Investigating the World Health Organization
This week I introduced legislation to direct the Secretaries of State and Health and Human Services to investigate the World Health Organization (WHO) for the following:
  • the failures of the WHO to address the spread of the virus responsible for COVID–19;
  • the extent to which the WHO withheld information from Member States of the United Nations relating to such spread;
  • the accuracy of infection data published by the WHO relating to such spread;
  • the relationship between the WHO and the People’s Republic of China;
  • the role of the WHO in covering-up such spread in the People’s Republic of China; and
  • any other systemic failure of the WHO, as determined appropriate by the Secretary of State for inclusion in the report.
Thousands of Americans have died and millions of Americans have lost their jobs. If the WHO would have done their job, the world could have better prepared to prevent the spread and taken action much sooner. Instead, the WHO covered-up for China and their suppression of the truth. Plain and simple, the WHO failed and now the entire world is paying for it. I introduced this legislation because the American people deserve answers and Congress must hold the WHO accountable.

I spoke to Fox News about the legislation. Click here to see more. 

The New Fleet of C-130Js
I joined U.S. Senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler this week to urge the Pentagon to consider Savannah as home to a new fleet of C-130Js. In a letter to Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett, we encouraged the Air Force to select the 165th Airlift Wing (AW) to transition to C-130Js. Click here to see our request.

this week on buddy's briefing
This week on Buddy's Briefing we discuss how the Paycheck Protection Program is working for small businesses in the First District, the legislation I introduced this week to investigate the World Health Organization and more. 

from our nation's capitol CCLXIV
Monday, April 27, 2020:  After arriving at our Savannah office this morning, my first conference call is with bankers from the First Congressional District along with Georgia Bankers Association CEO Joe Brannen.  My special guest for this conference call is Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO) who is the ranking member on the Consumer Protection and Financial Institutions Subcommittee of the Financial Services Committee.  Rep. Luetkemeyer has over 30 years of banking experience as both a banker and regulator and has extensive knowledge of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief & Economic Security (CARES) Act.  During the call the bankers raise a concern about a Treasury Department bulletin related to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) that had been posted late last week and was very confusing and misleading.  After the call, Rep. Luetkemeyer is able to immediately raise the issue with the Treasury Department and they promptly rescind their bulletin and replace it with one that is simpler and clearer. A link to a video detailing this situation can be found here.  Next, I have our all-staff conference call and afterwards I record a video celebrating May as Teacher Appreciation Month.  A link to this video can be found here. Next, I record a video announcing a resolution that I have signed to establish a bipartisan, bicameral joint select committee to investigate the origins of COVID-19 and China’s handling of the virus.  A link to this video can be found here. 

Rep. Carter at St. Joseph/Candler Hospital
Afterwards, I have a conference call with the CEO of BrightSpring Health, a company that operates in all 50 states providing in-home health care, to learn of their challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Next, I have a conference call with the Georgia Motor Coach Operators Association, a group that has been devastated by the pandemic.  Afterwards, I head to St. Joseph/Candler Hospital on Reynolds Street in Savannah where I am led on a tour and witness the outstanding work these health care heroes are providing during this pandemic.  We are truly blessed to have outstanding hospitals throughout the First District and St. Joseph/Candler has done an outstanding job adapting and preparing for the worst case scenario during this pandemic.  My last conference call of the day is a GOP policy call where we discuss China and supply chain issues.

Tuesday, April 28, 2020:  After our daily all-staff conference call, I head to UPS headquarters on Sonny Perdue Drive in Garden City where I film a video thanking the drivers, packers and other workers for their work during this pandemic.  A link to my video can be found here.  Afterwards, I head to our Savannah office where I am the guest speaker via Zoom at the Liberty County Rotary Club’s weekly meeting.  After bringing them up to date on the CARES Act and what might follow in Congress, I answer their questions before jumping on an Energy and Commerce (E&C) Committee task force conference call.  Rep. Greg Walden, ranking member of the committee, has appointed me to this task force that has the responsibility of reviewing proposals for proxy voting and virtual committee meetings that are being offered by the majority party in the House.  Next, I have an interview with a local Girl Scout who is working on a project for her group and afterwards I head to Waycross in Ware County.  During the drive, I have an E&C conference call with Department of Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette to discuss oil markets and approaches to addressing the current situation.  Once in Waycross, I head to Robbie Roberson Ford on Memorial Drive where I film a good news video with Robbie to discuss his experience with the PPP and the impact it has had on his business.  A link to my video can be found here. 

Rep. Carter celebrating Ware County Commissioner Burton Carter
Next, I head to the Deenwood Baptist Church parking lot where I join a vehicle lineup for a surprise birthday parade for my good friend, Ware County Commissioner Burton Carter.  With Burton and his family sitting in lawn chairs in the front yard, about 30 vehicles parade out front with happy birthday wishes.

Wednesday, April 29, 2020:  After our daily all-staff conference call, I head to the Savannah office where I have a conference call with a group of health care companies to discuss the CARES Act and gain their insight on how the program is working.  Next, I speak to the Chatham Region Traffic Incident Management team via webex to bring them up to date with what we have done in Congress to address the pandemic and what might be coming next. 

Rep. Carter speaks with the Chatham Region Traffic Incident Management team
Afterwards, I have a GOP member call with Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar to discuss rural health care funding and the agencies plans to address this issue.  Next, I have an E&C member conference call where we hear from Chris Cox, Deputy Assistant to President Trump for the Office of Legislative Affairs, before having a conference call with officers of the Georgia Chapter of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) to hear their concerns for their members.  Afterwards, I head to Darien in McIntosh County where I record a good news video with the manager of Skipper’s Fish Camp to hear his experiences with the PPP.  A link to my video can be found here.  Next, I head to Coconut Kev’s in Townsend in McIntosh County where I record another good news video with the owner to hear his experiences with the Emergency Economic Injury Grant (EEIG) that is part of the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL).  A link to the video can be found here.  My final stop of the day is at Clay’s Sapelo Station in Townsend where I record yet another good news video with the owner who has been able to retain his employees through the pandemic thanks to the PPP.  A link to the video can be found here. 

Thursday, April 30, 2020:  I join in on our daily all-staff conference call this morning during my drive to Nahunta in Brantley County where I volunteer at Brantley Middle School as School Superintendent Dr. Kim Morgan and her fine staff are preparing over 1000 meals today to send out via school buses.  Operating out of four different stations, the staff has the system down to a fine science and the nutritious meals are assembled and put on the buses for delivery. 

Rep. Carter at Brantley Middle School
Afterwards, I head to Folkston in Charlton County to the Charlton Board of Education offices where I have an E&C bipartisan member call with National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Dr. Francis Collins who brings us up to date on the agency’s efforts in response to the pandemic.  Next, I am honored to be the guest speaker via Zoom at the Savannah Downtown Rotary Club’s weekly meeting as I bring them up to date on our work in Congress to address the pandemic.  After a phone interview with Breitbart to discuss a bill I am introducing that directs the Secretaries of State and Health and Human Services to investigate the World Health Organization (WHO) and their involvement in conspiring with China to withhold information related to COVID-19, I visit with the Charlton school superintendent, high school principal, and two county commissioners to discuss their needs and plans to address the pandemic.  After a meeting with a constituent to discuss a social security issue, I meet with my good friends Jesse Crews and Kay Davis to discuss the federal relief they finally received as a result of the West Mims fire.  Next, I head to our Brunswick office and during the ride have a GOP Conference call where we hear from private sector companies that are developing therapeutics and vaccines for COVID-19.  Once at our Brunswick office, I have a Facebook Live where I review CARES 3.5 and answer questions.  Before heading back home to Pooler, I film a Census video and a Girl Scout video. A link to the Census video can be found here. 

Friday, May 1, 2020:  My morning starts with a conference call with my good friend, Augusta University President Dr. Brooks Keel, as he brings me up to date on the great work the state’s medical school has done in addressing the pandemic, including developing a test early on that produced results in 48 hours as well as developing an app that can be used at no charge by anyone in Georgia that connects a patient with a provider for an initial visit to determine if they need a COVID-19 testing referral.  After our daily all-staff conference call, I have a Whip Team conference call where we hear from restaurant owners from across the country as they share their experiences during the pandemic and what it is going to take to get their businesses back open.  Next, I head to our Savannah office where I have an E&C Committee member conference call to discuss the CARES Act before having an E&C task force conference call.  After a bipartisan conference call with members of Congress and Administration officials, I have an E&C Health and Oversight Subcommittee members call where we hear from Dr. Anne Schuchat, Principal Deputy Director of the CDC.  Next, I have a phone interview with Fox News to discuss my WHO bill before having a phone call with my colleague from Puerto Rico, Rep. Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon (R-PR), to discuss legislation I am sponsoring to repatriate pharmaceutical companies back to the U.S.

 
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