Buddy Carter

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Murray Poole, who is retiring after 54 years of covering local sports in the news in towns across coastal Georgia. The long-time sports editor of The Brunswick News, Mr. Poole was known throughout the Golden Isles as both fair and supportive of all the local players and the teams. Mr. Poole simply never wrote a bad word about anyone. Mr. Poole interviewed nearly every major sports star who came through the Golden Isles, including Mickey Mantle, Davis Love III, and Adam Wainwright, and made it a point to ask them only feel-good questions. But more importantly, Mr. Poole gave his undivided attention to local sporting events. Murray would highlight everyone from the high school region championship golf team to the second-string freshman football player. Mr. Poole's journalism in the Golden Isles is simply irreplaceable. Mr. Speaker, may Mr. Poole enjoy his retirement. We thank him for his service to our community.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Howard Young, who turns 95 years young on November 25. He has lived in the Savannah area for over 30 years, and, during this time, he has spent countless hours helping others around the community. After retiring in his 50s, he began to spend each day with a different organization volunteering. On Mondays he works with the Veterans Administration Clinic, on Tuesdays he works with senior citizens. And the list doesn't stop at Friday. A World War II Navy veteran, he works with veterans to help them get medical benefits on Saturdays and serves at the Isle of Hope Methodist Church on Sundays. I am proud to have a constituent like Mr. Young in the First Congressional District of Georgia. It is easy to be inspired by his work making the world a better place to live. As he says: ``Each passing day is gone forever, so I want to spend as much of each day as possible helping someone who can't help himself.'' Happy birthday, Mr. Young.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Meg Heap, who was recently honored by the Zonta Club of Savannah for her work to reduce domestic violence against women. Serving as the district attorney for the Savannah area since 2013, she has spearheaded a number of programs in coastal Georgia to create greater equality for women. She created an early notification prosecutor position for domestic violence and an early notification process for the Victim Witness Program. Additionally, she created a one-stop Chatham County Family Justice Center. In 2019, the District Attorney Association of Georgia selected her as the District Attorney of the Year. From Savannah originally, Ms. Heap can be an inspiration to all of us about giving back to your community. Thank you, Ms. Heap, for all of your work to make Savannah a better place to live, and thank you to the Zonta Club of Savannah for recognizing her achievements. Happy 95th Birthday to Mr. Howard Young

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the month of November as National Healthy Skin Month. Your skin is your body's largest organ, so it is critical to take care of it. Unfortunately, skin cancer affects around 20 percent of the population. This month, I encourage everyone to think about ways to keep your skin healthy during your daily activities. For example, wearing sunscreen, moisturizing, washing your face, and protecting against blisters are all measures one can take to stay healthy. Additionally, I hope everyone will consider visiting a dermatologist this month for a skin evaluation. Thank you to the American Academy of Dermatology as well as dermatologists around the country for your work to protect this vital part of our health. Recognizing the Service of Ms. Meg Heap

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Jennifer T. Graham for being honored by the Zonta Club of Savannah for her work helping single mothers throughout the Savannah area. Ms. Graham galvanized a citywide effort that has significantly aided hundreds of mothers in our community. She founded Shelter From the Rain, which assists low-income mothers by providing food, job search assistance, baby supplies, mentorship, and more. Since Ms. Graham founded the organization in 2010, Shelter From the Rain has helped over 300 single mothers. Her background in marketing and outreach, which includes earning a graduate degree in marketing and doing communications for a number of local healthcare companies has helped her maximize the number of mothers her organization reaches. Thank you, Ms. Graham, for your work making our community a better place to live, and thank you to the Zonta Club for recognizing the important work she is doing. Keep up the great work. National Healthy Skin Month

