Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the importance of the Supreme Court's decision in Allen v. Milligan.

In ruling that the Alabama legislature used redistricting to dilute the voices of Black voters, the Supreme Court has preserved section 2 of the Voting Rights Act and helped protect the fundamental promise of our democracy, that every vote matters.

This is a major victory for voting rights, not just in Alabama, but in States across the south. My home State of North Carolina is no stranger to racial and partisan gerrymandering.

As Republican legislatures employ gerrymandering as a tool to serve their partisan interests, this ruling sends a powerful warning to all politicians to seek to roll back minority voting rights.

Mr. Speaker, I missed votes on May 31, 2023 due to two positive COVID-19 tests. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 241; YEA on Roll Call No. 242; YEA on Roll Call No. 243; and YEA on Roll Call No. 244.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to an extreme abortion ban that North Carolina Republicans passed through the general assembly after overriding Governor Cooper's veto this week.

Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade nearly a year ago, North Carolina has become a safe haven for

women seeking reproductive care across the South. As States like Georgia and Florida enacted dangerous 6-week bans, North Carolina stood as a bastion for women's reproductive freedom.

Mr. Speaker, Republicans in my State are now turning the clock back 50 years by enacting a dangerous abortion ban and restrictions on providing healthcare.

The truth is women will suffer and doctors will be penalized under this dangerous law. We will not stay silent in the face of attacks on our rights and our healthcare.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1715, the Advanced Weather Model Computing Development Act.

As all Members know, the United States has witnessed an alarming rise in severe weather events. According to NOAA, in 2020 alone, the U.S. experienced 22 disasters in which the total damages exceeded $1 billion.

North Carolina is no stranger to extreme weather. Flooding occurs an average of every 7.6 days in my home State. Hurricanes Matthew and Florence in 2016 and 2018 killed 76 people and caused a combined $21.8 billion in damages.

As climate change continues to drive the growing number of severe weather events, accurate and timely forecasts have never been more important for protecting American lives.

This bill will enable NOAA to do just that, by fostering a groundbreaking partnership with DOE that will tap DOE's computing resources and expertise to improve weather modeling.

Our bipartisan legislation with the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Miller) will enhance tools available to outstanding forecasters at the National Weather Service who dedicate their time and expertise to protecting lives, property, aviation, commerce, agriculture, and so much more.

Madam Speaker, I also thank Ranking Member Lofgren and Chairman Lucas for their leadership. I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I missed votes on April 27, 2023 due to a family medical situation.

Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 201.

Mr. Speaker, I missed votes today due to a family medical situation. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 202.

Mr. Speaker, I missed votes on April 25, 2023 due to a family medical situation. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 193 and YEA on Roll Call No. 194.

Mr. Speaker, I missed votes on April 19, 2023 due to a family medical situation. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 188 and YEA on Roll Call No. 189.

Mr. Speaker, I missed votes today due to a family medical situation. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 190, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 191, and ``nay'' on rollcall No. 192.

Mr. Speaker, I missed votes on the House floor on April 17 due to a family medical situation. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 183 and YEA on Roll Call No. 184.

Mr. Speaker, I missed votes on April 18, 2023 due to a family medical situation. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 185, NAY on Roll Call No. 186, and NAY on Roll Call No. 187.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 2023 School Librarian of the Year, Wake County's own Julie Stivers.

At the Mount Vernon Middle School, she is the librarian and has worked to create an environment where students not only learn and thrive, but also where they can express their creativity and see their identities and interests represented in literature.

Outside her library, a sign boldly reads: ``In This Library, We Don't Shush, We Roar.''

Children's socioeconomic status should not determine their opportunities to learn, which is exactly why the library holds two book fairs a year where students can choose new books at no cost.

As others have worked to ban books from schools across the country, Julie has fought against harmful proposals that will ban LGBTQ+ books in Wake County.

Julie cultivates a welcoming space to ensure her students feel at home.

Congratulations on this well-deserved achievement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Coach Jim Valvano, known to basketball fans everywhere as ``Jimmy V.''

Forty years ago this month, the beloved NC State head coach led his underdog team to the 1983 NCAA championship. Against the odds, the Wolfpack triumphed over number one seed Houston with a game-winning dunk in the final seconds.

Coach Valvano's spirit has inspired so many on and off the court. He is also remembered for his dedication to finding a cure for cancer after his own diagnosis.

While he lost his battle with the disease, Jimmy V never stopped fighting for others. Today, his legacy lives on through the V Foundation for Cancer Research.

This week, as North Carolinians are watching the ACC tournament, we are reminded of Coach Valvano's inspirational words: ``Don't give up. Don't ever give up.'' Go, Pack.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. George Debnam who, sadly, passed away last month.

Dr. Debman was a towering figure in our community, best known for delivering 10,000 babies; the most by any single physician in the history of North Carolina.

Dr. Debnam dedicated his life to providing quality healthcare, championing accessible education, and advancing social justice. It is only fitting that we honor Dr. Debman during Black History Month. He played a critical role in integrating healthcare in Raleigh while he worked at St. Agnes Hospital.

Born in Youngsville, and a longtime resident of Raleigh, Dr. Debman attended Shaw University and worked throughout his life to ensure that Shaw got the resources it needed to grow and thrive.

Today, his enduring legacy lives on through his twin daughters; both are physicians at the Debman Clinic in Southeast Raleigh.

Our community is forever indebted to Dr. Debman and his family.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Energy Cybersecurity University Leadership Act of 2023--a reintroduced version of this bill brought by myself along with Representative Carey. The House passed this bill overwhelmingly in a bipartisan fashion during the 117th Congress.

As all Members know, the United States has witnessed an alarming rise in cybersecurity threats and attacks against our energy infrastructure.

My home State of North Carolina is no exception. In May of 2021, a disastrous cyberattack on the Colonial pipeline caused the company to halt all pipeline operations, leading to panic buying of gasoline and diesel fuels across my home State. Roughly two-thirds of North Carolina's gas stations ran out of fuel, including 70 percent of gas stations in Raleigh, the largest city in my district.

Our constituents rely on dependable energy sources for their lives and their livelihoods, and we cannot afford continued exposure to these types of attacks. The Energy Cybersecurity University Leadership Act, a bipartisan bill I co-led with Congressman Carey--and I am pleased to do again--will help address this vulnerability.

Our bill will confront growing cyber threats against our country's critical energy infrastructure by making real investments in a strong and diverse workforce that is ready to meet the challenges we face. It will provide financial assistance to support graduate students studying the convergence of cybersecurity and energy infrastructure in addition to providing hands-on traineeship experience at our national laboratories and utilities. It will also expand the Department of Energy's outreach to HBCUs, minority-serving institutions, and Tribal colleges.

I represent much of the Research Triangle, home to institutions and universities that are propelling our Nation's innovation in cybersecurity and clean energy. From NC State to UNC-Charlotte to the west, to Shaw, St. Augustine's, and Wake Tech, this legislation will better equip our brilliant students and researchers in North Carolina and beyond to tackle the changing cybersecurity landscape.

I thank Ranking Member Lofgren and Chairman Lucas for their leadership in bringing forth this bill not just this session but the session before.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 302, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I yield myself the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, again, I thank Chairman Lucas for his leadership and my colleague, Congressman Carey, for his support of this. We have worked very closely together, again in the last Congress and early in this Congress, on this priority issue. This is a commonsense, bipartisan bill that will address critical vulnerabilities in our national energy infrastructure.

We need a strong workforce that is ready to protect our existing energy infrastructure and build a safe, resilient energy infrastructure of the future.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.