This week on Buddy's Briefing

This week on Buddy's Briefing we discuss the protests in the First District, re-opening the economy, and more. On Thursday, I was glad to join the United Ministerial Alliance of Liberty County, elected officials, and members of the community as they hosted a peaceful protest in Downtown Hinesville. I continue to be proud of the way our communities are coming together and making voices heard in a safe and peaceful way.

The great american comeback

Even though many experts expected job losses to peak this month, the May jobs report showed the opposite. Last month the economy added 2.5 million jobs and the unemployment rate decreased. Specifically, employment increased significantly in leisure and hospitality, construction, education and health services, retail trade, and manufacturing.

I am thrilled to see programs like the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) working to get people back to work. The PPP is helping to make sure hardworking Americans have jobs to go back to. While we still have a long ways to go, the Great American Comeback is underway.

The White House Council of Economic Advisers posted a report about what this means for the economy and recovery moving forward. Click here for the post.

increasing flu coverage

This week the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced an award of $4.3 million for Georgia to increase flu coverage for vulnerable populations ahead of flu season. This funding is available through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which I supported in Congress.

As we work to address COVID-19 now, we have to look ahead and make sure we are also working to prevent a second wave of the virus later in the year. To fight COVID-19, Americans need to be healthy so it's critical to get a flu shot to prepare for flu season.

This funding will work to increase awareness of the importance of the flu vaccine and increase access to the vaccine for all Georgians.

from our nation's capitol CCLXIX

Monday, June 1, 2020: I begin my week with our daily all-staff conference call followed by an Energy and Commerce (E&C) Committee member WebEx conference where we prepare for the Oversight and Investigations (O&I) Subcommittee hearing coming up tomorrow. While we discuss the meeting itself and what we hope to accomplish, this conference is also a test to be certain everyone is familiar with the setup as this will be the first virtual hearing we will have as a committee. While I am not a member of the O&I Subcommittee, I intend to wave on and ask questions. Since this will be a hearing only and no action will be taken, I will participate. However, I will not participate virtually in any subcommittee or committee markup where an action is taken. I also will not participate in proxy voting in the House Chamber. I feel very strongly that we should be physically present during these times and have even gone as far as joining a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the House Democrat’s plan to vote by proxy in the House Chamber. Next, I have a call with my good friend Joe Marinelli, President of Visit Savannah, who gives me a very optimistic update on the tourism situation in the Savannah area. Generally, during times of downturns in our economy such as we have experienced recently, tourism is the first to suffer and the last to recover. To hear from Joe that things are getting better is very encouraging. Afterwards, I have a conference call with representatives from the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC) to discuss the challenges they have faced during the pandemic. My next call is with New York Times (NYT) bestselling author Seth Siegel, to discuss his recent book Troubled Water: What’s Wrong with What We Drink. The call has been facilitated by the National Association of Water Companies (NAWC) and I have been included as a member of the E&C Environment Subcommittee.

Tuesday, June 2, 2020: During this pandemic I have volunteered at a total of 19 food distributions throughout the First District. Today, I make it 20 as I am at Memorial Stadium in Savannah to volunteer with America’s Second Harvest at their food bank drive thru.

Rep. Carter volunteers with Second Harvest in Savannah

Along with a group of fine volunteers from the Georgia National Guard, we load boxes of food in the trunks of our fellow citizens for about two hours. Afterwards, we have our daily all-staff conference call and, once in my office, I join in on the earlier mentioned E&C O&I Subcommittee hearing where we hear from Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI), Governor Asa Hutchinson (R-AR) and Governor Jared Polis (D-CO) and get an update on how they are progressing with the roll-out of their economies. A link to my questions during the meeting can be found here. Later, I have a GOP Conference call as we hear from leadership about issues of the day followed by a meeting with my good friend, Donna Camacho, who always does an outstanding job advocating for the Alzheimer’s Association.

Rep. Carter meets with Donna Camacho and the Alzheimer's Association

Afterwards, I have a great phone conversation with a constituent from Richmond Hill whose wife was involved in a freak accident recently and is now recovering at Shepherd Spinal Center in Atlanta.

