Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 1101, the so- called Lumbee Fairness Act.

I am proud to represent North Carolina's 11th District, which is the home of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, a Tribal Nation rich in culture, language, and sovereignty that is a true treasure to the State of North Carolina and to the United States.

In stark contrast, it must be noted that the Lumbee community has no standing treaties with the Federal Government, no reservation land, and no common language. The Office of Federal Acknowledgment under the U.S. Department of the Interior, or OFA, was established to provide a vigorous process that groups seeking Federal recognition must go through, including genealogical and historical research.

This legislation wholly bypasses the OFA process, and I believe that if the Lumbee community truly had a legitimate claim for Federal recognition, they would go through that process like other prospective Tribes have done.

Let us not circumvent our rules to bring this bill to the House floor with the purpose of circumventing the rules for an alleged Tribal Nation.

In my view, this legislation should have gone through the committee markup process before being put on the floor as a suspension bill, as has been done for numerous other bills this Congress, before being given consideration by the full House.

If the administration or Congress allows the Lumbee to bypass the OFA, it sends a clear message that other groups with dubious claims for Tribal recognition can also avoid the deliberation and scrutiny that the OFA petition process is designed to provide.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this legislation.

At this time the Chair recognizes Former Members of Congress President, the Honorable Barbara Comstock, for remarks.

At this time the chair recognizes the Honorable Speaker Mike Johnson. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for being here.

It is a great honor, your being here.

The Chair thanks and congratulates Chairwoman Bice.

The Chair now invites two former Members, Dennis Ross of Florida and Cheri Bustos of Illinois, to offer remarks.

The Chair recognizes the Honorable Barbara Comstock.

Thank you, Mrs. Comstock, for this report. More importantly, thank you for your thoughtful and exemplary leadership of this outstanding organization.

The Chair thanks the former Members of the House for your presence here today. On behalf of FMC, I thank the office of the Speaker and congressional staff who have helped make today's presentation possible. You have been terrific, a terrific resource. We very much appreciative all you have done.

The meeting stands adjourned.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the following newsletter to give an update to my constituents on support for Western North Carolina in recovering from Hurricane Helene and reforms to the U.S. tax code.

Dear Friend,

Hurricane Helene devastated WNC, with 81 lives lost in

North Carolina's 11th District.

In some areas, water crested up to 30 feet above normal

levels, though locals report crests as high as 40 feet,

destroying entire communities as it rushed through our

mountain valleys, carrying away homes, cars and roads.

During a House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

hearing, I shared insight into the aftermath of Helene,

including how FEMA's response was in some ways effective and

how, in other ways, there were significant issues that need

to be addressed.

For example, on Day Three after the storm, FEMA announced

it had delivered 400 pallets of desperately needed water to

Western North Carolina, but when asked where those supplies

had been delivered, FEMA could not provide a single location.

As members of Congress, it is our job to conduct rigorous

oversight and hold FEMA accountable for its disaster recovery

processes.

The U.S. House must address the flaws in FEMA's response to

prevent further delays and confusion in the recovery process

for Western North Carolinians, and for survivors of any

future disaster.

Rest assured, it is my top priority to continue to help WNC

recover and receive the assistance our communities need.

House Appropriations Committee Chairman views hurricane

damage in WNC.

Over the past few weeks, I've invited several legislators

to visit our district to see the damage firsthand. I'll need

each of them to fully understand the breadth of what is

needed for us to rebuild as I advocate for the necessary

funding. This has been helpful in gathering support for

supplemental disaster assistance to help our road to

recovery.

Most recently, House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom

Cole accepted my invitation and visited Western North

Carolina to personally see the impact of Hurricane Helene in

our mountains.

Swannanoa and Marshall are just two of our small towns with

tremendous needs, and Chairman Cole's visit was another

important step toward securing funds that will help our

communities rebuild.

Holding the National Institute of Health accountable.

Making commonsense reforms to U.S. tax code.

This week, the U.S. House passed a commonsense bill to fix

our tax code with my support.

The Stop Terror Financing and Tax Penalties on American

Hostages Act would prevent the IRS from charging late fees to

American citizens who are wrongfully detained abroad.

Americans who are wrongfully detained or held hostage are

currently provided only one year of tax relief. While these

individuals should be focusing on getting their lives back,

instead they are being charged late fees by the federal

government. This is a timely issue, with Americans still

being held hostage by Hamas. The last thing these Americans

and their families should have to worry about is settling an

unpaid tax bill.

This legislation also revokes the tax-exempt status of U.S.

non-profit organizations that provide financial or material

support to terrorist groups like Hamas.

