Buddy Carter

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. ``No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.'' Section 10: ``No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin Money; emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts; pass any Bill of Attainder, ex post facto Law, or Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts, or grant any Title of Nobility. ``No State shall, without the Consent of the Congress, lay any Imposts or Duties on Imports or Exports, except what may be absolutely necessary for executing it's inspection Laws: and the net Produce of all Duties and Imposts, laid by any State on Imports or Exports, shall be for the Use of the Treasury of the United States; and all such Laws shall be subject to the Revision and Controul of the Congress. ``No State shall, without the Consent of Congress, lay any Duty of Tonnage, keep Troops, or Ships of War in time of Peace, enter into any Agreement or Compact with another State, or with a foreign Power, or engage in War, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent Danger as will not admit of delay.''

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my good friend, Mr. Roger Moss, who is stepping down as director of the Savannah Children's Choir. Mr. Moss started the Savannah Children's Choir in 2006, with 30 kids, aiming to transform children into confident leaders through music education. Now, the choir is booming. It mentors hundreds of students, and the choir has gone on to award-winning performances throughout Europe. The choir has brought children of diverse backgrounds together for a common purpose, winning praise from countless parents, who have seen significant improvements in their children's ambitions, demeanor, creativity, and much more. I thank Mr. Moss for his important work in the Savannah community. However, I understand his work will continue as he is beginning a new school: the Savannah Exploratory Charter Academy. We are, indeed, very fortunate in Savannah that Roger Moss has adopted us as his home and brought his immense talents with him. Mr. Speaker, I wish Mr. Moss the best of luck with his new project.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today as constituents of the First District of Georgia, and from across the nation, come to D.C. to be a voice for those who cannot stand up for themselves. This year marks the 46th anniversary of the misguided U.S. Supreme Court decision, Roe v. Wade. It is a tragedy that since this ruling in 1973, millions of defenseless babies have been denied the right to life. As a health care professional, father, and grandfather, I strongly believe that life begins at conception, and I support the sanctity of human life. This past Congress, I worked tirelessly alongside fellow Members and pro-life advocates in our fight to end abortion. We accomplished a lot. Most notably, passing and signing into law H.J. Res. 43, which overturned the Obama administration's rule preventing states from redirecting Title X funds away from abortion providers like Planned Parenthood. Now, states have the freedom to distribute Title X grant money in a way that best serves the needs of their constituents. Additionally, the House approved multiple pro-life bills including the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, and the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. Each one of these bills represents a step forward in our fight to save the life of a child. Rest assured, we are committed to continuing our fight for the precious lives of the innocent unborn in the 116th Congress. I want to thank each and every person who have traveled to our Nation's Capital today for this important occasion. I look forward to meeting with my constituents and other Georgia residents to discuss pro-life values and initiatives for the upcoming year.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Chair, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Madam Chair, it is no surprise that many of the communities we represent are in need of disaster assistance. This past year, many areas of the country experienced devastating disasters that had significant impacts on communities and on our constituents. I have the honor and privilege of representing coastal Georgia, a vibrant area that has suffered from a number of these incidents in recent years. I was elected and sent here, like everyone else in this body, to look out for my constituents and their needs. That includes advocating for support following these devastating events. In December, the House passed a supplemental appropriation package that encompassed disasters such as hurricanes, typhoons, wildfires, and other disasters. That package would have brought about the relief we need. Now, Democrats are holding disaster assistance hostage with this legislation. We can't afford to continue this partisanship when it comes to rebuilding our communities. Whether it is a wildfire or a hurricane, relief is needed urgently. That includes coastal Georgia. For instance, our blueberry growers have taken some devastating losses over the last few years. Those growers have not had time to properly recover, and now we are dealing with partisan games that will jeopardize their ability to receive much-needed aid. Agriculture represents the heart and soul of many of our rural communities, and with that so go those communities. Now is not the time to derail this desperately needed relief. We need a clean disaster package that will allow us to take care of the communities that are hardest hit. Hurricanes don't see political parties, and they certainly don't discriminate on the damage they cause. That is why we should move a package that is devoid of any partisan efforts and bring up a clean disaster package. I say to my Democratic colleagues: Now is the time to stop playing games. Let's move a bill that helps, rather than hurts, the ability of our communities to receive disaster relief.