Representative Buddy Carter

The Biden-harris border crisis

This week, the House voted to condemn border czar Harris’ handling of our southern border crisis. The vote was bipartisan, because the Biden-Harris policies are harming Americans in every community, regardless of whether you have an R, D, or I after your name.

Instead of using the few months they have left in office to secure our border and make this country a safer place to live, work, and learn, this administration is trying to rewrite history. They’re claiming, laughably, that VP Harris was never border czar. But if you read Biden’s own words, then you know that is false.

No matter how you spin it, or what title you give it, VP Harris was in charge of our border security and failed to do the job. Now she wants a promotion? Give me a break!

In preparation for the House’s historic vote condemning VP Harris’ border crisis, I assembled an expert panel on Scott Ryfun’s radio show to discuss how we got here and how we get out. I was proud to have Rodney Scott, the 24^th U.S. Border Patrol Chief, and Robert Law, Director of AFPI’s Center for Homeland Security & Immigration, join us for this important and timely conversation.

ON BORDER CZAR HARRIS’ FAILURES

“Who has been the border czar for the last three and a half years? Kamala Harris…What has changed in the last three and a half years in this administration? The border has gone from being one of the most secure borders that we’ve ever had to being a border that is wide-open.” – Buddy Carter

“My entire career, until January 21^st, 2021, the border was getting more and more secure, regardless of the party in office. But this current administration completely reversed every policy that had been in place…and unsecured the border.” – Rodney Scott

“This is the administration that has overseen the three and a half worst years of unlawful border crossings in our nation’s history…They’re not even making a good faith effort to enforce the law…There is enough authority on the books today to secure the border. Biden-Harris refuse to use it.” – Robert Law

ON FENTANYL KILLING AMERICANS

“We lose almost 300 people a day in America do to overdoses, and 200 of those come from fentanyl alone, the vast majority of which is coming across that border.” – Buddy Carter

“The cartels use [illegal immigrants] as human shields to cover up the fentanyl smuggling, to cover up the trafficking of terrorists…[cartels] hijack our compassion, and then they hide all of these second and third level effects.” – Rodney Scott

“We wouldn’t have this fentanyl problem if it weren’t…for China.” – Buddy Carter

“There’s not a fentanyl problem in China. The [Chinese Communist Party] doesn’t allow it to poison its own citizens…it has no problem sending the precursor chemicals to the cartels in Mexico for them to then smuggle it across our border.” – Robert Law

ON H.R. 2

“We’ve got the strongest border security bill that’s ever been passed…we need to continue construction of the wall, we need to reimplement the stay in Mexico policy, we need to stop catch and release. All of those things are a way that we will be able to secure our border again.” – Buddy Carter

“[H.R. 2] is a meaningful bill, it addresses many of the loopholes that people are exploiting…and it actually secures the border and gives more resources.” – Rodney Scott

ON CATCH AND RELEASE

“What if you went to a bank and no matter what you put on the application you would automatically get the money? And then six, eight years from now they come back to you and say hey, we finally reviewed your application, we need that money back. How would that work? Well, that’s what we’re doing with this asylum process.” – Rodney Scott

“Catch and release is the most dangerous policy of all. This is how Laken Riley’s killer was allowed loose into American communities…this administration has decided we’re going to let [illegal immigrants] in, and then maybe someday we’ll figure out who you are.” – Robert Law

Listen to the full Scott Ryfun panel here.

Buddy's briefing

In this week's edition of Buddy's Briefing, we are discussing Prime Minister Netanyahu's joint address to Congress and the importance of the U.S.-Israel relationship.

from our nation's capitol cdlxix

Monday, July 22, 2024: Yesterday, I had two interviews to discuss President Biden’s announcement that he would not be seeking the Democratic nomination for President this year and the choice of Vice-President Kamala Harris as the presumptive candidate. The first interview was with WJCL-TV in Savannah and the next was with Newsmax. This morning, I fly back to Washington and, once back in our office, I have a virtual call with our district staff followed by another live interview on Newsmax to discuss news of the day. Next, I have a series of staff meetings, including with our scheduling staff, legislative staff, and communications staff before having our weekly Energy and Commerce (E&C) Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials (ENV) Subcommittee meeting. Afterwards, I head to the Cannon Rotunda where I’m live on Fox Business to discuss the Biden/Harris situation as well as the hearing this morning in the Oversight and Investigations (O&I) Committee with Secret Service director Kim Cheatle. Once back in our office, I meet with department heads from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) who will be testifying before the E&C Health Subcommittee that I serve on tomorrow. Next, I head to our weekly Whip Team meeting before heading to our first vote series of the week and afterwards stopping by a planning session with the Doctor’s Caucus. My final meeting of the day is off Capitol Hill where I am the guest speaker at a meeting of the Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA), a group supporting electric Vehicle (EV) adoption and building a robust domestic supply chain.

