This week, I voted in favor of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), legislation that invests in our servicemembers, their families, and the readiness of the United States military. It is the direct responsibility of the federal government to protect the brave men and women who serve our country, and though this legislation was not perfect, I firmly believe that it addresses pertinent issues for our military. Here are a few key highlights of this legislation:

• Fully funds the President’s budget request of $740.5 billion for National Defense.

• Supports our servicemembers and their families by including a 3% pay raise.

• Allocates resources such as diagnostic equipment, testing capabilities, and personal protective equipment necessary to protect our Armed Forces during the COVID-19 crisis.

• Funds vital nuclear modernization programs, ensuring that our nuclear deterrent is safe and reliable.

• Lays the foundation for an Indo-Pacific Deterrence Initiative to deter China, modeled on the European Deterrence Initiative.

• Invests $600 million in new science and technology such as artificial intelligence, unmanned defense systems, and biotechnology, maintaining a technical edge against China and other foreign adversaries.

On Wednesday, I also voted for the Great American Outdoors Act, legislation that establishes a fund to address maintenance backlogs on federal lands and will permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund. With a $12 billion backlog of maintenance issues in national parks across the country, this legislation comes at an important time. For the Blueridge Parkway in particular, this means that over $580 million in deferred maintenance issues – almost $1 million per mile in the parkway – will finally be addressed. I’m proud to say that this legislation will go a long way in restoring the national parks that Americans love.

News From The North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles

On Wednesday, the NCDMV officially waived road tests for qualified drivers who are 18 or older. Though road tests have not been waived in their entirety, there are new requirements that eligible drivers MUST adhere to. New drivers must schedule an appointment at their local license office via the NCDMV’s online page and present all required forms during their appointment. Under the new emergency administrative rules that were enacted via Governor Cooper’s executive order, this waiver is allowed if a driver has completed previous driver training and/or a record of safe driving can be established.

For more information and to review requirements, visit the NCDMV website.

New Scam Update

Since January, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) has received over 1,700 reports of pet scams, far exceeding the 583 reports for the same period last year. Are these scams conducted in public? Are they easily discernable from regular adoption services at kennels or brick and mortar animal stores? The answer to both questions is no. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, families are now searching online for pet adoption services, and many do not realize that they are falling for an elaborate ruse. The BBB reports that exactly 25 percent of all online scams reported are related to online pet adoption, and the average amount of money people lose to pet scams is close to $700.

To avoid falling for one of these scams, the BBB has listed a few tips:

Don’t buy a pet without seeing it in person. If that isn't possible, conduct an internet search of the picture of the pet you are considering. If the same picture appears on multiple websites, its likely is a fraud. You also can search for text from ads or testimonials, to see if the seller copied it from another website.

Avoid wiring money or using a cash app or gift card. These payment methods offer no recourse and no way to get your money back if you are the victim of a fraud. Fraudsters may claim to accept credit cards, but they may steal your credit card information to use it in other scams or inform you that payment didn’t go through and request the payment via wire service or gift cards.

Research prices for the breed you are interested in adopting. If a purebred dog is advertised for free or at a deeply discounted price, and then other payment is required for services like vaccination or shipping, it could be a fraudulent offer.

Consider reaching out to a local animal shelter. Many shelters are looking for fosters to help relieve the animal's stress and reduce overcrowding at their facilities. Humane Society of the United States refers consumers to local shelters.

Recent Events

Celebrating National Ice Cream Day In 2017 at John Hall’s Speedy Chef in Elkin