Buddy Carter

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Technical Sergeant Cam Kelsch who is stationed at Hunter Army Airfield in the First Congressional District of Georgia. He recently received the Silver Star Medal on April 9 at the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum. The third highest medal for gallantry in the Nation, Sergeant Kelsch received the award for extraordinary acts of bravery during a nighttime raid in Afghanistan. Throughout the raid, he exposed himself to enemy fire multiple times, once to call in air support, and another time to eliminate an enemy machine gun. He was also struck by enemy fire while saving the life of a wounded American as he dragged him to safety while under fire. Stories like these from our soldiers abroad are sober reminders of the dangerous situations they endure to make our world and our Nation a safer place to live. Mr. Speaker, I thank Sergeant Kelsch for his service, his bravery, and his sacrifice, and congratulate him on receiving the Silver Star. He deserves it.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Speaker, I thank Dr. Dunn for the work that he has done, as well as my other colleagues, Representative Austin Scott, Representative Sanford Bishop, and Representative Martha Roby. All of these fine legislators have worked diligently on this, and I thank them for their efforts, as well as others. Madam Speaker, I have the honor and the privilege of representing the First Congressional District of Georgia. The First Congressional District of Georgia includes the entire coast of Georgia, over 100 miles of coastline. We have a lot to be thankful for, a lot to be proud of. We have two major seaports and four military installations, Moody Air Force Base, Kings Bay Naval Base, Fort Stewart, and Hunter Army Airfield. We have the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. We have two Coast Guard stations, one in Savannah and one in Brunswick. We have so much to be thankful for, but we also have a very strong agriculture community, particularly in the western portion of our district. It is very, very important. Madam Speaker, much of the State of Georgia is in need right now, and they can't wait any longer. In the First Congressional District of Georgia over the past few years, we have had hurricanes. We had Hurricane Matthew, Hurricane Irma, and Hurricane Michael. We have had fires. We had the West Mims Fire. We have had freezes and harsh freezing conditions that impacted our agriculture community. These disasters have been detrimental to agriculture in Georgia. By the way, agriculture in Georgia is our largest industry. That is very important and very important for the First District. In fact, just to be specific, blueberries, which are the leading fruit now in the State of Georgia, blueberries alone make up a $1 billion industry. That is ``billion'' with a B, a $1 billion industry. Those farmers are the backbones of their communities. Blueberry farmers, in some areas, their crops make up 30 percent of the portfolios of banks. That is significant to these communities, and we simply cannot allow these farmers to continue going without this assistance. The banks are waiting for many of these farmers to repay their loans. It is putting them in jeopardy of not being able to farm next year and putting entire rural economies at risk. When you put 30 percent of your portfolio at risk, you are putting your community at risk. Congressional inaction on this is absolutely unacceptable. The Senate's failure to pass disaster aid last week was one of the worst moments that I have experienced in Washington since I have come to Congress. These people need assistance, Madam Speaker. They need assistance. We need to help them. The American farmer feeds the world. Georgia farmers are an integral part of this. Blueberries are an important crop in our district. Agriculture is the number one industry in Georgia. It is time for us to respond to this. This is what we are to do as Members of Congress. We cannot simply ignore this. It will not go away. We need these farmers. They need our help, and we need to respond. Madam Speaker, I encourage all my colleagues to support disaster aid.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield community for being named the 2019 Army Community of Excellence gold winner this past March. This year is a record seventh time that these communities in the First Congressional District of Georgia have won the gold award, and last year, they won the bronze. I want to thank everyone at Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield for their commitment to the readiness of the soldiers, their constant efforts to make improvements, exceptional teamwork, and their partnership with the surrounding civilian community. I am proud to have these installations in Georgia, and in turn, these installations make me even more proud of our military in the United States. Thank you for your service. Congratulations on your award.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Charlie Waldrop on his 100th birthday, April 27, 2019. Throughout his life, Mr. Waldrop has loved to serve others. Serving our country during World War II, he fought in both France and Germany, and was discharged on his wife's birthday in 1946. He served patients in Coastal Georgia for over 40 years, working as a pharmacist, and eventually opening his own pharmacy. His notoriety and success in the profession enabled him to become the First District President of the Georgia Pharmaceutical Association, but his service doesn't stop there. He also worked as a deacon in his church and leads a Boy Scout troop. I am proud to call Mr. Waldrop a Savannahian as he has become an icon in our town since he first moved there in 1927. Mr. Waldrop, happy birthday, and thank you for everything you did to influence my career. Thank you for your service to our Nation, to our community, and our profession. Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield Wins Gold

