{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where party = \"Republican\", state = \"NC\" and year = 2019 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2019/12/tillis-continues-to-deliver-results-for-north-carolinians-in-2019", "Tillis Continues To Deliver Results For North Carolinians In 2019", "2019-12-31", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. In 2019,SenatorThomTilliscontinued to workon behalf of North Carolinians and produced results. Tillis was successful in gettinga number ofhis prioritiescodifiedinto law, including protectingveterans and holdingVA executives accountable, securingmore than a billion dollars in federal funds to help North Caroliniansaffected by natural disasters, and reforming Department of Defense personnel policies, including improved education and health care benefits for servicemembers and their families. Additionally, Tillis led in offering solutions to problems facing North Carolina, including legislation to stop dangerous sanctuary city policies and introducing reforms to modernize and overhaul the federal disaster assistance program to bring relief to North Carolinians sooner.\r\nA look back at25 of Tillis' accomplishments and initiatives in 2019:\r\n1.Tillis Secures Another Pay Raise For Servicemembers And Numerous Provisions To Improve the Lives of N.C. Military Families\r\nAs Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel, Senator Tillis led the effort to pass an across the board 3.1% pay raise for our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines. Additionally, Senator Tillis worked to secure a number of reforms in the FY2020 NDAA to take meaningful steps to address the serious issues with the Military Housing Privatization Initiative (MHPI). Senator Tillis' Personnel Subcommittee also made efforts to address military sexual assault prevention and response, support military spouse employment, and expand health care for military members and their families.\r\n2.Tillis Secures $2.2 Billion for N.C. Military Installations\r\nSenator Tillis has used his position on the Armed Services Committee to bring back billions of dollars for North Carolina's military installations, including securing $2.2 billion for the state in a funding bill passed earlier this month.\r\nThe funding Tillis secured includes:\r\n$554 million for military construction projectsfor FY2020, including $238 million for Camp Lejeune, $240 million for Cherry Point, $96.6 million for Fort Bragg, and $11.3 million for New River.\r\n$1.183 billion for military construction for Hurricane Florence recovery, including $703 million for Camp Lejeune, $465 million for New River, and $14.2 million for Cherry Point.\r\n$461 million for Marine Corps operations and maintenance disaster funding.\r\n3.Tillis Leads Fight Against Sanctuary Cities\r\nIn 2019, Senator Tillis introduced two bills aimed at putting an end to dangerous sanctuary policies being implemented in several North Carolina counties.\r\nIn July, Tillis introduced theJustice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act, legislation that holds sanctuary jurisdictions accountable for failing to comply with lawful detainer and release notification requests made by federal authorities and jeopardizing public safety. The legislation creates a private right of civil action for the victims of sanctuary jurisdictions, allowing them to bring an action for compensatory damages against the sanctuary jurisdiction as a result of a violent crime committed by an illegal immigrant.\r\nIn October, Tillis introduced theImmigrationDetainer Enforcement Act. The bill clarifies the DHS' detainer authority, clearly establishes the authority of states and localities to maintain custody in cases in which a detainer has been issued, and incentivizes cooperation between law enforcement agencies and DHS through the reimbursement of certain detention, technology, and litigation-related costs.\r\n4.Tillis Introduces Reforms To Bring Disaster Relief To North Carolinians Sooner\r\nOver the past three years, North Carolina has been devastated by three hurricanes that have impacted thousands of families. While Senator Tillis has worked tirelessly to deliver much-needed federal assistance to North Carolina, the state was repeatedly labeled a slow-spender by the federal government, which kept funds from being distributed to local communities in a timely manner and hurt North Carolina's case to secure federal funds to go towards disaster recovery. In response, Senator Tillis introduced legislation that cuts red tape at the federal and state levels in order to bring federal disaster relief to North Carolina families and local communities sooner. Senator Tillis will continue to push for reforms to federal disaster assistance programs.\r\n5.Tillis Leads Historic Effort To Confirm President Trump's Judges\r\nA member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Tillis has played a vital role in confirming President Trump's well-qualified judges, bringing the total to more than 170 federal judges confirmed.\r\nIn 2019, Tillis played a key role in recommending and helping to confirm several North Carolina federal judges, including Judge Allison Jones Rushing of the Fourth Circuit, Judge Ken Bell of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of N.C., and Judge Richard Myers II of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of N.C., whose confirmation ended the longest federal judicial vacancy in the nation.\r\n6.Tillis Advocates on Behalf of NC to Secure More Than $160 Million in DOT Grants\r\nSenator Tillis successfully advocated on behalf of North Carolina stakeholders, helping secure six grants totalingmore than $160 million dollars, which include:\r\n \r\n$34,898,895to the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT)to make rail upgrades and improvements, add capacity, and increase fluidity of the CSX freight intermodal network from Charlotte to Wilmington.\r\n$2,000,000to the City of Wilmingtonto study realigning the current rail system around downtown instead of through downtown.\r\n$74,234,588to the City of Charlottefor the CATS Blue Line Extension.\r\n$22,500,000 to the North Carolina Department of Transportation(NCDOT) to widen 27 miles of I-95 to eight lanesbetweenLumberton and Fayetteville. This will make the area more resilient to major storms like Hurricanes Matthew and Florence by raisingtwo bridges near Lumberton, and several low-lying parts of the road susceptible to flooding. It also includes state-of-the-art flood monitoring technology in order to manage evacuation routes in real time.