While we cannot control what the President will do or even the U.S. Senate should Republicans take the majority in that chamber given their rules requiring a supermajority vote to end debate on most bills, the House is a simple majority rule institution allowing us to determine what passes. With the November election around the corner House Republican leadership unveiled our policy agenda, the Commitment to America, which we have been working on for the past two years. If Republicans win the majority in the House this November, we are prepared to hit the ground running on January 3 when the next Congress convenes to pass bills focused on the following priorities:
An Economy That's Strong - Total government spending has increased by more than $9 trillion since February 2021. Enactment of the Commitment to America will curb wasteful spending to fight inflation, revive the American Dream, regain American energy independence, and lower the cost of living. Our policy proposals will maximize American-made energy and cut the permitting process time in half to reduce our reliance on foreign countries, prevent blackouts, and lower the cost of gas and utilities.
A Nation That's Safe - There have been 3.5 million illegal border crossings under President Biden, and that is just what we know about. House Republicans will push back on the Biden Administration’s unwillingness to enforce border security measures by fully funding effective border enforcement strategies, infrastructure, and advanced technology to prevent illegal crossings and deadly drug trafficking. We will work to reduce crime by opposing all efforts to defund the police, and we will protect America's national security by supporting our troops and investing in our military to counter increasing global threats.
A Future Built on Freedom Overall confidence in public schools is now just at 28%. The Parents' Bill of Rights, a component of the Commitment to America, will make sure every student can succeed while giving parents a voice in their child's education. House Republicans will also work to achieve longer, healthier lives for Americans. Our policy proposals will personalize care to provide affordable, high-quality options, lower prices through transparency, choice, and competition, invest in lifesaving cures, and improve access to telemedicine.
A Government That's Accountable - House Republicans will uphold free speech, protect the lives of unborn children and their mothers, and safeguard the Second Amendment. We will also work to hold Washington accountable by conducting rigorous oversight to rein in abuse of power and corruption. We will restore the people's voice by repealing proxy voting in Congress and increasing accountability in the election process through voter ID, accurate voter rolls, and observer access.
Click here or on the image below to learn more about the Commitment to America.
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Reflecting on 50 Years of the Clean Water Act
Last week, as Ranking Member of the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee’s Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, I was pleased to take the opportunity to reflect on the Clean Water Act’s great success over the past 50 years protecting waters in North Carolina and all around the country. It is vital for Congress and the federal government to modernize and update the Clean Water Act in a way that is fair and reasonable to all, including the regulated community, which is so integral to our economy as well as our farm families who produce our food and fiber. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues in Congress to make the Clean Water Act even more effective.
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Click here or on the image above to view my remarks.
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Congress Honors National Recovery Month
In recognition of National Recovery Month, a number of Members of Congress (including me), came together to highlight an initiative called Congress Goes Purple. We gathered on the Capitol steps outside of the House chamber to increase awareness about mental and substance use disorders and celebrate Americans in recovery.
Drug addiction impacts Americans from all walks of life and no one should be alone in this fight. If you need help, visit samhsa.gov for treatment options and resources.
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Joining my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives for #CongressGoesPurple. |
Four years ago, Hurricane Florence devastated Boiling Spring Lakes and obliterated the city's dams causing the water to drain out and the lakes to dry up. The lakes brought people together and enhanced the local community, and residents have suffered greatly due to the damage done. After years of hard work, I'm pleased Boiling Spring Lakes will receive federal grant funding to make the enhanced dam restoration projects a reality. This grant funding, which is possible because of a new 10-year pilot program created by the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act and funded through recent appropriations by Congress, is a major win for the Boiling Spring Lakes community. The dam restoration projects will ensure the new dams are much stronger than the original ones, revitalize the community, help improve the local economy, and strengthen the city’s resilience against future disasters.
Read more here: WECT: Boiling Spring Lakes dam restoration awarded $14.9 million federal grant
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For this week's good news story, I would like to recognize Barefoot Brew and Barefoot Sandwich Shoppe in Elizabethtown in Bladen County. According to the Border Belt Independent, the owners of these two businesses, Bo and Kelley Barefoot, "employ about 75 Bladen County students, offering them their first jobs and teaching them skills that they will be able to use in their future careers." This story is a great reminder of how our small businesses are the lifeblood of our local communities, creating job opportunities for young people while giving back to the community every step of the way. I wish Bo and Kelley, and each of their dedicated employees, much success. I hope to make a visit sometime soon!
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"If we lose freedom here, there is no place to escape to. This is the last stand on Earth." - Ronald Reagan |
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