An American Solution to an American Problem

This week, Democrats in the Senate unfortunately stalled Senator Tim Scott's police reform bill, the Justice Act. They completely blocked it from moving forward with debate for compromise or negotiation. Following their lead, Speaker Pelosi put her own partisan police reform bill up for a vote instead of the Justice Act.

The Justice Act would increase transparency and accountability in American policing. Moving forward, we have to come together so we can negotiate a long lasting and significant compromise. We need to create an American solution to this American problem.

Rep. Carter discusses police reform on the House floor

I spoke on the floor of the House against the Democrat's partisan bill and called for bipartisan discussions to deliver real reforms and change. Click here to see my speech.

This week on Buddy's Briefing

This week on Buddy's Briefing we discuss the Democrat's partisan police reform bill, the Justice Act and our hearing with the Coronavirus Taskforce.

Click here to watch this edition of Buddy's Briefing

From our nation's Capitol CCLXXI

Monday, June 22, 2020: After our daily all staff conference call, I’m on my way to St. Simons Island (SSI) in Glynn County this morning where I have the pleasure of speaking at the monthly meeting of the Golden Isles Republican Women.

Rep. Carter speaks at the monthly meeting of the Golden Isles Republican Women

I always enjoy being with this great group led by President Ruby Robinson and bringing them up to date on issues from Washington, D.C. Afterwards, I head to Fort Frederica National Monument where I meet with Superintendent Gary Ingram and his staff, SSI Land Trust Exec. Director Emily Ellison and board members as we discuss the recent sale by the Land Trust of a 20-acre tract of land that will expand Fort Frederica. Next, I head to our Brunswick office where I meet with Mark Renfro, Executive Director of the HealthHIE GA Corporation, and others, to learn more about the great work they are doing with our rural hospitals. Afterwards, I meet with a constituent regarding a green power community project in Brantley County before joining a conference call with former Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour regarding opioid legislation that I am sponsoring. Next, I head back to Pooler and during my drive I have a conference call with Dr. Lawton Davis, Health Director of the Coastal Health District.

Rep. Carter at Fort Frederica National Monument

Dr. Davis has done an outstanding job during the COVID-19 pandemic and during this call brings me up to date on the recent surge in positive cases that we have seen in the First District. After our call, I have a conference call with Dr. Stephen Thacker from Memorial University Medical Center in Savannah who shares his hospital’s experiences and numbers with COVID-19. Once back home in Pooler, I have a Whip Team conference call where we discuss police reform and hear from Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) who discusses his JUSTICE Act legislation which I cosponsored in the House.

Tuesday, June 23, 2020: I’m in our Savannah District Office this morning and, after our daily all staff conference call, I join a virtual Hill Day with members of Protect our Coast. Normally, these groups would travel to Washington, D.C. to meet with me but with limited travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic many groups are choosing to have virtual Hill days. After a great discussion with this group regarding protecting our beautiful coast, I meet with Beyond the Bell, a group whose mission is to provide prevention programs, effective interventions and resources to reduce substance use in middle and high school youth.

Rep. Carter meeting with Beyond the Bell

Next, I have an Energy and Commerce Committee (E&C) full committee hearing on the Trump Administration’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. For over five hours, we hear from members of the Administration’s Coronavirus Taskforce, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, ADM. Brett Giroir, Dr. Stephen Hahn and Dr. Robert Redfield. A link to my questions can be found here. Afterwards, I join a Values Action Team (VAT) call before meeting with the Consul General of India, Dr. Swati V. Kulkarni. Next, I join a Doctors Caucus Zoom conference call where we discuss the COVID-19 situation.

Wednesday, June 24, 2020: After our daily all-staff conference call this morning, I have a Zoom conference call with a constituent advocating for The Borgen Project, an innovative nonprofit that serves as a voice for the world’s poor.

Rep. Carter meeting with the Consul General of India, Dr. Swati V. Kulkarni

Next, I have a conference call with members of the Strategic Forces Association to discuss the Strategic Nuclear Triad. This great group supports the modernization of our Strategic Nuclear Triad, of which Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay in our district is an important component. Afterwards, I join an E&C Consumer Protection and Commerce (CPAC) and Communications and Technology (CAT) joint subcommittee hearing on how disinformation online is dividing the nation. This four-hour hearing is extremely important and involves a subject matter that our committee has struggled with for a long time: how much oversight and control should the federal government have over the Internet. A link to my questions can be found here. Afterwards, I have a GOP Conference call before heading to the airport for my flight to Washington, D.C.

Thursday, June 25, 2020: After a late flight back last night, I wake up in my Washington, D.C. Office and, after our daily all staff conference call, I head to the House Chamber where I pay tribute to Dr. Les Wilkes, from Savannah who passed recently. A link to my tribute can be found here. Afterwards, I head to the House Plaza where I have interviews with Gray TV (WTOC TV in Savannah) and Nexstar (WSAV TV in Savannah) to discuss today’s vote on the Democrat’s partisan police reform bill and the latest COVID-19 numbers. A link to the WTOC interview can be found here.

Rep. Carter speaks with reporters about police reform and COVID-19

For the next few hours, we have our first series of votes that are stretched out so that we limit the number of members who are in the House Chamber at any one time. Once back in my office, I participate in a conservative Republican Study Committee (RSC) virtual meeting before heading back over to the House Chamber to speak on the Democrat’s policing bill. A link to my comments can be found above this column. After a series of staff meetings in my office, I return to the House Chamber for our second vote series of the day.

Friday, June 26, 2020: I’m in the House Chamber bright and early this morning as I pay tribute to the former Mayor of Alma, Roger Boatright, who passed recently. A link to my tribute can be found here. Afterwards, I head to the Cannon Rotunda where I film this week’s edition of Buddy’s Briefings as well as a video for Educate Savannah.

Rep. Carter films Buddy's Briefing

Once back in my office, I have a conference call with the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Chris Landau, to discuss a business situation in Mexico involving a company with a manufacturing facility in the First District. Next, we have our daily all staff conference call before I head to the House Chamber for our first and only vote series of the day. Afterwards, I have a House Energy Action Team (HEAT) team meeting before heading back to my office where I have a conference call with officials from St. Josephs/Candler Health System in Savannah to discuss the latest COVID-19 situation that the hospital is experiencing. After more staff meetings in my office, I head to the airport for my return trip home.