\r\n$15,000,000 to theCity of Greenvillefor a multimodal improvement project to enhance the city's vehicle, pedestrian, and bicycle infrastructure. The project will include roadway realignment and resurfacing, as well as the extension of an existing greenway space, construction of a multi-use path, and conversion of an abandoned rail.\r\n$13,600,000 to theTown of Mooresvillefor the construction of a new 1.7-mile roadway from I-77 to NC-115/Mecklenburg Highway. The new road will better connect Mooresville to the Lowe's Corporate Campus and the Department of Defense (DOD) Contractor Technologies.\r\n \r\n7.Tillis' Bipartisan Legion Act Signed Into Law\r\nIn July, President TrumpsignedSenator Tillis'LEGION Actinto law at the official bill signing in the Oval Office that willextendeligibility forAmerican Legion membership to honorably discharged veterans who served since World War II. Senator Tillis introduced the legislation withSenator KyrstenSinema(D-AZ). Currently, only veterans who served during periods of declared hostilities are able to join the American Legion. The bipartisanLEGION Actis supported by the American Legion and ensures the thousands of brave American veterans who fought for our country during unrecognized times of war are able to enjoy the full benefits ofmembership inthe American Legion.\r\n8.Tillis' Bipartisan Legislation Protecting Veterans From Predatory Lenders and Helping Them Achieve Homeownership Signed Into Law\r\nBipartisan legislation introduced by Senators Tillis andSinemathat safeguard veterans from predatory loan practices and helps them more easily access their earned homeowner benefits was signed into law in July.\r\nThe legislation is a continuation of Senator Tillis' bipartisan leadership in protecting veterans from predatory lenders. In 2018, Senator Tillis' Protecting Veterans from Predatory Lending wascodified into law, which ensures veterans cancontinue toeasily use their VA home loan guaranteeto refinance their mortgages and allows veteran homeownerstosave money, pay off their mortgages, and avoid falling prey to predatory lenders.\r\n9.Tillis Bills Providing Economic Relief to North Carolinians Signed into Law\r\nIn August, President Trump signed four bills Senator Tillis co-sponsored into law, which provide economic relief for small businesses, family farmers, National Guard and Reservists, and veterans in need.\r\n\r\n10.Tillis Leads Congressional Efforts to Reform U.S. Intellectual Property System\r\nIn 2019, Senator Tillis worked to re-instate the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property and has worked across the aisle to reform and modernize our patent system and promote American innovation and protect our technology from countries like China.\r\n11.Tillis Continues Fight For Justice For The Victims Of Camp Lejeune Toxic Contamination\r\nSince taking office, Senator Tillis has been an advocate for providing justice for the victims of Camp Lejeune toxic contamination, working with Senator Burr to advance bipartisan legislation. In May, Senators Tillis and Burr introduced The Janey Ensminger Act of 2019to ensure individuals with diseases scientifically linked to toxic chemical exposure at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina receive proper medical care from the Veterans Administration (VA). The bill is named for Janey Ensminger, daughter of Master Sergeant Jerry Ensminger, who was born at Camp Lejeune and died as a result of exposure to toxic chemicals.\r\n12.Anti-Robocall Legislation Co-Sponsored by Tillis Signed Into Law\r\nIn response to the onslaught of robocalls received by North Carolinians, Senator Tillis co-sponsored bipartisan legislation that was signed into law that gives regulators more time to find scammers, increases civil forfeiture penalties for those caught, promotes call authentication and blocking adoption, and brings relevant federal agencies and state attorneys general together to address impediments to criminal prosecution of robocallers who intentionally flout laws.\r\n13.Tillis Co-Sponsored Legislation to Fight Nationwide Rape Kit Backlog Signed Into Law\r\nWith 15,000 untested rape-kits in North Carolina alone, the largest backlog in the country, Senator Tillis co-sponsored bipartisan legislation that would reauthorize the Debbie Smith Act and give much-needed resources to state and local law enforcement agencies to complete forensic analysis of crime scenes and untested rape kits. President Trump signed the legislation into law this week.\r\n14.Tillis' Bipartisan Bill to Extend Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Codified Into Law\r\nSenator Tillis secured passage of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program that protects North Carolina's economy and allows major events like the 2020 RNC Convention in Charlotte and American businesses to be protected and continue to create jobs.\r\nThe Terrorism Risk Insurance Program was established in response to the scarcity of affordable insurance coverage for terrorism risk in the wake of the attacks on September 11, 2001. Since then, the program has improved the availability and affordability of terrorism risk insurance coverage in the marketplace through a public/private partnership that allows the federal government and the insurance industry to share losses in the event of a major terrorist attack. The program ensures that adequate resources are available for businesses to recover and rebuild if they are the victims of a terrorist attack. Under TRIA, all property and casualty insurers in the U.S. are required to make terrorism coverage available. Without the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program, which is scheduled to expire at the end of 2020, major building projects and other key events could be halted or delayed, causing lost jobs and economic activity.\r\n15.Tillis Co-Sponsored Legislation To Bolster U.S. Efforts to Prevent Genocide Signed Into Law\r\nAs co-chair of the Senate Human Rights Caucus, Senator Tillis has worked across the aisle to promote America's leadership role in protecting and advancing human rights. In January 2019, bipartisan legislation co-sponsored by Senator Tillisto bolster U.S. government efforts to prevent genocideand other human rights atrocities around the world was signed into law by President Trump. The legislation, named in honor of the courageous, inspiring Holocaust survivor and Nobel LaureateElieWiesel, strengthens the U.S. government'scapabilityto prevent, mitigate, and respond to genocide and other mass atrocities wherever they may occur.