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| First District Veterans Forum |
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Thank you to all who joined us this week at the Veterans Forum. It was great to have veterans service organizations, the local community and the Department of Veterans Affairs available to offer assistance.
Rep. Carter's Veterans Forum |
If you were not able to attend or need additional assistance, please don't hesitate to contact our office in Savannah at 912-352-0101. |
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This week, I joined Representative Andy Biggs from Arizona's motion to censure and condemn House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff for his false retelling of the conversation between President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky during the recent House Intelligence Committee hearing on the whistleblower complaint.
It's unacceptable that the chairman of a House Committee involved in an impeachment inquiry against the President of the United States of America would blatantly lie and mislead the American people. Click here to view our resolution.
Also this week, Leader Kevin McCarthy sent a letter to Speak Pelosi highlighting the reckless and unprecedented process House Democrats are taking against President Trump. As you will see below, there are disturbing differences in this process compared to previous historical precedent or basic standards of due process. Unfortunately, we knew this would be the case from the beginning since House Democrats decided to move forward with impeachment before even receiving the complaint!
The American people deserve better.
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| From our Nation's Capitol |
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Monday, September 30, 2019: What a great weekend! Saturday morning started with the Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Ellis Square in Savannah with around 700 participants and 80 teams who raised money to fight this dreaded disease by walking through downtown Savannah with different colored pinwheel flowers. With dedicated advocates like my good friend Donna Camacho, the Alzheimer’s Association in the Savannah area is doing a great job of bringing more awareness to this disease and providing support to families and caregivers affected by the disease. Next, I headed to the Savannah Farmers Market 10-year anniversary in Forsyth Park where I found local growers with fresh produce, meats, bread and other delicious items on display for sale. Afterwards, I headed to Grainger Honda/Nissan for the Chatham County Sherriff’s Office Boston Butt Fundraiser to benefit the Pegasus Riding Academy in Savannah with their horse-riding therapy for special needs patients. Next, I headed to the Savannah Regional Central Labor Council Picnic that had been rescheduled from Labor Day due to Hurricane Dorian, before heading to the Okefenokee Swamp Park in Waycross for their annual Night of the Osprey event. On Sunday morning I enjoyed being at the 5th Sunday Men’s Breakfast meeting at Guyton United Methodist Church in Effingham County where we heard from Boy Scouts of America Twin Rivers district executive Daniel Victorio. I’m at my Savannah office this morning where I meet with Heather Hodges with the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission, a federal National Heritage Area that stretches from the sea islands in Pender County, North Carolina, to St. Johns County, Florida, and recognizes the unique culture of the Gullah Geechee people who resided there.
Rep. Carter tours Envirospec |
Afterwards, I head to Hutchinson Island in Savannah where I join Colonel Daniel Hibner, District Commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District, Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) Executive Director Griff Lynch and Savannah Mayor Eddie Deloach for an event to announce the beginning of the Inner Harbor Deepening for the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project (SHEP). A link to coverage of this event can be found here. Next, I head down to our Brunswick office where I meet with my long-time friend Charlie Hood with Rayonier to discuss an issue with the Jesup plant before meeting with a resident of Camden County to talk about mental health issues in our country and what simple things might help. My final meeting of the day is with representatives from the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) to discuss a few bills on their legislative priorities list.
Tuesday, October 1, 2019: I’m on Tybee Island near Savannah bright and early this morning as I join John Ring, a veteran of our military, as he embarks on a pier to pier walk across the United States from the Tybee Island Pier in Georgia to the Santa Monica Pier in California to help raise money for veterans suffering from addictions, PTSD, and homelessness. Later, I head to EMD Serono Performance Materials in Port Wentworth for the 40th anniversary dedication ceremony of this location where they employ over 140 people and have recently celebrated over 1 million work hours without an injury. Afterwards, I fly to Tifton in Tift County where I participate in the Georgia Chamber of Commerce (COC) Rural Prosperity Summit held at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus. The summit brings together stakeholders to share meaningful solutions to challenges facing rural communities and I am honored to moderate an expert panel discussing the subject of how we raise the bar for rural health care. Afterwards, I have a phone interview with WSAV TV in Savannah to discuss the announcement of a federal grant of $200,000 for Park Place Outreach, Inc., in Savannah. Later, I head to Valdosta in Lowndes County where I attend the Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Citizen’s Award and we recognize long-time Sherriff Ashley Paulk for his many contributions to the community.
Rep. Carter with Governor Kemp |
Wednesday, October 2, 2019: After spending the night in Valdosta, I’m up bright and early and head to Corbett’s Country Corner Store in Echols County for a reception with our great Governor, Brian Kemp. We are very blessed in South Georgia to have a governor who loves our area of this great state and who spends so much time down here. Afterwards, I head to Waycross in Ware County where I visit the Senior Citizen Center and deliver meals to elderly citizens as part of the meals on wheels program. It is a pleasure to get to visit with these great elderly citizens and especially a pleasure to meet such great workers like Moses who not only loves his job but is loved by everyone he delivers meals to.
