Buddy Carter

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate a Georgia legend on his induction into the Georgia Military Veterans Hall of Fame Class of 2020. Coach Vince Dooley was inducted for his military service and his lifetime of selfless service to others. After graduating from college, Coach Dooley served his country in the Marine Corps for 2 years. It is without question that Coach Dooley has had a positive impact on the University of Georgia as well as communities across the country. During his 25 years as head football coach of the University of Georgia, the Bulldogs won six SEC titles and a national championship. Coach Dooley's service did not stop on the field and has carried over into the community. His community service has extended to organizations such as the Heart Fund, Multiple Sclerosis, Juvenile Diabetes, Boy Scouts, Salvation Army, and Georgia Easter Seals Society. He has also traveled abroad and led missions to provide spiritual and physical healing to those in need. I want to thank Coach Dooley for his selfless commitment to improving the lives of others, and I want to congratulate him on his induction.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Madam Speaker, I am here today to ask my colleagues across the aisle to set aside this weak bill and support permanently--permanently as in forever--scheduling fentanyl and its analogues. We just heard from the gentlewoman from Texas. We all agree: It is not good. Fentanyl is the problem. Here, we have an opportunity for us to work together to help stem the flow of deadly fentanyl and its analogues in our country. This is an issue that impacts every one of us--every one of us. Whether we are Republican, Democrat, Independent, it impacts every one of us in our communities. Just last week, in my home State of Georgia, the Georgia Attorney General announced that he is investigating fatal drug overdoses based on counterfeit medications laced with fentanyl and its analogues. These individuals bought illegal products they believed to be Xanax, Percocet, and oxycodone. Overdoses like this happen every day all over the country--all over the country. Yet, some of my colleagues want to go soft on fentanyl analogues and let these products become legal in just mere weeks, or temporarily schedule it for a few months until they can craft another weak plan. How can anyone seriously argue that a drug 50 times more potent than heroin and which almost always proves fatal when ingested, should ever be legal? These products are manufactured illegally, and they are largely brought into the U.S. through the southern border. Every year, U.S. agents intercept enough fentanyl and its analogues to kill every single American several times over. In fact, Customs and Border Patrol announced in 2019, they had enough seized fentanyl to kill 800 million people. And that is what they had seized; we don't know what else came across. I visited the border last week to see the crisis firsthand. Border patrol agents are so overwhelmed with a 20-year record high number of illegal immigrants that smugglers and cartels are using this as an opportunity to traffic more fentanyl substances. If the President and Vice President would visit the border, they would be able to talk to the agents firsthand and see for themselves how serious the issue is. Instead, they have elected to leave our border wide open. We are inviting drug traffickers to bring fentanyl substances into the country and distribute it in our streets. This should not be a partisan issue. Fentanyl does not discriminate. It does not. The individuals manufacturing and distributing fentanyl and its analogues are criminals, and they are getting our neighbors killed. This is not an issue that is going away. It is only getting worse. The CDC reports that there were enough overdoses last year than any single year before. This is the time for us to crack down on fentanyl-related substances, and I hope that we will do that.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise today with serious reservations about the proposed infrastructure policies coming before this body. Every Member in Congress represents a district with infrastructure needs. Urban or rural, conservative or liberal, we all represent communities that have dire infrastructure needs we should be addressing. That is why President Biden's recent discussion about infrastructure, along with his comments about wanting to establish a bipartisan legislative effort were encouraging. Unfortunately, none of this would come to fruition. We didn't see a bipartisan push. We didn't see significant input taken from Members and Senators on our side of the aisle. We didn't see a willingness to want to work together. The $2.2 trillion plan wasn't released after significant back-and- forth discussions. No, it was released after development by the White House and then pushed out in a media blitz. As anticipated, the package was a partisan exercise. Just 5 percent goes to repairing roads and bridges. As the core definition of infrastructure, there is very little attention shown. Only 1 percent goes to airports. Other countries around the world continue to build state-of-the-art airports, as airports here in the United States struggle to keep up with demand. Ports and inland waterways, an issue important to me as the representative of two major seaports, is even more astounding. Just one percent of this bill goes to ports and inland waterways. Ridiculous. Now is the time for real infrastructure investments, but this isn't the plan Americans need. I urge my colleagues to start from scratch and focus on the real issue here: Our Nation's infrastructure needs.