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| What Tax Reform Means for Ga-1 |
This week, I had the opportunity to visit two local businesses here in the First District of Georgia to discuss what tax reform means to them. I had the opportunity to meet with wonderful employees at Nine Line Apparel in Savannah and RPI Roofing in Richmond Hill.
While at Nine Line Apparel, co-founder Tyler Merritt spoke about what tax reform means for his employees. Speaking about employees bonuses, Tyler said, "this is because of your hard work. This is because we are now able to give you, based on the health of the company, based on the tax reform, we’re able to give you more. And people would break down and start crying. It’s truly the difference between being able to buy that Christmas present for your child, to take a small vacation. It’s the American Dream that everyone wants, which is to be able to provide for their family, and to have a better life than what their parents could provide for them. And I think that those reforms are definitely going to allow it to happen.”
This is exactly why I supported the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Tax reform directly benefits hardworking Americans and small businesses here in the First District, and across the country. We continue to see new examples every day.
Rep. Carter at Nine Line Apparel in Savannah |
To learn more about tax reform, visit fairandsimple.gop. |
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This week, President Trump released his budget framework for the next fiscal year.
I am pleased to see that the framework commits to real reforms to rein in Washington's out of control spending. I am very happy to see President Trump propose reductions in discretionary, as well as mandatory spending. I have long said that we must address both mandatory and discretionary spending if we are ever going to get Washington's fiscal house in order.
It is also promising to see President Trump's commitment in this budget outline to health care priorities I have been working on including prescription drug pricing and combatting the opioid crisis.
I look forward to continuing work on these strategies to reduce the price of prescription drugs including speeding the development of more affordable generic drugs, addressing the payment process, and improving the integrity of the 340B program.
The budget also proposes reforms to strengthen Medicare, invests in border wall construction, and fully funds the National Defense Strategy.
President Trump's budget also recommends $49 million for the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project (SHEP).
I appreciate that the Trump administration has committed to emphasize investments in ongoing construction of projects with high economic returns. With a return on investment of 7.3 to 1, SHEP should absolutely be at the top of the list.
Unfortunately, the number we received in the president’s budget is not enough. It is promising that SHEP received the highest funding level of any deep draft navigation project in the budget request today, but we have a lot more work to do.
One of the main reasons I supported the budget agreement in Congress last week is because it directs increased funding to infrastructure projects. This increase should absolutely be seen in the funding provided for SHEP.
This week, Senators Isakson and Perdue and I invited President Trump and Vice President Pence to the Port of Savannah to see the benefits this top infrastructure project will have on the nation firsthand.
Now, we will continue to fight to secure the funding needed to complete this project and prevent delays which only push these benefits further from reality.
I will continue to fight for funding for SHEP from the administration, as well as here in Congress.
To read President Trump's fiscal year 2019 budget proposal, click here.
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Friends in Blackshear - I'm hosting a town hall meeting on Thursday, February 22, at the South East Georgia Agricultural Center. I hope you will join me to talk about important issues for our area.
Details:
Town Hall Meeting in Blackshear
Thursday, February 22, 2018
3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
South East GA Agricultural Center
County Commission Meeting Room
705 College Avenue
Blackshear, GA
If you have questions or need more information, please call my office in Brunswick at 912-265-9010. |
| From our Nation's Capitol CL |
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Monday, February 12, 2018: On Saturday night, Amy and I attended the Pooler Chamber of Commerce’s 4th annual Hearts for Heroes Red Tie Gala at the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force. This year’s gala benefited the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for children, a great program where judges appoint volunteers to watch over and advocate for abused and neglected children in the legal and social service system such as foster homes. This morning I start off at Nine Line Apparel at their new 60,000 square foot facility on Fort Argyle Road in Savannah. Cofounded in 2012 by two brothers who served in the military and a Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) graduate, Nine Line Apparel was recently declared the 31st fastest growing company in the U.S. by Inc. Magazine.
Rep. Carter at SCAD |
Operating on the three tenets of 1) respect the flag, 2) support those who have served, and 3) being patriotic is nothing to be ashamed of, they employ many veterans and give back to the veteran community. Afterwards, I head to SCAD in downtown Savannah for a tour of their impressive facilities. As a native Savannahan, I remember when SCAD came to the downtown area in the late 70’s and early 80’s and I credit SCAD as being the catalyst for saving the downtown area. We start our tour with a visit to Poetter Hall, named in honor of the parents of SCAD co-founder Paula Wallace, followed by a visit to the SCAD campus safety headquarters. We also visit SCAD Plus, a collaborative learning center that helps foster alumni entrepreneurs through their first year of company formation and product development. We also visit the Gulfstream Center for Design as well as the Savannah Film Studios. With over 14,000 students total and locations in Savannah, Atlanta, Hong Kong and Lacoste, France, SCAD is truly an American success story as well as a savior to downtown Savannah. Next, I have a phone interview with the Atlanta Journal Constitution to discuss President Donald J. Trump’s budget that has been released today and a few local issues before stopping by Anderson-Cohen Weightlifting Center to present a flag I had flown over the Capitol in honor of Howard Cohen for his contributions to sports and athletics in the Savannah area. It was an honor to present this flag to his son Michael, a former Olympian, and his grandson Michael Jr., a current Olympic athlete.
