Critical Support for our Military and the First District

This week, I voted in support of a two-year budget agreement which is critical for our military and national security, as well as the First District and conservative priorities. I supported this legislation for several very important reasons.

First, as I have said many times before, I am committed to reining in our national debt and cutting up the credits in DC. Unfortunately, as we have seen in recent months and years, Washington's budget process is broken. We will never fix our out of control debt until we have a budget process that works. This agreement creates a select committee to change our broken budget process. I believe this is absolutely necessary and will move us in the right direction towards fiscal responsibility and solvency.

Next, as the proud representative of every branch of the military, I voted for this legislation because our troops, veterans, and military families deserve better. The budget agreement fully funds our military and ends the dangerous cycle of funding our national defense with short-term, stop-gap spending bills. It responsibly increases defense spending while unwinding the sequestration cuts which have crippled our armed forces.

For too long the brave men and women who serve our country have had to do more with less. Over the last 8 years, troop numbers and resources were slashed. Last year, we lost nearly four times as many service members due to accident and training incidents than we lost in combat. This is horrifying and completely unacceptable. This agreement finally makes our military and national security a priority again. Members of our military put their lives on the line for our country, we must provide the support to ensure they are the most well prepared and well equipped force on the planet. This legislation works to make that happen.

This agreement also includes a significant investment in American infrastructure. A strong investment in American infrastructure is a strong investment in the First District of Georgia. The funding directed to infrastructure in the budget agreement paves the way towards securing the vital resources we need for our ports. Now, I will fight to ensure this funding is used in the best possible way for the Ports of Brunswick and Savannah.

The agreement also works to reduce the intolerable backlog at the Department of Veterans Affairs which impacts so many of our veterans living here in Southeast Georgia.

It also includes an extension of the Nuclear Production Tax Credit. I fought to include this measure because it will drive down power costs for Georgians and increase access to electricty as construction continues at Plant Vogtle.

The agreement continues the repeal of Obamacare. It completely repeals Obamacare's Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB). Finally, we are eliminating this panel of unelected and unaccountable bureaucrats who have the ability to make arbitrary decisions about your health care and cuts to Medicare.

The budget agreement also provides emergency spending, includes an additionaly four-year extension of the Children's Health Insurance Program on top of the six-year extension we recently passed, and extends and modifies numerous Medicare and public health policies.

To be honest, this was not an easy vote for me. I truly wish this legislation would have gone much further to end Washington's out control spending addiction. However, I truly believe fixing Washington's broken budget process with the help of the committee created in this agreeement will put us on that path.

Again, while I wish this legislation would have done more to rein in out of control spending, I refuse to turn my back on our military, veterans, the repeal of Obamacare, our ports, and many more critical issues for the First District of Georgia.

From our Nation's capitol CXLIX

Monday, February 5, 2018: This past Saturday, I enjoyed attending the Friends of Coastal Gardens Wild Game and Fish Fry Fundraiser held at the Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens in Savannah.

Rep. Carter at the Friends of Coastal Gardens Wild Game and Fish Fry

Located at the historic Bamboo Farms, the Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens includes an internationally known collection of bamboo as well as many rare and historic plants and trees. It also boasts one of the most dedicated and active group of volunteers and supporters that I have ever witnessed. Yesterday, I drove to Athens for a meeting this morning of the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy Advisory Board that I am honored to serve on. After hearing the State of the College address of my alma mater from Dean Svein Oie, who will be retiring as Dean of the College in the fall after many years of outstanding service, I head to Atlanta for my return trip to Washington. Once back at the Capitol, I head straight to our weekly Whip Team meeting where we hear from House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and House Homeland Security Chairman Mike McCaul (R-TX) on a bill they have introduced, the Securing America’s Future Act (H.R. 4760), dealing with the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and border security. Afterwards, I head to the House Chamber for our only vote series of the day before heading to a called GOP conference where we discuss the need for a continued funding bill to our federal budget to avoid another government shutdown this Friday morning at midnight.

Tuesday, February 6, 2018: Today begins with a meeting of the Doctor’s Caucus where we hear from Avik Roy with the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity (FREOPP) on his thoughts of how to control health care costs. Next, I head to another meeting of the GOP conference where we hear from House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes (R-CA) on the Intel Committee’s memo on Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) abuse that was released last week. Afterwards, I head to a members meeting of the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee where we have an update on the opioid crisis by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) personnel including Commissioner Scott Gottlieb. Next, I head to the House Chamber for our first vote series of the day and then head to my office for our weekly staff briefing.

