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For the first time ever, the United States House of Representatives sent an Obamacare repeal bill to the President's desk. The Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act guts Obamacare, eliminates federal funding for Planned Parenthood, and will reduce the deficit by $516 billion over the 2016-2025 period.
However, it is no surprise that President Obama has ignored the call from both Republicans and Democrats to repeal the Obamacare trainwreck and vetoed the legislation. He has turned his back on the millions of Americans who face higher premiums and deductibles, have lost their doctors, or had their policies cancelled completely thanks to his failed healthcare law.
I won't stop this fight until Obamacare is gone and the free market is put back in our healthcare system. Speaker Ryan has already announced that we will hold a vote to override this veto and take this process all the way to the end under the Constitution.
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| An Attack on the Second Amendment |
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Also this week, President Obama outlined a series of new executive actions attacking our Second Amendment rights. The executive actions include a long list of provisions including expanding background checks, deploying 200 additional Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents to enforce gun laws, and adding more than 200 new FBI agents to process background checks.
With these actions the president is trampling the Constitution at the expense of law-abiding citizens and I deeply condemn these executive actions. Rather than address the real threats facing our country, his Administration is once again trying to exploit tragedy to advance his anti-gun agenda.
Instead of blatantly overstepping his authority to attack our Second Amendment rights, President Obama should work with Congress to address the actual underlying causes of these tragedies. Mental illness must be addressed and we should work together to actually enforce the laws currently on the books to keep guns out of the hands of violent criminals. Additionally, the threat of radical Islamic terrorism increases every day and Americans are rightfully afraid. It is outrageous that the president would actively work to disarm law abiding American citizens as he continues to fumble with a nonexistent strategy to defeat these barbaric terrorists and protect our homeland.
I refuse to allow the President of the United States to circumvent Congress to take away citizen’s rights to protect themselves and their families. That is why I have cosponsored legislation to ensure these attacks on the Second Amendment have no effect and cannot receive funding.
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| From our Nation's Capitol XXXXVIII |
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Monday, January 4, 2016: It’s not every week that you begin by attending a ribbon cutting ceremony for a waste water treatment plant, but that’s exactly what I’m doing this morning as I join the mayor and City Council of Richmond Hill for this special ceremony.
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Congressman Carter at the Richmond Hill Waste Water Treatment Plant Ribbon Cutting
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As a former mayor myself, I can truly appreciate the importance of these type of projects. This is what I refer to as the “nuts and bolts” of city government. Most people turn on their faucets and the water flows or flush their toilets and the waste goes away, but when you’re in city government you have to pay attention to these type things and plan ahead. Richmond Hill is a progressive community, and this project will help them to be well prepared for the future growth that is coming their way. Afterwards, I head to Liberty County and Hinesville where the new mayor and City Council are being sworn in today. Former Mayor Allen Brown, who was mayor when I was a mayor many years ago, is back in office after a 16 year absence. I am honored to participate in the swearing in ceremony as I lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Next, I head back to Savannah where I meet with Tybee Island Mayor Jason Buelterman, Savannah/Chatham Metropolitan Planning Commission personnel and officials from the Georgia Department of Transportation to discuss the proposed improvements to Hwy 80 leading to Tybee Island. This much needed project will improve traffic flow and safety for those traveling to and from Tybee Island. Finally, I am back in Pooler tonight as I am honored to emcee the inauguration ceremony for the Pooler Mayor and City Council. As a former mayor and resident of Pooler since 1980, I could not be more proud of the phenomenal growth that our city has experienced. Mayor Mike Lamb and members of the City Council have done an outstanding job of continuing the growth in our city while maintaining our hometown atmosphere.
Tuesday, January 5, 2016: After two weeks in the First District, I’m back in Washington today, and I hit the ground running with a television interview before even going to my office. The interview is in response to the President’s announcement today that he will be attempting to implement new gun laws by executive action and bypassing Congress. Afterwards, we have our weekly staff briefing where we catch up on what has happened during the past two weeks and what lies ahead for this week. As is often the case in a work environment, staff is like family and as we share our holiday experiences with each other, it’s hard for any of us to beat our legislative director’s holiday as he got married. Next, I head to our weekly Whip Team meeting where we discuss the legislative agenda for this week, followed by a quorum call where we all vote present in order to establish a quorum in the House for the second session of the 114th Congress.
Wednesday, January 6, 2016: It’s hard to believe that one year ago today, I was sworn in as a new Member of Congress. This past year has been not only one of the greatest experiences of my life, but one of the greatest honors of my life. I begin the day with a meeting of the Republican Conference where we continue to discuss our plans for the year before I head to an Oversight and Government Reform subcommittee hearing to discuss the Army Fee Assistance Program. Afterwards, I attend a Navy-Marine Corps Caucus Meet and Greet where we hear from the U.S. Secretary of the Navy, Chief of Naval Operations, and Commandant of the Marine Corps.
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Congressman Carter at the Navy-Marine Corps Caucus Meet and Greet
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Next, I head to the House Chamber where I speak on the rule for legislation that will gut Obamacare and prohibit federal funding to Planned Parenthood. A link to my speech can be found here. Afterwards, we have our first vote series of the day followed by a freshman member meeting with Speaker Paul D. Ryan. Speaker Ryan is doing an outstanding job, particularly with his communication and messaging, and the conference is uniting behind him. Following this very productive meeting, I head back to the floor where we have our second and final vote series of the day. My day ends with a conference call with members of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons to discuss legislation that I am sponsoring.
Thursday, January 7, 2016: After traveling over to the Capitol to have a picture taken with Jason Hopkins, one of our fine interns who will be leaving tomorrow, I head to a Committee on Oversight and Government Reform hearing on document production status. Next, I head to the House Chamber where I deliver a one minute speech honoring the life of William Wallace Sprague Jr., one of Savannah’s finest citizens who passed away last week. A link to my speech can be found here. Afterwards, I head back to my office where I have a television interview with WSB in Atlanta to discuss H.R. 4007, the Assuring Law Enforcement Requests are Timely Evaluated by DHS, that I am sponsoring. Following this, I head to a Committee on Homeland Security subcommittee hearing where we discuss the Transportation Security Acquisition Reform Act. Next, we have our first and only vote series of the day, albeit a long one. Including debate, we spend almost two hours on the floor and cast sixteen votes during this vote series.
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Congressman Carter with Jane Chu, Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts
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Afterwards, I have the opportunity to meet with Jane Chu, Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts before attending a press conference with Speaker Paul D. Ryan and Republican members where Speaker Ryan signs the reconciliation legislation that repeals Obamacare and defunds Planned Parenthood.
Friday, January 8, 2016: I head straight to the House Chamber this morning where I deliver a one minute speech on the President’s executive actions on gun control. A link to my speech can be found here. Next, I head back to my office where I meet with Republican Conference Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) as we discuss conference goals for the year. Afterwards, I head back to the House Chamber where we have a total of 11 votes in our first and only vote series of the day.
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 Congressman Carter at a press conference with members of the Committee on Homeland Security
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Immediately afterwards, I head to the Capitol Visitors Center where I participate in a press conference with Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) and other committee members as we call on the Senate to pass H.R. 4038 , the SAFE Act, legislation improving the vetting process for refugees entering our country.
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