\r\n16.Tillis Co-Sponsored Legislation Protecting Victims of Child Abuse Signed Into Law\r\nBipartisan legislation co-sponsored by Senator Tillis to reauthorize the Victims of Child Abuse Act (VOCAA), which provides funding for Children's Advocacy Centers that serve child victims and help law enforcement hold perpetrators accountable, was signed into law by President Trump in January 2019.\r\n17.Tillis Co-Sponsored Legislation to Combat Alzheimer's Signed Into Law\r\nAs the former caregiver of a loved one with Alzheimer's Disease, Senator Tillis has worked across the aisle to support the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) goal of preventing and effectively treating Alzheimer's by 2025.\r\nBipartisan legislationco-sponsored by Senator Tillis and signed into law will for the first time create a public health infrastructure across the country to combat Alzheimer's disease and preserve brain health. TheBuilding Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Actwill apply a public health approach to reduce risk, detect early symptoms, advance care, improve data, and ultimately change the trajectory of this devastating disease. Headed by the Centers for Disease and Prevention (CDC), it will authorize $20 million annually over the next five years.\r\n18.Bipartisan Legislation Co-Introduced by Tillis to Ensure Veterans Receive Proper GI Bill Payments Signed Into Law\r\nPresident Trump signedinto law bipartisan legislation co-introduced by Senator Tillis to ensure the VA reimburses veterans for missed or underpaid GI Bill housing benefits. TheForever GI Bill Housing Payment Fulfillment Actwas introduced to address the VA's failure to fully comply with updated Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates set by the Forever GI Bill.\r\n19.Tillis & Rouzer Bill to Designate American World War II Heritage Cities, Including Wilmington, Codified Into Law\r\nSenator Tillis and Congressman Rouzer successfully pushed their bill to designate American World War II Heritage Cities to be codified into law. The Tillis-Rouzer provision directs the Secretary of Interior to annually designate at least one city in the United States as an American World War II Heritage City, into law. Wilmington, North Carolina is likely to be among the first cities to receive the honor.\r\nThe American World War IIHeritage Citydesignations are based on specific criteria, including the contributions a city made toward the efforts to secure America's victory in the European and the Pacific theaters during World War II, as well as the efforts made by cities to preserve the history of the their World War II contributions through the preservation of museums and organizations, restoration of facilities that helped with the war effort, and a city's overall recognition of World War II veterans.\r\nDuring World War II,Wilmingtonwas the home of the North Carolina Shipbuilding Company. The shipyard was created as part of the U.S. government's Emergency Shipbuilding Program. Workers built 243 ships inWilmingtonduring the five years the company operated.\r\n20.Tillis Secures More Than $30 Million in Rural Broadband Grants for North Carolina\r\nSenator Tillis continued to work with communities in North Carolina to receive USDA grants and expand rural broadband for residents.\r\nEarlier this year, Senator Tillis hosted a roundtable at Vance-Granville Community College to talk about the need for rural broadband access and find ways the federal and state government can work together to reach more North Carolinians.\r\n21.Tillis Leads Effort To Designate PFAS as a Hazardous Substance\r\nResponding to serious concerns over PFAS contamination in the Cape Fear River, Senator Tillis has led efforts to designate PFAS as a hazardous substance by the EPA. Earlier this year, Senator Tillis co-sponsored bipartisan legislation that wouldrequirethe Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) within one year of enactment to declare PFAS as hazardous substances eligible for cleanup funds under the EPA Superfund law, and also enable a requirement that polluters undertake or pay for remediation.\r\n22.Tillis Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Enforce Salary Caps on CEOs of Fannie and Freddie\r\nTo protect the tax dollars of hardworking Americans, Senator Tillis introduced bipartisan legislation to close an existing loophole that would effectively place salary caps for the CEOs of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The bill was introduced after the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Inspector General reported the FHFA has allowed compensation for executives at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to expand well beyond Congressionally-mandated limits for chief executive compensation at both institutions by separating the chief executive and president role at those agencies, transferring duties of the chief executive officer to the president, and raising the president's salary by millions. Senator Tillis' Respect the Caps Act closes this loophole.\r\n23.Tillis Introduces The Protect Act To Ensure Protections and Affordable Coverage For Americans With Pre-Existing Conditions\r\nSenator Tillis believes in patient-centered health care that delivers the choices they want, the affordability and protections they need, and the quality they deserve, which is why he introduced theProtect Act. Tillis' legislation protects Americans with pre-existing conditions, ensuring that they have the peace of mindknowingthat they and their loved ones will never be denied health care coverage or be charged more because of a pre-existing condition.\r\n24.Tillis Co-Introduces Legislation to Tackle Prescription Drug Prices\r\nTo combat rising health care costs, Senator Tillis co-introduced legislation to lower prescription drug prices, bring greater transparency to the prescription drug industry, and encourage American ingenuity in the development of new treatments and cures.\r\n25.Tillis Takes Action To Strengthen School Safety and Prevent Mass Violence\r\nIn September, Senator Tillis and a group of senators took bipartisan action to strengthen school safety for students across the country. The senators introduced theSchool Safety Clearinghouse Act,which would establish a federally-funded and housed information clearinghouse detailing best practices for school security and design.\r\nIn October, Senator Tillis and a group of his colleaguesintroducedthe Restoring, Enhancing, Strengthening, and promoting our Nation's Safety Efforts (RESPONSE) Act in an effort to reduce mass violence and make communities safer.The legislation gives new tools to law enforcement, expands resources for mental health treatment, and bolsters school safety for students and teachers through incentives and training.