Buddy Carter

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember and honor a very special person, Mr. Martin NeSmith. Martin was a natural-born leader who dedicated his life to serving others, including serving his country in the National Guard. Following his graduation from Georgia Southern University, he began his career in the automobile industry and became the youngest dealer, at 24 years old, when he purchased a Chevrolet dealership in Claxton, Georgia. His kindness and selflessness extended to every area of his life, including his business ventures. For example, in the early 1990s, he revolutionized the car business with the ``No Hassle Buying'' concept because he wanted every customer to be honored and treated with respect. No hassle buying means customers get the best deal right away, without the need to negotiate. His dedication to the automobile industry earned him the highest honor an automobile dealer can achieve: the Time Magazine Quality Dealer Award. This award recognizes car dealers who exhibit exceptional performance in their dealerships and perform distinguished community service. Martin was a wonderful philanthropist within his community and beyond, and he led by example throughout his life. He was also known as a man of integrity who kept his word in all he did, and he never met a stranger. I was deeply saddened to hear of the loss of such an incredible person. My prayers go out to his family, friends, and community during this most difficult time.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 233, I am not recorded because of circumstances which caused me to miss the vote. Had I been present, I would have voted aye. On rollcall No. 234, I am not recorded because of circumstances which caused me to miss the vote. Had I been present, I would have voted aye. On rollcall No, 235, I am not recorded because of circumstances which caused me to miss the vote. Had I been present, I would have voted nay.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember and honor William E. ``Billie'' Clanton of Odum, Georgia, who passed away on November 27. Billie was raised in Wayne County and grew up picking tobacco and harvesting turpentine on his family farm. He was born with a robust entrepreneurial spirit which caused him to go from managing a successful fruit stand, as well as many other businesses, all the way to owning and operating the Chrysler Dodge dealership in 1965. Billie went on to serve as vice president of Southeastern Chrysler and Dodge Advertising board for 30 years. He was an avid supporter of Wayne County and was very active in his community. Billie was a 12-year host of the Day for Wayne, an event at his farm, which is a great event held in support of Wayne County. It is truly enjoyed by many every year and something I always look forward to. Because of his prominence in his community and his life devoted to serving others, the new Highway 169 Overpass will be dedicated in his name. Mr. Speaker, my deepest thoughts and prayers go out to Billie's family, his wife, Nell; his five daughters; his 16 grandchildren; his seven great-grandchildren, and two more on the way; his friends; and the entire Wayne community during this most difficult time.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, on rollcall no. 230, I am not recorded because of circumstances which caused me to miss the vote. Had I been present, I would have voted nay. On rollcall no. 231, I am not recorded because of circumstances which caused me to miss the vote. Had I been present, I would have voted nay. On rollcall no. 232, I am not recorded because of circumstances which caused me to miss the vote. Had I been present, I would have voted nay.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Truitt Eavenson from Carnesville, Georgia, on his retirement after 36 amazing years at Georgia Power. Truitt began his career at Georgia Power in 1984 as a distribution engineer, and he remained faithful to the company's values and operations ever since. He held a variety of leadership roles within Georgia Power, including, most recently, serving as the southeast region vice president since 2017. He was instrumental at fostering good working relationships with elected State officials, other Georgia companies and industries, and Georgia Power field office managers when he served as their vice president of governmental and regulatory affairs. He has been a leader in his community throughout his work with numerous organizations, including the Ossabaw Island Foundation, Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce, Savannah Economic Development Authority, and the University of Georgia Alumni Association. Mr. Speaker, I am thankful for Truitt's years of faithful service to Georgia Power and his community, and I wish him and his family the best as he begins his retirement. Congratulations, my friend.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate and honor Jim Galloway on his retirement from The Atlanta Journal- Constitution. He most recently served as AJC's political columnist and has been a writer and editor there for over 41 years. Jim knows Atlanta like the back of his hand, and he covered some of its most prominent figures and events. He was responsible for creating the AJC's Political Insider Blog, which is one of the south's most influential political news sites. Starting in 1992, Jim led the newspaper's Presidential coverage. He also covered various topics on religion, and even led the AJC foreign desk. I am thankful for Jim's many years of dedication to reporting in an honest and balanced manner, and I wish him the best as he begins his retirement.