I'm in!
I’m in and committing to the Georgia Safety Promise led by Governor Kemp and the Georgia Department of Public Health. We are encouraging Georgians and businesses to agree to simple, but critical, measures that will keep us safe from COVID-19, minimize the spread, and keep Georgia open for business.


Join us by committing to wearing a face covering, washing your hands, sanitizing surfaces and staying six feet apart.

Click here for my Georgia Safety Promise message. 

this week on buddy's briefing
This week on Buddy's Briefing we discuss the Paycheck Protection Program with ChemDry of Savannah, a great company that was able to keep their employees on the payroll during the pandemic with the help of the program. Click here to watch this week's episode.


from our nation's capitol CCLXXIII
Monday, July 6, 2020:  While this July 4th weekend was certainly different from most years as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, I still managed to participate in a few activities.  On Saturday morning, I attended the Forsyth Park Running of the Flag event hosted by the Savannah Freedom Exchange.  Organized by Savannah resident Sarah Thompson, the event featured the American Flag being carried around the park 244 times in honor of the 244th birthday of our country.  Also, on Saturday, I attended the annual Fourth of July parade on St. Simons Island where golf carts decorated in red, white and blue donned the streets of the island.  This is always a fun event and, although attendance was a little down this year, it was still a great event on a beautiful day on a beautiful island. 

Rep. Carter at the St. Simons Island Fourth of July Parade
After arriving at our Savannah office this morning, I join in on our daily all-staff conference call and afterwards have a conference call with the CEO of Clinch Memorial Hospital, Angela Ammons, to catch up on how they are dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.  Clinch Memorial is a great example of the fine work our rural hospitals in the First Congressional District have done during this pandemic.  Next, I have a meeting with a constituent who is concerned with the election process in our state and county before having a call with Scott Isaacks, the director of the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center in Charleston who also oversees the Savannah and Hinesville VA Centers in the First Congressional District.  Scott and his capable team have done a great job during the pandemic, providing quality care and limiting the number of COVID-19 cases within their facilities.  Afterwards, I have a call with HealthHIE Georgia and their Chief Medical Information Officer, Dr. Kevin Henderson.  HealthHIE Georgia Corporation is a network of rural Georgia hospitals that includes a number of facilities in the First Congressional District.  Along with their physician communities, they work to improve patient care through health information technology.

Tuesday, July 7, 2020:  Once in the Savannah office, and after our daily all-staff conference call, I join in on an Aspen Institute Zoom conference call where our special guest is Wes Moore, the CEO of Robin Hood, one of the largest anti-poverty forces in the nation.  Wes joins us in a great discussion on how to make American democracy more inclusive, fair and equitable.  Afterwards, I have a call with Energy and Commerce (E&C) Committee staff to preview calls we will have this week before joining in on our first E&C briefing of the week where we have as our guest Dr. Julie Gerberding.  Dr. Gerberding currently is an Executive Vice President at Merck & Co. and formerly served as head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  Merck is one of the companies involved in Operation Warp Speed (OWS), an effort spearheaded by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and other federal agencies to engage with private firms to accelerate the development of a vaccine for COVID-19.  Afterwards, I have a GOP Conference call where we discuss the upcoming vote on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that was passed out of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) recently.  Next, I have a call with executives from PharmaCare to discuss pharmacy and telehealth issues before having a call with the CEO of Liberty Regional Medical Center in Hinesville to check in on how they are coping with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wednesday, July 8, 2020:  My first stop this morning is the studios of WTOC-TV in Savannah as I speak about the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the impact it has had on small businesses in the First District as well as the nation.  A link to my interview can be found here.  Next, I head to our Savannah office and join in on our daily all-staff conference call before starting a five-hour E&C full committee hearing on the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on our tribal communities.  A link to my questions can be found here

Rep. Carter volunteers with Second Harvest in Pooler
Afterwards, I head to Pooler Church on Pine Barren Road in Pooler where I volunteer by helping members of the church in a drive through food distribution in conjunction with America’s Second Harvest of the Coastal Empire.  Although the weather was hot, this great group of volunteers worked tirelessly until every box of food was given out. 

Thursday, July 9, 2020:  I’m in the Savannah office again this morning and my first call is with Health and Human Services (HHS) Assistant Secretary for Legislation, Sarah Arbes, as we discuss health priorities for an upcoming COVID-19 package to be considered by Congress.  Afterwards, I join in on our daily all-staff conference call before joining in on an E&C Consumer Protection and Commerce (CPAC) Subcommittee hearing dealing with scams during the COVID-19 pandemic.  During this pandemic we know that Americans are more vulnerable to unsafe and counterfeit products as we buy more products online, including for scarce personal protective equipment (PPE) and other necessities.  We also know that COVID-19 fears and new financial struggles have made Americans more vulnerable to medical and financial scams.  That’s why I have introduced bipartisan legislation, the Combating Pandemic Scams Act, that will ensure senior citizens and older Americans are included as a focal point in the government’s response to these scams.  A link to my opening comments and to my questions during the hearing can be found here and here

Rep. Carter visits Chem-Dry in Savannah
Afterwards, I head to Chem-Dry of Savannah where we film this week’s edition of Buddy’s Briefing before heading back to the office where I film a video in support of the Georgia Safety Promise.  A link to the video can be found here.  Later, I have a call with Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) to discuss health care issues to be included in any future COVID-19 relief packages.  

Friday, July 10, 2020:  Next week we will be having our first virtual mark up in the E&C full committee and this morning we have a trial run with the committee to try and work out any kinks.  We have had many virtual hearings during the pandemic but no mark ups.  The two types of meetings are very different as legislation adopted during a mark up goes to the full House for consideration.  Because of the seriousness of a mark up I have pledged not to participate remotely and therefore will be traveling to Washington next week to be physically present and take part in the mark up.  Later I participate in an Administration briefing with various agencies for an update on the COVID-19 response and then have a phone interview with The Brunswick News to discuss the PPP program and its impact on small businesses in the First Congressional District.

 
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