Monday, February 10, 2025: The buzz around Washington this week is the budget reconciliation resolution we hope to mark up in the Budget Committee later in the week. In preparation for that, we had two conference calls this past weekend with staff and members of the committee to discuss our plans for the resolution. I’m headed back to Washington this morning and, once back in our office, I have our weekly meeting with staff of the Energy and Commerce (E&C) Health Subcommittee as we discuss plans for the upcoming week before meeting with staff to review my presentation for the Health Subcommittee to the full E&C Committee at our retreat tomorrow. Afterwards, I have meetings with our communications staff, legislative staff and scheduling staff. Next, I meet with a group of orthopedic physicians to discuss the physician Medicare fee schedule and prior authorization reform before having a radio interview with Austin Rhodes in Augusta as we discuss the Fair Tax Act and news of the day. Next, I head to our weekly Whip Team meeting before heading to the House Chamber for our first vote series of the week. Afterwards, I remain in the Chamber and pay tribute to Lila Critz from Savannah who passed recently.
Rep. Carter pays tribute to Lila Critz
Tuesday, February 11, 2024: I’m up early and live on the radio as I speak to WRGA radio in Rome regarding the Fair Tax Act and news of the day before heading to a Budget Committee hearing where we discuss the budget reconciliation resolution that we will be marking up later in the week. Next, I head off Capitol Hill for a meeting with health care companies to preview our plans for the E&C Health subcommittee before heading to the Library of Congress for our E&C member retreat. E&C is the oldest committee and has the broadest jurisdiction of any committee in Congress. We begin our retreat with remarks from our former Chairman, Greg Walden (R-OR), before hearing from each subcommittee chair as to their plans for the upcoming session. The subcommittees on E&C are Energy; Environment; Health; Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade; and Oversight and Investigations. During a break in presentations, we hear from CNN news anchor Scott Jennings. Afterwards, I head to the House Chamber for our first and only vote series of the day before heading back to our office, where I meet with Dr. Martin Tolar to learn more of the exciting drug to treat Alzheimer’s that his company has in development. Next, I head off Capitol Hill to the offices of Center Forward where I film a video congratulating them on their 15th Anniversary before joining in on our all staff conference call while heading to another location off Capitol Hill for a meeting with a pharmacy wholesaler. Later, I enjoy a meeting with my former Georgia State House colleague Mike Cheokas who is in town visiting.
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Rep. Carter introduces legislation to acquire and rename Greenland
Wednesday, February 12, 2025: I’m up early and live on Newsmax as I discuss my legislation to pursue the purchase of Greenland and news of the day. Afterwards, I head off Capitol Hill for a meeting with the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) before heading to a meeting in the Capitol with the Budget Committee to discuss the Budget Reconciliation Resolution. Once back in our office, I have a meeting with the Forest Landowners Association who are accompanied by forestry students from the University of Georgia, before meeting with the CEO of Phoenix Tailings. After a meeting off Capitol Hill with a group of Orthopedic surgeons from Texas, I head back to our offices where I meet with the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) followed by meetings with the American Hospital Association (AHA) and Amicus Solar Cooperative. Next, I have a virtual interview with WTOC-TV in Savannah to discuss Greenland and the HALT Fentanyl Act before meeting with Clean Cities Georgia. After heading off Capitol Hill to speak to the board of the Congressional Award progam, I head back to our office and meet with Bob Inglis, followed by a meeting with the Technical College System of Georgia and the Georgia Civil Air Patrol. Later, I meet with the Chair of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL), before heading to our office to meet with some prospective team members and then heading to the House Chamber for votes. Afterwards, I remain in the Chamber and pay tribute to Kamille Nuque who won the Glynn County Spelling Bee last month. After a meeting off Capitol Hill with a group of healthcare companies, I head back to the Capitol where I have a late-night meeting with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and other members.
Rep. Carter meets with Forest Landowners
Thursday, February 13, 2024: I’m off Capitol Hill this morning as I have the honor of addressing the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) at their Rural Health Policy Institute that is being held here in Washington this week. Once back at the Capitol, I head to our weekly E&C member meeting before heading to the long-awaited Budget Committee markup where we will pass a budget reconciliation resolution. Although we don’t adjourn during the 12-hour meeting, we do have a vote in the House Chamber that I head to and then deliver a tribute to Savannah entrepreneur Greg Parker congratulating him on celebrating 50 years as CEO of Parker’s Kitchen. Also during the mark up I step out for a meeting with Brian Blasé to discuss Medicaid stabilization, with Brian Harris, the new director of Government Affairs for Georgia State University, with Perry Sook, CEO of Nexstar media group, Bill Allison with Gainwell Technologies and a virtual meeting with Savannah District Corps of Engineers Commander, Col. Ronald Sturgeon and his staff to discuss the Savannah and Brunswick Harbor maintenance. I also am honored to be invited to the White House this afternoon for the swearing in of newly appointed Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., in the Oval Office by President Trump and Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch. Once back in the Budget mark up, I speak on healthcare-related amendments offered by the minority party and, mercifully, at 10PM we pass the budget reconciliation resolution.
Rep. Carter with Secretary Robert Kennedy, Jr.
Friday, February 14, 2025: After leaving the Capitol at 5AM this morning and enduring two delays, I land in Savannah at 10:30 and immediately head out for our annual Friends of the First (FOF) tour where we visit emergency stations- police, fire, etc.- throughout the district to present them with cards made by area elementary students. The purpose of FOF is not only to show our emergency personnel how much we appreciate them but to also include our school children and teach them to appreciate and support our emergency personnel. FOF is a great program, and the students really get into making cards. We begin our tour with a stop at the Chatham Fire and EMS station #12 on Dean Forest Road in Savannah, then head to the Richmond Hill Fire Department Station 1 in Bryan County before heading to the Fire Station on Commerce St in Hinesville in Liberty County. Next, we head to the Long County Fire Department in Ludowici before heading to Jesup in Wayne County.During the drive to Baxley in Appling County, I have a conference call with the Whip Team to discuss the budget reconciliation resolution that we will be voting on soon. After Appling County, we head to Alma in Bacon County before heading to Blackshear in Pierce County and Waycross in Ware County. Our final two stops are in Nahunta in Brantley County and Brunswick in Glynn County.
Rep. Carter on a Friends of the First stop in Liberty County
