Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained and missed a vote. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 224.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today as co-chair of the Global Road Safety Caucus to mark the 7th United Nations Global Road Safety Week (May 15-21, 2023).

The number of deaths on the world's roads remains unacceptably high. Road traffic injures are a leading cause of death worldwide, with around 1.35 million people killed each year. For people aged 5-29 years, there is no greater threat to their lives.

But this is not just an issue in other countries. The National Safety Council (NSC) says deaths from motor vehicles have risen 9% since 2020 in the United States, with as many as 46,270 Americans dying in vehicle crashes last year. Also, according to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, road crash deaths are the single greatest cause of death for U.S. citizens residing or traveling abroad.

By recognizing Global Road Safety Week, we can make a difference in stemming the tide of the road crash epidemic in the United States and around the world. Ultimately, we should do everything in our power to protect the lives of all road users, and I hope to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to do that.

Mr. Speaker, please join me today in honoring the 7th United Nations Global Road Safety Week

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Private First Class Robert Levin for his exemplary military service to our Nation during World War II.

After graduating from North Carolina State College, PFC Levin was called to service after the U.S. entered World War II. He was sent to

Camp Upton in New York before being relocated to Camp Wheeler in Georgia for basic training. He applied for Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, but before a new class could begin, he was sent to Baltimore to ship out overseas to North Africa as an infantryman in the 36th Division. The division moved from North Africa to Italy where PFC Levin was wounded and taken captive by the Germans in the Battle of the Rapido River near Monte Cassino. He spent 13 months as a prisoner of war at numerous prison camps, most notably Oflag 64. Here, PFC Levin was deprived of food and dug through trash cans to survive. In January 1945, he was rescued by Soviet Russian forces and later returned home to the U.S. in April. After the war, he was discharged and returned to civilian life on account of his Adjusted Service Rating Score.

In recognition of his outstanding military service, PFC Levin was awarded a Purple Heart and the POW Medal for his time as an American in Prisoner of War Camps. As a civilian, he returned to North Carolina State to complete graduate study before moving to Danville, Virginia to pursue a career in the textile industry with Dan River Mills. In Danville, he met Carlene Hardy, his wife of 71 years. They now reside in Southern Pines, North Carolina.

On April 30, 2023, PFC Levin turned 103 years old. His incredible service and sacrifice in World War II represent the best our Nation has to offer, and we will look up to his leadership for generations to come. On behalf of North Carolina's Ninth District and our entire country, I would like to extend him my most heartfelt appreciation for his courage and leadership. I know I speak for our entire community in wishing him and his family the best going forward.

Mr. Speaker, please join me today in honoring Private First Class Robert Levin for his outstanding service and leadership during World War II.

Mr. Speaker, on Roll Call No. 201, I mistakenly voted YEA when I intended to vote NAY.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Coach Todd Maness. A beloved member of our community, Coach Maness' life was marked by his dedicated mentorship as a football coach.

Coach Maness' strong work ethic and passion for football were evident at a young age. A standout fullback and middle linebacker at North Moore High School, he made up for his lack of size with spirit and determination. He attended Wingate University to play football before he was injured in a car accident during his sophomore year that left him paralyzed from the chest down. Despite this overwhelming setback, Coach Maness took up coaching to satisfy his passion for football. He served as an assistant coach for the North Moore High School football team for over 10 years before moving to coach at the middle school and youth level where he was the head coach for the Broncos in the Sandhills Optimist youth football league. Coach Maness was also a dedicated artist. Determined to continue making art after his injury, he adopted a new painting style where he held the paintbrush in his mouth to accommodate his disability.

Having coached football in Moore County over the span of three decades, Coach Maness was known for his resiliency, positive attitude, and excellent leadership. In addition to instructing players on skills and strategy, he was praised for his commitment to teaching the importance of good character and sportsmanship as well as techniques to improve player safety. Through his strength and determination in the face of adversity, Coach Maness set an excellent example for his players and peers both on and off the field.