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I thank Representative Scott for putting this together. Indeed, it is something well deserved. I rise today to recognize a great Georgian and a great Senator. I have been blessed in my life. I am the grandson of a tobacco farmer and the son of a paper mill worker, and here I am, walking the Halls of Congress. In the short period of time that I have had to serve here, I have witnessed many great things. I got to listen to the Pope, something I never thought I would have the opportunity to do, one of the great religious leaders in the world, right here in this room. But when I think of what I saw just a few minutes ago, when I saw not only two great Georgians but two great Americans, John Lewis and Johnny Isakson, embrace, I pinch myself sometimes. How did this happen to me? How did I get to witness all of these great things in my life? Madam Speaker, I thank both of these gentlemen. Madam Speaker, I thank especially Senator Isakson. I have been fortunate to call him a friend and a mentor for many years. I have had many political mentors in my life: Tom Triplett, Tom Coleman, just to name a few, and Johnny Isakson. I can remember hearing the story from the then-minority leader of the house of representatives in the Georgia statehouse, when Senator Isakson would tell the story of leading such a small group that General Custer had had better odds than he had at that time. I will never forget that. It taught me perseverance. It taught me to always work hard and to continue on. I have always looked at that and admired that in you, and I appreciate it very much. Your dedication to our State and our Nation has truly been unmatched. It is something that I have admired throughout all my time in public service. Senator Isakson, you are one of the greatest Georgians to ever serve and one of the only Georgians--in fact, the only Georgian--to have ever served in the Georgia State House, in the Georgia State Senate, in the House of Representatives, and the United States Senate. I got three out of four. I don't know if I will ever make it across over here, but if I do, I am going to catch you because I have had the honor, as well. At each of those levels that you have served, you have been successful in advancing policies for the betterment of the State of Georgia and for the United States of America. I think that is what is so very important. Everywhere you have been, every step of the way, it has always been for the people, always been for the betterment of our State and of our Nation. During a time in our political history in which Americans seem to be increasingly divided, I have always looked to you. One of the most important achievements I think that you have made is to build bipartisanship, to reach across the aisle, to come together. I hear my staff tell the story of you don't hear about Senator Isakson being involved in a big fight over in the Senate, but, in the background, he is in a knife fight and he is winning. That is what we all aspire to do. We all want to be known as statesmen. We all want to be successful and win our matches. But you are, and we don't even know about it most of the time. For example, you have always been a staunch supporter of our Nation's veterans. I think that is extremely important for all of us to remember. You were chair of the Veterans' Affairs Committee for so many years. I have heard the stories of problems at the VA and of Senator Isakson picking up the phone and calling the family member and apologizing. Now, this is the chair of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee calling someone and apologizing for them having a problem at the VA center. Can you imagine? But that is what we admire. The overhaul to the VA Veterans Choice Program, modernizing VA hospitals in the MISSION Act, all of these signed into law as a result of your efforts. Every year for over a decade, Senator Isakson has held a barbecue in the Russell Building to feed his colleagues from both sides of the aisle. Now at retirement at the end of this year, the State of Georgia, the United States of America, loses one of its great political assets. I know you have made the point that you are going to sprint through the finish line, and that is important. I want to thank you, Senator, for your service to our State. I want to thank you for your service to our Nation. I want to thank you for the example that you have set for people like me. Thank you for always being a step above the political infighting in order to do what you truly felt was best for Georgians. As you continue to do what is best for your health, you and Dianne will always be in my thoughts and prayers. Thank you, Senator, for your service to our country. God bless you.