Rep. Carter presenting a flag flown over the Capitol at Anderson-Cohen Weightlifting Center |
Afterwards, I head to the Savannah Morning News to meet with the editorial board and their new editorial page editor Adam Van Brimmer before having a phone interview with Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB) to discuss the President’s budget and the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project (SHEP). Next, I head to the Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum for a tour before heading to Fox 28 for a TV interview. Afterwards, I have two phone interviews, the first with the Associated Press and the second with the Georgia News Network. My final event of a very busy day is a staff dinner to honor our district director, Jud Seymour and his wife Audrey Lane. Jud was my campaign manager on my first Congressional campaign and has been our district director since we took office in 2015. He has done an outstanding job and, while we are happy for him, we are sad that he will be leaving us at the end of this week as he and Audrey Lane are moving to Jacksonville, FL.
Tuesday, February 13, 2018: I’m in Bryan County this morning as I am visiting RPI Roofing to talk about tax reform and how it will help our local small businesses. According to CEO John Reynolds, RPI Roofing was founded in 2000 and now has around 40 employees.
Rep. Carter discusses the benefits of tax reform for local businesses at RPI Roofing |
Next, I head to the airport for my return trip back to Washington and, once back in my office, I meet with representatives from the Georgia Medical Association including my good friend Dr. William Clark. Next, I meet with representatives from the Federal Bureau of Prisons before we have our weekly staff briefing. Afterwards, I host a telephone town hall meeting that is attended by more than 6,000 constituents and afterwards head to the House Chamber for votes. After votes, I participate in a special tribute to Energy and Commerce Chief of Staff Ray Baum, who lost his long battle with cancer last week.
Wednesday, February 14, 2018: After attending a meeting of the Doctors Caucus where we hear from Dr. Alen Sills, Chief Medical Officer of the National Football League, I head to a meeting of the Georgia Business Council where I am honored to be the guest speaker this morning. Next, I head to our weekly GOP Conference before heading back to my office for a meeting with Dr. Claire Sterk, President of Emory University in Atlanta, followed by a meeting with representatives from SHAPE America. Afterwards, I head to an Energy and Commerce (E&C) Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing on “Examining the Impact of Health Care Consolidation.”
Rep. Carter meeting with the Pulp and Paperworkers Resources Council |
A link to my questions can be found here. Later, I head back to my office for a meeting with the U.S. State Department’s Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) followed by a meeting with representatives from the Pulp and Paperworkers Resources Council. Next, I head to the House Chamber for our first vote series of the day and then head to an E&C Environment Subcommittee hearing on “New Source Review Permitting.” A link to my questions can be found here. My next committee meeting is with the full E&C Committee as we consider three bills to send to the full House for votes. After heading to the House Chamber for our second vote series of the day, I head back to my office for a meeting with representatives from Effingham Habitat for Humanity.
Rep. Carter meeting with Effingham Habitat for Humanity |
Thursday, February 15, 2018: After a number of meetings this morning, including one with the Urology Association, I head to the House Chamber for our first and only vote series of the day before heading to my office to film a response addressing the tragic shooting yesterday at Marjory Douglas Stoneman High School in Broward County, Florida. Next, I head to an E&C Health Subcommittee hearing on “Oversight of the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS).” During this hearing we hear from the newly confirmed Secretary of HHS, the Honorable Alex Azar. Afterwards, I head to my office where I meet with my good friend Scott Rasplicka from Savannah before having a TV interview with WSAV in Savannah to discuss the horrific shooting in Florida. Afterwards, I head down to the House Visitors Center (HVC) Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) to read the classified memo compiled by the Democratic Minority on the House Intelligence Committee dealing with senior federal officials’ use of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) to target the Trump campaign before heading to the House Republican Conference to film a Public Service Announcement on opioid abuse. Next, I head back to my office where I meet with the Ambassador of Lithuania before finishing my day with a FaceTime interview with WTOC TV in Savannah to again discuss the shooting in Florida. |
| VOTES IN THE HOUSE THIS WEEK |
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| Click here for this week's vote sheet in the House.
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