Sadly, Coach Maness passed away on March 28, 2023, at the age of 51. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and all who knew and loved him. Coach Maness' passion for football and commitment to teaching others represents the very best of our community. He leaves behind a remarkable legacy, and I join our entire community in gratitude as we honor his extraordinary life.

Mr. Speaker, please join me today in honoring the life and legacy of Coach Todd Maness.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Senator Jim Broyhill. Sadly, Senator Broyhill recently passed away on February 18, 2023.

After graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1950, Senator Broyhill began his career working for his family's furniture company, Broyhill Furniture Industries. He was first elected to Congress in 1962 as the representative for North Carolina's ninth congressional district, the district I am honored to represent today. He served the ninth district from 1963 to 1969. He also represented North Carolina's tenth district from 1969 to 1986 before he was appointed to represent North Carolina in the U.S. Senate in 1986. Over the course of his more than 23 years in Congress, Senator Broyhill was known for his dedicated constituent service and efforts to work across the aisle to achieve results for North Carolina and our nation. He served on the Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee, the Post Office and Civil Service Committee, and the Small Business Committee in the House of Representatives and the Armed Services Committee and the Judiciary Committee in the Senate. He rose to become the ranking Republican member on the House Interstate and Foreign Service Committee and was awarded ``Watchdog of the Treasury'' by the National Association for Small Business each year that he was in Congress. After his time as a federal legislator, Senator Broyhill remained dedicated to serving the people of North Carolina. Among his many impressive achievements, he served as the Chairman of the North Carolina Board of Economic Development and the Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Commerce.

I would like to extend my most heartfelt appreciation in recognition of Senator Broyhill as we honor his extraordinary life. Through his exceptional leadership and dedicated service to North Carolina and our nation, he set an excellent example for all in public service to emulate. Senator Broyhill was an important mentor and friend to many elected leaders in North Carolina, including myself. I am greatly appreciative of the wisdom and guidance he provided me over the years. I know I speak for our entire community in extending my condolences to Senator Broyhill's family and many friends. His legacy of service will live on forever.

Mr. Speaker, please join me today in honoring the life and legacy of Senator Jim Broyhill for his exemplary service and exceptional commitment to North Carolina and our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Southern Pines Fire Department for 125 years of exceptional service to our community.

The Southern Pines Fire Department was founded on February 13, 1898, following a devastating fire which destroyed the Central Hotel. Prior to its inception, the public was responsible for banding together with buckets of water to put out any fires. In 1916, the town bought its first chemical truck before purchasing Old Betsy, a motorized fire engine, in 1925. After many dances and community events were held to fund the department, the town purchased a new fire engine in 1935. In one of the department's most impressive accomplishments, it saved the Southland Hotel from destruction at the hands of a devastating fire in 1943 and helped all guests escape the disaster without any injuries. This heroic feat marks one of the countless acts of bravery Southern Pines firefighters have performed in the face of danger over the past 125 years. Their outstanding actions and leadership will continue to stand as an example for all first responders to emulate.

I would like to extend my most sincere gratitude and appreciation to the Southern Pines Fire Department for its dependable service and sacrifice. The admirable dedication its firefighters have long extended to protect those in our community does not go unrecognized, and I know I speak for all in our community in wishing them the best as they continue to provide life-saving assistance to those in need.

Mr. Speaker, please join me today in honoring the Southern Pines Fire Department for 125 years of exemplary service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor retired Colonel Guy Kent Troy for a lifetime of exemplary service to our nation.

After graduating from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1946, Col. Troy was commissioned as an Armor Officer and began 30 years of dedicated military service on assignment with the Constabulary Force in Germany. In some of his most impressive achievements in the military, he would go on to serve as the Advisor for Iranian Armored and Cavalry Units in Iran, the G2, Intelligence Officer with the 25th Infantry Division during the Tet Offensive in Vietnam, and the Defense Attache in Austria. Col. Troy also served in numerous other positions in Germany and the U.S. prior to retiring from the military in 1976. He then returned to his family's property in Liberty, NC, where he resides to this day, and dedicated himself to his community as a farmer after attending North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.