Wednesday, June 3, 2020: I’m up early and headed to Brunswick in Glynn County this morning to volunteer at food distribution number 21 this morning and during the drive I join in on our daily all-staff conference call. Once on the campus of the College of Coastal Georgia, I join a great group of volunteers that, of course, includes members of the Georgia National Guard, as we load up the trunks of cars needing nutritional assistance. Afterwards, I hop on a Whip Team conference call where we hear from presidents and commissioners of college and professional sports to discuss the challenges they face and their respective plans as sports begin to safely make their return. Afterwards, I have a meeting with my good friend Glynn County Sheriff Neal Jump as he brings me up to date on preparations for upcoming protests in the county. Next, I head to our Brunswick office where I have a Zoom interview with Gray TV (WTOC TV in Savannah) to discuss the national protests. A link to my interview can be found here. Afterwards, I head back to Savannah and during the drive I have a follow up call with St. Joseph’s/Candler CEO Paul Hinchey to discuss their current situation and review the fine work this great health care system has done during the pandemic. Most of the First Congressional District is in the Coastal Public Health Region of Georgia. Of the 18 public health districts in Georgia, the coastal region is the 8th most populated yet we have had the second lowest number of COVID-19 cases in the state. While there are many factors that contribute to this, the outstanding health care services that we have in our District is certainly the most influential. Once back in Savannah, I head to the headquarters of America’s Second Harvest food bank where I join Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, First Lady Marty Kemp, State Senator Lester Jackson (D-Sav) and State Representative Ron Stephens (R-Sav) in a tour of the facility. We are joined by CEO Mary Jane Couch, board members, volunteers, and, of course, members of the Georgia National Guard.

Rep. Carter with Governor Kemp at Second Harvest in Savannah

After a great visit, I head to our Savannah District Office where I have a phone call with Captain America himself, Chris Evans. I have met Chris on several occasions and have participated in recording videos for his website, a Starting Point. Dedicated to getting citizens and voters correct, succinct information, A Starting Point features information from the sources themselves instead of the media. After our call, I film another video for the website, this one relating to the recent protests in our country.

Thursday, June 4, 2020: My day begins with our daily all-staff conference call followed by a Zoom conference call with the Aspen Institute where we hear from Nancy Lindborg, President and CEO of the U.S. Institute of Peace, who discusses the impact of the virus on the developing world and how it impacts Americas soft power, influence and leadership.

Rep. Carter at WSAV

Later, I head to WSAV TV in Savannah where I meet with General Manager Marc Hafner followed by an interview with anchor Ben Senger. A link to part of my interview can be found here. After a great visit, I head to Liberty County where I meet with Hinesville Police Chief Bill Kirkendall to discuss the recent federal grant from the U.S. Department of Justice for the City of Hinesville’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Afterwards, I speak to members of the police force who are preparing for a protest in the city later today and I thank them for their service. Next, I head to the protest starting point where I meet with ministers and other community leaders ahead of the protest to hear their concerns and intentions.

Rep. Carter with community leaders in Hinesville

Hinesville and Liberty County are truly fortunate and blessed to have such outstanding leaders who are focused on doing the right thing. Afterwards, I head to a meeting of the Liberty County Republican Party before hosting a tele-town hall call where my special guest is Ed Carballo, Deputy District Director of the Small Business Administration (SBA) in the Georgia District office.

Friday, June 5, 2020: I’m up and at ‘em again this morning as I leave Pooler at 6:30 a.m. in route to Jesup in Wayne County and during the drive I have a great radio interview with my good friend Scott James with Talk 92.1 in Valdosta. Once in Jesup, I am live on the world famous Butch and Bob Show as I spend almost 30 minutes chatting with my good friend Bob Morgan. Immediately afterwards, I have yet another interview with another good friend, this time with Bill Edwards with NewsRadio 1290 in Savannah.

Rep. Carter with volunteers at America's Second Harvest in Jesup

Afterwards, I head to a weekly meeting that Wayne County public officials have been holding during the pandemic before jumping on our daily all-staff conference call. Next, I head to my 22nd volunteer food distribution since the pandemic began, this one at the Wayne County Recreation Department with food from America’s Second Harvest distributed by volunteers from A New Beginning Church in Ludowici. Well organized and enthusiastic, this great group of volunteers do a wonderful job. After a meeting with former Congressman Lindsay Thomas and State Rep. Bill Werkheiser (R-Glennville), I stop by the business of my good friend Jimbo Boykin, Boykin Erectors, and visit with he and his family. After a great visit, I head to Richmond Hill in Bryan County and during the drive have a Doctors Caucus conference call where we hear from Health and Human Services (HHS) Deputy Secretary Eric Hargan. Once in Richmond Hill, I have an E&C Environment Subcommittee member Webex conference call to prepare for next week’s hearing before taping this week’s edition of Buddy’s Briefing.

Rep. Carter and Mayor Russ Carpenter at All Things Chocolate & More

Next, along with Richmond Hill Mayor Russ Carpenter, I visit four minority owned businesses in the area, Another Debut, All Things Chocolate & More, Exclusive Engravings, and Twinkle Twinkle Little Shop. All of these great small businesses are locally owned and operated and are assets to the community. My last phone conference of the week is a very important one as I speak with the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Seema Verma, and we discuss issues related to the Coronavirus Task Force.