Quote of the week
In honor of President Ronald Reagan, who would have turned 114 this past week, I would like to share a quote from him:
“A people free to choose will always choose peace.”
This week, Congress returned from January's District Work Period and continued our work to deliver on our agenda to put the American people first. President Trump is off to a hot start bringing accountability to Washington despite the onslaught of attacks against him. It is refreshing to have a leader unafraid to act boldly and committed to delivering on their promises as quickly as he is.
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has dominated the news this week, and for good reason. We must ensure that our government works efficiently, uses taxpayer dollars wisely, and is accountable. The Trump Administration’s auditing of our enormous bureaucracy is long overdue. The speed at which DOGE is working to improve the functions of our agencies and root out waste is truly unprecedented. I welcome the tenacity of this team and am closely monitoring its progress. Make no mistake, I will always be an objective representative looking out for your best interests.
While back in the district, I had the opportunity to meet with constituents and community leaders, including attending a celebration of Jones Senior High School and Trenton Elementary School. I always appreciate the time I get back in beautiful Eastern North Carolina, especially given our aggressive schedule laid out by Speaker Mike Johnson in the House of Representatives.
I will continue fighting for the values of North Carolina's Third Congressional District. If you wish to stay more engaged and aware of what is happening in Washington and our District, please follow me on my socials linked above or here: Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.
Key Votes
The HALT Fentanyl Act
Far too many families have suffered the devastating loss of a loved one due to fentanyl overdose, the leading cause of death for Americans under 50 years old. We cannot afford to delay aggressive action any longer and must work to save lives.
I proudly voted YES on the HALT Fentanyl Act to permanently classify fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs and give our law enforcement officers the resources they need to keep our communities safe.
Read the bill text here and watch my remarks on the floor here. Read my press release on the bill's passage here.
Protecting American Energy Production Act
Our country is blessed with immense natural resources and we produce the cleanest energy in the world. Hydraulic fracturing has been a crucial part of domestic energy production for decades, contributing to lower energy prices for consumers, increased economic growth, and improved quality of life for Americans.
Our primacy in natural gas production gives the United States an immense competitive advantage in the global economy. Further, it provides security for our allies in Europe who would otherwise be forced to rely on Russian energy.
I proudly voted YES on the Protecting American Energy Production Act to protect hydraulic fracturing and the robust energy production the industry has unlocked.
Watch me explain the importance of the bill as I walked to vote on it here or click on the video below.
Introduced Bipartisan Legislation to Preserve Medicare for Patients and Physicians
Physicians in America are facing unprecedented financial instability due to continued Medicare cuts. Access to affordable and quality health care for millions of seniors is in severe jeopardy. Doctors see Medicare patients out of compassion, not for financial gain. The cost of caring for a Medicare patient far outpaces the reimbursement that physicians receive for seeing them.
On top of that, the expense of providing care continues to rise due to medical inflation. This inflation, coupled with declining reimbursement rates, creates enormous financial pressures on physicians, forcing many to retire early, stop accepting new Medicare patients, or sell out to larger, consolidated hospital systems, private equity, or even insurance companies. The future of private practice medicine, the most cost-efficient and personalized care, is in dire straits.
I am proud to have introduced the bipartisan Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act to prevent further cuts, provide a modest and long overdue inflationary adjustment to help ease the cost of care, and ensure Medicare remains viable for both doctors and patients.
Read my press release here.
Introduced Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Improve Military Installation Security
The Department of Defense’s (DOD) Readiness and Environment Protection Integration (REPI) is essential to our national security and invaluable ecosystems. Avoiding land use conflicts in areas used by our military is imperative to their ability to conduct critical training and maintain readiness.
I am proud to have introduced the Incentivizing Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Sales Act to support this successful initiative by incentivizing landowners to participate in this important program when considering the sale of property near military installations.
Read my press release here.
Diving into the Waste, Fraud, and Abuse at the USAID
I support President Trump eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse at USAID. We must ensure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely on initiatives that promote our standing in the world, not to push political agendas.
Watch me discuss here or by clicking on the image below.
Attending the 73rd National Prayer Breakfast
I had the wonderful pleasure of attending the 73rd National Prayer Breakfast. It was a ceremony of unity for all faiths as we shared song, prayer, and the Word to praise our God. A triumph of unity over partisan differences. I am saddened that Senate Minority Leader Schumer and House Minority Leader Jeffries chose not to attend this powerful gathering.
Meeting with NC Fraternal Order of Police on the Challenges Facing our Police Departments
It was a pleasure to meet with the Fraternal Order of Police of NC to discuss community safety and the challenges facing officers in North Carolina.
I am grateful for the amazing police officers and their families who sacrifice so much to keep us safe. I will always support our men and women in blue!
Meeting with North Carolina Healthcare Association on the Issues Facing our Health Care System
It was great meeting with North Carolina Healthcare Association President Josh Dobson on the issues facing the American health care system.
I will always fight to protect access to affordable, high-quality care, as well as stand up for our doctors who sacrifice so much to keep folks healthy.
Statement on Trump's Elimination of China's De Minimis Privilege
President Trump is taking bold action to ensure America is not ripped off in our trade relationship with China. I am particularly grateful to see that the de minimis privilege, which allows Chinese companies to avoid paying duties on goods under $800 has been suspended. We must ensure a fair playing field for American businesses to compete and end the abuse of our trade laws.
Read my press release on Trump's elimination on the privilege here and read my press release on introducing legislation to fight China's tariff evasion here.
Meeting with Duke University President Vincent Edward Price
It was a pleasure having Duke University’s President Vincent Edward Price by my office!
I am grateful for the introduction and look forward to working together to ensure our college campuses give students the best opportunity to succeed.