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walker.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/walker-honors-graham-s-michael-graves-community-hero-month", "Walker Honors Grahams Michael Graves as Community Hero of the Month", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Mark Walker", "W000819", "walker.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "GRAHAM, N.C.-U.S. Representative Mark Walker (R-N.C.) honored Alamance County's Michael Graves as the Sixth District Community Hero of the Month for December 2019.\nEach month, Rep. Walker awards a constituent, business, or organization in his district for displaying extraordinary acts of service and for making a difference in the lives around them.\nMichael Graves is the founder of Actively Changing Together (ACT), an organization that provides support services to help inmates transition out of jail.\nI had been talking with some of the inmates and working with them and trying to see what they wanted to do once they get out of jail and trying to point them and motivate them, and they wanted reading materials,\" Graves said.\nAfter recognizing that local inmates lacked books and reading material, Michael began an effort to collect books to create a library at the Alamance County jail.\nMichael Graves is a beaming example of someone that saw a need in their community and stepped up to address it, Walker said. His selfless service is changing the lives of justice-involved persons for the better. My deepest is hope is that Michael's efforts to share the gift of knowledge with the incarcerated are emulated across our state and our country.\nHe initially planned to start donating between 10-20 books a month. After his father unexpectedly passed away on July 8th of this year, he asked that books be donated for the jail in lieu of flowers. The project grew into an even bigger initiative with the help of his church, Ebenezer United Church of Christ in Burlington. Michael vividly recounts that he sent an email one night at 3:30 a.m.to his pastor about his ideas for the book collection, and his pastor exceeded his expectations; the church formed a partnership with Michael to collect books for the inmates and serves as a drop-off site for the books. One thousand books were collected in the first 30 days.\nMichael reports that the most popular literary genres among the inmates are motivational books, which helps keep their spirits up, and books that teach jobs skills: starting a business, writing a business plan, landscaping and culinary books, etc. There have been many positive testimonials from inmates about how the book collection program has benefited them as they transition from jail back into their community, such as helping them to enroll in a GED program, stay sober or reunite with their families.\nMichael's passion for the incarcerated was fostered during his time as President of the local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) from 2002-2010, and he interacted with many incarcerated individuals through the NAACP's legal redress work.\nMichael also says that his Christian faith is very instrumental in his work with the incarcerated. He specifically remembers a sign hanging in a church during his childhood that read, Enter to worship, depart to serve., which instilled in him the importance of serving others.\nMichael lives in Graham and is the owner and founder of Graves Care Centers. He would like to extend a special recognition to his parents, Mary Woods and the late Gordon Woods, his grandmother, Sadie Frances Graves, and his great-grandmother, Pearl Graves, who taught him to help people and to believe in second chances.\nMichael was presented with a certificate and a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol in his honor.\nRead more of Michael's story here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2019/12/anti-robocall-legislation-co-sponsored-by-tillis-to-be-signed-into-law", "Anti-Robocall Legislation Co-Sponsored by Tillis to be Signed Into Law", "2019-12-20", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. Yesterday,the Senate passed a modified version of bipartisan legislation co-sponsored by Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) thatgives regulators more time to find scammers, increases civil forfeiture penalties for those caught, promotes call authentication and blocking adoption, and brings relevant federal agencies and state attorneys general together to address impediments to criminal prosecution of robocallers who intentionally flout laws.\r\nSenator Tillis previouslyco-sponsoredtheTelephone Robocall Abuse CriminalEnforcement and Deterrence (TRACED) Act that passed in May. The House of Representativespasseda modified version of the bill by a vote of 417 to 3 on December 4th. It now heads to the president, who is expected to sign it into law.\r\n\"North Carolinians are sick and tired of having to deal with continuous and increasing robocalls and it is time to put an end to the unnecessary intrusion,said Senator Tillis. I have never met a single person who enjoys receiving these pestering calls,and I am proud Congress could come together on a bipartisan basis to pass this commonsense legislation and crackdown on illegal robocalls.\r\nSummary of the TRACED Act:\r\n \r\nBroadens the authority of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to levy civil penalties of up to $10,000 per call on people who intentionally flout telemarketing restrictions.\r\nExtends the window for the FCC to catch and take civil enforcement action against intentional violations to fouryears after a robocall is placed. Under current law, the FCC has only one year to do so, and theFCC has told the committeethat even a one-year longer statute of limitations for enforcement would improve enforcement against violators.\r\nBrings together the Department of Justice, FCC, Federal Trade Commission, Department of Commerce, Department of State, Department of Homeland Security, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and other relevant federal agencies, as well as state attorneys general and other non-federal entities to identify and report to Congress on improving deterrence and criminal prosecution at the federal and state level of robocall scams.\r\nRequires voice service providers to adopt call authentication technologies, enabling a telephone carrier to verify that incoming calls are legitimate before they reach consumers' phones.