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RELEASE: Carter welcomes new 14-day red snapper season following efforts to expand fishing access

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 17:48:36 GMT

For Immediate Release

September 22, 2026

Phone: (202) 809-5889

Carter welcomes new 14-day red snapper season following efforts to expand fishing access

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) today welcomed NOAA Fisheries’ announcement of a new 14-day recreational red snapper fishing season for eligible Georgia anglers from October 9 through October 22, 2026.

The announcement follows efforts led by Rep. John Rutherford (R-FL), alongside Carter and other South Atlantic lawmakers, to expand recreational fishing access after litigation halted the states’ planned summer seasons.

“Georgia’s fishermen deserve greater access to the waters they know best, and this 14-day season is an important step forward,” said Rep. Carter. “I want to thank Congressman John Rutherford for his leadership on this issue, along with President Trump, Secretary Lutnick, NOAA, Governor Kemp, and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for their work to get our anglers back on the water. I’m proud to have worked alongside them to fight for our fishermen and coastal communities, and we’re going to keep pushing for even greater access.”

In June 2025, Carter led members of Georgia’s House Republican delegation in urging Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to support efforts by Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina to secure greater authority over recreational red snapper management.

Under NOAA’s newly issued permits, eligible Georgia anglers will have access to the October 9–22 season. NOAA and participating states will review harvest data afterward to determine whether an additional fishing opportunity may be available in December.

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PRESS RELEASE: Carter Announces $12 Million for Tybee Island Beach Renourishment

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 20:00:00 GMT

For Immediate Release

September 16, 2026

Contact: Preston McGee

Phone: (202) 809-5889

CARTER ANNOUNCES $12 MILLION FOR TYBEE ISLAND BEACH RENOURISHMENT

TYBEE ISLAND, GA. – Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) today announced that Tybee Island will receive $12,000,742 in U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Construction funding for beach renourishment, supporting continued efforts to protect Tybee Island’s shoreline, infrastructure, and coastal community.

“Tybee Island is one of Georgia’s greatest treasures, and protecting this community and our coastline has always been a top priority of mine. This $12 million investment will help ensure Tybee’s beaches remain protected, resilient, and ready to withstand the storms and coastal threats that come our way. I am proud to have worked alongside our local, state, and federal partners to continue delivering the resources Tybee Island needs, and I will keep fighting to protect Georgia’s coast for generations to come,” said Rep. Carter.

The $12 million federal contribution will be combined with $8 million contributed by the City of Tybee Island, Chatham County, and the State of Georgia, which combined will allow the Corps to complete a long-planned $20 million nourishment project that will place more than 1.3 million cubic yards of sand on Tybee's beach this winter.

"This announcement is a huge relief for the people of Tybee Island and across Coastal Georgia and the State of Georgia. We can't thank Congressman Carter enough for his tireless advocacy on behalf of all of us," said Tybee Island Mayor Brian West. "Since 1974 we have partnered with the federal government to complete a beach nourishment every seven years, and given the current state of erosion the timing of this project is more critical than ever. This announcement allows the project to continue on schedule, supporting a $200 million economy, critical sea turtle nesting grounds, and our primary protection from ocean storms."

"Across America, communities shouldn't face storm risks while federal funds sit trapped on completed projects. Through our BINP initiative, Army Civil Works freed up $100 million in surplus capital to advance high-priority projects nationwide - including $12 million in shoreline protection for Tybee Island. We are committed to advancing infrastructure projects while safeguarding taxpayer dollars," said Mr. Lee Forsgren, Senior Official Performing the Duties of Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works.

The $12,000,742 in Construction funding is being provided through a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reprogramming action for beach renourishment on Tybee Island. The Tybee Island Shoreline Protection Project is a longstanding federal-local partnership that helps reduce coastal storm damage and protect the island’s beaches, infrastructure, and community. The additional funding comes as the existing authorization for the project approaches its expiration, making continued federal support for Tybee Island a priority for Rep. Carter.

