Buddy Carter

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Captain Michael McFadden of the Savannah Fire Department, who lost his life in the line of duty earlier this year at 44 years of age. A life dedicated to public service, Captain McFadden served in the United States Marine Corps for 8 years before joining the Savannah Fire Department. His high level of training and successful missions allowed him to rise through the ranks from master firefighter to, eventually, captain. Captain McFadden collapsed suddenly one day with a heart problem. Unfortunately, firefighters are at high risk for severe cardiac problems because of their strenuous physical activity, emotional stress, exposure to pollutants, and smoke inhalation. With more than a million firefighters across the U.S., I hope that everyone will keep these brave men and women in their thoughts as they go to work each day to keep us and our communities safe. Captain McFadden's family will continue to be in our thoughts and prayers.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Corporal Joseph Maciel of the Third Infantry Division, who died in the line of duty in Afghanistan on July 7. Corporal Maciel was an excellent soldier who had served in the Army for 2 years in the Third ID. He had been stationed in Afghanistan since February of this year. His quality work ethic, positive attitude, and honorable service earned him a number of accolades, including the Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and the Army Service Ribbon. He was highly respected by his fellow soldiers. Corporal Maciel's passing occurred during an insider attack in Afghanistan in which two other soldiers were wounded. As our soldiers risk their lives in Afghanistan and other nations to spread the values of democracy, we must keep our soldiers and their families in our thoughts and prayers.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleagues for introducing this critical legislation. As it stands, the OTC monograph system is slow and outdated, leading to new changes being stuck in the pipeline for years with no light at the end of the tunnel. As a pharmacist, I know how important it is to my patients that they have access to new uses and applications. Regardless of the application needed under a monograph, today's legislation puts in place changes that will help those who I have spent my life assisting: the patient. This legislation establishes a mechanism for safety label changes, giving these new efforts an outlet through which to get changes for the public quickly available and on shelves. This critical legislation will shorten market exclusivity by 6 months for certain new over-the-counter products approved without a new drug application and will also bolster the staffing capability at the FDA overseeing the OTC drug industry. Over-the-counter drug innovation has faced challenges for years, and, with this legislation, we finally have an opportunity to open up these channels that will help everyone. I voted for this legislation through the subcommittee and through full committee and am proud to offer my full support to pass this legislation.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a constituent in my district, Mrs. Lynda DuRant, who saved her husband's life by bravely and correctly administering CPR in an emergency situation. An educator in the Effingham County public school system, Mrs. DuRant used her CPR training to save her husband John's life when he suffered a significant cardiac event. The doctors said later that her immediate and proper use of CPR was crucial to his survival. CPR has only a 10.6 percent success rate, because it is often performed incorrectly. With early June being National CPR and AED Awareness Week, I encourage everyone to become certified in administering CPR. Like Mrs. DuRant, you never know when you will be called upon in an emergency to save a life. Thank you, Mrs. DuRant, for your brave action and for reminding us of the importance of this critical skill.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember someone who dedicated his life to public service in the First Congressional District of Georgia, Mr. James Mondell DeLoach, Sr., who passed away on July 3 at the age of 86. Jimmy DeLoach truly dedicated his whole life to serving others. He was a staple of government in Garden City, Georgia, between 1970 and 1990, serving three terms as the mayor of Garden City and then for 8 more years as a Chatham County commissioner. As county commissioner, Mr. DeLoach was integral in the construction of the nationally important Mighty Eighth Air Force Heritage Museum dedicated to the airmen who served in the European theater during World War II. Because of his exceptional service to the area, one of the area's most popular roadways was given his name, the Jimmy DeLoach Parkway. Jimmy DeLoach was the epitome of a public servant. And he set the bar high for all of us who followed him in public service. His family, including his son, the mayor of Savannah, Eddie DeLoach, are all in my thoughts and prayers. We truly lost a giant in west Chatham County.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Captain Raymond Sweatte and Mr. Michael Sullivan, the crew of the University of Georgia Skidaway Institute of Oceanography's ship, the Savannah. While Captain Sweatte and Mr. Sullivan were on the Savannah conducting a research-based fish survey just off the coast of Georgia, they were contacted by the Coast Guard about a nearby ship in distress. After searching multiple locations in the nighttime darkness, the Savannah located and saved two Florida fishermen struggling to cling to their lives. The fishermen had been taking on water for about 5 hours in high seas and winds and could not keep up with the water flowing into the ship. If the Savannah had not located and rescued these struggling fishermen, it is possible they would not have survived. I sincerely thank the University of Georgia's Captain Sweatte and Mr. Sullivan for their bravery and heroic actions in this emergency situation to save the lives of two fellow Americans.

