Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, it is a heartfelt honor to recognize a true American hero, Irvin J. ``Buck'' Price of Tarboro, North Carolina, a World War II seaman first class.

At just 17, Buck answered our Nation's call and enlisted in the Navy. Serving courageously during D-Day aboard the USS LST-285, he witnessed the horrors of war while ferrying personnel and supplies to Omaha Beach. Despite this, he humbly states: ``I was doing my duty.''

Buck's bravery has been recognized with numerous awards, including the French Legion of Honor.

After returning home, he dedicated himself to serving our community and his church, First Baptist, where a plaza will be named in his honor.

As he has recently celebrated his 100th birthday, he is still wearing his uniform well and with pride.

Buck, we thank you with all of our hearts.

Mr. Speaker, eastern North Carolina farmers are facing a crisis. Over the past few years, our farmers have been hit by a perfect storm of drought, soaring input costs, and growing trade uncertainty. When our farmers don't have a clear backup plan or real support, then family farms and rural jobs are put at risk.

Some say: Congressman, why do you talk about farmers so much?

It is this simple. When farmers struggle, local businesses and entire communities feel the impact.

Our State's agricultural economy faces a potential $1.9 billion hit if things don't improve. That economic hit would devastate our cotton, sweet potato, peanut, corn, and soybean farmers, tobacco farmers, and pork and poultry producers.

We need bold, comprehensive action that lowers costs, expands market access, strengthens disaster recovery, addresses labor concerns, and stands up for our farm families.

Mr. Speaker, over 130,000 eastern North Carolinians depend on ACA subsidies to afford basic health coverage.

Losing coverage would put families at real risk.

These subsidies are not a handout. They are a lifeline that keeps working people insured, healthy, and able to see a doctor before a small problem becomes a huge crisis.

Without Congress, premiums are skyrocketing, forcing too many residents to choose between healthcare, rent, and groceries.

The consequences ripple throughout our communities, raising uninsured rates and driving up costs for everyone.

ACA subsidies are about stability, dignity, and the simple belief that access to healthcare should not depend on luck.

Congress must act to ensure accountability and to prevent millions of Americans from being left behind.

Mr. Speaker, in a thrilling finish, Wilson Prep claimed the 2025 North Carolina High School Athletic Association's 1A Football State championship by defeating Robbinsville 9-8.

With just 25 seconds left on the clock and down by 2 points, never having attempted a field goal all season, Ethan Nelson got the call. He got sent and successfully kicked a 28-yard field goal winning the game.

Such a remarkable victory marked the Tigers' first State championship title.

Senior quarterback and linebacker Travon Usher was the MVP pick.

Congratulations to Coach Phil Dickens and the entire Tiger football team. I thank the coach for living by Jeremiah 29:11, drawing inspiration from the Scripture he keeps in his desk and allowing me to tell his story--the Tiger story--to the American people.

Mr. Speaker, Bishop Rosie O'neal, a celebrated pastor, author, and Christian leader, after 37 years of faithful service, retired as senior pastor on December 14.

Born in Germany and adopted by Norman and Joann Standifer, she gave her life to Christ at the age of 16 at Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church, where her grandfather served as pastor. Bishop O'neal went to East Carolina University to join the choir and answer the call to ministry,

preaching her first sermon at 17 years old.

In 1989, she founded Koinonia Christian Center with just 7 members and grew it into a ministry of more than 2,500. She is recognized for her ``keep it real'' approach, and she is, without a doubt, one of eastern North Carolina's most influential faith leaders.

A cancer survivor, Bishop O'neal is married to Toiriste O'neal, Sr., and is known for her deep love of family, friends, and even riding motorcycles.

Congratulations to the O'neal family. May she keep on riding.

Mr. Speaker, we must continue to focus on strengthening our local economy and keeping the American Dream within reach for eastern North Carolina families.

Back in October 2024, Johnson & Johnson announced a $2 billion commitment to build a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility for innovative biologics in Wilson, North Carolina, a move that will create 420 good-paying jobs. Most recently, they have announced a second investment: a new drug product manufacturing facility.

In addition, Electrolux is investing $23 million to expand its production facility in Kinston, North Carolina, adding 74 new positions to the local workforce.

These announcements prove that when we prioritize economic revitalization, we can bring real opportunity back to rural communities that need it most.

Together, we are building a brighter future where families can thrive.

Mr. Speaker, James Baxter Hunt, Jr., a farm-boy who became North Carolina's longest-serving governor, died on December 18, 2025. He was 88. Governor Hunt died at home on his Wilson County farm, where he grew up and still lived with his wife of 67 years, Carolyn Joyce Leonard Hunt.