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PRESS RELEASE: Carter, Walkinshaw Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Increase Transparency in Medicare Telehealth

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 19:11:59 GMT

For Immediate Release

September 14, 2026

Contact: Preston McGee

Phone: (202) 809-5889

Carter, Walkinshaw Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Increase Transparency in Medicare Telehealth

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA), a pharmacist, today joined Rep. James R. Walkinshaw (D-VA) in introducing the bipartisan Telehealth Reporting and Transparency Act of 2026, legislation to provide Congress and the public with reliable annual data on how Medicare beneficiaries are using telehealth, where access gaps remain, and how taxpayer dollars are being protected from fraud, waste, and abuse.

“Telehealth has transformed the way millions of seniors access care, especially in rural communities where patients may live hours from the nearest provider,” said Rep. Carter. “As Medicare continues to embrace telehealth, Congress needs reliable data to ensure these services are reaching the patients who need them while protecting taxpayer dollars from fraud, waste, and abuse. This bipartisan legislation will give policymakers and the public greater transparency without placing new burdens on the physicians and practitioners caring for our seniors.”

“Telehealth can be a lifeline when getting to a doctor is difficult, especially for seniors, people with disabilities, and patients in rural communities. It also gives patients greater flexibility to manage chronic conditions, access behavioral health services, and receive routine follow-up care,” said Rep. Walkinshaw. “Congress should not shape the future of telehealth in the dark. I’m proud to work alongside Congressman Buddy Carter on this bipartisan effort to show what is working, where access gaps remain, and where taxpayer dollars may be at risk, without adding another layer of paperwork for physicians and other practitioners.”

The Telehealth Reporting and Transparency Act of 2026 would require the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to issue an annual report examining Medicare telehealth utilization, patient access, available health outcomes, provider participation, and program integrity.

The legislation requires CMS to rely exclusively on information it already collects and prohibits the agency from imposing new reporting or administrative requirements on physicians and practitioners. CMS would also establish a public, searchable dashboard displaying aggregated Medicare telehealth data. It does not expand or restrict Medicare telehealth coverage, change payment policies, or alter patient eligibility. It also directs the Government Accountability Office to evaluate the reporting framework and recommend potential improvements.

The bill text is available here.

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Rep. Carter, Southern Healthcare Collaborative announce HHS grants for Rural Health Services

Mon, 24 Aug 2026 20:30:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) today released the following statement after joining Southern Healthcare Collaboration leaders and local officials in Baxley to announce new federal funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

“Every Georgian deserves access to quality health care, no matter their ZIP code. As a pharmacist who spent more than 30 years serving patients in South Georgia, I know how critical our rural health care providers are to the communities they serve. This investment will strengthen our health care workforce, support local providers, and help ensure South Georgians can get the quality care they deserve close to home,” said Rep. Carter.

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Carter votes to SAVE and Protect America with Reconciliation 3.0

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 21:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) today released the following statement after the House passed the SAVE and Protect America Act framework, unlocking the reconciliation process:

“Democrats have said the quiet part out loud - they can’t win without noncitizen votes. The SAVE and Protect America Act will secure our elections, making sure illegal aliens can’t decide the outcome, and defend our troops so they can finish the job in Iran and come home. In the face of Democrats’ obstructionism, House Republicans are advancing President Trump’s agenda, on behalf of the American people, and delivering wins for our democracy and national security while supporting farmers.”

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Carter votes to ban insider trading for lawmakers

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 20:55:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) today voted in favor of the Stop Insider Trading Act.

Rep. Carter is an original co-sponsor of the legislation, which helps restore Americans' faith and trust in government by prohibiting Members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children from purchasing publicly traded stocks and enacting much-needed federal voter ID laws to secure our elections.

“This bill helps ensure incoming Members of Congress are here to represent the people and serve the public, not their pocketbooks, and to safeguard the integrity of our election system,” said Rep. Carter.

The Stop Insider Trading Act would:

Ban Members, their spouses, and their dependent children from purchasing a security issued by a publicly traded company.

