Dear John,
As the District work period comes to an end, I’m continuing to travel around North Carolina and have meaningful discussions with folks in the Seventh District. This past week, I held a roundtable with farmers to discuss the 2024 Farm Bill and a possible disaster aid package given it has been such a difficult growing year. I also toured some farms to see the damage inflicted on crops first-hand and visited with businesses throughout the district.
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Agriculture Advisory Council Rountable
Agriculture is the number one industry in North Carolina contributing more than $100 billion to the state’s economy. Rural North Carolina is home to some of the finest and best farmers in the nation. As a member of the House Agriculture Committee, I work hard to help ensure our farm families can survive disastrous crop years like this one. This is why the 2024 Farm Bill is so important — to have a safety net in place to protect against years like this one where prices are low, input costs are high, and the weather strikes severe blows. There are many great provisions included in the 2024 Farm Bill that was reported out of the House Agriculture Committee a few months ago. It is my hope that we will have a final bill passed by both chambers of Congress and signed into law by the end of the year. In addition to provisions designed to bolster the tradition program crops, language was included to strengthen the competitiveness of specialty crops, and improve access to safe drinking water in rural communities where most get their water from wells. You can read details on the Farm Bill wins for North Carolina here. The Ag Committee passed the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024 in May, and we're now waiting for the U.S. Senate to take action.
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Visiting Local Farmers
North Carolina is the largest producer of tobacco in the United States. From the crop in the field to the facilities where the final manufactured product is made, North Carolina has it all. Because of the financial reliability of tobacco (in most years), it provides the base of support to grow all the many other crops. NC ranks as the third most diversified agricultural state in the country behind only California and Florida. Last Monday, I visited with top executives from ITG Brands based in Greensboro, which is the third largest tobacco company in the U.S., at some of the farms tended by growers that have contracts with them to see just how badly their crops have been affected by the bad weather this year. Because of the drought early and the massive amounts of rain in the past month, many of the crops have been badly damaged or completely wiped out.
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RJ Corman Railroad Company and Vulcan Materials Company Tour
On Wednesday, I met with officials from RJ Corman Railroad Company and toured Vulcan Materials Company in Whiteville. Vulcan Materials is the nation's largest producer of construction aggregates — creating crushed stone, sand, gravel, asphalt, and ready-mixed concrete. Their products play a key role in building roads, bridges, and buildings. Their operations ensure a steady supply of materials needed for various large-scale projects important to constructing and maintaining America’s infrastructure. Additionally, Vulcan's commitment to innovation helps drive advancements in construction practices and environmental stewardship.
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Enter the 2024 Congressional App Challenge: Every year, middle and high school students participate in the Congressional App Challenge. This nationwide competition encourages students to learn how to code by creating their own applications allowing students to showcase their skills in programming and computer science while supporting the next generation of STEM leaders. Students can register TODAY for the 2024 Congressional App Challenge and start coding their apps now! The competition deadline is October 24, 2024, at 12:00 pm EST. Click here to read more about the submission deadlines and instructions!
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This Week's Good News Story |
For this week’s good news story, I’m highlighting Sierra Bullard of Maxton and Jonah Wilson of Wayne, who have each been awarded the 2025 Eula Wilson Wake Memorial Scholarship. The North Carolina Society, a group that connects people from North Carolina to build friendships and promote patriotism, pride, and loyalty to both the state and the nation, awarded them with this scholarship because of their academic achievements, diligent professional improvement, and numerous outstanding acts of service throughout their community. Wilson expressed his gratitude, saying, “I am appreciative to the board for selecting me as the scholarship winner; I take this achievement serious and will continue being an outstanding student and a positive role model at UNCP and in my home community.” Bullard also shared her excitement saying, "Wow, I'm so excited! I can't believe I actually won the scholarship! All that hard work has paid off, and now I'm one step closer to my dreams. This is such a huge relief and I'm so grateful for this opportunity!" Both Bullard and Wilson are current students at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Bullard is majoring in Allied Health Administration with plans to work at a local hospital in North Carolina after graduation, while Wilson is pursuing a degree in social work, aspiring to make a difference in Wayne County. Congratulations to Sierra and Jonah!
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"In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years." — Abraham Lincoln |
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