A Big Week for the Port of Savannah
President Trump released his fiscal year 2021 budget this week. The budget proposal is pro-worker, pro-family, pro-growth and pro-American. 

The President's budget also includes great news for the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project (SHEP). The budget includes full funding to keep the project on track. 

This is the fourth year in a row SHEP will receive full federal funding from the Trump Administration, pending Congressional passage of the annual appropriations bill. President Trump has again proven that the Trump administration understands the critical importance of the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project for our nation.

The project is now well past the half way mark. While the finish line is finally in sight, I will continue to fight tirelessly for this federal support and to ensure the project is completed.

Also this week, I announced that we secured a federal Department of Transportation grant of $34,600,000.00 for the Port of Savannah. The Port Infrastructure Development Grant is critical to straighten and realign Berth 1, one of the oldest areas of the Port, to increase efficiency.

The funding will work to modernize the Berths to handle larger ships. This grant is necessary to ensure the Port is able to handle additional cargo.

This announcement goes hand-in-hand with recent news, including the recent land acquisition, to increase port capacity and efficiency. I am excited that this federal funding will work to modernize the port, allow larger ships and increase the amount of cargo they will be able to move.

I discussed President Trump's budget and the blockbuster week for the Port of Savannah in this week's edition of Buddy's Briefing.



From our Nation's Capitol CCLIII
Monday, February 10, 2020:  After an early morning flight back to Washington, I’m in the House Chamber where I pay tribute to one of my favorite veterans, Paul Grassey from Savannah.  Paul, a World War II veteran who is also a great singer and routinely leads us in patriotic songs at veteran’s events, has recently been given the French government’s highest possible honor, the Legion of Honor, for his military service and role in helping to free France from Nazi occupation.  A link to my tribute can be found here.  Once back in my office, we have our weekly all district conference call to discuss last week’s events in the district, upcoming events and casework.  Later, I have a series of phone interviews to discuss President Trump’s fiscal year 2021 budget proposal that was released today and includes full funding for the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project (SHEP) for the fourth straight year. Funding this project was one of my top priorities when I took office five years ago and this good news should allow us to complete dredging by the end of 2021 or the beginning of 2022.  My first interview is with WTOC TV in Savannah, followed by the Savannah Morning News (SMN) and WJCL TV in Savannah.  A link to these stories can be found here, here and here.  After our weekly DC staff briefing, I head to our weekly Whip Team meeting before heading to the House Chamber for our first vote series of the week.  My final event of the day is a National Security Intelligence Forum hosted by House Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA) where we hear from United States Deputy National Security Advisor Matt Pottinger.

Tuesday, February 11, 2020:  I’m honored this morning to receive the Family Research Council’s (FRC) True Blue Award in recognition of my perfect 100% score on the FRC Action 2019 Vote Scorecard.  FRC is a Christian public policy ministry that defends religious liberty, the unborn and families. 

Rep. Carter receives the Family Research Council's True Blue Award
Afterwards, I head to our weekly GOP Conference before heading to an Energy and Commerce (E&C) Consumer Protection and Commerce (CPAC) Subcommittee hearing on autonomous vehicles.  A link to my questions can be found here.  After I return to my office for a meeting with my good friend and former Georgia State Senate colleague, Cecil Staton, who is now President and CEO of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), I head to an E&C Environment Subcommittee hearing on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) lead and copper proposal.  Once back in my office, I have a phone interview with WSAV TV in Savannah to discuss SHEP funding.  A link to this interview can be found here.  The good news on the Port of Savannah keeps coming as we find out today that we have secured a $34.6 million Department of Transportation (DOT) grant that will allow us to straighten and realign one of the oldest parts of the Port to accommodate larger ships. Before heading to the House Chamber for our first and only vote series of the day, I have a phone interview with the SMN to discuss the grant.  A link to the story can be found here.  After votes, I remain in the House Chamber where I memorialize Ann Cox Chambers who recently passed.  A link to my tribute can be found here

Rep. Carter meeting with a delegation from the Federal Bureau of Prisons
Once back in my office, I have a meeting with the Georgia Special Olympics delegation followed by a meeting with the Director of the National Center for Advancing Translational Scientists (NCATS) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).  Next, I meet with a delegation from the Federal Bureau of Prisons before having an on-camera interview with WTOC TV in Savannah to discuss the DOT grant for the Port of Savannah.  A link to my interview can be found here.