Require Members of Congress to file a public notice at least 7 days, but no more than 14 days, in advance for each intended sale with the Clerk of the House of Representatives.

Require the House Ethics Committee to (1) issue a fee equal to $2,000 or 10% of the value of the covered investment, whichever is greater, and the net gain realized from the sale, and (2) any net gain realized from the transaction during a specified period.

Require voters to show a photo ID when casting a ballot in a federal election and require absentee and mail-in voters to attach a copy of their ID to their mail-in ballot.

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Carter secures $346.1 million for GA-01 in House-passed defense bill

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 20:30:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) today secured $346.1 million for Georgia’s First Congressional District in the House-passed National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which heads to the Senate for consideration.

The NDAA includes $130 million in new funding for Kings Bay Naval Base for the Trident Refit Facility Expansion project to build the infrastructure needed to maintain the more advanced incoming Columbia-class nuclear-powered submarines.

“As the world’s premier fighting force, the United States military must have the resources necessary to remain second to none. To deliver on that promise, I fought to secure funding for our local military bases to support and expand critical infrastructure,” said Rep. Carter. “I am proud to have advocated for and supported legislation that strengthens Georgia’s First District military community, raises service members’ pay, improves barracks, and removes wokeness from our Armed Forces and refocuses on readiness and lethality.”

In addition to a 5 to 7 percent pay increase for all service members, the funding for Georgia’s First Congressional District includes:

$130 million for Kings Bay Trident Refit Facility Expansion
$11.2 million for Kings Bay Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition Modernization (extended)
$74.5 million for Kings Bay Electrical Transmission and Distribution Improvements (extended)
$105 million for Fort Stewart barracks (extended)
$25.4 million for Hunter Army Airfield and Fort Stewart joint grid power generation (extended)

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Carter urges FCC to review broadcast licenses after refusal to air Presidential address

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 14:20:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr urging him to review ABC and NBC’s broadcast licenses.

The letter comes after the broadcasters refused to air President Donald Trump’s July 16 address on free, open airwaves.

In the letter, Rep. Carter writes, “Refusing to air a major presidential address because executives disagree with its content raises serious concerns that they intended to keep Americans in the dark about potential foreign interference in our elections.”

Rep. Carter continues, “I therefore ask the FCC to review whether the decisions made by licensed stations owned or operated by these companies were consistent with their obligation to serve the public interest… The public airwaves should inform the American people, not be used by corporate executives to decide which matters of national importance they are permitted to hear.”

Read full letter here.

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Carter bill reducing unnecessary animal testing passes House

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 19:30:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) today celebrated the House passage of the FDA Modernization Act 3.0, a bill directing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to fully implement provisions to reduce unnecessary animal testing for drug development.

Each year in the United States, millions of animals – including an estimated 50,000 dogs – are used in laboratory experiments and testing. This bill would require the FDA to fully implement the FDA Modernization Act 2.0, ensuring that safe and effective treatments are developed using advanced, innovative non-animal testing methods when possible.

“The House passage of the FDA Modernization Act 3.0 marks a major step toward a more modern, effective, and humane system for evaluating medicines,” said Rep. Carter. “My bill will help update testing practices to reduce unnecessary animal harm, remove barriers to innovative, safe, and effective non-animal testing methods, and ensure the FDA’s implementation fully reflects both the law and today’s scientific capabilities.”

“Patients deserve access to the most advanced medical technology available. The FDA Modernization Act 3.0 ensures that drug testing reflects today's innovations, helping to bring promising healthcare to families faster without compromising safety through unnecessary reliance on animal testing,” said Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL). “As the Health Subcommittee Chairman of Ways and Means and the champion of the FDA Modernization Act 2.0, I am proud to see my bill's impact be reinforced by this critical piece of legislation.”

