If you watched the news this week, you heard a lot about the House’s budget resolution, which I broke down here, and liberal meltdowns about DOGE’s targeting of waste, fraud, and abuse.
While DOGE and the budget are important, I want to take some time this week to talk about what didn’t make headlines, because there’s a lot of good work being done in Washington that the media largely ignores.
In the final days of the Biden-Harris Administration, it issued a rule implementing strict new, unworkable standards for water heaters. This burdensome rule will punish hardworking families who cannot afford to upgrade their home water heaters to models preferred by Biden.
If someone wants a brand-new condensing water heater, they can buy one! What is not fair is interfering with the free market and forcing Americans to buy a certain type of product. I refuse to take choice away from the public just to satisfy Washington bureaucrats, especially now. American families are still dealing with inflation caused by the previous administration, and the last thing we need to do is add more financial strain to their lives by eliminating affordable water heater options.
That’s why this week, House Republicans passed two important pieces of legislation aimed at rolling back the Biden-Harris Administration’s radical ‘Green New Deal’ agenda. The first would undo the rule I just described above, preserving water heater affordability and choice for consumers.
The second would eliminate the disastrous natural gas tax imposed by Washington Democrats, which led to higher energy prices, decreased domestic natural gas production, and increased reliance on foreign energy – with no meaningful benefits for the environment.
By the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) own statistics, methane emissions fell 37% from 2015-2022, even though natural gas production rose during that same period. The United States produces some of the cleanest natural gas in the world; reducing global emissions requires more domestic production of this vital energy resource, not less.
Instead, the Biden-Harris Administration decided to penalize natural gas production, a move that was a bad deal for our environment, allies, and pocketbooks.
Common sense is being restored in Washington, D.C.! |
In this week's edition of Buddy's Briefing, we are discussing the big, beautiful budget resolution that passed out of the House of Representatives this week.
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Monday, February 24, 2025: I’m up early this morning and live on Newsmax as I discuss the budget reconciliation resolution vote coming up this week, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and illegal immigration. Afterwards, I head to Pooler where I take part in the ribbon cutting ceremony of the expansion of its wastewater treatment plant. In the early 1980’s the City of Pooler received a grant to build an overland flow system to treat their wastewater. While I was Mayor of Pooler in the early 2000’s, I led our city in the building of a 2.5 million gallons per day (MGD) wastewater treatment plant that has since been expanded to 3.3 MGD. Today’s ribbon cutting is to celebrate the expansion of the plant to a 6.23 MGD capacity. Afterwards, I head to the Savannah airport for my flight to Washington that has been delayed as is often the case for someone who flies as much as I do. Once back on Capitol Hill, I head to our weekly Energy and Commerce (E&C) Chair and Vice-Chair meeting where we discuss our business for the upcoming week including our full committee hearing tomorrow where we will adopt our committee session plan. Next, I head to our office where I join in on our weekly E&C Health Subcommittee meeting with staff to discuss our upcoming week including our hearing on Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) that will be held on Wednesday. Afterwards, I meet with our communications team and the E&C communications team to discuss messaging for our part of the reconciliation package before heading to a meeting in the Cannon Office Building with other interested members to discuss the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). After our weekly Whip Team meeting, I head to the House Chamber for our first vote series of the week and afterwards remain on the floor to pay tribute to Ryan O’Hara from Brunswick who recently passed. Next, I head off Capitol Hill for a reception with the American/Israel coalition. |
Rep. Carter at Pooler Ribbon Cutting |
Tuesday, February 25, 2025: Before leaving our office this morning, I have a meeting with our legislative team and then head to our weekly GOP Conference meeting. Next, I head to the House Chamber where I pay tribute to Joe Willis from Brunswick who recently passed, local Savannah area activist Elizabeth Pryor who passed, Marlon Lawrence from Mary Lee Clark Elementary School in Camden County who was recently named the south region winner in the Georgia Leadership Institute for School Improvement (GLISI) Annual Hidden Heroes Campaign, and Reg Murphy from Savannah who recently passed. Next, I head to an E&C full committee mark up and, although the meeting lasts 13 hours, I have the opportunity to slip out for meetings in adjoining rooms. I am able to meet with Cypress Creek Renewables to discuss permitting reform and transmission build out, ZERO prostate cancer group, Enterprise rental car company, Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA), Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) and the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia (MEAG). We also have two vote series during the 13-hour meeting including a very tense one where we pass the budget reconciliation resolution. The bill was actually pulled at one point but after a bit of arm twisting by President Trump via telephone, we were called back to the chamber after a short break and the bill passed. |
Rep. Carter meets with ZERO prostate cancer group |
Wednesday, February 26, 2025: I’m off Capitol Hill this morning as I meet with Legacy Medical Consultants to discuss wound care before meeting with a group of electric vehicle manufacturers. Next, I head to an E&C Health subcommittee hearing that I chair as we discuss how reining in Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) will drive competition and lower costs for patients. Next, I have meetings with Champions of Progress, who support rare disease research, the CEO of National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) and the CEO of Millennium Health. Afterwards, I waive onto an E&C Oversight and Investigations (O&I) subcommittee hearing on Examining the Biden Administration’s energy and Environment and Spending Push before heading back to our office where I have a virtual meeting with our district staff followed by a meeting with our scheduling team. Next, I meet with the American Institute of Architects (AIA) before having a virtual call with a 5th grade class from Mount Vernon School in Atlanta to answer their questions regarding legislation I am sponsoring. After meeting with ZeroFox to discuss cybersecurity, I head to the House Chamber for our first and only vote series of the day and afterwards pay tribute to Nolan Smith, Jr. from Savannah and Darius Slade, Jr. from Brunswick, who both played on the Super Bowl winning Philadelphia Eagles. |
Rep. Carter meets with Champions of Progress |
Thursday, February 27, 2025: I’m off Capitol Hill again this morning as I meet with the Rare Disease Innovation group before heading back to the Capitol for a GOP E&C meeting where we discuss our plans for saving the assigned $880 billion for the budget reconciliation resolution. Afterwards, I head to the House Chamber where we have our final vote series of the week and I pay tribute to Ware County Deputy Hunter Thomas for his work in saving the life of an injured motorist involved in a tractor trailer crash. Once back in our office, I meet with Fidelis to discuss the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) followed by a meeting with the Fiber Broadband Association and then with the Canadian Consul General. After filming this week’s edition of Buddy’s Briefing and a video for a prolife group, I head to the airport for my flight out of Washington. |
Rep. Carter meets with Canadian Consul General |
Friday, February 28, 2025: I’m in Florida this morning with my Republican conference colleagues as we huddle to work on how we find the savings needed for the Budget Reconciliation Resolution. After an early morning radio interview with my good friend Scott Ryfun on Straightalk radio, I have a presentation in front of my fellow Republican colleagues and staff members as to how we on the E&C committee plan to meet our assessment for savings. Afterwards, I have a meeting with the American Staffing Association before speaking virtually to about 70 first year pharmacy school students from South University in Savannah. Afterwards, I have a face time call with Ethan Wonner from Camden County High School to congratulate him on his appointment to the Merchant Marine Academy before having a live interview on the Barry Cunningham podcast where we discuss the Fair Tax Act and news of the day. |
Rep. Carter speaks with pharmacy students |
The Siege of Savannah began on September 16, 1779, as American and French forces attempted to reclaim the city from the British. After allowing British reinforcements to arrive, the Allies launched a failed assault in October, suffering over 700 casualties, including Count Pulaski and Sgt. William Jasper. The British held Savannah for three more years after the costly battle. |
Click here to see this week's vote sheet in the House of Representatives. |
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