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 75th Ranger Regiment for their role in the historic elimination of ISIS leader al-Baghdadi. On Saturday, October 26, the 75th Ranger Regiment, along with other Army Special Forces, flawlessly executed an operation that led to the removal of one of the world's most dangerous terrorists. This operation is a moment of pride for all Americans because of the atrocities he and his group have committed against innocent men, women, and children. It is an especially proudful moment for Georgia, in the First Congressional District that I have the honor and privilege of representing, because of the reported role of the 75th Ranger Regiment. Mr. Speaker, while the 75th Ranger Regiment is headquartered at Fort Benning, I am proud to represent one part of it through the 1st Ranger Battalion, stationed at Savannah's Hunter Army Airfield. I thank all of those in the 75th Ranger Regiment for their service to our Nation and for their bravery. While details will be restricted, I am proud of the regiment's continued role in our Nation's defense and those who serve in the 1st Battalion and call our area home.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Habersham School for winning the State volleyball championship in Georgia on October 19, 2019. I could not be more proud of their excellent representation of the First Congressional District of Georgia. Now a powerhouse team in the Georgia Association of Private and Parochial Schools has won back-to-back titles. In the championship match this year, a number of Habersham players rose to the challenge on the State's largest stage: Krista Poppell had 33 assists and 10 digs; Jordan Christy chipped in 28 kills; Makenzie Sparks had 5 kills; and Anna Thompson included 4 kills. The team had an overall 32-6 record for the year. Congratulations to every member of the volleyball team at Habersham School.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Sheila McNeill for receiving the 2019 Distinguished Civilian Award by the Naval Submarine League. Ms. McNeill was the first-ever woman to win this award, and I could not be more proud of the work she has done in the First Congressional District of Georgia over the last 20 years. Living in Camden County, near the Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base, she has advocated for the U.S. submarine force at both the national and local levels, often traveling to Washington and meeting with dozens of Members of Congress to keep our submarines at sea, protecting our Nation. On one specific occasion, Ms. McNeill was critical in retaining the Nation's first four ballistic missile submarines by converting them into guided-missile submarines. Her commitment to the Armed Forces extends deeply into the surrounding communities, ensuring that they maintain close-knit relationships through her work as president of the Camden Partnership. Mr. Speaker, I thank and congratulate Ms. McNeill for her work in the First Congressional District of Georgia.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize all those participating in the 40 Days for Life Vigil happening September 25 through November 3. For the past 40 days, individuals in cities across the world have been fasting, praying, campaigning, and holding a vigil in order to end abortion. In the First Congressional District of Georgia, Savannahians have been contributing to the cause through their own vigil and luncheon. The organization has helped save 16,000 lives, close 104 abortion centers, and 191 abortion workers to quit their jobs. As a medical professional, father, and grandfather, I believe that every life is sacred. I cannot thank these individuals enough for their important work. After the 40 Days for Life Vigil is over, I hope you will join me in continuing the fight to save the lives of our children.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize October as being National Pharmacist Month 2019. According to Census data, there are over 200,000 pharmacists across the U.S., with another 25,000 pharmacy aides. Every day these pharmacists are providing vaccines for a number of illnesses and carefully counseling patients on prescriptions to help heal sickness and reduce pain. Through this work, pharmacists are considered one of the top three most-trusted professions in America. Mr. Speaker, this month, as well as through the rest of the year, I encourage everyone to visit your pharmacist, ask questions about your prescriptions, and get to know the people who provide your medicine and work to keep you healthy. As the only pharmacist currently serving in Congress, I am proud to recognize the work these individuals are doing every day to serve their local communities around the country. Keep up the good work. Forty-Day Pro Life Vigil

