Quote of the Week
On this day in history, NASA launched the Pioneer 11 spacecraft to study the asteroid belt and the environment around Jupiter and Saturn. The 1973 mission was a success, and Pioneer 11 was the first human-made object to capture and return images of Jupiter’s polar regions!
“Americans should remember Pioneer 11 as a great achievement. This is the little spacecraft that could, a venerable explorer that has taught us a great deal about the Solar System and, in the end, about our own innate drive to learn.” - NASA Administrator Daniel Goldin.
The last two weeks in Washington have been very busy as Congress works to enact commonsense legislation that meets the needs of the American people and supports President Trump’s agenda. From rolling back burdensome regulations that hurt our economy to keeping our adversaries’ influence away from college campuses, House Republicans are committed to enacting sensible laws and putting America first. Further, we remain committed to looking after disaster victims as they continue to rebuild their lives with dignity.
President Trump continues to move quickly to deliver on his agenda, including protecting American workers and ensuring fair trade relationships with our global partners. On April 2nd, he announced a new round of tariffs on foreign nations, urging those who have charged us far higher rates to lower or eliminate them altogether. As we experienced during the pandemic, our supply chains are fragile, and we are far too reliant on other countries for goods such as medicines and critical minerals. I support President Trump’s vision to reshore jobs and protect our vital industries - I want free and fair trade that is mutually beneficial for us and our partners and helps our economy thrive.
I will continue fighting for the values of North Carolina's Third Congressional District. If you wish to stay more engaged and aware of what is happening in Washington and our District, please follow me on my social media accounts linked above or here: Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.
Key Votes
My Disaster-Related Extension of Deadlines Act Passed in House of Representatives
Disaster victims endure unimaginable challenges as they work to rebuild their lives. The last thing they should worry about is navigating confusing IRS filing requirements.
The House passed my Disaster Related Extension of Deadlines Act, which provides individuals with sufficient time to claim tax refunds or credits while ensuring clear communication from the IRS to prevent unnecessary penalties or interest.
Learn more about the bill here.
Watch my remarks on the House floor here, or click on the image below.
H.J.RES. 75 and H.J. RES 24
House Republicans are working hard to reverse excessive government regulation that eliminates consumer choice and raises costs. I voted YES to reverse two Biden-era rules that imposed burdensome energy efficiency standards on refrigerators and freezers.
I am proud to support legislation that restores common sense and allows the free market to thrive. One-size-fits-all appliance requirements hurt American businesses and families. Instead of mandating change, let’s support innovation that produces cleaner, more reliable, and affordable new appliances.
The DETERRENT Act
For decades, China has been infiltrating American universities in a coordinated effort to hijack and influence the education of future generations. Their tactics are highly sophisticated, ranging from stealing research, pushing propaganda, and censoring free speech.
The CCP has taken advantage of loose wording under section 117 of the Higher Education Act that covers the reporting of foreign gifts and funding to higher institutions, with nearly $40 million in research contracts to American colleges being unreported.
I voted YES on the DETERRENT Act to strengthen disclosure requirements for foreign gifts and contracts and in some cases, banning contracts between these schools and certain foreign entities of concern.
Introduced Legislation to Expand NC First Responders’ Access to Retirement Plans
Day in and day out, our first responders risk their lives to protect the communities they serve. We hope we never need them, but when we make the call, they stand ready to answer. When these brave individuals’ service come to an end, they all should be able to equally participate in North Carolina’s pension plan currently available only to some firefighters in the state.
Non-profit firefighters are a fundamental part of our state’s first responder network. In North Carolina, many fire departments operate as nonprofit organizations and do not receive the same benefits as their traditional counterparts. In the late 1900s, these entities were formed in large part to serve rural communities that did not have adequate coverage, contracting with either a municipality or county. They serve a critical role and follow the same guidelines and state ratings for both personnel and equipment.
Currently, full-time nonprofit emergency providers are not eligible to participate in North Carolina’s pension plan due to federal law. I reintroduced the First Responders Retirement Parity Act to ensure full-time, nonprofit firefighters and EMS personnel can access our state's pension plan.
Learn more about the bill here.
Read my Op-Ed here.
HBOT Bill Passed in Veterans’ Affairs Health Subcommittee
Every day, at least 17 veterans lose their lives to suicide – a tragic reminder of the challenges our service members experience beyond the battlefield. PTSD and traumatic brain injury (TBI) are silent killers, far more prevalent among the veteran community than most understand.
Despite tremendous efforts to prevent suicide, we continue to lose far too many veterans each year. As a physician of over 35 years and a member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, I am committed to advocating for new treatment pathways in Congress to combat this crisis. I have firsthand experience using hyperbaric oxygen therapy with patients who needed assistance in healing their wounds, and I believe this therapy can be a valuable tool to prevent veteran suicide.
I am grateful that my bill, the Veterans National Traumatic Brain Injury Treatment Act, passed through the Veterans’ Affairs Health Subcommittee with bipartisan support, and I look forward to advocating for its passage on the House floor.