Rep. Carter joins Fox Business

Tuesday, July 23, 2024: I’m up early and live on the Laura Coates radio show on XM radio this morning as we discuss news of the day including the Biden/Harris situation. Afterwards, I head off Capitol Hill where I join Captain America, Chris Evans, and his A Starting Point group, as we speak to a group of Bank of America’s student leaders at their Washington summit. Speaking to students is one of my favorite experiences in this position and this group of young people are indeed exceptional. Once back on Capitol Hill, I head to the House Chamber for our first vote series of the day before heading to an E&C Energy, Climate, and Grid Security (ENG) Subcommittee hearing on the FY ’25 Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) budget request that I waive onto. Next, I head to an E&C Health Subcommittee hearing on the CDC’s priorities and later head to an O&I Committee hearing on pharmacy benefit managers (PBM’s). Once back in our office, I have a virtual interview with WSB-TV in Atlanta to discuss the Biden/Harris situation before meeting with representatives from Huntsman Corporation. Next, I head to the Capitol Plaza where I meet some of our interns for pictures and afterwards head to the House Chamber for our second vote series of the day. Next, I head off Capitol Hill for a meeting with my good friends, former Sen. Mack Mattingly (R-GA) and his lovely wife Leslie, who are in town this week. Afterwards, I head back to the House Chamber for our third and final vote series of the day.

Rep. Carter asks questions at House Oversight Committee

Wednesday, July 24, 2024: I’m on the radio this morning with my friends at Morning Xtra in Atlanta as we discuss news of the day, before I head to the House Chamber for our first vote series of the day. Next, I have a meeting off Capitol Hill with my good friend and guest for the joint session of Congress today, Don Munoz from Boston. Afterwards, I head to the House Chamber for the aforementioned Joint Session of Congress where we hear from the Excellency Binyamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, who does an outstanding job with his message of the situation in the Middle East and the stakes at risk. Once back in our office, I meet with representatives from Ceres to discuss permitting reform before meeting with the American Ethiopian Public Affairs Committee (AEPAC). Next, I am honored to attend the National Down Syndrome Society’s (NDSS) annual reception off Capitol Hill and to offer remarks as my good friend and Chair of the E&C committee, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) is honored with a Lifetime Impact award recognizing her many years of service to the Down syndrome and disability community. I have enjoyed getting to know Cathy’s son Cole, who has Down syndrome and have my own experiences with Down syndrome, as my sister and I grew up with an Aunt with Down syndrome. Afterwards, I head to the House Chamber for our second and last vote series of the day and remain afterwards to pay tribute to my good friend, former Georgia State Senator Ed Zipperer as he celebrates his 93^rd birthday.

Rep. Carter wishes happy birthday to Ed Zipperer

Thursday, July 25, 2024: At our weekly Doctor’s Caucus meeting this morning, we hear from former Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) administrator Seema Verma, who is now with Oracle Health and Life Sciences. After a Budget Committee roundtable meeting to examine the budgetary effects of antimicrobial resistance and the broken antibiotic development pipeline, I head back to my office where I meet with representatives from the Brunswick Job Corps Center before meeting with a student from our district who is participating in the Kennedy Center’s summer music institute. Next, I have a virtual call with Politically Georgia as we discuss news of the day before I head to the House Chamber for our only vote of the day. After meeting in my office with my good friend, Fred Burke with Guardian Pharmacy Services, I head off Capitol Hill to visit the National Retail Federation (NRF) where I receive an award from them for supporting the U. S. retail industry. Once back in our office, I film this week’s edition of Buddy’s Briefing, Material Minute, and a tribute to my good friend and fellow Doctor’s Caucus member, Rep. Mike Burgess (R-GA), who is retiring this year. Next, I meet with a group of Georgia students who are visiting Washington as part of the Bank of America student leadership program.

Rep. Carter meets with Bank of America Students

Friday, July 26, 2024: I have two early morning interviews today, the first is a virtual interview with WTOC-TV in Savannah to discuss news of the day and the second is a radio roundtable with two border experts on Straightalk with my good friend, Scott Ryfun. Along with the Director of the Center for Homeland Security & Immigration at AFPI, Robert Law, and Rodney Scott, who served nearly 30 years as a US Border Patrol agent, we discuss problems and challenges at the border. After a most enlightening discussion, I head to the airport for my return flight home and, once I land in the district, I head to Vulcan Garden City Sales Yard on Sonny Perdue Avenue in Garden City to learn more about their business. My final stop of the week is in Pooler, where I help cut the ribbon on Coastal Community Health’s newest location that I am surprised and humbled they have chosen to dedicate in my honor. Under the direction of my good friend, Dr. Kavanaugh Chandler, Coastal Community Health has grown to 15 locations in six counties in South Georgia and North Florida delivering accessible, affordable, and quality healthcare to our citizens.

Rep. Carter at Pooler Coastal Community Health Center Dedication

votes in the house this week

Click here to see this week's vote sheet in the House of Representatives.