Buddy Carter

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, September 22, 2016, I was absent due to personal reasons and missed votes. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows: Roll Call Number 553 on agreeing to Amendment No. 5 offered by Rep. Engel--Nay. Roll Call Number 554 passage of H.R. 5719--Aye. Roll Call Number 555 passage of H.R. 5037--Aye. Roll Call Number 556 passage of H.R. 5798--Aye.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, September 22, 2016 I was absent due to personal reasons and missed votes. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows: Rollcall No. 542 on ordering the previous question--``Aye.'' Rollcall No. 543 adoption of H.Res. 879--``Aye.'' Rollcall No. 544 passage of H.R. 5719--``Aye.'' Rollcall No. 545 passage of H.R. 5320--``Aye.'' Rollcall No. 546 passage of H.R. 5946--``Aye.'' Rollcall No. 547 passage of H.R. 2285--``Aye.'' Rollcall No. 548 passage of H.R. 5523-- ``Aye.'' Rollcall No. 549 passage of H.R. 5625--``Aye.'' Rollcall No. 550 passage of House Amendment to S. 1550--``Aye.'' Rollcall No. 551 passage of H.R. 4419--``Aye.'' Rollcall No. 552 passage of H.R. 5963-- ``Aye.''

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mr. Matt Kuchar of St. Simons Island, Georgia. Mr. Kuchar competed in the 2016 Rio Olympics and won a bronze medal in the men's individual golf competition. He completed his fantastic Olympic week at 13 under par with a final round of 63, describing it as the round of his life. This great week does not come simply by chance for Mr. Kuchar. He has worked tirelessly over the past years to improve his game and has consistently been near the lead in many important tournaments. In 1997, he began his stellar career as an All-American at Georgia Tech. Then in 2000, he turned to the professional ranks. In his 16 years as a pro, he has had 12 professional wins, including important tournaments such as the 2012 Players Championship, the 2013 Memorial Tournament, and the 2014 RBC Heritage. Mr. Kuchar's smile and personality is an inspiration to all golfers. He is notoriously one of the nicest players on the professional circuit. It is an honor to recognize him today. Mr. Kuchar, you made Georgia's First Congressional District very, very proud.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the University of Georgia as well as its impressive students, faculty, and staff. On September 12, the U.S. News and World Report ranked UGA the eighteenth best university in America. This is clearly not an easy feat. UGA continues to work tirelessly to provide the best education for its undergraduate students, and its hard work is being noticed. One example of UGA's commitment to its students involves its emphasis on experienced-based learning. UGA is the Nation's largest public university to include this type of learning in its overall curriculum. From internships and study-abroad options to research projects, the opportunities at this great university are endless. In addition to these possibilities, UGA has also strengthened its faculty and course options by adding 50 new faculty members and expanding the course selection by 300 classes in high-demand subjects. UGA has truly created a small-class experience in a very large university. Congratulations to the University of Georgia on these accomplishments, and Go Dawgs. Congratulating Matt Kuchar

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the remarkable life of Jack Davis, a beloved and brilliant cartoonist from St. Simons Island. Mr. Davis' passion for cartoons began at the age of 12 when he read his first cartoon magazine. As his talent in drawing cartoons flourished, he created astonishing artwork for the University of Georgia, depicting action-packed football scenes in a very unique style. Nationally, he may have been best known for his work with MAD magazine and his artwork of the magazine's star character, Alfred E. Neuman. Executives at MAD magazine say there wasn't anything that Jack couldn't do. In addition, Mr. Davis designed for other companies, including DreamWorks, ESPN, Paramount Pictures, Indianapolis Speedway, and The Varsity drive-in in Atlanta. It is an honor to recognize Mr. Jack Davis, and I could not speak more highly of his talents. He will truly be missed by the First District of Georgia, the Bulldog Nation, and everyone who knew of him and his artistic gift. Congratulating the University of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize October 2016 as American Pharmacists Month. During the month of October, we recognize the pharmacists across America who work each day to guarantee that Americans have access to important and often lifesaving medications. As the only pharmacist in Congress, I am proud to recognize the work that pharmacists across America are doing to ensure our Nation's health. Every day, pharmacists counsel patients on prescriptions and over-the-counter medications, helping to relieve patients' pain, and provide vaccines for a number of illnesses. Further, pharmacists are considered one of the top three most trusted professionals in America. During this month, as well as throughout the year, I encourage everyone to visit your pharmacist, ask questions about your prescriptions, receive advice about preventative care, and simply get to know the person who provides your medicine and helps to keep you healthy. To my fellow pharmacists, thank you for what you do. Please know your work is appreciated and you are an important part of keeping our Nation healthy. It is an honor to be your voice in the United States Congress. Remembering Jack Davis