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Brian Mixon on his retirement after 4 years of Active Duty and 32 years of civilian service with the Department of the Army. Brian served honorably as an air traffic and airspace officer and was recognized for his work when he was awarded the Air Traffic Control Manager of the Year Award by the Air Traffic Control Association in 2019. The national award is formally known as the General E.R. Quesada Memorial Award, and it is a medallion award presented to an individual for outstanding achievement and contribution during the previous year as an air traffic control manager. This is not the first time Brian has been recognized for his exceptional work. He also earned two other national awards, among many others. Hunter Army Airfield in Georgia's First Congressional District is one of the premier power projection platforms in the Army, which is utilized to deploy thousands of soldiers and essential equipment. Brian's contributions have been essential to the readiness capabilities of the units that utilized Hunter Army Airfield. Mr. Speaker, I can't thank Brian enough for his many years of steadfast dedication in serving our great Nation, and I wish him the best as he begins his retirement.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Camden County in Georgia's First Congressional District for being awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada. Camden County was recognized for its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, or CAFR, for the fiscal year which ended June 30, 2019. The CAFR is judged by an impartial panel, and the high standards of the program include demonstrating a constructive spirit of full disclosure. In doing this, Camden County clearly communicated its financial story. This is a great honor because the certificate of achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of government accounting and financial reporting. Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate Camden County and its management for this significant accomplishment, and I express my gratitude for the work that they do for our community. Congratulating Brian A. Mixon

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate scDataCom, LLC, for being selected as an awardee of the HIRE Vets Medallion Program. The program was established by the Honoring Investments in Recruiting and Employing American Military Veterans Act of 2017, or the HIRE Vets Act. The HIRE Vets Medallion Program is the only Federal program that recognizes and honors job creators for their investments in recruiting, employing, and retaining our Nation's veterans. I am proud to say scDataCom, LLC, which is based out of Savannah, Georgia, achieved this small platinum award. In order to qualify for this particular award, at least 10 percent of the employees must be veterans. ScDataCom is a nationally recognized small business specializing in the design, installation, and service of physical and electronic security systems for both private and public sector clients. It was founded by Alaina and Kathleen, a successful mother-daughter duo. I want to congratulate Alaina and Kathleen again for this wonderful accomplishment. I am thankful for the work they do to serve their community and veterans, and I wish them the best. Congratulating Camden County for Receiving Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Jimmy Ray of Chatham County for being recognized as Veteran of the Year by the Veterans Council of Chatham County. Georgia's First Congressional District is home to many of our Nation's veterans, so being recognized as Veteran of the Year is an incredible honor. With this title, Jimmy will represent the Veterans Council at various events throughout the year. Jimmy is a past commander of the American Legion, Chatham Post 36, which is an organization dedicated to advocating for patriotism across the United States. Among his many lifetime achievements, he helped spearhead the fundraising and construction of the World War II Memorial on River Street in Savannah. He has also been an active member of the Savannah St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee for 35 years, and was even the 2013 parade grand marshal. I can't thank Jimmy enough for his outstanding service to our Nation throughout his life, and I want to congratulate him again on this wonderful accomplishment. Congratulating scDataCom, LLC for Receiving Platinum Award from HIRE Vets Medallion Program

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my legislation, H.R. 6435, because of the positive impact it will have on the American people. It has been no surprise that we have seen a rise in fraud and criminal activity as the Nation grapples with the pandemic response. In these difficult times, scammers have sought to take advantage of our fellow Americans. Whether it is elderly individuals being preyed upon by financial scammers or people ordering fake health products, there has been a number of scams facing our constituents. That is why I introduced the Combating Pandemic Scams Act with my good friend, Congresswoman Kuster, to address this issue. This bill would direct the FTC, along with other Federal partners, to disseminate information about these scams to the public to better protect themselves. That information would be user-friendly, ensuring vulnerable populations, such as senior citizens and those with disabilities, would have the same amount of access. Ensuring people have the most up-to-date information on how to protect themselves is critical to getting through these trying times. Federal agencies, such as the FTC, have been very active in going after these offenders who have targeted Americans during this pandemic. This bill will support those Federal efforts and help prepare Americans to help protect themselves from these scams. The bottom line is, this is commonsense legislation to go after the people preying on our neighbors and communities. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for their bipartisan support of this legislation and the committee staff for their work on getting this across the finish line. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to pass this legislation.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I am grateful for the time today to let me speak on this important legislation, and I thank Congresswoman Dean for introducing it. I am glad to be a lead Republican on this bill, as it corrects a loophole in the Orphan Drug Act that has been and very well could be taken advantage of at the expense of the American people's health. As you know, Mr. Speaker, the Orphan Drug Act provides incentives for drug manufacturers to invest in research to bring innovative drugs to market that may not become profitable or that treat a small portion of the population. Unfortunately, a loophole exists that allows some drugs to obtain market exclusivity even though they can easily recoup their R&D costs and turn a profit. This exact problem took place in just the past few years when a drug treating opioid abuse disorders got FDA approval-- orphan status--and a new 7-year exclusivity period, despite the active ingredient remaining the same, all based on the drug's original 1994 orphan designation. This subsequently blocked a new, innovative opioid abuse drug from coming to market during the opioid epidemic--a drug that would help save lives. The Orphan Drug Fairness Act would stop some drugs from obtaining exclusivity, in turn allowing more competition and innovation in the marketplace, benefiting consumers' health and lowering costs. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of this legislation.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I am thankful for the time today to speak on this important legislation, and I thank Congresswoman Barragan for being a champion of this issue. The coronavirus has wreaked havoc on our 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 conducting critical research and helping us work to lessen the health disparities minority communities face. We must ensure schools, including the Morehouse College in my home State of Georgia, are able to conduct their research without disruption. Their efforts will better prepare all of us to respond to the coronavirus and other health inequities more effectively. I urge passage today.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of Hugh Pendleton Nunnally, Jr., who was a pillar in the Golden Isles community. Hugh was born and raised in Atlanta and graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in agriculture. After graduating, he was fortunate enough to be mentored by Malon Courts of the Courts & Company and became a broker within 2 years. In 1955, he was drafted into the Army and finished his service in 1957 as a sergeant. Following Hugh's time in the Army, he became a founding partner in the brokerage firm Budd & Company and then a founding partner of Presidential Financial Company. After the death of his precious wife, Miriam, he was devoted to many philanthropic efforts, including the Southeast Georgia Health System, the Nunnally House, the College of Coastal Georgia, the Humane Society of South Coastal Georgia, and the Hospice of the Golden Isles. Hugh will always be remembered for his endearing smile, compassion, and selflessness. My thoughts and prayers are with all who knew and loved him during this most difficult time.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Raquel Salter for being selected for promotion from lieutenant commander to commander in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserves. Commander Salter is a 29-year veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard and served about one-third of her time in Georgia's First Congressional District. Throughout her service, she has always gone above and beyond to selflessly defend our Nation and advocate for the Coast Guard, especially servicewomen. Over her 29 years of service, Commander Salter has been activated to Key West for the Cuban Raft Crisis, to Savannah to assist with the Olympic sailing security, to Charleston for Operation Iraqi Freedom, and to Savannah again for 9/11 and to help assist with the G8 summit security. This year, Commander Salter was chosen as part of a select group to help with COVID-19 response in Miami. I can't thank her enough for her steadfast commitment to serving our country and countless Americans, and I wish her the best in her new position.