No organization that supports terrorism should benefit from

the American tax code or receive a tax-exempt status.

Newly launched Supply Information Hub.

My office has launched a Supply Information Hub on my

website for folks affected by Hurricane Helene and those who

want to help.

Multiple organizations have shared that they have an

overflow of resources they want to reallocate, and other

groups have voiced that they're still in need of certain

supplies.

To help consolidate efforts, my team is stepping in to help

match supply requests with available resources.

If you have extra supplies or if you're in need of a

specific product, please fill out the form on my website at

edwards.house.gov/hub, and my team will do our best to make

sure that resources go where they are needed.

Do you need help with FEMA?

As Western North Carolina continues to pick up the pieces

and rebuild after Hurricane Helene, I want to remind you that

you can apply for FEMA financial assistance to help ease the

financial burden of what you've lost.

If you've applied for FEMA relief and need assistance

navigating the process, my Hendersonville office can engage

with FEMA directly on your behalf and guide you on what

documents are needed for your case.

Please call my phone line dedicated to FEMA casework at

223-FIX-FEMA.

Announcing Deputy Chief of Staff Jessie Frank.

I'm excited to announce the promotion of Jessie Frank from

executive assistant to deputy chief of staff.

Those who have worked with Jessie in her capacity as my

executive assistant can attest to her strong work ethic,

steadfast loyalty to my office, and attention to detail.

Since moving to DC, her leadership role has risen to new

heights, and her contributions are widely recognized not only

by our office, but by House Leadership, our committee staffs,

and a multitude of other Member offices.

Jessie majored in political science at UNC Asheville, where

she graduated summa cum laude. As a student athlete on the

Bulldog swim team, she earned her college education through a

swimming scholarship as a student athlete. She also served

UNCA as editor-in-chief of Dignity, UNC Asheville's

undergraduate human rights journal.

Before joining our DC team, Jessie served as legislative

assistant and committee clerk in the North Carolina State

Senate and interned with the NC Republican Senate Caucus.

Her rich background of experience also includes assistant

swim coach, page to the Office of the Governor, intern at the

lobbying firm of Smith Anderson Law, and page for the North

Carolina House of Representatives.

Jessie's promotion will provide her a path to further

develop her leadership skills on Capitol Hill, and to

contribute to our team's success on a new level.

With my warmest regards,

Chuck Edwards,

Member of Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I was not present to vote on November 14, 2024 as I was attending to the medical emergency of a member of my staff.

Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 461; YEA on Roll Call No. 462; NAY on Roll Call No. 463; and YEA on Roll Call No. 464.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my deep opposition to circumvention of the merit-based process, and instead, grant Federal recognition to the Lumbee community through political means.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to have the representatives of the Eastern Band with us in the gallery today. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians are the descendants of those that fought to stay in their traditional homelands in the face of forcible Federal removal efforts.

Some Cherokee, including a man named Junaluska, made the forced journey and then walked back to the mountains of western North Carolina to return home.

It must be noted that the Lumbee community has no standing treaties with the Federal Government, no reservation land, and no common language.

As Members of Congress, one of our most sacred duties is making sure that laws are drafted and implemented in an objective and an equal manner.

For over 40 years, the Department of the Interior has carried out a merit-based process, as set out by Congress and administered by the Office of Federal Acknowledgment, the OFA, to make determinations on Federal recognition of Tribes.

If the administration or Congress allows the Lumbee to bypass the OFA, it sends a clear message that other groups with dubious claims for Tribal recognition can also avoid the deliberation and scrutiny that the OFA petition process is designed to provide.

We need the OFA process to protect Indian Country and the public. The process requires verification that the persons who claim to be Tribal members actually have Native American descent.

Believe it or not, the OFA has determined that some petitioning groups are comprised entirely of people that can't demonstrate Native American ancestry; not a single person.

Regarding the Lumbee, in one fell swoop, the Federal Government would recognize a Tribe that would then soon be the largest in the country, and all enrolled members would likely gain full access to all Federal benefits, which will further strain the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Indian Health Services' already stressed budgets.

As a member of the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Subcommittee on House Appropriations, I am proud that we funded the needs of the Indian Health Service and other critical priorities for our Nation's Tribes in fiscal year 2025, the bill that was recently approved in the House.

That said, if the overall Tribal population covered by the services is allowed to swell by tens of thousands of

people, many of whom have no native ancestry, I fear that necessary appropriations cannot feasibly keep pace.