Rep. Carter with Savannah-Chatham Board of Education President Jolene Byrne and Liberty County Board of Education member Dr. Yvette Keel

Later, I meet with Savannah-Chatham Board of Education President Jolene Byrne and Liberty County Board of Education member Dr. Yvette Keel to discuss education issues. Afterwards, I head to the House Chamber where I speak on the Common Sense Nutrition Act that is being debated. A link to my comments can be found here. Next, I head back to my office where I meet with University of Georgia (UGA) President Jere Morehead and UGA Vice President for Government Relations Griff Doyle before heading to the Energy and Commerce Committee meeting room for a group picture. Afterwards, I have a phone interview with the Savannah Morning News to discuss the 10^th anniversary of the Imperial Sugar explosion in Port Wentworth followed by a facetime interview with WTOC TV in Savannah to discuss issues relating to the Federal Bureau of Prisons. After meeting with representatives from the Agricultural Retailers Association, I meet with Mark Sundh, a student pharmacist from Chicago, who is in Washington doing a rotation with the American Pharmacist Association (APhA). My next meeting is with my good friend Col. Manny Haldopoulos, commander of the Georgia Air National Guard’s Air Dominance Center in Savannah. Afterwards, I head to the House Chamber where we have our second vote series of the day and stay in the chamber to speak on the Continuing Appropriations Act that is being debated. Next, I meet with the CEO of Egalet, a manufacturer of abuse-deterrent formulations, before heading back to the House Chamber for our third and final vote series of the day where we pass the Continuing Appropriations Act and send it to the Senate.

Rep. Carter with Col. Manny Haldopoulos

Wednesday, February 7, 2018: This morning I have the honor of speaking to the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) at their annual meeting here in Washington. After a series of coffees to meet with different organizations, I head back to my office for a meeting with constituents with the NRHA before meeting with representatives from MEAG, Oglethorpe Power and Georgia Power regarding the Continuing Appropriations Act and the Nuclear Production Tax Credits. Next, I head to yet another meeting of the GOP conference where we discuss the two year bipartisan budget agreement that has been proposed by House and Senate leadership, before meeting with Ways and Means Human Resources Subcommittee Chairman Adrian Smith (R-NE) to discuss the EQUIP Act that I am sponsoring. Afterwards, I head to my office for a Facetime interview with WTOC TV in Savannah to discuss the 10^th anniversary of the Imperial Sugar explosion before having a telephone call with representatives from General Services Administration (GSA) regarding the Savannah Courthouse Annex. Next, I head to the Heritage Foundation for a conservative conference they are hosting today and tomorrow in conjunction with the House Freedom Caucus and Republican Study Committee. Today, we have a member discussion after which we hear from Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin. Afterwards, I head back to the Capitol and the House Chamber where we have our third and final vote series of the day.

Rep. and Mrs. Carter at the National Prayer Breakfast

Thursday, February 8, 2018: Amy and I are up early this morning as we head to the annual National Prayer Breakfast at the Washington Hilton. This morning we are honored to hear from President Donald J. Trump as well as Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Cedric Richmond (D-LA) and Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R- LA). Rep. Richmond and Rep. Scalise are long-time friends and both play on their respective Congressional baseball teams. During the prayer breakfast they recount the horrible incident last spring when Rep. Scalise was shot by a gunman while at a Republican baseball practice and how their faith and friendship pulled them through. Once I’m back at the Capitol, I head to the House Chamber where we have our first vote series of the day before heading back to the Heritage Foundation where we continue our retreat. Among the sessions that we have today are a review of the proposed budget agreement, welfare and health care policy reform and President Trump’s conservative agenda. Later in the afternoon, I head back to the Capitol where we have our second and final vote series. As the countdown to midnight continues, all eyes are on the Senate as they are debating the bipartisan budget agreement and must pass it in order to avoid another government shutdown. As we head to bed, we are told by leadership to expect a vote between 3:00 and 5:00 a.m. tomorrow morning.

Friday, February 9, 2018: Although I stayed up till the wee hours following the debate in the Senate, I did manage to fall asleep for a few hours before the House is called back to order at 3:30 a.m. As bleary-eyed Members of Congress assemble in the House Chamber we have our first vote series at 4:00 a.m. on the bipartisan budget agreement that has been amended in the Senate and sent back to us followed by debate on the rule.

Rep. Carter at the Savannah Women of Vision Recognition Ceremony

Our second and final vote series is at 5:15 a.m. where we pass the act and send it to the President for his signature and, after a brief shutdown overnight that most Americans don’t even notice, the federal government is opened again at least through March 22^nd. Once I’m finally home at 2:00 p.m., I have an interview with WTOC TV in Savannah before heading to WJCL TV for another interview. Later in the afternoon, I attend the Savannah College of Art and Design’s (SCAD) Savannah Women of Vision Recognition Ceremony where the 2018 honorees are Miriam Center, Edna Jackson, Mary Lane Morrison, Fredericka Washington and Sema Wilkes. All are very well deserving of this honor.

VOTES IN THE HOUSE THIS WEEK

Click here for this week's vote sheet in the House.