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| This Week on Buddy's Briefing |
This week was another busy week in Washington.
I'm excited to say our agreement between the House and the Senate to end robocalls was passed by the House this week. I've been working with my colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee on this legislation to finally end robocalls once and for all.
It is estimated that there were nearly 48 billion robocalls in 2018 nationwide. This is an increase of more than 64 percent since 2016.
Robocalls are more than just a nuisance. They can scam consumers and even block hospital phone lines. The Senate is expected to officially approve the agreement soon. I look forward to President Trump finally signing this critical legislation into law.
Also this week, House Democrats continued their impeachment sham. Shockingly, Democrats brought liberal professors to Congress to give their opinions. However, you can't impeach the President of the United States based on opinions. You need facts, and the Democrats do not have a case for impeachment.
Catch up on these issues and more in this week's Buddy's Briefing.
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| From our Nation's Capitol CCXLI |
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Monday, December 2, 2019: I’m in Alma in Bacon County early this morning as I am hosting an H2A roundtable discussion designed to bring local farmers together with federal and state agencies that deal with the program. The H2A program is a federal program that allows employers to apply for guest workers from other countries to perform seasonal or temporary farm work for a maximum of ten months. Representatives from the four main agencies involved in this process, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Department of Labor (DOL), Homeland Security, and Department of State (DOS), join us at the roundtable via telephone. Those physically attending the meeting are representatives from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Georgia DOL.
Rep. Carter hosts an H2A roundtable discussion |
Each agency briefly describes their role in the H2A process and offers suggestions as to best practices for the employers before answering questions of the employers. Afterwards, I fly to Atlanta where I join the Ripon Society on their Atlanta Main Street Policy Tour as we visit corporate sites in the city to learn more about the major companies in the area. Our first stop is IBM where we tour the X-Force Exchange, a cloud-based threat intelligence platform that allows the company to consume, share and act on threat intelligence through human and artificial intelligence (AI).
Reps. Carter and Bucshon at Home Depot headquarters |
Next, we head to Aflac, the largest provider of supplemental insurance in the US, where we have a conversation on innovation, cyber security, and robotics with their Global Cyber Security and Chief Digital Information officers. Our final stop of the day is to the headquarters of Home Depot, America’s largest home improvement retailer with over 2,200 stores across North America, where we discuss trade issues and asset protection.
Tuesday, December 3, 2019: This morning we visit yet another great Georgia company, Delta Airlines, whose headquarters are at the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) and where we have a behind-the-scenes look at how the airport operates. ATL is the world’s busiest airline hub with over 7,000 airport customer service employees working above-wing, below-wing and in cargo. Georgia has been home to Delta for over 75 years and Delta has over 36,000 employees based in the state. Delta operates 76% of Georgia-based flights and served over 81 million passengers worldwide in 2018.
Reps. Carter and Bucshon visiting Delta |
After a great tour, I head back to Washington (via Delta, of course), and head straight to the Senate Chamber at the Capitol where I am present to hear a true Georgia icon, Senior Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA), give his farewell address. One of my political mentors, Sen. Isakson delivers an emotional plea for bi-partisanship that this true statesman has practiced and exemplified throughout his sterling career. Afterwards, I head to my office on the House side where I meet with my friend Mark Mirza who travels from Georgia to the Capitol on a regular basis to pray with members of the delegation. Next, we have our weekly staff briefing and afterwards I head to the Reserve Officers Association near the Capitol where I am honored to attend the USO Service Member of the Year Award Ceremony and escort Honoree AST Nathan Newberg, USGC, who is stationed at US Coast Guard Air Station, Savannah, GA.
Rep. Carter at the USO Service Member of the Year Award Ceremony in honor of AST Nathan Newberg, USCG |
At this event, the USO brings together senior military leadership and Members of Congress to recognize the patriotism, bravery and achievements of outstanding junior enlisted members (E-5 or below) from the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard and National Guard. After I get back to the Capitol, I attend our weekly Whip Team meeting before heading to the House Chamber for our first vote series of the week.
Wednesday, December 4, 2019: I’m up early this morning and at the White House with members of our Washington staff as we tour the White House with its fully adorned Christmas decorations. Once back at the Capitol, I head to our weekly GOP Conference where we welcome one of our former House Members, Vice President Mike Pence, to our meeting. Next, I head to an Energy and Commerce (E&C) Health Subcommittee hearing on empowering the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to improve cosmetic safety. A link to my questions can be found here. Afterwards, I head to the House Chamber where I pay tribute to long time Brunswick News Sports Editor Murray Poole who is retiring at the end of this year. A link to my tribute can be found here. Next, I head to the conservative Republican Study Committee (RSC) before heading back to the House Chamber where I speak on the Pallone-Thune TRACED Act that will help fight increasing robocalls.
Rep. Carter at the Red Cross holiday cards for the military event |
A link to my comments can be found here. Afterwards, I stay in the House Chamber for our first and only vote series of the day before heading to the Speaker’s balcony to have a picture taken with my good friends from Savannah, Robyn and Lawrence Brody, who are in town visiting. Next, I head to the Rayburn Foyer where I join the Red Cross in a holiday card signing for our military before heading to my final meeting of the day, a Whip Team meeting where we are brought up to date on the impeachment inquiry.
Thursday, December 5, 2019: My first hearing of the day is with the E&C Environment Subcommittee as we hear from witnesses discussing economy-wide approaches to address climate change and decarbonization. A link to my questions can be found here. Afterwards, I head back to my office where I have an on-camera interview with WTOC TV in Savannah to discuss the impeachment inquiry before meeting with my good friends, Bill Eley, Eric Pachman, and Antonio Ciaccia, to discuss pharmacy issues.
Rep. Carter meeting with the newly elected Tybee Island Mayor Shirley Sessions |
Next, I head to the Capitol plaza where I film this week’s edition of Buddy’s Briefing and then head to the Cannon rotunda where I have an on-camera interview with WJCL TV in Savannah to discuss the impeachment inquiry. Our first and only vote series of the day is next, and afterwards I meet with members of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Foundation board before meeting with newly elected Tybee Island Mayor Shirley Sessions who is in town visiting. Once back in my office, I meet with Evergreen America to discuss the Savannah Port and the tremendous growth they are experiencing before heading to an E&C full member meeting to discuss drug pricing legislation.
Friday, December 6, 2019: I’m at the White House bright and early again this morning as I am assisting a constituent from Pooler, in Chatham County, with access to a tour. Once back at the Capitol, I head to the Capitol Plaza where I have a picture taken with two of our fine interns, Sydney Novoa and Mary Craig Lindgren before heading to a specially called GOP conference to discuss HR 3, the partisan ‘Fewer Cures and More Government Price Control Act’ which was introduced by the Democrats to address prescription prices. Afterwards, I head back to my office where I have a phone conference with management from JCB, headquartered in Savannah in Chatham County, to discuss tariffs. Next, I have an interview with a writer with the Washington Examiner to discuss health care policy before heading to the House Chamber for our final vote series of the week.
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| VOTES IN THE HOUSE THIS WEEK |
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| Click here for this week's vote sheet in the House. |
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