Peace Through Strength

Peace through strength

You don’t need me to tell you that we live in a dangerous world right now. Iran’s unprecedented attack on Israel last weekend reminded us of that. Crime is rising here at home, our border is wide open, China is eyeing Taiwan, Russia is continuing its war against Ukraine, and Israel is fighting for its right to exist.

Putin, Xi, and Iran are, to use the words of Speaker Mike Johnson, a “new axis of evil.” Unfortunately, we have a leader, President Biden, who lacks the strength necessary to defend democracy and freedom abroad. His botched Afghanistan withdrawal, slow response to Russian aggression, appeasement of Iran, and failure to defend our nation’s borders have made our entire world less safe. Our enemies are watching this administration, and they’re liking what they’re seeing.

That’s why this week, I joined my fellow House Republicans in a bill that will combat issues of national and international security on multiple fronts by sending lethal military assistance to our allies and countering Chinese Communist Party spyware. It was aptly titled the 21st Century Peace through Strength Act because it does just that – restores the strong posture towards our enemies that this President has been undoing since day one, without any American boots on the ground.

This bill includes provisions to allow for the transfer of frozen Russian assets to the United States so that Putin, not American taxpayers, are footing the bill for his aggression. It also protects our children from Chinese Communist Party influences via TikTok, which is a dual threat to our national security. Iran will have sanctions because of its bill as well, so that it cannot continue to fund terrorism against Israel.

This is good policy that must be implemented. American, Israeli, Ukrainian, and Taiwanese lives will be saved because of this bill. The primary responsibility of our government is to provide for our nation’s defense, and that is something that cannot be compromised.

Now, I’ll be upfront: I am very disappointed and angered that Washington Democrats tanked a bill to secure our southern border. The president has full authority to shut down the southern border today and refuses to do so. It’s equally unacceptable that Senate Democrats refused to uphold their constitutional duty by holding a trial on the impeachment of Secretary Mayorkas. Lives will continue to be lost if we don’t shut down that border. But American lives will also be lost if we allow Iran, Russia, and China’s aggression to go unchecked. Two wrongs do not make a right, and in the absence of any leadership from Washington Democrats, we had the constitutional responsibility to do all we could to defend our security and the security of our allies.

Elections have consequences because policies have consequences, and we are suffering the consequences of this administration’s policies.

Buddy's briefing

In this week's edition of Buddy's Briefing, we are discussing Iran's unprecedented attack against our ally in the Middle East, Israel.

from our nation's capitol cdlv

Monday, April 15, 2024: As we all are painfully aware, today is Tax Day. Appropriately, I begin my day with a radio interview with my good friend, Martha Zoller in Gainesville, to discuss Israel and Ukraine aid and the FairTax. The FairTax is legislation that I am sponsoring that will allow us to do away with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), paying despised payroll, income, estate, and gift taxes, and replacing them with a national sales tax on the use or consumption of taxable property or services - in other words, a consumption tax that you control.

Once back in our DC office, I have a series of staff meetings, including with communications staff, district staff, and scheduling staff. Next, I meet with Energy and Commerce (E&C) Environment, Manufacturing and Critical Materials (ENV) Subcommittee staff for our weekly update before having a virtual interview with WJCL-TV in Savannah to discuss upcoming votes this week on Israel and Ukraine funding.

Afterwards, I head off Capitol Hill where I meet with representatives from the Alliance for Automotive Innovation before heading back to Capitol Hill for an E&C Chair and Vice Chair meeting to discuss this week’s business. Next, I head to a specially called GOP member policy conference where we discuss foreign aid assistance for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan before heading to the House Chamber for our first vote series of the week.

Afterwards, I pay tribute to Liberty County High School Senior Madison Crowell, who holds the number one spot in the nation for college acceptances and scholarship awards.

Carter discusses foreign aid with WJCL-TV

Tuesday, April 16, 2024: I’m on the Senate side this morning as I speak at the annual fly-in for the American Academy of Pediatrics and bring them up to date on our efforts to reauthorize the Emergency Medical Services for Children Program and children’s online safety. Once back on the house side, I head to a border security caucus meeting where we hear from Mark Morgan, former Chief of the U.S. Border Patrol during the Obama Administration.

