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Foxx urges constituents to share ideas and concerns

By Congresswoman Virginia Foxx

Every once in a while a new piece of technology comes along that holds the potential to improve my ability to connect with the many people who live in North Carolina’s Fifth Congressional District. Recent improvements have bolstered our ability to send out surveys via email or respond to inquiries through our website. We are always on the lookout for innovative ways to connect with constituents. So in late-October we tested a relatively new technology that allowed us to conduct a district-wide “telephone town hall”.

No one knew if the people of the Fifth District would call in and participate in such an event. It was a pleasant surprise to be overwhelmed with questions and callers to the Fifth District’s first-ever telephone town hall. Callers wanted to talk about issues confronting the federal government, whether that meant illegal immigration, tax policy, the War on Terror or social security. Others had more locally based concerns that dealt with education or veterans benefits.

The callers were eager to discuss these issues and more, and as a result of the huge number of calls, the town hall was extended for an extra 30 minutes. Based on the positive feedback that we received, it looks like this will be one more tool for you to use to keep me up-to-date about the most pressing issues on your minds.

A couple of things stand out from our conversation during the town hall. First, the topic of illegal immigration and its effects on the Fifth District remains the number one issue on your minds. And secondly, I was once again pleased to see how average Americans are a great source of common sense ideas.

This past summer, during the height of the debate over the Senate’s botched immigration bill, our office sent out a survey on this topic. A record number of people responded and voiced overwhelming opposition to the Senate’s immigration package. Based on the feedback from the tele-town hall, immigration is still on people’s minds. Immigration stays on our country’s radar because many of you realize that the issue has implications for national security and our long tradition of the rule of law.

Illegal immigration is a force that, if ignored, will dramatically weaken America’s national security. Porous borders and the illegal aliens who slip through them pose a danger to our security. If neighboring countries’ security standards are slack and our borders remain easily violated, we are vulnerable to importing the security problems of other nations.

This is also a matter of fundamental American principles. We are a nation of laws. A law-abiding citizenry is the fabric that keeps our system intact and thriving. But what happens when we turn a blind eye to millions who chose to flaunt our laws? When we do this, at a very primary level, we communicate that our laws are not worth keeping or enforcing if enough people choose to disregard them. In light of these realities, it’s not surprising that so many people in the Fifth District care a great deal about illegal immigration.

The comments of several people during the town hall also reinforced for me the value of your feedback. In Washington there is an “expert” around every corner waiting to confiscate your hard-earned dollars for the latest government program. But the ideas I hear from constituents often reflect a grasp of reality and of the value of a hard-earned dollar that is lost on many people inside the Washington beltway.

Please keep sending your ideas and feedback my way. You can contact our office with your comments and ideas for creating a better, more responsive government in a couple of simple ways: either call us toll-free at 866-677-8968 or send an e-mail through my website at www.foxx.house.gov. I look forward to hearing from you.