This week, we recognized National Police Week. Every year, we set aside this time to respect, honor, and remember the brave law enforcement officers who strap on their boots every day and wave goodbye to their families, knowing full well that they might not make it back.
Unfortunately, the current administration is not properly supporting our police officers, which is evident in the crime spike we are seeing nationwide. Already, 135 police officers have been shot this year, a 52% increase from 2020 according to the National Fraternal Order of Police. Our border patrol agents have been abandoned, too; during a record surge of illegal border crossings, including enough fentanyl seized to kill more than 3 billion people, the Biden administration allowed Title 42 to expire with no plan in place to help border patrol agents handle the transition.
Because of this chaos and violence, this year’s National Police Week was especially important. After years of one-party democrat rule, it was refreshing to see several pro-law enforcement bills pass the House floor. We advanced a resolution expressing support for law enforcement officers and condemning the defund the police movement. We passed a bill making the assault of a police officer a deportable offense and the Federal Law Enforcement Officer Service Weapon Purchase Act, which you can read about here.
I had the honor of introducing a bill with Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) that empowers local police to enforce our immigration laws. Let me be clear: it shouldn’t have to be this way. Our border patrol agents should have the resources and support they need so that local police are not dealing with the impacts of illegal immigration in their hometowns. But, under this president, every city is a border city, and this crisis has become an all-hands-on-deck situation. Washington shouldn’t be the reason why a violent criminal, who is here illegally, is allowed to roam the streets of Georgia freely.
I am proud of Georgia’s law enforcement officers and will always defend (not defund!) them. Thank you for your courage and sacrifice! |
In this week's edition of Buddy's Briefing, we're talking about the Durham Report, which showed that we have multiple systems of justice in this country. |
Monday, May 15, 2023: This past Saturday morning, I stopped by the 8th Annual Chipping for Charity Golf Tournament held at the Crosswinds Golf Course at the Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport and sponsored by the Pooler Lions Club. This great event benefits Pooler and surrounding area charities, community outreach and projects.
Afterwards, I headed down to the annual Brunswick Blessing of the Fleet held at Mary Ross Waterfront Park and sponsored by the City of Brunswick and Downtown Development Authority. This is a great event that includes a festival with fabulous food, music, and family entertainment.
From there, I headed to Waycross where I attended the celebration of life of Susan Lott Clark, one of Waycross and the First District’s most distinguished citizens who passed recently at the age of 98. Her obituary, found here, describes the fascinating life she lived.
Once back in Pooler, I was honored to attend the Above and Beyond Legacy Ball at the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force as we welcomed Catherine Wyler, daughter of Memphis Belle director William Wyler, as she talked about the importance and role of Hollywood in World War II.
I’m up early and at the airport this morning as I travel to Atlanta for a luncheon with my good friend and former House colleague, Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN). While serving in the House, Marsha and I served on the Energy & Commerce (E&C) Committee together and continue to work on legislation together in our respective chambers.
Later, on the way back to the airport to fly up to Washington, I join in on an all staff conference call. Once back at the Capitol, I head directly to our weekly Whip Team meeting before heading to the Rayburn Room next to the House Chamber for a press conference led by Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) on Backing the Blue in honor of National Police week.
Next, I head to the House Chamber for our first vote series of the week and afterwards remain in the chamber to pay tribute to Rev. William Willoughby of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Savannah on his retirement. |
Rep. Carter at Lions Club Golf Tournament |
Tuesday, May 16, 2023: I’m up early again this morning and off Capitol Hill at the C-SPAN studios as I have a live interview on the Washington Journal and afterwards answer questions from callers.
Once back on Capitol Hill, I head to our weekly GOP Conference meeting where the main topic of discussion is the debt ceiling negotiations. Then, I head back to my office where I have a scheduling meeting with staff before having a legislative staff meeting to preview our committee work this week.
Next, I have a meeting with staff from the E&C Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee staff to discuss privacy legislation that is being proposed before heading off Capitol Hill to the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) where I film a public service announcements on suicide prevention and mental health awareness.
