Honoring Representative John Lewis
Congressman John Lewis was a giant among men who fiercely dedicated his life to fighting for equality and justice for all. He fought this fight until the very end, and our nation is a better place because of him.

There are some people in life you feel honored to meet, and John was certainly one of those people. He was and will always be an icon, and I will be forever grateful that I was able to call him a friend. I will forever treasure our walks to votes together. His wisdom, spirit, and friendship will be deeply missed.

We held a bipartisan Special Order on the House floor this week to remember John. Click here to see my speech. 

The great American outdoors act
This week, the House passed the Great American Outdoors Act with my support. This legislation will permanently and fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund and establish the National Parks and Public Land Restoration Fund to address deferred maintenance backlogs on public lands.

This is critical for the First District of Georgia as properties like Fort Pulaski, Fort Frederica and Cumberland Island have a combined backlog of more than $20 million. This will help properly maintain these properties for generations to come. 

this week on buddy's briefing
This week in the Energy and Commerce Committee, we held a hearing with the major vaccine manufacturers to discuss a COVID-19 vaccination. I discuss this very important hearing and more in this episode of Buddy's Briefing. 


from our nation's capitol CCLXXV
Monday, July 20, 2020:  On Saturday I was honored to attend the promotion ceremony of Colonel Bobby Christine to the rank of Brigadier General held at Clay National Guard Center in Marietta.  Not only is Brig. Gen. Christine a good friend, he also happens to be the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, a district that covers 43 counties in East and South Georgia from north of Augusta to the Florida line including the entire First Congressional District.  Congratulations, Gen. Christine! 

Rep. and Mrs. Carter at the promotion ceremony for General Christine
I’m up early this morning and at the airport in Savannah for a flight to Washington, D.C.  Once back in my office on Capitol Hill, I join in on our daily all staff conference call before having a Zoom interview with Nexstar (WSAV-TV) to discuss the sad news of the death of John Lewis, a man I had the honor of knowing and serving with in Congress.  Afterwards, I have a Zoom interview with Gray TV (WTOC -TV) regarding the same subject before joining in on Audubon’s Virtual Hill Day.  The seabird focused fly-in includes birders and recreational fishing folks and is intended to raise awareness about issues related to seabirds and forage fish conservation.  Afterwards, I head to the House Chamber where we have a series of two votes.  Between the two votes, we have a moment of silence in honor of our deceased colleague, John Lewis.  Most of the afternoon is spent in my office catching up on work and mail that has accumulated since my last trip here.  Later, I have a Whip Team conference call before heading back to the House Chamber for another vote series.  

Tuesday, July 21, 2020:  I’m up early as usual this morning and on the radio with my good friend, Valdosta Mayor and radio extraordinaire, Scott James, as we discuss COVID-19, masks and getting kids back to school.  Afterwards, I call in to the world famous Butch and Bob Show in Jesup as I spend about 30 minutes talking to my good friend Bob Morgan about the same subjects.  Next, I head to the Capitol Visitors Center (CVC) for the first in person GOP Conference that we have had since early March before heading to an Energy and Commerce (E&C) Committee Oversight and Investigations (O&I) Subcommittee hearing on efforts to develop a safe, effective and accessible COVID-19 vaccine.  Although I am not a member of this subcommittee, I am sponsoring legislation dealing with bringing pharmaceutical manufacturing back to the U.S. and have been asked to ask questions during this hearing.  A link to my questions can be found here.  During the hearing, we have a vote series that includes seven amendments, a motion to recommit (MTR) and passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that lasts from 10:25 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.  Normally members remain in the House Chamber during a vote series but we are voting in groups in order to limit the number of members in the House Chamber at any one time and each vote lasts much longer that normal so we make many trips back and forth to the House Chamber during this time.  After the E&C O&I hearing, I join in on a Doctors Caucus Zoom call where we hear from a group known as Scientists Against COVID-19 and get their perspective on where we are in fighting this pandemic. 