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember the life of William ``Ryan'' Sailors, who passed away March 30 at the age of 22. Throughout his life, Mr. Sailors had a special gift to brighten the days of everyone around him. When he was younger, doctors thought that his life expectancy would only be to adolescence. Mr. Sailors not only surpassed that milestone, but also made the most of every single day he was on this Earth. He refused to let his special needs get in his way, being infectiously positive and becoming famous for his trademark ``thumbs up'' to anyone passing by. Some of Mr. Sailors' favorite activities included attending church each week at Wesley Monumental, eating snacks on the beach, and supervising vacuuming and cleaning around the house. His life should be a reminder to all of us that we should try to make this world a happier place each and every day. Mr. Sailors' family will be in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. Happy Birthday, Charlie Waldrop

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Dana Strickland on 25 years with the University of Georgia, College of Pharmacy, and to congratulate him for retiring on March 29. The College's executive director of external affairs, Mr. Strickland, has been critical to the school's success--which is also my own alma mater--over the past two decades. Increasing the endowment by a considerable amount, the College was able to build new buildings, support research by the faculty, and provide the best possible education to its students under Mr. Strickland's leadership. The importance of these improvements cannot be overstated with the changing nature of pharmacists today who are on the front lines of the opioid epidemic and the rising cost of prescription drugs. Thank you for your dedication to the University of Georgia, the pharmaceutical profession, and congratulations on your well-deserved retirement. Mr. Strickland truly embodies what it means to be a PharmDawg. Although he will be difficult to replace, I have the utmost confidence in Dr. Michael Bartlett, who will be filling the role in the meantime. Remembering the Life of William ``Ryan'' Sailors

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Griff Doyle, who retired as the University of Georgia's vice president of government relations on Friday, March 22. Mr. Doyle dedicated 40 years to good government throughout Georgia, and a large part of his career has been crucial to UGA becoming a premier public university in this country. Before he started with the university, he worked with the Georgia Public Policy Foundation, with former Governor George Busbee, and as an assistant U.S. attorney in the State. Experiences like these gave him a priceless breadth of knowledge that enabled him to be one of the most important figures at the University of Georgia. While at the university, he educated Members of Congress on the latest research projects and secured funding necessary to move those projects forward, keeping UGA itself, the State of Georgia, and our entire Nation as global research leaders. He also contributed directly to the students by placing 40 interns annually in congressional offices and even teaching seminars in government. Thank you, Griff, for your personal friendship and for your dedication to our State and our beloved University of Georgia. Your work has truly been invaluable. Enjoy your retirement.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Richard D. Wesley, who retired from being a Savannah River pilot after over 40 years of guiding ships to port through the Savannah River. This expertise cannot be overstated. An incredible asset to our economy in coastal Georgia, river pilots risk their lives by jumping onto moving container ships, and then guiding them safely into harbor, keeping the ship itself, the cargo on board, and the entire area's economy moving forward. A graduate of the Maine Maritime Academy in 1976, Mr. Wesley has piloted over 11,000 ships safely in and out of Savannah River. These trips included nearly any situation you could imagine; for example, Coast Guard visits that discovered stowaways, along with previously undiscovered contraband. He has also seen the ships change dramatically over his tenure, going from 460 feet in length to around 1,200 feet in length. But, all of this accumulated experience over the years enabled him to mentor up- and-coming bar pilots through any situation, and to ensure that they are also going to have safe careers, which keep the economy of our State moving. Thank you for your work, Mr. Wesley, and enjoy your retirement.