That is the crux of the issue. If there was an actual merit-based system behind the Lumbee case for Federal recognition, they would go through the OFA process as set out in the current law.

As they know, it won't hold up under a deliberative process. They have instead sought to seek special treatment through other avenues, all in the face of credible opposition by multiple federally recognized Tribes.

More than 140 established Tribes from across the country have said that the Lumbee and other groups should go through the Federal recognition process at the Department of the Interior to demonstrate the merits of their claim to be a Tribe. I agree.

I urge all my colleagues to take these concerns into account, and I hope that the merit-based process put in place by Congress decades ago on Federal Tribal recognition will be adhered to.

Mr. Speaker, while I have the floor, I would also like to urge you and my colleagues to move H.R. 7227, the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act, to create a commission to get a better understanding of the grievous wrongs done to Native American children in federally run boarding schools.

Our Tribal nations deserve the dignity to understand what happened to their family members at these schools. It is the very least this country can do.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Senators Fischer and Padilla for their leadership on the Veteran Improvement Commercial Driver License Act.

I was happy to introduce the House version of this very important bill, H.R. 2830, and I look forward to the benefit this language will add on our veterans' quality of life once it becomes law.

Every day, brave men and women join our military to fight for the American Dream so that each of us can live in a country where we have the opportunity to succeed and are free to pursue a better way of life. However, all too often when our servicemembers are transitioning to civilian life, our government fails in their pursuit of achieving the American Dream.

A 2016 study by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation found that 53 percent of all veterans were unemployed for at least 4 months after leaving the military. These are our country's strongest citizens, yet we repeatedly fail to sufficiently support them as they make the biggest transition in their life, from servicemember to civilian.

S. 656 and H.R. 2830 make a much-needed change to the veteran educational assistance programs, expanding job opportunities for the brave men and women who serve our great Nation.

The VA CDL Act will increase veteran access to timely, quality commercial driver license training, reduce veteran unemployment or underemployment, and reduce the strain on our Nation's supply chain by increasing the truck driver workforce pool.

Currently, roughly 8,400 commercial driving programs are approved for use by eligible veterans under the GI Bill, but a bureaucratic 2-year rule prevents these training facilities from accepting GI benefits at secondary locations for 2 years.

This burdensome red tape has excluded many veterans from attending closer secondary branch training and dissuaded servicemembers from joining the trucking industry. Who better knows how to drive big stuff than our veterans?

Due to this rule, veterans must decide between finding a new career path, waiting 2 years to pursue their commercial driver's license, or in some cases traveling hundreds of miles away from their home for immediate training.

S. 656 and H.R. 2830 fix that issue by exempting new branches of preapproved training facilities located in the same State from the statutory 2-year wait to accept veterans' benefits.

It is high time that we take meaningful steps toward better supporting a veteran's transition into the civilian workforce. Too many arbitrary rules are impeding a veteran's ability to achieve the very American Dream that they are fighting for others to pursue, but the VA CDL Act helps to eliminate one of those barriers.

Ultimately, this is a commonsense reform bill that will reduce unnecessary roadblocks to veteran training and workforce opportunities, and I urge all my colleagues to support it.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the following newsletter to give an update to my constituents on issues surrounding foreign policy, border security and small businesses.

Dear Friend, Three years ago, 13 U.S. servicemembers were

killed in the Abbey Gate terrorist attack in Kabul,

Afghanistan, during the final days of the Afghanistan

withdrawal.

The House Committee on Foreign Affairs recently released

the report on its investigation of during and after the

rushed withdrawal, ``Willful Blindness: An Assessment of the

Biden-Harris Administration's Withdrawal from Afghanistan and

the Chaos that Followed.''

The committee found that the Biden-Harris administration

was determined to withdraw from Afghanistan no matter the

costs, prioritizing the optics of the withdrawal over the

security of U.S. personnel and failing to plan for all

contingencies.

The administration's hasty decisions and disregard for U.S.

personnel on the ground during the withdrawal led to the

deaths of 13 of our military members by a terrorist attack on

Aug. 26, 2021, the deadliest day for our military in

Afghanistan since 2012.

This catastrophic withdrawal not only resulted in the

deaths of our servicemembers, it has also weakened U.S.

national security, with Afghanistan once again becoming a

haven for terrorists, and has damaged U.S. credibility on the

world stage after abandoning our Afghan allies to Taliban

revenge killings.

