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| Expanding COVID-19 Testing |
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One of our top priorities at the federal level is expanding testing for COVID-19. In the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act that was approved by Congress and signed into law by President Trump last month, we directed additional funding to testing because it is critical to defeating the virus.
This week, the Department of Health and Human Services announced funding provided by this legislation will go directly to health centers across the First District to expand testing in our communities. The funding will be used for the purchase of personal protective equipment, the procurement and administration of tests, laboratory services, and the expansion of walk-up or drive-up testing capabilities.
I will continue working to provide the resources necessary to expand COVID-19 testing. We must get back to work and fully reopen our economy, and testing will be critical to get us there. |
Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful moms! I hope you enjoy your day.
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| this week on Buddy's Briefing |
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This week on Buddy's Briefing we discuss a week in the District, Nurse Appreciation Week, Teacher Appreciation Week and more. Click here to watch this episode.
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| from our nation's capitol CCLXV |
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Monday, May 4, 2020: On Saturday, I traveled to Walmart in Rincon where I visited with Matthew Tackitt, a senior at Effingham College and Career Academy who is headed to Georgia Tech in the Fall. Matthew is the founder of a small group in Effingham called Medical PP3D.
Rep. Carter with Medical PP3D |
The group 3D prints surgical mask straps that are approved by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and sews surgical masks that they then donate to medical staff and first responders. Thus far the group of nine high school students has donated over 1,500 straps to various hospitals and doctor’s offices. What a great project! Afterwards, I headed to WTOC studios in Savannah where I did an interview outside the studio on news of the day. After our daily all-staff conference call this morning, I have an Energy and Commerce (E&C) Committee conference call where our special guest is ADM Brett P. Giroir, M.D., Assistant Secretary of Health at the Department of Health and Human Services. The briefing focuses on the Administration’s COVID-19 response, including efforts related to testing.
Tuesday, May 5, 2020: After our all-staff conference call this morning, I join an Aspen Institute Congressional breakfast zoom call where our special guest is Dr. Akash Goel, Assistant Professor of Medicine at New York Presbyterian Hospital where they have been in the hot zone of the virus and have been overwhelmed with treating patients. Dr. Goel gives us a report from his experience and offers suggestions on how to best manage this challenge. Afterwards, I have a joint E&C and Natural Resources Committee call with representatives from the American Petroleum Institute (API) to discuss key issues currently impacting the oil and gas industry. Next, I have a GOP member conference call with special guest Jay Powell, Chair of the Federal Reserve, as we discuss fiscal challenges currently facing our country as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. After heading to our Savannah office, I have a conference call with board members of the Georgia Health Care Association (GHCA) to discuss issues facing nursing homes in our state. Next, I have a call with Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice, President and Dean of Morehouse School of Medicine, to discuss investments in health outcomes and health disparities being seen in underserved populations in Georgia. After a great conversation with Dr. Montgomery Rice, I have a conference call with Marathon Petroleum Corporation to discuss the status of the crude oil markets and the impacts it is having on refiners, followed by a call with SourceAmerica, a group that represents nonprofits in Georgia that employ people with significant disabilities in the AbilityOne program.
Rep. Carter and Buch Broome, owner of Fish Tales restaurant, discuss the Paycheck Protection Program |
Next, I have a call with GATE Petroleum President John Peyton to discuss the need for litigation protection for essential businesses in Georgia before having a call with SAS Institute to learn of the impressive work they are doing on designing a COVID-19 dashboard. Afterwards, I head to Richmond Hill in Bryan County where I visit with Buch Broome, owner of Fish Tales restaurant and film a video with him describing his experience with the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). A link to the video can be found here.
Wednesday, May 6, 2020: I have a live phone interview this morning with C-SPAN to discuss how the First District is doing with COVID-19, both in terms of the health and economic impact. While heading to our Savannah office, I have our all-staff conference call followed by a call with a pharmacy professor from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on nursing homes for a peer-reviewed journal he writes. Afterwards, I have a Whip Team conference call with our special guest Matthew Shay, President & CEO of the National Retail Federation, before recording a video celebrating the National Day of Prayer. A link to this video can be found here. Next, I have an E&C member call where we discuss issues we feel will be coming before the committee when we get back to Washington.