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, the Affordable Care Act is not working for too many Americans. I welcome all efforts to lower costs, to increase choice, and to protect those with preexisting conditions. Remember, the very first thing, the very first floor vote we pushed as Republicans this Congress was to solidify protections for those with preexisting conditions. It was the first thing we did. We did it right out of the gate. While Republicans have stood ready to work on lowering costs and increasing choices, so far the Democrats, the Democratic majority, have only tried to double down on the ACA. On the Energy and Commerce Committee, the only solution we have seen from Democrats are partisan bills that throw billions of unpaid-for dollars at a broken system, at a failed experiment. If my Democratic colleagues were serious about helping patients, they would work with us on reforms to lower costs and increase choices. The fact is we could vote on independent legislation that protects patients with preexisting conditions. The fact is, if my Democratic colleagues were serious about their concerns over this lawsuit, they could, legislatively, end this lawsuit once and for all. We could vote to repeal the individual mandate. That would immediately invalidate the lawsuit. They could vote to reinstate the individual mandate penalty. That would also stop the lawsuit in its tracks. But, instead, we are here to vote on a resolution about politics, not solutions. It is clear that Democrats would much rather score political points than to protect the ACA. They would have surprised me 2 years ago, but now the Democratic Party seems to have already moved on from the Affordable Care Act. Instead of truly working on improvements to the ACA, Democrats are focused on their $32 trillion plan to kick 152 million people off their insurance for their one-size-fits-all government-run healthcare plan. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my Democratic friends to stop the politics and to work with us to protect those with preexisting conditions, to lower healthcare costs, and to increase choices for patients.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Dick Williams, who retired last month from Fox 5's ``The Georgia Gang'' in Atlanta. The brother of Representative Roger Williams of Texas, Mr. Dick Williams is truly one of the stalwarts of news in the State of Georgia. He has worked for 53 total years across various types of journalism, including TV, radio, and print. For the last 25 years, he has been the moderator of ``The Georgia Gang,'' Georgia's longest running public affairs broadcast. Mr. Williams and ``The Georgia Gang'' covered seemingly every topic imaginable, ranging from local politics, the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, scandals at city hall, missing children, and so much more. The final taping of ``The Georgia Gang'' was March 5, but Mr. Williams will always be remembered as one of the most trusted figures in Georgia journalism. Thank you, Mr. Williams, for your work in keeping our State informed.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Girl Scouts' 107th birthday, which was celebrated earlier this month. This anniversary is important to women everywhere, but particularly in the First District of Georgia where the Girl Scouts were founded. In 1912, Juliette Gordon Low started meeting with 18 girls who played basketball, hiked, camped, studied foreign languages, and worked to help people in need. With Juliette Gordon Low and these 18 women in Savannah, the seeds were sown for a movement, which now includes 2.6 million Girl Scouts in 92 countries and 50 million alums. With their motto of being go-getters, innovators, risk-takers, and leaders, the international organization has made an enormous impact in the lives of young women in their 107-year history. A testament to their work includes alums aboard the International Space Station, Members of Congress, artists, athletes, and so much more. Thank you to the Girl Scouts for making our world a better place to live and for encouraging young women to always push the envelope. Congratulations on a successful first 107 years, and I wish the Girl Scouts the best in years to come.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 74th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron for being awarded the Gallant Unit Citation on March 14. An extraordinarily high honor for these pilots based at Moody Air Force Base in the First Congressional District of Georgia, this is only the fifth time ever the Gallant Unit Citation has been awarded, and the first since 2001. It was created to honor remarkable acts of heroism while engaged with an opposing foreign force on or since 9/11. The 74th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron earned the award while they were deployed in Turkey, flying for over 10,000 hours in Syria, targeting objectives controlled by ISIS. Their efforts were critical to the elimination of ISIS from 99 percent of Iraq and Syria. I want to thank the 74th Fighter Squadron for their hard work and sacrifices to make the entire world a safer place to live. I am also very proud to see this work recognized. Congratulations.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to remember the life of James ``Jamie'' Parker, who passed away on Monday, February 25, at the age of 65. Upon his passing, Mr. Parker had worked for 10 years as the editor for ``Bryan County Now'' as well as the night editor for the ``Savannah Morning News.'' He reported on nearly everything happening in Richmond Hill, from sporting events to city council hearings, tear-jerking accidents, and stories where individuals made heartwarming contributions to their community. His friends remember Mr. Parker not only as a trustworthy journalist reporting on these stories, but also a great friend and having a heart as big as the country. Deeply dedicated to his community, he attended more local sporting events than anyone else in town. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and the entire Richmond Hill community during this difficult time.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember the life of Mr. Carlton Gill, who passed away on February 18 at the age of 78. His friends remember Mr. Gill as a man of many talents and an institution in his hometown of Richmond Hill. Both of these statements help to sum up Mr. Gill but only serve to remind us of a portion of his character. A formidable figure who played basketball at both Georgia Southern University and the University of Georgia, his many talents included working as a procurement forester at S.A. Allen for nearly 40 years, serving as a Bryan County commissioner for five terms, worshipping at Compassion Christian Church as a deacon, and much more. For his work in guiding Richmond Hill through periods of significant growth, a nearby section of I-95 is named in his honor. Others, though, will remember his imposing stature and the respect he commanded when entering the room. But he never wavered in his ability to be fair and honest, and to treat everyone with that same level of respect. A great leader of his community, Mr. Gill will be missed. His family and friends are in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Tybee Island in the First Congressional District of Georgia for breaking ground on a brand-new Marine Science Center. After years of hard work and planning by Tybee residents, local officials, business leaders, engineers, and so many other individuals, a ceremony was held on February 25 to celebrate the start of construction. Scheduled to open in March of 2020, the programs at the current Marine Science Center have been enormously successful. One program called Sidewalk to the Sea has been able to reach more than 40,000 kids and educate them about the nearby Atlantic Ocean, which sits only a few hundred yards away from the facility. Additionally, the new Marine Science Center will include interpretive exhibits, an amphitheater, a shark school, animal rescue activities, a dune habitat trail, and more. It is so encouraging to see the residents of this local community taking steps to appreciate our oceans, while educating old and young alike on ways that they can pitch in to preserve them. Congratulations, and keep up the good work.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Jalisa Peterson from Liberty County High School on being a finalist for the 2019 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. One of 29,000 students across the country who participated, Ms. Peterson was one of only eight high school students acknowledged in the State of Georgia for exceptional projects of community service. Specifically, she volunteered at a local orphanage, playing games, crafting art, reading, and building relationships with children, all the way from newborns to 18-year-olds. I am very proud of Ms. Peterson's work and glad to have someone like her in the First Congressional District of Georgia. I am glad to see this award is encouraging more community service, a crucial aspect in order to make our world a better place to live.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to encourage my colleagues to support S. 47, the Natural Resources Management Act. This legislation includes important provisions for public lands across our Nation, but specifically for three national parks in the State of Georgia. One of those includes my own piece of legislation, a boundary expansion for the Fort Frederica National Monument in the First Congressional District of Georgia. Designed by General James Oglethorpe in 1733 on St. Simons Island, Fort Frederica was built to defend the young colony against attack from the Spanish in Florida. Nine years later, in 1742, General Oglethorpe's design was put to the test. The Spanish invaded the Georgia colony as part of the larger War of Jenkins' Ear headed directly for Fort Frederica. The Spaniards numbered around 5,000 troops, while General Oglethorpe had fewer than 1,000 regular soldiers, Native Americans, and local colonists garrisoned inside the tabby structure. The English detected the Spanish invasion, waded into the marsh, and ambushed the enemy troops in an engagement now called the Battle of Bloody Marsh. Consequently, this battle turned back the Spanish and was the last of their offensives into the colony of Georgia. This story, battle, and fort is an important moment in Georgia history, taught to elementary students throughout the State as a marker of our resolve and a turning point that helped to create the State of Georgia that we now know. In passing years, specifically with updates in technology, we increase our knowledge of history through new findings. That is exactly the opportunity we have here with Fort Frederica and why we need this legislation. Studies now show that land just outside the national park boundary was used as a campground and even a battery that protected the area from warships. This bill adjusts the existing Fort Frederica National Monument to include those locations inside the boundary, in an effort to better preserve those locations and continue to learn more about this area and the critical events that unfolded here in the First Congressional District of Georgia to create our home State of Georgia. This legislation has been in the works for the last 12 years, beginning when the Saint Simons Land Trust temporarily purchased the additional land in 2007. Mr. Speaker, I thank the committee for their work on this. We need to preserve this history for generations to come.