Rep. Carter speaks with Nexstar
Afterwards, I join our daily all staff conference call before having an on-camera interview with Nexstar (WSAV-TV) on the Capitol Plaza lawn to discuss COVID-19 and the upcoming NDAA vote.  Next, I head back to my office where I join a virtual call with Valdosta State University (VSU) and Okefenokee Swamp Park (OSP) officials to witness the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the two to promote ecological tourism and education about the swamp.  This is a historic alliance that will benefit both institutions and benefit the First Congressional District.  After a Zoom call with CERES, an organization of corporations concerned about the impact of climate change on the economy, I head to my final vote of the day and afterwards remain in the chamber to pay tribute to Ira Katz, a pharmacist from Atlanta.  A link to my tribute can be found here.  Once back in my office, I have a House Energy Action Team (HEAT) conference call to end a very busy day.

Wednesday, July 22, 2020:  I’m back in the House Chamber bright and early this morning as I deliver four tributes during our allotted time on the schedule.  I pay tribute to Gen. Bill Bland, the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC), the Brunswick/Golden Isles Chamber of Commerce and Kyle Hugunin.  A link to my tributes can be found here, here, here and here.  Once back in my office, I have a couple of staff meetings before joining a virtual call with Rafael Pharmaceuticals to discuss my Manufacturing Active Pharmaceutical-Ingredients, Drugs and Excipients (MADE) in the US legislation.  Next, I join our daily all staff conference call before having a phone interview with Bloomberg to discuss empowering pharmacists to expand access for every American to COVID-19 testing and vaccination.  Next, I head to the sensitive compartmented information facility (SCIF) where I join other members of the Doctors Caucus for a secure briefing with officials from Health and Human Services (HHS). 

Rep. Carter honors Rep. John Lewis on the House floor
After heading back to my office, I have a virtual call with Enviva Biomass CEO Joh Keppler to discuss biomass and wood-based bioenergy before having a Doctors Caucus call with officials from the White House to discuss surprise billing.  Next, I head to the House Chamber for our first vote series of the day and later return to the chamber where I participate in a special-order honoring John Lewis. A link to my tribute can be found here.   

Thursday, July 24, 2020:  I am honored this morning to receive the Spirit of Enterprise Award from the US Chamber of Commerce (COC) as they are joined by the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce in presenting me the award virtually.  I am proud that I have received this award each year I have been in Congress as it represents a member’s support for pro-business issues.  Afterwards, I join in on our all staff conference call before having a phone interview with Modern Healthcare to discuss using pharmacists to expand access to COVID-19 testing and vaccination.  Later, I head to the House Chamber for our first vote series of the day and, once I’m back in my office, I join an E&C member call with the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Dr. Robert Redfield, for an update on COVID-19.  Next, I have a very upsetting call with the Coast Guard and Unified Command for an update on the removal of the Golden Ray from the Brunswick Harbor where they inform me they will be pushing back work on the removal for 60 days due to COVID-19 concerns.  After a phone interview with Inside Health Policy to discuss the pharmacists role in COVID-19 testing and vaccination, I have a conference call with Atlanticus Holding Corporation to discuss the need for a new type of Main Street Lending Program loan for this critical financial sector.  Next, I join a virtual call with the Doctors Caucus as we speak to members of the Cardiology Advocacy Alliance to hear their experiences with COVID-19 before having a phone interview with CQ Roll Call to discuss COVID-19 testing and vaccination.  Our first and only vote series of the day is next as I head to the House Chamber and then return to my office.

Friday, July 24, 2020:   I’m back in the House Chamber this morning as I pay tribute to Savannah bookstore E. Shaver for having been named “Best Bookstore” by Southern Living Magazine.  A link to my tribute can be found here

Rep. Carter at the Faces of the South Gala
Afterwards, I head to Statuary Hall in the Capitol where I record Buddy’s Briefing before heading back to the House Chamber for our first and only vote series of the day.  Once back in my office, I record a tribute to John Lewis before and a congratulatory speech to graduates of Turner Job Corps in Albany.  After our daily all staff conference call, I join a conference call with Administration officials from HHS and other agencies for a COVID-19 update.  After a series of staff office meetings, I head to the airport for my return trip home.  Once I arrive at the Savannah Airport, I head directly to River Street for the Faces of the South Gala at the new development Plant Riverside.

VOTES IN THE HOUSE THIS WEEK
Click here for this week's vote sheet in the House.

 
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