Easter is a special time where we come together as families and congregations to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who gave his life so that we can enjoy the peace of forgiveness. We are so blessed, and we can never forget that.
As I’ve mentioned before, my staff and I made a commitment to increase the number of service projects we do in Georgia’s First Congressional District. We are public servants, and we can never take the “service” part of that job for granted. Myself especially, this is my home. It’s given me so much, allowed me to live the American Dream, and I want to give back any way I can.
This week, we had a very special opportunity to do exactly that. Our entire staff, from Washington, D.C., Brunswick, and Savannah, along with my lovely wife Amy, had the opportunity to volunteer at MAP International. MAP, which stands for “medicine for all people,” is a wonderful GA-01 institution that brings lifesaving medicine and health supplies to people all over the world. I first became familiar with MAP International when I worked as a pharmacist, and since then have been impressed by its continued growth and commitment to meeting the needs of people here at home and abroad.
Before we began packaging hygiene kits, the organizers made a familiar yet important point: treat others the way you’d want to be treated. All of us could, one day, be in need of the services that organizations like MAP provide. That’s why it’s so important that we put time, energy, and care into work like this, because that’s how we would want to be treated if our lives were upended. As we stuffed Ziploc bags with toothpaste, body soap, toothbrushes, combs, deodorant, Band-Aids, and more, I wasn’t thinking about the items – I was thinking about the recipients.
We don’t know where the 650 bags we packed are going. It could be used right here in GA-01 or could travel oceans away to Syria. But we do know that it is going to someone in need, and that is motivation enough.
This Easter Sunday, let us embody the spirit of service modeled for us by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others[.]”
Happy Easter and God Bless. |
In this week's edition of Buddy's Briefing, we are at Walgreens discussing their new, over-the-counter, Naloxone products.
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Monday, March 25, 2024: On Saturday, I traveled to Orlando, FL where I was honored to speak at the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) annual meeting and exposition. Among the groups I spoke to were the National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations (NASPA) and State of Georgia attendees. I was also honored to present this year’s Good Government Student Pharmacist-Of-The-Year Award to CharLeigh Steverson from the University of South Carolina, who was a Pharmacy Fellow in our Washington, D.C. office last year. I’m at the Armstrong campus of Georgia Southern University in Savannah this morning as I join in on the ribbon cutting of the Institute for Water and Health’s (IWH) Safe Water Together project and the announcement of $2.04 million in federal funding. With the tremendous growth slated for our region in the future, the Safe Water Together project will bring all stakeholders together to address challenges to water resources in the area and assure high water quality diagnostics resulting in safe water and a sustainable environment. Later, I head to Walgreens on Habersham Street in Savannah where I join Pharmacy Manager Allison Nguyen and company leadership for a roll-out of over-the-counter Naloxone, a medication that can reverse opioid overdoses by blocking the effects of opioids. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved over-the-counter sales of Naloxone last year and it is now available without a prescription at Walgreens and other pharmacies across America. Walgreens will be coming out with their own generic version of the medication in the near future. Before leaving, I film this week’s Buddy’s Briefings and then head to the Georgia Ports Garden City Terminal where I join Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and my House colleagues Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO) and Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA), for a tour of the ports and a press conference afterwards. Rep. Graves serves as Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee and Rep. Collins serves on the committee. Governor Kemp, a long-time proponent of the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA), and port officials join me in stressing the importance of the future deepening of the Savannah Harbor in order to continue our growth. Afterwards, I head to downtown Savannah where I visit with officials from Sewon America, a Korean-based company that operates one of the largest automobile body manufacturing plants in North America and is expanding to Effingham County with a manufacturing facility. Next, I head to Tybee Island where I have the opportunity to speak at the Tybee Island GOP meeting and bring them up to date on Washington issues.