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the City of Jesup's Sesquicentennial, or 150th anniversary. Founded October 24, 1870, Jesup is a special place that started as a humble railroad town. Although there isn't a definitive historical document, it's long been debated what Jesup was named after. In honor of Jesup's 150th anniversary, a trial was recently held by Wayne County High School to determine who founded Jesup. It was Jesup's first mayor, Willis Clary, who was influential in the growth of the town in its early years since he urged that the Macon & Brunswick railroad crossed the Savannah & Gulf line at Jesup in 1871. Movie stars and presidential candidates frequently visited Jesup to promote their movies and campaign from the back of the trains. The long-seated history of Jesup helped make it the thriving city it is today. I am thankful for the work of Jesup's current mayor, David Earl Keith, who works wholeheartedly for the people of Jesup every day.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Brian Mixon on his retirement after 4 years of active duty and 32 years of civilian service with the Department of the Army. Brian served honorably as an air traffic and airspace officer, and was recognized for his work when he was awarded the Air Traffic Control Manager of the Year award by the Air Traffic Control Association in 2019. This national award is formally known as the General E.R. Quesada Memorial Award, and it's a medallion award presented to an individual for outstanding achievement and contribution during the previous year as an Air Traffic Control Manager. This is not the first time Brian has been recognized for his exceptional work. He also earned two other national awards, among many others. Hunter Army Airfield in Georgia's First Congressional District is one of the premier power projection platforms in the Army, which is utilized to deploy thousands of soldiers and essential equipment. Brian's contributions have been essential to the readiness capabilities of the units that utilize Hunter Army Airfield. I can't thank him enough for his many years of steadfast dedication to serving our great nation, and I wish Brian the best as he begins his retirement.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Jimmy Ray of Chatham County for being recognized as Veteran of the Year by the Veterans Council of Chatham County. Georgia's First Congressional District is home to many of our nation's veterans, so being recognized as veteran of the year is an incredible honor. With this title, Jimmy will represent the Veterans Council at various events throughout the year. Jimmy is a past commander of the American Legion Chatham Post 36, which is an organization dedicated to advocating for patriotism across the United States. Among his many lifetime achievements, he helped spearhead the fundraising and construction of the World War II Memorial on River Street in Savannah. He has also been an active member of the Savannah St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee for 35 years, and was even the 2013 parade Grand Marshal. I can't thank Jimmy enough for his outstanding service to our nation throughout his life, and I congratulate him again on this wonderful accomplishment.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Raquel Salter for being selected for promotion from Lieutenant Commander to Commander in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserves. Commander Salter is a 29-year veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard and served about one-third of her time in Georgia's First Congressional District. Throughout her service, she has always gone above and beyond to selflessly defend our nation and advocate for the Coast Guard, especially servicewomen. Over her 29 years of service, Commander Salter has been activated to Key West for the Cuban Raft Crisis, to Savannah to assist with the 1997 Olympic sailing security, to Charleston for Operation Iraqi Freedom, and to Savannah again for 9/11 and to help assist with the G8 summit security. This year, Commander Salter was chosen as part of a select group to help with Covid-19 response in Miami. I can't thank her enough for her steadfast commitment to serving our country and countless Americans, and I wish her the best in her new position.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize National Forest Products Week. This week is important to celebrate because it honors the role of forest landowners who are the unsung heroes and stewards of America's forests. Because of their work, they have made the United States the world's number one wood producer, providing nearly half of the global supply of wood fiber. Well-managed forests supply the wood and fiber essential to the production of everyday goods we all depend on. As the representative for Georgia's coast and an avid outdoorsman, I recognize the importance of sustainable forestry. Private landowners' sustainable practices of planting, growing, and harvesting trees for domestic wood supply leads to increased job opportunities in the forest supply chain, as well as a decreased dependence on foreign imports. In Georgia, forest landowners' contributions are critical to domestic supply chains. They were even designated an essential workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic. I thank all forest landowners across Georgia for their contributions.