Learn more about the bill here.
Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee on American Trade Negotiation Priorities
For far too long, our economy has been held hostage by unfair trade relationships, making our country increasingly vulnerable to our greatest adversaries. The Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee held a hearing on American trade negotiation priorities.
Some of our closest trading partners have unfairly discriminated against American exports, locking our products out of foreign markets. It is refreshing to have a president who stands up for the United States and our businesses on the global stage.
During the hearing, my colleagues and I discussed how we can collaborate with the Trump Administration on durable and enforceable new trade agreements that guarantee fair treatment for American workers.
Watch my remarks here.
VA Committee Hearing on Modernizing Health Care for Our Veterans
The House Veterans’ Affairs Committee held a hearing on biomedical innovation within the Department of Veterans Affairs.
As a physician and the representative of over 76,000 veterans, I am honored to use my expertise on health care issues. We must deliver on our promise to provide quality care to our veterans and make new therapies and treatments available for those in need.
Watch my remarks here.
Meeting with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
I met with North Carolina’s Department of Environmental Quality about protecting our state’s resources.
Our discussions specifically focused on how Congress can support initiatives for our coastline, including beach nourishment and dredging projects.
Thank you to Secretary Reid Wilson, Division of Coastal Management Director Tancred Miller, and others from NCDEQ for making the trip. These conversations are important to our coastal communities, and I am looking forward to continuing to work together.
Meeting with Constituents Living with Multiple Sclerosis to Discuss Treatment Innovation
I had the chance to learn more about multiple sclerosis and the nearly one million patients impacted by the disease from two of my constituents, Andrea Nameth and Briana Landis. Our meeting covered the challenges those impacted by MS face when seeking care. Between rising drug costs and physician shortages, patients are desperate for change.
It is an honor to be their voice and to learn more about the condition impacting nearly one million patients across the country, especially during Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month. Their battle with MS is an inspiration, and I will continue fighting for patients like Andrea and Briana to receive the best care possible.
Meeting with the Federation of State Medical Boards
As a physician of over 35 years in Eastern North Carolina, I uniquely understand the challenges rural America faces in accessing care. We must address workforce shortages which disproportionately impact these areas.
If medical residents are not encouraged to rotate through less populated areas, the chances of them practicing in rural areas decrease drastically.
I met with Shawn Parker, Treasurer for the Board of Directors of the Federation of State Medical Boards, to discuss strategies to ensure our rural communities are taken care of.
Meeting with NC-03 Farmers
From sweet potato farms to pork producers, NC-03 fuels our $111 billion agriculture industry in North Carolina.
American food security relies on hard-working farmers like those from Wayne County who visited my office today.
I will always support the farmers and ranchers across Eastern North Carolina who put food on our tables!
Meeting with NC Family Life
It was a pleasure meeting with the President of NC Family Life, Mitch Prosser!
Eastern North Carolina is one of the best places in the country to raise a family, and I am grateful for Mitch’s work to keep it that way.
In Washington, I will always be a strong advocate for family values!
Meeting with North Carolina Central University Chancellor Dixon
It was wonderful meeting with NCCU Chancellor Karrie Dixon to discuss how Congress can help our institutions of higher education thrive. I enjoyed hearing about her first year as chancellor and her vision for the Eagles.
Meeting with the North Carolina Coastal Federation
Eastern North Carolina is known around the country for our beautiful landscape. Coastal management is essential to ensuring that future generations can enjoy our beaches and coastlines.
I had a productive conversation with the North Carolina Coastal Federation regarding our partnership in protecting and restoring our coastline. The NC Coastal Federation has been a voice for long-term coastal management, training and educating our community to take actions that result in cleaner waters and healthy ecosystems.
I am proud to have secured millions of dollars in funding through FEMA for flood elevation projects and prevention measures and proposed many legislative solutions to address waterway challenges. Further, I host an annual WATERS Summit to bring together elected officials, state and federal agencies, academia, and other stakeholders to develop legislative and agency plans aimed at combating waterway issues in North Carolina.
We must protect our coastal communities!
Meeting with Duke & UNC-Chapel Hill Schools of Nursing Deans Relf & Howard
It was great meeting with Dr. Michael Relf, Interim Dean of the Duke University School of Nursing, and Dr. Valerie Howard, Dean of the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Nursing!
From retention and recruitment issues to workforce shortages, the field of nursing faces substantial challenges. I am working to address these hurdles to preserve access to care for patients and so that future nurses across the country can go on to save countless lives.
Meeting with North Carolina Life Sciences
I met with leaders from the Biotechnology Innovation Organization and NC Life Sciences to discuss how scientists across North Carolina are moving our country forward in agriculture and medical advancements.
American national security depends on innovations that improve human health and food production.
It was a pleasure to hear about the progress in disease prevention, treatment, and diagnosis, as well as food manufacturing and sustainability!
