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This week, Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, and the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response testified before our Health Subcommittee on the Energy and Commerce Committee about the coronavirus.
During the hearing, Secretary Azar confirmed that health officials are doing everything they can to prepare for a potential outbreak in the United States, he believes they have the monetary resources needed to address the situation, and that they will come to Congress for any additional resources needed.
I am confident that the Administration is doing everything they can to prepare our country. Remember, there is no reason to panic, just prepare. For more information on COVID-19, click here.
I also discussed the coronavirus response on Fox News this week.
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| This week on BUddy's Briefing |
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This week on Buddy's Briefing we discuss the coronavirus and tobacco-related legislation on the House floor this week. Click here to catch up on the latest episode.
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| From our Nation's Capitol CCLV |
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Monday, February 24, 2020: It’s election season and soon each party will have their district and state conventions to prepare for the elections. On Saturday, I attended the Chatham County GOP meeting in Savannah where we elected delegates for the convention and afterwards, I headed down to Brunswick in Glynn County for their Keep America Great Celebration at the Exchange Club Fairgrounds. On Sunday, we had our annual Congressional Art Competition reception at the Fine Arts Center at the Armstrong Campus of Georgia Southern University (GSU) in Savannah. Since 1982, the Congressional Institute has sponsored a nationwide high school visual art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the nation and in each Congressional district. With the help of the gallery director for GSU, Armstrong Campus, Raymond Gaddy, we determined that this year’s winners are second runner up Mi-Lynn Mok from New Hampstead High School, first runner up Kenny Odom from Savannah Country Day School and overall winner Ava Burr from Savannah Arts Academy.
Rep. Carter with students from the Congressional Art Competition |
I’m in our Savannah office this morning and my first visit is with representatives from F&W Forestry, a multinational company based in Georgia that manages over 120,000 acres of working forestland in the First Congressional District. Next, I have a meeting with a constituent who is concerned about capital gains taxes and the Savannah-Chatham County School System elementary schools followed by a meeting with a representative from the Salvation Army in Savannah regarding capital and program enhancements to serve the residents of Savannah and the Coastal Empire in the future. After traveling to the mid-town area to meet with a representative from the American Dental Association, I return to our Savannah office where I speak to a public policy class at Georgia Southern University via Skype regarding immigration policy. Afterwards, I have a phone interview with WJCL TV in Savannah to discuss a visa situation involving a family in China that we are assisting with. Next, we have our weekly district conference call and afterwards I have a podcast interview with Pharmacy Podcast to discuss my work to lower prescription drug costs.
Tuesday, February 25, 2020: After a very early flight from Savannah this morning, I’m at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta to visit with legislators and other state officials. One of the things I have realized after serving in the Georgia State Legislature as well as at the federal level is how well the state system works. To think that someone can introduce a bill in the State Legislature, and have it pass through the House and Senate and signed into law in a 40-day session is foreign to anything that could happen at the federal level. After meeting with my former Senate colleagues at their morning meeting, I meet with Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan followed by a meeting with Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger before heading to the House Chamber then the Senate Chamber to address both groups. On the way to the Atlanta airport for my trip back to Washington, I have a conference call with Waypoint Strategic Advisors, a group of pharmacy executives to discuss pharmacy issues.
Rep. Carter meeting with the ONE Campaign |
Once back at the Capitol in Washington, I have a meeting with the Georgia Rural Community Assistance Partnership followed by the Georgia Space Grant Consortium. My next meeting is with the Georgia Broadcasters Association before meeting with representatives from the ONE Campaign. After traveling off of Capitol Hill to meet with the National Association of Health Underwriters I return to the Hill for our weekly Whip Team meeting.
Wednesday, February 26, 2020: My morning starts with a Doctors Caucus meeting where we discuss surprise billing followed by an Energy and Commerce (E&C) Committee member meeting where we hear from Andrew Wheeler, Administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Afterwards, I head back to my office where we have our weekly DC staff briefing before I meet with representatives from Georgia Bio. Next, I meet with representatives from the Georgia Credit Union Association followed by the American Association of State Highway Transportation.
Rep. Carter meeting with the Georgia Credit Union Association |
Before heading to an E&C Health Subcommittee hearing on the fiscal year 2021 HHS budget and oversight of the coronavirus outbreak, I meet with representatives from the Georgia Association of Health Underwriters. As is often the case during committee hearings, we break during the meeting and head to the House Chamber for a vote series. After the vote series I head to the Capitol Steps where I take a picture with the Chatham Youth Commission who are in town visiting and are being chaperoned by none other than the Mayor of Savannah, Van Johnson. Next, I head back to the House Chamber where I pay tribute to Dr. Wesley Ball, a Savannah surgeon who recently passed. A link to my tribute can be found here.
Rep. Carter with the Chatham Youth Commission |
Once back at the E&C Health Subcommittee hearing, I have the opportunity to question our witness, Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), Alex Azar. A link to my questions can be found here. Once back in my office, I have a phone interview with WSAV TV in Savannah to discuss a family’s visa issue in China before having an interview with WTOC TV in Savannah to discuss an Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) company in Hinesville that is no longer providing Tricare ABA services. My final meeting of the day is our weekly GOP Conference which is held in the Congressional Visitors Center (CVC).
Thursday, February 2, 2020: I’m in an E&C Environment Subcommittee hearing this morning as we hear from EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler who is here to discuss the FY21 EPA budget. A link to my questions can be found here. Afterwards, I head back to my office for a meeting with E&C Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Rep. Mike Burgess (R-TX) before heading to the Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee room to speak before the committee on the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). A link to my comments can be found here.
Rep. Carter with members of the Georgia Wing of the Civil Air Patrol |
Afterwards, I head to the Whip meeting room at the Capitol where I film this week’s edition of Buddy’s Briefing before heading to the House Chamber for our only vote series of the day. Afterwards, I stay in the House Chamber and pay tribute to the 87th Combat Battalion for their participation in Operation Atlantic Resolve. A link to my tribute can be found here. Next, I head back to my office where I am the guest on the Transportation Alliance Podcast to discuss my legislation dealing with Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT). My last two meetings of the day are in my office with members of the Georgia Wing of the Civil Air Patrol followed by a meeting with Dr. Christopher Basler, Director of the Georgia State University Center for Microbial Pathogenesis.
Friday, February 28, 2020: This morning I attend yet another member briefing on the coronavirus as we again get the most up to date information from agency heads. The administration has done an excellent job of keeping Members of Congress apprised of this situation and I am impressed with the level of preparedness that we have here in the US. Afterwards, I head to the House Chamber where I deliver a tribute to three schools in our district that were winners in a regional reading competition. A link to my tribute can be found here.
Rep. Carter appears on Fox News |
Next, I head back to my office where I meet with William and Tracy Grisham from St. Simons Island who are visiting the Capitol this week followed by a meeting with Jaffrey Newbern from Brunswick who is representing the University of Maryland Global campus. After our last vote series of the week, I have a phone conference with Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) to discuss legislation before heading back to my office for two interviews with prospective staff members. Before heading out for the weekend, I have a live on-camera interview with Fox News to discuss the coronavirus. A link to my interview can be found here. |
| 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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