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Assistant Director Darren Cruzan for his outstanding career as assistant director for National Capital Region Training Operations at the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers, FLETC, in Washington, D.C. Mr. Cruzan has had a long distinguished career as a Federal, local, and Tribal law enforcement official. His law enforcement career began in 1992, as a reserve patrol officer with the Joplin, Missouri Police Department. As he rose through the ranks of law enforcement from police officer to criminal investigator, Mr. Cruzan's service has always focused on the critical needs of Indian Country, especially law enforcement training for police, corrections, and telecommunications officers. In 2017, the Secretary of the Interior honored Mr. Cruzan with the Department of Interior's Distinguished Service Award, the highest recognition an employee within the Department can receive for his outstanding contributions. During his time, he has provided FLETC with tremendous executive leadership and management. Mr. Cruzan has dedicated his life to protecting others, and I thank him for his years of service.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 250th anniversary of the founding of Brunswick, Georgia. Located on the southeast coast of Georgia, Mark Carr was the first European settler to live in what is now the city of Brunswick. In 1771, the council of the Royal Province of Georgia ordered the city of Brunswick to be laid out on Carr's land. The city was platted by George McIntosh, copying the Oglethorpe Plan of Savannah. Since its founding, the city of Brunswick has overcome fires, hurricanes, wars, and pandemics and has flourished as a coastal city. Despite such trying times in the past year due to the pandemic, businesses have continued to emerge and the spirit of the people continues to shine. It has been 250 years since the momentous decision to establish Brunswick as a city, and I want to recognize the great citizens and public officials of Brunswick who have made it and continue to make it a tremendous community and place to live. Let this anniversary serve as a reminder of all that we have gone through in the past and how capable we are of making it through these trying times together.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to remember and honor Ronnie Huggins of Garden City and Rincon, Georgia, who passed away on March 21, 2020, at the age of 80. Ronnie was born in Savannah, Georgia, and was a graduate of Savannah High School. He went on to proudly serve our country in the 118th U.S. Army Field Artillery Regiment. One of Ronnie's passions in life was helping others achieve their dreams. He started his own construction business and quickly became a distinguished and beloved residential home builder throughout the Coastal Empire and Lowcountry of Hilton Head Island. He took great pride in, and had a talent for, helping others achieve their dream home, spending countless hours drawing and redrawing house plans by hand. Ronnie's passion as a volunteer in youth recreation would eventually lead to an appointment as the recreation director for Garden City. Ronnie's wife, Sheila, passed away on March 30, 2021. My thoughts and prayers are with their family, friends, and all who knew them during this most difficult time. Recognizing Brunswick, Georgia's 250th Anniversary

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Brunswick High School student teachers, who recently passed the end of pathway assessments for early childhood education. These students earned the honor of being the high-scoring group that has participated in the Pint Pirates program--all of this while in the middle of a pandemic. I commend this group of students for their hard work and dedication. The Pint Pirates program is an in-school preschool program offered at Brunswick High and taught by students from Glynn Academy and Brunswick High School pursuing the early childhood education pathway. The mission of the class is to help young children prepare for prekindergarten and to better prepare high school students who are interested in teaching early childhood programs. I am extremely proud to have these great students and program here in the First Congressional District of Georgia. To teachers, students, and staff alike at Brunswick High School and Glynn Academy: Congratulations on your accomplishments, and keep up the good work. Honoring Walter Ronald Huggins

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to remember and honor Bobby Ryon of Hinesville, Georgia, who sadly passed away on March 20 at the age of 65. Bobby lived a remarkable life and touched countless lives. He was a lifelong resident of Hinesville, Georgia, and was a proud graduate of Bradwell Institute's class of 1974. Everyone who knew Bobby remembers his kind and gentle spirit. He was a former city of Hinesville council member, and served in various capacities in many organizations, including Liberty County Hospital Authority, Liberty County Chamber of Commerce, Diversity Health Clinic, and Hinesville Housing Authority. Through every position he had, he worked to better his community and every life he touched. Many say that his greatest love was his family, and those who knew him best know his greatest love also was his Lord. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and all who knew him, during this most difficult time. Congratulating Brunswick High School Student Teachers

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Lorrie Ford Merker for all the work she has done to improve the lives of Georgia's blueberry farmers. Lorrie has made outstanding contributions to the blueberry industry for three decades. Born and raised in southeastern Michigan, Lorrie graduated from Michigan State University and has spent her entire adult life improving the agriculture sector. For the past 32 years Lorrie has worked with the Michigan Blueberry Growers Association which represents 250 growers in eight States and British Columbia. She has also been involved in advocacy at the State and national levels to promote an understanding of the labor and environmental challenges facing farmers. Throughout her career she has accumulated a long list of awards and accomplishments, including the North American Blueberry Council's Alex Wetherbee Award, for her outstanding contributions to the promotion and marketing of blueberries. Madam Speaker, I want to thank Lorrie for all the work she has done for Georgia's blueberry growers and for growers across the country.