in my office, first with the National Association of Community Pharmacists followed by the Academy of Compounding Pharmacies and the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association.

Congressman Carter Meeting with the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association
Next, I head to the weekly meeting of the conservative Republican Study Committee before heading to the House Chamber for our first vote series of the day.  Afterwards, I stay in the Capitol for a meeting with the American Pharmacists Association before heading back to the House Chamber to make a floor speech supporting the 21st Century Cures legislation that is being debated.  Next, I head back to my office where I have meetings with two more pharmacy associations before heading back to the House Chamber for our second and final vote series of the day.  Afterwards, I remain in the chamber where I preside over the house as Speaker Pro tem.  

Thursday, December 1, 2016:  After a meeting of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee where we have a hearing examining sexual harassment in the U.S. Forest Service, I head to the House Chamber where I honor the life of Savannah firefighter Michael Curry who died in the line of duty on November 22nd.  A link to my speech can be found here.  Afterwards, I head back to my office where I meet with Armstrong State University Military Education Coordinator Phil Gore before meetings with the American Society of Health System Pharmacists, the American College of Clinical Pharmacists, and the National Association of Specialty Pharmacists.  As the only pharmacist serving in Congress, I have been meeting with the pharmacy associations in order to gain their input for the upcoming 115th Congress.

Congressman Carter Honors Savannah Firefighter Michael Curry on the House Floor
 Next, I head to a subcommittee meeting of Oversight and Government Reform for a hearing on different agencies use of fees, fines and penalties to fund agency priorities outside of the appropriations process.  Afterwards, I head to the House Chamber for our only vote series of the day.  

Friday, December 2, 2016:  This has been a busy week for the Oversight and Government Reform committee and this morning I begin with a hearing discussing oversight of the Washington Metro Transit System.  Afterwards, I head to a meeting of the Republican Conference where we ratify the Steering Committee’s nominations for committee chairs for the 115th Congress.  I’m proud to support returning chairs like my good friend and Health and Human Services Secretary nominee Rep. Tom Price (R-GA) as well as newly elected Chairmen like my friends Rep. Phil Roe (R-TN) who will head the Veterans Affairs Committee and Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR) who will lead the Energy and Commerce Committee.  Next I head to my office for a meeting with the Compact for a Balanced Budget Commission.  Then we have our first and only vote series of the day where we pass S. 2943, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 that includes a well-deserved 2.1%  pay increase for our troops, the largest military pay increase in six years, ensures the A-10 will keep flying at Moody Air Force Base and gives a green light to the Ohio-class replacement program at Kings Bay.

 
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