Ready, Set, Go

The 118th Congress is here. I’m ready to hit the ground running.

You already know that H.R. 1, the very first bill we are introducing, will repeal the 87,000 IRS agents hired through the Inflation “Reduction” Act to spy on hardworking Americans. That’s an easy yes vote, because as a small business owner myself, I understand how difficult the IRS is to navigate and the toll it can take on someone trying to earn an honest dollar.

We need an IRS that works for the people, not one that’s weaponized against them.

That’s not the only bill that’s locked and ready to go. In the first few weeks of 2023, Majority Leader Steve Scalise and the rest of the Republican Leadership have committed to bringing several pieces of legislation to the Floor, ones that will:

Help the United States compete with China
Restore our strategic petroleum reserve
Create transparency in the criminal justice system
Honor our brave law enforcement officers
Address the crisis at our southern border
Protect life
Safeguard freedom of speech and religion

This is just the start. Some talking heads want you to believe that the Republican Party can’t govern, but that is simply false – we are stronger than ever and ready to deliver on the Commitment to America with Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

It’s going to be a great two years.

What would you like for Congress to focus on during the 118th Congress?

Border Security

Big Tech

China

Hunter Biden

Washington Spending

FBI/DOJ Oversight

Other

buddy's briefing

In this week's edition of Buddy's Briefing, we're rooting for the Georgia Bulldogs!

in case you missed it

(Washington Examiner) - House Republicans have retaken the House with a slim, but crucial, majority. Now is the time to show the people what the end of one-party Democratic Party rule looks like by preparing to execute on a bold, unifying agenda for the 118th Congress.

The people elected us to lead. While Democrats spent the lame-duck session ramming through a last-minute $2 trillion spending bill, Republicans began preparing for a strong first 100 days by drafting our first 10 bills, establishing leadership positions, and lining up hearings. For our incoming House Republican majority, step one is uniting behind Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) as the next speaker of the House. McCarthy is a strong, fiscal conservative with the backing of former President Donald Trump. Not only does McCarthy have the resume for the job, but he is a strong messenger with a demonstrated history of delivering conservative results for the people and House Republicans...

To get Democrats to come to the table and reach a compromise on big issues of bipartisan agreement, such as the need to address our border crisis, combat China, schedule fentanyl, and prescription drug pricing, we must come together as a party behind one speaker. That speaker is Kevin McCarthy.

We have a four-seat majority. When we stick together, we will deliver for the people and close the book on one-party Democratic rule in Washington.

Read my full Washington Examiner op-ed here.

from our nation's capitol cccxci

Monday, January 2, 2023: Although last week was spent with family celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I did have time for quite a few media interviews including two on NewsMax, one early in the afternoon and the other later that night on Monday, December 26th. Both interviews dealt with the $1.7 trillion omnibus bill passed by the Democratic majority in Washington before we left for Christmas.

On Tuesday, the 27th, I was on The Ingraham Angle with my colleague, Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY), as we discussed the issues facing the 118th Congress with guest host Jason Chaffetz.

The next morning, Wednesday, December 28th, I was on Fox & Friends First as we discussed our Republican majority goals in the 118th Congress. On Friday, December 30th, I was on Mornings with Maria on Fox Business as we discussed the economy and crisis at the southern border.

Yesterday, I had a GOP conference call as we discussed our proposed schedule for the upcoming week. After flying back to Washington this morning, I join in on a GOP member meeting as we discuss the upcoming events of this week before heading to my office where I spend the afternoon catching up on paperwork.

Tuesday, January 3, 2023: There’s plenty of excitement at the Capitol this morning as family and friends of incoming members of the 118th Congress are in town to witness the swearing in of the new Congress. My day starts with yet another GOP conference as we discuss conference and House rules being proposed for the new Congress. Afterwards, I have a meeting with representatives from U.S. Sugar out of Florida, who recently purchased the Savannah Foods Sugar Refinery in Port Wentworth in Chatham County before heading to the speaker's lobby in the Capitol to pick up my new voter identification card and pin for the 118th Congress. Every session has a different color background for the pin and this session it is green.

Once back in my office, I meet with my good friends with the League of Southeastern Credit Unions before heading to the House Chamber for the start of the 118th Congress, or at least what we think is going to be the start. The first order of business today is performed by outgoing Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) as she sine die’s the 117th Congress, signifying the official end of the session.

The next order of business is the election of a new Speaker for the 118th Congress, a process that is presided over by the House Clerk. New members are sworn in by the speaker after the speaker is elected by the House and then sworn in by the Dean of the House, therefore before members can be sworn in we have to elect a speaker.

Next, we have a quorum call to determine which members of the 118th Congress are present and will be voting. Afterwards, we begin the nominations from the floor where current Minority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) is nominated by the Republican Conference as our nominee. While the Democratic Caucus nominates Rep. Hakeem Jefferies (D-NY), Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) is also nominated from the floor. With the nominations in place, the House Clerk starts the long and laborious process of calling on each member alphabetically to verbally vote for their choice for speaker. Interestingly, a member can vote for someone who is not nominated, and they can vote for someone who is not a member of the House of Representatives. On this vote Rep. Jeffries receives 212 votes, Rep. McCarthy receives 203 votes, Rep. Biggs receives 10 votes, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) receives 6 votes, Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN) receives 1 vote, Rep. Byron Donald (R-FL) receives 1 vote, and former Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY) receives 1 vote. Because no one receives a majority, another vote is called.

Between the first and second votes, I have a phone interview with Fox 28 in Savannah to discuss the current situation here. Next, nominations are made for the second vote and, along with Reps. McCarthy and Jeffries, Rep. Jordan is nominated. Again, no one receives a majority of the votes therefore we go to a third vote.

Between these votes, I meet with Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice, President and CEO of Morehouse School of Medicine to discuss legislative priorities for the new Congress. Once again, the same three candidates are nominated and, once again, no one gets a majority of votes, so we adjourn and negotiations between members and the nominees continue.

Wednesday, January 4, 2023: After a phone conference this morning with Rep. McCarthy to review yesterday and discuss what today will look like, I meet with Korean Ambassador Tae-yong Cho to discuss recent developments with regards to the EV tax credit provision in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

Following our all staff conference call, I head to the House Chamber for our second day of votes trying to elect a new speaker. Unfortunately, after three more vote series, we still don’t have a candidate who can get a majority of the votes. Normally, 218 is the magic number to claim a majority; however, currently we have one open seat and if members vote present or simply don’t vote, a figure lower than 218 can be counted as the majority. Today, a new third candidate emerges, Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL), who manages to get 20 votes during each vote series.

I have a number of interviews between vote series today including with the Atlanta Journal Constitution (AJC), British Broadcasting Company (BBC), and NTD. I also have the chance to Facetime our newest U.S. Military Academy Appointment, Jake Lindsey from Camden County, and congratulate him on his appointment.

Thursday, January 5, 2023: Our weekly GOP Doctor’s Caucus meeting is this morning and is a planning session for the year. Afterwards, I head to our first Whip Team meeting of the session before returning to my office where I film a video with my good friend Rep. Roger Williams (R-TX) who is a TCU graduate as we place a wager on the upcoming National Championship game between the TCU Horned Frogs and the University of Georgia Bulldogs.

Next, I have an interview with A Starting Point as we discuss wildlife trafficking before heading to the Budget Committee hearing room to film this week’s edition of Buddy’s Briefings.

Afterwards, I head back to the House Chamber where we continue with the process of trying to elect a new Speaker. Today we hold five more vote series and, while some new candidates emerge, including former President Donald J Trump, no one gets a majority and both Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and Rep. Kevin McCarthy appear to be stuck at 212 and 201, respectfully.

In between votes today, I have an interview on Newsmax and another one on WJCL TV in Savannah.

Friday, January 6, 2023: Day four and we still don’t have a speaker! After a phone interview with the Washington Post to discuss the newly created Patient Access Caucus that I am chairing to improve access to affordable and quality health care, I join in on a GOP member call to discuss the current impasse.

At high noon, we return to the House Chamber and finally we are seeing some movement, although not enough to put anyone over the top. After two more vote series, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) has increased his total to 214 while Rep. Jeffries remains steady at 212. After the second vote series, we vote to adjourn until 10PM tonight so that negotiations can continue.

Before heading back to the Chamber at 10PM, I have an interview with WJCL TV in Savannah. With the world watching, we return to the House Chamber at 10PM with what is thought to be a deal in hand to finally elect a speaker. The hour is late, the week is long, and frustration has infiltrated both sides of the aisle and yet it finally looks like on the 14th attempt we will elect a speaker; but, it doesn’t happen. Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) falls one vote shy of a majority, and a motion is made for the House to adjourn until Monday.

And then, just as the vote is to be closed, an agreement is made, and votes are changed to defeat the motion to adjourn. The 15th and final vote series is held in the early morning hours of Saturday, January 7th, and, with six people voting present, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) is elected Speaker of the 118th Congress with 216 votes. After being sworn in by the Dean of the House, Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY), Speaker Kevin McCarthy swears in members of the 118th Congress before giving his acceptance speech. After quickly passing resolutions to set up the staff structure of the House, at around 2:30AM we adjourn for the final time to end a truly historic week.