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on Roll Call No. 30.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize National Pharmacist Day 2019 on January 12. According to Census data, there are over 200,000 pharmacists across the U.S., with another 25,000 pharmacy aids. Each 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. Today, and throughout 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 across the country.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize G.P. ``Bud'' Peterson, who will retire as president of Georgia Tech in the summer of 2019. After 10 years serving Georgia Tech, President Peterson is certainly leaving it in a better place than he found it: Under his leadership, Georgia Tech became the first university in a decade to be invited to join the Association of American Universities; Research funding increased and nearly doubled; The size of enrollment grew, including the number of women enrolled at the university. And these are only a few of President Peterson's most notable impacts on campus. Thank you, President Peterson, for your service to Georgia Tech as a premier research university that cultivates innovative leaders in Georgia, across the U.S., and throughout the world. I wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors. And to Georgia Tech, I wish you the best of luck in your search for a new president. National Pharmacist Day 2019

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Cheryl Dozier, who will be retiring as president of Savannah State University on July 31. Dr. Dozier served for 8 years as the 13th president of Savannah State, a historically Black university located in the First Congressional District of Georgia. Because of her work, the university has made a number of exceptional improvements in different areas. Dr. Dozier reactivated the honors program, with more than 70 students participating. She established a college of education offering a bachelor of science in education, created a scholarship to help students who needed emergency financial support in their last semester, and opened two new STEM buildings. Thank you, Dr. Dozier, for your work educating students in coastal Georgia. Madam Speaker, I wish Savannah State University the best of luck in finding their next president.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to remember the life of Mr. Johnny Murphy, who passed away on December 19 at the age of 63. When Mr. Murphy passed, he was serving as the mayor pro tem of Richmond Hill in Georgia's First Congressional District. However, this is far from the only way that he served his community. Without his effort and dedication to the area, Richmond Hill likely wouldn't be where it is today. In 1984, Mr. Murphy started a real estate company called the Richmond Hill Land Company, when the town was much smaller and didn't yet have a red light. Since then, he started the Richmond Hill-Bryan County Chamber of Commerce, Richmond Hill Reflections magazine, and served on the city council and as mayor pro tem. Now the city has grown to have multiple neighborhoods and something for everyone to do, including one of the largest festivals in the area, the Richmond Hill Seafood Festival. I am proud to have had someone in our district who can make an impact like that of Mr. Murphy. His family will be in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss the importance of any funding bill, including funding for the border wall, as well as funding for our communities and farmers who have been hit hard by natural disasters. For those of us representing rural communities, we know how important the agriculture community is, not just to the livelihood of those areas, but to our entire Nation. Our farmers are often the unsung heroes of our Nation, helping to create and maintain the breadbasket that our country is known for. In short, the American farmer feeds the world. It is not by accident that American agriculture produces the safest and most abundant food supply in the world. It is through blood, sweat, and tears over generations. In my home State of Georgia, agriculture is our top industry. Blueberries represent a $1 billion industry across Georgia, and the commodity is the backbone in many of our communities. After several hurricanes and other natural disasters, it is past time that Congress takes a stand to support our agriculture community by addressing their needs. I have been fighting for months to secure the disaster relief needed by our farming community, especially blueberries. Plain and simple, disaster relief funding must be included in any end-of-the-year funding package. Georgia has faced devastating weather recently, including hurricanes and freezes. Georgians in every corner of the State are feeling the impact. Whether it is along the coast or southwest Georgia, the need for disaster funding is very much alive. Our number one responsibility is to our constituents, those who have put their faith in us to do what is right for our districts and for our country. For this reason, Congress should stay here until we get this job done. We need border security and we cannot kick the can on disaster funding. I urge my colleagues to help us get this to the finish line and to provide the help that millions of Americans are depending on. Vote for our national security. Vote for our farmers and growers who desperately need disaster assistance. Let's get this done.