\r\nDirects the FCC to initiate a rulemaking to help protect subscribers from receiving unwanted calls or texts from callers.\r\nDirects the FCC to initiate a rulemaking process to protect consumers from one-ring scams.\r\nRequires the FCC to establish a working group to issue best practices to prevent hospitals from receiving illegal robocalls.\r\n \r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2019/12/tillis-co-introduces-legislation-to-tackle-prescription-drug-prices", "Tillis Co-Introduces Legislation to Tackle Prescription Drug Prices", "2019-12-20", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Measure would lower prescription drug prices while encouraging new cures and treatments for patients\r\nWASHINGTON, D.C. Yesterday, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) co-introduced legislation with Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID), Mike Enzi (R-WY), Richard Burr (R-NC), John Barrasso (R-WY), and Jim Risch (R-ID)to lower prescription drug prices, bring greater transparency to the prescription drug industry and encourage American ingenuity in the development of new treatments and cures.\r\nI've been fighting to make sure that North Carolinians have affordable health care with the choices they want and the protections they deserve, which includes having access to prescription drugs they can afford,Senator Tillis said. The Lower Costs, More Cures Act is a commonsense solution that will bring down prescription drug costs for North Carolinians while also ensuring that America continues to be the global leader in innovation and producing life-saving treatments and cures.\r\nTheLower Costs, More Cures Act, among other things, would:\r\n \r\nModernize payments for drugs delivered in the doctor's office under Medicare Part B;\r\nIncentivize lower-cost alternatives, or biosimilars;\r\nEstablish an annual out-of-pocket cap of $3,100 for Medicare Part D enrollees and allow certain patients to pay in monthly installments;\r\nPlace an out-of-pocket cap of $50 on insulin and insulin medical supplies;\r\nDecrease beneficiary cost sharing from 25 percent to 15 percent of costs before out-of-pocket cap is reached;\r\nAllow prescription drug plan sponsors to offer, at minimum, up to four Part D plans per region, spurring competition and innovation;\r\nPrevent the upcoming spike in payment for Medicare Part D beneficiaries that reach their annual maximum payment amount;\r\nProvide greater flexibility for individuals to use Health Savings Accounts to purchase over-the-counter drugs;\r\nMakes permanent the 7.5 percent adjusted gross income for the purposes of the medical expense deduction in the tax filing season;\r\nCreate a trade negotiator solely dedicated to putting American patients first in government trade negotiations related to medicines in order to prevent foreign free-loading off America's investment; and\r\nRequire drug manufacturers to provide pricing information on all direct-to-consumer advertising.\r\n \r\nRepresentative Greg Walden (R-Oregon) introduced similar legislation in the House of Representatives.That bill received bipartisan support when considered by the House of Representatives, and the Administration has called it a far better approach to lowering drug prices and discovering life-saving cures than theElijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act.\r\nFull text of the Senate bill can be foundHERE, a section-by-sectionHERE, and a two-page summaryHERE.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2019/12/tillis-tax-cuts-have-produced-positive-outcomes-for-north-carolinians", "Tillis: Tax Cuts Have Produced Positive Outcomes for North Carolinians", "2019-12-20", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. This week, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) discussed the upcoming two-year anniversary of the landmark TaxCuts and Jobs Actand the positive results it has produced for North Carolinians. The once-in-a-generation overhaul of the tax code was signed into law by President Donald Trump on December 22, 2017.\r\nWatch the videoHERE.\r\nWhen we passed the landmark Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in 2017, Speaker Pelosi immediately called it crumbs'. Just months after it passed, economic activity was moving in the right direction, the stock markets and 401Ks started growing, and more people got jobs.\r\nToday, millions of jobs have been created and those jobs are higher-paying jobs. The lowest wage earners are seeing some of the most significant growth in their paychecks. We are seeing more jobsin decades and we have record low unemployment among minorities and women. We are seeing more job opportunities and upward mobility and I don't believe it's finished.\r\nThe tax cuts we enacted when I was Speaker of the House in North Carolina had the same effect. We are seeing corporations re-locate to North Carolina and we are seeing job creation with another business announcing they are moving to our state virtually every week. That started with the tax cuts and regulatory reform we did in North Carolina when I was Speaker of the House and it has just continued to provide positive outcomes for people in North Carolina.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://mchenry.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402469", "McHenry Applauds Passage of the USMCA", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Patrick McHenry", "M001156", "mchenry.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "McHenry Applauds Passage of the USMCA \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        December 19, 2019\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      Today, Congressman Patrick McHenry (NC-10) released the following statement on House passage of H.R. 5430, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act:\"Today's passage of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement is a long overdue, bipartisan accomplishment. Here in the Tenth District, the much-needed improvements included in the USMCA will help to ensure that one of western North Carolina's most important industriestextile manufacturingis more competitive in the global market. \"I applaud President Trump for his leadership in getting this trade deal done on behalf of the American people. The USMCA is a win for American workers and businesses and I am proud to support its passage in the House.\" Click herefor a breakdown courtesy of the White House of what is included in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement and the North Carolina industries positively impacted by the trade deal.