This tragedy was preventable, and the Biden-Harris

administration has yet to take accountability for its

failures or even meet with the Gold Star families of our

fallen soldiers. Americans will never forget the ultimate

sacrifice made in defense of our nation by:

Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover, 31, from Salt Lake

City, Utah

Marine Corps Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, 25, from

Lawrence, Massachusetts

Marine Corps Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, 23, from Sacramento,

California

Marine Corps Cpl. Hunter Lopez, 22, from Indio, California

Marine Corps Cpl. Daegan W. Page, 23, from Omaha, Nebraska

Marine Corps Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez, 22, from Logansport,

Indiana

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza, 20, from Rio

Bravo, Texas

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz, 20, from St.

Charles, Missouri

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum, 20, from

Jackson, Wyoming

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, 20, from Rancho

Cucamonga, California

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui, 20, from Norco,

California

Navy Hospitalman Maxton W. Soviak, 22, from Berlin Heights,

Ohio

Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss, 23, from Corryton,

Tennessee

Standing up to Communist China

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) represents the greatest

threat to American values and national security in our

lifetime, and we must counter the CCP's efforts to gain

leverage over our nation and beyond. President Xi Jinping has

gone so far as to say that he will do whatever it takes to

bring Taiwan under his control, including through military

force.

From securing our supply chains and protecting American

technology to defending American biosecurity and drug

manufacturing, the nearly three dozen bills that the House

advanced are a step toward reducing China's leverage over the

U.S. and strengthening U.S. dominance.

Just one of the bills that I am co-sponsoring and voted for

that would directly affect Western North Carolina is the

Protecting American Agriculture from Foreign Adversaries Act,

which amends the Defense Production Act of 1950 to require

the Secretary of Agriculture to be included on the Committee

on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) for

agriculture-related issues. It also requires CFIUS to review

and potentially block purchases of farmland by foreign

adversaries that pose a national security risk.

We cannot allow enemies of the U.S. to buy up America's

farmland, which poses a food and national security threat,

and I will continue to work with the House to combat the

CCP's aggression here at home and overseas.

Biden-Harris administration's ``America Last'' foreign policy

Over the past three and a half years, the Biden-Harris

administration's policies have put Americans last,

diminishing our national security and draining hard-working

Western North Carolinians' hard-earned savings.

This administration's failed policies have caused sky-high

inflation, record-high gas prices and an unprecedented

invasion of our borders.

During my district work period, constituent after

constituent--including many small-business owners--have

shared about the effects of high prices on running a

business.

Meanwhile, thousands of illegal immigrants continue to

flood our borders, endangering the safety and well-being of

every American.

The radical, sanctuary-city policies are incentivizing

illegal immigration, and your hard-earned tax dollars should

not be used to serve illegal immigrants and further signal to

the world that America's borders are open.

To reverse such harmful policies that are rewarding illegal

immigration and to protect women from sex offenders and

abusers, I voted for the No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act

and the Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act and will

continue to push for policies that serve the best interests

of our citizens and nation.

Championing Main Street businesses

The National Federation of Independent Business is a voice

for small businesses across our nation, and I'm grateful to

have been selected for this year's Small Business Guardian

Award.

As someone whose background is in business, I understand

the challenges that Main Street faces, including heavy-handed

government regulations. We need more pro-growth, pro-small-

business policies so that small businesses can thrive and

create jobs.

Welcoming WNC Chamber members to DC

It was a privilege to welcome members of WNC Chambers of

Commerce for their retreat during which they focused on

problem-solving and opportunities to improve workforce

development and local economies.

America's risk takers and job creators have long been under

attack from Washington, and I'm striving to reduce

regulations, create a better tax climate, and help develop a

workforce that provides opportunity and fuels our economy by

fixing how Washington works.

With my warmest regards,

Chad Edwards,

Member of Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of my constituents in western North Carolina to highlight the dire situation at our southern border and to advocate for the enforcement of our Nation's immigration laws.

During his time in office, the Biden administration continues to break records but not in a good way. Last month, Customs and Border Protection seized close to 1,700 pounds of fentanyl at the border, a 30 percent increase from just July.

Over 200,000 Americans have now died from illegal drugs being smuggled across the southern border, and this number only continues to increase. This also comes after 3 years of broken border records and overwhelmed Border Patrol agents.

Some of the first executive actions taken by President Biden undid the Trump administration's attempts to get the situation under control.

Biden threw open the border. Whether he did it for political reasons or through sheer incompetence, it is costing Americans half a trillion dollars every year.

Now, we have fentanyl flowing across the border, courtesy of the Mexican cartels, tearing apart families and the very fabric of our communities in the North Carolina mountains.

Our border is being overrun with lawbreaking migrants, overpowered by drugs, and overwhelmed by what this is costing our Nation.

