Updates from Eastern North Carolina and Washington, DC

The past two weeks marked the end of a productive August District Work Period. During this time back in the district, I have enjoyed valuable conversations with constituents, small businesses, and community leaders. I also had the opportunity to visit some of our breathtaking sights on the Outer Banks and see firsthand the incredible coastal research that our state’s universities are conducting in this area. It is a pleasure to participate in meaningful policy discussions to better understand what I can do in Congress to positively impact the lives of people here in Eastern North Carolina.

Spending time in our beautiful district always energizes me. We have so much great work to do the rest of the year and I look forward to returning to Washington. As always, it is a privilege to be your voice and fight for our values in Congress.

If you would like to stay more involved and up to date with what is happening in Washington and our district, follow me on my social media linked above or here: Instagram, TwitterFacebook and YouTube.

Touring Dare Challenge Substance Abuse Centers

The mission of Dare Challenge Men’s and Women’s Substance Abuse Centers is to guide people struggling with addiction to clean and fulfilling lives through the power of the Gospel!

They are currently expanding with the construction of an additional location to accommodate more people seeking help, and recently completed a new women’s center in just 30 days.

Dustin and his extraordinary team owe their success to the blessings they have received and the continued support of the community.

Thank you for your commitment to protecting and uplifting vulnerable members of our communities. It is truly inspiring – keep up the good work!

Visit Jockey’s Ridge State Park

Jockey’s Ridge State Park in Nags Head attracts more than 1 million visitors each year.

Not only does this park offer stunning views, it is also the perfect place to enjoy unique outdoor activities such as hang gliding, kite flying, SUP and beautiful hiking trails.

If you visit, don’t forget to check out the tallest living sand dune on the east coast!

The 3rd of North Carolina Congressional District is home to an abundance of natural beauty and breathtaking state parks. I highly recommend visiting one before the end of summer!

Meeting with voters to discuss VA challenges

I have spoken to constituents about the issues they are having with ChampVA. One of their concerns is that ChampVA still uses paper and fax for their communications and does not have an online portal for communications.

In this day and age, this is absolutely unacceptable. I will be working with my DC VA staff and the Veterans Affairs Committee to push ChampVA to update their systems and provide more efficient and reliable care to our veterans and their families.

Visit to Athletico Physiotherapy

I visited Athletico Physical Therapy in Greenville to discuss strategies to improve patient outcomes and ensure that practitioners can keep their doors open. Physical therapists play a critical role in a number of ways, including injury recovery and prevention.

Access to physical therapy is critical to the quality of life for millions of Americans. I am grateful for the tour of this wonderful facility and am committed to protecting Medicare reimbursements.

Roundtable Discussion on Carteret County’s Opioid Crisis

I participated in a roundtable in Carteret County with NC leaders to discuss the devastating impact of the opioid crisis and strategies to protect our communities. I appreciate Carteret Health Care’s leadership in addressing this issue and providing a blueprint for other health care providers to replicate.

In 2023, there will be 112,000 fatal overdoses in America. This crisis is fueled by the flood of synthetic opioids into our country. China, Mexican drug cartels, and Harris’s open border kill Americans every day. Fentanyl is now the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 45, with deaths from the drug up 94 percent since 2019.

We cannot allow this to continue and must take strong action to reverse this horrible problem. We must sanction China, eliminate Mexican cartels and CLOSE THE BORDER.

In honor of Staff Sergeant Robert L. Ferris Jr.

It was my privilege to honor Sergeant Robert L. Ferris Jr., a World War II Army Air Corps pilot who recently returned from France for burial.

Sergeant Ferris was a ball turret gunner aboard a B-17 Flying Fortress. A true warrior who died in defense of freedom.

Many thanks to his wonderful niece Barbara, who accepted this EOR on his behalf.

Visit to the Coastal Studies Institute

The Coastal Studies Institute in Wanchese partners with schools across the state to provide students with hands-on opportunities to learn, research and engage with coastal issues.

By attracting students from across the country to participate in competitive programs, the institute promotes immersive learning experiences that connect students directly with the local community.

They do amazing work and play an important role in protecting our way of life here in Eastern North Carolina!

Visit Wright National Memorial

The Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills proudly highlights the important role our county has played in shaping national history. On December 17, 1903, it was here that the Wright Brothers made their groundbreaking flight, completing the first powered flight of a heavier-than-air craft.

Their passion for flying led them to the Outer Banks, where they could study the science of wind, sand, and insulation to develop safe aircraft mechanics. They relied on the support of the Outer Banks community to make their dream of flying a reality.

I appreciate this park because it celebrates and preserves the history of our district! It is a must see park if you are in the Kill Devil Hills area.