Rep. Buddy Carter promotes the Coastal Empire’s national defense role on Veterans Day

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - Rep. Buddy Carter thanked veterans for their service on Veterans Day and said he is working to help them gain funding through the 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

Carter said the military presence is one of the defining characteristics of his district. The Census Bureau and military reports place about 85,000 active-duty soldiers and veterans in the district.

Carter’s experience and history

Carter has sponsored and supported key veterans-related bills that became law:

• Sponsored: The Correcting Miscalculations in Veterans’ Pensions Act, signed in 2018, permits federal agencies to cover interest caused by administrative errors when veteran federal employees pay to credit military service toward civilian retirement.
• Voted for: The VA MISSION Act, signed in 2018, expanded access to community care and extended the VA caregiver program to eligible pre-9/11 veterans. Carter voted yes on the House vote.
• Voted for: The PACT Act, signed in 2022, expanded health care and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances. Carter voted yes on the version that became law. He voted no on an earlier House version.

“I would like to think that being a pharmacist and being in healthcare that we’ve improved some of the healthcare benefits for veterans,” Carter said.

‘We need to get this passed now’

Carter says the NDAA’s importance for veterans healthcare.

“When we get the NDAA passed, better facilities mean better defense but also it’ll impact our veterans because as we have more services available they’ll benefit from that as well,” Carter said.

The act raises military pay by 5-7%. It also gives the Department of Veterans Affairs a task force focused on the care and benefits of veterans affected by blast exposure.

In Carter’s district, the bill provides $215 million to Kings Bay in Camden County for expansion and modernization. It provides $105 million to Fort Stewart for new barracks. The bill also creates a joint power grid between Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield.\

“We’ve got almost $350 million dollars in funding for better barracks, better pay raises and for the quality of life for our soldiers, they so richly deserve that,” Carter said.

House vote

The NDAA passed the U.S. House of Representatives 216-212. Georgia Democratic Rep. Sanford Bishop was one of many who opposed the act because it included the SAVE America Act, an election measure that requires citizenship for federal voter registration.

Carter and others now await the U.S. Senate’s decision.