By conservative estimates, more than 2 million illegal immigrants have been turned loose and are now unaccounted for in America, and that doesn't include those who managed to give Border Patrol agents the slip or the millions who have been living here illegally for years.

These are not small numbers, Mr. Speaker. This is mass migration into our country, facilitated by our very own President.

What is the Biden-Harris solution? How does President Biden and his appointed border czar plan to solve a problem that they manufactured?

Last month, a DHS report found nearly 530,000 individuals were flown in and paroled by the Biden administration under the error-plagued mass parole program for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans, a program that was previously paused due to mass fraud and abuse. You can't make this up, folks.

During my time in Congress, I have written, cosponsored, and helped pass legislation in the House to secure the southern border and end this administration's radical and dangerous border policies.

I was proud to have cosponsored and voted for H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act, which is the strongest border security package passed by the House in American history.

Senate Democrats and President Biden could take real, concrete steps to solve this migration crisis, and address everything from court backlogs to the trafficking of unaccompanied children if they would just get behind H.R. 2.

Why are the Democrats so adamantly opposed to commonsense legislation to protect Americans and close the southern border, you might ask?

One of my Democratic colleagues apparently said the quiet part out loud. In no uncertain terms, she said that she wanted more illegal immigrants to come into our country to give liberal sanctuary cities a higher population for congressional districting and the electoral college.

She said: ``I need more people in my district just for redistricting purposes,'' in reference to illegal immigrants coming in droves to New York.

To solve the problem once and for all, I introduced H.R. 7109, the Equal Representation Act, which allows a very basic question to be asked in the U.S. Census: Are you a U.S. citizen?

Given all the other information the government collects during a census, this is a very reasonable thing that we should know, especially as the census count determines congressional apportionment, and only U.S. citizens are allowed to vote.

My bill prohibits anyone who is not a United States citizen from counting toward population totals that determine the number of seats each State has in the U.S. House of Representatives. This would go an incredibly long way to helping us determine who is actually in our country, which is not an unreasonable thing to want to know.

Knowing who is in our Nation and keeping out those who are trying to break our laws and brazenly waltz across our borders is basic national security. Our own President is failing at

the task of keeping this Nation safe and secure.

I ask my colleagues from across the aisle, and this administration, to work with Republicans to pass this commonsense legislation that actually goes to fix the problem.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the following newsletter to give an update to my constituents on issues surrounding inflation, officer safety and small businesses.

Dear Friend, The Carl Sandburg Home, a national historic

site nestled in the mountains of Western North Carolina,

preserves the home and legacy of American poet Carl Sandburg.

I'm pleased to share that after convening members of the

National Park Service and stakeholders who are in support of

a project to improve access to the Carl Sandburg Home

National Historic Site last year, as of a result of this and

others' efforts, more than $1 million will be available for

Front Lake dam repairs.

Due to erosion around the Front Lake bridge, the Carl

Sandburg Home had to rely on the help of donations from the

local community to buy a bus to transport folks through a

back entrance as they understood the importance of the site

to the local tourism economy. This project will make

necessary repairs to once again open the trail for easier

access for visitors.

Kamalanomics continues to fail hard-working Western North Carolinians

For the past three and a half years, Western North

Carolinians have suffered from sky-high prices and plummeting

wages.

Kamala Harris has repeatedly cast the deciding vote in the

U.S. Senate to approve trillions of dollars in excessive

government spending as part of the Biden-Harris

administration's failing economic policies. Her policies have

led to higher costs for Americans and her price-fixing scheme

would only make things worse.

When the federal government overspends, Western North

Carolinians pay more to get less. As a member of the House

Appropriations and Budget Committees, my goal is to fix how

Washington works so that hardworking folks in our mountains

can keep more of their hard-earned money.

Improving officer safety in Yancey County

After I secured the funding last year in the annual

appropriations process, the $100,000 is making its way to the

hands of the Yancey County Sheriff's Office to enhance

officer safety in the field.

WNC law enforcement officers risk their lives to protect

our citizens and communities, and it is critical that they

have the tools to do their jobs safely and effectively.

This grant will provide funding for the Yancey County

Sheriff's Office to acquire portable substance analyzer

capability, which will improve officer safety in the field

and provide a cost-efficient method of identifying

potentially deadly substances, such as fentanyl.

As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I will

be continuing to advocate for the necessary and responsible

funding of projects back home in North Carolina's 11th

District.

Supporting WNC's Main Street businesses

During the district work period, I've had the pleasure of

visiting local businesses in downtown Bryson City, Dillsboro,

Franklin and Marion.