He was born in Greensboro on May 16, 1937, the son of James B. Hunt, Sr., a farmer and soil conservationist, and Elsie Brame Hunt, a beloved English teacher. He grew up on his family's dairy farm in Wilson and graduated from Rock Ridge High School. ``Jimmy'' met Carolyn as a senior in high school at a National Grange Youth Convention in Ohio. When they met, Carolyn was living on her family's cattle farm in Mingo, Iowa. Jimmy would frequently hitchhike for 36 hours to see Carolyn during his school breaks. Their courtship, marriage, and long life together was a true partnership.

Carolyn, a teacher, was equally committed to public education and public service, including volunteering at schools throughout her life and leadership in Friendship Force. Together, they finished college and graduate school in North Carolina, with his undergraduate and master's degrees at North Carolina State University and her undergraduate degree and his law degree at UNC-Chapel Hill. After law school, they lived for two years in Nepal, where Hunt worked as a Ford Foundation economic adviser. When they returned to Wilson County, Hunt was elected president of the state Young Democrats in 1968. He chaired a reform commission that opened state party leadership positions to minorities, women, and young people. He listened to all people and maintained a laser focus on getting things done, even if it meant a hundred phone calls or a thousand handshakes in one day. It could always be done.

During his campaigns, he drove to every county in the state, stopping to eat barbecue and shake more hands. He loved to enjoy good food, especially with his family. Whether it was Carolyn cooking a seafood breakfast or fish on Fridays at Papa Jack's, he was always game. His Christian faith was a central part of his life, first at Marsh Swamp Baptist Church and later at First Presbyterian Church of Wilson. In every place they lived, including Nepal, Jimmy loved singing in the church choir with his wife. Music gave him so much joy. He would always sing songs with his brother and their wives at the annual Hunt holiday gathering. Hunt had a great love for working on his family farm and having Simmental cattle, and he was also a voracious reader throughout his life. Reading multiple newspapers each day was a common practice.

While Hunt made an immeasurable impact on all North Carolinians, his dedication and love for his wife, children, grandchildren, and great, grandchildren was above all. His passion for sports was strong, specifically N.C. State athletics. He took his family to all the games he could and watched the ones he could not attend. Jimmy and Carolyn never forgot a birthday or anniversary, always marked by a call with a beautifully sung ``Happy Birthday'' song. Carolyn's birthday was always marked by a family beach trip. Jimmy loved to swim in the ocean with his children, often floating on a raft. He cared deeply for his grandchildren and was very active with all of them. He would frequently be found fishing in the pond on his farm, swimming in the pool, or playing basketball with them. No matter the activity, he made sure to teach lessons along the way on how to stand up for what is right, always reminding them that ``Hunts aren't quitters''. His unwavering support and endless love for his family is something they will never forget.

In 1972, he was elected lieutenant governor and immediately got to work to establish statewide public kindergartens, raise teacher pay and protect governors' powers from legislative intrusion. In 1976, he was elected governor for the first time; he was 38 years old. Hunt served as governor for an unprecedented four terms, totaling 16 years. Carolyn's love and dedication to supporting her husband and raising their four children allowed Hunt to dedicate so much of his life to serving the people of North Carolina. As North Carolina's First Lady, Carolyn welcomed a constant stream of schoolchildren and other visitors from the state and beyond to the Executive Mansion.

Hunt is remembered by countless North Carolinians whom he led and inspired through more than 60 years of political and public service. He led North Carolina's transformation from a poor, largely rural state of farms and factories to a fast growing magnet for research, technology, and bioscience. When he left office at the beginning of the 21st Century, the state was recognized as one of the best places in the Nation to live and do business.

Hunt loved North Carolina and its people. He believed in the limitless potential that can come from hard work, dedication, passion, and perseverance. His life was a direct representation of those values and many more. His family is eternally grateful for the countless memories, lessons, and love he poured into them.

Governor Hunt is survived by his wife Carolyn Leonard Hunt; his brother Robert Brame Hunt (Margaret); his children Rebecca Hunt-Hawley (Jimmy), James Baxter Hunt, III (Deb), Rachel Henderson Hunt (Olav), and Elizabeth Hunt Amigh (Kevin); his grandchildren Hannah Streeter Hawley, Joseph Thornton Hawley (Casey), Stephanie Hunt Toder (Charlie), James Baxter Hunt, IV, Lindsey Derrick Hunt, Katia Hunt Nilender (Declan), Jonas Hunt Nilender, Jackson Zeak Amigh, Grace Leonard Amigh, and John Ross Amigh; and great grandchildren Isaac Harrison Hawley, Banks Thornton Hawley, Emily Lynn Toder, and Alex Harold Toder.

