Protecting Americans From Zika

The House passed S. 2512 this week to protect Americans from the Zika virus. The bipartisan legislation works to accelerate the development of new treatments and hopefully find a cure for the virus.

While evidence of human infection by the Zika virus has been evident for more than sixty years, there has been little progress in the development of treatments or vaccines. However, with the recent spread of the virus from South America to the Caribbean and North America, the level of infection has reached pandemic levels. While infections in the United States may be low now, the increase of airline travel, immigration, and tourism only creates an environment for the virus to be easily transmitted.

The legislation passed this week would provide incentives for drug developers in the form of fast track approval of therapies to treat the Zika virus. Additionally, it would create an avenue where patients are able to access treatments for the virus faster.

Passage of S. 2512 is critical for the health and safety of our nation and my colleagues and I will continue responding to this outbreak.

I spoke on the floor of the United States House of Representatives earlier this week in support of the bill. Click here to check out my speech.

From our Nation's Capitol LXI

Monday, April 11, 2016: It’s always a delight to be interviewed by Bill Edwards of WTKS in Savannah and that’s the way my week starts this morning. I have the opportunity to talk to Bill about the goings-on in Washington and particularly the nomination of Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court by President Obama. Afterwards, I head down to our Brunswick district office where I have two meetings with constituents including one with representatives from the Brunswick Bar Pilots to discuss the dredging of the harbor. Next, I head to a meeting with the Golden Isles Republican Women on St. Simons Island where I have the honor of speaking and bringing them up to date on issues in Washington. Afterwards, I continue heading south and fly out of Jacksonville and back to Washington for the week. Once back in Washington, I have a meeting with representatives from the Association of Mature American Citizens (AMAC) followed by our weekly staff briefing. My day ends with a speech at the opening meeting of the ACT (action, commitment and time) conference of the Professional Compounding Centers of America (PCAA).

Tuesday, April 12, 2016: My first meeting today is with the American Suntanning Association followed by meetings with the American Chemistry Council and Georgia Beer Wholesalers. While there are obviously a lot of different groups that come to our office in Washington, all of them are important and, along with staff, I give them as much attention as possible. Later, I have meetings with the American College of Surgeons, Georgia Foundation Leaders, Goodwill Industries International and American Student Dental Association.

Congressman Carter with the Georgia Beer Wholesalers

Next, I head to the House Chamber where I give a one minute tribute to Savannah car salesman O.C. Welch whose commitment to our community was recently recognized by Ford Motor Company in their Salute to Dealers. A link to my speech can be found here. Once back in my office, I meet with Dr. J. Leonard Lichtenfeld, Deputy Chief Medical Officer of the American Cancer Society in Atlanta regarding his MedPAC nomination with the American Cancer Society. Next, I head back to the House Chamber (lots of walking- my app on my phone tells me I average between 6 and 7 miles of walking a day while I’m at the Capitol) where I speak on S. 2512, a bill adding the Zika Virus to the FDA Priority Review Voucher Program. A link to my speech can be found here. After speaking, I head to our weekly Whip Team meeting where we review our agenda for the week and then I head back to the House Chamber for our first and only vote series of the day.

Wednesday, April 13, 2016: I am honored to be a member of the House Doctors Caucus and our meeting this month is in conjunction with the Prosecutors Working Group where we are discussing the topic of prescription opioid abuse. We hear from experts from across the nation including Dr. Patrice Harris from Atlanta who is the Board Chair-Elect of the American Medical Association. Afterwards, we have our weekly GOP Conference where we discuss many things but none as important as the budget which is due to be passed by Friday. Disappointingly, it appears we will not meet this deadline and will have to come up with another way of passing our appropriation bills. Next, I head to a meeting of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (OGR) where we have a hearing on the General Accounting Office’s (GAO) 2016 duplication report. A link to my questions can be found here. **WARNING- I GET SOMEWHAT EMOTIONAL HERE.** Afterwards, I head back to my office and meet with Dunkin’ Donuts brands owners followed by a large contingency from the Camden County Chamber of Commerce.

Congressman Carter with the Camden County Chamber of Commerce

We are blessed in the First Congressional District of Georgia to have great communities with great citizen and business involvement and Camden County is one of the best examples of this. My next meetings are with the Georgia Restaurant Association, the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, the National Cable and Telecommunications Association, and DaVita Kidney Care. Afterwards, I head to a meeting of the conservative Republican Study Committee (RSC) before heading to the House Chamber where we have our first and only vote series of the day. Next, I head to an idea forum on health care reform, one of the big idea initiatives that is being pushed by Speaker Paul Ryan. This is an opportunity for all members to present their ideas of what changes we can make to improve our healthcare system. After meeting with Dr. Kathryn Hornsby, the Assistant Commissioner for Technical Education in Georgia, I head to the U.S. Botanical Gardens where I have the honor of escorting one of our staff members, Zellie Duvall, as she is introduced as Georgia’s Cherry Blossom Princess. My final meeting of the day is with the Georgia Society of Ophthalmology as I welcome my good friends Dr. William Clark and Dr. McGregor Lott from Waycross to the Capitol.

Thursday, April 14, 2016: After early morning meetings with John Voliva, the new Executive V.P. of the International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists and Joe Ganley with McKesson, I head to a subcommittee hearing of the Committee on Education and the Workforce on innovations in health care. A link to my questions can be found here. Next, I head back to my office for a meeting with the Independent Insurance Agents of Georgia (IIAG) before heading to the House Chamber for our first and only vote series of the day. After a series of staff meetings in my office, I have the honor of attending the Former Members of Congress (FMOC) event in the afternoon where they are honoring former Georgia Senator Max Cleland.

Congressman Carter with IIAG

Friday, April 15, 2016: As is the case during the spring season, we have many visitors to the Capitol and this morning I am delighted to welcome representatives from the Southeastern Wood Producers followed by a meeting with my good friend, former Congressman Max Burns who is now the President of Gordon State College in Barnesville, GA. Afterwards, I head down to the House Chamber to speak on H.R. 2666, the No Rate Regulation of Broadband Internet Access Act, and then head to a subcommittee on Oversight and Government Reform hearing on the Taxpayer Advocate Annual Report to Congress. A link to my questions can be found here. Next, I head to the House Chamber where we have our first and only vote series of the day before heading to the airport for home after a week in Washington filled with meetings.