A common theme heard from small business owners during my

visits was concerns about keeping up with rising costs in

this economy.

Entrepreneurs in our mountains contribute to our local

economy and enrich our communities. To allow them to create

jobs and grow our economy, I'm working to fix how Washington

works by getting big government out of the way and rolling

back excessive regulations.

Stay informed on NC-11 news

Federal rules will require congressional offices to enter a

communication blackout 60 days before an election. This means

I'll be restricted in how I can share updates and information

with you starting early September.

To stay informed during this period, I encourage you to

sign up for my official newsletter by visiting

edwards.house.gov/

newsletter. By doing so, you'll receive important updates

directly in your email inbox highlighting what I'm doing in

Congress to advocate for Western North Carolina.

I know how important it is to keep you informed about the

issues affecting our mountains, from new bills that I'm

introducing to local grants and more. By signing up for the

newsletter, you won't miss a beat as we continue working

together for North Carolina's 11th District.

With my warmest regards,

Chuck Edwards,

Member of Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Ms. Alice Wood, for her work as an intern serving in my D.C. office. I would like to take this opportunity to thank her for her hard work and recognize the meaningful contributions she has made to the office this summer.

Alice is a student at Wake Forest University, where she is majoring in political science and double minoring in Spanish and English studies. After graduation, Alice wants to continue her education by attending law school.

Interns work with staff to serve constituents in North Carolina's 11th Congressional District. Alice was chosen from a competitive pool of applicants and exceeded every expectation with her positive attitude and impressive work ethic.

It was a pleasure to work with Alice, and I am so proud to have such an intelligent and ambitious intern representing my office. She exemplified the spirit of public service and represents the best that our Nation has to offer. Congratulations to Alice on this successful completion of her internship, and on behalf of the people of Western North Carolina, I thank her.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Ms. Lillie Connet, for her work as an intern serving in my district office, located in her hometown of Hendersonville, North Carolina. I would like to take this opportunity to thank her for her hard work and recognize the meaningful contributions she has made to the office this summer.

Lillie is a student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she is studying human development and family studies and political science. She aspires to share her passion for knowledge as she pursues a career in education. Wherever she finds herself, Lillie selflessly volunteers her time and effort to those around her and is a dedicated member of the Western North Carolina community.

Interns work with staff to serve constituents in North Carolina's 11th Congressional District. Lillie was chosen from a competitive pool of applicants and exceeded every expectation with her positive attitude and impressive work ethic.

It was a pleasure to work with Lillie, and I am so proud to have such an intelligent and ambitious intern representing my office. Lillie exemplified the spirit of public service and represents the best that our Nation has to offer. Congratulations to Lillie on this successful completion of her internship, and on behalf of the people of Western North Carolina, I thank her.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the following newsletter to give an update to my constituents on issues surrounding spending bills, healthcare consolidation, and government regulations.

Dear Friend, I'm disappointed that the Do Our Job Act, the

bill I introduced to keep us in DC until our budget work is

completed, did not get the support it needed and deserved to

make it to a committee hearing. But I've learned that many

ideas need to be introduced many times before they get

traction. Fixing how Washington works will not be easy, so I

am undeterred, and I'll continue to push for this reform.

While I enjoy time in the district with my constituents, I

would rather be in DC passing the rest of our appropriations

bills and avoiding the threat of another government shutdown

or continuing resolution.

The Do Our Job Act would have made sure that Congress did

not leave for this district work period unless the House

passed all 12 annual appropriations bills. While the House

Appropriations Committee, which I am a member of, passed all

12 spending bills to be considered by the House, the House

has only passed five of these 12 spending bills.

In the nearly five decades that our current appropriations

process has been in place, Congress has only passed all 12

bills four times. Four times in almost 50 years. Western

North Carolinians and the American people deserve better than

an 8 percent success rate for funding our government.

The American people have been far too generous with us, and

it is high time that we fix how Washington works.

increased health costs, decreased quality of care

Western North Carolina is no stranger to high healthcare

costs, and as a member of the House Budget Committee, I want

to share what we learned from the committee hearing that

evaluated the budgetary effects of healthcare consolidation.

The hearing discussed the unsustainable trajectory of

federal health spending and policy opportunities to combat

consolidation and enhance free market competition; or to put

it simply, how to make health care more affordable and more

accessible for the American people.

The U.S. is seeing a surge in hospital mergers, resulting

in increased federal health spending and higher patient

costs. Simultaneously, patients have been experiencing lower

quality of care, which is a less easily quantifiable but

arguably worse consequence than dealing with high costs.