In addition to his distinguished military service, Col. Troy also served our nation as a world-class athlete. He was stationed at West Point in the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment after returning from Germany in 1950 to train for the 1952 Modern Pentathlon Team. This event consists of horse riding and jumping, fencing, swimming, running, and pistol shooting. His team won gold in the 1951 Pan American Games and finished fourth in the 1952 Olympics in Finland. His work ethic, determination, and success on the international stage represents the very best of our nation and serves as inspiration for all.

On March 15, 2023, Col. Troy will turn 100 years old. I would like to extend to him my most heartfelt appreciation for his indispensable service and leadership as an American soldier, athlete, and farmer over the course of his lifetime. I know I speak for our entire community in wishing him and his family the best going forward.

Mr. Speaker, please join me today in honoring retired Colonel Guy Kent Troy for his outstanding service and leadership to our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained and missed a vote. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 136.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Mrs. Bonnie Bell McGowan. A beloved member of our community, Mrs. McGowan's life was marked by her love for golf and her unwavering commitment to helping others achieve success through the game.

Shortly before she was born, Mrs. McGowan's parents began managing and operating Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club. With their home situated on Pine Needles' 18th hole, Mrs. McGowan was heavily exposed to golf in her youth and quickly developed a love for the game. She went on to play at Pinecrest High School, Rollins College, and the University of North Carolina. While travelling with her husband, Pat McGowan, on the PGA tour, she became the president of the PGA Tour Wives Association in the mid-1980s. She later returned home to Pine Needles where she helped carry on her parents' business and worked as a golf instructor. She established her own legacy by becoming the face of Pine Needles and was well known for her thorough and dedicated coaching. In 2016, she became an assistant coach for the Sandhills Community College women's golf team. As proof of her love for the game and true desire to help all succeed on the course, she did not accept pay for her efforts and instead volunteered her time coaching the college team for 6 years. Mrs. McGowan was

also active with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). She led The O'Neal School's FCA chapter for 10 years and supported the FCA Golf Ministry's initiatives in the golf industry.

Sadly, Mrs. McGowan passed away on January 12, 2023, due to complications associated with pancreatic cancer. My thoughts and prayers are with her family and all who knew and loved her. Mrs. McGowan's love for golf and commitment to teaching, supporting, and helping others represents the very best of our community. She leaves behind a remarkable legacy, and I join our entire community in gratitude as we honor her extraordinary life.

Mr. Speaker, please join me today in honoring the life and legacy of Mrs. Bonnie Bell McGowan.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained and missed a vote. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 85, and NAY on Roll Call No. 62.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained and missed a vote. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on roll call No. 41.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Sandhills Community College President Dr. John R. Dempsey for 33 years of leadership and service within our community. President Dempsey will retire at the end of the year.

President Dempsey began his career in education in 1974 as a professor and associate dean at The College of Charleston. He later served as President of Belmont Abbey College before becoming President of Sandhills Community College in 1989. His 33 year tenure is the longest at a single institution among all current community college presidents in North Carolina.

President Dempsey's robust background and skillful leadership has positively transformed Sandhills Community College to better support all in our community. His tactful fundraising improved the College's endowment from $1 million to $50 million, which currently stands as the second highest among community colleges in North Carolina. He instituted the Sandhills Promise program, which provides free tuition for two years to any student from Moore or Hoke County, and the Guarantors program, which provides financial assistance to established Sandhills students who come across unexpected financial troubles. Additionally, he further developed the College's Hoke Center satellite campus by improving its facilities and instituting the SandHoke Early College in coordination with Hoke County Schools. He has overseen numerous projects on Sandhills' main campus, including the conversion of the auditorium into the multi-venue Bradshaw Performing Arts Center. President Dempsey's work has also been crucial in ensuring that instructors at the College receive proper care. He established a hierarchical system of organization to distinguish professors and associate professors, and his colleagues have widely remarked on his commitment to and success in providing instructors with necessary resources and materials. For his outstanding service, President Dempsey has been awarded many civic honors and awards. Perhaps most impressively, he became the inaugural recipient of the United Way of Moore County's Cornerstone Award in 2004.