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 2076, the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act, because of what it does to address this terrible disease. According to the Alzheimer's Association, nearly 5.7 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer's. It is currently the sixth leading cause of death in our country. This debilitating disease continues to grow amongst our population, but we still struggle to understand and find a cure. But there is hope. This legislation would award agreements to establish national and regional centers of excellence focused on Alzheimer's disease, as well as support State public health departments, tribes, and others working to fight this. This disease impacts not only those who have it but also the millions of caregivers responsible for the well-being of those who have Alzheimer's. These are often family members or close friends who have to make sacrifices in their own lives to care for others This legislation will make great strides in better understanding the cognitive decline associated with the disease, the impact on caregivers, and how we can continue to fight for a cure. I am a proud cosponsor of H.R. 4256, the companion bill in the House that was introduced by my good friend and colleague, Mr. Guthrie of Kentucky. I also want to thank those across the country who have continued to be tireless advocates on this issue, including Ms. Donna Camacho who has been a leader on this issue in my district. I can't overstate my appreciation for all of the hard work and dedication that so many people have poured into passing this legislation. Today, with this passage, we can help bring about hope in the future for those who are victims of this disease, like my legislative director's grandmother, Lisa Verlsteffen, a courageous woman who lived a long and happy life, but who eventually succumbed to the effects of Alzheimer's after a long and hard fight. While today's work isn't the final solution, it brings us one step closer in the fight to eradicate this disease. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and vote ``yes'' on its passage.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Parker Greene of Valdosta, Georgia, who passed away on December 18, 2018. Mr. Greene was a stalwart of Moody Air Force Base in Valdosta. In 2007, he was honored with the Exceptional Public Service Award for his work on the base. His colleagues said that they don't know if anyone else could ``compare with his dedication and contributions to Moody.'' Mr. Greene had been working with the base since the early 1970s, when he served as the first chairman of military affairs for the Lowndes- Valdosta Chamber of Commerce. Among a number of other contributions, he has also worked with the Department of Transportation on roads leading in and out of the base and even has a building there named after him. Mr. Greene has truly been involved in every aspect with both Moody Air Force Base and the surrounding area, touching the lives of countless people who have been stationed there. His family, friends, and everyone at Moody will be in my thoughts and prayers during this most difficult time.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. George E. Francisco on four decades of teaching pharmacists at the college level, nearly all of which have been spent with the University of Georgia. Known across campus as an outstanding teacher for his personable approach with his students, Dr. Francisco has won numerous awards using his own, unique teaching skills. He was awarded Outstanding Teacher at the University of Georgia, named to Outstanding Young Men of America, and was featured in the Georgia Pharmacist Magazine, among many other accolades. His students say that Dr. Francisco ``exemplifies what it means to be a teacher in the truest sense'' and that ``he represents the kind of professional that someday they hope to become.'' I am so proud that the State of Georgia has Dr. Francisco training our next generation of pharmacists. Teachers like him are some of the greatest assets of our society, and I hope that he continues to make such an important impact for years to come. Thank you for your work and dedication, Dr. Francisco. Recognizing the Life of Parker Greene

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Valdosta State University football team for winning their fourth Division II National Championship on December 15. The Blazers prevented a 2-point conversion with 40 seconds left in the game to defeat Ferris State University 49-47. With a record of 14-0 this year, Valdosta State had the Nation's top scoring offense. The offense was led by their quarterback, Rogan Wells, who was a finalist for best player in the country. He passed for 349 yards, ran for 39, and caught a touchdown pass in the national championship victory. Valdosta, though, is no stranger to victories. Located in south Georgia, it has been recognized by ESPN as Title Town, USA. Over the years, Valdosta teams have won a combined 452 titles across different levels of competition and sports. Congratulations, Valdosta State. Go Blazers. Recognizing Dr. George E. Francisco