This is the reality right here in our mountains following

the Mission HCA Healthcare acquisition in 2019. That is why I

have demanded the Federal Trade Commission, the agency

responsible for all acquisitions and mergers, re-review the

Mission/HCA deal and take action to overturn the acquisition

if malfeasance is found.

It is my mission as a member of the House Budget Committee

and House Appropriations Committee to promote policies and

funding that deter consolidation and promote greater choice,

affordability, and quality of care for the citizens of NC-11

and beyond.

revitalizing communities in wnc

During my time in our mountains, I continuously hear from

constituents who are interested in developing environmentally

challenged properties in Western North Carolina but decide

not to because of the significant cleanup, redevelopment

costs and time delays that are often required from

environmental contamination.

The Economic Opportunity for Distressed Communities Act

that I introduced would provide a tax incentive for those who

decide to redevelop Superfund and brownfield areas by

designating such environmentally challenged properties as

Opportunity Zones. By incentivizing cleanup and development

of brownfield and Superfund sites, we can create jobs,

business opportunities and increase property values for

Western North Carolina and nationwide.

regulations backed by science

As a small business owner, I have experienced the real-life

consequences of new government regulations imposed by

Washington bureaucrats who do not understand the implications

of their misguided rules.

The Show Me the Science Act that I introduced would require

federal agencies to publish the data that they use to inform

decisions behind new rules. If a federal agency cannot prove

that the benefits of a new rule outweigh the costs, then we

should not burden the American people and Main Street

businesses with unnecessary regulations.

Federal agencies make legally binding requirements on the

public, often with an inability or unwillingness to share the

information that they use to form the basis of their rules

and fail to calculate the costs and benefits of those rules

for American taxpayers.

We need to fix how Washington works by requiring more

transparency in federal rulemaking and improving

congressional and public oversight of the rulemaking process.

``unplugged'' town hall series is coming to macon county

Join my next in-person town hall in Macon County on

Thursday, August 15. The town hall will take place from 5:30

to 7:00 p.m. at the Robert C. Carpenter Community Building,

1288 Georgia Rd., Franklin, NC.

I'm looking forward to sharing an update about the latest

legislative opportunities

and challenges in Congress and answering questions about the

issues that matter to you. Don't miss out on this opportunity

to connect with fellow Western North Carolinians who care

deeply about our district and nation.

With my warmest regards,

Chuck Edwards,

Member of Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the following newsletter to give an update to my constituents on issues surrounding the attempted Trump assassination and Israel:

Dear Friend,

I voted in favor of H. Res. 1367, Establishing the Task

Force on the Attempted Assassination of Donald J. Trump,

which would fully examine all actions related to the

attempted assassination.

Our nation was shaken by the assassination attempt on

President Trump, which tragically took the life of Corey

Comperatore.

It has become clear since then that numerous security flaws

and failures made it possible for the gunman to open file on

President Trump.

The American people deserve transparency and

accountability. We must make sure that what happened at the

rally in Butler, Pennsylvania does not happen again.

Kimberly Cheatle, who just resigned as director of the

United States Secret Service, refused to voluntarily provide

answers that would allow us to figure out what went wrong.

The United States Secret Service has a no-fail mission, but

it failed when the shooter attempted to assassinate President

Trump, took the life of an innocent victim and harmed others.

A comprehensive investigation is necessary to understand

what went wrong that day so we can learn how to prevent this

from happening in the future.

While obvious security gaps were present, I commend the

bravery of the individual Secret Service agents, local law

enforcement, and Emergency Medical Services, who took

immediate action to protect and care for President Trump.

America stands with Israel

As Israel continues to fight for its right to exist, I

remain committed to supporting one of our staunchest Middle

Eastern allies.

Last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

addressed a joint meeting of Congress where he eloquently and

directly addressed the world on why Israel has the right and

must defend itself and what the implications are for world

peace and stability.

While the House of Representatives has stood with Israel,

many on the radical left have turned their back on Israel.

They have chosen to withhold critical military aid that is

necessary for Israel to defend itself and defeat the

terrorist organization, Hamas, and have instead sided with

pro-Hamas leftists.

As an embarrassment to the traditions of joint sessions of

Congress, Vice President Kamala Harris skipped Netanyahu's at

a time when it has never been more critical to show the world

that America stands firmly with our ally.

Some of the major bills I helped pass in support of Israel

following the terrorist attacks of Oct. 7 include measures

to:

Provide an additional $14.1 billion in emergency

appropriations in support of Israel's efforts to defend

itself against Iran and Iran's terrorist proxies, and to

replenish U.S. defense assets in the region.

