The Port of Savannah is growing, and that’s good news for Georgia.

This week, the Georgia Ports Authority announced that the Port of Savannah handled more than 503,000 containers in July, a 5.7% increase from the same month last year. Exports grew by nearly 8%, while imports increased by 5%. Those numbers are a sign of the continued strength and growth of one of Georgia’s most important economic engines.

As a representative of Georgia’s First Congressional District, I’m proud to have the Port of Savannah right here in our district. But its importance extends far beyond Savannah and the First District. The port connects Georgia businesses to markets around the world, supports jobs and communities throughout our state, and plays an important role in keeping America’s supply chains moving.

As Georgia continues to grow, we need to make sure our infrastructure keeps pace. That means continuing to invest in our ports, roads, railways, and other infrastructure that keeps goods moving and businesses growing.

The Port is already one of the nation’s leading gateways for global trade. These latest numbers show that it isn’t slowing down. I’ll continue working to make sure Georgia has the infrastructure and support it needs to keep moving forward.

This week's Buddy's Briefings tells us the story of Georgia's oldest remaining English fort and how it helped protect Britain's southern frontier.

If you’ve watched me on the House floor, you’ve probably seen me take a moment to recognize someone or something that matters to the people I represent.

Known around the office as “one minutes,” these short speeches give me an opportunity to bring the stories of Georgians to the House floor. Stories of service, sacrifice, perseverance, and the people and organizations making a difference in our communities.

Over the years, I’ve used these moments to honor Georgia heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice, recognize the men and women in law enforcement who put their lives on the line to protect our communities, and remember public servants who dedicated their lives to making their communities better.

Each story is different, but they all have something in common: they deserve to be heard.

One of my first ever one minutes was one of those moments.

I rose on the House floor to recognize the Living Vine Christian Maternity Home in Savannah as it celebrated 20 years of serving women experiencing unexpected pregnancies.

At the time, Living Vine had provided a safe haven for more than 350 women, offering food, shelter, education, medical care, and practical skills like childcare, financial management, and job readiness.

What stood out to me most was the message at the heart of Living Vine’s work: that every woman they serve has value and deserves the opportunity to build a better future.

I was proud to recognize an organization doing that work right here in Savannah and to tell the rest of the country about it from the House floor.

It may have taken just a minute, but that minute gave me the opportunity to shine a light on an organization making a real difference in the lives of women and families in our community.

That’s a minute worth taking.

The world's largest known single-organism peach orchard is located in Georgia, where more than 150,000 peach trees help continue the state's long-standing agricultural tradition.