Rep. Carter delivers meals with Meals on Wheels |
Next, I head to the C.C. McCray City Auditorium in Waycross where our office hosts a Veterans Expo where we bring together Veterans Service Organizations, area veterans and the Veterans Administration (VA) to offer information and assistance. We have been doing this annually in the Savannah area for many years and now will be hosting an expo in the southern portion of the district annually as well. A link to media coverage of the event can be found here. Afterwards, I head to the Okefenokee Heritage Center to learn more about the museum and the economic, educational and cultural benefits it brings to the community. Next, I head to the Magnolia House Youth Center in Waycross to see their new and beautiful Youth Development Center that has recently been completed before heading back to Valdosta where I have the opportunity to visit and tour Valdosta State University (VSU). Led by Dr. Richard Carvajal, who has provided great leadership since his arrival a few years ago, VSU is flourishing and producing great work and quality students. My visit begins with a meeting of a group of Sullivan Scholars, a program whose goal is to prepare students who want to teach in rural and/or Title I Georgia schools, followed by a presentation by a group of Chemistry students who are performing research to create a drug that can effectively treat TB at a low cost, especially in underdeveloped countries where the disease is widespread. The innovative, outside the box research being performed by this most impressive group of young scientists is a testament of the high quality of work being done at VSU. Afterwards, I meet with a group of VSU journalism students who have questions about the chemistry students’ presentation and project. I end my day with a phone interview with First Coast News TV in Jacksonville to discuss an issue with the VA. A link to my interview can be found here.
Thursday, October 3, 2019: I’m still in Valdosta today and this morning I visit Moody Air Force Base where I meet with 23D Wing Commander Col. David Walls and Vice Commander Col. Benjamin Conde for a briefing. Next, I head to one of the many hangers on base where I have the chance to see the impressive equipment such as the A-10, Pave Hawks and C-130 as well as meet with the professional airmen and airwomen working with this equipment. Afterwards, I head to the A-10 simulator where I take my turn in the cockpit and realize first-hand the skills and training these fighter pilots poses.
Rep. Carter checks out an A-10 Thunderbolt |
Next, I head to Homerville in Clinch County where I tour Envirospec, a company that manufactures soap, cleaners and pressure washers and is the largest supplier of these products to the professional house wash and truck wash industries worldwide. It is amazing that a company such as this is located in Homerville, Georgia. Afterwards, I head to Douglas in Coffee County and on the way have a phone conference with the Dublin VA Medical Center Director to discuss the issue I spoke to the media about yesterday. Once in Douglas I meet with my good friend Thad Carter to discuss Ag issues and afterwards, while traveling to Alma in Bacon County have a Whip Team conference call to discuss the impeachment proceedings. Once in Alma, I have the honor, although be it quite difficult, of serving as a judge in South Georgia’s Got Talent presented by FNB South. Choosing 3 winners out of the 15 very talented entrants is no easy task but along with my fellow judges Frank Sutton from Nashville in Berrien County and Santina Fryer from Baxley in Appling County, we choose 3rd place winner Gabriel Gonzalez, 2nd place winner The Dixie Land Band and 1st place winner Cailey Martinez.
Friday, October 4, 2019: Well, I finally got to sleep in my own bed in Pooler last night, albeit for only a few hours as I’m in Garden City this morning for my Band of Brothers bible study led by Pastor Kenny Grant. Afterwards, I head to South Effingham High School (SEHS) where I have the opportunity to speak to six different classes of History, Government and JROTC students and have a question and answer session afterwards. Afterwards, I head to Rincon Elementary School where I read Halloween books to the pre-K classes followed by a stream of high 5’s from the excited group as they exit. Next, I head to the Effingham College and Career Academy (ECCA) to visit one of the most impressive Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) programs in the State. After being greeted by Principal Dr. Ashley Kieffer and a group of the students, I enjoy eating lunch alone with the students and hearing their experiences at the school. Next, I am led on a tour by the students to observe some of the different classes at the school, including the engineering, physics, robotics, computer science and web design classes. Afterwards, I head to South Effingham Middle School (SEMS) where I learn more about their STEAM (the A is for Agriculture) program.
Rep. Carter visits Effingham STEM Academy |
After visiting a class simulating a legislature complete with a Senate, House, Governor, etc., that was trying to pass legislation being consistently ruled unconstitutional by the judicial branch (the teacher), I visited classes studying compost and its uses. My next stop is to the US Customs and Border Protection facility in downtown Savannah and on the way I have a conference call with my Republican House colleagues where we are joined by President Trump. Once at the Customs House I meet with Port of Savannah Assistant Port Director Lynn Brennan and her staff to learn more about the extremely important work they do before being treated to a tour of the oldest building in Savannah and learning of its rich history- a real treat.
Rep. Carter visits the Customs House |
Afterwards, I head to Darien in McIntosh County where I have the honor of performing the coin toss at the McIntosh County Academy (MCA) vs. Brantley County football game and put an exclamation mark on what has been one very busy week! |
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