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An estimated 47.8 billion robocalls were placed nationwide last year. In 2019, there have already been an estimated 29.3 billion robocalls placed - that is 89.3 per person! Robocalls are both an annoyance and a security issue and we've all had to experience them.
That's why I'm glad to report that I joined my colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee this week to advance legislation to end robocalls. I joined Fox Business this week to discuss our legislation, the Stopping Bad Robocalls Act. Click here to learn more about our legislation that passed unanimously out of our committee this week and is headed to the House floor for a vote.
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Instead of focusing on the real issues facing the American people, House Democrats brought a ridiculous impeachment measure to the House floor this week. Ultimately, the House voted to table the Articles of Impeachment against the President of the United States and many Democrats even agreed that there is no reason to move forward with impeachment proceedings.
It is absolutely unacceptable that we wasted time on this absurd vote against the president. This is floor time that could have been used to address the crisis at the border or our broken health care system. Unfortunately, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have again shown that they are focused on one thing and that is working as hard as they can against the President of the United States. |
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This week, the House considered legislation that would increase the minimum wage by 107 percent. I understand how important every paycheck is to hardworking Americans and their families, but mandating a radical increase in the minimum wage is not the way to do it.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office found that this dramatic increase in the minimum wage is estimated to destroy 1.3 million jobs and even eliminate up to nearly 4 million jobs when it’s all said and done.
Instead of drastic government mandates that sound good, but in reality will actually have the opposite effect, we should be supporting pro-growth policies that promote higher wages, job creation and our booming economy.
Today, workers are not only seeing more jobs, we're also seeing better paying jobs. Wages rose by 3.1 percent over the prior 12 months and June marked the 11th straight month that year-over-year wage gains were over 3 percent.
Reducing taxes, removing regulations and supporting a free market is working. |
| from our Nation's Capitol CCXX |
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Monday, July 15, 2019: I arrive back in Washington today and after our weekly staff meeting, I film a video addressing the Democrats’ proposal to raise the minimum wage to $15/hr. A link to that video can be found here. Next, I head to our weekly Whip Team meeting and afterwards head to the House Chamber for our first vote series of the week.
After votes, I stay in the House Chamber and pay tribute to Rev. Carolyn Cubbedge who recently retired from my home church, Wesley Monumental United Methodist Church in Savannah. Carolyn did a great job as Senior Adult and Pastoral Care Pastor and she will be greatly missed. A link to my tribute can be found here.
Tuesday, July 16, 2019: My morning starts with a member’s only meeting of the Energy and Commerce (E&C) Committee where we have a report from each subcommittee ranking member. Next, I head to our weekly GOP Conference meeting and afterwards I head to the Capitol steps where I greet students participating in the Gulfstream Student Leadership Program and have a picture taken with each of the students from the 13 schools from Chatham and Glynn Counties that are represented.
Rep. Carter meeting with students participating in the Gulfstream Student Leadership Program |
Afterwards, I head to the Cannon rotunda where I have a live TV interview with Fox Business Network to discuss the Stopping Bad Robocalls Act that will be voted on in the E&C Committee markup later this week. A link to my interview can be found here. Next, I head to a hearing with the Select Committee on Climate Change on heavy duty vehicles. Afterwards, I head back to my office to meet with representatives from Prevent Blindness. Next, I am prepared to head to the House Chamber for our first vote series of the day but that vote is delayed as the Capitol is abuzz at what is happening in the House Chamber.
Rep. Carter meeting with representatives from Prevent Blindness |
During debate on a Democratic resolution “Condemning President Trump’s racist comments directed at Members of Congress,” Speaker Nancy Pelosi refers to the President as racist. Because House rules prohibit “personal criticism, innuendo, ridicule or terms of opprobrium,” Republicans object and ask her to re-state her remarks. When the Speaker refuses to re-state her remarks, Republicans appeal to the Parliamentarian that her words “be taken down” or struck from the record. After a lengthy delay, the Parliamentarian rules that the words indeed crossed the line and should be struck from the record. Also as a result of this ruling, the Speaker will be prohibited from speaking for the rest of the day on the House floor. Before reading the Parliamentarian’s ruling, the Democratic member presiding over the House, Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), becomes enraged at the proceedings and drops the gavel and abandons the Chair. Another Democrat quickly assumes the gavel and announces the Parliamentarian’s decision after which follows another lengthy delay as the Democrats calculate their next move. Finally, after an almost two hour delay, the Democrats call a vote on overriding the Parliamentarian's ruling and also allowing the Speaker the right to speak again during today’s proceedings. Granted, I have only served for 4½ years but this is, without question, one of the most bizarre incidents I have ever witnessed while serving in Congress. About an hour after returning to my office another vote is called, this time on the resolution to condemn the President’s remarks directed at Members of Congress. Finally, after almost four hours of total chaos in the House Chamber, votes are over for the day.
