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This week President Barack Obama delivered his final State of the Union address. I was again disappointed, but not surprised, that the speech was another missed opportunity from this President. I had hoped to hear a speech that would unite the country around a strategy to confront radical Islamic terror or a plan to put America back to work. Closing the prison at Guantanamo Bay and making it harder for Americans to enjoy their Second Amendment rights will do neither. Instead, we heard another partisan speech heavy on rhetoric and false promises while light on facts or concrete solutions. This failure of leadership will likely be the legacy left by the Obama Administration.
The challenges we face as a country are too grave to sit back and waste the next year on talking past each other. We in the House will focus on delivering positive solutions that make America safer, expand opportunity, and restore fiscal discipline. We will combat executive overreach and turn back the tide of bureaucratic encroachment on our liberties. We will continue our fight for a better America and I strongly encourage the President to work with Congress to do the same. His place in the history books, as well as the future our great nation, depends on it.
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| Town Halls in the First District |
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Next week I will hold several town halls around the district. I will provide an update on the current events in Washington, recap the first session of the 114th Congress, and give you an opportunity to ask me questions about issues that are important to you. I hope you will join us!
Wayne County Town Hall
Tuesday, January 19. 2016
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Coastal Pines Technical College
1777 West Cherry Street
Jesup, Georgia 31545
Ware County Town Hall
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Coastal Pines Technical College
1701 Carswell Avenue
Waycross, GA 31503
Camden County Town Hall
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
College of Coastal Georgia Camden Center
8001 Lakes Blvd.
Kingsland, GA 31548
Savannah Town Hall
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Armstrong Center Auditorium
13040 Abercorn Street
Savannah, Georgia 31419
Brunswick Office Open House
Friday, January 22, 2016
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Congressman Carter's Brunswick Office
1510 Newcastle Street, Suite 200
Brunswick, GA 31520
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| From our Nation's Capitol XXXXVIIII |
Monday, January 11, 2016: Being a Congressman can be rewarding at times and certainly Saturday was one of those times as I spoke to the Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association at their annual meeting in Savannah along with none other than the reigning Miss America, Betty Cantrell.
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 Congressman Carter with Miss America Betty Cantrell at the Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association
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Although I am not naïve enough to believe that the group enjoyed my Washington update as much as they enjoyed hearing the exceptionally talented middle Georgia native sing, it was a pleasure to be with her and the growers. Afterwards, I met with a number of the South Georgia growers to discuss their concerns with the H2A visa program and the Adverse Effect Wage Rate. Later that afternoon, I was privileged to participate in the annual Martin Luther King Jr., parade on Tybee Island along with this year’s honorary chairman, former long-time Mayor Walter Parker.
Congressman Carter at the Tybee Island Martin Luther King Jr. Parade |
After the parade, Dr. Cheryl Dozier, President of Savannah State University, delivered an inspirational keynote address during the celebration program. I’m back in Washington today and we start with our weekly staff meeting to review the upcoming week. Next, I head to a General Aviation Caucus member meeting being hosted by Congressman Mike Pompeo (R-KS) where we discuss the upcoming FAA reauthorization bill. Although most of the companies present at this meeting are from the Midwest, this is certainly going to be important to our area as well, particularly with Gulfstream Aerospace. Following our weekly Whip Team meeting to discuss legislation to be voted on this week, I head to the House Chamber for our first votes of the week.
Tuesday, January 12, 2016: Following our weekly Republican Conference meeting where we discuss, among other things, our upcoming planning retreat, I head to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform where we mark up and pass four bills. Afterwards, I head back to my office for a meeting with H.E. Jalil Abbas Jilani, Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States.
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Congressman Carter meeting with Ambassador Jailil Abbas Jilani
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Next, I head to the House Chamber where I give a one minute speech in honor of Mr. Neil Ratchford, a life-long Effingham County resident who passed last week. Mr. Ratchford, known as the “sausage man” for his famous delicacy, was also, along with Rev. Lawton Nease, the founder of the Fifth Sunday Breakfast at Guyton United Methodist Church that I have enjoyed attending for many years. A link to my speech can be found here. Later, while still in the House Chamber, I speak on S. J. Res 22, a bill that will limit the EPA and what they can do under their Waters of the US rule. A link to my speech can be found here. After our first vote series of the day I head back to my office to meet with representatives from the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) regarding a hearing we will be having in two weeks dealing with increases in generic drug prices. Later in the evening, I head back to the House Chamber for President Barack Obama’s final State of the Union address. As you can imagine, the Capitol is very busy with heightened security, media and special guests. You can view my reaction to the speech here. After the hour long speech, I head to Statutory Hall in the Capitol where many of the media outlets are set up where I have two television interviews to give my response to the President’s speech. Next, I head to the Cannon Rotunda where more media outlets are set up for my third and final interview of the night before returning to my office after midnight.
Wednesday, January 13, 2016: The morning after a President’s State of the Union Address is always busy and this morning is certainly no exception as I have four radio interviews and one television interview. My first interview is at 6:44 a.m. with Bill Edwards in Savannah, followed by a 7:20 a.m. interview with Chris Beckham in Valdosta, then an 8:00 a.m. interview with Bob Morgan in Jesup and an 8:30 a.m. interview with Scott Ryfun in Brunswick. My final interview is at 8:50 a.m., when I have an on camera interview with Tim Guidera with WTOC in Savannah. Afterwards, I head to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform for a members only meeting to discuss a bill that we tabled during the mark up yesterday. After returning to my office, I head down to the House Chamber where we have our first and only vote series of the day. This is our last official business of the week as we are having our House and Senate Republican Retreat this week in Baltimore, Maryland, which is a little more than an hour away from the Capitol. Our opening sessions this afternoon include a recap of our work during 2015, followed by a panel of pollsters who lead us in a discussion of the lay of the land and what people care about in 2016. Next, we hear from House Speaker Paul D. Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell about their plans for the upcoming year. Our keynote speaker this evening is Jon Meacham, author of Destiny and Power: The American Odyssey of George Herbert Walker Bush.
Thursday, January 14, 2016: Our first speaker this morning is Washington Post columnist George Will, who shares with us his ideas of what conservatism means in America today. Our morning session is dedicated to health care, jobs, and economic growth. At lunch, I join a small group led by Congressman Phil Roe (R-TN) as we visit a local Burger King franchise which is owned by Mr. Ed Braddy, who hires ex-convicts and people on public assistance to provide them a second chance in society. The restaurant is located where the riots took place this past year in downtown Baltimore. A busy afternoon includes a session on national security where we hear from experts such as General Ray Odierno, former Army Chief of Staff, a session on poverty and opportunity and on the balance of power and government reform.
Friday, January 15, 2016: Our keynote speaker this morning is Simon Sinek, author of Leaders Eat Last and Start With Why, followed by a session titled “Laying the Foundation for Congressional Reforms.” We wrap up our retreat this morning with an overview led by Speaker Paul D. Ryan, Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Whip Steve Scalise. After returning to the Capitol, I head to the airport and back home to the district where I will be next week as I host town hall meetings throughout the district. |
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