Once back in my office, I have a meeting with E&C Communications and Technology (C&T) Subcommittee staff to discuss tomorrow’s markup before heading to the House Chamber for our first and only vote series of the day. Returning to my office, I have a series of meetings beginning with members of the Georgia Agriculture Society, including Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper as well as Senators Russ Goodman and Sam Watson and Representative Robert Dickey, AHRI Trade Association, Motorcycle Riders Foundation, National Fisheries Institute Future Leaders, Walker Leadership Scholars from the University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy, and the Independent Community Bankers Association.
After an in-person interview with Axios to discuss pharmacy legislation I am involved with, I meet with my former colleague and good friend, Dave Trott (R-MI) who is in town visiting before meeting with my former Georgia State Senate colleague and good friend Sen. John Albers (R-Atlanta) who is in town advocating for the Living Donor Protection Act of 2023. After a series of meetings off Capitol Hill, I head back to the Capitol where I lead a nighttime tour for a group of visiting pharmacists. |
Rep. Carter meets with Georgia Agricultural Leaders |
Wednesday, May 17, 2023: After a meeting off Capitol Hill this morning, I return to the Capitol for what turns out to be one of the busiest committee markup days that I have ever had in Washington. We begin with an E&C Health Subcommittee markup in the morning where we have 17 bills that we mark up followed by an E&C C&T markup in the afternoon where we mark up 31 bills. In between the markups and during breaks I meet with CSX employees, Bentley systems, Rinnai Corporation, Col. Joseph Geary and staff from the Savannah District Corps of Engineers, Georgia Mosquito Control Association, Georgia Society of Anesthesiologists, American Association for Justice, American Hotel and Lodging Association, and HARDI.
Votes are held later in the afternoon and afterwards I remain in the House Chamber and pay tribute to Veronica Sierzant from Islands High School in Savannah who is the first person to win the Hollis Stacy award three years in a row.
Next, I head to a member dinner with the Taiwanese President of the Legislature, YOU Si-kun, who is in town visiting. |
Rep. Carter speaks in favor of H.R. 1613 at E&C Health Subcommittee Markup |
Thursday, May 18, 2023: Once again I’m up early this morning as I am live on the John Fredericks TV show as we discuss the latest developments on the debt ceiling negotiations and other news of the day.
After an E&C member breakfast to review a record setting week where we passed 48 bills in one day out of the subcommittees, I have a radio interview with my good friend Scott Ryfun in Brunswick to discuss news of the day. Following a House Conservatives Fund meeting off Capitol Hill, I head back to my office where I meet with Lineage Logistics before having a legislative staff meeting and then heading to the House Chamber for votes.
After votes, I remain in the House Chamber and pay tribute to Fred Alexander from Brunswick who recently passed before heading to my office and then to the Department of Justice on Pennsylvania Ave where I record this week’s edition of Buddy’s Briefing. Afterwards, I head to the airport where I fly to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where I am the special guest of Rep. Stephanie Bice (R-OK) for a visit with oil and gas executives in her district. |
Rep. Carter meets with Southern Crop Preservers Association |
Friday, May 19, 2023: After a great radio interview this morning with my good friend Martha Zoller in Gainesville, GA, to discuss news of the day, I head to downtown Oklahoma City where I meet with representatives from Continental Resources, a top 10 independent oil producer in the U.S. and a leader in America’s energy renaissance.
Next, I head to the headquarters of Devon Energy, a leading independent oil and natural gas exploration and production company whose focus is primarily offshore. After a great meeting, I meet with representatives from EightTwenty, a solar energy company that, interestingly, gets their name from the fact that light from the sun travels at 670 million miles per hour, taking eight minutes and twenty seconds to reach the earth. Next, I meet with representatives from ONEOK, a leading midstream service provider and owner of one of the nation’s premier natural gas liquids (NGL) systems that connects supply lines throughout the country. My final meeting is with OG&E, a company that generates and delivers electricity to over 887,000 electric customers in the state. |
Click here for this week's vote sheet in the House. |
|
