Rep. Buddy Carter

R

Georgia – District 1
representative

News & Announcements

Mar 26, 2026
Communications & Technology

C&T Subcommittee Holds Hearing to Review the 1996 Telecom Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Richard Hudson (NC-09), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, led a hearing titled The Telecommunications Act of 1996: 30 Years Later . “The world of 1996 looks nothing like the world of today, and it’s time we update our laws to reflect that,” said Chairman Hudson. “Congress needs to consider how we should modernize our communications policy framework to reflect the technologies of today in a way that will also work for the technologies of tomorrow.” Watch the full hearing here . Below are key excerpts from today’s hearing: Congressman Bob Latta (OH-05): “Can we maintain a light-touch regulatory approach to ensure we maintain that lead globally when we talk about telecommunications in the United States?” Mr. Pickering: “Yes, I believe we can take a light-touch approach, building on the lessons from the ’96 Act. That approach now applies to both energy and telecommunications, including broadband—the critical infrastructure for AI that converges at the data center. You’re in a great position as Chairman of the Energy Subcommittee, working with Chairman Hudson, to advance permitting reform this session. We’re in a race against China, and the clock is ticking. Their advantages could swing the race in their favor if we don’t act in this Congress. We need to build new energy networks and capacity, as well as achieve the fiber connectivity that distributes AI applications and uses across the country.” Congressman Buddy Carter (GA-01): “30 years is a long time. Think of what has changed in 30 years, particularly when you talk about telecommunications. And don’t get me wrong—the Telecommunications Act of 1996, we all agree, was great. It unleashed competition and innovation, but it was different then. We need to make sure we are dealing with the [modern] times.” Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11): “I’d like to ask how Congress should update the framework of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 to match the work Chairman Carr is doing, such as deleting obsolete, technology-specific rules and moving toward a more technology-neutral approach.” Mr. Thierer: “The ‘delete, delete, delete’ proceeding is a good example of how we can move in that direction. We should have been doing that a long time ago. Instead, Congress, in the Telecommunications Act, delegated broad forbearance authority and hoped the FCC would voluntarily loosen the chains—and it hasn’t worked out that way.” ###

Mar 5, 2026
Markups

Full Committee Markup Recap: E&C Advances Eight Bills to the Full House of Representatives

