State of Delusion

state of delusion

I went to the House floor on Thursday night expecting to attend a State of the Union address. Instead, I ended up at a Washington Democrat campaign rally – or, at least, that was how President Biden treated it.

The president needed to tell the American people three things during his speech: his plan to secure the border, an outline of his budget, which was due February 5th, and his national security strategy. Unfortunately, he missed the mark on each of these points, choosing party politics over the needs of the American people, who are sick and tired of begging this president to do his job.

The America that President Biden described was not one I, my constituents, and hardworking taxpayers nationwide recognize. At every turn, this President is putting America last. His policies have kneecapped our oil and gas industry, spiked grocery store prices, killed jobs, left our border wide-open, and made many American cities unsafe to live in, work in, or even visit.

Take the border, for example. Here we have a president who has taken 64 documented actions to weaken our border security, has full authority to shut down the border today, and yet used his final State of the Union address to pass the buck – which used to ‘stop with him’ – by falsely pushing the blame onto House Republicans. Nothing could be further from the truth. H.R. 2, the best bill out there to secure our border, is proof of that.

That wasn’t the only time he massively missed the mark during his speech. I was especially disappointed by his call to expand government-controlled drug pricing mandates.

The drug pricing mandates in his so-called Inflation ‘Reduction’ Act are some of the worst pieces of legislation I’ve seen during my time in Congress. To hear this president, once again, tout this law as a success – and even call for it to be expanded – is unconscionable and proves that he is completely out-of-touch with patients’ needs. American innovation cures the world. Instead of incentivizing more research and development, this administration is choosing to push unworkable price controls that have already resulted in patients losing access to several cancer drugs. What other cures and treatments will be excluded from patients because of this? The cure for cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s? Patients can’t afford to find out.

As a pharmacist my top priority has always been, and will continue to be, ensuring that all Americans have access to affordable, high-quality health care. We need lower prescription drug costs, there’s no question about that; but we can do it without sacrificing research and development by reining in the pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), the middlemen that are responsible for many prescription drugs being unaffordable and inaccessible. I welcome conversation with the White House about this issue and sent them a letter last week explaining exactly how PBMs rob patients blind and what it will take to fix it.

President Biden said the state of our union is strong. As much as I wish he were right, that’s simply not the reality for everyday Americans. Under President Biden, we are less free, less safe, and less likely to experience economic freedom. The state of our union, like the state of our border, is weak.

buddy's briefing

This week, on Buddy's Briefing, we are discussing President Biden's State of the Union speech.

From our nation's capitol ccclxxxiv

Monday, March 4, 2024: On Saturday, I attended the 22nd Annual Rotary Red-Hot Chili Cookoff in Postell Park on St. Simons Island. Proceeds from this event went to support Golden Isles Rotary projects and the chili was delicious with friendly cooking competition among the many entrants.

I’m up early this morning and live on Mornings with Maria on Fox Business as we discuss the southern border and this week’s upcoming State of the Union (SOTU) address. Next, I head to Richmond Hill in Bryan County where I attend the groundbreaking ceremony for the relocation and expansion of C&H Precision. Started 7 years ago by U.S. Military Veteran Buck Holly, the firearms manufacturer was named the “fastest growing” manufacturer in the Southeast by Inc. Magazine and plans to have a gun range and coffee shop in the new 50,000 sq ft facility.

Afterwards, I head to WSAV-TV in Savannah where I meet with General Manager David Hart before having an interview with the news team to discuss a variety of issues. After heading back to our Savannah district office, I record a podcast with Beyond the Stethoscope to discuss health care concerns facing Georgians and Americans before joining in on our district staff team’s call.

Rep. Carter joins Mornings with Maria

Tuesday, March 5, 2024: I’m on Jekyll Island in Glynn County this morning as I bring greetings to the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council at their quarterly meeting. Headquartered in Charleston, S.C., the council is responsible for the conservation and management of fish stocks within the federal 200-mile limit of the Atlantic off the coasts of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and east Florida to Key West.

Afterwards, I head to the Jacksonville Airport for my return trip to Washington and, once back in my office, have a scheduling meeting with staff before heading to the Congressional Autism Caucus to share with them my experiences in pharmacy working with autistic patients and thank them for their advocacy. Over 160 bipartisan members of Congress are members of the caucus that was founded and co-chaired by Reps. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Mike Doyle (D-PA) in 2001.

