It’s plain to see that the problem is only getting worse, and the administration’s inaction reveal Biden and Harris’ true feelings about this crisis.

When there are currently no negative consequences for crossing the border illegally, criminal cartels and human smugglers will take advantage of the chaos. We’ve unfortunately seen that in action, as 85,000 unaccompanied alien children released to sponsors, often unvetted, in a two-year timeframe were unable to be contacted and reported as “lost.”

These policies lead to more children in danger, and the historically high influx at the border has made it very difficult for DHS to prevent abuse and trafficking. I joined my colleagues in investigating these releases and demanding answers.

READ: Homeland Republicans Demand Answers from HHS on Sponsor Screening and Vetting, Release of Unaccompanied Minors Encountered at the Border

In another instance, fraud in one of the Biden-Harris open border programs was so rampant and shocking that Secretary Mayorkas was forced to pause it. This policy, of mass parole, had already been repeatedly proven unlawful before the fraud was uncovered. We’re seeking to uncover the details of this massive fraud on behalf of the American people.

READ: Chairmen Green, Higgins, Bishop Demand Documents, Information on CHNV Mass-Parole Program After DHS’ Admission of Widespread Fraud

We’ve also seen terror suspects increasingly taking advantage of our open border. Recent reporting revealed that three Palestinian nationals and one Turkish national were detained after illegally crossing the Southwest border and found to have terrorist ties. This is the latest in an unprecedented uptick in terror suspects entering the country, which is obviously a massive threat to our national security. We’re demanding answers from the FBI and DHS on this massive failure.

READ: Homeland Republicans Demand Answers from DHS, FBI on Palestinian Nationals with Terrorist Ties Entering U.S. Illegally at Southwest Border

Election Integrity

I’ve been fighting to get the SAVE Act, which will require proof of citizenship to vote, passed into law. President Trump called on Congress to attach this critical legislation to any upcoming spending bill. Unfortunately, many members of Congress are staunchly opposed to this commonsense measure. I highlighted just how absurd that opposition is in a hearing on the matter last week:

National Sovereignty and Security

Last week, the House of Representatives passed a number of important bills defend America’s sovereignty against the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). This included protecting American farmland from the CCP, curbing intellectual property theft by the CCP, asserting American independence from the corrupt World Health Organization, and more. The full list of bills passed in the week at the end of this newsletter includes more detail.

It is our duty in Congress to always put America first.

Pharmacy Benefit Managers

We held a hearing in the Antitrust subcommittee to examine the role of pharmacy benefit managers in the healthcare system. I delivered the hearing’s opening statement:

Welcome to Washington

It was great to join David, Cheryl, and Tim Barton in welcoming pastors from across the nation to Washington, DC as part of the Wallbuilders Congressional Pastors’ Briefing last week. If your group is coming to Washington soon, my office is happy to assist.

Hurricane Season

While summer is nearing its end, we are entering the peak of hurricane season. Most hurricanes that have a heavy impact on our state typically hit in early fall. Stay tuned to the weather forecasts. My website has a hurricane preparedness page that will remain available and up to date for the entirety of hurricane season.

US Geological Survey PSA

The USGS will be conducting low-level airplane and helicopter flights over our region for approximately the next year. It will be an imaging survey to map rocks, minerals, and subsurface geology. For more information, read the below release from USGS.

READ: Low-level airplane and helicopter flights to image geology

Service Academy Nominations and Internship Applications

We've had a great group of interns this summer. As they go back to school for the fall semester, we are now accepting applications for fall and winter internships in our D.C. and North Carolina offices. All interested applicants should email their resumes to [email protected].

We are also now accepting applications for a nomination to the Military Service Academies. For more information and application materials, please visit my website.

INFO: Service Academy Nominations

App Challenge

The 2024 Congressional App Challenge is now live. Students in District 8 who are interested in coding are eligible to compete in this year's National Congressional App Challenge. Individuals or teams may submit their applications for any digital platform. Students may utilize any platform. App submissions must show some degree of functionality to be competitive. For a full list of rules, please visit the Congressional App Challenge website.

Votes last week

H.R. 510 – To require the United States Governor of, and the United States Executive Director at, the International Monetary Fund to oppose an increase in the weight of the Chinese renminbi in the Special Drawing Rights basket of the Fund (Passed)
H.R. 554 – Taiwan Conflict Deterrence Act (Passed)
H.R. 7592 - To direct the Librarian of Congress to promote the more cost-effective, efficient, and expanded availability of the Annotated Constitution and pocket-part supplements by replacing the hardbound versions with digital versions (Passed)
H.R. 7593 – Modernizing the Congressional Research Service’s Access to Data Act (Passed)
H.R. 6513 – COCOA Act (Passed)
H.R. 8333 – BIOSECURE Act (Passed)
H.R. 2864 – Countering CCP Drones Act (Passed)
H.R. 820 – Foreign Adversary Communications Transparency Act (Passed)
H.R. 7589 – ROUTERS Act (Passed)
H.R. 8631 – Decoupling from Foreign Adversarial Battery Dependence Act (Passed)
H.R. 8663 – DETECT Fentanyl and Xylazine Act (Passed)
H.R. 7404 – Subterranean Border Defense Act (Passed)
H.R. 1157 – Countering the PRC Malign Influence Fund Authorization Act (Passed)
H.R. 1103 – HKETO Certification Act (Passed)
H.R. 8361 – Economic Espionage Prevention Act (Passed)
H.R. 5245 – Science and Technology Agreement Enhanced Congressional Notification Act (Passed)
H.R. 5613 – Sanctions List Harmonization Act (Passed)
H.R. 7701 – No Russian Tunnel to Crimea Act (Passed)
H.R. 7151 – Export Control Enforcement and Enhancement Act (Passed)
H.R. 6606 – To amend the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 relating to the statement of policy (Passed)
H. Res. 1056 – Recognizing the importance of trilateral cooperation among the United States, Japan, and South Korea (Passed)
H.R. 4741 – Securing Global Telecommunications Act (Passed)
H.R. 7159 – Pacific Partnership Act (Passed)
S. 1608 – Starr-Camargo Bridge Expansion Act (Passed)
H.R. 7089 – Global Anti-Human Trafficking Enhancement Act (Passed)
H.R. 6614 – Maintaining American Superiority by Improving Export Control Transparency Act (Passed)

Sincerely,