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| This Week on Buddy's Briefing |
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Currently, the House and Senate are negotiating additional coronavirus-related legislation. I personally believe we need to see how the trillions of dollars we have already spent is working before we spend another trillion dollars.
Additionally, there is still funding left from previous legislation for some programs like the Paycheck Protection Program. Small businesses that need assistance can still apply.
There are some good provisions in the COVID-19 legislation that Senate Republicans introduced this week, but there is still a long way to go before an agreement will be reached.
We discuss this and more in this episode of Buddy's Briefing.
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| Preparing for Hurricane season |
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As Hurricane Isaias forecasts continue to change, it's important to be prepared and have a plan.
Visit http://ready.gov/hurricanes for helpful resources for you and your family.
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| from our nation's capitol CCLXXVI |
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Monday, July 27, 2020: After an early morning flight from Savannah, I’m in Washington this morning as I join in on our daily all-staff conference call before a meeting with a staff member. Afterwards, I head to the Cannon Rotunda where I have an on-camera interview with MSNBC as I remember Rep. John Lewis whose flag draped casket has just arrived in Washington and is being brought to the Capitol to lie in state in the Rotunda. A link to my interview can be found here. Afterwards, I head to the House Chamber for our first and only vote of the day and remain in the Capitol for the ceremony preceding the lying in state of Rep. Lewis.
Rep. Carter remembers Rep. John Lewis on MSNBC |
As a member of the Georgia delegation, I am honored to have been one of the members invited to the ceremony. After landing at Andrews Air Force Base, the motorcade carrying the casket of Rep. Lewis makes its way to the Capitol and passes a number of sites in Washington including the National Museum of African American History & Culture and the Supreme Court. Once the casket arrives at the Capitol, a ceremony honoring Rep. Lewis is held where we hear from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). After the ceremony, members of Congress are allowed to view the lying in state and as I say a final goodbye to my friend, I say a prayer thanking God for the life of John Lewis and for giving me the opportunity to know him. Once back in my office, I have a virtual interview with Gray TV (WTOC TV) to discuss my experience at the ceremony. A link to the interview can be found here. My final meeting of the day is with a House colleague to discuss committee assignments.
Tuesday, July 28, 2020: We have a number of pastors who routinely visit the Capitol and pray with us and this morning I am glad to welcome my friend Steve Amerson with AMM ministries in California. Following our all-staff conference call, I have an on-camera interview with WSB in Atlanta as we speak about the life of John Lewis.
Rep. Carter speaks with WSB |
Next, I have a virtual interview with WTOC TV in Savannah to discuss COVID 19 cases at the Federal Correctional Institution in Jesup. Next, I head to an Energy and Commerce (E&C) Committee Environment Subcommittee hearing on reforming our nation’s drinking water standards. A link to my questions can be found here. Afterwards, I have a conference call with the President of Global Supply for Pfizer, a pharmaceutical manufacturer, as we discuss my legislation to bring pharmaceutical manufacturers back to the U.S. Next, I head to a Select Committee on Climate Change hearing on building a vibrant and just clean energy economy.
Rep. Carter in an Energy and Commerce Committee hearing |
A link to my questions can be found here. Afterwards, I have a Values Action Team (VAT) coalition meeting where we discuss recent Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) rulings before having a conference call with Dr. Lawton Davis, Director of the Coastal Health District of the Georgia Department of Public Health to discuss the most recent COVID-19 statistics for our area.
Wednesday, July 29, 2020: My day starts with an E&C member virtual conference where we hear from each of the subcommittee ranking members regarding their recommendations on subjects to be discussed for the remainder of the year. Afterwards, I head to the House Chamber where I pay tribute to my good friend Andy Quinney, the former Mayor of Garden City, who passed recently. A link to my tribute can be found here. Next, I head to an E&C Health Subcommittee hearing on reauthorizing key public health programs. A link to my questions can be found here. After returning to my office, I join in on our daily all-staff conference call before having a call with Angela Ammons, CEO of Clinch Memorial Hospital in Homerville to check in with her regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Next, I have a call with St. Josephs/Candler CEO Paul Hinchey to find out more of their situation dealing with the COVID 19 pandemic. I continue to be impressed by the preparedness and professionalism that all of our health care providers in the First District, regardless of size, have displayed during this pandemic. We are truly blessed in our district to have some of the finest heath care facilities in the state. After a conservative Republican Study Committee (RSC) call with Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Acting Secretary Chad Wolf to discuss the situation at our southwest border during the pandemic, I join in on an E&C conference call with former Utah Governor Mike Leavitt where we hear his perspectives on the federal and state roles in pandemic preparedness and the COVID-19 response. Next, I have a Whip Team conference call to discuss the legislative agenda for the remaining week before having a call with my former House colleague and current White House Deputy Chief of Staff, Dr. John Fleming to discuss language in the next proposed coronavirus relief package. Afterwards, I head to the House Chamber for our first and only vote series of the day and once back in my office, have a call with my good friend, Dr. Pat Godbee, who serves as the lab director for Southeast Georgia Hospital in Brunswick, to discuss their COVID-19 numbers. My final call of the day is with Shayne George, CEO of Memorial Health in Savannah and Dr. Ray Meguiar, physician at Memorial to discuss their COVID-19 numbers. Again, we are blessed to have some of the finest health care systems in the state right here in the First District.
Thursday, July 30, 2020: After our GOP Conference in the Capitol Visitors Center (CVC) auditorium - one of the largest rooms in the Capitol where we are able to gather while practicing social distancing - I head to the House Chamber where I pay tribute to long time Savannah Architect Eric Meyerhoff, who recently passed. A link to my tribute can be found here. After returning to my office, I join in on an E&C conference call with Surgeon General Jerome Adams to learn more on what the Office of the Surgeon General is doing in response to COVID-19, before joining in on our daily all-staff conference call. Later, I have a call with my good friend, US District Court Judge Stan Baker, who gives me an update on the Savannah courthouse construction project before heading to the CVC for a Doctors Caucus briefing with Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar to discuss the progress made in Operation Warp Speed. Next, I head to a meeting with Theo Wold, the Deputy Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy to discuss the H2B Executive Order and its impact on the forestry industry.
Rep. Carter appears on One America News Network |
Afterwards, I head to the Cannon Rotunda where I have a live on-camera interview with One America News Network (OANN) to discuss the proposed COVID-19 relief bill and other news of the day. A link to my interview can be found here. Once back in my office, I host a telephone town hall where I have as my special guests Mayor David Earl Keith of Jesup and Mayor Russ Carpenter of Richmond Hill. Afterwards, we have a rare late evening vote series that lasts till 9:30 p.m.
Friday, July 31, 2020: I’m back in the CVC auditorium this morning for a classified election security briefing with officials of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to discuss threats to the 2020 US elections. Afterwards, I head to the House Chamber where I deliver a tribute to the 2020 graduating seniors throughout the First District. A link to my tribute can be found here. After recording this week’s edition of Buddy’s Briefing in the Minority Leader’s conference room in the Capitol, I return to the House Chamber for our first and only vote series of the day.
Rep. Carter speaks with Gray TV |
Once back in my office, I have an interview with Gray TV (WTOC TV) regarding the video platform ‘A Starting Point’ hosted by Chris Evans before joining in on our daily all-staff conference call. Next, I film a video for Turner Job Corps followed by a video for the National Science Foundation. After a phone interview with the Atlanta Journal Constitution (AJC) to discuss the success of the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, I have a series of staff calls in my office before heading to the airport for my return trip home. |
| 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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