Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the talented artists of North Carolina's First Congressional District who participated in the 2025 Congressional Art Competition.

I was honored to host a ceremony recognizing over 30 dynamic and talented high school artists. I especially congratulate our first-place winner, Valerie Jacobson of Martin County, for her piece, ``The Unbothered Sister,'' inspired by her sister.

I also applaud our second- and third-place winners, Addison Rich of Nash County and Reagan Greene of Greene County.

Special thanks go to every participant for their involvement in an extremely competitive competition.

Their artwork reminded me that the future is bright and colorful in eastern North Carolina. These young artists are a true reflection of the heart and spirit of the east.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to reflect on the Meet Residents Where They Are Tour my team and I conducted during the past district work period, a meaningful journey, crisscrossing North Carolina's First Congressional District.

We connected with people who make eastern North Carolina special from classrooms to farms. At the 60th annual Haliwa-Saponi Blooming of the Dogwood Powwow, I was proud to present my bill in support of Federal recognition.

We visited schools, read to children, engaged with food bank volunteers and farmers. We spent time at the Tar River Boys and Girls Club in Rocky Mount, celebrated Barton College and Wilson Community College, and met with quilters in Warren County, as well as disaster survivors in Perquimans County. We also visited key businesses driving our economy, the United States Coast Guard in Elizabeth City, and ECSU.

Mr. Speaker, it was a remarkable experience and a powerful reminder of why we are able to serve.

Mr. Speaker, for far too long, Congress has kicked the can down the road on meaningful action on immigration reform, and there is still significant work to be done to secure our border.

Meanwhile, families in eastern North Carolina are facing dire consequences from illegal drugs and crime in communities. People back home want Congress to act.

Clearly, this isn't just an issue for border communities. It affects all of us.

With a decline in unlawful entries into our country, our attention has shifted to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Recently, I visited the ICE Detention Center servicing eastern North Carolina, followed by the Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia, where detainees from eastern North Carolina are transported. I also made a trip to Guantanamo Bay with members of the Armed Services Committee.

To be clear, we must not compromise public safety and we must adhere to the Constitution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise with a heavy heart to pay special tribute to the extraordinary contributions of Mr. Ed Morgan, who passed at 90. He was a beloved retired music teacher in Greene County.

Mr. Morgan dedicated his life to inspiring countless students, teaching them to read music and find joy in playing instruments like clarinets and horns. He would take his students' instruments to tune, maintain, and even teach them how to play.

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful for him teaching me how to play the drums.

His passion for people and his unwavering commitment to our community were evident to all who knew him.

Mr. Morgan also served our country honorably in the United States Army.

Music is woven deeply into the fabric of Greene County's history. The music coming out of our county sounds really, really good because of Mr. Morgan's influence.

I can only imagine the song he is playing now.

Mr. Speaker, I extend my heartfelt condolences to Dorothy Moye, his family, and our community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the remarkable achievement of a teacher from Wilson, North Carolina.

Mr. Jonas Almerino, a high school science teacher at Sallie B. Howard School, has been awarded the Burroughs Wellcome Fund's 2025 Career Award for STEM Teachers. The award honors outstanding educators who are committed to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

The grant will be used to set up science equipment and living labs in the school's new high school building and provide essential supplies. The award includes $175,000 over 5 years.

STEM will play a crucial role in the future of education, and Mr. Almerino is proving that North Carolina is leading the way.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the Sallie B. Howard School.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the heroes of the 4th Fighter Wing at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro, North Carolina.

Air Combat Command General Ken Wilsbach awarded 31 incredible and amazing airmen from the 4th Fighter Wing high-level decorations.

The ceremony recognized the airmen for their rapid response and performance in the largest air-to-air engagement in over 50 years.

When faced with unprecedented threats, courage and bravery surged to the forefront. Our servicemembers defended U.S. coalition partners, including Israel, embodying the true essence of service.

These airmen, receiving well-deserved decorations, surrounded by their family and friends, have rightfully earned our Nation's gratitude.

Right here is what American heroes look like, and I am so proud of each and every one of them.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life of eastern North Carolina legend Don Ensley.

As a community health educator, advocate, and environmental champion, Dr. Ensley also represented the best of eastern North Carolina.

After graduating from North Carolina Central, he served in the United States Army during Vietnam. Upon completing degrees at Michigan State and UNC-Chapel Hill, he joined East Carolina's faculty in 1977 as an associate professor in the School of Allied Health and Social Professions' Department of Community Health and became chair. He acted as the assistant vice chancellor for community engagement.

Dr. Ensley was one of the first African-American health sciences faculty. He was also the first president of the North Carolina Coastal Federation.

Above all, I am grateful for his mentorship, friendship, and the legacy he leaves us.

Besides rural health, he loved his late wife, Ramona, and spending time with friends, fish, and politics.

He would end his messages to me with ``Don'' and the initial from his last name, ``E'': ``DonE.''

Well DonE, Dr. Ensley.

I extend heartfelt condolences to his daughter who he loved so well, Akilah.

Mr. Speaker, there is an exceptional farm family in Deep Run, North Carolina. Tyndall Farms is a true reflection of the spirit of eastern North Carolina.

During a visit, the Tyndall family welcomed me with open arms, sharing their humble beginnings. They talked about how their parents started the farm with little and what life was like growing up in the Tyndall household.