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Clinch Memorial Hospital for being named the Hometown Health Hospital of the Year for 2019. I am proud of the work that Clinch Memorial Hospital is doing to provide high-quality care to our rural communities in the First Congressional District of Georgia. With unique challenges facing rural healthcare systems across the Nation, Clinch Memorial Hospital has met these challenges head-on and is using groundbreaking programs to better the care for individuals in the surrounding rural communities. Over the last 2 years, the hospital's CEO, Ms. Angela Ammons, has added new programs to help people with substance abuse issues, a swing- bed system to more efficiently use their resources, and a new wound care unit. But most importantly, she has nearly miraculously turned around the hospital's financials, maintaining the community's access to healthcare and keeping the local economy churning. Clinch Memorial Hospital is more than deserving of the Hospital of the Year Award. Congratulations, and keep up the good work. National Pharmacist Month 2019

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Hancock Day School for being recognized by the Department of Education as a Blue Ribbon School for 2019. This prestigious award recognized around 350 schools across the country for their commitment to academic excellence and closing the achievement gap among diverse groups of students. To commemorate this award, Hancock Day School will receive a flag that is a symbol of excellence in teaching and learning. Recognized throughout the Savannah community as a stalwart of quality education, I am proud to see Hancock receive the national recognition it deserves. The school was founded in 1953 and serves pre-K through eighth grade students. Using the ``Hancock Way,'' teachers are given autonomy to teach free of busywork and red tape while they push their students to succeed and refuse to water down any part of the curriculum. The school's founder once said that students need to ``grow a little new wood each day,'' and they are certainly succeeding. To teachers, students, and staff alike at Hancock Day School: Congratulations on your award, and keep up the good work.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in support of my bill, H.R. 1781, the Payment Commission Data Act. Last year, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, MedPAC, and the Medicaid and CHIP Payment Advisory Commission, MACPAC, who serve as nonpartisan advisory panels to Congress, came to us with a problem: They did not have the data needed to fully study prescription drug rebates. This bill ensures MedPAC and MACPAC have access to the data they need to make informed recommendations to Congress. This increase in transparency is extremely helpful in allowing MedPAC and MACPAC to analyze how competition in our drug market is currently working and how part D plans are managing the growth in drug prices. They will be able to turn that new knowledge into improved policy recommendations on how we, as Congress, can bring down the price of drugs for patients. Simply put, this bill is just good governance. Importantly, I think this bill, as well as the bill we just spoke about, H.R. 2115, are shining examples of what is possible when Republicans and Democrats are working together to lower the cost of drugs for patients. In the Energy and Commerce Committee, we have worked all year to advance a number of good, bipartisan drug policies that could make a difference for patients. Looking across the Capitol, there are dozens more bipartisan reforms that I think could get robust support here in the House. The issue of prescription drug costs is simply too important to be sacrificed in the name of electoral politics. Today is proof that we can, in fact, pass bipartisan drug pricing reforms. So I call on my colleagues on the other sides of the aisle: Let's build on today and continue advancing the bipartisan policies we know can become law and actually make a difference for patients in the country. I want to thank my friend and colead, Representative Tom O'Halleran, as well as Representatives Rice, Panetta, Gianforte, and Welch for their leadership on this bill. I urge my fellow Members to support transparency in our drug supply chain and to support H.R. 1781.

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. 647, the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act. I am proud to be a co-lead on this much-needed piece of legislation. In my years as a pharmacist working in long-term care, I saw how patients with all types of illnesses face the challenges of end-of-life care. Whether you are talking about patients with cancer, Alzheimer's, or some other ailment, critical to our healthcare system is valuing a patient's quality of life. That is why palliative and hospice care are an important piece of our healthcare system. As our population ages, the need for quality, well-trained hospice and palliative providers is only growing. The George Washington University Health Workforce Institute projects the number of patients who could benefit from palliative care could increase by 20 percent over the next 20 years. By establishing palliative care and hospice education centers to train and educate new providers, this bill is a critical step in meeting the needs of future patients. Additionally, this bill enhances the NIH's research into palliative care, improving our capability to care for patients in even more effective ways. Finally, PCHETA also establishes a nationwide campaign to better inform patients, their families, and their healthcare providers about palliative care services. This is critical to ensuring patients have a clear picture of all of their options so they and their families can make informed decisions of the care that they want. This bill is an important investment towards a patient-centered healthcare system that values and improves a patient's quality of life. I applaud Representatives Engel, Reed, Clarke, Pallone, and Walden for their leadership on this bill, and I urge my fellow Members to support H.R. 647.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise to speak in support of H.R. 2115, the Public Disclosure of Drug Discounts Act. I am very glad to see this bill, which was part of the METRIC Act Representative Schakowsky and I passed out of Energy and Commerce, being moved through the House floor. This is important legislation that brings desperately needed transparency to our drug supply chain. So much of the debate around how we can lower drug prices in this country has been focused on drug manufacturers. This bill highlights the need for reforms throughout our entire drug supply system. Specifically, this bill shines a spotlight on the middlemen in our drug supply chain: the pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs. For context, three PBMs control almost 80 percent of the marketplace, and while originally designed to primarily process claims data, these companies are now some of the largest corporations in the country. For the year 2019, the major PBM companies had a higher projected revenue than Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, and Google combined. Again, for this year, 2019, the major PBM companies had a higher projected revenue than Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, and Google combined. In a time where patients are facing higher and higher drug costs, it is clear that more transparency of these middlemen is desperately needed, at the very least. This bill, H.R. 2115, will require PBMs to report information on all of the rebates, fees, and discounts they extract before a drug ever reaches patients. PBMs argue that it is actually better for patients that the PBMs extract all of these increasingly high rebates and fees because they pass those discounts on to the insurance plans to lower premiums. While I completely disagree with that premise, this bill will finally allow all of us to see for ourselves exactly how much of a cut these middlemen are taking out of the system. Transparency is absolutely critical if we are going to lower drug prices for patients, and this bill is a big step in the right direction. I applaud Representatives Spanberger, Arrington, and Boyle for their leadership on this bill, as well as my Energy and Commerce counterpart, Congresswoman Schakowsky. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2115.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember the life of Ms. Harriet Konter, who passed away on Sunday, October 13 at the age of 94. Ms. Konter was truly a pioneering woman in Georgia real estate. Working in the industry for over 50 years, she became the first female president of the Georgia Association of Realtors in 1987, as well as the first female member of the Georgia Realtors Hall of Fame. She founded scholarships for female realtors to attend the National Women's Leadership Conference and remained heavily involved in real estate well into her nineties. Her colleagues remember her as someone who blazed a trail for many women in real estate and beyond. Yet, Ms. Konter's passion to better our community reached everyone. She served as the director of the Savannah Jewish Educational Alliance, trustee for the Armstrong Atlantic State University Foundation, owned two local supermarkets, and more. Ms. Konter will be missed throughout Savannah. Her family and friends will be in my thoughts and prayers during this most difficult time. In Recognition of Pierce County High School

