Happy easter

Amy and I wish you and your family a happy and blessed Easter. He is risen!

A DANGEROUS WORLD

This week, the United States House of Representatives passed legislation condemning the horrific attacks in Brussels in the strongest possible sense. As we pray for the victims and their families, we must stand united with the people of Belgium and the rest of our allies to once and for all rid the earth of the scourge that is radical Islamic terrorism. The evils of ISIS will continue to spread until we finally destroy extremism at its core.

These attacks are a dark reminder that Congress and the administration need to always be looking for ways to protect our homeland and continuing to strengthen the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) is an important step. Unfortunately, the administration is not making this easy.

As you know, last year, the House passed the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act which became law. The legislation ensures that nationals of VWP countries who traveled to nations with terrorist ties like Iraq and Syria are not eligible for the VWP and would instead have to apply through the regular visa process.

However, as the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State work to implement the statute, they are creating dangerous broad exemption categories that clearly were not in the law and against Congressional intent.

As ISIS expands their presence across the region and we continue to see attacks against our allies, I believe we should be looking to add areas and countries of concern to tighten the program instead of providing loopholes for terrorists as the administration is attempting to do.

From our Nation's Capitol LVIII

Monday, March 21, 2016: A very busy Saturday began with me attending the Chatham County Republican Convention in Savannah where I was able to give an update on the latest from Washington. Afterwards, I head to Liberty County where I joined students, family members and community leaders in honoring the 2016 AAAA state champion basketball team.

Congressman Carter Honors the 2016 AAAA State Championship Basketball Team

Led by first year school principal Stephanie Woods, this is the first State Championship ever won by an athletic team at the school and the support and congratulations that the team members receive is phenomenal. Next, I head down to St. Marys and Camden County for the 20^th Anniversary celebration of the St. Marys Submarine Museum. Led by museum executive director Keith Post, I had the honor of joining community and military leaders in recognizing this great tribute to the history of the submarine community and to Kings Bay. I’m back in Washington this morning and start by heading to the House Chamber where I am sporting a red tie and deliver a one minute speech on Bleeding Disorder’s Awareness Month. Next, I head to a meeting with Jeff Stone, a fellow pharmacist and current California State Senator who is running for Congress in the upcoming election.

Congressman Carter at the 20th Anniversary Celebration of the St. Marys Submarine Museum

Afterwards, I head back to my office for our weekly staff briefing before heading to the Capitol for our weekly Whip Team meeting where we discuss the legislation that will be voted on this week as well as the latest news on the pending budget vote. My day ends with votes in the House Chamber before I head back to my office to watch the Presidential candidates deliver their remarks at the AIPAC 2016 Policy Conference.

Tuesday, March 22, 2016: One of the many blessings that we have in the First Congressional District of Georgia is to be home to the 3^rd ID and Fort Stewart. As a Member of Congress, I am a member of the Army Caucus and this morning we have a breakfast where we hear from the Honorable Patrick J. Murphy, the Acting Secretary of the Army and General Mark Milley, the 39^th Chief of Staff of the Army. Hearing from these military leaders and being with many of our other fine soldiers, including former 3^rd ID commander General Mike Murray who is now at the Pentagon, reminds me of why I am so proud of our military. Afterwards, I head to our weekly Republican Conference meeting where we discuss the agenda for this week and talk more about the budget process and where we are at the present time. Next, I head to a Committee on Education and the Workforce hearing where we discuss privacy protections to better serve students. One of our witnesses for this hearing is Bob Swiggum, the Deputy Superintendent of Technology for the Georgia Department of Education. A link to my questions can be found here. After a meeting with Phil Hagerman, CEO & Chairman of Diplomat Pharmacy, a specialty pharmacy in Michigan, I head to a Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (OGR) hearing on America’s heroin and opioid abuse epidemic. Opioid drug overdose is now the leading cause of accidental death in America, claiming more lives each year than car crashes, and has truly reached epidemic proportions in our country. A link to my questions can be found here. Next, I head to a meeting of the National Republican Congressional Committee where we hear from former Congresswoman and current Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin. After a meeting with Ken Quinn of International Auto Logistics in Brunswick, I head to an OGR subcommittee meeting on challenges in health information technology after which I head to the House Chamber for our first vote series of the day and to deliver a one minute speech on the retirement of David Pringle from AFLAC. Following a late afternoon television interview with WRDW in Augusta regarding Opioids, I head back to my office before heading out to the National Republican Congressional Committee March Dinner where we hear from former Massachusetts Governor and 2012 Republican Presidential nominee Mitt Romney.

Wednesday, March 23, 2016: My day starts with an early morning briefing with representatives from the Motion Picture Association of America where I learn more about the challenges of piracy and intellectual property facing the industry. Georgia is now one of the leading states in the nation for motion picture production thanks to the efforts of the Governor and state legislature, led by House Economic Development Chairman Ron Stephens (R-Savannah). In fact, we in the First District and Tybee Island are currently witnessing the filming of the new Baywatch movie starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Obviously, serving in Congress keeps me too busy to film a motion picture at the current time, but I’m sure “The Rock” will do fine filling in for me. Next, I head to a meeting of the Committee on Homeland Security where we are marking up several pieces of legislation. Although I had quite a few meetings scheduled for today, most of my time is unexpectedly spent in this meeting that turns out to be quite contentious. Without question, debate today on the bills in this committee is the most partisan and quarrelsome that I have witnessed in my short time in Congress. The debate that originally was scheduled for a little over an hour ends up lasting more than four hours. With the exceptions of a short period where we head to the House Chamber for votes and then return and a quick meeting with new Farm Bureau National Executive Director Zippy Duvall from Greensboro, GA, we witness tempers flaring and accusations being flung during the course of the meeting.

Congressman Carter with Zippy Duvall

Finally, resolution is reached and cooler heads prevail as the bills are passed and we all head home for the Easter weekend.

Thursday, March 24, 2016: With the exception of one interview with Real Clear Politics about the opioid epidemic, most of my day is spent in the district office catching up on work and meeting with constituents. Later in the afternoon, I head to Tybee Island where I have the honor of introducing my good friend Mayor Jason Buelterman as he gives the State of the City address for Tybee Island in the newly renovated Tybee Post Theater.