Folks, I’m disappointed.
As you all know, Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), who I was proud to support as Speaker of the House, was removed from this position on Tuesday and will not seek reelection for House leadership. Eight members of my party voted with every single House Democrat to remove an effective, conservative leader from the speakership. It was sad day for our party and for the country.
I understand wanting to bring change to Washington, I do. We need to restore fiscal sanity and I appreciate my colleagues bringing attention to our nation’s $33 trillion in federal debt. But change without a plan is chaos, and I’m concerned that this move brought the latter to Washington instead.
Now, I want to make one thing clear: House Republicans have a deep bench of strong leaders who will deliver on the Commitment to America. Unlike House Democrats, ours is a big tent where people are free to disagree. But before this week’s upcoming race to replace the speaker, I wanted to recognize 23 achievements we made under Speaker McCarthy, the 55th Speaker of the House, in 2023:
- Reopened the People’s House
- Ended Proxy Voting
- Eliminated the Military Vaccine Mandate
- Restored Regular Order by Requiring 72 Hours to Read a Bill
- Voted to Repeal Biden’s Army of IRS Agents
- Established the Bipartisan China Select Committee
- Restored Integrity to the Intelligence Committee
- Terminated the COVID National Emergency
- Voted to Stop the Selling of Our Emergency Oil Reserves to China
- Created a Select Committee to Expose the Truth of COVID’s Origins
- Took Action to Block Biden’s WOTUS Rule
- Created a Select Committee to Stop the Weaponization of Government
- Nullified DC’s Soft-on-Crime Law
- Voted to Unleash America’s Energy Independence, the Lower Energy Costs Act (H.R. 1)
- Passed the Strongest Border Security Bill in a Generation, the Secure the Border Act (H.R. 2)
- Voted to Give Every Parent the Right to Have a Say in Their Children’s Education, the Parents Bill of Rights (H.R. 5)
- Secured the Largest Deficit Reduction in History
- Reformed Permitting Regulations for the First Time in 40 years
- Enacted Welfare Work Requirements to Lift People Out of Poverty
- Clawed Back Billions of Taxpayer Dollars in Unspent COVID Funds
- Voted to Give Troops Their Biggest Pay Raise in Decades
- Fully Funded Veterans’ Health Care and Benefits
- Reasserted Congressional Oversight to Hold the Biden Administration Accountable
Your House Republican Majority will never give up on the American people or our Commitment to America. I’m excited to elect a new speaker and get back to building a nation that is safe, strong, free, and holds its government accountable. |
In this week's edition of Buddy's Briefing, we're discussing the effort to oust, and now replace, Speaker Kevin McCarthy. |
Monday, October 2, 2023: After returning from Washington late Saturday afternoon and enjoying a day of rest yesterday, I’m up early this morning and live on Fox Business on Mornings with Maria as we discuss how we averted a government shutdown, what lies ahead this week with the Motion to Vacate the Chair, and other news of the day.
Afterwards, I head to the airport for my return trip to Washington and, once back on Capitol Hill, I head to the House Chamber where I pay tribute to long-time Liberty County Chief Magistrate Judge Melinda Anderson who recently retired, CSM Lindsey Streeter from Savannah who was recently awarded the Military Times Veteran of the Year, and Darien City Councilman Griffin Lotson who is featured in the International African American Museum in Charleston, SC, for his work with the Gullah Geechee community.
Interestingly, while waiting my turn to speak in the Chamber, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) speaks before me and announces his intent to begin the process of making a Motion to Vacate the Chair which will require a vote on whether Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) will continue as our speaker.
Once in my office, I complete my yearly required Congressional Ethics training before heading to the Cannon Rotunda where I have an on-camera interview with WJCL TV in Savannah to discuss the averted shutdown this past weekend.
Once back in my office, I have a series of staff meetings including with our scheduling team, communications team, and a virtual meeting with our district team. Next, I head to the House recording studio where I film a video for an upcoming physician’s conference as well as our next two tech talk videos.
Following a live radio interview on BBC to discuss funding for Ukraine, I have a meeting with our legislative team before heading to our weekly Whip team meeting. Next, I head to the House Chamber for our first vote series of the week and remain to pay tribute to Sid Nudelman from Savannah, a WWII vet who recently celebrated his 100th birthday. Before my tribute, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) makes an official motion for a vote on whether Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) should vacate the Chair. According to our rules, this motion has to be acted upon within the next two business days. |
Carter discusses government funding with WJCL-TV |
Tuesday, October 3, 2023: My first meeting of the day is a very contentious GOP member meeting where Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) announces that we will have a vote on the Motion to Vacate the Chair by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) today. Once back in my office, I join in on our all-staff conference call before heading to the House Chamber where I pay tribute to Laura Aldridge Denison, a Pierce County educator who recently passed, Errol Roach, who has taught music in the Savannah area for over 40 years, and Central Hardware in Brunswick on their recent 75th anniversary celebration.