Mr. Speaker, eastern North Carolina residents deserve access to clean drinking water and safe neighborhoods. We understand that aging water infrastructure, prone to leaks and contamination, and law enforcement agencies lacking the tools they need to be successful, directly impact the well-being of our communities.

Working with local officials, we have prioritized these issues. I am glad to share that over $5 million is being directed to eastern North Carolina communities for upgrading water infrastructure. Funds will also be used to purchase safety gear to better protect our law enforcement officers.

There is so much work to be done, and we plan to continue working with our local communities. By investing strategically in vital infrastructure and public safety, we are supporting eastern North Carolina's communities and economy for decades to come.

Mr. Speaker, our dynamic band, die-hard fans, Steve the Pirate, Pirate Marissa, and ECU brought it in Annapolis.

I am honored to recognize Coach Blake Harrell and the entire East Carolina University football team. Their remarkable back-to-back Military Bowl wins make eastern North Carolina incredibly proud.

These victories reflect the hard work, discipline, grit, resilience, and heart that define Pirate football. They represented eastern North Carolina with toughness and determination against a well-respected, well-coached, and talented Pitt football team.

Their success is a testament to teamwork, leadership, and the unshakeable belief in one another. Pirate Nation stands united in celebrating what they have accomplished and what is still ahead.

Go Pirates. Arrrgh.

Mr. Speaker, Governor James Baxter Hunt, Jr.'s story is inseparable from North Carolina's.

From humble beginnings growing up in Wilson County, North Carolina, to his historic service as our Lieutenant Governor, he was first elected as Governor at 38 years old. He served four terms as our 69th and 71st Governor.

North Carolina's longest serving Governor was a farmer and loved North Carolina State University--a die-hard fan--although he later completed law school at UNC-Chapel Hill.

Governor Hunt believed that public service should lift people up and create opportunities for everyone. His unwavering dedication to education changed the lives of countless children and families.

Through heartfelt initiatives such as Smart Start, early childhood education, teacher support, and school accountability, he helped generations of children have a stronger foundation and a brighter future.

Beyond policy and politics, Governor Hunt led with honesty, with humility, gentleness, and genuine care for others. He believed that the government, guided by fairness and compassion, could be a force of good.

His leadership modernized North Carolina's economy, strengthened its institutions, and elevated the State as a national leader in education and innovation.

Throughout decades, bridging party lines and his unmatched energy, his influence defined an era.

Governor Hunt was not only a dedicated public servant but also a mentor, inspiring many elected and appointed officials. He was my constituent who didn't mind sharing his thoughts and, above all, sharing his support and encouragement.

He was devoted to his family. His legacy of love and service lives on through his family that he cherished and those he inspired.

Governor Hunt was admired, respected, and loved deeply by the people of North Carolina. His reach went beyond our State and made America stronger. Through his leadership, our Nation saw the best of eastern North Carolina. His vision, humble leadership, and faith that came from his days at Marsh Swamp Free Will Baptist Church and later at First Presbyterian Church of Wilson, drove him.

He passed away at 88 years old on December 18 on his farm in Rock Ridge, where he grew up and lived with his beloved wife, Carolyn Joyce Leonard Hunt, for 67 years.

Our Governor and First Lady shared a deep, deep partnership built on love and friendship. He took great pride in his children's accomplishments, especially seeing his daughter Rachel follow in his footsteps as our Lieutenant Governor.

Mr. Speaker, our hearts are with Carolyn, Rebecca, Baxter, Rachel, and Elizabeth. North Carolina will miss one of its greatest public servants. His family will miss a beloved husband, brother, father, and grandfather. I will personally miss a dear friend.

Madam Speaker, Christmas has come and gone. As the ball dropped bringing in a new year, families in eastern North Carolina and across the Nation literally on New Year's Day are feeling the squeeze of rising healthcare insurance costs.

It is not a happy new year for everyone. These are hardworking families, our neighbors and friends, trying to raise kids and buy groceries, and they are small business owners.

Congress must act to extend these subsidies so hardworking families aren't left stretching out tight budgets

and forced to face skyrocketing health insurance premiums, or better yet, left without coverage all together.

We can pursue meaningful reforms. Let me say it again. We can pursue meaningful reforms without sacrificing access to affordable care, and that is exactly what the people sent us here to do.

Mr. Speaker, in 2025, we fought every day to deliver real results for eastern North Carolinians, putting working families, veterans, and rural communities first.

