Happy Mother's Day!

We sure are blessed in the Carter family with some incredible mothers. Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful moms!


LOWERING PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES
This week, I joined President Trump as he announced his plans to lower prescription drug prices for Americans. As the only pharmacist in Congress, this issue has been one of my top priorities.

I am thrilled to hear eliminating gag clauses and exposing the "middlemen" also known as pharmacy benefit managers are part of his plan.

Did you know many times pharmacists are contractually prohibited from telling patients that there is a cheaper option? That is because of a gag clause. I introduced legislation to eliminate gag clauses because patients deserve access to the most affordable prescription options possible. I am very glad to see President Trump is on board.

There is a lot of work to do and I look forward to working with President Trump and the administration.

I spoke to MSNBC after President Trump's announcement. Click here to see our conversation. 

 


A BAd Deal
This week President Trump announced his decision to withdraw America from the nuclear deal with Iran and reimpose sanctions lifted under the deal.

I applaud President Trump's decision to remove America from this bad deal. I have said from the beginning that America should never be part of a deal built on trusting a regime that has cheated on international agreements time and again. 

It is no surprise that this has failed to increase our national security. It remains a dangerous deal that threatens to unleash a nuclear arms race in the most unstable region in the world, imperils our closest ally Israel, and signals to other regimes that America will not maintain its resolve to combat extremism. 

President Trump's decision makes clear that we will not stand with a regime that spreads terror around the world and we will not accept a nuclear Iran.

From our Nation's Capitol CLXII
Monday, May 7, 2018:  I’m back in Washington today and my first meeting is with staff to review last week and preview the upcoming week’s activities.  Afterwards, I meet with WomenHeart, a women’s health support group that advocates for Georgia women heart patients and those at risk of this #1 killer of women - heart disease. 

Rep. Carter meeting with WomenHeart
Next, I meet with Energy and Commerce (E&C) Oversight and Investigations (O&I) staff to discuss our subcommittee meeting tomorrow with wholesale drug distributors regarding the opioid epidemic. Afterwards, I head to our weekly messaging advisory group meeting led by Republican Conference Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) followed by our weekly Whip Team meeting.  The main topic of discussion at our Whip Team meeting is the Farm Bill that has passed out of the Agriculture Committee and will soon be on the floor for a vote.  Our special guest today is former Georgia Governor and current Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue who answers questions and speaks in favor of the Farm Bill.  Next, I head to the House Chamber for our first vote series of the week where, after Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) administers the oath of office to our newest member, Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-AZ), I preside over the House as Speaker Pro-tem.

Tuesday, May 8, 2018:  I’m up early this morning and at the White House to get some of my good friends from Savannah including Mary Jane Crouch from Second Harvest Food Bank and Bill Hubbard from the Savannah Chamber of Commerce in for a tour.  Once back at the Capitol, I head to our weekly GOP Conference meeting where we discuss the Farm Bill as well as the appropriations process.  Afterwards, I head to the first of three E&C subcommittee meetings that I have today, this one with the O&I Subcommittee where we hear from the wholesale drug distributors about their role in the opioid epidemic.  A link to my questions can be found here

Rep. Carter meeting with members of the Georgia Food Bank Association
Next, I meet with Emory University CEO Bryce Gartland and learn of the unique relationship between this great Georgia university and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  After meeting with representatives from Forcepoint, a cybersecurity company providing services to our power grid and commerce and banking industries, I head to my second E&C subcommittee meeting of the day, this one with the Environment Subcommittee to discuss policy implications of electric and conventional vehicles.  A link to my questions can be found here.  Our first vote series of the day is next followed by my third and final E&C subcommittee meeting of the day, this one with the Health Subcommittee to discuss substance use disorder (SUD) treatment.  A link to my questions can be found here.  After meeting with members of the Georgia Food Bank Association and then the Georgia Hospitals Association in my office, I meet with members of the American Public Gas Association before recording a video for a group visiting the district next week when I will be in Washington.

Wednesday, May 9, 2018:  I’m back at the White House this morning to assist another constituent with a tour and afterwards head back to the Capitol for a Doctor’s Caucus meeting with the Cardiology Advocacy Alliance.  Next, I head to yet another E&C meeting, this time a full committee meeting where we pass out 54 bills that will now go before the full House for consideration.  Afterwards, I head to a meeting of the conservative Republican Study Committee before heading to the House Chamber for our first vote series of the day.  Next, I head back to my office where I meet with representatives from the General Aviation Manufacturers Association including my good friend, Mark Burns, President of Gulfstream Aerospace. 

Rep. Carter meeting with the Asian American Hotel Owners Association
This is the first of four straight meetings in my office as I meet next with the Asian American Hotel Owners Association followed by a meeting with Southern Crop Production and then with International Fragrances and Flavors.  My next meeting is with the Aluminum Caucus as we hear from Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross who briefs us on the administrations recent actions with aluminum.  Once back at my office, I meet with representatives from the International Conservation Caucus Foundation (ICCF) regarding the PumpOut program they have started and then meet with representatives from Meals on Wheels before heading to the House Chamber for our second and final vote series of the day.  After the vote series I remain in the Chamber and pay tribute to Goodwill of Southeast Georgia for their work in our community.  A link to my tribute can be found here.  Later in the evening, I lead a special order of the Georgia congressional delegation in honor of one of my political mentors and dear friends, former Georgia Governor and U.S. Senator Zell Miller.  As a fellow graduate of Young Harris College, I knew Zell Miller well and always admired his many years in public service and aspire to emulate his fine example of a public servant.  A link to this special order can be found here and here.

Thursday, May 10, 2018:  After swinging by a breakfast meeting of the Republican Leadership for Georgia group that is visiting the Capitol this week, I head to the House Chamber where I speak on the Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act that is being debated this morning.  Afterwards, I head downtown where I am honored to be the keynote speaker at The Researched Abuse, Diversion and Addiction-Related Surveillance (RADARS) System annual meeting as I bring them up to date on our work on the E&C committee regarding the opioid epidemic.  Next, I head back to the Capitol and to the House Chamber for our first and only vote series of the day.  Afterwards, I remain in the Chamber and pay tribute to Ludowici Mayor James Fuller, Sr., who recently passed.  A link to my tribute can be found here.  Later in the afternoon, I have a meeting with the American Association of Nurse Practitioners followed by a meeting with the CEO of Intent Solutions, former Georgia State Senator Sam Zamarripa.  Finally, I have a phone call with Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue regarding disaster relief for Georgia’s blueberry and peach farmers.

Rep. Carter at President Trump's announcement of his plan to lower prescription drug costs

Friday, May 11, 2018:  The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) is an independent, nonpartisan office that analyzes the budgetary impact of proposed legislation.  This morning I meet with Keith Hall, the Director of the CBO to discuss scoring on legislation that I am cosponsoring.  Afterwards, I have a phone conference with Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta to discuss the H2A program before heading to Statuary Hall in the Capitol where I have a live interview on Fox Business Network to discuss the President’s plan to lower drug costs for Americans.  A link to my interview can be found here.  Next, I head to the White House for the President’s announcement on lowering drug costs.  Once I arrive at the White House, I have two interviews with the press to discuss the plan and then head to the Rose Garden to listen to the President roll out his major initiative to lower drug costs. A link to the President’s announcement can be found here.  Afterwards, I have a live interview with MSNBC to discuss the plan.  A link to that interview can be found here.  On the way back to the Capitol, I have a phone interview with CQ magazine to discuss the work of the E&C Committee on the opioid epidemic.

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

 
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