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 1550), to amend title 31, United States Code, to establish entities tasked with improving program and project management in certain Federal agencies, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

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

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of H.R. 5037, the District of Columbia Courts and Public Defender Service Voluntary Separation Incentive Payments Act, introduced by my colleague from the District of Columbia, Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton. Voluntary separation incentive payments provide agencies an effective and efficient tool for reducing the size of their workforce, cutting costs in the process. As stewards of taxpayers' dollars, it is important that every agency ensure it is staffed only to the extent that their work requires. H.R. 5037 will provide authority for the District of Columbia to offer buyouts for employees of the D.C. courts and public defenders. This legislation would authorize the District to set up a substantially similar system to that already used by Federal agencies. Utilizing a voluntary separation incentive payment program will assist the D.C. court and public defender systems in reducing cost. When compared to other force reduction efforts, the Government Accountability Office found voluntary separation incentive payments result in greater cost reductions and savings. The GAO review found that voluntary separation payments generate greater savings than direct workforce reductions because the payment encourages higher paid staff to depart. H.R. 5037 will allow the District to decrease the cost and increase the efficiency of administering the judicial system. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5037. 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 include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5037) to authorize the establishment of a program of voluntary separation incentive payments for nonjudicial employees of the District of Columbia courts and employees of the District of Columbia Public Defender Service, as amended.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