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize our Nation's veterans and the work of those who care for them during National Salute to Veteran Patients Week. Across the country this week, VA hospitals are celebrating our veterans and showing appreciation for those who may not have loved ones with whom to spend Valentine's Day. During last year's National Salute to Veteran Patients Week, 288,000 valentines were delivered to VA medical centers from schoolchildren and various organizations across our country. These efforts included more than 1,400 community groups and 9,000 volunteers. I hope that this year we can build on that effort and show even more gratitude to our veterans. I am proud to see our Nation come together for a week like this one and all the volunteers who took the time to express their respect and appreciation. To all our veteran patients, thank you for your service, and I hope that you have a wonderful Valentine's Day.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 76.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss our broken immigration system and our need to overcome partisan politics to find a solution. The most glaring example of this broken system and the one most endangering to American citizens is our porous southern border. Tens of thousands of illegal immigrants bypass checkpoints and avoid our immigration laws by using that border to gain access to America. But my colleagues across the aisle refuse to see the issue. They ignore all the evidence to push their political agenda and discredit the President at the expense of Americans' security. They now have found a new excuse--the number of ICE's adult detention beds. Let's be clear what this stunt is: a backdoor attempt to defund ICE, prevent them from doing their critical mission, and attempt to appease those demanding open borders. I sincerely urge my colleagues across the aisle to come to the table to negotiate in good faith for the safety and security of all Americans. We need border security along our southern border which includes a wall structure, and we need ICE to achieve its public safety mission. To the Democrats: Stop these last-minute games and let's do our job for the American people

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Chatham County Superior Court Judge Michael L. Karpf for 40 years of exceptional service to our area's justice system. Judge Karpf has shown an unwavering commitment to fairness and wisdom during his tenure as a judge. He has served on the Chatham County State court since 1993, where he has had an enormous impact. Namely, he created the major crimes division, rotating judges and significantly increasing the efficiency in our court system. His colleagues remember him as a consensus builder who could lead a bench that works well together, an oftentimes unique accomplishment. Earlier this month, he retired to senior judge status, meaning that he will take cases on an as-needed basis. I wish Judge Karpf the best of luck and know that the court will be in good hands as his son, Benjamin, takes the role his father had as superior court judge.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss an important topic to our Nation's homeland security, the crisis at our southern border. And it is, indeed, a crisis. In its most simple form, it is paramount that we know who is coming in and out of our country in order to keep our families and our fellow citizens safe. However, it is impossible to do so when individuals are traversing across our border avoiding checkpoints and bypassing our immigration laws. Mr. Speaker, I have been to our border. I served on the Homeland Security Committee my first session here. We took a trip to the border. We went to California. It was the first time I had ever been to California. We went to San Diego. In San Diego you need a barrier, you need a wall, and you need a fence. You have got 3 million people in San Diego County, 3 million people in Tijuana separated by a highway. It makes perfect sense to have a barrier there, a fence. Then we went to Arizona, rugged terrain, mountainous terrain. There you need technology, you need boots on the ground, you need blimps, and you need drones, all of those things. When we were in Arizona, we visited a farmer, a rancher there, who showed us an area where they had a fence. In that area where they had that fence, they had cut it off. It was a 10-foot fence, and they cut it off at 5 foot, put ramps on it, and they had driven a truck over it. You have to have a fence, and you have to have technology. We went to McAllen, Texas. It was the first time I had ever been to that part of Texas. We went to the Rio Grande River. Now, I grew up in south Georgia; to me the Rio Grande River was this giant river that you saw in a John Wayne movie. It is anything but. It is a narrow, winding river that in some areas is knee deep. People walk across it. You are going to have to have barriers in some of those areas. You are going to have to have boots on the ground. You are going to have to have technology, blimps and drones, all of those things. What we are talking about is securing our borders. Everybody wants to say: oh, he wants to build a wall. Yes, you need a wall in certain areas, and you need a barrier. But you need technology. But most importantly you need security. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle want to deny the President the ability to deliver on a campaign promise. That is not what this is about. This is about securing our borders. We need to focus. We need to focus about what we are talking about here. This is real. This is serious. Let me tell you how serious it is. I have seen examples of it. I have seen examples that it creates in my own district, my own congressional district in coastal Georgia. Just over a month ago, three illegal immigrants were charged with conspiracy to murder a legal, naturalized citizen who threatened to turn them in. Now, folks, if you want to know how people feel about illegal immigration, ask someone who has become a citizen, who has gone through the process. Don't ask me; ask them. Ask them what they think. I guarantee you, they are going to be opposed to it. They did it the right way. And we invite them here. We need them here. We want them here. But they did it the right way. They are as much opposed to it, they are as much offended by it as anyone. It is stories like these that inspired me to introduce H.R. 6333, the Tax Identity Protection Act, in the 115th Congress. The Treasury Department's inspector general noted that up to 1.4 million illegal immigrants could be fraudulently using legal citizens' Social Security numbers, but the IRS refuses to do anything about this, stating that they can't accurately determine which numbers are mistakes and which are fraud. So I introduced the Tax Identity Protection Act. It would require the IRS to find ways to better determine illegal immigrants using stolen Social Security numbers. I will be reintroducing that bill shortly in the 116th Congress, and I hope that my colleagues will support this legislation that strengthens our national security and protects our personal identities. Immigration is important. It is important to the history, the culture, and the progress of our country, but it is past time for us to fix our broken immigration system and ensure that people seeking a better life in America are coming through the lawful channels. I want to thank my colleagues for holding this important and timely Special Order today. Folks, this is serious. This is important. We need to focus, keep our eye on the ball here.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to remember the life of Mr. David Sovchen, who passed away on January 25, his 72nd birthday. Mr. Sovchen had an enormous impact in Savannah throughout his life. In 1985, he joined the Wendy's senior management team, which led him to our community, where he owned nearly a dozen restaurants. Outside of his exceptional management skills, he was dedicated to growing the arts in coastal Georgia. To that end, Mr. Sovchen worked with the Savannah Book Festival to provide office space and find critical funding opportunities. Now, the Savannah Book Festival is in its 10th year and has brought a total of over 400 authors to our area. In addition to the book festival, Mr. Sovchen volunteered with the Boy Scouts, the Salvation Army, Savannah Technical College, and the Chamber of Commerce. I am deeply thankful for all of this work, which has made Savannah a better place to live. Mr. Sovchen's family and friends will be in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to remember the life of my good friend and the friend of many Savannahans, Mr. Howard Morrison, who passed away on January 24. Mr. Morrison, with his exceptional talent for bringing people together propelled Savannah to make great strides throughout the community. A Yale graduate, Mr. Morrison served in the Navy before embarking on a 30-year banking career in the Savannah banking industry. He always held firm that the most important contributions to Savannah were education, healthcare, and community development. To that end, he worked hard to bring a Georgia Tech campus to the Savannah area. Georgia Tech Savannah recently presented him with the Opportunity Award, given to those who have created opportunities for others. One of Mr. Morrison's closest friends remembers him coaxing numerous individuals to move to Savannah because of the opportunities, many of which he was creating himself. Madam Speaker, I am proud that Savannah had someone like Howard Morrison, who helped it become the city it is today. His family and his many friends will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember the life of Young Harris College trustee emeritus and former United States Representative from the Third District of Georgia, Mr. Jack T. Brinkley, Sr., who passed away on January 23 at the age of 88. Mr. Brinkley was a true public servant who quietly helped numerous individuals. Before his 16-year career as a Member of Congress, he taught school, piloted planes in the Air Force, and moved to west Georgia to be close to his wife's family. After serving in Congress, he returned home to work in his family law firm. Even with his low profile, Mr. Brinkley did significant work. He introduced over 650 bills, most of which involved veterans. He had a gift for remembering names and key qualities of his constituents, but most importantly, Mr. Brinkley was a genuine, selfless, high-character public servant who will be deeply missed. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this time.