Rep. Carter at Ghost Coast Distillery |
Afterwards, I head to Ghost Coast Distillery on Indian Street in Savannah where we pick up a case of hand sanitizer for use in our office and enjoy a great visit with the staff who share with us how they have been producing the hand sanitizer during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is yet another example of how many businesses in the First District have stepped up and answered the call to help our community and proving that we are all in this together. Once back in our Savannah office, I join a small member policy call with former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley to discuss COVID-19 and the policy challenges it has exposed related to China. Next, I record a video for the Georgia Center for Assisted Living thanking them for their fine work during this pandemic.
Thursday, May 7, 2020: We’re headed down to Darien in McIntosh County this morning and during the drive we have our all-staff conference call. Once in Darien, I join a great group of volunteers from local churches at the Second Harvest food bank drive through as we load boxes of food in vehicles lined up outside the City Recreation Center.
Rep. Carter at Second Harvest in Darien |
Afterwards, I head over to the Two Saints Café, a luncheon outreach ministry run by the local Episcopal Church, where I help hand out hot lunches prepared by volunteers. Afterwards, I participate in a Zoom conference Virtual National Day of Prayer organized by religious leaders in the Savannah community as I am honored to pray for our President, the Congress, and other National Government Leaders. Next, I head over to Zio Carlo Café near the waterfront in Darien and meet with owner Chad Simpson, Darien Mayor Bubba Hodge, City Attorney Richard Braun, and Darien News publisher Kathleen Russell, to discuss the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan that the Café received. Afterwards, I head up to our Savannah office and have an E&C remote task force conference call to discuss proposals being made by the majority party to have virtual committee meetings and proxy voting. Next, I have a GOP conference call where we discuss the latest news from Washington and prospects for us getting back to the Capitol. Afterwards, I have a Facebook Live with great attendance and great questions and comments from participants. Before calling it a day, I record a congratulations video for children of Ft. Stewart/Hunter Army Airfield who are members of the 2020 graduating class.
Friday, March 8, 2020: I’m on the road at 4:30 a.m. this morning and, while it’s early, it’s certainly worth it as I head down to Kings Bay Naval Base in Camden County to join in the retirement ceremony of George Deverger, Jr., the longest serving fireman in the history of Kings Bay. After 39 years and 7 months of dedicated service, today is George’s last day and I am honored to present him with a flag flown over the United States Capitol in his honor.
Rep. Carter speaks at the farewell ceremony for members of the 165th Airlift Wing of the Georgia Air National Guard |
Immediately afterwards, I head back to Travis Field in Savannah where I join Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, his family, Georgia Adjutant Gen. Tom Carden, and family members in a farewell ceremony for members of the 165th Airlift Wing of the Georgia Air National Guard who are being deployed today. These men and women are among the best in our society and this ceremony is just a small way for us to be able to show how much we appreciate their service. Afterwards, I head to Hinesville in Liberty County and during the drive l join in on our all-staff conference call. Once in Hinesville, I film this week’s edition of Buddy’s Briefing and then head to First Preparatory Christian Academy (FPCA) where I am joined by school faculty and friends and family of Alex Pagan who has received an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point for the upcoming school year. Alex is a 2018 graduate of First Presbyterian and spent last year at the West Point prep school. In recognition of his great accomplishment, I present Alex with a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol in his honor.
Rep. Carter congratulates Alex Pagan who has received an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point |
Next, I have a phone interview with Politico to discuss legislation that I am introducing dealing with facial recognition before jumping on an E&C member call to discuss COVID-19 testing, contact tracing and surveillance. Afterwards, I head to Alma in Bacon County and during the drive have a GOP member conference call on the food supply chain. Once in Alma, the blueberry capitol of Georgia, I meet with my good friends Zach and Morris Johnson to discuss their bank’s experiences with the PPP loan. The PPP loan has been a true blessing in this rural community and afterwards, Zach and Morris take us to some local businesses that have received the loan including Titan Modular Systems where they build modular structures that are used all over the continental United States. Next, we visit Tanner Farms and meet with Jack Tanner, a blueberry, cattle and poultry farmer who does his own fresh packing on his farm and received the PPP loan. Jack takes us on a tour of his packing facility and then he and I record a video discussing the loan. A link to the video can be found here.
Rep. Carter visits Tanner Farms |
After a great visit, I head to Midway in Liberty County and during the drive I have a briefing with representatives from Health and Human Services (HHS), Department of Labor (DOL) and the State Department to provide updates on COVID-19. Once in Midway, I meet with Samone Norsworthy, who has been making face masks for front line workers. I record a video with Samone that explains her work. A link to the video can be found here. |
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