Monday, May 10, 2021:  What a great way to start out a week!  Along with members of our Savannah staff, I’m at America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia in Savannah volunteering this morning as we are packing breakfast meals to be sent out throughout the area.

Buddy volunteering at America's Second Harvest

This locally inspired, volunteer driven nonprofit food bank serves as the food safety net for tens of thousands of children, senior citizens and low-income families who are at risk for hunger throughout Southern Georgia.  Afterwards, I head to Downtown Savannah where I attend the weekly meeting of the Savannah Downtown Rotary Club before heading to our Savannah office to meet with constituents.  Later, I am live on Fox Business as I discuss the need for an investigation into the origin of the COVID-19 virus in China.  A link to my interview can be found here.

Tuesday, May 11, 2021:  I’m back in Downtown Savannah this morning as I visit the offices of the Creative Coast, an initiative to catalyze the innovation economy in Coastal Georgia that was founded in 1997 by the Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA), Chatham County and the City of Savannah.  After a great visit, I head to the airport for my flight to Washington and, once back in my office, I join in on a White House COVID-19 response House briefing where we get the latest update on the progress of the national response.  Next, I meet with staff to discuss the latest developments on H. R. 1629, a partisan bill that will be voted on tonight under suspension, meaning that the rules have been suspended and it will require a 2/3 vote in order to be passed.  Last Congress, this legislation was introduced as a bi-partisan bill where I was the original Republican lead sponsor along with an original Democratic sponsor.  While it passed the House last Congress, it did not pass the Senate and therefore is being reintroduced this session by the original Democratic lead sponsor from the last Congress without any Republican sponsorship, therefore making it a partisan bill.  I have been in touch with the original Democratic lead sponsor, and she has informed me that she does not want me on the bill this Congress because I voted to oppose certification of the electoral vote in Arizona, Georgia, and Pennsylvania on January 6^th.  She has offered to allow me to be the original Republican lead sponsor of the bill this Congress if I will apologize for my vote on January 6.  After a heated conversation with the Democratic lead sponsor, the bill moves forward as partisan legislation with no Republican sponsorship.  Next, I head to our weekly Whip Team meeting where I explain the situation regarding H.R. 1629 to leadership and we decide to whip against passage of the bill tonight.  Once in the House Chamber, our only vote is on H.R. 1629 and we are successful in defeating the partisan legislation.  

Wednesday, May 12, 2021:  I head to our weekly GOP Conference meeting in the Capitol Visitors Center (CVC) this morning and force my way through the flood of press covering the meeting today.  The only action item this morning is the removal of Liz Cheney (R-WY) as our Conference Chair.  The widely anticipated action is done quickly as a motion is made and a voice vote is taken, and we now have an opening in our leadership team.  Afterwards, I head to the House Chamber where I pay tribute to Scott Overton, GA State Rep. Mickey Stephens (D-Sav), former Thunderbolt, GA Mayor Jimmy Petrea, and Martin Bell.  A link to my tributes can be found here, here, here, and here. 

Buddy speaks on the House Floor

Once back in my office, I join in on an Energy and Commerce (E&C) Health Subcommittee hearing on the Fiscal Year 2022 Health and Human Services (HHS) budget.  A link to my questions can be found here.  Next, I have a virtual call with the Georgia Association of Broadcasters to discuss legislative proposals before joining in on our all staff conference call.  Afterwards, I have an interview with WJCL-TV in Savannah to discuss the vote in Conference this morning to remove Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) as Chair.  A link to my interview can be found here.  After attending our weekly conservative Republican Study Committee (RSC) meeting, I have a virtual call with the Association of Community Cancer Centers.  Afterwards, I join in on an E&C briefing with the Department of Energy (DOE) to discuss the Colonial Pipeline situation before heading to the House Chamber for our only vote series of the day.  Next, I head back to my office to do an interview with Gray TV (WTOC-TV in Savannah) in which I discuss the GOP Conference meeting this morning.  A link to my interview can be found here. 

Thursday, May 13, 2021:  This week is Law Enforcement Appreciation Week and I’m up early and at the National Law Enforcement Memorial in downtown Washington where the “Back the Blue Bike Tour” has ended, and we are now laying wreaths at the Memorial in honor of fallen officers. 

Buddy at the “Back the Blue Bike Tour”

Afterwards, I head back to Capitol Hill where I join in on a Doctor’s Caucus meeting where we hear from former HHS Dept. Secretary Eric Hargan.  Next, I head to the Capitol Plaza where I have an interview with NBCLX on climate change, after which I head to my office where I join in on an E&C Environment Subcommittee hearing on Superfund proposals to advance cleanups.  

Buddy speaks with NBCLX

Later, I head to the House Chamber for our first and only vote series of the day.  After a phone interview with Politico to discuss the vote Tuesday night on H.R. 1629, I head to the CVC where we have a GOP candidate forum for Conference Chair. Later, I have a live virtual interview on Fox Business where I discuss the announcement today by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to ease up on guidance on indoor mask wearing.  A link to my interview can be found here.

Friday, May 14, 2021:  I’m back in the CVC this morning as we have elections for GOP Conference Chair and elect my classmate, Elise Stefanik (R-NY), as our new Chair.  Next, I head to an E&C member meeting where we review the schedule for the next few months before heading to the House Republican Conference to film a video for the Doctor’s Caucus on pending prescription drug legislation. 

Buddy films Buddy's Briefing at the U.S. Capitol Police Headquarters

After heading to the House Chamber for our final vote series of the week, I head to the U.S. Capitol Police Headquarters on the Senate side of the Capitol where I film this week’s edition of Buddy’s Briefing.  Afterwards, I head to the airport for my return trip back to Georgia.