Next, I head to our weekly GOP conference meeting where we continue our discussion on foreign aid before heading to an E&C Health Subcommittee hearing on cybersecurity in healthcare. Afterwards, I head to the House Chamber where I pay tribute to my good friend, Kevin “Catfish” Jackson from Savannah, who passed recently.

Once back in our office, I join in on our all-staff conference call before meeting with the Correctional Leaders Association followed by the College of American Pathologists. Next, I meet with my good friend, Anne Thompson from Savannah, who is representing the American Physical Therapy Association and afterwards, meet with our legislative staff.

Next, I head to the House Chamber for our first vote series of the day and on the way stop in the Rayburn House building to meet with the International Association of Drilling Contractors. Once back in our office, I have a series of meetings including with the American Optometric Association, Color of Gastrointestinal Illnesses, Georgia Beer Wholesalers, American College of Surgeons, and American College of Emergency Physicians.

After heading off Capitol Hill for a meeting with the Georgia Optometric Association, I head to an E&C member briefing on Artificial Intelligence (AI) before heading to the House Chamber for our second and final vote series of the day. Next, I have a meeting off Capitol Hill with Cardinal Healthcare followed by a meeting with Hart Health Strategies and, once back at the Capitol, attend the Miombo Forst Conservation Congressional reception where I meet HE Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, President of Mozambique.

Carter honors Kevin "Catfish" Jackson

Wednesday, April 17, 2024: I’m off Capitol Hill again this morning as I speak to the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) at their annual meeting. Once back on Capitol Hill, I head to the House Chamber where I pay tribute to Sharp Memorial Methodist Church in Young Harris on their 100th Anniversary, Savannah Weightlifting Icon Howard Cohen who recently passed, my good friend Donna Camacho with the Alzheimer’s Association, and the Historic Harrington School on St. Simons Island.

Afterwards, I head to the Plaza steps where I take pictures with our interns for this quarter before heading back to our office where I meet with Pharmaceutical Manufacturer Alnylam followed by a meeting with Georgia members of NCPA. Next, I join in on a virtual call with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) personnel, Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young, and my Congressional colleagues from the coasts of North Carolina and Virginia to discuss the pending Right Whale speed restrictions.

Afterwards, I head to the House Chamber where I speak on HR 6046, the Standing Against Houthi Aggression Act, before heading back to our office for meetings with Bank of America and Georgia Restaurant Association (GRA). Next, I head to an E&C Health Subcommittre hearing with Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra before heading back to my office to meet with McCord Research and Toyota and to film this week’s edition of Buddy’s Briefing. Our final vote series of the day is next and afterwards, I remain in the Chamber and pay tribute to Dallas Oilman Herbert Hunt, who recently passed.

Carter speaks to NCPA

Thursday, April 18, 2024: After a radio interview this morning with my good friends on the Butch and Bob show in Jesup to discuss funding for Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan, I head off Capitol Hill for a meeting with health care advocates. Once back in our office, I have a series of meetings, including with Easterseals of Southern Georgia, Goodwill Industries of Southeast Georgia, and Hemophilia Alliance before heading to the House Chamber for our only vote series of the day.

Afterwards, I remain in the Chamber and pay tribute to one of the good guys in our industry, Joe Brannen, who is retiring from the Georgia Bankers Association later this year. Once back in our office, I meet with Coherus BioSciences before filming a video for the First District Republican Convention this weekend and then having meetings with Georgia Society of Ophthalmology, Broker Action Coalition and U.S. Sugar.

Next, I head to Statuary Hall where I have a live interview with CNN to discuss pending votes on funding for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.

Friday, April 19, 2024: We are deviating from our planned schedule of being off today and tomorrow of this week in order to get the funding bills completed. Today, the only vote we have is a rule vote and, interestingly, we have more Minority (Democrats) votes for the rule than Majority (Republicans), something that I’ve never seen happen since I’ve been here. Later in the afternoon, I have a live interview with Newsmax to discuss the funding bills.

Saturday, April 20,2024: While most of the morning is taken up by floor debate on the bills and amendments we are considering today, we finally get around to voting shortly after lunch. Although there are a number of amendments considered and some adopted, most of the focus is on the five separate bills- funding for Indo-Pacific (Taiwan), Israel, Ukraine, End the Border Catastrophe Act, and 21st Century Peace through Strength Act. And, after months of contentious debate, resolution for funding for Israel and Ukraine finally comes to the House.

voteS in the house this week

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