We spoke about their rich heritage, biscuits cooked from scratch, and the meaning of agriculture across our region.

Jerry Tyndall, the new North Carolina Tobacco Farmer of the Year, shared his acceptance speech. He led a group prayer before leaving. Jerry's grandma is so proud.

Mr. Speaker, many families like the Tyndalls are counting on Congress. We must make good decisions so that they can continue to operate and so that they can pass on the farm one day to their sons, daughters, and grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, there is so much excitement in my home county, Greene County, North Carolina.

The Greene Central High School band received the highest marks at the North Carolina Bandmasters Association Music Performance Adjudication concert band festival. They earned a superior rating, which is the highest score. The band consists of 40 incredible students, led by an amazing band director, Mr. Andrew Howell.

Music education remains essential, not just in eastern North Carolina but across the Nation. I am so proud of the Greene Central High School band, and I thank everyone across America for joining in this exciting achievement. I look forward to hearing all the wonderful music they will make in their future.

Go Rams.

Madam Speaker, the extensive media coverage of townhalls across the country has undeniably caused a surge of interest from all counties across my congressional district.

Recognizing the challenges of traveling to each county quickly, I took decisive action by organizing a telephone townhall, which nearly 13,000 constituents attended.

Residents voiced concerns about the pressing issues highlighted in the news and concerns related to Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare. Veterans raised issues regarding availability of benefits, while farmers stressed the necessity for immediate assistance.

With a spread of 22 counties composing North Carolina's First Congressional District, my team and I must remain accessible and responsive to our constituents.

I take this responsibility to heart and am fully committed to advocating for the families of eastern North Carolina. I look forward to hosting more townhalls and sincerely thank all who participated.

Mr. Speaker, North Carolina's First Congressional District is one of the most economically distressed in the Nation. However, I have good news to share.

Recently, I was honored to join industry, State, and community leaders for the groundbreaking of a new, over $2 billion, state-of-the- art Johnson & Johnson biologics manufacturing facility in Wilson, North Carolina.

It will bring more than 500 specialized jobs paying about $109,000 a year into eastern North Carolina.

The first 10 years of operation are estimated to have an economic impact of $3 billion statewide.

Johnson & Johnson is also committed to investing in local education, STEM, workforce, and research.

The new facility will support Johnson & Johnson's plans to advance transformational medicines for cancer, immune-mediated, and neurological diseases.

The investment will have a huge and life-changing impact for our region.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the remarkable servicemembers of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro, North Carolina.

During a recent base visit, I toured the child development center, the fitness center, and the dorms.

Quality of life remains essential to readiness, along with the CATM upgrades. Aircraft maintenance remains vital, as well as addressing the challenges with delivery of parts and the supply chain.

Seymour Johnson Air Force Base plays a huge role in eastern North Carolina's economy and our national defense.

As an Air Force veteran, I am so proud to represent Seymour Johnson and Wayne County. I will not stop advocating for the base, our warfighters, and eastern North Carolina.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to highlight the Agriculture Commodities Price Enhancement Act.

Input costs for our farmers are astronomically high right now, whether it be fertilizer, seeds, or labor, not to mention the volatility of the current world food market.

On top of this, the past year was one of the worst years for farmers in North Carolina, between the impacts of drought and Hurricane Helene and other factors beyond their control.

Our farmers need some certainty that they will be able to farm next year if their crops are not bringing in enough income to provide for their families.

The Agriculture Commodities Price Enhancement Act directly addresses this by increasing reference prices for key commodities grown in eastern North Carolina and across the United States.

Madam Speaker, I rise to highlight the Promoting Precision Agriculture Act, legislation I introduced with the gentleman from Kansas, Tracey Mann.

Agriculture is our top industry in North Carolina. The bill would establish a partnership between the Federal Government and the private sector to create voluntary interconnectivity standards and prioritize the cybersecurity needs for precision agriculture technologies.

Precision agriculture includes robotics, sensors, monitors, and drones to help growers increase efficiency, potentially boosting crop yields while lowering costs for fuel, fertilizer, and other inputs.

It helps our farmers to be successful, profitable, and productive. We must ensure our growers have access to the cutting-edge precision agriculture technologies and broadband services necessary to do what they do best, and that is feed, fuel, and clothe the American people.

Mr. Speaker, with honor I stand before you to introduce Pastor Frank Rice, an extraordinary man of faith and a true pillar in our community.

Originally from West Virginia, he felt God's call on his life at the age of 13. He dedicated his youth to studying theology, and it was at Southeastern College where he met the love of his life, Genell. Together they were blessed with four wonderful children.

For 25 years, Pastor Rice has devoted his life to ministry in eastern North Carolina, including the past 12 years as the senior pastor at Mount Calvary Free Will Baptist Church and administrator of Mount Calvary Christian Academy in Hookerton, North Carolina.

However, his work doesn't stop there. Hailing from a long line of veterans, Pastor Rice has a deep commitment to our men and women in uniform, constantly reaching out to offer them God's Word.

He is also known for God and Country Day to honor the first responders: fire and rescue, EMS, law enforcement, government officials, and all branches of the military.

I am incredibly proud to call Pastor Rice a beloved member of my home community.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor I present him today. Pastor Rice's passion for God's work truly inspires me. He challenges each and every one of us to walk boldly in our faith, striving to make the world a better place through our actions and devotion to God.

Mr. Speaker, I thank him for this morning's prayer.