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, led by Chairman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), reported eight pieces of legislation to the full House of Representatives. “As people, as a Committee, and as a Congress, there are few things that are more essential than our responsibility to protect our nation’s children,” said Chairman Guthrie. “We are taking the meaningful steps forward to empower parents and protect children and teens online. We owe it to parents. We owe it to communities. And most importantly, we owe it to the kids who are counting on us to get this right.” “Empowering parents to better protect their children—especially amid the near-constant barrage of digital threats—remains one of our most solemn and important responsibilities,” said Rep. Bilirakis. “Today, we took meaningful action to advance that mission by moving forward several key measures, including the Kids Online Safety Act, designed to strengthen safeguards and increase transparency in the online space. I remain steadfast in my commitment to ensuring that children can safely navigate the digital world, while holding technology companies accountable for the platforms they operate. Protecting our kids must always come before protecting corporate profits.” Legislative Vote Summary: H.R. 7757 , Kids Internet and Digital Safety (KIDS) Act, was reported to the full House as amended by a roll call vote of 28 yeas – 24 nays. H.R. 2657 , Sammy’s Law was reported to the full House as amended by a roll call vote of 36 yeas – 16 nays. H.R. 3149 , App Store Accountability Act was reported to the full House as emended by a roll call vote of 26 yeas – 23 nays. H.R. 7258 , Energy Emergency Leadership Act was reported to the full House by a roll call vote of 50 yeas – 0 nays. H.R. 7266 , Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Act was reported to the full House by a roll call vote of 49 yeas – 0 nays. H.R. 7257 , Securing Community Upgrades for a Resilient Grid (SECURE Grid) Act was reported to the full House as amended by a roll call vote of 47 yeas – 0 nays. H.R. 7272 , Pipeline Cybersecurity Preparedness Act was reported to the full House by a roll call vote of 48 yeas – 0 nays. H.R. 7305 , Energy Threat Analysis Center Act of 2026 was reported to the full House as amended by a roll call vote of 47 yeas – 0 nays. Watch the full markup here . Below are key excerpts from today’s markup: Congressman Buddy Carter (GA-01) on H.R. 2657, Sammy’s Law: “This is absolutely necessary because the harms that our children are confronting on social media are severe, and our children simply do not yet have the development skills to protect themselves alone. If this bill helps even one family avoid what happened to Sammy Chapman, then it will be worth it. As the proud grandfather of eight beautiful grandkids, I want to know that their parents and all other parents across the country have the best safety tools possible when protecting their innocent loved ones. What happened to Sammy is a travesty that no parent should experience, and we can prevent it today by passing this bill.” Congressman John James (MI-10) on H.R. 3149, the App Store Accountability Act:  “The App Store Accountability Act holds big tech companies to the same standard as local corner stores. It protects the next generation by empowering parents and making clear that when it comes to safeguarding children, no one gets a free pass. How many studies, how many congressional hearings do we need to know the status quo is broken? How many heartbreaking stories do we need to hear from parents? So many of us on this committee are parents ourselves. We see with our own eyes the threat that Big Tech poses to children every single day. Our nation's children deserve better, and we will act.” Congresswoman Erin Houchin (IN-09) on H.R. 6489, the SAFE BOTs Act: “We're in the middle of a chatbot revolution. Children are on the front lines. Kids today aren't just scrolling feeds, they're forming emotional bonds with AI companions that simulate empathy, mimic authority figures, and are available at any hour. And in too many cases, those kids don't even know they're talking to software. We saw a tragic illustration of this when a 14-year-old lost his life after months of conversations with a chatbot that validated his most troubling thoughts, rather than routing him to real help, that can't be the norm. The SAFE BOTs Act creates common sense, baseline guardrails. It prohibits AI from impersonating licensed professionals. It requires age-appropriate disclosure, so minors always know they're talking to an AI, not a human. It mandates that platforms provide a crisis hotline when a minor raises self-harm or suicide, it requires reasonable take-a-break prompts after extended interactions, and directs the NIH to study long-term mental health effects of chatbots on minors.” Congressman Gabe Evans (CO-08) on H.R. 7305, the Energy Threat Analysis Center Act of 2026: “The Energy Threat Analysis Center plays an essential role in safeguarding critical infrastructure that ensures economic growth and national security. It brings together the Department of Energy, national labs, and private sector utilities, and provides early threat detection and coordinated analysis of threats to our energy generation and transmission networks. Colorado's own National Lab of the Rockies, hosts ITAC and is leading the way in this vital work, which protects our infrastructure's reliability, security, and ultimately, affordability. We know that terrorism and sophisticated cyber threats are on the rise, and this mission is not abstract, it's urgent. I'm especially proud this bill passed the subcommittee unanimously, which is a clear sign that protecting our nation's energy systems is a shared priority.”

Feb 3, 2026
Hearings

O&I Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Ongoing Fraud in Medicare and Medicaid Programs

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, led a hearing titled Common Schemes, Real Harm: Examining Fraud in Medicare and Medicaid.

“What’s happening in Minnesota’s Medicaid program is deeply concerning and requires robust Congressional oversight; however, it is just the tip of the iceberg,” said Chairman Joyce. “Medicare and Medicaid fraud has been occurring in communities across the U.S. for decades, diverting necessary resources from patients in need. It is our duty to protect these programs for our most vulnerable Americans.”

Watch the full hearing here.

Below are key excerpts from today's hearing:

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Congressman Russ Fulcher (ID-01): “I’m from the state of Idaho—which, sometimes, may not be the first state you think about when there might be fraud, but that is kind of the basis of my question. Have you noticed any trends where states might get targeted or regions might get targeted as a function of potentially them having a lower barrier for entry, or maybe perceived as not being as likely to be audited?” Ms. Gay: “Absolutely. We talk a lot in the industry how [fraud] can be regionally generated. It tends to start in one particular area, and then I don’t know if they’re all hanging out, talking to each other, or how that spreads, but it does tend to start in certain populations and then branch out from there based on controls.” Mr. Fulcher: “What if the bad actor is a foreign actor? How much of that do you see? And if so, what kind of a challenge does that bring to potentially pursuing that fraud, if it’s perpetrated by a foreign actor?” Ms. Wooten: “Certainly, states have seen both fraud cases perpetrated by foreign and by U.S. citizens or people in the U.S., and from our perspective, as being a Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, it makes no difference. We look at allegations, try to identify whether there is something we can do about them? Is the dollar amount something we can pursue? Are we going to be able to get value back for the Medicaid program? Do we have the laws in place to prosecute whatever type of fraud is referred? And we move forward with that investigation.”

