The District of Columbia has lost its way. Our nation’s capital city is meant to serve as an example to the rest of the country, and the rest of the world for that matter, that America is truly the greatest nation God has ever created and is indeed the “shining city upon a hill.” Thankfully, President Trump is taking swift action to restore our nation’s capital city to glory in the right ways and for the right reasons. On Monday, he signed an Executive Order declaring a crime emergency in the District of Columbia to protect public servants, citizens, and tourists, while also ensuring the safe functioning of the federal government. 

I firmly support the President’s efforts to rid this city of what he rightfully called the “filth and decay” that overtook Washington under the Biden-Harris administration. Just how bad have things become in the nation’s capital? Per the White House, here are a few points that highlight why President Trump’s work to restore law and order are sorely needed:

• Washington, D.C. has one of the highest robbery and murder rates among large U.S. cities nationwide, with a homicide rate exceeding 27 per 100,000 residents in 2024.
  
• Vehicle theft in the District is over three times the national average, at 842.4 thefts per 100,000 residents, ranking it among the most dangerous cities globally.
  
• The D.C. city government’s failure to control crime has forced the diversion of critical resources, thereby hampering the federal government’s ability to operate in an efficient manner. 
  
• Rising violence endangers federal workers, hinders recruitment and retention of essential personnel, and undermines confidence in the United States as a secure nation.

Crime and lawlessness have absolutely no place in cities across our nation – especially in the nation’s capital itself. I’m proud to join Speaker Johnson and my Republican colleagues in the House in supporting this work to clean up Washington, end the wave of crime, and restore the beauty of the greatest capital in the world. 

An Interesting Read

Recently, David Larson of the Carolina Journal wrote an insightful opinion article that makes a very good case as to how the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV) can improve its customer service, efficiency, and other important metrics. But how can this be done? By modeling the same successful customer service-oriented model used by Chick-fil-A at its brick-and-mortar locations. I think this is a novel idea that should be considered, and I encourage you to read the opinion article to see why.

To read the full opinion article in the Carolina Journal, click here.

A Piece of American History

North Carolina’s unique history as it relates to the founding of our nation is vitally important – unfortunately, many may not know of it. Our state, in fact, was the 12^th state to ratify the Constitution. But why did it take so long? Federalists and Anti-Federalists within North Carolina held differing viewpoints – and engaged in prolonged, heated debate – on if the state’s ratification of the Constitution was even necessary at the time. 

To learn more, click here.

Quote of The Week

“There can be no prosperity without law and order.”

-President Trump

 Have a blessed weekend,