If so, you’ll want to pay attention to this.
This week, House Republicans passed a bill to block yet another overreaching mandate from the Biden Administration that would limit your choices next time you purchase an automobile.
Earlier this year, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed aggressive new standards that would mandate that all new vehicles be electric by 2032. Electric vehicles (EV) are a great new technology that many Americans choose to take advantage of. Here in the First District, we will soon be home to Hyundai’s newest EV battery plant, and Georgia is a nationwide leader in many of the green technologies that are coming online today.
While this emerging industry is promising, there are reasons why gas-powered vehicles still dominate the market. EVs are expensive. They also have 80% more problems than gas-powered cars, and there are not enough charging stations to force a transition to EVs. In fact, the Biden Administration allocated billions to construct new EV chargers, but two years later exactly zero have been built.
On top of the affordability, reliability, and logistical issues that make EVs an unworkable option for many people, this move by the EPA is playing right into China’s hand. China controls most of the critical minerals mining, processing, and manufacturing for EVs. China has 78% of the world’s cell manufacturing capacity for EV batteries. To further its grip on EV technology against America, China implemented export controls on graphite, the single largest mineral component of any EV battery. There is currently only one producing graphite mine in North America. EPA’s proposed EV mandates will further strengthen China’s foothold in the American auto industry and could lead to vehicles from China being one of the only affordable options left for Americans by 2035.
For these reasons, I was proud to join my Republican colleagues in passing the CARS Act to ensure consumers can drive the vehicle of their choice, not Biden’s.
What this administration fails to understand, time and time again, is that these new technologies are driven by innovation, not federal intervention. My choice of vehicle is a 2005 Toyota Tundra, but I’ll be the first to say that what is best for me is not best for everyone. I had a choice, and you should too. |
In this week's edition of Buddy's Briefing, we're discussing a very important piece of legislation I recently introduced, Sammy's Law. |
Monday, December 4, 2023: After a very disappointing weekend where the Dawgs lost to Alabama in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Championship game, I pull myself together and head to Jekyll Island in Glynn County early this morning as I speak to the Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) at their annual convention. Led by my good friend and former Georgia House of Representative colleague, President Tom McCall from Elberton, GFB represents hundreds of thousands of members across the state and is the voice for Georgia agriculture.
Afterwards, I head to the Jacksonville airport for my flight to Washington and, during the drive, I have a phone interview with the Wall Street Journal to discuss legislation I have to rein in the egregious practices of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) that are resulting in high prescription drug prices.
Once back in our office on Capitol Hill, I have a meeting with our communications staff followed by a meeting with our legislative staff. Next, I have a phone interview with Politico to discuss “Sammys Law,” legislation I am sponsoring that will require social media companies to provide parental access to data about children’s potentially dangerous social media interactions. The law is named in honor of Sammy Chapman, who at the age of 16, died of fentanyl poisoning after taking a fentanyl-laced pill that he purchased from someone on Snapchat. Sammy’s Mom, Dr. Laura Berman, grew up on St. Simons Island and graduated from Glynn Academy High School.
After a virtual call with our district staff, I meet with our scheduling staff before heading to a meeting of the Energy and Commerce (E&C) Communications and Technology (C&T) Subcommittee staff and leadership. Once back in our office, I have a virtual meeting with our communications consultant to discuss upcoming interviews this week followed by a virtual call to preview the upcoming COP28 summit being held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, for the next two weeks. COP stands for ‘conference of the parties,” and refers to the almost 200 countries that come together each year to address climate change. |
Carter speaks at Georgia Farm Bureau Convention |
Tuesday, December 5, 2023: I’m up early this morning and live on Fox Business on “Mornings with Maria” as we discuss the potential upcoming Biden impeachment inquiry vote and funding for the southern border. Afterwards, I head to a Border Security Caucus meeting where we hear from Dr. Walid Phares, the author of many books on Middle East politics and terrorist strategies against America.
After attending our weekly GOP Conference, I head to the House Chamber where I pay tribute to Guyton Elementary School in Effingham County for its excellent test scores, Laura Lynn McCorkel Miller from Shellman’s Bluff in McIntosh County who recently passed, and former NFL player Hubert Ginn from Savannah who recently passed.
Next, I head to a House GOP member press conference with Jewish students in the Rayburn Room before heading to an E&C C&T Subcommittee oversight hearing of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). After waiving on to an E&C Energy Subcommittee hearing on American Energy Dominance, Security, and Environmental Stewardship, I head to the House Visitors Center (HVC) where I take part in a bipartisan roundtable on Sammys Law with other co-sponsors of the bill, parents of children impacted by social media, and members of the media.
Once back in my office, I have a virtual call with the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) before inviting family members from the Sammys Law roundtable to our office for a video interview. Next, I head to the House Chamber for our only vote series of the day and remain afterwards to pay tribute to my friend Herb Jones from Effingham County who served in the Georgia House of Representatives for many years and recently passed.
Remaining in the House Chamber, I participate in a bipartisan special order sponsored by Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-GA) remembering former First Lady Rosalynn Carter. Afterwards, I head to an E&C full committee markup that lasts most of the afternoon and will continue tomorrow. After recessing from the E&C markup, I have a meeting with Congressman Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and staff to discuss Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) legislation on which we are working. |
Carter speaks following Sammy's Law introduction |
Wednesday, December 6, 2023: My day starts with a series of meetings off Capitol Hill with representatives from the National Community Pharmacists Association, American Hospital Association, Community Oncology Alliance, and Texas Aggregates and Concrete Association before I return to our office and join in on our all-staff conference call.
Next, I head back to the E&C hearing room where we continue with our full committee markup. During breaks in the markup, I have the opportunity to meet with advocates for the FairTax and head to the House Chamber where I pay tribute to Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) CFO Donald R. Lewis, who is retiring.
After attending a telecom stakeholder meeting with Majority Whip Tom Emmer, I return to the House Chamber where I speak on H.R. 4468, the Choice in Automobile Retail Sales Act before heading to the Capitol steps where my Georgia colleague Rep. Nikema Williams (D-GA) and I uphold our bet on the Georgia-Alabama SEC Championship game by providing Chick Fil A lunches to Rep. Terri Sewell (D-AL) and Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL) and their staffs.
I also have the opportunity to meet with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Deputy Speaker of the Moldovan Parliament, Mr. Mihai Popsoi, and the Moldovan Ambassador, North Atlantic Right Whale Conservation advocates, including my good friend Georgia State Representative Al Williams (D-Hinesville), Society of Interventional Radiology, and Dr. Mehmet Oz. Later in the afternoon, we have our only vote series of the day and afterwards, I attend the Global Business Alliance 28th Annual Awards banquet. |
Carter makes good on SEC Championship wager |
Thursday, December 7, 2023: After our weekly GOP Doctors Caucus meeting where we hear from ARPA-H Director Renee Wegryzn on the mission and goals of the newly created agency, I head to a bipartisan E&C member briefing with the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on the physician self-referral law’s application to mail order pharmacy.
After our final vote series of the week, I remain in the House Chamber and pay tribute to newly-elected Rincon City Councilman Kevin Exley. After a meeting off Capitol Hill, I head to the Rayburn Recording Studio where I film this week’s edition of Buddy’s Briefing, Tech Talk, and videos for Christmas. Once back in my office, I have a live interview on TBN Centerpoint to discuss Sammy’s Law before I record videos for the Savannah Christian Raiders and Pierce County Bears wishing them luck in the Georgia State High School football championship games next week. |
Carter films holiday message for US troops |
Click here for this week's vote sheet in the House of Representatives. |
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