"This bill will transform drug development for the 21st century. By requiring full implementation of the FDA Modernization Act 3.0, this legislation ensures that developers use innovative, more effective testing methods throughout drug development, rather than relying on outdated and inhumane animal tests. It’s a win for patients, a win for innovation, and a win for animal welfare. I’m proud to champion this bipartisan measure to accelerate safer, more humane, and more effective medical breakthroughs,” said Rep. Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-LA).

“Today’s floor vote is another important step toward modernizing how we bring safe and effective drugs to market,” said Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-TN). “The FDA has the authority to move beyond outdated, cruel testing methods, and our bill simply directs the FDA to follow through and update its regulations accordingly. I’m proud to work alongside Congressman Buddy Carter and my colleagues to keep this bipartisan effort moving forward.”

"Four years ago, many people believed eliminating the archaic animal testing mandate in federal law was impossible. Today, Congress is completing that work, thanks in considerable part to the incredible leadership of Congressman Buddy Carter," said Wayne Pacelle, President, Center for a Humane Economy, Animal Wellness Action. "FDA Modernization Act 3.0 will help us fix a broken drug development system and stop putting dogs and primates through needless torment."

Read bill text here.

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WATCH: CARTER SPEAKS OUT AGAINST UNNECESSARY ANIMAL TESTING

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 17:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) today spoke on the House Floor in support of his bill, the FDA Modernization Act 3.0. This bipartisan legislation would bring the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) regulations into the 21st century by recognizing modern, safe, and effective alternatives to traditional animal testing when possible.

The bill requires the FDA to update outdated regulations to reflect current law, providing researchers with greater flexibility to use innovative nonclinical testing methods without compromising the agency's gold standard for drug safety and effectiveness.

Watch Rep. Carter’s floor remarks here:

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of my bill, H.R. 2821, the FDA Modernization Act 3.0, bipartisan legislation that ensures the FDA fully embraces modern science while reducing unnecessary animal testing.

Many of our families would feel incomplete without the pets and animals that bring unconditional love into our lives.

Yet every year, millions of animals, including dogs, man's best friend, are still subjected to testing in the development of new medicines.

As policymakers, we have a responsibility to protect those who cannot protect themselves.

That responsibility includes embracing scientific innovation that can reduce unnecessary animal suffering while continuing to deliver safe and effective treatments to patients.

In 2022, Congress took an important first step by passing the FDA Modernization Act 2.0.

I was proud to help lead that effort.

That law gave drug developers the ability to use modern, scientifically validated alternatives to traditional animal testing when appropriate.

Congress made its intent clear.

We wanted to encourage more effective, more humane, and more innovative approaches to drug development.

Unfortunately, the previous administration failed to fully implement the law.

Without clear implementation, too many researchers have lacked the certainty they need, and too many animals continue to be used in testing that modern science can increasingly replace.

H.R. 2821 ensures the FDA finally carries out the will of Congress.

This bill is not about lowering standards. It is about raising them.

Today's researchers have access to technologies that simply did not exist a generation ago.

Advanced human cell models. Organ-on-a-chip technology. Artificial intelligence and computational modeling.

These innovative tools have the potential to better predict how medicines will perform in humans while reducing reliance on animal testing.

Our laws should reflect the science of today, not the science of decades past.

Modernizing drug development doesn't just benefit animals. It benefits patients.

By providing greater clarity and encouraging the use of validated alternative methods, we can help make the drug development process more efficient.

That means fewer unnecessary delays and more innovation.

And ultimately, that means lifesaving treatments can reach patients more quickly without compromising the FDA's rigorous standards for safety and effectiveness.

This is a commonsense, bipartisan bill. It reflects a simple principle.

We can advance medical innovation while improving animal welfare.

Those goals are not in conflict. In fact, they go hand in hand.

Mr. Speaker, the FDA Modernization Act 3.0 fulfills the promise Congress made when we passed FDA Modernization Act 2.0.

It ensures that modern science is fully incorporated into our regulatory process.

It helps reduce unnecessary animal testing and strengthens American medical innovation.

And it helps bring new therapies to patients more efficiently.

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2821, the FDA Modernization Act 3.0.”

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