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to remember and honor Mr. Bill Downey III of St. Simons Island, Georgia, who passed away on February 28 at the age of 87. Bill was a gentleman in every sense of the word, and he dedicated his life to serving others. After proudly serving his country in the United States Army, Bill met his wife of 58 years, Beth Newton. Service to his community was an integral part of Bill's character. His kindness and selflessness extended to every area of his life, including his time as president of the Golden Isles Board of Realtors, chairman of the St. Simons Island Chamber of Commerce, chairman of the Airport Commission, and chairman of the Board of Frederica Academy. He was also a member of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, where he served as senior warden. Everyone who knew Bill recognized his giving heart and love for the outdoors. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and all who knew him during this most difficult time.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to remember and honor Jack Marshall Jones, Jr., of Savannah, Georgia, who, sadly, passed away on April 3 at the age of 84. Jack was born in Savannah and went on to graduate from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill with a degree in economics. As an active member in the Savannah community, Jack served on several boards, including Armstrong State University Foundation, Savannah Country Day School, and the Savannah Rotary Club. Jack was also a founder and director of First Bank of Savannah and the Savannah Bancorp. In his free time, Jack enjoyed exploring the Wilmington River and the treasure of our beautiful coast. However, it was his loving relationship with his wife of 60 years, his family--including his granddaughter and a former member of my staff, Caroline--and friends that fulfilled him. I am thankful for the immense impact he had on the Savannah community, and I know his legacy will remain. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and all those who knew him during this most difficult time.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I am here today to ask my colleagues across the aisle to support the efforts outlined in H.R. 2430 to extend the emergency scheduling of fentanyl analogues. This is an opportunity for us to work together to help stem the flow of deadly fentanyl and its analogues into our country. This is also an issue that impacts every one of us and the communities that we call home. We all know someone who has been the victim of an addictive or illegal opioid. Just last week in my home State of Georgia, the Georgia attorney general announced that he is investigating fatal drug overdoses blamed on counterfeit medications--medications laced with fentanyl. Those individuals bought illegal products they believed to be Xanax, Percocet, and Roxicodone. These clusters of overdoses were spread across my State, and I know we are not alone. It continues to take the lives of our fellow Americans, and more must be done to fight this. Fentanyl is an extremely dangerous substance. Three milligrams is enough to be fatal. It is 50 times more potent than heroin. First responders just touching or accidentally inhaling the substance can experience severe complications and possible death. So where is this coming from? Across the border with Mexico. The GAO even reports that seizures of fentanyl from Mexico increased by more than 200 percent from 2018 to 2020. Every year, U.S. Border Patrol agents intercept enough fentanyl to kill every single American several times over. In fact, the CBP announced in 2019 that they had enough seized fentanyl to kill 800 million people. I visited the border last week to see this crisis firsthand. I was surprised. It wasn't a crisis. It was a disaster. It is a disaster on the border. Border Patrol agents are so overwhelmed with a 20-year record high number of illegal immigrants that smugglers and cartels are using this as an opportunity to traffic more fentanyl. If the President and Vice President would visit the border like I did, then they would be able to talk to the agents firsthand and see for themselves how serious this issue is. Instead, they have elected to leave our border wide open. We are inviting drug traffickers to bring fentanyl into the country and distribute it into our streets--my streets and your streets, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, if we don't look at long-term scheduling options for all fentanyl products, then we remove the last line of defense to provide a deterrent to illegal distribution.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Our communities are at risk, Madam Speaker, your community and my community--all of our communities. They don't care if it is a Democratic community or a Republican community. They are at risk. It is time for us to work together as a Congress to pass good legislation. We started to address the opioid epidemic in a bipartisan fashion when Republicans were in the majority with the passage of the SUPPORT Act--a bipartisan product--and the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act. We should get back to working together, and this is a great opportunity to do so. Madam Speaker, as you know, professionally I am a pharmacist. I have witnessed this. It does not discriminate. Opioid addiction doesn't care if you are a Republican, a Democrat, a male, a female, African American, Caucasian, or Hispanic. It does not care. It is an addiction that is paralyzing our country. Madam Speaker, I urge defeat of the previous question so that we can immediately consider H.R. 2430.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1460. The bill, the Nicholas and Zachary Burt Memorial Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act is a piece of legislation that can save lives. It would direct the Consumer Product Safety Commission to award grants to install carbon monoxide alarms in buildings and facilities that house vulnerable members of the population. According to the CDC, at least 430 people die in the United States from accidental CO poisoning every year. On top of that, nearly 50,000 people visit the ER every year because of accidental CO poisoning. On a higher note, we can curb this statistic. Better monitoring systems will ensure that people can prepare and protect themselves. This bipartisan legislation, which I was proud to cosponsor with my good friend, Representative Kuster from New Hampshire, helps us move the needle on this important subject. Many of us have heard stories of families being impacted by this tragic and preventable outcome. Whether it is seniors or children, this bill can help save lives. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her hard work on this bill, and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, thank you to Congresswoman Barragan for being a champion of this issue, and she truly is a champion of this issue. The coronavirus has wreaked havoc on our communities, especially minority communities. Now more than ever, we must support minority academic institutions and the critical research they conduct. Minority academic institutions can play a big role in helping to address the systemic health disparities minority communities are feeling. We must ensure schools, including Morehouse College in my home State of Georgia, are able to conduct their research without disruption. Without a reauthorization of this program, health research will have to be paused or abandoned altogether. We must not let this happen. The efforts of these researchers will help better prepare all of us to respond to the coronavirus and other health inequities more effectively. I urge passage of this very important legislation.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, today, we are addressing a problem that didn't even exist a week ago. It did not even exist last week. The Republicans stood on this floor and argued against the $1.9 trillion partisan package last week. There were many reasons to oppose it, but one of the most significant reasons was the fact that the bill would trigger cuts to Medicare and other essential programs. We argued that it would harm all of our constituents. I argued that it would harm my constituents in Georgia to my friend, my fellow delegation member. This bill penalized the State of Georgia more than any State in the United States. More than any State in the Nation, Georgia was punished. We lost $1.3 billion because of the funding formula. We didn't shut down our State, and we didn't destroy our economy, and the funding was based on the unemployment rate and not population. Where did that $1.3 billion go? It went to blue States. It went to California, and it went to New York. Georgian taxpayers' money went to other States; it went to blue States. What did it do to Medicare in the State of Georgia? We lost $11.5 billion that would have gone to the seniors on Medicare in the State of Georgia. Where did it go? Again, it went to California, and it went to New York. It went to the blue States. It went to the States that shut down their businesses and destroyed their economies. Yet, the bill was pushed forward anyway. This could have all been avoided altogether. We could have crafted a bipartisan package that would not have triggered these Medicare cuts. Instead, those across the aisle resorted to forcing a bill through reconciliation. In the end, they passed a package filled with political favors on the back of our seniors. Again, this could have been avoided. But today, we need to fix this for our constituents who are recognizing we have a spending problem. Now that the largest stimulus bill in our history has been signed into law, our deficit for the year will also break records. We are now projected to have a Federal deficit of $3.4 trillion, and debt as a share of our GDP will be at 100 percent for only the second time in our country's history. My colleagues have shown little regard for actually paying for this reckless spending for political favor. That is why I urge my colleagues to find a way to pay for restoring the cuts to Medicare. The first place I suggest looking for it is in the over 90 percent of the last package that will not go to addressing the pandemic. Mr. Speaker, this is wrong, and my colleagues know it is wrong. Let's get this fixed.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember and honor Burke Wall, who passed away on March 1, 2021, at the age of 76. Burke was a lifelong Georgian who graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in dairy production. Burke was an avid UGA football fan and an active sportsman. Burke was also an enthusiastic deep-sea fisherman aboard his boat called Trashman, and his talents were recognized in numerous tournaments along the East Coast. In 2019, Burke won the Edisto Beach South Carolina Governor's Cup Tournament and impressively put a 549-pound blue marlin on the dock at the Mid-Atlantic 500 the same year, earning him second place. Burke owned Superior Sanitation Services, sold that company to Waste Management, and then founded Atlantic Waste Services in Pooler in 1999. Although Burke grew up with humble beginnings on his family's dairy farm, he lived a life of immense influence through his involvement with the Chatham Club, the Rotary Club of Savannah, the Savannah Yacht Club, and several other professional organizations. My thoughts and prayers go out to all who knew him during this most difficult time, especially his son, Ben.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition of this bill because we have a crisis along our southern border. We have record numbers of migrants seeking to come into our country. The number of unaccompanied children illegally crossing the border increased 63 percent last month. This is truly a humanitarian and security crisis, but the current administration is not adequately addressing it. In fact, they are not addressing it at all. Instead of doing more to protect our border, the administration is rolling back policies that discourage this kind of mass migration. Today, we are considering a bill that does nothing to solve the problem. In fact, it shows that there are no repercussions for breaking our laws and encourages more to attempt to enter the country illegally. We need a comprehensive and bipartisan solution to this crisis that discourages entering illegally and rewards following the law.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 86.