\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://budd.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=722", "U.S. Rep. Ted Budd Celebrates House Passage of the USMCA", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "budd.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Rep. Ted Budd Celebrates House Passage of the USMCA \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        December 19, 2019\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      Washington D.C.  Today, U.S. Representative Ted Budd (NC-13) released the following statement after the House passed the United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement:\r\nI'm thrilled that the USMCA has finally passed the House. This landmark trade deal will generate a whole host of benefits including growing the economy by tens of billions of dollars, supporting hundreds of thousands of American jobs, and giving farmers more access to sell their products beyond our borders. As I mentioned in my Wall Street Journal op-ed, passage of the USMCA means a lot more than politics. It gives America's farm country an opportunity to pass on their life's work to future generations.  \r\n\r\n \r\n    \r\n    Rep. Budd was a member of the USMCA Whip Team in the House and has worked to get the agreement passed for more than a year. \r\n    \r\n \r\n\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://holding.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1220", "Rep. Holding Votes to Approve USMCA", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "George Holding", "H001065", "holding.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Holding Votes to Approve USMCA \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        December 19, 2019\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      WASHINGTON -Rep. George Holding (NC-02) released the following statement after voting to approve the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement:\r\nUSMCA is a huge win for folks in North Carolina and across the nation. It will empower businesses of all sizes, across all industries, to grow and create jobs. It will supercharge the digital economy and provide our farmers and manufacturers with much-needed certainty and market access. And it will ensure American jobs are protected from outsourcing. The original agreement included robust protections for cutting-edge biologic drugs which would have ensured the rights of American innovators are protected abroad without impacting the price of drugs. Unfortunately, at the last moment, Democrats stripped these safeguards from the final agreement - effectively kneecapping the dedicated scientists, doctors, and manufacturers working around the clock to develop new cures and save more lives. Still - taken together - this is an excellent agreement and I am proud to vote for it. I want to commend Ambassador Lighthizer for his tireless work negotiating a deal that truly delivers on the promise of free, fair and reciprocal trade.\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://hudson.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=2749", "Hudson Supports Fair Trade", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Richard Hudson", "H001067", "hudson.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE \r\n\r\n\tDecember 19, 2019\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tHudson Supports Fair Trade\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  Today U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08) released the following statement after the House passed the bipartisan United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA):\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tI've seen firsthand the impact of bad trade policies in our state  including closed factories, outsourced jobs and lost opportunity,\" said Rep. Hudson. \"That's why I've continued to fight for fair trade agreements that protect American jobs and products. While it's not perfect, today's bipartisan deal modernizes policies that were written more than a quarter of a century ago and takes steps to level the playing field for American workers. \r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tHudson continued, We need to continue our work to address the unfair and destructive trading practices of countries like China, but it's my hope that this fair and commonsense trade agreement will help tear down barriers for Made-in-America products and create more opportunity and good-paying jobs here at home. \r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://hudson.house.gov/press-releases/hudson-supports-fair-trade", "Hudson Supports Fair Trade", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Richard Hudson", "H001067", "hudson.house.gov", "hudson", "https://hudson.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nDecember 19, 2019\n\nHudson Supports Fair Trade\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08) released the following statement after the House passed the bipartisan United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA):\n\n\u201cI\u2019ve seen firsthand the impact of bad trade policies in our state \u2013 including closed factories, outsourced jobs and lost opportunity,\" said Rep. Hudson. \"That\u2019s why I\u2019ve continued to fight for fair trade agreements that protect American jobs and products. While it\u2019s not perfect, today\u2019s bipartisan deal modernizes policies that were written more than a quarter of a century ago and takes steps to level the playing field for American workers.\n\nHudson continued, \u201cWe need to continue our work to address the unfair and destructive trading practices of countries like China, but it\u2019s my hope that this fair and commonsense trade agreement will help tear down barriers for Made-in-America products and create more opportunity and good-paying jobs here at home.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:45:33Z"], ["https://meadows.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3104", "Rep. Meadows Announces Retirement from Congress", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Mark Meadows", "M001187", "meadows.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Release:\r\nRep. Meadows Announces Retirement from Congress\r\n\r\nWASHINGTON, D.C.- Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC) released the following: For everything there is a season. After prayerful consideration and discussion with family, today I'm announcing that my time serving Western North Carolina in Congress will come to a close at the end of this term.