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of Hugh Pendleton Nunnally, Jr. who was a pillar in the Golden Isles community. Hugh was born and raised in Atlanta and graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in agriculture. After graduating, he was fortunate enough to be mentored by Malon Courts of the Courts & Co. and became a broker within 2 years. In 1955, he was drafted into the Army and finished his service in 1957 as a sergeant. Following Hugh's time in the Army, he became a founding partner in the brokerage firm, Budd & Co., and then a founding partner of Presidential Financial Co. After the death of his precious wife, Miriam, he was devoted to many philanthropic efforts, including the Southeast Georgia Health System, the Nunnally House, the College of Coastal Georgia, The Humane Society of South Coastal Georgia, and Hospice of the Golden Isles. Hugh will always be remembered for his endearing smile, compassion, and selflessness. My thoughts and prayers are with all who knew and loved him during this most difficult time.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor 20-year veteran harbor pilot Jonathan ``J.T.'' Tennant of Brunswick, Georgia, who played a pivotal role in ensuring the safety of all crewmembers aboard the Golden Ray carrier when it shipwrecked over a year ago on September 8, 2019. If you visit St. Simons Island in Georgia's First District, it's hard to miss the Golden Ray, which is a 656-foot-long car carrier that remains capsized on the St. Simons Sound. As the investigation into the incident by the U.S. Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board continues, we've been able to gain valuable insight from crewmembers and others involved. Although he had steered a city block-sized cargo ship from the Brunswick River to the St. Simons Sound several thousand times, nothing could have prepared J.T. for what happened the morning of September 8. The Golden Ray was sailing normally, but the rudder and the propeller came up out of the water to where J.T. had no operational control of the vessel and it started capsizing rapidly. He endured flames melting the steel and smoke emanating airboxes the entire length of the ship. A testament to his extensive experience piloting more than 5,000 ships in and out of the Port of Brunswick, J.T. drove the Golden Ray as far up on the Sound as possible that day to ensure all 23 mariners aboard were saved and rescued. When you see the giant cargo ship in the sound and realize there was no loss of life, it is nothing short of a miracle and a testament to the hard-working crew--including J.T. Although it is an unfortunate situation, I am thankful for the courage and determination J.T. and the entire crew displayed that day.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Holley Dean of Savannah, Georgia, for being named to Forbes' America's Top Women Wealth Advisors List for 2020. Ms. Dean is remarkably one of ten women who were selected from a pool of 32,000 nominations. Top advisors across the country were nominated by their firms and then researched, interviewed, and assigned a ranking within their respective states. Service models, investing process, client retention, experience levels, review of compliance records, and firm nominations are some of many factors considered. The decision is also based on quantitative criteria, such as assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Holley currently serves as a financial advisor for Stifel, which is a diversified global wealth management and investment banking company. Her hard work and dedication throughout the years has clearly paid off, and she deserves to be honored and celebrated for this amazing accomplishment. I wish her the best of luck in the years to come.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to remember and honor the life of Mr. Jack Kaster who passed away on September 8 at the age of 91. Jack bravely served our country in the Korean War as a First Lieutenant in the Army and was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. He spent 33 years working with IBM, and then went on to spend 3 decades selflessly leading charitable organizations. Jack loved music and sports, especially golf, and was devoted to serving others with every opportunity he was given. He was president of the Fairfield County Council Boy Scouts, and he was impressively awarded the Silver Beaver, which is the highest national non-Scout honor. Jack was committed to improving education and literacy throughout his 20 years serving as Chairman and then lifetime board member of the Live Oak Public Libraries Foundation in Savannah. I am thankful for the selfless and honorable life Jack led. He will be dearly missed by his family, friends, and all who knew him.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of a true health care hero, Dr. James ``Jim'' Walter Bartling, who passed away on September 24 at the age of 70. Jim dedicated his life to being an amazing son, brother, husband, father, teacher, counselor, pharmacist, and friend. His life was marked by his contributions to the practice of pharmacy as soon as he graduated from Mercer University Southern School of Pharmacy with a Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy, as well as a Doctorate in Pharmacy degree. Jim practiced at Doctors Memorial Hospital in Atlanta before being named Director of Admissions, Job Placement, and Continuing Education at Mercer University, and eventually became the Dean for Student Affairs and Admissions and served in that role for 38 years until he retired in 2016. He was also committed to counseling and supporting pharmacists, student pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians with substance abuse disorders. As a pharmacist myself, I am immensely grateful for the work he did to leave a lasting impact on the pharmacy profession and the countless lives he touched. His legacy will surely continue for many years to come.