An Update from Congressman Austin Scott
February 10, 2025
Dear Georgian,
In 2023, 70% of the 107,000 overdose deaths in the U.S. involved a synthetic opioid, such as fentanyl.
Last week, the House passed the HALT Fentanyl Act, which will permanently classify fentanyl as a Schedule I drug. This legislation helps stop fentanyl from flooding across our border, cracks down on traffickers, and saves lives.
I voted for this legislation and will continue to support all efforts to secure our border and make America safe again.
My office is now accepting submissions for the 2025 Congressional Art Competition!
All high school students (9-12th grade) who reside in or attend school in the Eighth Congressional District are encouraged to participate.
The winning entry will be displayed in the United States Capitol for a year alongside artwork from every congressional district across the country.
Visit here for more information.
As always, my staff and I are here to help. If you need assistance with a federal agency or have comments or concerns to share with me, please do not hesitate to call my Warner Robins, Tifton, or Washington, D.C. offices. I encourage you to visit my website, like my Facebook page, follow me on YouTube, and follow me on X.
Keep reading for the full update.
Sincerely,
Congressman Austin Scott
Meeting with EBAA Iron
Last week, I met with EBAA Iron, an American manufacturer of highly engineered products utilized in water and wastewater systems across the United States.
They gave me an update on their operations in Cordele, Georgia, and we discussed trade and other domestic manufacturing priorities.
Meeting with South Central Primary Care Center
I also met with representatives from the South Central Primary Care Center in Ocilla, Georgia.
They provide quality healthcare and education in our district, and I heard their priorities for improving rural healthcare.
Meeting with the Crop Insurance Professionals Association
The Chairman of the Crop Insurance Professionals Association, William Cole, also stopped by my office for a meeting last week.
Expanding crop insurance options for our farmers remains a priority for me as we consider the next Farm Bill. In the aftermath of Helene, it is as clear as ever that our farmers need strong crop insurance options to protect their livelihoods.
Thankfully, we passed disaster and economic assistance this past December for our farmers who were impacted by the hurricane and the severe downturn in the agricultural economy.
Meeting with MANA Nutrition
Our friends from MANA Nutrition also came to D.C. last week from Fitzgerald, Georgia.
MANA is an incredible mission-driven organization that produces over 120,000 pounds of Ready to Use Food (RUTF), which is used to feed malnourished children worldwide.
I can attest to their significant community impact in Georgia’s Eighth Congressional District and their commitment to ending child malnutrition.
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Fox News | House passes bill to permanently classify fentanyl as Schedule 1 drug
“The House passed legislation Thursday to permanently classify fentanyl as a Schedule 1 drug, which lawmakers say will allow law enforcement to be better equipped to prosecute drug traffickers and stop the flow of such substances.
In 2018, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issued a temporary scheduling order (TSO) for fentanyl as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), but the TSO is set to expire in March.”
Read more here.
| Washington D.C. 2185 Rayburn HOB Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-6531 | Tifton District 127-B N. Central Ave. Tifton, GA 31794 Phone: (229) 396-5175 | Warner Robins 120 Byrd Way, Suite 100 Warner Robins, GA 31088 Phone: (478) 971-1776 |
Sir,
I was born in 1936. In High School in the early 50’s we were required to study the Declaration of Indepence and the U.S. Constitution in depth. I have, since that time given away hundreds of copies and always have one with me.
I constantly hear people, including congressman and senators talking about our Democracy. According to the Constitution as I was taught and read it today, there is no mention of a Democracy. The only mention of a form of government I can find in the Constitution is Article 4 Section 4, the first sentence. And that does not say Democracy.
Can you please tell me where I can find the change to the Constitution which makes this a Democracy.
I doubt you will see this. I imagine one of your aides might answer, but I really hope you see this.
Respectively
Jim Buskirk, SMSGT
USAF Retired
Thank You
Correct! … and THANK YOU for your service in the military and dedication to helping citizens towards a clearer understanding of our government.
For readers:
Article 4
Section 4
The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence.
As additional historical information: A republican form of government is a type of government in which the citizens of a country have an active role in the affairs of the government, and the government is not headed by a hereditary ruler such as a king. This definition leaves a lot of room for wiggle room, as you can see; many governments around the world are considered to be run along the lines of a republican form of government, ranging from dictatorships to representative democracies. Many people think that the republican form of government is a particularly strong and effective form of government.
This type of government takes its name and inspiration from the Roman Republic, which actually involved the input of only a very small number of citizens. Many people in the West idealize Greek and Roman culture, so it is perhaps not surprising that the republican form of government has become so popular. Fans of this form of government argue that when well run, a republic truly represents the will of its people, and it can be easily changed if citizens desire changes.
There are lots of different types of republics. Some are governed by a constitution, for example, in which case they are known as constitutional republics; these governments are often headed by a President, and they may include branches of government which oversee legislation and judiciary matters. Others are collectives of numerous states, as in the case of the United States, and these are known as federal republics. Parliamentary republics have a separate head of state and a head of government who share powers with each other and with a parliament, while Islamic republics are run in accordance with Islamic law.
The strength of the republican form of government relies on the people involved. In some countries, citizens are extremely active in their governments, working to reform things they dislike, participating in elections, and holding officials accountable for their actions. In other nations, people are not as active, either out of a lack of will or understanding or because the officials in the government keep them in a state of fear or confusion. The “people’s republics” in some Asian countries are one example of this sort of republican government, which is in theory run for and by the people but is actually run by a small and elite group.
There are lots of ways to set up and administer a republican form of government. The important thing to remember is that such a government is not necessarily a democracy. Democracy as a concept is often integrated into republican forms of government which try to be fair to their citizens, but it is also possible to see abuses of power and a ruling class in a republican form of government.
– from historicalindex.org