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. 1318, the Preventing Maternal Deaths Act. Unfortunately, we know all too well in Georgia the need to address maternal mortality rates in the Nation. My home State of Georgia has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the country, and we learned about the challenges leading to this statistic on September 27 in the Energy and Commerce Committee when we were able to hear from my colleague and the sponsor of the bill, Congresswoman Herrera Beutler. As my colleague noted in the hearing, we are seeing an estimated number of between 700 and 900 maternal deaths per year, a number that is unacceptable in today's world. A 2015 World Health Organization report noted that nearly half of these deaths were preventable. From 1987 to 2009, the number of pregnancy-related deaths per 100,000 births nearly doubled. That is why this legislation is so important. Whether it is updates to maternal mortality data collection or mental treatment options, or the reforms and changes for the maternal mortality review committees, this legislation is necessary to helping us curb this trend and reduce the number of maternal mortality deaths. We can and we should do more, and I hope that this will be one of our many steps to help us save the lives of mothers across the country. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 2465, the Sickle Cell Disease and Other Heritable Blood Disorders Research, Surveillance, Prevention, and Treatment Act. This legislation, which has been sponsored by Senator Scott, makes important updates to statute so as to better help our medical professionals understand and treat sickle cell and other blood disorders. Sickle cell is a terrible disease, inflicting extremely difficult effects on those who have this condition. Today's legislation will allow us to move forward and combat this and other heritable blood disorders so that we can provide a better quality of life to those who suffer from them. We are very fortunate to have some world-class treatment options in my home State of Georgia at health systems like Emory University. They are doing incredible work in treating and understanding this disease so that we can improve the lives of all who suffer from these forms of diseases. This legislation supports State health departments, establishes best practices, improves data collection efforts, and develops strategies that will hopefully allow us to eventually fully address these diseases. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for their work on this, and I urge them to support this legislation.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the IMPROVE Act. My colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee and I have been working to address a number of the issues that culminated under this legislation. For instance, the ACE Kids Act, an effort championed by Representative Barton, would make strides in addressing the challenges of children with medically complex conditions. It sets standards for health home qualifications, so as to ensure better coordinated care for children in need. It updates and streamlines the coordinated care provisions for health homes for children, so that they will have the system and framework in place to properly respond and work with health systems and professionals. Additionally, it overhauls the data collection requirements for providers and updates the State reporting requirements, so as to maintain a more comprehensive network of care for children with complex medical conditions. Mr. Speaker, this legislation is a culmination of a lot of hard work by my colleagues, particularly Representative Barton and the staff of the Energy and Commerce Committee, and represents a commonsense step forward in assisting needy children. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Captain Danny Jones, pilot John Beimler, and apprentice Gordon Strother, Jr., for rescuing a man in danger at sea near the Saint Simons Island pier on November 19. The crew and their boat, the Glynn, were approaching the pier when they noticed a crowd pointing to a person floating in the water. The crew spotted the unresponsive man and acted swiftly, pulling him onto the boat, applying first aid, and covering him in warm blankets. This is truly a heroic event, and I couldn't be more proud of the actions of these individuals in the First Congressional District of Georgia. In addition, thank you to the Glynn County Fire Department, Glynn County Police Department, and EMTs, who also assisted in saving the individual's life.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Bill Brown as he celebrated his 100th birthday on December 3. Born and raised in Brunswick, Georgia, Mr. Brown is a stalwart of the community. After 100 years, though, he is not only a stalwart, but he has also made a significant impact on the community's development and countless individuals' lives. During World War II, Mr. Brown joined the shipyards on the Brunswick River to build Liberty ships for the war effort. When the war was over, he embarked on a 60-year career selling real estate in the area. During this time, he had a firsthand perspective of Brunswick's growth. Although these are only a few of the many ways he served his community throughout his life, one of his most important may be that he rarely misses being in his pew at the First United Methodist Church. I am glad to see the hundreds of people who came to Mr. Brown's birthday, each with well wishes and lots of thanks for Mr. Brown and how he helped them along the way. Mr. Brown, happy birthday. Honoring Brunswick Pilot John Beimler, Apprentice Pilot Gordon Strother, Jr., and Captain Danny Jones

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember the life of Dr. Henry Herbert ``Nubbin'' Cobb, a pharmacist in Athens, Georgia, who passed away on November 20, 2018, at the age of 72. Dr. Cobb wore many hats throughout his life as a pharmacist, serving our Nation and the State of Georgia alike. First, Dr. Cobb joined the United States Air Force for 5 years as chief pharmacist, serving abroad in places like the Philippines. Upon his return, he completed a master's degree and a Ph.D. degree from the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy. From there, he taught college students, worked with St. Mary's Hospital for 44 years, and practiced as a nursing home pharmacist. His expertise and dedication will be missed in the pharmacy profession and at the University of Georgia. As a former student of Dr. Cobb's, I can attest to his dedication to our great profession. His family and friends will be in my thoughts and prayers. Honoring Bill Brown on his 100th Birthday