Our CARE Act provisions became law, strengthening healthcare for our veterans.

Our servicemembers will receive a well-earned pay raise, and millions of Federal dollars are coming to eastern North Carolina for schools, water systems, fire departments, and public safety.

After 2024 redistricting, we expanded our offices so people could get help close to home, and we will do it again.

We backed job-creating investments that meant good-paying jobs and a stronger economy.

We stood with our military, first responders, farmers, seniors, and students, securing major investments for a child development center and a combat training facility at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base.

It was a year of action and results, ensuring eastern North Carolina is never, ever forgotten.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize a century of excellence by the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated Chi Omega Chapter located in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.

The Chi Omega Chapter was chartered under the leadership of Anna Easter Brown, one of the original 16 founders of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

The chapter is home of Ruth Anderson Smith, who has served as a member over 75 years and is 103 years old. She is a Chi Omega diamond. Three Chi Omega pearls, who have served over 65 years of membership. With 12 over 50 years, who are Chi Omega Golden members.

Hundred years of mentorship, educational support, health advocacy, and a steadfast commitment to our HBCUs, and transforming lives and strengthening eastern North Carolina.

I congratulate everyone who came to celebrate this amazing celebration of 100 years, including the guest speaker, 30th International President, Dr. Glenda Baskin Glover, the Mid-Atlantic Regional Director Nadine Vargas Stewart, Charter President Davida Jones, and all the members of the Chi Omega Chapter.

Mr. Speaker, today, as part of the ``America 250'' celebrations, I honor the rich tapestry of history that is Indian Woods and Bertie County, North Carolina. As the community's residents commemorate America's Semiquincentennial, let us reflect upon 250 years of resilience, progress, and unity that have shaped the country.

Indian Woods is a community with an extraordinary history that dates back hundreds of years, predating the arrival of Europeans in North Carolina. The residents of this roughly ten-square-mile area of southern Bertie County, situated between the Roanoke River and Roquist Creek, have fought in many of our Nation's historical conflicts, including the Revolutionary War, and lived through significant eras and transformations. It is one of America's original ``melting pots'' of Native American, European, and African peoples, which today form a single enduring community.

In honor of this rich history and as part of the America 250 celebrations, the Blue Jay Recreation Center hosted the historical educational event: ``Bertie's Forgotten Black and Native Patriots of the Revolutionary War,'' on October 3 and 4, 2025. In partnership with the North Carolina Department of Cultural and Natural Resources, the Indian Woods Historical Preservation Society, the Blue Jay Recreation Center, and North Carolina Central University, the event highlighted the Revolutionary War patriots from Indian Woods and Bertie County. Thanks to the deep research of Dr. Arwin D. Smallwood on the subject, the program featured reenactments of several historical figures whose ancestral lineage included Native Americans and African ancestors: William Lowry Woods (1758 to 1847), Jacob Braveboy (1759 to 1810), and Arthur Wiggins (1761 to 1830) to name just three of the over 29 recorded from Bertie County.

For the country's birthday, let us celebrate our past achievements and recommit ourselves to the ideals of unity, resilience, and progress that have defined the Union. Together, let us continue to write the next chapter of the county's story, guided by the enduring spirit of those who came before us. I wish a happy Semiquincentennial to the Indian Woods Community and Bertie County. I look forward to another 250 years of heritage, community, and boundless possibility.

Mr. Speaker, Bishop Rosie S. O'neal is a celebrated pastor, author, and leader, known for founding Koinonia Christian Center in Greenville in 1989 and the Koinonia Fellowship of Churches and Ministries. She retired from her role as senior pastor on December 14, 2025, after 37 years to focus on mentoring, speaking, and writing, emphasizing practical, relatable faith and community outreach to pastors. As a cancer survivor, devoted biological and spiritual mother, and influential voice for Christ, she emphasizes these priorities.

Born in Germany in 1965, O'neal was adopted by Norman and Joann Standifer and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, receiving a loving, stable home. She gave her life to Christ at age 16 at Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church, where her grandfather was pastor. While attending East Carolina University, she answered the call to ministry, preaching her first sermon at 17, focusing on evangelism and outreach.

Bishop O'neal founded KCC in 1989 with seven members, growing it into a vibrant ministry of over 2,500 people, known for its ``keep it real'' approach. She also established the KFCM organization to mentor, support, and train pastors, overseeing numerous churches across states and internationally.

She is married to Toiriste Winifred O'neal, Sr. and they have two sons. She is known for her love of family, friends, and even riding motorcycles.