Rep. Carter visits with Georgia Southern University
Tuesday, March 26, 2024: Between the district and Washington offices, we have 18 staff members on Team Carter. At the beginning of every year, we have a staff retreat to review our work from the previous year and plan for the upcoming year. We alternate locations each year between the district and D.C. area and this year we’re meeting in Darien in McIntosh County at the new development, Oaks on the River. Named for the McIntosh family, of which Lachlan McIntosh, a general in the Continental Army, was the most famous, this area was the site of Fort King George, part of a set of forts on the coast of Georgia built under the direction of General James Oglethorpe in 1721. After getting everyone in and settled this morning, we head for a visit and tour of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) at Glynco in Glynn County. Formerly Naval Air Station Glynco, FLETC relocated from Washington, D.C. in 1975 and began training that year. Under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), FLETC serves as an interagency law enforcement training body for 105 U. S. government law enforcement agencies. Included in our tour today are visits to the physical training facilities, shooting range, air marshal training facilities and reenactment village. We are indeed fortunate to have this great training facility under the leadership of Director Benjamin Huffman in our district. Later in the evening, we enjoy our opening remarks and dinner together at Reid’s Apothecary in downtown Brunswick.
Rep. Carter visits FLETC
Wednesday, March 27, 2024: Our opening session this morning entails a review of last year’s activities from each department within our staff. Last year in the district we averaged 9.5 days per month with a total of 81 district days and 35 evenings. We also average 2 weekends per month, opened 2,343 cases and had 2,440 targeted letters. We introduced 40 bills and resolutions last year with 9 passing the House and 2 signed into law. We cosponsored 259 bills and resolutions with 35 passing the House and 2 signed into law. We led 35 letters, made 167 appropriations requests and had 14 community project funding included in bills. We delivered 194 tributes on the House floor, had 156 TV hits, 80 radio hits, 8 podcast interviews, 30 print interviews, and 5 Tele Town Halls. They say numbers don’t lie and, in this case, they don’t- our staff works exceptionally hard and do a great job. After a great lunch at Mudcat Charlie’s in Brunswick we are scheduled for a visit to the Brunswick port but it is cancelled due to weather. Fortunately, we have Lee Beckman, government affairs manager of GPA, come and give us a presentation on GPA and the great work they are doing in Garden City and Brunswick. Afterwards, Bruce Fendig, Captain of the Brunswick Harbor bar pilots, comes and gives us a presentation on his work and the Brunswick Harbor.
Rep. Carter meets with Tybee Island GOP (Monday)
Thursday, March 28, 2024: During our staff retreats, we have a team building exercise where we volunteer together and this morning, we are at MAP International, located near the Brunswick airport. MAP (Medicine For All People) partners with people living in conditions of poverty to save lives and develop healthier families and communities by providing life changing medicine and health supplies. Worldwide, 2 billion people lack access to basic medicine and this Christian organization is working to change that. After a very productive morning where our team put together 650 relief packages, we enjoy lunch at Skippers on the Darien River before returning to our final session dedicated to planning for the upcoming year. Our final dinner together is at the restaurant at Oaks on the River, which has done an outstanding job hosting us this week.
Rep. Carter packs hygiene care packages at MAP International
Friday, March 29, 2024: This morning, we head up to the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge near my hometown of Port Wentworth in Chatham County for a tour of this 31,551-acre site located in Chatham and Effingham counties in Georgia and Jasper County in South Carolina. With migratory waterfowl, alligators and a host of other wildlife, the refuge serves as a preserve for aesthetic and conservation purposes. After seeing the Washington staff off at the Savannah airport, I head to Davita Dialysis Center on Ogeechee Rd. in Savannah for a visit and tour of this most important facility that provides kidney dialysis services throughout our district. Later, I head to downtown Savannah and meet with leadership from VendTech, an outstanding company that is in the process of moving their manufacturing headquarters to our area. Afterwards, I am honored to attend the American Heart Association Heart Ball with my good friends Mike and Jean Vaquer, to celebrate the culmination of work of the Association throughout the year.
Rep. Carter visits the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge |
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