Friends,
If you had family or friends over for Independence Day last week, you probably noticed a familiar trend: everything costs more.
According to the Farm Bureau, the average price of a July 4th cookout was 17% higher than last year. This comes as the worst inflation in 40 years continues to impact every family across our state and nation. From the grocery store to the gas pump – where the national average remains an astounding $4.72 a gallon – rising prices are costing Americans an extra $460 a month or about $5,520 a year.
On Friday, the latest jobs report was released showing wage growth has not been able to keep up with this inflation. This is forcing more and more Americans to dip into their savings and retirement, just as signs of a prolonged economic recession continue to flash.
The price hikes we are seeing have been caused by reckless spending and misguided policies from President Joe Biden and Washington Democrats. However, they continue to blame others and stifle domestic energy production in favor of a liberal agenda the American people simply cannot afford.
Unfortunately, our challenges do not stop there, as our nation continues to also endure a historic crisis at our southern border.
More than 2.9 million illegal immigrants have been encountered at our southern border since Biden took office. These record-setting numbers will likely skyrocket in light of President Biden’s efforts to end commonsense policies like ‘Remain in Mexico,’ which required migrants awaiting asylum claims to stay in Mexico until their case was heard.
Due to failures by the Biden administration to secure our southern border, every state, including North Carolina, is suffering from the impacts of this Biden border crisis. Much of this has come in the form of tragic deaths caused by the dangerous opioid fentanyl. However now, our state is feeling a different direct impact.
Last month, it was revealed that the Biden administration has proceeded with a plan to resettle unaccompanied minors from the border at a school in North Carolina starting as early as this week. This policy is a direct reversal from what Biden’s Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra told me when I directly questioned him about reports of this plan last year.
To be clear, I have deep sympathy for the migrant children in question, as many were brought to America under no power of their own and often under control of dangerous cartels. However, I am very concerned about the complete lack of integrity from Sec. Becerra, as well as the effects this facility may have on our state. That is why I led Members of North Carolina's Congressional Delegation in demanding answers from Sec. Becerra for the administration’s lack of transparency, as well as the potential ramifications of their housing scheme.
Since leading this effort, reporting has revealed that the school housing this migrant resettlement is deeply indebted to a Chinese-based company. That means your tax dollars paying to house these unaccompanied children in our state may be flowing directly to China. This is unacceptable, and I will continue to demand accountability.
Economic security and border security are national security. While the situation facing our nation today seems bleak, like President Reagan I know our country’s best days always lie ahead. That’s because I’m focused on ways to grow our economy, balance our budget, cut reckless spending, unleash American energy, and secure our border once and for all. Rest assured, I will not stop fighting to implement these commonsense solutions on behalf of you and your family so we can once again be that shining city on a hill.
Until Next Week,