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize St. Patrick's Day in Savannah, Georgia. The first St. Patrick's Day parade in Savannah began in 1824, and it is now a parade that gathers hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world. The second-largest St. Patrick's Day in the United States is important for everyone in Savannah, but it is especially important for the Savannah Irish community. Savannah has a historically large Irish community that is integral to the fabric of the city, and the St. Patrick's Day parade is the direct result of this impact. Unfortunately, the parade and election of the grand marshal was canceled this year due to the pandemic. However, it is important that we continue to celebrate and honor the heritage and culture of the Irish. I look forward to continuing this special tradition and celebrating St. Patrick's Day in Savannah with everyone once the pandemic ends.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to remember and honor an important voice of Tybee Island, Georgia. Michael, or Mike, Scarbrough passed away on March 4. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama, but eventually moved to Norcross, Georgia, where he became vice president of Marathon Construction. Mike later moved to Tybee Island in 1992, where he and his lovely wife, Iris, became owners of Lazaretto Creek Marina. There, they created Captain Mike's Dolphin Tours. Captain Mike's Dolphin Tours was voted the best adventure tour on Tybee Island for 9 straight years, and it was all thanks to Mike's tireless contributions and engaging persona. Mike was an active member of the Tybee Island Republican Club, Tybee Island American Legion, and the Alee Temple Shriners. I am thankful for his wonderful contributions to Tybee Island for the last few decades. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends, and all who knew him during this most difficult time.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to oppose this bill and to urge my colleagues to do the same. After passing more than $3 trillion worth of relief packages, we find ourselves finally overcoming the COVID-19 virus. We have successfully developed vaccines to combat this virus in record time, and now we see our economy opening up and coming back to full strength. What is more, we have yet to spend $1 trillion that has already been enacted, that has already been appropriated, already been voted on. Why do we need to pass another $1.9 trillion? You will find the reasons in the more than 90 percent of the bill that does not specifically target combating COVID-19. What you will find is a partisan list of priorities and bailouts, 27 percent of it going to bailing out State and local governments that insisted on continued harmful lockdowns and did little to stop the virus, 21 percent dedicated to partisan policies that will reduce employment, and 45 percent of the bill won't even be spent until 2022 or later. Perhaps that is why only two Republican amendments of 229 were accepted. The only thing bipartisan about this bill has been the opposition to it.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to these firearms and background check bills that would not be effective in ending gun violence. Instead, these bills would restrict the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans. Simply increasing the number of laws and adding more hurdles to lawful gun ownership does not get to the core of reducing gun violence. These changes to the background check system won't stop criminals from obtaining firearms. Why don't we focus our efforts on smart policies that would actually reduce the number of gun deaths? Last year, more Americans bought more guns than ever. In fact, gun ownership has grown significantly over the last 20 years, but we have also seen our violent crime rate drop over that same period. Rather than going after law-abiding citizens, let's figure out where we can work together to address the real problems here. Let us invest in solving the real policy questions we can answer instead of restricting Americans' freedom. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to oppose these bills.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize National Pharmacist Day, which takes place in January annually to recognize and honor pharmacists across the Nation. As a pharmacist myself, I thoroughly understand the role each pharmacist plays as an integrated member of the healthcare team. Every day, pharmacists are directly involved in patient care, and pharmacists are the most accessible healthcare professionals in the country. Ninety-five percent of Americans live within 5 miles of a pharmacy. As we battle COVID-19, pharmacists should be recognized, as they are on the front lines dispensing the vaccine. Because of their work, lives will be saved. They have been vital resources throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and they will continue to play an active role in combating the virus. I ask that you join me in recognizing all pharmacists by thanking them for their work.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate SD Gunner Fund's Britnee Kinard for receiving the President's Lifetime Achievement Award because of her outstanding service to fellow Americans. The AmeriCorps President's Lifetime Achievement Award is the highest honor of the President's Volunteer Service Award and it recognizes individuals, families, and groups who achieve a remarkable number of service hours. In receiving the lifetime achievement award, Britnee is being recognized for her over 4,000 hours of service to ensure the continuation of America's unrivaled commitment to improving countless lives. Britnee is the founder and president of SD Gunner Fund, which is an incredible organization that assists veterans, exceptional children, and first responders in receiving vital resources, such as service dogs, therapy dogs, emergency assistance, community advocacy and education, and much more. She was inspired to start the successful SD Gunner Fund when she left her high-profile career in business to become a full-time caregiver to her husband after he suffered life-altering injuries while serving our country in Operation Iraqi Freedom. I want to thank Britnee for her selfless commitment to service through SD Gunner Fund, and I wish her the best. I am extremely proud to have Britnee here in the First Congressional District of Georgia. National Pharmacist Day