Email from Rep. Hudson     Meet Richard | How Can I Help You? | Issues | Media Center | Contact me   Friends, While Democrat politicians shut the government down to score political points, the people of North Carolina kept working. So did we. Over the last several weeks, my team and I have been on the ground all through North Carolina’s 9th district, meeting with families, military, veterans, small business owners, and ministers who are making a difference in our community. These are good folks who are focused on feeding their families, building our community and presenting real solutions, not scoring points. So for 43 days, Democrats kept the federal government closed. This meant families missing paychecks and having to worry about groceries and rent. It meant travelers stranded in airports and chaos in our skies. And it meant troops, defense contractors and federal workers wondering when their next paycheck would arrive. Democrats voted 15 times to keep the government shut down and drag out the longest shutdown in American history. The number two ranking House Democrat openly admitted that they viewed the pain of families as political “leverage.” And we ended up right back where we started. No changes, just real harm to the American family and economy. Now that we have ended the Democrat shutdown, we are back to do the job you sent us here to do: reducing regulations on businesses, giving families choice and keeping them in the driver’s seat, putting more money in your pockets through lower taxes, and delivering results for the American people. In the district, we spent six weeks helping people deal with missed paychecks, delayed services, and uncertainty. In Washington, committees kept moving, negotiating full-year appropriations bills and preparing them for the day the government reopened. Now that we are open, our priorities are clear: finish the full year-appropriations process and make life more affordable for working families. As Telecom Chairman, I’m diving back into my Committee role by kicking off a meeting to push through dozens of bills to expand and expedite broadband connectivity first thing next week. If there was a silver lining to this shutdown, it’s that I was able to spend more time in our community and our great state. I was able to bring Chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, Ken Calvert, to Fort Bragg to show him in person how our Special Forces and Airborne there need so many improvements ranging from lifestyle facilities to weapons facilities. It is truly one of my greatest honors to represent the men and women of Fort Bragg in Congress, and I will always prioritize and advocate for their needs up in Washington. In Richmond County, I joined local leaders and Amazon to break ground on the new Energy Way Tech Campus, part of a $10 billion statewide initiative that will bring high-tech jobs and long-term investment to rural North Carolina. When companies like Amazon choose North Carolina, they are confirming what we already know: our people are second to none. In Burlington, I visited Truliant Federal Credit Union to hear how they helped families weather the shutdown with commonsense tools to manage budgets and stay financially secure while Washington stalled. In Greensboro, I met with students and staff at UNC Greensboro, where they are developing new ways to support our military community and veterans through programs in health care, technology, and lab innovation. Their work will strengthen national defense and improve care for those who served. In Southern Pines, I joined the Sandhills Veterans Parade and thanked Rick and Susan Herrera, who have kept this tradition alive for 13 years, even after flooding destroyed decades of parade materials. That is what love of country looks like. I reminded everyone there that it is the greatest honor of my life to be Fort Bragg’s Congressman and to represent one of the fastest-growing veteran populations in America. In Moore County, I stood with Changing Destinies Ministry as they raised funds for Rachel’s Refuge, a Christ-centered residential program helping survivors of sex trafficking find safety, recovery, and a path forward. North Carolina ranks among the top states for human trafficking cases, and I will keep working to crack down on traffickers and support survivors with real resources and accountability. In Hope Mills, I spoke at the Veterans Day Remembrance Ceremony with our local VFW, standing alongside Gold Star families, veterans, and community leaders to honor those who gave their last full measure of devotion. And in Randolph County, Toyota North Carolina launched production at its new battery plant, a $13.9 billion investment that will create more than 2,000 jobs and help make North Carolina a home base for the next generation of American-made vehicles. I had to miss the in-person grand opening to vote to reopen the government in D.C., but we are proud of the work that plant will do for North Carolina families for years to come. It was refreshing to talk with so many good, grounded folks who are focused on helping their communities, not on the political games in Washington. The people of this district deserve leaders who put them first, with leadership rooted in service, faith, and common sense, not leverage and political brinkmanship. As we work through the end of the year here in Washington to make up for lost time, I’ll keep putting you first and doing everything I can to help your family succeed and make life more affordable.  Until Next Time, Richard Hudson Member of Congress OFFICE LOCATIONS: Washington, DC Office 2112 Rayburn House Office Building | Washington, DC 20515 Phone: 202-225-3715 | Fax: (202) 225-4036 | Hours: M-F 8:30am-6:00pm Southern Pines Office 340 Commerce Ave, Suite 16 Southern Pines, NC 28387 Phone: (910) 910-1924 Hours: M-F, 9am-5pm Fayetteville Office 225 Green Street, Suite 202 Fayetteville, NC 28301 Phone: (910) 997-2070 Fax: (910) 817-7202 Hours: M-F, 9am-5pm Stay Connected: Rep. Hudson | 2112 Rayburn HOB | Washington, DC 20515 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice