Making Life Better

This week, the House continued its sixty-year tradition of passing the National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA. The NDAA is one of the most important votes we take each year, as it provides for our national defense and impacts service members’ quality of life.

That’s why I was proud to support it on the House floor, where is passed in an overwhelmingly bipartisan manner. Today, I want to take some time to explain some of the provisions in this massive package. This year’s bill was especially focused on making sure our service members and their families have the resources they need to live happy and healthy lives.

Here’s a breakdown of some of the ways this year’s NDAA improves quality of life for service members and their families:

Boosting Compensation: Pay for junior enlisted servicemembers has failed to keep up with inflation, and many military families have had to rely on foodbanks, SNAP, and WIC just to put food on the table. This year’s NDAA includes a 14.5% pay bump for junior enlisted service members and a 4.5% pay raise for all servicemembers, helping to ensure that no one who bravely serves our country struggles to feed their family. In addition, the bill ensures that service member cost of living allowances account for inflation and expands access to the Basic Needs Allowance.

Improving Housing: Service members living in unaccompanied housing are often exposed to poor conditions like sewage overflows, gas leaks, mold, brown tap water, bedbugs, and rodents. Even for those living in military housing, chronic underfunding of housing maintenance accounts has led to failing infrastructure across the board. The FY25 NDAA addresses these concerns by authorizing $954 million for housing and facility maintenance, $1.2 billion for building and renovating barracks, increasing housing inspections, and free wireless internet for service members in all unaccompanied housing facilities.

Ensuring Access to Medical Care: Service members can face wait times of up to 2 months to see a specialty medical provider and more than 2-3 weeks for their first appointment with a mental health provider. The NDAA enables the Department of Defense (DoD) to recruit more mental health providers, waives the TRICARE referral requirement for specialty medical providers, and expands the number of doctors and nurses working for DoD.

Increasing Access to Childcare: The DoD struggles with a shortage of childcare workers and an insufficient number of childcare facilities, which forces military families to wait months for childcare slots and fee assistance programs for off-installation childcare. In addition to increasing pay for DoD childcare workers, the NDAA authorizes $176 million to build new childcare centers, fully funds the childcare fee assistance programs, and provides childcare assistance for employees of the DoD centers.

Supporting Spouses: Frequent and unpredictable moves mean that military spouses often have trouble finding and maintaining employment. Over 20% of military spouses are unemployed, making it one of the highest unemployment demographics in the US. To combat this, the NDAA makes it easier for military spouses to transfer professional licenses between states, provides employment support to military spouses, expands childcare access, and enables the DoD to quickly hire military spouses for civilian roles.

Of course, there is much more to this package than I can distill into one newsletter. If you are interested in learning more about how the NDAA will impact you and your family, please do not hesitate to reach out to our office.

To our veterans, service members, and their families – thank you, today and every day, for your brave, selfless service. We owe our freedoms to you.

Buddy's Briefing

In this week's edition of Buddy's Briefing, we are discussing legislation passed by the Senate that can help parents protect their children online.

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Monday, December 9, 2024: On Saturday, I was live on Newsmax as we discussed the budget and the need for a disaster relief package. After returning to the Capitol this morning, I’m back at it with a meeting with our scheduling staff followed by a virtual meeting with our district staff. Next, I have a meeting with Jonathan Kanter, the outgoing Assistant Attorney General with the Department of Justice before meetings with our legislative team and communications team. After a meeting with the CEO of DisposeRx, an at-home medication disposal solution that patients use to dispose of medications when they are no longer needed, I head to the Cannon rotunda for a Fox Business interview to discuss the Biden-Harris administration’s failed policies with their rush to green initiative. Afterwards, I head off Capitol Hill for a number of holiday receptions.

Rep. Carter meets with DisposeRX

Tuesday, December 10, 2024: After our weekly GOP conference, I head back to our office where I join in on our all-staff conference call before having a meeting with our communications staff to discuss an event coming up this weekend. Next, I meet with the Ambassador of Pakistan, Bilal Riza, to discuss how our two countries can explore new avenues for collaboration in areas of mutual interest. Afterwards, I join our Washington staff for a holiday lunch together and, once back in our office, I have a call with a constituent before heading to the House Chamber for our first vote series of the day. Next, I head off Capitol Hill for a meeting with Heidelburg Materials to discuss potential tariffs before heading back to the House Chamber for our second vote series of the day and remain in the chamber afterwards to pay tribute to Ware County in recognition of their 200-year anniversary. Afterwards, I head off Capitol Hill for a series of holiday receptions.

