Monday, Feb. 2: I start the week in Glynn County to speak at the Georgia Foreign Trade Conference. This annual conference is important to shipping and maritime companies as well as the many businesses associated with the Georgia Ports Authority and the movement of international freight. We are truly blessed to have two of the finest international ports in the country right here in the First District located in Brunswick and Savannah.
Immediately upon returning to Washington, I join other members of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform to be briefed on the testimony we will be receiving tomorrow from the inspectors generals and their concern that agencies are uncooperative in working with the IGs and prohibiting them from doing their jobs. The IGs were created by Congress and are intended to be non-partisan, independent watchdogs of the taxpayers for fraud, waste and abuse of the various departments within the federal bureaucracy.
Next, I have a phone interview with an Atlanta radio station regarding the recent gun smuggling problem at the Atlanta airport, as well as a phone conference with Dr. Svein Oie, dean of the College of Pharmacy at the University of Georgia, my alma mater, regarding an internship we are trying to set up for this summer with the school.
Afterwards, I have a telephone interview with the Atlanta Journal Constitution regarding the president’s budget announcement today and his inclusion of funds for the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project. Next, I head to the House Chamber where I am “managing the floor” for two bills, HR 361, the Medical Preparedness Allowable Use Act, and HR 615, the Department of Homeland Security Interoperable Communications Act. “Managing the floor” means that I am presenting the bills on the floor and controlling the debate by yielding time to other members who wish to speak on the bills. Afterwards, we pass these two bills as well as HR 623, the Social Media Working Group Act of 2015.
Tuesday, Feb. 3: After an early morning meeting of the Republican Conference, I head to my first committee hearing with the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform where we hear from three of the 72 Inspectors Generals about the problems they are encountering with their different agencies.
When witnesses appear before committees, each member is given five minutes to ask questions of the witnesses. The chairman goes first, followed by the ranking member, a term given to the minority party member with the most seniority on the committee.Alternate party members are then called on according to seniority until every member has had a turn.
After running over to the House Chamber for procedural votes, I head to a Homeland Security Subcommittee for Transportation Security hearing where I question TSA officials on the recent gun-running problem at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport. Afterwards I head back to the House Chamber, where I speak in support of HR 596, the bill to repeal Obamacare. After speaking, I stay in the Chamber where we vote 239-186 in favor of repealing Obamacare.
Wednesday, Feb. 4: After participating in a Homeland Security briefing where I shared my experiences from my trip to the Southwest border with non-committee members, I head to a Committee on Education and Workforce hearing where we have witnesses testifying on “expanding opportunity in America’s schools and workplaces.” Among the witnesses testifying is Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, who shares his state’s success stories in increasing the number of college graduates as well as certificate holders.
I am delighted anytime we have visitors from back home and today we welcome blueberry farmers from Alma and Nahunta to the Capitol. Blueberries are now the No. 1 crop in Georgia and obviously very important to the First Congressional District. It is also a pleasure to welcome my good friend, Dr. Bud Peterson, president of Georgia Tech, and members of his staff to our office today. Later we have even more visitors from the district as I meet with the National Forest Landowners Association whose president this year, Joe Hopkins, is from Folkston.
Later in the afternoon I head back down to the House Chamber as we pass HR 50, the Unfunded Mandates Information and Transparency Act of 2015, which will provide Congress and the public with more information regarding the true cost and appropriateness of federal mandates. Afterwards, I speak during Special Orders in support of HR 399, the Secure our Borders Now bill that will be voted on next month.
Thursday, Feb. 5: Today is the National Day of Prayer, and we begin bright and early with the 63rd annual National Prayer Breakfast with about 3,500 people who made the trip to D.C. to participate. Our keynote speaker this year is NASCAR Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip, who does an excellent job of sharing his faith experience. We also hear from President Obama.
Once we return to the Capitol, I have a meeting with the Majority Whip, Steve Scalise, R-La., to discuss pending legislation. Afterwards, I head to the House Chamber where we pass HR 527, the Regulatory Flexibility Act, which requires regulatory agencies to account for the impact on small businesses in their rulemaking. I also have the opportunity to meet with Rick Holley, the CEO of Plum Creek, a major landowner in the First District as well as Georgia’s new adjutant general, Brig. Gen. Joe Jarrard.
At lunch I have the chance to visit with my good friend and one of the First District’s most successful business owners, Marty Daniel of Daniel Defense. The afternoon is filled with more meetings including one with representatives from Shell Oil about potential offshore drilling and Pembroke’s Public Safety Director, Bill Collins. The pace is really picking up now and it has been a very busy week.