Wednesday, February 12, 2020:  I’m up early this morning and head to downtown Washington with Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) as we meet with CEO’s of pharmaceutical manufacturers to discuss the prescription drug pricing bills being considered in Congress.  Once back at the Capitol, I head to a GOP policy conference where we discuss the threats posed by China and hear from experts in the field.  Afterwards, I head to the House Chamber where I pay tribute to Clermont Huger Lee and Suzanne Shank who are being honored by the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) as Women of Vision, Dr. Freddie Smith, who has retired as the Senior Pastor at Sweat Memorial Baptist Church in Waycross, and the Savannah Art Association on celebrating their 100th anniversary.  A link to my tributes can be found here, here, here and here.  Next, I head to an E&C Health Subcommittee meeting on abortion.  A link to my comments can be found here.  Once back in my office, I meet with my good friends Bill Eley and Mike James to discuss pharmacy issues before heading to the conservative Republican Study Committee (RSC) meeting.  Before heading back to my office, I attend an all member briefing on the coronavirus where we get up to date information.  Once back at my office, I have a series of meetings beginning with the Girl Scouts National CEO and followed by a Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) student from the country of Georgia who is staying with a family in Effingham County. 

Rep. Carter meeting with Habitat for Humanity International
After meeting with representatives from Habitat for Humanity International, I meet with members of the American Federation of Government Employees before having a phone interview with the Brunswick News to discuss the Golden Ray removal operation.  Next, I head to the House Chamber for a long vote series that includes nine votes before heading back to my office where I have a telephone town hall with special guest Rep. Rob Woodall (R-GA), a member of the Budget and Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committees.  Before calling it a day, I head to the T&I Committee room where I film this week’s edition of Buddy’s Briefings.

Thursday, February 13, 2020:  Having owned my own business for over 30 years, I’ve had many associates come and go.  While you’re always glad to see someone better themselves, many are difficult to replace.  After an early morning meeting with leadership to discuss election issues, I spend the next few hours in my office interviewing candidates for our health care legislative assistant position.  Fortunately, because I serve on the E&C Healthcare Subcommittee, top candidates are attracted to our office and we have quality interviews.  After filming a quick video to promote our open house next Wednesday, February 19th, at our new Brunswick district office location, I head to the House Chamber for our only vote series of the day before heading to the airport for my return trip home.

Friday, February 14, 2020:  After getting a few hours of sleep last night, I’m up early for my Band of Brothers bible study in Garden City this morning and afterwards head down to St. Simons Island where I have the pleasure of visiting St. Simons Christian School. 

Rep. Carter visiting St. Simons Christian School
I’ve always said that interacting with students is my favorite part of serving in this position and today is another example why.  What a great group of students!  Because it is a small school, I get to visit each classroom from pre-K through 5th and then meet with the 6th through 8th grade classes as a group.  They ask great questions and I thoroughly enjoy my visit.  Afterwards, I head to Sea Island where my good friend, Jonathan RacIin, has assembled an outstanding group of community leaders for a round table discussion on national and world issues. Next, I head back to Savannah and during the drive I have a phone interview with WJAX TV in Jacksonville for an update on the Golden Ray removal project in the Brunswick Harbor. 

Rep. Carter at the SCAD Savannah Women of Vision
Once back in Savannah, I head to Arnold Hall, home of the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) School of Liberal Arts, for a ceremony celebrating Savannah Women of Vision. The two 2020 honorees, Clermont Huger Lee and Suzanne Shank, join an elite group of trailblazers whose remarkable ideas, insightful leadership and distinguished service have had a major impact on the City of Savannah.  My last stop of yet another busy week is to Tybee Island where the Two Hundred Club of the Coastal Empire is hosting a benefit.  This great organization helps provide for the surviving spouses and dependents of law enforcement officers, firefighters and paramedics who lose their lives in the line of duty.

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

 
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