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Congressman Dan Crenshaw (TX-02): “So what’s the solution here? I mean, some argue stronger oversight would actually threaten access to care, but based on your experience, what actually happens to access when fraud is not controlled? Who bears the brunt of this?” Ms. Gay: “I think there’s certainly the patient-harm attribute you mentioned—you know, not getting the care that you need. […] We dealt with some cases with ACA enrollments, and by the time we verified with CMS that those were eligible recipients, the health plan was already on the hook for $1, $2, $3 million. Were these patients even receiving the care? In some cases, yes. In other cases, they had no idea that they were in a facility for such treatment. […] Now you have somebody that doesn’t even have that challenge, but that is now on their record. And even worse—those that do, that are getting subpar treatment at a very exorbitant rate and still not getting better.”

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Congressman Buddy Carter (GA-01): “Auditors found 112 hospice providers operating out of a single physical address. 112...holy cow. As a result, hospice agencies in LA County alone likely overbilled Medicare by $105 million in just one year. […] It looks like it’s a problem in a lot of different places. And that’s why I want to ask you, Ms. Wooten, have you seen instances of copycats where fraudsters see a successful fraud scheme happening in one location, so they try to replicate the same fraud elsewhere?” Ms. Wooten: “Absolutely. We definitely see replicated fraud schemes in hospices; an excellent example. I share your concerns about home health and hospice because I owned a home health agency for many years, and I didn’t even choose to be a hospice because there were specialized agencies that could handle that part, and we would refer to them under the right circumstances. What we now see, though—hospices who are admitting patients who are not terminally ill, patients who don’t know they were put on hospice, patients who maybe aren’t getting treatments that they need, because the hospice philosophy, as you know, is for comfort care, not for treating illnesses. We have seen the same thing in Utah that the hospices have exploded. Now, I’m not saying they’re all fraudulent either, but absolutely; fraudsters learn from fraudsters and it’s an area we have to investigate.”

Letters

Apr 10, 2026
Energy

Chairman Guthrie at CERA Week: Advancing an American Energy Agenda

Recently, Chairman Guthrie joined CERA week in Houston, TX, to discuss the Committee on Energy and Commerce's work to unleash reliable and affordable energy.

The trip provided the opportunity to hear directly from the job creators who are building and operating the energy infrastructure that Americans depend on. The conversations at CERA Week reinforced what’s been said during our hearings: that permitting delays and regulatory uncertainty are holding back the investment we need to support dispatchable, baseload power.

Meeting with industry leaders gave the Chairman the opportunity to discuss the challenges facing our grid in real time, from the lessons of Winter Storm Fern to the energy demand needed to ensure America continues to win the race for AI dominance and onshoring of advanced manufacturing.

The discussion also provided an opportunity to highlight House Republicans’ efforts to reduce energy costs and strengthen grid reliability. Throughout this Congress, Committee members have advanced commonsense legislation to address affordability, reform the permitting process, and prevent the premature retirement of baseload power plants that keep the lights on—around the clock, every day of the year—for millions of Americans.

Streamlining Permitting and Unleashing American Energy

H.R. 1047, the Guaranteeing Reliability through the Interconnection of Dispatchable Power (GRID Power) Act—Rep. Balderson (OH-12)

  • The GRID Power Act provides Regional Transmission Organizations and Independent System Operators with the authority to prioritize projects in the interconnection queue that improve grid reliability and resiliency. By fortifying our grid with reliable sources of energy such as natural gas, coal, nuclear, and hydropower, we can reduce the risk of blackouts or brownouts and ensure we have the energy needed to meet our power demands.
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H.R. 3062, the Promoting Cross-border Energy Infrastructure Act—Rep. Fedorchak (ND-AL)