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. 294 and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 295.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember Alivea Cox of Richmond Hill, Georgia, a kindhearted 14-year-old who passed away on June 4, hours after being diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. We can all be inspired by her passion for life, exemplified in her hobbies and her ability to make everyone around her a little happier every day. Alivea was musically talented, playing the French horn, the trumpet, and the piano. Her middle school band teacher recognized her for both outstanding musical talent and outstanding character. Alivea cofounded a weekly prayer club for students modeled after 1 Timothy 4:12. In a letter to a teacher, she mentioned important life lessons she learned: to be patient with yourself and others, and that bad days do not define you. I offer my deepest sympathy to her parents, her family, schoolteachers, and her friends.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I thank my colleagues for introducing this critical legislation. Since this committee began tackling the opioid epidemic, I have said there are three major parts to the crisis: prevention, treatment, and law enforcement. 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 the committee for mark up, and I want to offer my full support for this legislation.

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. 269.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Savannah, Georgia, Police Department Patrol Officer Anthony Christie, who lost his life in the line of duty on May 25 at the age of 37. He is remembered as a passionate person who was deeply devoted to his fellow officers and community while simply loving his job. Before joining the police force, Officer Christie served in the United States Navy, where he earned a number of accolades, including the Navy Good Conduct Medal and the Global War on Terror Service Medal. He carried this excellent work with him from the Navy over to the police force. In one mission, he rescued a child who was abducted and abandoned in the woods. His fellow officers always wanted to work with Officer Christie because of his calming presence and their respect for his work. Officer Christie's passing is a reminder to us all of the danger officers must endure when they go to work to keep us and our families safe. I encourage everyone to thank our first responders on a daily basis, not only in the times when we need them the most. To Officer Christie and his family, we offer our deepest condolences. Thank you for your service. May God bless.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5327) to amend title V of the Public Health Service Act to establish a grant program to create comprehensive opioid recovery centers, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support for H.R. 5327, the Comprehensive Opioid Recovery Centers Act. This legislation will help support the establishment of Comprehensive Opioid Recovery Centers to serve as models for comprehensive treatment and recovery. These centers will provide substance use disorder patients with a wide range of treatment options for integrated care. By treating the whole person and utilizing the full range of FDA-approved medications and evidence- based treatments, these centers will dramatically improve the outcomes for individuals with substance use disorder and serve as models for evidence-based treatment across the country. I would like to thank the vice chairman of the Health Subcommittee Vice Chairman Brett Guthrie, Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Gene Green, and Representatives Larry Bucshon and Ben Ray Lujan for leading this important initiative. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous materials in the Record on the bill.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Speaker, deaths from drug overdoses have risen in nearly every county across the United States, with 47,055 Americans being lost each year due to overdose, the equivalent of about 115 people every day. Pharmacists are the last line of defense in the fight against prescription drug abuse. Under current law, pharmacists are required to exercise sound professional judgment when making a determination about the legitimacy of a controlled substance prescription. While the proper prescribing of controlled substances is a responsibility of the prescribing practitioner, pharmacists have a corresponding responsibility to ensure that controlled substances are only dispensed pursuant to a valid prescription issued for a legitimate medical purpose by a practitioner acting in the usual course of his professional practice. Even though pharmacists are not law enforcement officers, they play an important role in preventing the use of fraudulent prescriptions at the pharmacy counter. The Empowering Pharmacists in the Fight Against Opioid Abuse Act would require the Department of Health and Human Services, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and other Federal agencies responsible for combating the opioid epidemic to produce and disseminate materials to pharmacists that provide guidance on when and how to refuse to fill a prescription that the pharmacist believes to be fraudulent. I urge Members to support this commonsense legislation led by my colleague across the aisle, Representative DeSaulnier, and myself that will help improve the last line of defense against prescription drug abuse in our communities.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, each year, approximately 4\1/2\ million Americans use prescription pain medications for nonmedical purposes, contributing to 89 deaths per day. Of those who misuse prescription pain relievers, 53 percent reported obtaining them from friends or relatives. Although past legislative efforts have encouraged innovation in prescription drug regulation, law enforcement, and education, there are still individuals who have severe, legitimate chronic pain and need access to opioids. Abuse-deterrent formulations, ADFs, represent a breakthrough technology for these individuals that helps prevent the crushing, the snorting, and the injection of painkillers. Currently, many prescription drug plans present barriers to ADFs, including cost- sharing tiers, fail-first requirements, pricing, and prior authorization requirements, all limiting patient access to abuse- deterrent formulations. This legislation directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a study on barriers to accessing abuse-deterrent formulations for chronic pain patients enrolled in Medicare. Solutions to this public health crisis must balance the need to preserve access to effective pain medications for legitimate patients living with pain while minimizing the risk of opioid misuse and abuse that occurs in our communities. I am proud to introduce this legislation with my colleague across the aisle, Representative Loebsack, and my Ways and Means colleague, Representative Reed. I urge Members' support.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life of my friend, Mr. Jerry Lee Loupee, who passed away on May 28 at the age of 83. During my time being involved in politics in Chatham County, I got to know Jerry Loupee. I got to know him and his wife, Bonnie, because they were stalwarts. They were strong supporters of the Republican Party. Jerry was an integral part of the Skidaway Island Republican Club, the Chatham County Republican Party, and many charitable organizations around the world, always striving to make the world a better place to live. Jerry said: ``If you teach your children compassion, you have done half the job of raising them right.'' At home, he served to protect Georgia through the Georgia State Defense Force. Abroad, he worked for 31 years for Hercules Inc. in Pakistan, Taiwan, and Thailand, before coming back to his home in Savannah. Recently, Jerry and Bonnie had moved back to their home in Iowa. My wife, Amy, and I had the opportunity to visit with them before they moved. I am glad we had that final opportunity to be with Jerry. Bonnie, please know that we love you very much, and we share with you in the celebration of Jerry's life. Jerry was a true friend to many in Savannah and around the world, and he truly will be missed.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I would also like to thank my colleague, Mr. Griffith, for all his work on this very important legislation. I would also like to thank him for including language that requires a report on the impact of PDMPs on patient access to appropriate care. This is critical for epilepsy patients that can face barriers to accessing their Schedule V non- narcotic drugs necessary to control their seizures. Several epilepsy medications are classified as Schedule V and, therefore, fall under monitoring requirements, despite the fact that they are non-opioid, non-narcotic, and there is no evidence to indicate that these medications are being abused by people with epilepsy. This has led to unnecessary delays in access to their prescribed therapy. A handful of States have passed legislation that removes non-narcotic drugs from reporting requirements. As we work through legislation intended to combat the opioid crisis, we need to ensure that we do not limit access to legitimate care, especially to non-narcotic drugs.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, in 2008 Congress strengthened prohibitions against inappropriately distributing and dispensing controlled substances online by passing the Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act. The Ryan Haight Act made it illegal for a practitioner to dispense controlled substances through the Internet without at least one in- person patient evaluation. The law included the ability for the Attorney General to issue a special registration to healthcare providers detailing in what circumstances they could prescribe controlled substances via telemedicine in legitimate emergency situations, such as a lack of access to an in-person specialist. However, the waiver process has never been implemented through regulation. Thus, some patients still do not have access to care that they need. The Special Registration for Telemedicine Clarification Act directs the Attorney General to promulgate interim final regulations within 1 year after passage of the law. The 62 million Americans living in rural communities are more likely to be older, poorer, and suffer higher rates of chronic disease than their urban counterparts. Furthermore, a disproportionate number of Americans living in rural communities are struggling with prescription opioid abuse. We must ensure that these individuals are able to access the care that they need. Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to support this bipartisan legislation co-led by my colleague across the aisle, Representative Bustos, to connect patients with the substance use disorder treatment they need without jeopardizing important safeguards to prevent misuse or diversion.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Gordon ``Batman'' Varnedoe's 80th birthday, which he celebrated on May 19. Mr. Varnedoe is a staple of Savannah, who lives to put a smile on everyone's face and is never afraid to try something new. Known to locals as Batman, he is often seen in parades wearing his cape and mask, but he earned the nickname in high school for his passionate belief in truth, justice, and an American moment. Mr. Varnedoe breaks out of his cape and into 18th century English attire as General James Oglethorpe, Savannah's founder, to welcome visitors to this historic city. His latest projects include substitute teaching at various schools and officiating weddings in his General Oglethorpe persona. He sets records in international weightlifting competitions at 73 years old. He is likely the oldest rugby player in Georgia, and he has founded numerous organizations to help sports thrive. Everyone can learn from Batman's enthusiasm for life and his ability to make the world a more colorful place. Happy birthday, my friend.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted yea on Roll Call No. 216.

