Monday, April 1, 2019:  Once again, I’m on an airplane bright and early this morning and on my way to Washington.  Once back at the Capitol, I film a video for students at Carver Elementary School in Richmond Hill to offer them encouragement on their upcoming standardized tests, the Georgia Milestones.  Afterwards, I head to the Capitol plaza where I meet with students from Richmond Hill High School who are up visiting this week along with their chaperones, including my good friend, Richmond Hill Mayor Russ Carpenter who is a teacher at the school.  For many of these students, this is their first visit to our nation’s Capitol, and for all of them it is an experience they will remember for the rest of their lives. 

Rep. Carter pictured with Richmond Hill High School students on Capitol steps

Later, I have a meeting with a representative from Gevo, a company that markets biobutanol, a fuel used in marine engines, to discuss regulations by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  Afterwards, I have my weekly briefing with staff to discuss what is shaping up to be a very busy week.  Next, I film another video, this time for the born-alive legislation that I am co-sponsoring and that we will be filing a discharge petition on later this week since the Speaker will not allow it to be called up for a vote on the House floor.  A discharge petition is a procedural move to bring a bill out of committee and onto the floor so that it can be debated and voted on.  If a majority of members sign onto the petition it automatically comes to the floor for debate and a vote.  Afterwards, I head to our weekly GOP Conference before heading to the House Chamber for our first vote series of the week.  After votes, I remain in the Chamber and pay tribute to one of Georgia’s most trusted journalists, Dick Williams, the host of the weekly show “The Georgia Gang,” who has recently retired.

Tuesday, April 2, 2019:  After meeting with constituents this morning who are in town to hear the President speak, I head to an Energy and Commerce (E&C) Environment Subcommittee hearing on climate change where we have as one of our witnesses, Washington Governor Jay Inslee.  Governor Inslee is a former member of the House of Representatives who served on the E&C Committee and is an announced candidate for President.  A link to my questions can be found here.  Afterwards, I attend an E&C Oversight and Investigations (O&I) Subcommittee hearing on the rising costs of insulin.  Although I no longer serve on this subcommittee, the Chair allows me to participate and ask questions of the witnesses.  A link to my questions can be found here. 

Rep. Carter participating in the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act discharge petition press conference

Next, I head to the House triangle outside the Capitol to participate in the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act discharge petition press conference before heading back to my office to meet with representatives from the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association, including Kristy Arnold from Screven. 

Rep. Carter meeting with Georgia Cattlemen’s Association

Before heading down to the House Chamber for our first vote series of the day, I join other members signing the discharge petition for the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protections Act and together we walk into the Chamber and line up to sign the discharge petition. Amazingly, almost 190 members sign the petition on the first day.  Afterwards, I head back to my office and meet with my good friend from Savannah, Donna Camacho and other advocates with the Alzheimer’s Association, followed by a meeting with representatives from the National Rehabilitation Association. 

Rep. Carter meeting with Alzheimer's Association

My final meeting is with another good friend from Savannah, Anne Thompson, who is advocating on behalf of the American Physical Therapy Association.  Next, I head to the House Chamber where I speak on a resolution pertaining to Obamacare that is being offered by the majority party.  A link to my comments can be found here.  Afterwards, I stay on the House floor for our final vote series of the day and pay tribute to Rick Wesley who has recently retired after 40 years with the Savannah bar pilots.  A link to my comments can be found here.

Wednesday, April 3, 2019:  Before our E&C full committee mark up this morning, we have a member meeting to discuss the agenda for the day.  At 9:30 a.m. we begin the markup of 14 bills and get off to a good start by unanimously passing four of the bills in the first hour.  All four of these bipartisan bills aim to lower prescription drug prices and I am proud to say that I am the lead Republican sponsor on two of these.  However, as so often happens in Washington, we get stuck on the next bill and, although we have a few breaks during the day for votes, etc., spend the next 8 ½ hours debating a bill on government control of the internet.  During this marathon debate we break to go to the House Chamber for a joint session of Congress where we hear from NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg who brings a message urging allies to stand up to a more assertive Russia.  Before we start back up, I meet with representatives from the Southeastern Wood Producers Association. 

Rep. Carter meeting with Southeastern Wood Producers Association

Later in the afternoon, we break again and head to the House Chamber for our first and only vote series of the day.  Once we re-adjourn, we finally finish debate on the internet bill at 7:00 p.m. and continue meeting until 12:05 a.m. when we finish all but one of the bills, saving it for the next day (or later on in the day since it’s after midnight now).  A link to some of my comments during the mark up can be found here. 

Thursday, April 4, 2019:  After stopping by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (COC) offices this morning where I am presented the “Spirit of Enterprise” award for my support of COC initiatives during the past year, I head back to the E&C full committee markup where we take up the bill left from yesterday, a partisan bill offered by the Democratic Party dealing with climate change. 

Rep. Carter receiving the U.S. Chamber of Commerce “Spirit of Enterprise” award

Although we break once during the meeting to head to the House Chamber for our first and only vote series of the day, we debate this bill and the 10 amendments that are offered from 9:00 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.  A link to my comments during this meeting can be found here.  Afterwards, I head to our first meeting of the Select Committee on Climate Change where we hear from four students from across the country to learn of the work they are doing to fight climate change.  A link to my questions can be found here.  Next, I head to my office where I meet with Allen Lancaster from Savannah representing the National Roofing Contractors before meeting with constituents from Pierce County who are visiting the Capitol this week.  Afterwards, I have an on-camera TV interview with WSAV in Savannah to discuss a letter I sent yesterday to the Secretary of the Interior requesting that Georgia be excluded from offshore energy plans until concerns of the state legislature are addressed. A link to my letter can be found in the preface to this column.