Once back in my office, I have a virtual call with the Consul General of India, Atlanta, Dr. Swati Vijay Kulkarni, who I have worked closely with over the years and who will be leaving her position soon. After a meeting with the CEO of the Foundation for Government Accountability, I speak virtually to the Waycross Rotary Club at their weekly meeting before heading to the House Chamber where a motion to table the motion to vacate (MTV) offered by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) has been made. After 10 Republicans vote with all the Democrats against the motion to table the MTV, a called recorded vote where each member gives their vote verbally is held. With 8 Republicans voting with all Democrats in favor of the MTV, the MTV passes by a final vote of 216-210 and history is made as this is the first time that a sitting Speaker has been recalled.
In 2001, after 9/11, it became customary for the Speaker, upon his election, to submit a list of Speaker Pro-tem’s in case the Speaker could not continue to serve. When elected in January, Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) chose Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) to be the first to succeed him. After the vote, Speaker Pro-tem McHenry assumes the chair and immediately adjourns the House.
Later in the evening, I head to a hastily called GOP member conference that only lasts a few minutes but long enough for former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) to announce that he will not run for Speaker again. As many of you know, I keep a personal journal that I write in every day. While I don’t normally share my entries, I will share part of what I wrote today. “In the 8½ years that I have had the honor and privilege of serving in Congress, I have witnessed many historic events. When I first entered Congress, I saw a group in our party force John Boehner to resign as Speaker, I attended an address of a joint session of Congress by Pope Francis, I was in the Chamber on January 6th when protestors made their way onto the House floor, I was in Munich, Germany, with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky the Saturday before his country was invaded by Russia on Thursday of the following week, and today I witnessed something that has never happened in our country’s history- a speaker being forced to vacate the chair. This is one of the most undeserved actions I have ever seen taken against anyone. God save us from ourselves.” |
Carter meets with CEO of Foundation for Government Accountability |
Wednesday, October 4, 2023: To describe today as surreal is an understatement, but we continue on. I’m off Capitol Hill this morning and at the studios of the Washington Journal as I join them on their morning call-in show.
Once back in my office, I have a meeting with the Nature Conservancy as they bring me up to date on their legislative priorities. Next, I have a briefing with Energy and Commerce (E&C) Communications and Technology (C&T) staff to discuss media and net neutrality before heading downtown to meet with CEOs of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers.
Once back on Capitol Hill, I head to the House recording studio where I record this week’s edition of Buddy’s Briefing before heading back to my office where I join in on a demonstration by Bark Technologies on the software used to implement Sammy’s Law to help protect our children from the dangers of social media. After a radio interview with Austin Rhodes in Augusta to discuss the events of yesterday, I head to the airport for my flight home. |
Carter meets with The Nature Conservancy |
Thursday, October 5, 2023: I’m glad to be on the radio this morning with my good friends on the world famous Butch and Bob show in Jesup as the past three days have seemed to last forever. After discussing the events of this week, I head to the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Glynco in Glynn County where we swear in new director Eugene ‘Carry’ Huffman, who will be replacing Tom Walters who is retiring.
Afterwards, I head to Southern Soul Bar B Que restaurant on St. Simons Island and present them with a proclamation I did for them in honor of being named the best BarBQ restaurant in Georgia. Next, I join in on our all-staff conference call. |
Carter at FLETC swearing-in ceremony |
Friday, October 6, 2023: I’m in Ware County today as I join in on the groundbreaking ceremony of the Waycross Family Justice Center where Executive Director Michelle Girtman announces that the project has received nearly $1.7 million in donations for the center that will provide an array of services for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, elder abuse and human trafficking.
Afterwards, I head to the Chrysler Dodge dealership in Savannah where I sign the pink jeep for breast cancer awareness month which is part of the ‘Drive Out Breast Cancer’ awareness campaign promoted by Step One Automotive Group.
Next, I head to the Savannah Boathouse Marina on Whitmarsh Island where I join Perry and Laura Solomon of the Tybee Oyster Company for a tour of their Bull River Ranch floating oyster farm. The tour has been set up by America’s Seafood Campaign and Seafood Nutrition Partnership (SNP). We are also joined by Lauren Baum with SNP and Pat and Garianna Mathews with Lazaretta Packing, as they share with me the challenges we face with foreign dumping of seafood in this country. Tybee Oyster Company is one of three companies that the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GA DNR) has leased areas for oyster farming. While still in its beginning stages in Georgia, oyster farms have prospered in our neighboring Atlantic Coast States. |
Carter tours Bull River Ranch floating oyster farm |
Click here for this week's vote sheet in the House of Representatives. |
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