  • To secure our nation's energy dominance, House Republicans are fighting to streamline the cross-border permitting process. Establishing a more uniform process to authorize the construction, connection, operation, and maintenance of international border-crossing facilities is vital to supporting the import and export of oil and natural gas as well as the transmission of electricity.
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H.R. 3668, the Improving Interagency Coordination for Pipeline Reviews Act—Rep. Hudson (NC-09)

  • Under current law, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is designated as the lead agency for coordinating necessary environmental reviews and associated federal authorizations for interstate natural gas pipelines. Unfortunately, pipeline infrastructure approvals are often delayed due to a lack of coordination — or inaction — among states and other federal agencies involved in the process. In 2026, the U.S. Energy Information Administration expects natural gas demand to reach an all-time high. Now more than ever, it is critical we expand our natural gas pipeline capacity to meet that demand.

  • This legislation modernizes the federal permitting process for interstate natural gas pipelines by bolstering FERC’s role as the lead agency for environmental reviews as the coordinator of Clean Water Act Section 401 water quality reviews. This legislation will help lower energy costs, provide natural gas to power our economy, and strengthen our nation's energy security.-
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H.R. 1949, the Unlocking our Domestic LNG Potential Act of 2025—Rep. Pfluger (TX-11)

  • The U.S. has emerged as the world’s number one producer of oil and natural gas and top exporter of LNG, contributing to domestic energy security, substantial economic benefits, and significant diplomatic leverage abroad. H.R. 1949 amends the Natural Gas Act to repeal all DOE restrictions on the import and export of natural gas, effectively overturning the Biden-Harris Administration's attempt to undermine U.S. domestic energy production.
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H.R. 3109, the Researching Efficient Federal Improvements for Necessary Energy Refining (REFINER) Act—Rep. Latta (OH-05)

  • Refinery expansion is key to lowering costs for Americans, unleashing our abundant energy, and bolstering our energy security. The REFINER Act would help ensure we can produce the reliable oil and gas needed to ensure American energy dominance.
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Protecting Baseload Power and Grid Reliability

H.R. 3616, the Reliable Power Act—Rep. Balderson (OH-12)

  • This legislation addresses the threat of rolling blackouts caused by the Biden-Harris Administration's over reliance on wind and solar power by improving federal rulemaking to ensure that future federal regulations that impact power generation will not harm electric reliability.

  • The bill amends the Federal Power Act to require FERC review and comment on any federal rules that impact electricity generation during periods of high reliability risks, like the extreme cold we saw this winter, to ensure new rules will not harm electric power reliability.
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H.R. 3632, the Power Plant Reliability Act—Rep. Griffith (VA-09)

  • This legislation enhances existing tools for states and grid operators to contest the closure of power plants in neighboring states if there is an impact to grid reliability. The bill also requires power plants to provide a 5-year notice of any plans to retire.

  • The states with the highest electricity prices are overwhelmingly the same states with the most aggressive forms of renewable portfolio standards, and this legislation will help to ensure that baseload power plants don't go offline in the places that need them most.
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H.R. 3628, the State Planning for Reliability and Affordability Act—Rep. Evans (CO-08)

  • This legislation would require state Public Utility Commissions to consider requirements for utilities to have sufficient generation from reliable and dispatchable energy sources, such as natural gas, nuclear, coal, and hydropower, over a 10-year period.

  • The ongoing reliability crisis facing our nation stems from Democrat policies designed to drive out baseload generation in favor of intermittent wind and solar, harming our ability to onshore manufacturing and burdening households with higher costs.

  • Running a grid on wind and solar is akin to paying for two parallel grids, in part, because these energy sources require backup resources when the wind does not blow or the sun does not shine. Residential ratepayers bear the financial burden of these choices.
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H.R. 3015, the National Coal Council Reestablishment Act—Rep. Rulli (OH-06)

  • Permanently reestablishing the National Coal Council supports the baseload power that can provide abundant, affordable, and reliable energy to communities across the United States.
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Securing Supply Chains for America’s Energy Future

H.R. 3638, the Electric Supply Chain Act—Rep. Latta (OH-05)

  • The bill would direct the Department of Energy to conduct periodic assessments of supply chain constraints or vulnerabilities that could impact the bulk power system.