Strengthen U S sanctions against Iran.

Condemn the International Criminal Court's decision to file

applications for arrest warrants against Prime Minister

Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

Create a legal definition of antisemitism to protect Jewish

people and students on college campuses facing

discrimination.

U.S.-Israel relations are not only vital to providing

stability in perhaps the most volatile region of the world,

but our principles and values are closely aligned, and the

U.S. must not waver in our ironclad support for Israel.

WNC wins in WRDA 2024

Even more positive news for our district: The House passed

the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024, which

includes two of my bills, the National Dam Safety Program

Amendment Act and the Low-Head Dam Inventory Act.

The passage of this legislation benefits Western North

Carolina by strengthening dam safety for the more than 750

dams in out district and providing funding to improve water

and wastewater infrastructure.

The following projects are included in WRDA 2024:

Authorization of $41 million for water and wastewater

infrastructure, including stormwater management in Canton

Authorization of more than $3 million for water and

wastewater infrastructure in Robbinsville

Authorization of $4 million for water and wastewater

infrastructure in Weaverville

Authorization of $1.5 million for water and wastewater

infrastructure, including water supply in Murphy

Army Corps of Engineers study on flood risk management,

including riverbank stabilization, along the Catawba River in

Marion

Army Corps of Engineers study on flood risk management

along the Pigeon River in Clyde and Canton

Military Veteran Stand Down Celebration

Veterans have made great sacrifices to defend our freedom,

and it is only right that we now serve them by supporting

their transition to civilian life.

I was blown away by the turnout and involvement of everyone

who participated in the Military Veteran Stand Down

Celebration that I hosted with Henderson County.

More than 130 folks attended the event, and 21 resource

vendors were available to share how they can assist veterans.

I appreciate all who showed up for our veterans and

military families who have made great sacrifices to serve and

protect us.

Attention: Military Service Academy Day is on August 17

My office will be hosting a Military Service Academy Day on

August 17 in Haywood County for WNC high school students to

learn about the application and nomination process for

military service academies. I look forward to meeting

students who are interested in learning how they can advance

their academic and professional careers while serving our

great nation.

Representatives from the service academies and members of

my team will be at the event to answer any questions.

Visit my website for more information here.

With my warmest regards,

Chuck Edwards,

Member of Congress.

Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted AYE on Roll Call No. 392.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Deputy Sheriff Ryan Hendrix.

A lifelong resident of Western North Carolina, Ryan dedicated his life to the service of his county, his community, and his cherished family.

Ryan was born in Asheville on December 9, 1985, the son of Donald and Heidi Hendrix. As a Christian, Ryan faithfully served his Lord by regularly attending Grace Blue Ridge Church with Pastor Chas Morris.

He graduated from Hendersonville Christian School in 2004. Through the school's mission trip program, Ryan cultivated the passion for service he demonstrated throughout his life. Ryan went on mission trips to border towns in Mexico and worked to better the lives of children.

At 19 years old, Ryan enlisted with the U.S. Marine Corps. He trained at Parris Island where he was a squad leader and a sharpshooter. He graduated as a Lance Corporal Marine in 2005 and served in the Marine Reserves for five years. In 2006, Ryan volunteered to serve a tour of duty in Iraq.

Ryan began his career with the Henderson County Sheriff's Office as a detention officer in June 2012. In May 2015, Ryan became a patrol deputy upon completing Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET), and he later became a field training officer. He was an active member of the SWAT team and served the Henderson County Sheriff's Office for a total of eight years. Ryan loved his work and serving the local community.

Ryan excelled in sports, especially baseball and soccer, and enjoyed being outdoors. On his days off, he would often go fishing, hunting, biking, and camping.

While Ryan's dedication to serving his community and others is beyond dispute, he reserved the largest piece of his heart for his two children, Elloree and Merritt. He spent all his days off with his children and continuously shared his passion for being outdoors with them. They, along with their mother, Emily, Ryan's fiancee, were the love of his life and always his greatest priority.

On September 10, 2020, Deputy Hendrix tragically lost his life in the line of duty. The loss of Ryan has left a hole in many hearts of those who love him and whose lives he touched.

Today, we honor Ryan with the renaming of the U.S. 64 bridge over Interstate 26 as the ``Deputy Ryan P. Hendrix Bridge.''

Ryan's life and his legacy--his courage, his bravery, and his dedication to service--shall forever serve as a reminder to North Carolinians that freedom isn't free.