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Pierce County High School for being recognized by the Department of Education as a Blue Ribbon School for 2019. This prestigious award recognized approximately 350 schools across the country for their commitment to academic excellence and closing the achievement gaps among diverse groups of students. To commemorate the award, Pierce County High School will receive a flag that is a symbol of excellence in teaching and learning. The school has been providing a high-quality education to its students for a number of years, and this is not the first time the school has been recognized. In 2018, Pierce County's principal, Ms. Dara Bennett, was named the Principal of the Year in the State of Georgia. Additionally, the National Federation of State High School Associations named their athletic department the third best in the Nation. To teachers, students, and staff alike at Pierce County High School, congratulations on your awards and keep up the good work.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember the life of Judge Tom Edenfield, who passed away on Tuesday, October 15, at the age of 80. Born and raised in Savannah, Georgia, Judge Edenfield made our community a better place to live during his numerous posts in the judicial system. Only a few examples of his positions include his work as a special assistant to the district attorney, creating his own law firm, and presiding as a municipal court judge. Constantly using his position to help others as a municipal court judge, he would often suspend sentences in return for individuals attending a house of worship. He additionally assisted with the county's drug court in order to help people reclaim their lives from substance abuse problems and avoid incarceration. Judge Edenfield's colleagues remember him as always having a smile on his face and a bad joke, along with being a mentor to all members of the bar. He will be missed throughout our community, and I will keep his family and friends in my thoughts and prayers during this most difficult time. In Remembrance of Harriet Konter

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Frank Troutman, Jr., who passed away on August 10 at the age of 84. A great citizen of the State of Georgia, Mr. Troutman was passionate with every endeavor he undertook. In academics, he graduated from the University of Georgia, earning Phi Beta Kappa membership, attended the university's law school, and remained a lifelong voracious reader and lover of history. He was one of the biggest Georgia Bulldog fans in the State, making the trip to Pasadena in 1943 to see the Dawgs play UCLA in the Rose Bowl. Mr. Troutman served for 15 years as president of his family's Castleberry's food business, introducing modern techniques to the company, and making it into the business that it is today. And he was the first Republican elected to the Richmond County Commission, being largely responsible for introducing the Republican Party in the State of Georgia. It would be hard to find anyone in Georgia more passionate about our State than Mr. Troutman, and I am thankful to have called him a fellow Georgian. His family and friends will be in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. In Remembrance of Judge Tom Edenfield