Wednesday, July 17, 2019: It’s always nice to welcome folks from the District to our office in Washington and this morning I am delighted to welcome Amii Best, a psychologist with the Savannah/Chatham County School System.
Rep. Carter meeting with Amii Best |
Next, I meet with representatives from the Forest Landowners Association before meeting with my good friend Bill Eley with the American Pharmacy Cooperative, Inc. Afterwards, I head to the House Chamber where I deliver a tribute to Abe Brown from Glynn County, the first African American County Coroner in Georgia who recently passed, followed by a tribute to Shakema Deal, a soldier stationed at Fort Stewart who recently earned her college degree and was given a graduation ceremony by her fellow soldiers while serving in Afghanistan. I also paid tribute to Dr. Raymond Allen Cook, former President of my alma mater Young Harris College, who recently passed as well as to Waycross Police Chief Tony Tanner who recently retired. A link to my tributes can be found here, here, here and here. Next, I head to an E&C full committee markup of 34 bills and amendments from different subcommittees, including 2 of my bills, one dealing with the aforementioned carbon monoxide poisoning and the other dealing with prescription drug prices. It is notable that in this highly divisive Congress that we serve in, the E&C Committee remains one of the most bipartisan committees in Congress. Of the 34 bills and amendments that we consider today, all but one are passed by voice vote meaning that agreement on the bills and amendments were reached in a bipartisan manner before our meeting.
Rep. Carter meeting with the Forest Landowners Association |
Later in the day, I have a phone conference with acting Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Ned Sharpless to introduce myself and discuss a few issues before meeting with Celgene CEO Mark Alles. Next, I head to Statuary Hall where I have a live interview on MSNBC to discuss the opioid epidemic in our country. A link to my interview can be found here. After our first and only vote series of the day, I stay in the House Chamber and pay tribute to Coastal Middle School in Savannah for being recognized as a lighthouse school. A link to my tribute can be found here.
Thursday, July 18, 2019: After a members only meeting on ‘Reducing U.S. Maternal Mortality Rates,” I head back to my office where I meet with St. Vincent’s Academy in Savannah student McAlister Smith who is in town attending the Washington Journalism and Media Conference. Our first and only vote series of the day is next and afterwards I head to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in Bethesda, MD, for a tour of the facility.
Rep. Carter at the National Cancer Institute |
Currently, I serve as co-chair of the Congressional Cancer Survivors Caucus along with my friend and colleague, Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), who accompanies me on the tour. While Rep. DeSaulnier is a cancer survivor himself, I am not. However, as a practicing pharmacist for over 30 years, I have cared for many cancer survivors and also have personal experiences with my father’s battles with cancer. After a round table discussion with leadership of the NCI to learn more about the great work they do here, we tour a lab performing research on stem cell transplantation before touring a lab performing research on head and neck cancers. We wrap up our visit with a trip to the Children’s Inn at NCI where patients and families can stay while they are being treated. Afterwards, I head to the airport for my return trip home.
Friday, July 19, 2019: I’m in Ludowici in Long County this morning for the final day of the summer program at the library and I’m honored to be able to read to the summer participants the book Mousetronaut Goes to Mars. Reading to children is one of my favorite activities and reading to this excited and attentive group is especially fun.
Rep. Carter reading to students at the Long County Library |
Afterwards, I have a FaceTime interview with First Coast News in Jacksonville to discuss the opioid epidemic and other news of the day. Next, I head to Brunswick in Glynn County where I attend the 3rd Annual First Responders Appreciation Day Luncheon where we honor these most deserving public servants. Afterwards, I head to the town I grew up in, Port Wentworth in Chatham County, where I participate in the dedication and ribbon cutting of their new City Hall. Next, I head to our Savannah office where I meet with a constituent about the Camden Spaceport project followed by a meeting with the University of Georgia (UGA) Business Development Office. My final meeting of a very busy week is with members of the PRYME2 Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Self-Help group where I learn about the great advocacy being done by these dedicated volunteers, some who suffer from MS and others who have family members who suffer from MS. |
| 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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