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From our nation's Capitol
Carter BuddyCLR MUG
U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter
U.S. Rep Buddy Carter
Updated: May 26, 2015, 11:28 PM
Published: May 26, 2015, 11:30 PM

Monday, May 18: This past Saturday I had the honor of delivering the commencement address for the graduating class of Frederica Academy on St. Simons Island. This was my first commencement address since being elected to Congress, and it was truly a delight to share a few words with such a fine group of young people. It was especially good to catch up with Mike Temple, who currently serves as principal of the high school at Frederica and who coached all three of my sons in baseball at a high school in Savannah.

After arriving back in Washington last night, I have a few hours of rare free time this morning and put it to good use by catching up on some much needed reading. Shortly before lunch we are back at it again and begin by taping a welcome message for the National Council of Higher Education Resources, who will be having their spring convention in Savannah this week while I am in Washington.

Next, I meet with Georgia Women’s Action for New Directions, an organization that advances women’s civic engagement for the health of our communities. Today, Georgia WAND is advocating on issues related to water, both surface and groundwater, regarding radiological contamination. After meeting with staff from the Congressional Research Service to learn more about the services they have to offer, we have our weekly staff meeting to review issues from last week and discuss issues that will be coming up this week.

Afterwards, we have our weekly Whip Team meeting before heading to the House chamber for votes. Upon arriving, I am asked by the House staff to preside over the votes tonight and, of course, am glad to help out. When presiding over the House, the member presiding is not allowed at any time to leave the speaker’s platform, a rule that I learn quickly as I attempt to retrieve my notebook that I left on the floor and am stopped by the House staff.

Tuesday, May 19: My morning starts early with a meet and greet with Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who is considering a presidential bid in 2016. Gov. Walker is an impressive leader who has done an outstanding job and certainly will make a fine candidate for president, if he decides to run.

After our weekly Republican Conference meeting, where we discuss the upcoming votes this week, I head back to the office to meet with the Georgia Construction Aggregate Association where we discuss transportation funding.

Afterwards I head to a subcommittee meeting for the Committee on Education and the Workforce where we are discussing waste, fraud and abuse in the federal child nutrition programs before going to a Committee on Oversight and Government Reform meeting to vote on legislation being presented. When I return to my office, I meet with the Georgia chapter of the March of Dimes and then with the Girl Scouts of America National CEO Ana Maria Chavez. Although their national offices are in New York City, the Girl Scouts still consider Savannah home and are continuously complimenting their birthplace city.

Afterwards, I head to the House chamber for our first votes of the day then back to my office to meet with representatives from the Georgia Society of CPAs, including Darrell and Debbie Thaw from Saint Simons Island. After a meeting with Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas) to discuss health care issues currently before the Ways and Means Committee, I head back to the House chamber, where I preside over the Chamber during afternoon debates, followed by our final vote series of the day. Once back in my office I host our monthly tele-town hall meeting, where we discuss prevailing issues and answer constituent questions.

Wednesday, May 20: Today is a special day as the Air Force Chief of Staff, Gen. Mark Welsh, has invited freshman congressmen to join him for breakfast at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall. Gen. Welsh served a tour at Moody Air Force Base in Valdosta and speaks highly of his experiences during that time.

Once we are back at the Capitol, I head over to the House Chamber where I am serving as speaker pro tem today and preside over morning orders. Next, I head over to the Committee on Homeland Security where we are marking up bills today, including H.R. 1615, a bill I am sponsoring addressing the backlog of Freedom of Information Act requests within the Department of Homeland Security.

After a meeting with representatives from the American College of Radiology followed by a meeting with Insurance agents from the district, I head to the House Chamber for our first series of votes today. Once back in my office I host a conference call with state and local elected officials in the district to bring them up to date on the Highway Trust Fund bill that we passed yesterday.

As I am walking over to the House chamber, I run into Rep. John Lewis (D-Atlanta), who I have met on several occasions but have not had a chance to spend time with. As we walk over to the Chamber together, he shares with me stories of his past, including how his father bought 1,000 acres of land in Alabama in 1944 for $300 and his family still lives on the property today. It was a very special time for me to be able to spend time with this American treasure.

Thursday, May 21: My day begins with a Republican Conference meeting with Ways and Means Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.) to discuss the Trade Promotion and Accountability Act (TPA), followed by a meeting with representatives from the Insurance Underwriters regarding the proposed Fiduciary Rule.

Next, I head over to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform for a hearing with post office directors who are proposing replacing Postal Service vehicles before heading back to my office to meet with Homecare providers from the district to discuss Medicare policies. Afterwards, I head to the House Chamber for our first and only votes of the day before heading to the airport to return to the district.
Once home, I head to downtown Savannah to greet members of the Atlanta Regional Commission who are in town to tour the ports.

Friday, May 22: The best thing about being home on Friday mornings is to be able to attend my Band of Brothers Bible Study. Led by Rev. Kenny Grant, our group of 150-175 men meets on Friday mornings at Garden City Baptist Church from 6:30-7:30 a.m. This group of men and the time I get to spend with them is one of the true blessings in my life.