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to support President Donald J. Trump. The Democrats' entire impeachment process has been a sham since day one. The chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, who was in charge of leading the inquiry, has lied to the American people. Chairman Schiff made up his own version of the President's call with Ukraine. He lied about his dealings with the whistleblower and has misled the country about the Trump campaign and Russia for years. Unfortunately, House Democrats again put partisan politics over the good of our Nation last night by blocking a vote to censure and condemn Adam Schiff. The chairman in charge of this ridiculous impeachment inquiry must be held accountable for blatantly misleading the American people. We have all seen the transcript of the call between President Trump and the President of Ukraine. There was nothing there. So my Democratic colleagues are left with making up their own stories and seeing what people will believe. Democrats won't even allow noncommittee members to attend depositions and interviews, nor will they specify their authority to do so. Madam Speaker, our country deserves better.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor three American heroes who lost their lives this weekend in a training accident at Fort Stewart in the First Congressional District of Georgia. The incident happened at approximately 3:20 a.m. Sunday morning when the Bradley Fighting Vehicle they were riding in rolled off a bridge and was submerged in a stream. Three soldiers were killed and three others were injured. The heroes who lost their lives that day were Sergeant First Class Bryan Andrew Jenkins of Gainesville, Florida, Private First Class Antonio Gilbert Garcia of Peoria, Arizona, and Corporal Thomas Cole Walker of Ohio. Sergeant First Class Jenkins was born on December 29, 1977, and had served in the Army since 2001. Corporal Walker was born on August 5, 1997, and had served in the Army since 2016. Private First Class Garcia was born on August 1, 1998, and had served in the Army since 2018. This is a tragic and devastating loss for our community and for our Nation. These servicemembers gave everything for their Nation, including their lives. Please join me praying for their family, friends, and the entire 3rd ID community. The sacrifices of our military families are greater than most of us will ever know. We also pray for healing for the soldier injured in the incident. These men represent the greatest among us. It will take time to grapple with this loss, but I know the Fort Stewart and 3rd ID communities are strong in their resolve. We are with you in this most difficult time. I am glad to be joined tonight by my fellow members of the Georgia delegation and Representatives from the hometowns of these heroes. Please join me in honoring these heroes. I ask that all Members and guests in the gallery rise for a moment of silence.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember the life of Mr. James W. Boykin, who passed away at the age of 80 on October 3. In Jesup, Georgia, nearly everything and everyone seems to have been impacted by Mr. Boykin. During his term serving as Wayne County commissioner, he was a staunch supporter of projects to boost recreation activities, and now there is even a community lake named in his honor. He took over his father's construction company in 1975 and worked to grow the business for over 25 years, being largely responsible for its size and success today. But whether in business, government, church, or simply playing sports, Mr. Boykin was always well-respected and continuously mentoring all who knew him. Through all of his passion to improve his community and the lives of others, he never let his four battles with cancer ever impact his attitude or dedication. I am proud to have had someone like Mr. James Boykin in the First Congressional District of Georgia. His family and friends will be in my thoughts and prayers during this most difficult time.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Scott Isaacks for receiving the inaugural South Carolina Hospital Association Drive to Zero Harm Leadership Award. As director and CEO of the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center in Charleston, South Carolina, Mr. Isaacks oversees 3,100 employees, who are some of the best that the VA has to offer. The first award of its kind in South Carolina, Mr. Isaacks and his VA medical center are being recognized for their exceptional work in creating a culture of high reliability and eliminating harm from all facets of care. This high-quality care is particularly important to the First Congressional District of Georgia because of the large number of veterans using the VA medical center there in Charleston. Our veterans are our Nation's heroes, and they deserve the best when they return home, which is why I am so proud to see Mr. Isaacks working hard to achieve this goal. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Isaacks for his service to our veterans and congratulations on his award. In Remembrance of James W. Boykin

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize October 2019 as National Disability Employment Awareness Month. Workplaces that welcome the talents of all people, including people with disabilities, are a critical part of our efforts to build an inclusive community and a strong economy. In the First Congressional District of Georgia, I want to especially recognize Goodwill Southeast Georgia, which is working to raise awareness about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of people with disabilities. Activities they are working on this month reinforce the value and talent that people with disabilities add to our workplaces and communities while affirming Goodwill Southeast Georgia's commitment to an inclusive community. I encourage employers, schools, and other community organizations around the country to observe this month with programs and activities, and to advance the important message that people with disabilities are capable of surpassing any obstacle. Congratulations to Scott Isaacks