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Monday, September 17, 2018: This morning I’m hosting a hurricane preparedness roundtable in Richmond Hill and am joined by emergency management personnel from many of the counties in our district as well as representatives from the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA). The purpose of the roundtable is to bring us together and share lessons we have learned from our recent experiences with Hurricanes Matthew and Irma, as well as to discuss best practices that we can all benefit from.
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| Rep. Carter hosting a Hurricane Preparedness Roundtable |
The meeting is a huge success as we all agree that “none of us is as smart as all of us” and that by sharing information and experiences we can be better prepared for the next storm. Afterwards, I stay in Richmond Hill and visit Atlantic Coastal Equipment Sales, a member of Associated Equipment Distributors, a trade association representing companies that sell, rent, service and manufacture heavy construction equipment. During a tour of their equipment yard, I have an opportunity to learn more about their business operations and policy priorities. I was very happy to learn that they have experienced an increase in new equipment sales and are seeing planned growth from their customers following the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
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| Rep. Carter touring Atlantic Coastal Equipment |
Next, I head to Hinesville in Liberty County to the Board of Education offices where I have a very special opportunity to participate in an in-flight educational downlink from the International Space Station. Along with community and education leaders, I have the opportunity to address students from the Liberty County School District and then observe them call Expedition 56 Astronaut Alexander Gerst aboard the space station and ask questions about life aboard the space station, NASA’s deep space exploration plans and doing science in space. What an exciting event! To witness students in Liberty County, GA, asking an astronaut on the International Space Station in outer space questions via a downlink is too cool. Afterwards, I have a phone interview with Stat News to discuss my gag clause bill that passed the Energy and Commerce (E&C) Committee last week and now heads to the House floor for further consideration. Next, I head to Savannah and the studios of Fox 28 for a television interview on the hurricane preparedness roundtable that was held earlier today. Afterwards, I have a phone call with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma to discuss proposed changes to physician billing codes before heading down to Camden County to meet with Spaceport officials for a special announcement on the first lease signing of this exciting project. ABL Space Systems is based in California and builds rockets to launch small satellites. They aim to officially begin operations in Camden County in January 2019.
Tuesday, September 18, 2018: I have the special honor today of touring the 165th Airlift Wing at Travis Field in Savannah this morning. This is a very special place for me as I had my first job here back in the mid 1970’s as a landscape engineer, i.e. I cut grass during the summers. While the facilities are much nicer than they were back then, a few of the older buildings still remain as do the memories of hot summer work while I was in high school. After a tour of the impressive headquarters building that has recently been completed and occupied, I have a driving tour of the base before heading to a C-130 simulator where, along with Long County native Brigadier General Reggie Neal as my co-pilot, I try out my flying skills and quickly learn that simulators serve as important training tools.
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| Rep. Carter touring the 165th Airlift Wing |
Next, I have a tour of the ASOS simulator where I witness the vigorous training that these highly skilled airmen undertake. Afterwards, I head to Crosswinds Golf Club at the Savannah Airport where I have a television interview with WTOC to discuss the President’s recent announcement of a 10% tariff on an additional $200 billion in Chinese imports before welcoming the Georgia Peanut Commission as they are having their 32nd annual peanut tour here this week. Next, I have a phone interview with Inside Health Policy to discuss the American Hospital Association’s (AHA) recently announced 340b Commitment to Good Stewardship Principles. My last stop of the day is a very sad one as I head to Long County to pay my respects to the family of Ludowici Police Chief Frank McClelland who was killed in the line of duty last week. The outpouring of respect from this community is overwhelming as we all stand in line for over 3 hours to see the family. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and to the entire community.
Wednesday, September 19, 2018: I’m in my Savannah district office this morning where I have a series of meetings beginning with Bob Vogel, the director of the National Park Service’s Southeast Region based in Atlanta. Next, I meet with Commander Brian Erickson, Commanding Officer of Coast Guard Air Station Savannah before meeting with Ed Lavish and others with the Savannah Navy League to discuss funding for the Marine Corps. Afterwards, I head to the Savannah Maritime Association’s monthly meeting where I have the opportunity to speak and bring them up to date on funding for the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project (SHEP). Later, I visit EmployAbility in Savannah to learn more about the fine work they do in preparing adults with developmental disabilities for employment and community integration.
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| Rep. Carter visiting Gadsden Elementary After School Program |
My final visit of the day is at Gadsden Elementary School in Savannah as I observe their impressive after school program that is funded through the federal 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program.
Thursday, September 20, 2018: Most of my morning is spent in Savannah at the State of the Port of Savannah address where we hear from Georgia House Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) and Governor Nathan Deal before an excellent presentation from Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) Executive Director Griff Lynch. Great things continue to happen at the Georgia Ports and the capacity crowd in attendance leaves the event excited about the future. Afterwards, I head to Solenis located in Savannah for a tour of their facility that is one of the top global producers of specialty papermaking chemicals.
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| Rep. Carter touring Solenis |
Although the company has 35 manufacturing facilities around the world, the Savannah plant has been in place for many years and is one of the companies leading producers. My final stop of the day is at the Starbucks on Bay Street in Savannah as I have been invited to participate in a “behind the counter” experience. Since I’m not a coffee drinker I’m somewhat lost to begin with but, thanks to the help of the super friendly crew, quickly learn the difference between a latte and expresso and leave considering myself to be a barista (or at least a want to be barista).
Friday, September 21, 2018: After attending a meeting of the Georgia Economic Developers Association in Savannah where we hear from Georgia gubernatorial candidates Stacey Abrams and Brian Kemp, I head to the Chatham County Courthouse where I participate in a press conference regarding hurricane preparedness. During the press conference, it is announced that Chatham County has been recognized as the first #HurricaneStrong community in the State of Georgia for its dedication to hurricane resilience.
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| Rep. Carter speaking at press conference for Chatham County's #HurricaneStrong designation |
Thanks to the hard work of Chatham Emergency Management Agency (CEMA), Chatham County Police Department, Building Safety, Occupational Safety and Strategic Planning and the support of the County Commission, Chatham County is only the third community in the nation to achieve this designation.
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