Dear Friend,
As the year comes to a close, I am feeling a great deal of gratitude. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve you. And despite the challenges we each face personally and as a country, I can’t help but feel gratitude that we live in the greatest country on earth.
As I write this in the office in my home in Southern Pines, I am grateful to be home from Washington with my family gathered under one roof.
I can’t help but think though about so many military families that are separated during this holiday season. We should all keep them in our thoughts and prayers as we enjoy the fruits of the freedom their courage and sacrifice provides us.
As Fort Bragg’s Congressman, I strive every day to provide for our military, their families and our veterans. That’s why I regularly bring leaders from Washington to Ft. Bragg, so they understand the unique challenges we face and the funding that is necessary to maintain the important missions our Special Forces and Airborne troops provide the nation.
Just last week, President Trump signed the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), where I secured significant investments for Fort Bragg. In all, Fort Bragg received more than $400 million in improvements. The bill also boosted investments for barracks, housing, childcare, health care, mental health services, recruitment, retention, and civilian transition programs.
It remains one of the greatest honors of my life to represent the men and women who serve.
And after decades of hard-fought effort, the FY26 NDAA finally delivered full federal recognition to the Lumbee Tribe. Last week, I was proud to congratulate my friend, Chairman John Lowery, at the White House to mark this historic achievement.
This year also brought major economic wins that we will see the impact of in the coming years. Under President Trump’s leadership, Congress passed The Working Families Tax Cut, delivering real relief for working families across North Carolina. The law prevents the largest tax increase in American history. According to the Council of Economic Advisers, the bill raises wages by $5,500 to $10,500, boosts take-home pay by $7,200 to $12,200, and ends taxes on tips and overtime so workers keep more of what they earn. You’ll see a huge difference on Tax Day.
It strengthens small businesses, supports rural communities and farmers, unleashes American energy, and puts Main Street ahead of Washington and Wall Street.
I know inflation and affordability remain serious concerns, but we are taking the right steps to correct the previous administration’s mistakes and move the country back in the right direction.
In our community, we stayed engaged. When Tropical Depression Chantal impacted parts of our community, I was on the ground working with local leaders as we moved from response to recovery. We stood with residents to protect water security and public safety at High Falls Dam, where more than 2,200 neighbors made their voices heard. I’ve written a letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and spoken directly with Energy Secretary Chris Wright, the Director of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and well as the new Chairman of FERC about our Dam.
I was honored to be named Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology. This role will allow me to prioritize expanding rural broadband, modernize public safety communications, and keep America - and North Carolina - competitive in a rapidly changing economy.
To wrap the year, my subcommittee passed more than two dozen bills to expedite broadband permitting. I introduced the SPEED for BEAD Act, which reduces burdensome and arbitrary regulations implemented under the Biden Administration, and we just saw North Carolina’s application get approved in just a few months. Today, most Americans rely on smartphones, but emergency systems in many communities still operate on outdated technology. So I introduced the Next Generation 9-1-1 Act to ensure every community can upgrade their systems so first responders can receive precise location information and other critical data when seconds matter.
Protecting your constitutional rights has also remained a top priority. For the fifth Congress in a row, I introduced the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act to ensure law-abiding citizens are not treated like criminals simply because they cross a state line. We also were able to secure a massive win for the Second Amendment by using the Working Families Tax Cut’s tax bill jurisdiction to remove the tax stamp on suppressors and short-barreled rifles. This sets the stage to remove them from the National Firearms Act altogether.
The House also passed my bipartisan Improving Interagency Coordination for Pipeline Reviews Act, which addresses pipeline permitting reform. Cutting red tape is essential to keeping energy reliable and affordable. As production goes up and energy moves more efficiently, costs come down. Keeping energy affordable is one of the most direct ways Washington can help bring down the cost of living.
Through it all, I am reminded the real strength of this district does not come from Washington. It comes from families gathered around kitchen tables, neighbors helping one another, churches serving their communities, and people who show up every day to do their jobs and take care of their own.
As we head into the holiday season, my commitment is simple. I will keep showing up, listening, and doing the work to protect what matters most to your family, make life more affordable, and make sure Washington never loses sight of who it is supposed to serve.
