Demanding Answers from Twitter

This week I joined other Republican members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee to demand answers from Twitter about the platform's disregard for the spirit of the First Amendment and a pattern of targeting conservative viewpoints.

In a letter to Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, we expressed significant concerns regarding the actions taken recently by Twitter to suppress several stories from the New York Post, one of the oldest publications in the United States, that detail troubling allegations regarding Hunter Biden, the son of current Democrat nominee for President, Joe Biden.

Social media giants like Twitter have protections in place to allow for free speech and open dialogue. Unfortunately, this is just another example of Twitter using this power to selectively censor speech to advance a political agenda.

These actions continue to escalate and Congress must act. If social media platforms act as publishers, they should be regulated as such.

Beyond demanding answers from Twitter in our letter, I have called on the Democratic leadership of our Committee to bring Jack Dorsey before us as soon as possible to answer to the American people.

Confirm Judge Amy Coney Barrett

The Senate held hearings this week on the confirmation of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. Judge Barrett was extremely impressive and showed that she will be a strong addition to the Court. I look forward to her swift confirmation.

We discuss this and more in this episode of Buddy's Briefing.

Click here to watch this episode of Buddy's Briefing

from our nation's capitol CCLXXXVI

Monday, October 12, 2020: We finished up our southern swing through the First District last week as I spent Saturday morning in Brunswick attending functions before heading to beautiful Folkston in Charlton County for their annual Okefenokee Festival sponsored by the Chamber and Development Authority. This “swamp-style” party featured a parade, arts and crafts, food vendors, live entertainment and a car show. Somehow, I got conned into being a judge for the car show, which was no easy task with so many great entries.

Rep. Carter at the Okefenokee Festival

Along with new Chamber Director Dana O’Quinn, this year’s Miss Okefenokee, Delaney Murrell, and my good friend Charlton County Commissioner Jesse Crews, I thoroughly enjoyed walking down main street and visiting the fine folks in this wonderful and charming city. Later Saturday afternoon I stopped back by Brunswick for more events before ending up in Savannah for a final event of the long week. This morning I’m in Savannah and later in the afternoon I head to Skidaway Island where I meet with constituents.

Tuesday, October 13, 2020: I’m headed back to Brunswick in Glynn County this morning and during my drive down I join in on our daily all staff conference call. Once in our Brunswick office, I have a virtual call with representatives from various Electric Membership Cooperatives (EMC’s) from across the state to discuss issues such as broadband efforts and Rural Utilities Service (RUS) loan repricing. Afterwards, I have the opportunity to speak virtually to the American Medical Association’s medical student section during their advocacy day. Speaking to students, regardless of their level of education, is one of my favorite parts of this position and today is certainly enjoyable as I have the chance to address the group and then participate in a question and answer session.

Rep. Carter meeting with Mayor John Morrissey

Among the topics that we discuss is the phenomenal growth of telehealth during the pandemic and its future role in health care. Next, I have a meeting with my good friend, Mayor John Morrissey, who has traveled up from St. Marys to bring me up to date on projects in this picturesque Camden County city. After a virtual call with representatives from Eli Lilly Pharmaceuticals to learn of their company’s participation in Operation Warp Speed (OWS), I head to St. Simons Island where I meet with constituents.

Wednesday, October 14, 2020: After our daily all staff conference call this morning, I head to our Savannah office where I record a health care video for the National Quality Forum (NQF). Next, I have the honor of speaking to students at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Pharmacy School in celebration of American Pharmacist Month. After addressing the group, I have a great question and answer session with these inquisitive and impressive students before joining my colleague and fellow Cancer Survivors Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA) as we host a virtual discussion on mental and behavioral health for cancer survivors. While Rep. DeSaulnier is a cancer survivor himself, I am not. However, as a practicing pharmacist for over 30 years, I have served many cancer survivors and dealt extensively with caregivers. Also, like most of us, I have had a loved one who suffered from cancer, therefore this experience is certainly not foreign to me.

Rep. Carter meeting with REACH grant recipients

Afterwards, I record a video detailing our upcoming annual Academy Day before having a conference call with Dr. Manning and Dr. Brown from Valdosta State University (VSU) to discuss their promising research trails with COVID-19 and Nitric Oxide. Next, I have an in-office meeting with Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) Grant recipients for an update on their work. These CDC grants support outreach, education, and marketing to increase the number of residents in the District that get their flu shot. Afterwards, I head to Tybee Island to meet with constituents and during the drive I join in on a Doctors Caucus conference call as we discuss the latest proposals to address surprise billing.

Thursday, October 15, 2020: Once in my Savannah office, I have an on-camera interview with WJCL-TV in Savannah to discuss news of the day before joining in on a Rural Georgia Initiatives webinar where they highlight success stories in rural Georgia communities. After joining in on our daily all-staff conference call, I have a virtual call with Medical Technologies of Georgia (MTG) to discuss bringing back American-made medical devices to our country. Like many American medical device makers, MTG faces a disadvantage from a cost perspective against lower-quality, inferior and cheaply made foreign products. After sharing with them details of my Manufacturing Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients, Drugs and Excipients (MADE) in America legislation, we agree to work together to resolve this dilemma. Next, I have a virtual call with representatives from pharmaceutical manufacturers to hear of their progress with OWS before heading to Thunderbolt to meet with John Henderson and Carl Smith at Coach’s Corner. Once back in my office, I have a virtual call with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta for a Congressional briefing where they bring me up to date on the exciting expansion that they are undertaking. After an unclassified, all member conference call with Christopher Krebs, Director of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA) to discuss their work with federal partners, state and local election officials and the private sector to prepare for the 2020 elections, I head to Pin Point near Skidaway Island in Chatham County where I film this week’s edition of Buddy’s Briefing.

Friday, October 16, 2020: I’m in downtown Savannah this morning as I join Governor Brian Kemp in welcoming members of the Georgia Airports Association to the District for their 30th annual conference and expo.

Rep. Carter addresses the Georgia Airports Association Conference and Expo

With over 104 publicly owned airports in our state, Georgia’s airport system is an extremely important and valuable transportation resource for our residents, businesses and visitors. Afterwards, I head across the river to Hutchinson Island where I join in a roundtable discussion with Governor Kemp, senior leadership from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and community leaders to discuss the pandemic and our response efforts in the First District and throughout the country.

Rep. Carter, Governor Kemp, senior leadership from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and community leaders discuss pandemic response

After a great discussion, I head to a tour of the offices of Meridian Clinical Research in Savannah where I witness first-hand the facility and procedures they are using in their COVID-19 study. Next, I head to our Savannah office where I participate in a virtual town hall with the American Veterinary Medical Association. I am honored to be the guest speaker at this group’s meeting and share with them the latest news from Washington as well as discuss veterinary legislation currently being considered in Congress. My final call of the week is a virtual member briefing with NASA to learn more about the work of NASA Crew-1.