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I was sworn into the 115th Congress this week with Amy by my side. Serving the First District of Georgia has been one of the greatest honors of my life and I am excited to continue this great responsibility in the next Congress.
Congressman Carter sworn into the 115th Congress |
In the new Congress, we have a tremendous and important opportunity to provide the leadership necessary to make government work for Georgians, and all Americans, not the other way around. I am ready to work diligently to reform our tax code, support our job creators, rein in Washington's out of control spending, secure our border, and bolster our military and national security. Also, we are already working on repealing and replacing Obamacare and our broken health care system.
This Congress, I was appointed to serve on the Committee on Energy and Commerce. The Committee on Energy and Commerce, the oldest standing legislative committee in the U.S. House of Representatives, is vested with responsibility for the nation's telecommunications, consumer protection, food and drug safety, public health research, environmental quality, energy policy, and interstate and foreign commerce.
I am thrilled to have the opportunity to use my knowledge and experience as a lifelong health care professional to create a better health care system for all Americans. Additionally, as the home of two of the fastest growing ports in the country, a recently-permitted LNG export facility, energy development, and Environmental Protection Agency Superfund sites, the Energy and Commerce Committee's work is of great importance to the First District of Georgia and the entire state. I can't wait to get to work on these issues that are so critical for our local jobs, economy, and environment.
Also this week, the House unanimously passed my legislation to provide transparency and accountability in the federal government. My bill, the GAO Access and Oversight Act, provides the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the Congressional watchdog, with enhanced tools to oversee federal programs and ensures GAO is able to obtain records in needs to audit, evaluate, and investigate federal agencies.
GAO's work is critical to protect taxpayer dollars and ensure the federal government is transparent and accountable. Unfortunately, federal agencies block GAO's investigations by failing to cooperate. This legislation ensures GAO is able to access what they need to conduct their investigations properly.
Finally, this week the House passed H. Res. 11 with my support to strongly oppose the Obama Administration's refusal to veto an anti-Israeli measure passed by the United Nationals Security Council. The measure passed by the UN condemns Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. It is shameful that the Obama Administration refused to veto this misguided resolution, abandoning our strongest ally in the Middle East when they need us the most.
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| From our Nation's Capitol XCV |
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Monday, January 2, 2017: After a wonderful holiday season filled with joyous memories of time with family and friends, I’m back in Washington today as we start a new Congress tomorrow. When I left Savannah this morning it was 76 degrees and sunny and when I get off the plane in Washington it’s a balmy 42 degrees and raining. Welcome back! Once back at the Capitol and settled in, we have our first staff meeting of the new year as we have time to catch up with each other and discuss the upcoming week. Most of the afternoon is spent in a Republican Conference organizational meeting as we debate and adopt rules for the 115th Congress. During the four hour meeting we consider 12 amendments that would change the rules from last year and confirm nominations by the Speaker for standing committees including the Committee on Ethics, Committee on House Administration and Committee on Rules.
Tuesday, January 3, 2017: Today we begin the 115th Congress. For me, it represents the end of my freshman term and the beginning of my sophomore term. As I observe the incoming freshmen and their family and friends who have joined them to show their support, I reflect back on two years ago when I was beginning my freshman term and remember the excitement of that very special moment. Although the only person to join me this time is my wonderful wife, Amy, the excitement and honor of representing the people of the First Congressional District of Georgia is just as meaningful. Once the session is called to order by the Clerk, we have a Quorum Call to make sure everyone is present followed by our first order of business which is to elect Paul D. Ryan (R-WS) as our Speaker. Each of the 435 members are called on to cast their vote for Speaker by a manual roll call vote and after the results are tallied and Speaker Ryan is declared the winner he is administered the oath of office by the longest continuous serving member of the House, Rep. John Conyers (D-MI). Once Speaker Ryan is sworn in, he administers the oath to the other 434 members in unison and the 115th Congress is now officially underway. Afterwards, Speaker Ryan administers the oath to support personnel including the Chaplain and Sergeant at Arms before we begin debate on H.R. 5, the rules package for the 115th Congress. Once the debate ends and H.R. 5 is passed, Amy and I grab a picture with Speaker Ryan to complete a very momentous day.
Wednesday, January 4, 2017: We are honored today to have as our special guest during our Republican Conference meeting, Vice President-Elect Mike Pence, along with other members of President-Elect Donald Trump’s team including Chief of Staff Reince Priebus and Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway. After briefly addressing the Conference, Vice President-Elect Pence, a former House member himself, answers questions from members. After the Conference, I stay in the Capitol for a budget briefing conducted by newly named Interim Budget Committee Chairman Diane Black (R-TN) as we discuss plans for the budget and reconciliation which we will use to repeal Obamacare. Afterwards, I head to the House Chamber where I deliver a one minute speech honoring retiring Bryan County Commission Chairman, and my good friend, Jimmy Burnsed. Next, I stay in the Chamber and preside as Speaker Pro tem during bill debate before stepping down to speak on a bill I am sponsoring, H.R. 72, the GAO and Oversight Act. After stopping by our first meeting of the year of the conservative Republican Study Committee (RSC), I head back to my office where I meet with staff to discuss health care issues.
Rep. Carter participates in a press conference to introduce the RSC's American Health Care Reform Act |
All afternoon, staff and I have been on pins and needles as we have been waiting to hear the results of Steering Committee assignments for the A committees. Finally, I get word that I am one of four members to be assigned to the Energy and Commerce Committee that we have been working so hard on for the past two years. As I call staff together to tell them the good news and thank them for their efforts, I am reminded that this is definitely a team sport and I am thankful to have such great people working with me. After a short celebration, I head to the Congressional Visitors Center for a press conference on the rollout of the RSC’s American Health Care Reform Act before heading to the House Chamber for our first vote series of the day.
Thursday, January 5, 2017: After a very busy and eventful day yesterday, my first order of business today is a very special event as I head to the House Chamber to join my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in a reading of the Constitution of the United States. Each member is given a section to read as we are introduced by the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), and read the entire document. Later, we have our first vote series of the day followed by another budget briefing. Our second and final vote series is later in the afternoon as we pass H.R. 11, objecting to United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334 as an obstacle to Israeli-Palestinian peace.
Friday, January 6, 2017: After a very long and exciting week, we have yet another Republican Conference meeting this morning where we discuss a number of things including how to message our plan of repealing and replacing Obamacare. Our only other responsibility today is certainly an important one as we have a Joint Session of Congress to ratify the electoral college votes of the presidential election. After we are adjourned into session by Speaker Paul Ryan, the Senate is invited in and the proceedings are led by Vice President Joe Biden, who also serves as President of the Senate. Two Senators and two Representatives, one from each party, are handed each state's results of the election and the electoral votes are announced and accepted by the Vice President. In order to object to any state's results, a member must have a formal written objection signed by at least one House Member and one Senator. Although a number of results are challenged by House Members of the Minority Party and have a House Member’s signature, no Senator signs onto any objection, therefore the Vice President rules them out of order. After the procedure is completed and the electoral votes are ruled official, there are three separate incidents of protests in the House Gallery before each of the protestors are removed from the gallery. This is the last official procedure to be completed and Donald J. Trump and Mike Pence are officially the next President and Vice President of the United States of America. |
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