\r\n\r\nThis was a decision I struggled with greatly. These last 8 years, I have been so blessed to serve the people of NC-11 and help give a voice to millions of Americans who feel Washington, DC has forgotten them. Since serving alongside President Trump, I have been a witness to historic economic prosperity, unemployment levels I only dreamed of when I took office, tax and regulatory reforms that are putting the American worker first, our Israeli embassy moved to Jerusalem, and trade deals that were once thought impossible.I have seen our law enforcement and first responders receive the support they deserve and our military once again put on a path to maintain its superiority. Through it all, I am so thankful to have been able to serve and give back to the great country I call home. \r\n\r\nMy work with President Trump and his administration is only beginning. This President has accomplished incredible results for the country in just 3 years, and I'm fully committed to staying in the fight with him and his team to build on those successes and deliver on his promises for the years to come. I've always said Congress is a temporary job, but the fight to return Washington, DC to its rightful owner, We The People, has only just begun.\r\n\r\nTo the people of Western North Carolina: it's been my honor to be your Congressman. Thank you for your trust, faith, and support. God bless you.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walker.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/walker-supports-future-act-signed-president-boosts-opportunities-hbcu", "Walker Supports FUTURE Act Signed by President, Boosts Opportunities for HBCU Students in North Carolina", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Mark Walker", "W000819", "walker.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Representative Mark Walker (R-N.C.) today released the following statement after President Donald Trump signed the Fostering Undergraduate Talent by Unlocking Resources for Education (FUTURE) Act into law:\nThis is a historic victory for the HBCUs of North Carolina and our nation. This legislation would not be law if not for the steadfast work of Representative Alma Adams and Senator Tim Scott, along with the consistent support President Trump has shown HBCUs and their students. The FUTURE Act is an example of why I came to Congress: to make a difference and promote hope and opportunity for all North Carolinians.\nOn Tuesday, Walker was in the Oval Office to celebrate the FUTURE Act passing Congress. On Saturday, he gave the 169th commencement address at Elizabeth City State University.\nThe legislation reauthorizes minority-serving institution (MSI) funding  including for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) like North Carolina A&T State University  within the Higher Education Act permanently.\nIn North Carolina, HBCUs are 16 percent of the four-year institutions but enroll 45 percent of all black undergraduates and award 43 percent of all black bachelor's degrees in the state. North Carolina's ten HBCUs generate $1.7 billion in total economic impact and 15,663 jobs for our local and regional economy.\nNationwide, HBCUs educate 300,000 students every year and contribute nearly $15 billion annually to our nation's economy. HBCUs have provided pathways of opportunity for millions of Americans, many of whom are first-generation college students and come from low-income backgrounds.\nWalker joins U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) in hosting an annual event engaging with Presidents and Chancellors from HBCUs in an event called the HBCU Fly-In. Walker also joined U.S. Representative Alma Adams (D-N.C.) in creating the first-ever paid internship program on Capitol Hill for HBCU students  the HBCU Bi-Partisan Congressional Internship Program.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walker.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/walker-votes-against-legislation-would-force-nc-taxpayers-pay", "Walker Votes Against Legislation that Would Force NC Taxpayers to Pay for Millionaire Homes in Other States", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Mark Walker", "W000819", "walker.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Representative Mark Walker (R-N.C) today released the following statement after voting against H.R. 5377, the Restoring Tax Fairness for States and Localities Act:\nI will not allow hardworking North Carolinians to subsidize mansions for millionaires in states like New York and California. Even worse  and just the day after attempting to overturn the votes of 63 million Americans  the House majority's legislation will shrink the tax base, meaning lower- and middle-income families will likely take on alarger share oftaxes to offset cuts for the wealthy. This week has made crystal clear how out of touch House Democrats really are.\nThe Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) reduced the top individual income tax rate to 37% from 39.6% through the 2025 tax year and capped the itemized deduction for state and local taxes (SALT) to a maximum of $10,000. The Restoring Tax Fairness for State and Localities Act raises the state and local tax (SALT) deduction to $20,000 for 2019 and then completely removes the cap for 2020 and 2021.\nTo offset the cost of raising this deduction, the top marginal rate, this legislation raises the top marginal rate back to 39.6% and lowers the bracket threshold.\nAccording to the Tax Foundation, the repeal of the 2017 SALT cap deductions would reduce federal revenue by hundreds of millions of dollars while primarily benefiting the top 20% of income earners and the largest tax cut benefiting the top 1% of earners.\nAmerica's manufacturers have also expressed opposition to this legislation. With many manufacturers being taxed at individual rates, this legislation would raise taxes on America's job creators and threatens to stifle the robust job growth in the manufacturing industry and beyond.\nWalker was a champion of the 2017 TCJA, which lowered individual tax rates for low- and middle-income Americans to Zero, 12%, 25%, and 35% so Americans keep more of the money they earned throughout their lives. While simplifying the tax code, this legislation supported American families, streamlined higher education benefits, and gave American workers the largest reduction in the U.S. corporate tax rate in our nation's history.\nThe full text of the legislation can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walker.