important information for small businesses

Good news - this week, we passed legislation to replenish the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which ran out of money last week after Washington Democrats blocked a clean funding bill to support the program.

The PPP is a new loan program created by the CARES Act for businesses with less than 500 employees that will be eligible for forgiveness if the business maintains payroll continuity and if the money is used on payroll costs, mortgage interest, rent or utility payments. This loan program is helping small businesses while keeping Americans employed. Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin estimated that the PPP alone has already saved 30 million American jobs.

Additionally, the legislation provides funding for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), testing, and health care providers.

Secretary Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Carranza have announced that the PPP loan applications will resume again on Monday at 10:30 a.m. Please reach out to your lender to check on your application or for more information.

This week on Buddy's Briefing

This week on Buddy's Briefing we discuss neighbors helping neighbors in the First District and funding for small businesses and hospitals impacted by COVID-19. Click here to watch the latest episode.

Click here for the latest edition of Buddy's Briefing

From our Nation's Capitol CCLXIII

Monday, April 20, 2020: After a GOP member conference call yesterday where leadership brought us up to date on negotiations to supplement the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, we have our daily all staff conference call this morning. Next, I have a call with pharmacy groups to review and discuss a letter I am leading supporting the suspension of Direct and Indirect Remuneration (DIR) fees for retail pharmacies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Later, I have a conference call with the Doctors Caucus where we have representatives from the American Medical Association (AMA) join us to discuss the situation involving health care groups and their need for help during the pandemic. Afterwards, I join another call with the Doctors Caucus where we have our former House colleague and now White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows join us. Although Mark was not a member of the Doctors Caucus while in the House, he was always very interested in health care issues and is especially helpful today as we talk primarily about our hospitals and the help they need.

Tuesday, April 21, 2020: After arriving at our Savannah office, I join in on our daily all-staff conference call and afterwards have a conference call with members of the Georgia American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) where I bring them up to date with what we are doing in Congress to address the COVID-19 pandemic and answer their questions. Afterwards, I have a video conference with members of the Energy and Commerce (E&C) Committee followed by a conference call with the House Energy Action Team (HEAT). Our special guest on the HEAT team call is Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette who brings us up to date on the Saudi Arabia-Russia situation and the Administration’s plans to address the oil situation. Next, I am honored to be the guest speaker via conference call of the Waycross Rotary Club where I bring them up to date on our actions in Congress and answer their questions. Afterwards, I have a GOP member conference call where leadership brings us up to date on various items including the anticipated schedule for this week. Next, I have a conference call with Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists from across Georgia followed by a conference call with members of the Coastal Georgia Minority Chamber of Commerce (COC) where they have many great questions. After a phone interview with the Georgia Recorder to discuss the expansion of telehealth in the CARES Act, I have a Zoom conference with Waypoint Strategic Advisors to discuss pharmacy issues. Next, I record a video for a Georgia Southern University (GSU) leadership class where I answer their submitted questions regarding leadership during this pandemic. Afterwards, I record a video celebrating National Park Week. A link to this video can be found here.

Wednesday, April 22, 2020: I’m in Brunswick in Glynn County bright and early this morning as I volunteer at America’s Second Harvest Southeastern Branch Food Bank pickup.

Rep. Carter with members of the Georgia Army National Guard at America’s Second Harvest Southeastern Branch Food Bank pickup

Along with members of the Georgia Army National Guard, I help load boxes of food in cars as they drive through this well-organized event. Afterwards, I head to Camden County and on the way I join a Zoom call with ranking member Rep. Garrett Graves (R-LA) and other members of the Select Committee on Climate Change as we discuss the next steps for the committee and preparations for our final report that will be due when we return to Washington. Once in Camden County, I head to Camden Middle School in Kingsland where I volunteer with the Camden County School System during lunch pick up at the school. Students are required to be in the car with adults in order to receive their lunches and are excited to see some of their teachers and administrative personnel who are also volunteering.

