Paying Tribute to our Fallen Heroes

paying tribute to our fallen heroes

On Friday of last week, I traveled to Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Delaware, for the Dignified Transfer of Remains ceremony for the three soldiers from Georgia who were killed by a drone attack in Jordan last week.

Two of the soldiers were from the First Congressional District.

Breonna Moffett, 23, was from Savannah, graduated from Windsor Forest High School and was the drum major of the Mighty Marching Knights band.

Kennedy Sanders, 24, was from Waycross, and graduated from Ware County High School. Among her surviving family members is a twin brother. They were born 1 minute apart.

Both heroes were supporting Operation Inherent Resolve during their deployment to Jordan.

This was the first Dignified Transfer of Remains that I have attended. I pray it will be the last. As I walked on the tarmac on that cold, dreary day, my bones shook as I saw a giant cargo plane with the nose opened and three boxes draped with American flags while our troops stood guard behind them. One by one an honor guard outfitted with white gloves removed the boxes and took them to a waiting transfer vehicle for their trip to their final resting place. This moment will be etched in my memory forever.

This was one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. I was reminded of the danger our troops are faced with every day and how they should always be in our thoughts and prayers.

As I viewed the family members across from us on the tarmac, I was reminded that no parent should ever have to bury a child.

But most of all, I was reminded that in this great country we live in, there are more things that unite us than divide us.

May God’s blessing be on these heroes and their families and may we all honor their service and sacrifice.

Sgt. Breonna Alexsondria Moffett (Savannah, Ga)

Sgt. Kennedy Ladon Sanders (Waycross,Ga)

taxpayers won

It’s no secret that Main Street is suffering under Bidenomics. While this administration still, inexplicably, touts its economic agenda as a success, we know the truth: everything, from groceries to travel, is more expensive because of this administration’s reckless spending sprees. Inflation is taxation, and it’s time we restored the pro-growth policies that we had under former President Trump.

That’s why this week, I was proud to vote in favor of a bipartisan tax bill, the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act, which revives portions of President Trump’s landmark Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, allowing small business to grow, Americans to keep more of what they earn, and ends wasteful COVID-19 era programs, saving taxpayers billions of dollars.

Let’s take a look at how this tax reform bill, which now heads to the Senate for a vote, accomplishes these goals.

First, this bill incentives growth, innovation, and competitiveness, particularly for small businesses. It accomplishes these goals by allowing for immediate tax deductions of money spent on U.S.-based research and development (R&D), which will strengthen our global competitiveness and make it easier to invest in the U.S. It also cuts burdensome red tape and expands the small business expensing cap, allowing for small businesses to grow, expand, and provide more jobs.

Second, this bill supports working families with an enhanced child tax credit. This means that access to the child tax credit is expanded to include more families, penalties for large families have been eliminated, and taxpayers can choose whether to use their current or prior year income to calculate their child tax credit amount. With families nationwide suffering from the effects of inflation, this tax credit will provide relief and help parents meet their families’ needs. Additionally, it increases the supply of low-income housing, which will help more families afford housing during a time when housing costs are rising much faster than incomes.

The last section of this bill that I will highlight is that it saves $70 billion in taxpayer dollars by enforcing a strict deadline for claims under the COVID-era employee retention tax credit program, which is ripe with waste, fraud, abuse, and overruns.

I am hopeful that this bill will pass through the Senate so that we can immediately start providing relief for hardworking Americans.

Buddy's Briefing

Welcome to this week's edition of Buddy's Briefing. This week, we discuss my first hearing as the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials.

from our nation's capitol cdlxiv

Monday, January 29, 2024: Last night, I was honored to attend the Hunt Ball on St. Simons Island, an annual event to benefit Habitat for Humanity of Glynn County. This great organization recently completed their first home in Century Place, their first neighborhood community development and site of their 100^th Habitat home in Glynn County.

Staying in Glynn County this morning, I head to the groundbreaking ceremony for Buc-ee’s at exit 42 on I-95. This will be the third and largest location for Buc-ee’s in the State of Georgia featuring 125 gas pumps and creating over 200 jobs for the area.

Also attending the ceremony this morning is Mr. Arch Alpin, III, also known as “Beaver,” who in 1982 founded what has become the beloved convenience store chain.

Next, I head to our Brunswick district office where I film this week’s edition of Tech Talk before having a phone interview with the Wall Street Journal to discuss my recent trip to COP 28 in Dubai and my interest in climate change.

After a virtual conference call with district staff, I head to the Jacksonville airport for my return flight to Washington.

Once back in our Washington office, our staff and I have a meeting with staff from the Energy & Commerce (E&C) Environment, Manufacturing and Critical Materials (ENV) Subcommittee to discuss our upcoming hearing this week.

Next, I have a series of staff meetings including scheduling team, legislative team, and communications team before heading to our weekly Whip Team meeting.

After our first vote series of the week, I remain in the House Chamber and pay tribute to Dr. Jack Murphy, a beloved Savannah Physician who recently passed.