Next, I head to the House Chamber where I speak on H. R. 3838, The Preventing Maternal Deaths Reauthorization Act before heading back to our office for our weekly meeting with staff on the Energy and Commerce (E&C) Environmental, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials (ENV) Subcommittee. Afterwards, I have a series of office meetings including with the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA), Aurion Biotech, our legislative team and communications team.

Before heading to our weekly Whip Team meeting, I head off Capitol Hill where I meet with Rabbi Zeke Moskowitz who introduces me to his cousin who is a soldier with the Israel Defense Forces and is on break from duty in Gaza. After our Whip Team meeting, I head to the House Chamber for our first vote series of the week and remain in the Chamber afterwards to pay tribute to retiring Georgia Association of Broadcasters (GAB) President Bob Houghton.

Afterwards, I join a small group for a meeting and discussion with former University of Florida Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow and his wife Demi as this wonderful couple share with us their work fighting human trafficking. Tim will be testifying before the House Judiciary Committee tomorrow.

Rep. Carter discusses combatting human trafficking with Tim Tebow

Wednesday, March 6, 2024: After our weekly GOP Conference where most of the discussion is on the six appropriation bills we will be voting on later today, I head to the House Chamber where I pay tribute to Chatham County Republican activist Joy Povec, who recently passed, John Forbes, who was recently elected as Grand Marshall of the 200th St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Bruce Redmond from Effingham County, who was recently selected as the 2024 Georgia Farmer of the Year, and Mark Hendrix, who was recently appointed a judge in the Atlantic Judicial Circuit.

Afterwards, I head to the Cannon Caucus Room for a Republican all member press conference to discuss tomorrow night’s SOTU address. Once the press conference is over with, I do a number of individual interviews with different outlets regarding my expectations for the address.

Once back in my office, I meet with the National Psoriasis Foundation before heading off Capitol Hill for a meeting with health care groups. Once back in our office, I have a series of meetings including with the National Brain Injury Association, Georgia Credit Union Association, peanut and cotton growers, and Towing and Recovery Association of America. Next, I head to an E&C ENV Subcommittee meeting where we markup the Air Quality Standards Implementation Act of 2024 before heading to the House Chamber for our only vote series of the day.

Rep. Carter meets with the Georgia Credit Union

Thursday, March 7, 2024: After our weekly GOP Doctor’s Caucus meeting where we hear from Dr. Vineeta Agarwala regarding the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in health care, I head to an E&C full committee meeting regarding the app TikTok, a popular app whose parent company is ByteDance, which is owned and controlled by the Chinese Communist Party. Last night and this morning, committee member’s offices have been inundated with calls from TikTok users who were forced to dial our offices in order to use the app. Our office alone has received thousands of calls.

Our meeting this morning starts with a public meeting where we vote unanimously to go into a closed classified hearing to hear from the Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Intelligence regarding the potential threat TikTok poses. After compelling evidence, we go back into public session and a vote is taken on two bills that will require the parent company ByteDance to divest itself of TikTok. The vote is unanimous and will require the app TikTok be sold to an American company or a company of an allied country.

Afterwards, I head to a Budget Committee markup before heading to the House Chamber for our only vote series of the day. Next, I head to our office where I have an interview with Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) Newshour to introduce my guest for tonight’s SOTU address, Jennelle Stephenson, a sickle cell disease (SCD) patient who received one of the first successful curative sickle cell treatments approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in December of 2023. The remainder of the evening is a whirlwind as I head to a number of pre-SOTU interviews before escorting Jennelle to a series of receptions followed by the SOTU address and a number of post-SOTU interviews. Needless to say, it was a very late night for myself and our communications staff.

Rep. Carter meets with Tenaska Energy Group

Friday, March 8, 2024: I have a number of radio interviews this morning to talk about last night’s SOTU address including with Morning Xtra, Martha Zoller, and Politically Georgia before heading to an E&C member meeting. After our final vote series of the week, I remain in the House Chamber and congratulate the City of Bloomingdale in West Chatham County on their 50-year anniversary of incorporation.

Once back in our office, I record this week’s edition of Buddy’s Briefing before recording a podcast with Breaking Battlegrounds on the SOTU address and then heading to the airport for my return trip home. Immediately upon landing, I head to the Savannah International Trade & Convention Center on Hutchinson Island in Savannah where I am honored to attend the 50th Anniversary Ranger Ball with the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. The Honorary Guest Speaker for this great event is GEN (Ret.) Tony Thomas, 11th Commander, United States Special Operations Command.

Rep. Carter discusses the State of the Union on WDRW

votes in the house this week

Click here to see votes in the House of Representatives this week