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Lieutenant John White on his service to both our Nation and the city of Savannah. Lieutenant White served as a United States Marine in the Pacific theater during World War II. There, he became part of the 51st Defense Battalion, the first African American combat unit. When he returned from war, he was recruited by Chief James Roger to join the Savannah Police Department. On May 3, 1947, Lieutenant White became the first African American officer in the State of Georgia, where he continued to serve for 38 years. He is now the last surviving member of the original nine Black police officers who joined the Savannah Police Department. I want to thank Lieutenant John White for his monumental service, which paved the way for other African Americans to go to work each day and serve their communities in the State of Georgia. Honoring the Life of Dr. Henry Herbert Cobb, III

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Oran Yeargan, a student at Glynn County Middle School in Brunswick, Georgia. A student with a disability, Oran has been the water boy for the Hurricane's football team for the past 3 years. This October, the coach called him off the bench and Oran ran the ball for the last touchdown of the game against Needwood Middle School. He stood by the team with utmost dedication all year, and this touchdown was not only really deserved, but an important lesson to us all about commitment and overcoming life's obstacles. Oran, we are proud of you. Congratulations.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of retired Police Chief Matt Doering of Brunswick, Georgia, who passed away on September 4 at 56 years of age after a long battle with cancer. Chief Doering dedicated his life to serving his community. He spent 34 years working with the Glynn County Police Department, and for 14 of those years, he served as the chief of police. From directing high- profile investigations to personally patrolling the area during hurricanes, Chief Doering was highly respected throughout Glynn County. After being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, he retired from the police department and began working with the Glynn County school system. I am proud and thankful to have had someone with the character of Chief Doering serving his community in the First Congressional District of Georgia.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate September being National Recovery Month. Sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, SAMHSA, I encourage everyone to take time this month to reach out to those who they know are suffering or have suffered from mental and substance abuse disorders. Currently, 115 people die every day from opioid abuse. Clearly, that is way too many, and, sadly, only one example of numerous types of mental and substance abuse disorders in the United States. If you or anyone you know is struggling, there are resources available, including a Suicide Prevention Lifeline, SAMHSA's National Helpline, and more. SAMHSA's website, www.samhsa.gov, has these phone numbers, treatment center locations, grant applications for local governments, and general health information. With hard work, smart policy decisions, and a dedicated American public, we can turn these numbers around.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Chairmen Walden and Burgess for working so hard with our partners across the aisle as well as across the Capitol to come to a consensus on this critical legislation necessary to combat the opioid epidemic. As the only pharmacist currently serving in Congress, I have seen families saved by pain medications and have seen families torn apart by the same drugs. Since this body began tackling the opioid epidemic, I have said there are three major components to this crisis: prevention, law enforcement, and treatment. This legislation touches all three prongs of the opioid crisis with a number creative solutions in addition to providing offsets to ensure that solving a public health crisis does not lead to a fiscal one. This package is not a silver bullet, but as legislators we need to do everything in our capacity to prevent the addiction and overdoses that occur every day in the United States. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman Walden and Burgess for working so hard with our partners across the aisle as well as across the Capitol to come to a consensus on this critical legislation necessary to combat the opioid epidemic. As the only pharmacist in Congress, I have seen families saved by pain medications and have seen families torn apart by the same drugs. Since this body began tackling the opioid epidemic, I have said there are three major parts to the crisis: prevention, law enforcement, and treatment. This legislation touches all three prongs of the opioid crisis with a number of creative solutions in addition to providing offsets to ensure that solving a public health crisis does not lead to a fiscal one. I voted for many of these bills when they came before Energy and Commerce for markup, and once again I want to offer my full support for this legislation. I am pleased that this package includes three of my own bills, the Special Registration for Telemedicine Clarification Act, the Abuse Deterrent Access Act, and the Empowering Pharmacists in the Fight Against Opioid Abuse Act. This package is not a silver bullet--but as legislators we need to do everything in our capacity to prevent the addiction and overdoses that occur every day in the United States.