This week's edition of Buddy's briefing comes to you from the home to the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball located in the Navy Yard neighborhood of Washington, D.C. 

Monday, September 27, 2021:  Before heading to Washington today, I fly to Atlanta where I attend the Isakson Initiative Luncheon with one of my political mentors, former U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson.  Senator Isakson is the only Georgian to have ever served in the Georgia State House, Georgia State Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, and U.S. Senate. Sen. Isakson resigned from the U.S. Senate on December 31, 2019, due to declining health as a result of a diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease. After his service, he established the Isakson Initiative dedicated to raising awareness and funding for research related to neurocognitive diseases including Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and related dementia. A true statesman, Sen. Isakson has always been a great example of a public servant who all of us aspire to emulate. Afterward, I continue on to Washington and, once back on Capitol Hill, I head to a specially called GOP conference meeting where we discuss what could potentially be a very eventful week. Afterward, I head to the House Chamber where we have our first vote of the week followed by a Member photo on the House steps recognizing addiction and mental health.

Next, I return to the House Chamber where I deliver a tribute to long-time Savannah sportswriter John Burke, who recently passed. A link to my tribute can be found here. Later, I have a live virtual interview on Newsmax to discuss the Democrats' $4.3 trillion socialist infrastructure bill. A link to my interview can be found here.

Tuesday, September 28, 2021:  Our regular GOP conference meeting is this morning and afterward I head to the House Chamber where I pay tribute to Camden County Administrator Steve Howard, Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport, Deborah Winn Smith from Jesup, and long-time Georgia Pharmacy Association leader Jeff Lurey.  A link to my tributes can be found here, here, here, and here.

Once back in my office, I meet with representatives from the National Stone, Sand, and Gravel Association to discuss the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill that has been passed by the Senate and now awaits action in the House. Next, I have the honor of addressing attendees of the third annual official State of Georgia National Recovery Month luncheon being held virtually. Later, I join in on our all-staff conference call before meeting with legislative staff to discuss legislation I am co-sponsoring involving Major League Baseball (MLB). Next, I head to the House Chamber where we have our first and only vote series of the day, and afterward remain in the Chamber where I pay tribute to the Okefenokee Swamp Park on their 75th Anniversary. Once back in my office, I meet with representatives from the Georgia Credit Union Association to discuss proposed new Internal Revenue System (IRS) reporting requirements. After meeting with representatives from the Georgia Orthopedic Society to discuss pending Medicare payment cuts and prior authorization reform, I head downtown where I attend the annual meeting of the Congressional Sportsmen Foundation.

Wednesday, September 29, 2021:  After meetings off of Capitol Hill with representatives from the Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding and American-Israel Coalition, I head to the House Chamber where I pay tribute to Julian Stanford, a courageous young man from Lake Oconee who suffered a life-changing injury in an automobile accident, Suicide Prevention Month, and Don & Margie Varnadoe from Glynn County who were tragically killed in a train derailment in Montana while celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.  A link to my tributes can be found here, here, and here. Once back in my office, I have a delightful virtual introductory call with the new President of Georgia State University, Dr. Brian Blake. Dr. Blake is originally from Savannah in the First Congressional District and is a 1989 graduate of Benedictine Military School. Dr. Blake lived for many years in West Savannah near where I grew up in Port Wentworth. Next, I head to the House Triangle near the Capitol Plaza where I speak at the bipartisan Addiction and Mental Health task force press conference. After a meeting off of Capitol Hill with representatives from various pharmacy groups, I head to the House Chamber for our first vote series of the day. Afterward, I head to the Cannon Rotunda where I have a live interview on OANN to discuss the Democrats' reckless spending. A link to my interview can be found here.

Once back in my office, I have a virtual call with members of the American Planning Association before having a live radio interview with Austin Rhodes in Augusta. Following back-to-back virtual interviews with WSAV and WTOC in Savannah to discuss the Democrats' reckless spending and other subjects, I head off Capitol Hill where I join my good friend, John Fredericks on his show, Outside the Beltway, to discuss the same subjects. A link to my interviews can be found here, here, and here. Afterward, I head to Nationals Stadium, home of the Washington Nationals MLB team, for the annual Congressional Baseball baseball game for charity featuring the Republicans vs. the Democrats.

Once back on Capitol Hill, I join in on a Doctor’s Caucus meeting where we hear from former Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPER), Dr. Robert Kadlec. Afterward, I wave onto an Energy and Commerce (E&C) Consumer Protection and Commerce (CPAC) Subcommittee hearing where we meet with officials from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), College Presidents, and former college athletes to discuss new Name, Image and Likeness regulations. Once back in my office, I join in on our all-staff conference call before recording a video for Julian Stanford. Later, I head to the House Chamber for our first vote series of the day and remain in the Chamber afterward to speak on the legislation I am co-sponsoring dealing with MLB. A link to my speech can be found here. Next, I head to the Cannon Rotunda for a live interview with OANN to discuss the Democrats' reckless spending. A link to my interview can be found here. From there I head to National’s stadium where I film this week’s edition of Buddy’s Briefings and then return to my office where I have a tele-town hall phone call. After meeting with my friends from the Managed Health Care Associates Long Term Care group off Capitol Hill, I head back to my office where I begin the all-night wait to determine whether we will be having more votes this evening.

Friday, October 1, 2021:  When is a Friday still Thursday in the U.S. House of Representatives?  When the House doesn’t adjourn and stays in recess all night to see whether we would be called in for votes again.  After an E&C Member meeting this morning, I head back to my office where I spend most of the day waiting on the Democrats to try and work out a compromise among themselves in order to vote on an infrastructure bill. During the all-day wait, I join in on a Doctor’s Caucus virtual call with officials from Health and Human Services (HHS) to discuss the monoclonal antibody therapy (mAbs) distribution ruling. I also have a virtual call with Verax Biomedical, a company that specializes in products that detect bacterial contamination in cells and tissues intended for transfusion and transplantation, as well as a virtual interview with Washington Watch with Tony Perkins to discuss the debt ceiling and Democrats reckless spending. After an afternoon visit to Capitol Hill from President Joe Biden, the majority Democratic Party finally calls a vote at 7:30 PM, although it does not include the infrastructure bills they are trying to pass.

Saturday, October 2, 2021:  After missing two scheduled flights yesterday because of bickering within the Democratic caucus, I am up early and headed to Austin, TX, where I am the keynote speaker today at the Worldlink Academy Symposium, a healthcare-based training program that gives evidence-based training on hormone replacement and wellness.