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. 216.

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. 204, the Right to Try Act, because this legislation will enhance access to potentially lifesaving treatments for patients with terminal diseases or conditions. Currently, patients can only receive drugs that are undergoing FDA clinical trials through compassionate use or expanded access. At this time, patients and their physicians can acquire unapproved treatments through the FDA, not directly through the drug sponsor. This critical legislation would establish informed consent for patients to access unapproved drugs that could save their lives. This bill still guards patients from manufacturers misbranding or mislabeling drugs and specifies that any unapproved drug used in the new alternative pathway must have an active application that is not the subject of a clinical hold Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Speaker and the majority leader for recognizing the importance of right-to-try legislation and making sure that we fulfill our duty to patients looking for any chance to survive deadly conditions. This is a great step forward toward ensuring our patients get to take advantage of the incredible pharmaceutical therapies that are being researched and developed in the United States. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the work of agents with the Savannah Police Department. In 2016, gangs that were regularly trafficking drugs and guns in the Cann Park neighborhood just south of Savannah's downtown were identified by the Savannah Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives as part of a 6-month undercover investigation. In this joint operation, local law enforcement arrested 24 gang members, confiscating their drugs and firearms. Since the police apprehended these individuals, crime has sharply decreased in Cann Park--a 40 percent drop in violent crimes and a 75 percent drop in aggravated assaults with guns. Members of the operation team, ATF's Special Agent Lee Hoover, SPD's Sergeant Samuel Hunt, III, and Detective Michael Dobson, have been invited to Washington, D.C., to receive the TOP COPS award. This award pays tribute to the bravery that our law enforcement officers exhibit every day risking their lives to improve the quality of life for our citizens. I am glad to see these officers getting the recognition that they so richly deserve.