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| this week on buddy's briefing |
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This week, House Democrats transmitted the Article of Impeachment against former President Trump to the Senate. In the first days of the Biden Administration and as Democrats take control of the House and Senate, Washington Democrats have been presented with a great opportunity to work for the American people. Instead, they are wasting time impeaching a President who has already left office.
Also this week, I sent a letter with 199 of my Republican colleagues to Congressional leadership showing our unified opposition to efforts to repeal the Hyde Amendment. The Hyde Amendment prevents federal funds from paying for abortion and it has had long-time bipartisan support. We cannot allow the Hyde Amendment and other important pro-life safeguards to be decimated by Congressional Democrats.
We discuss this and President Biden's first full week in office in this episode of Buddy's Briefing.
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As the world faces the COVID-19 pandemic, criminals are using it as an opportunity to exploit those most vulnerable through new and innovative scams. Check out my op-ed on combating these scams in The Hill.
Combating Pandemic Scams
COVID-19 has touched nearly every person on the planet. In response to the virus, Americans transitioned to work from home, cities effectively shut down, and millions of people lost their jobs.
Unfortunately, as this was all happening, criminals saw this as an opportunity to exploit those most vulnerable through new and innovative scams.
As Americans placed orders for personal protective equipment (PPE), they rightfully expected the items to resemble the pictures on the listing. Instead, they received different or defective PPE in the middle of a global pandemic.
While China worked to limit the PPE available to Americans, its counterfeit goods flooded our markets through e-commerce platforms. Since the start of the pandemic, the Department of Homeland Security has made over 1,600 seizures of fake medical products.
Now, as vaccines are being distributed, it is as important as ever that the American people have faith in the vaccines. However, there are already reports that scammers are offering people fakes and improper opportunities to jump the line to receive it.
Taking advantage of people during a global pandemic is abhorrent, and to address this, I introduced the Combating Pandemic Scams Act to help prepare and inform the public about these scams, and it was recently signed into law. Now, Americans can be educated on how to lookout for the scams and avoid them to save lives and money. To do this, the law requires the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to establish an easily accessible database for Americans to access and requires the FTC to disseminate this information to the public. That includes making it easily accessible for seniors and those with disabilities.
According to the FTC, over 140,000 complaints have been filed regarding pandemic-related scams. The FTC is responding to and going after these scammers, but educating the public on the types of scams and how to avoid them can provide an additional layer of protection.
The FTC’s data shows that online shopping ranks first in scams, vacation and travel ranks second and dietary products are a distant third. This reflects the growing trend of online shopping as people spend more time at home. As these online purchases grow, so must the vigilance of people to spot and report scams.
Pandemic scams aren’t limited to any specific area of the country. In fact, Georgia has had more than 6,800 fraud cases reported at a cost of nearly $5 million. Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr released an announcement in May detailing specific scams that were increasing in frequency, specifically contact tracing, stimulus funding, and working from home ploys. These are scams that have been seen across the country, with many Americans falling victim and compromising their personal information and finances.
We, as a country, have been through a lot as we have grappled with the pandemic and its ensuing effects. The last thing someone should have to worry about is whether or not they are being scammed as they try to get COVID relief funding or needed PPE.
People must have faith that what they are buying is authentic, and now that it’s law, I’m confident the Combating Pandemic Scams Act will help achieve this.
Scammers will continue to evolve their practices, but with a little assistance we can help the American public adapt. Together, we can fight back.
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| from our nation's capitol CCXCVII |
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Monday, January 25, 2021: After driving up from Pooler yesterday afternoon, I’m in the Fox studios in Atlanta this morning where I have a live interview on Mornings with Maria on Fox Business as I discuss the COVID-19 vaccine, climate change and President Biden’s executive order suspending construction of the Keystone XL pipeline.
Rep. Carter appears on Mornings with Maria |
A link to my interview can be found here. Afterwards, I head to the Governor’s Mansion on West Paces Ferry Road where, along with other members of the Georgia Congressional delegation, I meet with Governor Brian Kemp as we discuss a number of issues including COVID-19 vaccination progress, the start of this year’s legislative session and potential changes to clean up the state’s election process.
Rep. Carter meeting with Rick Desai |
After a very productive meeting, I head to Gwinnett County where I meet with my good friend, Rick Desai, a very prominent businessman and leader in the Hindu community.
Tuesday, January 26, 2021: After making the drive back home yesterday, I start my day off with an early morning radio interview on Julie Mason Mornings on Sirius XM POTUS channel as we discuss scams, impeachment and climate change. A link to my radio interview can be found here. Next, I head to our Savannah office where I have a phone interview with Reuters to discuss the electoral vote certifications on January 6th and afterwards, I join in on our daily all-staff conference call.
Rep. Carter participates in a Politico panel on Artificial Intelligence |
Afterwards, I am honored to join a distinguished group of experts on a virtual Politico panel where we discuss the ethical line on Artificial Intelligence (AI). A link to the discussion can be found here.
Wednesday, January 27, 2021: I join in on a GOP Conference call this morning as we discuss a number of issues that are before our conference at this time. Later in the afternoon, I have an Energy and Commerce (E&C) Committee Republican virtual member meeting as we prepare for tomorrow’s full committee organizational meeting.
Thursday, January 28, 2021: After traveling to our Savannah office this morning, I join in on an Aspen Institute virtual meeting where we hear from former Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson, who served under President George W. Bush from 2006-2009 and led the response to the financial crisis of 2008. Sec. Paulson designed the Strategic Economic Dialogue to revitalize U.S.-China relations, and achieved major breakthroughs on currency manipulation, trade flows, the environment, food and product safety, and global financial stability. Today we discuss the current U.S.-China relationship and what can be done to reverse the negative trend based on mutual economic and environmental interests. After our daily all-staff conference call, I join in on the Richmond Hill-Bryan County Chamber of Commerce virtual annual meeting to learn about all the great things going on in this vibrant and rapidly growing community. Next, I join in on our E&C full committee organizational meeting for the 117th Congress and afterwards have a phone interview with The Current to discuss the upcoming 50th anniversary of the Thiokol munitions factory explosion in Camden County. This tragic event, where 29 people were killed and over 50 injured, still haunts this close-knit community.
Rep. Carter on a call with the Patients and Providers for Medical Nutrition Equity Coalition |
Next, I head to Wright Square in downtown Savannah where I film this week’s edition of Buddy’s Briefing in front of the Tomochichi Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse. Once back in my Savannah office, I have a call with representatives from the Patients and Providers for Medical Nutrition Equity Coalition to discuss upcoming legislation before having a call with Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) to discuss how we can work together on addressing the issue of vaccine hesitancy in minority communities.
Friday, January 29, 2021: After attending my Band of Brothers bible study this morning in Garden City, I head to Hinesville in Liberty County where local leaders are breaking ground on a small business incubator.
Rep. Carter at the groundbreaking for a small business incubator in Hinesville |
This joint venture between the City of Hinesville, the Hinesville Development Authority (HDA) and Georgia Southern University will serve as a hub for area entrepreneurs and innovators to develop and grow their business. Once back in Pooler, I have a virtual interview with WJCL-TV in Savannah to discuss current issues. |
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