Friends,

“America is best described by one word, freedom.”

President Dwight Eisenhower captured one of the fundamental truths about America in his 1959 State of the Union address.

Freedom means the ability to forge your own path and make your own decisions for yourself and your family without fear of an all-powerful government. It also means the ability to freely exercise your God-given rights that are protected in our Constitution. Sadly, this is a concept that has been taken for granted and repeatedly encroached upon in our nation today.

Freedom is under attack from direct assaults on your constitutional freedoms, from big tech censorship, and from many forms of progressive bullying. I refuse to sit idly by and accept this. That’s why House Republicans have put forward a plan called a “Commitment to America” that will create a future built on freedom.

A central pillar of our plan includes improving education for all students. As a parent, it’s disheartening to see education levels that have declined drastically because of Covid-19 lockdowns. Keeping kids out of school nullified decades of progress in math and reading scores for 9-year-olds, the time experts say is critical for a student’s long-term academic success. Our children’s future depends on the quality of education they receive today. That’s why Republicans are committed to reversing these trends and building an educational environment that fosters success for all students.

We also believe parents should have a say in your child's education. For too long, liberal politicians have sought to keep parents out of schools, even going as far as to label concerned moms and dads as “domestic terrorists.” As the son of a retired public school teacher, I know student success depends on parents being involved in their child’s education. That is why I will work to pass a “Parents Bill of Rights” and expand parental choice so all children have the chance to succeed.

At the same time, my Republican colleagues and I will work to equip parents with more tools to keep their kids safe online. Our kids currently spend an average of 7 hours a day in front of a screen. They are potentially exposing themselves to harmful content, online predators, and data breaches. Under our plan, Republicans have solutions to help keep your kids safe.

A future built on freedom also means better health care freedom by lowering costs and giving you and your family more options. We want to help Americans live healthier, happier lives by refining health care to meet your specific needs. This means personalizing care to provide more affordable and better-quality options; ensuring lower prices through greater transparency, choice, and competition; increasing investments in new technology; and expanding access to telemedicine. To that end, I was proud the House and Senate passed my bipartisan MOBILE Health Care Act. This legislation will expand health care access in rural and underserved communities in North Carolina and beyond. On Thursday, I was proud to visit a local community health center and receive the 2022 Distinguished Community Health Center Advocate award for work on this bill. I will continue working to support these critical providers in our community. Meanwhile, we also remain committed to blocking the Biden administration from imposing needless vaccine mandates on American citizens – especially members of the military.

Finally, a future built on freedom also means securing your constitutional rights, including your right to free speech, the right of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms, and the freedom of religion. Tragically, a report last week found 220 churches have been attacked over the past two years across the country - another example of rising crime that must be addressed. Protecting these rights also involves standing up to politically motivated bureaucrats, institutions, and companies that attempt to restrict these rights. This includes combating big tech censorship of opinions it doesn't agree with, as well as by demanding online fairness and greater privacy and data security for all Americans.

Freedom is the bedrock on which our nation's Constitution and character were founded. As your congressman, rest assured I will always work to keep ensuring a future that is built on freedom.

Until Next Week,