Rep. Carter at the Camden County School Lunch Pick-up

Afterwards, I have an E&C members conference call where we have as our special guest Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Stephen Hahn to discuss the ongoing response to the coronavirus pandemic. Next, I join in on our daily office all-staff conference call before having a conference call with representatives from the Fidelis Group to discuss pharmacy related issues. Afterwards, I have a conference call with staff to review our pharmaceutical independence legislation that we are working on to encourage pharmaceutical manufacturers to repatriate back to the U.S. My final conference call of the day is with my good friend, Valdosta State University (VSU) President Richard Carvajal, and members of his staff to discuss their situation and that of the University System of Georgia. Afterwards, I keep heading south as I drive to the Jacksonville airport where I take a late-night flight to Washington.

Thursday, April 23, 2020: After arriving in Washington late last night, I’m up bright and early as I have a 4:15 a.m. interview on Fox and Friends First to discuss our upcoming vote on CARES 3.5 today as well as Georgia Governor Brian Kemp’s announcement of opening up Georgia’s economy beginning tomorrow. A link to my interview can be found here. Later in the morning, I have a radio interview with Scott James on Talk 92.1 in Valdosta to discuss the Governor’s directive and our upcoming vote in the House today. Next, I have a radio interview on the world famous Butch and Bob show on Big Dog Country 105.5 in Jesup before having another interview with Scott Ryfun on Straight Talk 98.7 radio in Brunswick. While at the Capitol today, we have been instructed to stay in our offices as much as possible. Only essential staff members are present and therefore the Capitol is eerily quiet. While sheltered in my office, I still conduct conference calls and my first one today is a GOP member call where we hear the latest news from leadership as well as the plans for today.

Rep. Carter discusses the need to pass funding for the Paycheck Protection Program

Afterwards, I do venture out to the Cannon Rotunda where I film a video discussing today’s vote and then head to the Capitol Plaza where I have an interview with WSAV TV in Savannah to discuss today’s vote and the Governor’s plan to reopen Georgia’s economy beginning tomorrow. A link to my interview can be found here. Once back in my office, I have our daily all-staff conference call before masking up again and heading to the Committee on Small Business member day hearing on the COVID-19 response and recovery. A link to my comments can be found here. Immediately afterwards, I head back to my office and have a conference call with the E&C Committee where we have a briefing on COVID-19 treatment developments by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Next, I have a live telephone interview on Bloomberg TV to discuss the CARES 3.5 vote today and Governor Kemp’s reopening plans. A link to my interview can be found here. Afterwards, I head to the House Chamber where I have the opportunity to speak on CARES 3.5. A link to my comments can be found here. I am very impressed by the precautions taken to assure our safety while at the Capitol today. Nearly everyone is wearing masks, hand sanitizers are readily available, and microphones and counters are wiped down after each member speaks. As I am one of the last speakers on the bill, I remain in the chamber to vote on the two bills being considered today, the formation of a CARES oversight committee and the CARES 3.5 Act. In order to avoid all members being in the chamber at the same time, we are voting in groups. The first group is those with the last name beginning with A-C and therefore I vote first and then return to my office. Obviously, this makes for a long vote series and once back in my office, I have a conference call with the E&C Committee where we have a briefing with the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) to discuss nursing home guidance. Later, I head back to the House Chamber for our second vote series where we pass CARES 3.5 and secure more funding for small businesses, hospitals and testing.

Friday, April 24, 2020: I’m up early again this morning as I head to Dulles airport for my flight back home. After a connection through Atlanta, I arrive home around 10:30 a.m. and once at home have a phone interview with the Savannah Morning News (SMN) followed by a podcast recording with Waypoint Strategic Advisors and a Skype interview with WTOC TV in Savannah. Next, I hit the road heading to Blackshear in Pierce County and during the drive join in on our daily all-staff conference call followed by a member and staff conference call with the administration to discuss the COVID-19 response.

Rep. Carter at the Waycross YMCA dinner pick-up

Once in Blackshear, I stop by the offices of the Blackshear Times for a courtesy visit before heading to Waycross in Ware County where I stop by the offices of the Waycross Journal Herald for a courtesy visit. Afterwards, I head to the Waycross YMCA where I volunteer alongside Georgia State Rep. James Burchett (R-Waycross) handing out bags of food at the dinner pickup. Next, I stay in Waycross and film this week’s edition of Buddy’s Briefing before heading back to Pooler to end a very long week of work.