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

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

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of H.R. 5625, the Modernizing Government Travel Act, introduced by Congressman Seth Moulton of Massachusetts. Federal employees' options for transportation on official travel are limited. In the modern shared economy, there are many new methods of transportation that can help the Federal Government reduce the costs associated with travel by Federal employees. In order for the government to be good stewards of taxpayer funds, it is important that it embrace innovation and the efficiencies that come with it. The Modernizing Government Travel Act will help to ensure that as new transportation services emerge, Federal employees can take advantage of the efficiencies that these services bring. This bill would provide a statutory framework for authority for employees on official business to travel using transportation network company services. By opening up a new market for transportation services, H.R. 5625 will also help to spur new innovations, which will bring potentially greater cost savings. Embracing innovation is only one piece of ensuring taxpayer dollars are well spent. We must also ensure that there is accountability for travel expenses. H.R. 5625 will mandate that agencies report their travel costs to the General Services Administration. H.R. 5625 will also require that GSA publish that data for the American people to review. GSA will be required to provide a report on agency official travel costs to Congress in order to better inform future transportation policy decisions. I urge my colleagues to support this good government bill and help promote innovation in the transportation sector by supporting H.R. 5625. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 4419, the District of Columbia Judicial Financial Transparency Act, which was introduced by my colleague from the District of Columbia, Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton. H.R. 4419 would provide a more robust and open disclosure of judicial finances in the District. Currently, District judges are required to meet disclosure requirements that are less rigorous than those mandated for Federal judges. H.R. 4419 will help to close this disclosure gap. This bill will require judges to disclose sources of income for themselves and their spouses. This increased disclosure will help to strengthen an important pillar of our judicial system: the public's trust in an impartial judicial system. In order to ensure that those before the District's judicial system can be confident in its impartial nature, the bill also requires that the disclosures be made publicly available. The bill will require that disclosure reports be made available to the public for 3 years after they have been filed. H.R. 4419 will ensure compliance by making a failure to file or filing a fraudulent report an offense that is punishable by removal from office. This legislation will help to protect the public's faith in the integrity and impartiality of the District's judicial branch. H.R. 4419 is a good government bill, and I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation. 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 to include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4419) to update the financial disclosure requirements for judges of the District of Columbia courts, as amended.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I urge the adoption of this bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 5690, the GAO Access and Oversight Act. As stewards of the Federal Government, we have a duty to make sure that taxpayer money is spent appropriately. We also have a duty to make sure our watchdogs have the tools that are necessary to combat waste, fraud, and abuse, especially the Government Accountability Office. The GAO has a proven track record of excellence. In the past 6 years alone, it has identified over 200 areas of duplication, overlap, or fragmentation and has recommended more than 600 corrective actions; however, Congress needs to ensure the GAO has the access necessary to carry out the work we ask of it. Today, we have the opportunity to better arm the GAO by clarifying that it does, indeed, have inherent access to data contained in the National Directory of New Hires. In doing so, we will help the GAO to better investigate potential fraud and improper payments, including those in the disability insurance program. The GAO's objectives are hindered without access to this data, and taxpayer dollars are not as well protected against waste, fraud, and abuse. The language in this bill has been included in bipartisan legislation that was approved unanimously by the full House last Congress. To ensure the GAO has all of the information it needs to perform its critical role for Congress, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5690. I also thank Senator Sasse for his work on this bill in the Senate. 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 to include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5963, the Supporting Youth Opportunity and Preventing Delinquency Act. This bill, sponsored by Mr. Curbelo, allows at-risk young adults to get back on track by offering them a vast range of opportunities and reducing the barriers that hold these young adults back from success-- from graduating high school to preparing for lifelong achievements in the workplace. Last fall, in an Education and the Workforce Committee hearing, a witness told his compelling story about his own second chance through a system that allowed him to get out of the path he was on and to chart a new one. Currently, there are 2 million children in the juvenile justice system, a statistic that is much too high. Many of these children need a second chance to succeed, like the witness I heard in the Education and the Workforce Committee. Before my time in the United States Congress, I had experience with this same issue in the Georgia State legislature where I worked to help pass H.B. 242. In Georgia, that bill ensured that juveniles with status offenses weren't susceptible to the influence of more serious offenders, which could create an opportunity for them to commit more serious crimes later in their life. Georgia's success with H.B. 242 is a prime example of why we need H.R. 5963 at the Federal level. It saves money for taxpayers, reduces the strain on the justice system, and gives at-risk young adults a chance for a future. This is a win-win for all sides, and I am proud to cosponsor this legislation.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to note the upcoming National Day of Taiwan, which falls on October 10, and is referred to on Taiwan as Double Ten Day. I extend my best wishes to the people of Taiwan as they prepare for this important day, and also offer my best wishes for the day itself. As a Member of Congress, I am proud of the actions we have taken through the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) and the Six Assurances in helping to make it possible for the people of Taiwan to build the strong, prosperous, and democratic society they enjoy today. I would also note the excitement generated by the election of the first woman to the Taiwan's presidency, whom I had the honor of meeting recently. Our bilateral relationship is as strong as ever, and I am confident it will continue to be in the years to come under President Tsai's leadership. In May Congress passed H. Con. Res. 88, reaffirming the TRA and the Six Assurances as the linchpin of our relationship and earlier in the 114th Congress, the House passed legislation regarding Taiwan's participation at the World Health Assembly and INTERPOL. With the passage of H. Con. Res. 88, the people of Taiwan may be assured that Congress will continue to develop and grow our prosperous relationship. I encourage my colleagues to join me in a message of continuing friendship to the people of Taiwan, and in wishing them a Happy Double Ten Day