This week, President Donald Trump fulfilled his constitutional duty by nominating Amy Coney Barrett to fill the Supreme Court seat left vacant following Justice Ginsburg’s death 2 weeks ago.

Judge Barrett has proven herself to be a true defender of the Constitution as it was intended by our Founding Fathers. She is tremendously qualified: a brilliant jurist, a first-rate academic record, outstanding legal credentials, and – perhaps just as importantly – a genuinely kind and extraordinarily compassionate person.

I firmly support this nomination, and I cannot think of a candidate better suited to sit on America’s highest court. Judge Barrett is an inspiration to all of us, and I have full confidence in her ability to remain true to her values in the face of what will likely be a fierce confirmation battle. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to move quickly and confirm her nomination.

Yesterday, the House Oversight Committee held a hearing allegedly to discuss how to lower prescription drug costs for millions of Americans. Unfortunately, the debate quickly devolved into yet more political theater from Democrats. Rather than have a substantive policy back-and-forth on the issue with many areas of bipartisan agreement, Democrats instead looked to score cheap political points by berating pharmaceutical companies and rehashing old talking points.

In December 2019, the House passed H.R. 3, the so-called “Lower Drug Costs Now Act,” down party lines with almost no bipartisan support. This bill adopts socialist price controls, jeopardizing American medical innovation. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, the bill would cause 38 fewer lifesaving cures from coming onto the market. Even one cure off the market is one too many, as it could be the one that could end multiple sclerosis, cancer, or COVID-19. Fortunately, H.R. 3 is unlikely to ever become law this year.

Something you won’t ever hear from Democrats or in the mainstream media is that real progress has been made on drug prices. Thanks to President Trump, drug costs on average have decreased for the first time in years. Simultaneously, new lifesaving treatments are coming online at a record pace. We can lower costs for patients without sacrificing our first-in-class medical care.

To watch my opening remarks, click here to listen.

If you’re a company looking to hire or an individual searching for a job, mark your calendars for October 9th and join me for the 2020 Virtual+Job Fair. Even in these challenging times, there are boundless opportunities. Georgia remains the “Top State for Doing Business,” and Georgia Piedmont Technical College, the Newton County Industrial Development Authority, the Covington-Newton County Chamber of Commerce, and the Development Authority of Walton County are working together to build upon this success. 

The online event, which is set for October 9th from noon until 4 p.m., will feature businesses in the fields of manufacturing, film, entertainment, public safety, local government, bio-pharma, high-technology, and distribution.

Click here to register. For more information, contact GPTC Business and Industry Coordinator Kelly Pollard at 404.297.9522, ext. 1230 or gometrocorporatecollege@gptc.edu. I look forward to seeing you at this Can’t-miss event!

I am thrilled to congratulate Dustan and Holly Barker, of Athens, who were recently selected as 2020 Angels in Adoption® Honorees. Each year, the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) selects individuals, families, or organizations across the nation who have demonstrated a commitment to improving the lives of children in need of permanent, loving homes. I was pleased to recommend Dustan and Holly, extraordinary individuals who are deserving of this award.  

The Barker’s lives forever changed when Holly’s brother died from an overdose and they became relative adoptive parents to their 11-year-old nephew. With compassion and love, they have fully embraced their position as newfound parents as well as taking on the role of godparents to another adopted child. The impact they have on these precious lives is invaluable.

In the wake of their loss, the Barkers received support from Acceptance Recovery Center (ARC) in Athens, and it wasn’t long before they became mentors, consultants, and donors to this growing organization. As Chair of the Board of Directors, Holly, along with Dustan, has helped grow recovery resources and rebuild families impacted by addiction in the Athens area. The Barkers are champions of ARC’s goal to reunite and strengthen families. On behalf of Georgia’s 10^th Congressional District, thank you, Holly and Dustan, for your inspirational example and commitment to our community.

Meet Kirsten Medlam, my Hice Headliner for the month of October. Working solely as a volunteer, she serves as the Director of Operations at New Path, a nonprofit organization in Barrow County that provides weekend food bags to children through the Barrow County School System. While students are fed at school during the week, many do not have access to food outside of school hours. Thanks to New Path’s program, which provides food bags across seven schools, there is no longer a waiting list of students in need of supplemental food.

It’s Kirsten’s passion for the organization that led her to retire from teaching and pour herself fully into the ministry. As the Director of Operations, she works weekly with volunteers to assemble food bags and deliver them to the schools. According to a board member, Kirsten faithfully works behind the scenes, not seeking any attention. She is fiercely dedicated, a hard worker, and is an essential member of the team. In addition to the food items that meet a physical need, character-building messages are also placed in each bag every week, with the hope that the student receiving the food would also be filled emotionally and encouraged towards their greater purpose in life. It is because of volunteers like Kirsten that New Path is able to make a difference in its community by working to end the cycle of systemic poverty.

To learn more about this important work, click here to visit New Path’s website or here to engage with them on social media.  And to nominate an outstanding individual who is making a positive impact in your community, send an email to Jessica.Hayes@mail.house.gov.