America’s commitment to innovation serves as the keystone to our enduring prosperity. That commitment, which has lasted hundreds of years, has not been weathered by time or circumstances we have faced as a country. In fact, American innovation hinges on direct involvement from both the public and private sectors – an important, symbiotic relationship that has been in the spotlight on a national and international scale. In the early part of 2020, many believed that producing an effective vaccine to eradicate Coronavirus in record time was not a foregone conclusion, but then we saw Operation Warp Speed take shape. Here we are, only months later, and we are seeing viable vaccine candidates showing promising results in clinical trials. Normal time would have been 4-25 years.

I’m particularly proud of the work and engagement efforts of both private and public sector innovators, and it really is a promising sign for the American people. I see this progress as a testament to the grit and resilience that resides within this great country, and we have truly come a long way. The Coronavirus pandemic will come to an end, and the livelihoods of the American people will be restored.

For more information the progress of vaccine trials to date, click here to view a fact sheet from Operation Warp Speed.

Bipartisan Policy Center Thanksgiving Event

Last week, I had the pleasure of joining several of my colleagues in a virtual discussion about Thanksgiving with members of the Bipartisan Policy Center. One of the topics that we spoke about was what we were most thankful for. I thank God many times a day that He has let me live in the freest country in the world. Alexander Hamilton once referred to America as the “grand experiment”, and I believe that if we are to preserve the America we know and love, we must ensure that we remain, now and forever, a beacon of freedom that shines throughout the world.

To view the full forum, click here.

Have you heard of 335 For NC?

At the latter part of summer, the 335 North Carolina Extra Credit Grant was launched with the goal of providing families with children an extra $335 check to help cover expenses related to distance-learning and childcare that arose due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Your household may be eligible for a $335 North Carolina Extra Credit Grant if you:

• Did not file a 2019 state tax return solely because your 2019 income was less than $20,000 for a married couple, $15,000 for head of household, and $10,000 for a single person

• Have lived in North Carolina for all of 2019

• And, had at least one qualifying child who was 16 years old or under in 2019

Please note, the deadline to submit a application is December 7th. For more information on the 335 For NC Extra Credit Grant, click here.

Sincerely,