Last weekend, I joined many of you at the Power to the People march to show support for immigrant community and migrant workers in the face of the President reckless and hateful immigration policies.

Our immigrant communities are a bedrock of the City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, and the country! Immigrants are job creators and business owners, representing more than 16 percent of business owners in Mecklenburg County, bringing thousands of new jobs to our region.

Immigrants consistently contribute more to our government than they receive. They are responsible for 11% of North Carolina’s GDP and generate more than $1 billion in tax revenue for the City of Charlotte every single year. Immigration leads to innovation and ingenuity in our country.

Make no mistake, without immigrants, there would be no United States of America! That's why I will continue to raise my voice against this administration's inhumane and down right un-American immigration policies. 

Last week, I joined local leaders and stakeholders at a townhall to discuss our community's ongoing need for more accessible public transportation. Public transit connects people and places to make our city stronger and expand economic opportunity. I will continue to advocate for the federal resources Charlotte needs to make our public transit system better serve our people. 

On Sunday, May 18th, I will be hosting the Grand Opening of the Congressional Art Competition Exhibition at the Mint Museum Uptown. 

Each spring, the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school visual arts competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the nation and in each congressional district. Since the Artistic Discovery competition began in 1982, more than 650,000 high school students have participated.

Students throughout the district submitted entries to my office and a panel of four local judges selected winning entries. The first-place winner is recognized both at the exhibition opening and at an annual awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. Their work is displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol.

The artwork of the three runners-up will also be recognized at the exhibition and displayed in my Charlotte and DC offices.

The artwork of all four artists will remain on display at the Mint Museum until June 8 when they will then go to their respective locations.

If you would like to join me for the Grand Opening, use the link below to sign up. 

This week, I joined some of my Democratic colleagues in Washington to rally against the Republicans proposed $230 billion cut to SNAP funding. SNAP saves lives, pulls millions of people out of poverty every year, and is essential for rural communities and local economies. SNAP also has incredible benefits on our country’s health and wellbeing.

No child deserves to go to bed hungry. No one should worry about where their next meal is coming from. SNAP is building a healthy America because you can't be healthy if you're hungry.

That is what I have always believed and what I will keep fighting for in the halls of Congress.

Last week, I, along with some of my Congressional Black Caucus colleagues, convened a roundtable with HBCU students, leadership, and advocacy organizations to highlight the impacts of the Trump Administration policies on HBCUs that have played a vital role in empowering Black students across the country. 

The roundtable included presidents from Howard University, Bowie State University, Morgan State University, and Virginia Union University, and representatives from Texas Southern University, the United Negro College Fund, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and the 1890 Foundation to discuss student life concerns, academic access and funding, infrastructure and facilities, and the role of the federal government. 

HBCUs have always punched above their weight, producing the leaders, innovators, and changemakers who move this country forward. Despite their success though, they face historic underfunding that force them to do more with less. It’s time we meaningfully invest in HBCUs so they can continue serving their students for generations to come.

This week, I introduced the Land-Grant Institution Parity Act to protect federal funding for our land-grant colleges and universities, including the country’s 19 land-grant HBCUs, commonly referred to as 1890 Institutions. This bill comes following the USDA’s suspension and reinstatement of the 1890 National Scholars Program, a scholarship program for 1890 Institution students studying agriculture, food, or natural resources sciences, earlier this year.

The Land-Grant Institution Parity Act is an important step to protect funding for our land-grant HBCUs and build equity in higher education. 1890s schools have always punched above their weight and provided outsized benefits to their students, their research, and their communities. They know how to do more with less, but they shouldn’t have to. It’s time we ensure these institutions of excellence always receive the funding they deserve.

Under the Land-Grant Institution Parity Act, federal officials are prohibited from reducing, eliminating, or suspending funding for 1890 Institutions without authorization from Congress. This bill aims to ensure long-term stability and equity for land-grant HBCUs and other land-grant universities serving underserved communities.

My office continues to receive inquiries from constituents concerned about how the Trump Administration's action affect them and their families. In this time of uncertainty, please know that I share your concerns and my office is here to help you in any way we can. 

Sincerely,