On Track

Great news! We have secured the federal funding necessary to keep the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project (SHEP) on track in 2019.

Last week, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released funding which includes $52.12 million in additional funds for SHEP. This funding, combined with President Trump's original budget request of $49 million, brings the total fiscal year 2019 federal funding for SHEP to more than $100 million. This will keep the critical economic development project on track.

With this commitment, we are one step closer to realizing the full economic impact expanding our harbor will have on the nation and the world.

I will continue fighting for this federal support to keep the project moving forward and on time until it becomes a reality.

From our Nation's Capitol CLXXXIX

Monday, November 26, 2018: Today is academy day! Each year a group of volunteers from the First District perform the task of interviewing candidates on my behalf for the service academies and make recommendations for placement. This stellar group of volunteers is, by design, made up of individuals with and without military experience. As we gather this morning at the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force in Pooler, I have the opportunity to welcome the students and family members and introduce them to our volunteer academy board before the interview process begins. Next, I head to our Savannah office where I meet with a constituent regarding insurance coverage of medical formula.

Rep. Carter visiting the Savannah Center for Blind and Low Vision

Many parents of children with rare genetic diseases are faced with high medical costs and depend on insurance to help defray these costs. Afterwards, I meet with a constituent who tragically lost her daughter a few years ago as a result of domestic violence and we discuss possible legislation that could strengthen our laws in this area. Next, I head to the Savannah Center for Blind and Low Vision (SavannahCBLV) to learn more of the fine services this agency is providing to promote independence and dignity for people who are vision impaired or blind. Serving counties in Southeast Georgia and Southern South Carolina, their services are offered in the home or in the center in Savannah. After a great visit and tour of their facilities I head back to our Savannah office where I meet with my good friend, Dr. Jack Considine, to discuss an array of issues mainly focusing on health care.

Tuesday, November 27, 2018: I’m up at 4:30 a.m. this morning and at the airport at 6:10 a.m. for a 7:10 a.m. direct flight to Washington. Bleary eyed, I anxiously await to board my flight when I am informed that the flight has been delayed until 8:40 a.m. After notifying my staff that I have been delayed and will not be able to deliver the keynote address to a national health care group having their annual meeting in Washington this morning, I am informed that the flight has now been delayed until 11:30 a.m. Once again I contact my staff and they are able to book me on a different flight that gets me into Washington at 1:30 p.m. Not only do I end up missing the keynote address but I also miss three other meetings that I had scheduled today. Oh, the joys of relying on air carriers! Once I’m finally at the Capitol, I meet with my Chief of Staff who, due to my absence, was earlier today tasked with picking our number for office assignment for the next session. Fortunately (at least for him) he chose a good number and we will be relocating to an office closer to the House Chamber and near our committee meeting rooms.

Rep. Carter at the Fall Awards Banquet of the National Aeronautic Association

Next, I head to an Energy and Commerce (E&C) Committee member briefing on maternal mortality presented by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The briefing is a synopsis of a 3-day summit that was held over the summer that brought together experts from around the U.S. and the world to discuss strategies in reducing maternal mortality. Later, I attend a Whip Team meeting where we hear from Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen who updates us on the situation at the southwest border. After our first vote series of the day, I head downtown where I attend the Fall Awards Banquet of the National Aeronautic Association and share in the excitement of witnessing my good friend, Mark Burns, President of Gulfstream Aerospace in Savannah, receiving the Wesley L. McDonald Distinguished Statesman of Aviation Award.

Rep. Carter and Mark Burns, President of Gulfstream Aerospace, at the Fall Awards Banquet of the National Aeronautic Association

This award honors Americans who have made significant contributions to aeronautics over an extended period of time as Mark has during his 35 year career with Gulfstream.

Wednesday, November 28, 2018: This morning starts with our weekly GOP Conference and there is a lot to discuss this morning as we finish out the 115th Congress and continue to prepare for the 116^th Congress. Afterwards, I head back to my office where I film a video welcome to the Georgia Transit Association Meeting being held in Jekyll Island next weekend. Afterwards, we have our weekly staff briefing where we have lots to discuss with the upcoming office move and trying to tie up loose ends legislatively during the lame duck session.

Rep. Carter meeting with the Georgia Farm Bureau Federation

Later, I meet with CIOX to discuss health information management services and Health and Human Services (HHS) electronic health record requirements. Next, I meet with the American Consumers & Workers Justice Coalition (ACWJC) to discuss flooring products and the impact of tariffs on their business. After meeting with members of the Georgia Farm Bureau Federation to learn more about the immense devastation the agriculture community experienced from Hurricane Michael and how we can help them with disaster relief, I meet with the Alliance for Patient Access, a non-profit that advocates for patient access to approved therapies and treatments.

Rep. Carter meeting with the Alliance for Patient Access

My last two meetings of the day are with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and the Integrative Health Policy Consortium.

Thursday, November 29, 2018: One of the joys of serving in Washington is making good friends and this morning I have the pleasure of meeting with one of my good friends, Tom Madson. Tom has represented Gulfstream Aerospace in Washington for the past 20 years and before that served our country in the Air Force for 26 years.

Rep. Carter speaking at The Hill's New Member Reception

Tom will be retiring tomorrow from Gulfstream and I have the opportunity this morning to wish him well in this new chapter of his life. Afterwards, I attend a Doctor’s Caucus meeting with the American Society of Clinical Oncologists before heading to a Steering Committee meeting where I am serving as a proxy for my Georgia colleague, Rep. Tom Graves (R-GA). In the Republican Conference we have a steering committee that decides appointments and leadership positions on committees. Tom is the Georgia/South Carolina representative on the Steering Committee but because he is applying for an appointment, he has asked me to be his proxy during his presentation. This is my first experience on this committee and I find it to be fascinating. Later, I head to my office where I meet with representatives from the West African country of Liberia and end my day at The Hill’s New Member reception downtown where I share with incoming members of the 116^th Congress some of my experiences when I started four years ago.

Friday, November 30, 2018: I’m at the White House this morning as I assist my Deputy Chief of Staff, Mary Carpenter, and her mother as well as Hunter Odom from Richmond Hill gain access for a tour. Once back at the Capitol, I head to the 116^th Organizing Conference of the GOP to ratify the recommendations of the Steering Committee. Our first and only vote series of the day is afterwards and then I head to the airport for my return flight home.