Rep. Carter recognizes Ware County's 200th Anniversary

Wednesday, December 11, 2024: I’m up early and live on Newsmax as we discuss the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), a bill that has been endorsed by Elon Musk and Donald Trump, Jr., and that gives parents more control over their children’s online social media activity. Afterwards, I head off Capitol Hill to meet with the CEO of BIO, the biologic drugs industry, before heading to the Capitol with other Southern state members impacted by Hurricane Helene to meet with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) to discuss the disaster relief package. Next, I head to an Energy and Commerce (E&C) member meeting with newly elected Chair Brett Guthrie (R-KY) to discuss his vision and goals for the committee in the upcoming session. Once back in our office, I have a phone conference with the newly appointed president of my alma mater, Young Harris College (YHC), Dr. John Wells, to discuss legislation from the Education and Workforce Committee that will impact YHC. Next, I head to the House Chamber where I pay tribute to Dan Bradley from Savannah and Skip Wright from St. Simons Island who both recently passed and to five Effingham County Middle School students who recently received the REACH scholarship. After heading to a Budget Committee hearing on pathways and possible solutions to the US Fiscal Crisis, I head back to our office for a meeting with the President of Eli Lilly and Company, Patrik Jonsson. Next, I have a phone interview with Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB) to discuss the disaster relief package before heading to the E&C hearing room to sign gifts for our retiring members. Once back in our office, I meet with representatives with the Disaster Recovery Package Advocacy group followed by a meeting with Uranium Producers of America (UPA). After a project presentation from one of our fine interns this quarter, I head to the House Chamber for our first vote series of the day and afterwards pay tribute to our retiring Chairwoman of E&C, Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA). Next, I head off Capitol Hill to a number of holiday receptions, including one with the Conservative Climate Foundation, where I deliver remarks on our goals and initiatives for the upcoming session.

Rep. Carter meets with Uranium Producers of America

Thursday, December 12, 2024: After our weekly Doctor’s Caucus meeting where we hear from representatives from America First Policy Institute regarding potential health care reform, I head off Capitol Hill to the National Press Club where I speak at the Health Care Competition Conference regarding Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) litigation and legislation. Once back on Capitol Hill, I head to the House Chamber where we have our last vote series of the week before heading to a meeting with colleagues I traveled to Africa with earlier this year as we present Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-AK) with a gift for his leadership on the trip. Once back in our office, I meet with Glenmark Pharmaceuticals before meeting with the Biogen Leadership team followed by a meeting with my good friend and former congressional colleague, Ted Yoho (R-FL), to discuss global food security and animal and human security issues. After filming a video for the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) as well as Buddy’s Briefing and Material Minute, I head off Capitol Hill to the American Telemedicine Association (ATA) EDGE Policy Conference. Once back in our office, I join in on our all-staff conference call before heading to the airport for my return trip home.

Rep. Carter meets with Biogen

Friday, December 13, 2024: I’m honored this morning to participate in a Fireside Chat at the annual Brunswick-Golden Isles Chamber of Commerce (BGICOC) Grits and Issues Breakfast held at the Jekyll Island Convention Center in Glynn County. I’m joined onstage by BGICOC Chair Jimmy Arnold as we discuss the remaining time of the lame duck 118^th Congress and plans/initiatives for the upcoming 119^th Congress. Afterwards, I head to our Brunswick district office where I have a phone conference with members of staff before heading to a meeting with my good friend Glynn County Sheriff Neal Jump and his Undersheriff, Mario Morales. Next, I head to the Brunswick Job Corp Graduation where I am honored to be the keynote speaker at their graduation ceremony. This great federal program is a no-cost education and career preparation program that helps students ages 16 to 24 receive technical and academic training. Afterwards, I head back to our Brunswick district office where I have a live interview with Charles Payne on Fox Business as we discuss legislation I have dealing with Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs). Next, I have a taped interview with Fox Carolina to discuss my joining the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) caucus and what we hope to achieve in the caucus. After a meeting with a group of local insurance underwriters to discuss the need for tort reform in Georgia, I head to the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Glynco in Glynn County where I meet with new Deputy Director Paul Baker and have a tour of some of the facilities on campus.

Rep. Carter at Brunswick Job Corps Graduation

Votes in the house this week

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