Monday, October 18, 2021: After spending Saturday morning at the U.S. Military Academy (USMA) at West Point in New York, I flew to New Orleans on Saturday afternoon and drove over to Mobile, Alabama, on Sunday afternoon. I’m in Mobile this morning along with some of my House colleagues to take part in a USA marine fisheries research program run by the University of South Alabama. Our host for the trip is my good friend, Rep. Jerry Carl (R-AL). We are fishing for red snapper today to help maintain a 27-year data series on the status of offshore reef fish in coastal Alabama. The study is supported by grants from the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources primarily through the U.S. Sport Fish Restoration Fund. We use a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) with camera and other instruments to count fish before we fish with hook and line. The University of South Alabama School of Marine Sciences and Dauphin Island Sea Lab is a national leader in fisheries ecology research.
Tuesday, October 19, 2021: After landing in Washington, D.C. this afternoon, I head straight to the House Chamber where I speak on a suspension bill that has come through the Energy and Commerce (E&C) committee.
H.R. 4028, the Information and Communication Technology Strategy Act, is a bill that I have co-sponsored that will require the Secretary of Commerce to report on and develop a whole-of-government strategy to reduce our dependence on foreign supply chains for information and communication technology. A link to my comments can be found here. Next, I head to our weekly Whip Team meeting before heading to a meeting with the former Deputy Secretary of Energy, Mark Menezes, who, later this week, is testifying before the Select Committee on Climate Change as well as the E&C Energy Subcommittee. Afterwards, I head to the House Chamber for our first vote series of the week and remain in the Chamber afterwards to pay tribute to Jacob Davis, Jr, of Pierce County who celebrated his 100th birthday on October 6th. A link to my tribute can be found here.
Wednesday, October 20, 2021: At our weekly GOP Conference meeting this morning, we discuss the economic crisis that has been created under the Biden Administration and what we can do to stop the $4.3 trillion tax and spend package that the Democrats are trying to pass. This wish list of far-left socialist policies will lead to not only the highest tax increase in the history of our country but will also add fuel to the rising inflation making it harder for working families to put food on the table.
Afterwards, I head back to my office where I meet with representatives from Coherus BioSciences, a U.S. based company that manufactures biosimilar treatments and immune-oncology medicines. The company is a strong supporter of my Manufacturing Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients, Drugs and Excipients (MADE) in America Act that will ensure that the U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain is less dependent on foreign countries like China. Next, I head to an E&C Health Subcommittee hearing on legislation to protect children and families. A link to my questions can be found here. One of the finest Congressman that I have had the privilege to serve with is Dr. Phil Roe from Tennessee. Dr. Roe retired last year and was the former Chair of the Veterans Affairs Committee as well as the driving force in organizing the Doctors Caucus in Congress of which I am a member. Today we honored Phil with the unveiling of his portrait that will hang in the Veterans Affairs Committee room.
After this most deserving honor, I head off of Capitol Hill where I participate in a roundtable discussing the next frontier in disability employment. Once back on Capitol Hill, I head to the House Chamber where we have our first and only vote series of the day. Afterwards, I remain in the Chamber and pay tribute to Bobby Zarem from Savannah who recently passed. A link to my tribute can be found here. Next, I head to a Select Committee on Climate Change hearing on private sector perspectives on climate action. Once back in my office, I meet with representatives from Visby Medical, a leading medical diagnostic company that has been on the front line of testing for COVID. My final meeting of the day is a virtual call with the President of Lilly USA and Lilly Immunology, Patrik Jonsson, to discuss their exciting research on potential Alzheimer’s medications and efforts to lower the price of insulin products.
Thursday, October 21, 2021: My first meeting this morning is with the Doctor’s Caucus as we welcome back our former colleague and good friend, Dr. Phil Roe. Next, I have a meeting with my good friend, Ken Quinn with International Auto Logistics in Brunswick as he brings me up to date on the situation at the Brunswick Port. Afterwards, I head to the House Chamber where I pay tribute to Dr. Jay Brinson from Wayne County, Ann Ernst from Savannah, National Pharmacists Week and Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) memorial ceremony. A link to my tributes can be found here, here, here, and here. Next, I head to an E&C Energy Subcommittee hearing on offshore wind energy and waive on so that I can ask questions. A link to my questions can be found here. After returning to my office, I join in on our all staff conference call before heading to the Rayburn House Office Building foyer where I film this week’s edition of Buddy’s Briefing. Next, I head to the House Chamber for our first vote series of the day and afterwards head back to the Rayburn House Office Building where I speak to the Domestic Energy Producers Alliance (DEPA) that are visiting the Capitol this week. Afterwards, I head back to my office where I join in on a virtual meeting of the Select Committee on Climate Change where we hear from Dr. Jonathan Pershing, Deputy Special Envoy for Climate. After a very encouraging call with Paul Hinchey from St. Josephs/Candler Hospital in Savannah to discuss the COVID situation, I head back to the House Chamber for our second and final vote series of the day. Next, I head to a Republican member briefing on the $4.3 trillion socialist tax and spending bill that the Democrats are pushing and afterwards head back to the House Chamber where I speak on the proposal during special orders. A link to my speech can be found here.
Friday, October 22, 2021: I’m back in the House Chamber first thing this morning as I pay tribute to Darien Police officer David Horton, who recently passed. A link to my tribute can be found here. Once back in my office, I join in on a Doctors Caucus virtual call with staff from Health and Human Services (HHS), Treasury and Labor to discuss the interim final rule of the No Surprises Act. Next, I head to the Judiciary Committee room where I speak on legislation that I have before the committee during member day. A link to my presentation can be found here. Afterwards, I head to the House Chamber for our first and only vote series of the day.