  • The Biden-Harris Administration’s misguided energy agenda furthered our reliance on adversarial nations like China for critical materials and manufacturing for wind turbines, solar panels, and grid components that are needed for intermittent generation resources.

  • As our nation's electric system is under strain from premature retirements of baseload power and historic demand increases due to manufacturing growth and emerging technologies, we must ensure our federal government and policy makers are equipped with the necessary tools to protect the affordability and reliability of the bulk power system.
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H.R. 3617, the Securing America’s Critical Minerals Supply Act—Rep. James (MI-10)

  • This legislation requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to assess critical energy resource supply chains and to strengthen the supply chains that are vulnerable to disruption or overreliance on adversarial nations.

  • Energy supplies are the linchpin to U.S. global leadership in next generation technologies and industries, job growth in communities across the country, and a robust defense industrial base.

  • Despite vast domestic natural resources, the United States remains heavily reliant on foreign adversaries for critical energy resources that are essential to our economic and national security. The U.S. is 100 percent reliant on imports for 12 critical minerals and 50 percent import reliant on an additional 28 critical minerals.
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The Path Forward

The message from CERA Week was clear, America has the resources to lead the world in energy when burdensome regulations aren’t standing in the way. Chairman Guthrie and the Energy and Commerce Committee will continue advancing legislation that cuts red tape, protects reliable baseload generation, and ensures American families and job creators have access to the affordable, reliable power they need.

Apr 9, 2026
Energy

Chairmen Guthrie and Latta Announce Hearing on Department of Energy FY2027 Budget

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Bob Latta (OH-05), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy, announced a hearing titled The Fiscal Year 2027 Department of Energy Budget.

“Under President Trump and Secretary Wright, the Department of Energy has worked hard to meet our nation’s energy needs, strengthen the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, protect against cyber attacks, secure our electric grid, and maintain the nation’s nuclear weapons deterrent,” said Chairmen Guthrie and Latta. “As we look ahead to 2027, it is essential we continue to fortify American energy dominance while lowering prices for hardworking families. This hearing will offer a chance for our Committee to discuss what steps we can take to produce and generate baseload power that is both reliable and affordable, while ensuring the Department of Energy continues to carry out its mission on behalf of the American people.”

Subcommittee on Energy hearing titled The Fiscal Year 2027 Department of Energy Budget.

WHAT: Subcommittee on Energy hearing to discuss the Department of Energy FY2027 Budget.

DATE: Thursday, April 16, 2026

TIME: 10:00 AM ET

LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building

This notice is at the direction of the Chairman. The hearing will be open to the public and press and will be live streamed online at energycommerce.house.gov. If you have any questions concerning the hearing, please contact Seth Ricketts with the Committee staff at Seth.Ricketts@mail.house.gov. If you have any press-related questions, please contact Ben Mullany at Ben.Mullany@mail.house.gov.

Apr 8, 2026
Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade

Chairmen Guthrie and Bilirakis Announce Hearing on the Semiconductor Ecosystem and Supply Chain

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, announced a hearing titled Computing Power and Competition: Examining the Semiconductor Ecosystem.

“Semiconductors are foundational to modern life, powering everything from cars, computers, and phones to basic household appliances like toasters and refrigerators, along with critical tools essential for our national defense. Vulnerabilities in the semiconductor supply chain underscore the need for robust oversight of the semiconductor ecosystem to prevent significant economic disruptions and protect national security,” said Chairmen Guthrie and Bilirakis. “Especially as technologies such as artificial intelligence drive our future, we must ensure our supply chains are reliable and secure, supporting and expanding America’s technological competitive edge.”

Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade hearing titled Computing Power and Competition: Examining the Semiconductor Ecosystem.

WHAT: Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade hearing on semiconductor and advanced technology supply chains.

DATE: Wednesday, April 15, 2026

TIME: 2:00 PM ET

LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building

This notice is at the direction of the Chairman. The hearing will be open to the public and press and will be livestreamed online at energycommerce.house.gov. If you have any questions concerning this hearing, please contact Jackson Rudden with the Committee staff at Jackson.Rudden@mail.house.gov. If you have any press-related questions, please contact Daniel Kelly at Daniel.Kelly@mail.house.gov.