Prolonged delay is the enemy of progress. As I write this, Democrats are holding the People’s House hostage. The doors have been barred, Congress has been benched, and our duty to serve the American people has been forsaken. It should never have come to this point. Speaker Pelosi, Leader Hoyer, and their rank-and-file Democrat colleagues would rather erect a partisan blockade than return the People’s House to regular order.
It seems that Democrats are averse to getting the job done to protect and uplift our country. They forget that while they sit at home, hundreds of people continue to do the work of the People’s House. Our Capitol Police come to work every day to ensure that our buildings and incoming staff remain safe. Those who continue to clean and sanitize our buildings and offices are still hard at work. Support staff continue to perform their daily functions without delay. Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats need to look to these men and women as an example of what regular order looks like.
I support Leader McCarthy’s call to establish a clear, safe, and effective plan for reopening Congress. As McCarthy said, “…conducting the business of the People’s House is the definition of ‘essential work’...”. Continuing along this path of delay is dangerous and irresponsible. It is time to return to delivering on the priorities of the American people.
National Police Week
During National Police Week, I want to commend and recognize the law enforcement officers across North Carolina’s Fifth District for the multitude of sacrifices they make in the line of duty. They keep our families protected, our communities safe, and uphold the rule of law. Though National Police Week occurs only once per year, I firmly believe that the hardworking men and women of law enforcement must be recognized for their heroism every single day. Their work does not go unnoticed by me, and we all owe them a debt of gratitude.
New Scam Update
In a shameful attempt to defraud more Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic, scammers have set their sights on church congregations. That is correct, even our places of worship are susceptible to fraudulent schemes by these bad actors. Multiple reports have surfaced in the past weeks of email accounts held by pastors and social media accounts of churches being hacked and overtaken by spammers from foreign countries.
After commandeering these different email and social media accounts, spammers would then solicit congregation members for money by directing them to buy gift cards for unverified charities and organizations that appear to represent COVID-19 relief efforts.
Trust your instincts when you receive unverified emails. If you receive a solicitation that immediately raises red flags, you can assume the content is malicious. Also, if you receive an email from someone you know and it appears to be suspicious, contact them over a different medium to confirm. These are just a few helpful tips that can keep you, your family, your friends, and your neighbors safe.
Resources From The Library of Congress
Recently, the Library of Congress unveiled a plethora of online educational resources for families and children. From weekly newsletters to interactive videos, virtual tours to online volunteer opportunities, families can now access these resources from the comfort of their own homes. Additionally, I have compiled a list on my website of the latest offerings from the Library of Congress. Simply click here, scroll to the latter part of the page, and explore what’s currently available.
Recent Events
An early morning view of Grandfather Mountain
Celebrating Charter Schools Week with a photo from when I visited Forsyth Academy in 2017
Spoke with Chris McCoy from AFP-NC on advancements in telemedicine and removing barriers in healthcare access
