Monday, December 16, 2024: While the 124th Army-Navy football game may have been Saturday afternoon in Landover, MD, the real competition between Army and Navy was in Memorial Stadium in Savannah earlier in the day. The 5th annual Army-Navy flag football game between Winn Army Community Hospital at Fort Stewart and the Naval Hospital at Beaufort, S.C., was held Saturday morning. I had the honor of performing the coin toss and speaking to the teams beforehand. This great event benefits area charities and reminds all of us of how fortunate we are to have such great men and women serving our country. I also had the honor on Saturday of attending the Wreaths Across America ceremony at Bonaventure Cemetery in Thunderbolt as this great group makes certain that a wreath is placed on every veteran’s grave in the cemetery. My final stop on Saturday was at Fort McCallister in Bryan County as I was honored to speak to the Richmond Hill Boy Scouts Troop 400 and share with them my story of how I got into politics. On Sunday, I traveled to Waycross in Ware County for their 200-year anniversary and was honored to present them with a proclamation from the U. S. House. I consider Waycross to be my second home as I have been traveling there since 1976 when I met my wonderful wife of 46 years, Amy, who grew up there. We were married in Trinity United Methodist Church in 1978, and our youngest son was unexpectedly born there in 1990. My sister and her family have lived there for over 30 years and my mother-in-law, brother-in-law and his family live there. After flying up this morning, I’m back in Washington and I head straight to the House Chamber from the airport where I speak on two suspension bills from the Energy and Commerce (E&C) Communication and Technology (C&T) Subcommittee and two suspension bills from the E&C Health Subcommittee. Once in our office, I meet with our communications team. Then I head to the Capitol Plaza where I participate in a press conference along with Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Paris Hilton to discuss the bipartisan Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act (SICAA) of which I am the House Republican lead on and for which Paris has advocated so tirelessly. Once back in our office, I host a Tele Town Hall call with special guest Mark Frye with the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service in Jesup as we take calls and discuss the impact of Hurricane Helene. Afterwards, I head to the House Chamber for our first vote series of the week and pay tribute to Navy Veteran Steve Dmetruk from St. Simons who has served on our Military Academy board for many years. Later, I head downtown to the CNN studios where, along with Paris Hilton, we have a live interview to discuss the SCIAA that will be voted on this week.
Rep. Carter at CNN Studios with Paris Hilton and Kaitlan Collins
Tuesday, December 17, 2204: I’m live on the radio this morning with my good friend, Scott James in Valdosta as we discuss the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Afterwards, I head to a GOP Conference meeting before heading back to our office to join in on our all staff conference call. Next, I welcome South Korean Ambassador Cho Hyun-dong to our office as we discuss the great relationship between his country and the State of Georgia. After a meeting with our district staff followed by a meeting with our legislative staff, I meet with former Congressman Dan Burton (R-IN) to discuss a “National Day of Honor and Respect” where Americans can put aside differences, respect each other, and reflect on our common purpose. Next, I have a meeting off Capitol Hill and once back in our office, I meet with ModivCare to discuss Medicaid non-emergency medical transportation services before heading to the Congressional Visitors Center (CVC) to speak at the Jewish Federations Congressional briefing on Information Regarding Internal Antisemitism. After a meeting in our office with scheduling staff, I head to the House Chamber for votes and remain afterwards to speak on an Education and Workforce (E&W) bill I am sponsoring. Next, I have a meeting off Capitol Hill before heading back to our office for a virtual call with the Coastal Georgia Climate Reality Project followed by a meeting with a former intern in our Savannah office who is now attending Georgetown law school in the Washington area. After heading to the House Chamber for our second vote series of the day, I stay in the Chamber and speak on the SICAA that is being debated and afterwards pay tribute to my good friend from Savannah, David Paddison, who recently received the Leadership Award from the Southeast Georgia Leadership Forum. Later, I head back to the House Chamber and speak during a tribute to retiring Congressman Mike Burgess (R-TX) and during a special order for National Bible Week.
Rep. Carter meets with South Korean Ambassador Cho Hyun-dong
Wednesday, December 18, 2024: After a Budget Committee member meeting, I head to a press conference with the Border Security Caucus to discuss our priorities for the upcoming session. Once back in our office, I meet with staff regarding the enormous number of requests we have received for inauguration tickets followed by a meeting with the newly-elected Chairman of E&C, my good friend, Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY). Next, I film this week’s edition of Buddy’s Briefing and Material Minute before heading to the House Chamber for our only vote series of the day and where we pass the SICAA. Afterwards, I head to the Capitol Plaza where I join Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) and Paris Hilton for a press gaggle to discuss passage of the SICAA. Next, I head to the Cannon Rotunda where I have an interview with Meet the Press NOW to discuss the budget situation before heading to a meeting of the Conservative Climate Caucus vice chairs to discuss our priorities for the year.
Rep. Carter, Paris Hilton, and Rep. Ro Khanna after the SICAA vote
Thursday, December 19, 2024: My day begins with a meeting of the Border Security Caucus where we meet with Tom Homan, who has been nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to be the next border czar, before heading back to our office to film our Christmas video and then heading off Capitol Hill for meetings. Once back in our office, I have interviews with WJCL-TV and WTOC-TV in Savannah to discuss where we are with a continuing resolution (CR) to our budget. Next, I join in on our all staff conference call before having a virtual meeting with our office consultant, Mark Sobol, and later head to the House Chamber for our first and only vote series of the day where a proposed CR is voted down putting us less than 36 hours away from a government shutdown at midnight tomorrow night.
Rep. Carter films the Christmas Special
Friday, December 20, 2024: After heading to the House Chamber this morning to pay tribute to retiring Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) Assistant Director and Chief Information Officer (CIO) Mike Vesta who is retiring after 40 years of service. The rest of the day is ‘hurry up and wait’ as leadership is negotiating a new CR. After lunch we have a two-hour GOP conference meeting where we discuss a new proposal for a CR. Finally, we have an agreement on a proposal and later in the afternoon we head to the House Chamber where we pass a CR that includes Disaster and Agriculture relief that will carry us through March 14th and help us avoid a government shutdown.