Once back in our office, I have back-to-back phone interviews with WTOC-TV and WJCL-TV in Savannah to discuss First District soldiers Breonna Moffett and Kennedy Sanders who were killed in Jordan this past week.

Rep. Carter with Arch "Beaver" Alpin III at the Bucc-ee's Groundbreaking Ceremony

Tuesday, January 30, 2024: Our communications team and I are hosting reporters from Punchbowl News for coffee in our office this morning as we have off the record discussions of Washington news.

Afterwards, I head to our weekly GOP Conference meeting before joining in on our all staff conference call.

Next, I head to a Budget Committee member meeting where we discuss this week’s hearing on oversight of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) before meeting with a group of Georgia pastors who are visiting the Capitol.

After meeting with my Chief of Staff to discuss some office work, I head off Capitol Hill to meet with representatives from Race Trac.

Next, I waive onto an E&C Oversight and Investigations (O&I) Subcommittee hearing discussing oversight of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Greenhouse Gas Fund.

After our first vote series of the day, I head back to our office for a series of meetings including the Pulp and Paper Resource Council, National Federation of the Blind of Georgia, Georgia District Attorneys, Kone Cranes, Municipal Gas Authority of Georgia and Wedgewood Pharmacy.

Afterwards, I head to the O’Neil House Office Building on Capitol Hill where, along with my Congressional colleague Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-FL), we have a counterpoint discussion with A Starting Point (ASP) regarding the legalization of marijuana.

Next, I head to the House Chamber for our second vote series of the day and afterwards I lead the House in a moment of silence for the three Georgia soldiers killed in a drone attack last weekend in Jordan.

Once back in my office, I have an interview with Rolling Stone magazine regarding legislation I am sponsoring called Sammy’s Law that will allow parents to use FTC-approved apps that will identify key words and help them monitor their children’s social media to protect against drug abuse, bullying, trafficking, etc.

My final interview of the day is with WJXT-TV in Jacksonville as we discuss the three Georgia soldiers killed in Jordan.

Rep. Carter meets with the Municipal Gas Authority of Georgia

Wednesday, January 31, 2024: After an E&C member meeting to discuss committee business, I head off Capitol Hill for a meeting with a representative from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP).

Once back on Capitol Hill, I head to an E&C Health Subcommittee hearing on health care spending in the U.S. before heading to a Budget hearing on CBO oversight with CBO Director Phillip Swagel.

Next, I head to an E&C Communications and Technology (C&T) hearing on sports media rights before heading to our office where I meet with a group of media representatives to discuss a Congressional Review Act (CRA) I have addressing the FCC’s Digital Discrimination rule.

Afterwards, I chair my first E&C Environment, Manufacturing and Critical Materials (ENV) Subcommittee hearing on ensuring cybersecurity of America’s Drinking Water Systems.

Once back in our office, I meet with representatives from Eli Lilly company before heading to the House Chamber for our first vote series of the day.

Afterwards, I stop by the Six Million Voices Reception against antisemitism, bigotry and hate before having a phone interview with WSAV-TV in Savannah to discuss the U.S. response to Iran-backed attacks in Jordan.

After our second vote series of the day, I attend the Washington Press Club Foundation’s annual Congressional Dinner.

Rep. Carter chairs first hearing for the Subcommittee on Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials

Thursday, February 1, 2024: Since 1953, the National Prayer Breakfast has been held on the first Thursday of February and this morning it is held in Statuary Hall in the Capitol. The program included a message from Senate Chaplain Barry Black, President Joe Biden and incredible music from tenor Andrea Bocelli.

After returning to our office, I head to the House Chamber for our final vote series of the week and remain in the House Chamber afterwards to pay tribute to long time House Administration staff member Tim Monahan.

After taking a photo on the House Plaza with one of our interns, I head back to our office where I meet with Trammell Crow with EarthX before virtually addressing the Canadian American Business Council.

Next, I meet with the Vice President of Strategy of Cummins before meeting with Georgetown Professor Bruce Hoffman and co-author Jacob Ware who present me with a copy of their book God, Guns, and Sedition.

After our all staff conference call, I have a phone interview with the Washington Examiner to discuss my goals and priorities as Chairman of the E&C ENV Subcommittee before filming this week’s edition of Buddy’s Briefing.

Rep. Carter meets with Cummins Vice President of Strategy

Friday, February 2, 2024: Although yesterday was our last day of session this week, I stayed in Washington last night so that I could make the 2 hour drive this morning to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware for the Dignified Transfer of Remains of the three Georgia soldiers killed in Jordan last week.

After the ceremony, I drove to the Philadelphia airport and flew back to Jacksonville and after landing had an on-camera interview with WJXT and Action News Jax to discuss my experience today.

A MOMENT OF SILENCE

This past week has been extremely difficult for the First Congressional District. We lost two of our own, two heroes, tragically. We are all hurting, and it was my solemn honor to lead the Georgia delegation in a moment of silence on the House floor to honor these heroes.

votes in the house this week

Click here to see this week's vote sheet in the House of Representatives.