Immediately following our meeting this morning I head down to Brunswick to participate in a memorial service at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center honoring our federal law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. After this wonderful tribute, my staff and I spend the afternoon touring FLETC, learning more about this interagency law enforcement training center that provides training for 91 U.S. government federal law enforcement agencies.
In Effingham County, Progress Starts With a Plan
Guest Editorial by Susan Kraut, President/CEO of Effingham County Chamber of Commerce
Susan Kraut column
A sold-out crowd of more than 150 business and community leaders gathered at Effingham’s New Ebenezer Retreat Center Sept. 24 for the Chamber of Commerce’s annual State of the County Luncheon, hearing updates on economic growth, education, and infrastructure across Effingham County. (Submitted photo)
Susan Kraut
Updated: Oct 1, 2025, 2:41 PM
Published: Oct 1, 2025, 2:36 PM

At last Wednesday’s sold-out State of the County luncheon, more than 150 business and community leaders heard a message that resonated throughout the program: We have a plan, and we’re sticking to it.

Effingham County City Manager Tim Callanan opened his remarks with that thought. It was simple, but powerful. In an era when news feeds churn with controversy and change, it served as a reminder that behind the scenes, steady planning is happening – and those plans are beginning to bear fruit.

Businesses and residents often express frustration about roads, zoning, parks, schools or economic development, feeling that growth is outpacing action. The truth, as Callanan underscored, is that many of those actions are already underway, rooted in master plans that cover everything from transportation and stormwater to parks, communications and public safety.

The challenge is that plans only matter if people know they exist. Too often, businesses and citizens forget these plans are in place, don’t know where to find them or don’t realize how to weigh in at the right moments. When that happens, the community loses the chance to shape its own future and to express the value of those plans – why they matter and why they’re worth supporting.

Planning delivers progress

Last week’s luncheon highlighted how “plans” translate into progress. Mayor Kevin Exley shared Rincon’s ranking as one of Georgia’s safest cities and the city’s launch of the Citizen Central app – a small but meaningful step toward accessible local government. Springfield’s new city manager, Lauren Eargle, outlined a capital improvement plan that includes sidewalks, drainage and playgrounds, along with the less glamorous but vital work of a $35 million wastewater plant upgrade. Guyton’s city manager, Bill Lindsey, discussed contracting with planning consultants, winning grants for sidewalks, and reinvesting in Bazemore Park and downtown revitalization. These aren’t random acts; they’re evidence of intentional planning.

The school district provided another example when Superintendent Yancy Ford noted that Effingham now serves nearly 14,500 students speaking 33 languages. That diversity is an asset – but it also requires careful, proactive investment to maintain the high standards families expect. His most powerful point concerned ESPLOST, the 1-cent Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax. Thanks to community support over the years, ESPLOST has built classrooms, purchased buses, enhanced safety measures, provided Chromebooks to all students, added security cameras and access-control systems, created inclusive playgrounds and athletic facilities open to the community, supported hands-on learning spaces like Honey Ridge, and established the College & Career Academy – a facility credited by Ford as helping lift the district’s graduation rate above 90% and expanding career pathways for a rapidly diversifying student body. And it has done so without incurring long-term debt.

Why ESPLOST matters

Among these examples of planning, none is clearer than ESPLOST — a long-term, voter-approved blueprint for funding education, renewed every five years to stay ahead of growth. The November ballot will again include the ESPLOST renewal, giving voters the opportunity to continue this proven approach to funding school facilities, technology, safety, transportation, inclusive playgrounds and community-accessible athletic fields. Renewing ESPLOST does not create a new tax; it simply extends the existing 1-cent sales tax, allowing residents, visitors and businesses to contribute to improvements that benefit every student. Without it, many of the projects parents and community members count on – such as new buses, safer schools, modern classrooms, career pathways and accessible playgrounds – would stall or require long-term debt.

Renewing ESPLOST is about more than bricks and mortar. It is not a reactionary measure but part of an intentional, ongoing plan to manage growth and maintain education – reinforcing the theme that plans become progress. As the district’s population becomes increasingly diverse and enrollment continues to rise, sustained ESPLOST funding is crucial to scaling programs, expanding facilities and maintaining the high graduation rates and opportunities that families expect. It is about protecting Effingham County’s tradition of educational excellence, maintaining property values and ensuring the workforce being prepared in our schools is ready to meet the needs of local employers. It is an investment in students, families and the future of our communities.

A call to the community

Effingham County is growing. Growth brings challenges, but it also brings opportunities. As the luncheon demonstrated, leaders at every level are working to guide that growth thoughtfully. The next step belongs to business owners, parents and neighbors – to lean in, stay informed and participate.

When hearing about a master plan, a referendum or a public meeting, don’t assume it is someone else’s job. Look up the plan, attend the forum, ask questions and cast a vote. That is how plans become progress – and how a yes vote on ESPLOST reaffirms and continues the community’s long-term plan for educational excellence, reinvesting in Effingham County’s future.