Such impressive accomplishments represent only a fraction of President Dempsey's impact on Sandhills Community College and our community more broadly. I would like to offer my most heartfelt appreciation to President Dempsey for his committed and impactful leadership, and I join our entire community in gratitude as we honor his extraordinary career.

Madam Speaker, please join me today in honoring Sandhills Community College President, Dr. John R. Dempsey for his career of exemplary leadership and service to his community.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor my friend and colleague Senator Richard Burr for 28 years of public service to the people of North Carolina.

After earning his bachelor's degree from Wake Forest in 1978, Senator Burr first worked as a businessman in the wholesale commercial products field. In 1995, he began his career in public service as the representative for North Carolina's Fifth Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he served on Energy and Commerce Committee, the Intelligence Committee, and the International Relations Committee. After five consecutive terms in the House, he was elected to represent North Carolina in the U.S. Senate for three consecutive terms in 2004. 2010, and 2016. Senator Burr will retire from Congress at the end of his term as the Ranking Member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pension Committee. In the Senate, he also currently serves as a senior member of the Select Committee on Intelligence and as a member of both the Committee on Finance and the Special Committee on Aging. Perhaps most impressively, he previously held the position of Chairman on the Select Committee on Intelligence.

Senator Burr is one of the most consequential senators to ever represent North Carolina. His outstanding leadership was essential in ushering through many pieces of landmark legislation, including but not limited to the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA), the Bipartisan Student Loan Certainty Act, the Stephen Beck, Jr. Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act, the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crimes Reauthorization Act, and the Great American Outdoors Act.

I would like to extend my most heartfelt appreciation to Senator Burr for his many years of dedicated service to North Carolina and our nation. Through his exceptional leadership and initiative, he has set an excellent example for all in public service to emulate. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve and represent the people of North Carolina by his side. On a personal note, since we first met at a Republican dinner in North Carolina in 1996, Senator Burr has been an inspiration, a mentor, and a friend. I am a better person and a better representative today because of his example and influence. I know I speak for our entire community in wishing he and his beloved wife, Brooke, continued success and happiness in retirement.

Madam Speaker, please join me today in honoring and congratulating Senator Richard Burr for his exemplary service and unwavering commitment to North Carolina and our Nation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Fayetteville State University Football Team for its exceptional victory in the 2022 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Conference Championship.

On Saturday, November 12, 2022, the Fayetteville State University Football Team defeated Chowan University in the CIAA Conference Championship to become conference champions for the first time in 13 years. This victory was marked by an impressive second-half comeback that resulted in a last-second, game-winning field goal and a final game score of 31-28. Having advanced to the CIAA Championship the past 5 years, Fayetteville State has demonstrated steady dominance in the conference. Although it was defeated in the previous four championship games, the team's hard work and resilience led to a well-deserved win this year. This outstanding achievement is a direct result of remarkable work ethic, discipline, and determination. These values represent the very best of our community and serve as an excellent example for all to follow.

I would like to extend my most sincere congratulations to Fayetteville State for winning its conference championship. The team's passionate commitment to their craft and dedicated leadership within our community is both admirable and inspiring. I speak for our entire community in wishing the student-athletes and coaching staff continued success.

Madam Speaker, please join me today in honoring the Fayetteville State University Football Team for its exemplary work ethic and impressive victory in the CIAA Conference Championship.