Meet Richard | How Can I Help You? | Issues | Media Center | Contact me Friends, “Well done is better than well said.” This quote by Benjamin Franklin reminds us of the importance of action over words. Unfortunately, when it comes to addressing the most pressing issues of our time, many Washington Democrats continue to choose speeches over solutions. Our country continues to face crisis after crisis ranging from inflation to border security - often because of failed policies or complete inaction on part of President Joe Biden and Washington Democrats. Yet instead of acknowledging this and changing course, they constantly seek to shift blame away from themselves and onto others. They think they can fool you, but you know better. Inflation has increased 8.6% over the last 12 months in part because of too much spending in Washington. This is the largest 12-month increase since December 1981 and has affected nearly every product you buy: butter is up 20.2%, eggs 32.2% and chicken 19.3% to name a few. In response, the Fed announced last week the largest interest rate hike since 1994, but more must be done. The Biden Price Hike is most apparent in the cost of fuel, as gas prices have more than DOUBLED since he took office. Last week, and for the first time in history, the average price of a gallon a gas topped $5.01 nationally, with estimates showing the average national price could surpass $6 by the end of the summer. Democrats have tried to blame the war in Ukraine for these hikes. However, the price of fuel has risen every month Biden has been in office and price hikes are a direct result of his efforts to cut American energy production. In fact, the U.S. is producing nearly 1 million barrels of oil less per day than back in 2019, before the pandemic began. Last week, I heard from Charles in Hope Mills who must now spend $160 a week on gas. Michael from Fayetteville is retired and on a fixed income and said, “there is nothing in the US economy that has not gone up!” Deborah in Cumberland County said she is paying double to fill up her car while her grocery bill is up an average $25 each week. These stories are a snapshot of the economic challenges being faced by every family across our state and nation – and it doesn’t have to be this way. Unfortunately, the Left’s missteps are not limited to the economy. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) announced last week that 239,416 people crossed the border in May, the highest monthly total ever recorded. Since Biden took office, more than 2.6 million illegal immigrants have been apprehended at our southern border. Also troubling – the violent crime rate continues to rise across the country, with some places seeing almost 40% increases compared to last year. This includes politically motivated violence by pro-abortion groups, most notably increased attacks on crisis pregnancy centers in North Carolina and around the country, and an attempted assassination of Justice Brett Kavanaugh. The increase in violence in our cities and these politically motivated attacks are completely unacceptable. While Democrats like President Biden have paid lip service to this crisis, these have largely been empty words not followed up by action to support law enforcement or end soft-on-crime policies. The crises facing this nation are real and we need real solutions – not empty words – to address them. We must secure our border by finishing construction of the border wall, maintaining Title 42 protections, enforcing the “Remain in Mexico” policy, and giving our CBP agents the funds and resources they need to do their jobs. To end inflation, we need to get people back to work and curtail reckless government spending. Last week, I joined other House Republicans to release a proposal to do just that through common sense reforms to balance the budget in 7 years and cut taxes. Our budget proposal also encourages American energy independence. We can and must lower energy prices for you and your family by unleashing American energy to its fullest capacity. This starts by passing legislation like my American Energy Independence from Russia Act, a bill that will boost our domestic energy production and drive down costs across the board. Our nation is facing many crises today, but we have the solutions to address them. I will continue to promote these solutions that will help to end record-setting inflation, lower gas prices, and make our communities safe and secure – and I promise to do this both in word and in action. Until Next Week, 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 Concord Office 325 McGill Avenue, NW, Suite 500 Concord, NC 28027 Phone: (704) 786-1612 Fax: (704) 782-1004 Hours: M-F 8:30am-5:30pm Fayetteville Office 225 Green Street, Suite 202 Fayetteville, NC 28301 Phone: (910) 997-2070 Fax: (910) 817-7202 Hours: M-F 8:30am-5:30pm Stay Connected: ‌ ‌ ‌ Rep. Hudson | 2112 Rayburn HOB, Washington, DC 20515 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected]