|
|
| This week on Buddy's Briefing |
|
|
This week, Congress passed another short-term extension to federal government funding to allow more time to reach an agreement on next year's federal funding bills and a COVID-19 package. Federal funding now expires at midnight tonight. We discuss where we are in negotiations, the first shipment of the COVID-19 vaccine to Georgia, and more in this episode of Buddy's Briefing.
|
|
|
As I have mentioned before, I am participating in a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine trial in Savannah. It’s a double-blind study so I didn’t know if I got the vaccine or a placebo, and the doctors and nurses didn’t know either.
This week, I learned that I received the vaccine.
Having received the vaccine in the trial, I am absolutely confident that it is safe and effective. I encourage all Americans to get the vaccine when it’s available.
Click here to see when I learned I received the vaccine. |
| From our nation's capitol CCXCIII |
|
|
Monday, December 14, 2020: After a busy weekend that included meetings with Sen. David Perdue (R-GA) and Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-GA) in Savannah and in Brunswick, as well as a Doctors Caucus conference call on Sunday to discuss last minute negotiations on surprise medical billing (SMB), I’m back at my COVID-19 clinical trial for blood draws to see how my antibodies have been producing.
Rep. Carter at the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine trial |
As I have stated before, these clinical trials are a double-blind study meaning that I don’t know whether I am receiving the actual vaccine or a placebo. My doctors and nurses assisting me are also unaware of which one I have received and therefore we are all proceeding as if I have received the vaccine. Because the Pfizer vaccine received an emergency use authorization (EUA) from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last week, the vaccine will be sent out this week and available for administration. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended that nursing home patients and workers as well as front line health care workers be given the vaccine first. Because those of us participating in the clinical trials would like to get the vaccine if we didn’t get it during the clinical trials, the codes will be unblinded soon to let us know whether we have gotten the vaccine or not. Obviously, this is exciting news for all of us. Afterwards, I head to Glynn County and during the drive, I join in on our daily all-staff conference call as well as an Energy and Commerce (E&C) Committee member conference call where we discuss legislation from the Committee that will likely be included in the budget agreement that is currently being negotiated. Once in Glynn County, I head to St. Simons Island where I am the guest speaker for the monthly meeting of the Golden Isles Republican Women’s luncheon.
Rep. Carter speaks to the Golden Isles Republican Women's luncheon |
After a delightful visit with this great group, I head to our Brunswick office where I have a podcast interview with the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) where we discuss the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) recent ruling in Rutledge v. Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) that federal ERISA laws do not preempt Arkansas law. Next, I have another podcast interview on the same subject with the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), before meeting with constituents concerning tax issues. After a visit with the Coastal Regional Commission in Darien to hear about how they are making good use of CARES funds, I head back to Savannah and during the drive I have a phone call with Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr to discuss election issues. Once back in Savannah, I head to our district office where I host a telephone town hall where I entertain constituent questions and solicit their input on current issues.
Tuesday, December 15, 2020: I’m up bright and early this morning as I have a live virtual interview at 5:15 a.m. on Fox and Friends where we discuss the COVID-19 vaccine as well as the Georgia Senatorial runoffs. A link to my interview can be found here. A few hours later, I have a live radio interview with my good friends on the world famous Butch and Bob Show in Jesup as we discuss current events in Washington. Next, I head to the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) annex in Garden City where I am honored to speak to the Savannah Maritime Association to bring them up to date on issues in Washington, particularly those impacting our port.
Rep. Carter joins Governor Kemp as some of the first Georgians receive the COVID-19 vaccine |
Later in the afternoon, I join Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Kathleen Toomey for a press conference at the Department of Public Health (DPH) in Savannah where the first shipment of the COVID-19 vaccine in the State of Georgia has arrived and where the first health care workers in the state receive the vaccine. This is truly a momentous occasion as Operation Warp Speed (OWS) has proven to be a great success and vaccines are now being administered less than a year from the beginning of the pandemic in the U.S.
Wednesday, December 16, 2020: After an early morning flight to Washington that includes a delay in Charlotte where we sit on the tarmac for 2 hours due to mechanical problems, I’m back in my office on Capitol Hill. After a Doctors Caucus conference call with Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma, where we discuss pending issues that our caucus is working on, I join in on our daily all-staff conference call. Next, I head to the House Chamber where I pay tribute to WTOC-TV news anchor Dawn Baker, who was one of the first volunteers in Savannah for the COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials. A link to my tribute can be found here. Once back in my office, I have a phone interview with the Atlanta Journal Constitution (AJC) to discuss the amicus brief that I signed onto last week concerning a case before the SCOTUS. Later, I head back to the House Chamber for our first vote series of the week.
Thursday, December 17, 2020: After our daily all-staff conference call, I join in on a GOP Conference call where leadership brings us up to date on the latest budget and relief package negotiations. Although it appears an agreement is in place regarding the budget, the relief package is not settled and both sides are hoping to package the two together as one for voting purposes. Next, I have an E&C member conference call with Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar as he brings us up to date on OWS and shares with us the good news of the vaccine now being available.
Rep. Carter recognizes Tom McCall on the House floor |
Later, I head to the House Chamber where I pay tribute to my good friend and former Georgia State House colleague, Tom McCall from Elbert County. Tom has recently been elected President of the Georgia Farm Bureau. A link to my tribute can be found here. Next, I head over to the Library of Congress Madison Building where I record a Christmas video before heading back to the House Chamber for our first and only vote of the day. Once back in my office, I participate in an ethics virtual training class that includes a vigorous post-test.
Friday, December 18, 2020: After our daily all-staff conference call this morning, I spend most of the day in a hurry up and wait mode. Our schedule is very fluid today as negotiations on the budget and relief package continue with the government scheduled to shut down at midnight tonight unless we extend it with legislative action. Later, I head to the House Chamber where l pay tribute to Glenn Deibert, President of Coastal Pines Technical College, who will be retiring soon after many years of service. A link to my tribute can be found here. Afterwards, we have our first vote series of the day as negotiations on the dual package containing the budget and COVID-19 relief package continues to be negotiated. Next, I head outside to the western side of the Capitol where I film this week’s edition of Buddy’s Briefing in front of the Capitol Christmas Tree.
Rep. Carter learns he received the COVID-19 vaccine in the Pfizer trial |
Once back in my office, I have a phone call with the nurse director of the clinical trial that I am participating in with the COVID-19 vaccine. Because the Pfizer vaccine is now available, they have agreed to unblind my study and let me know whether I received the vaccine or a placebo. A link to the video detailing the call can be found here. Later in the day, we have a vote to extend the current Continuing Resolution (CR) to 11:59 p.m. Sunday night in order to give more time for negotiations on the budget and COVID-19 relief package. |
| VOTES IN THE HOUSE THIS WEEK |
|
|
| Click here for this week's vote sheet in the House.
|
|
|