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/walker-votes-historic-trade-usmca-more-jobs-north-carolina", "Walker Votes for Historic Trade  USMCA, More Jobs in North Carolina", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Mark Walker", "W000819", "walker.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Representative Mark Walker (R-N.C.) today released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 5430, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act in a 385-41 vote:\nAmerican trade impacts every North Carolina business and family. That's why we just passed USMCA today, a trade deal that will protect and expand American jobs and find new international customers for our made in North Carolina products. This historic trade deal should have been passed months ago, and the loss of that partisan drag is immeasurable; however, I am glad we have closed out the decade by passing a trade deal that will prepare our workers, farmers, and employers for a prosperous future.\nUSMCA is a mutually beneficial win for North American workers, farmers, ranchers, and businesses. The agreement creates more balanced, reciprocal trade that supports high-paying jobs for Americans and grows the North American economy.\nAccording to the Business Roundtable, nearly 400,000 jobs in North Carolina are supported by U.S. trade with Canada and Mexico.\nMore than one in five North Carolina jobs depend upon international trade.\nIn 2018, North Carolina goods exports were $32.8 billion, an increase of 31 percent from its export level in 2008. These numbers made North Carolina the 15th largest state exporter of goods in 2018.\nAccording to the House Committee on Ways and Means, USMCA will provide more than $68 billion in new national economic activity and 176,000 new American jobs.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.burr.senate.gov/press/releases/burr-tillis-deliver-major-wins-for-north-carolina-including-22-billion-for-nc-military-installations", "Burr, Tillis Deliver Major Wins for North Carolina, Including $2.2 Billion for N.C. Military Installations", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Richard Burr", "B001135", "www.burr.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.19.19\n\t\t\t Burr, Tillis Deliver Major Wins for North Carolina, Including $2.2 Billion for N.C. Military Installations \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Designates $1.6 Billion to N.C. Military Installations for Damage Caused By Hurricane Florence\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t Today, North Carolina SenatorsRichard Burr (R-NC) and Thom Tillis (R-NC)voted to pass a year-endappropriationspackagethat sends billions of dollars to North Carolina's military installations, expands health care choices for veterans, and provides security funding for the 2020 RNC Convention in Charlotte.\r\nThe package includes a number of wins for North Carolina and the country, including:\r\n \r\n$2.2 billion for North Carolina's military bases;including more than $1.1 billion for Camp Lejeune, Cherry Point and New River to recover from Hurricane Florence\r\n$8.9 billion for implementation of the VA Mission Act;\r\n$50millioninsecurity funding forthe 2020RNCConventionin Charlotte;\r\n$1.4 billion for border wall funding;\r\n$3.8 billion increase to combat opioid addition;\r\n$500 million for programs under the Violence Against Women Act;\r\n$550 million for rural broadband expansion;\r\nAdditional $1.5 billion in agricultural disaster assistance that was unspent from the Fiscal Year 2017 is being reprogrammed to help farmers impacted by 2018 and 2019 natural disasters\r\n$400 million increasefor USDAstate disaster block grants;\r\n$43 million in additional funding to help address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS);\r\nThe highest level of HBCU funding ever.\r\n \r\nAfter giving a boost to our Armed Forces with the passage of the NDAA earlier this week, Congress today approved a funding bill that delivers big wins for North Carolina,said Senator Burr.I'm proud this funding package includes my legislation providing much-needed tax relief to families and businesses still rebuilding from the devastation left by Hurricanes Florence and Michael. It also includes my provisions to improve access to life-changing medical treatments by modernizing Medicare reporting and payment requirements, increase funding for Alzheimer's and cancer research at the National Institutes of Health, and enhance our biodefense countermeasures. I applaud my Senate colleagues for supporting these important measures and I look forward to this legislation being signed into law.\r\nThis legislation is a major win for North Carolinians, especially our servicemembers, military families, and veterans,said Senator Tillis.I'm proud of the billions of dollars we secured to upgrade North Carolina's military installations and provide desperately-needed funding for Camp Lejeune to recover from the damage caused by Hurricane Florence. I'm also proud of the provisions that will improve the health care options for veterans, help secure the southern border, and combat the opioid epidemic that is impacting so many families across North Carolina.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2019/12/tillis-burr-deliver-major-wins-for-north-carolina-including-2-2-billion-for-n-c-military-installations", "Tillis & Burr Deliver Major Wins for North Carolina, Including $2.2 Billion for N.C. Military Installations", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Designates $1.6 Billion to N.C. Military Installations for Damage Caused By Hurricane Florence\r\nWASHINGTON, D.C. Today, North Carolina Senators Thom Tillis and Richard Burr voted to pass a year-endappropriationspackagethat sends billions of dollars to North Carolina's military installations, expands health care choices for veterans, and provides security funding for the 2020 RNC Convention in Charlotte.\r\nThe package includes a number of wins for North Carolina and the country, including:\r\n \r\n$2.2 billion for North Carolina's military bases;including more than $1.1 billion for Camp Lejeune, Cherry Point and New River to recover from Hurricane Florence\r\n$8.9 billion for implementation of the VA Mission Act;\r\n$50millioninsecurity funding forthe 2020RNCConventionin Charlotte;\r\n$1.4 billion for border wall funding;\r\n$3.8 billion increase to combat opioid addiction;\r\n$500 million for programs under the Violence Against Women Act;\r\n$550 million for rural broadband expansion;\r\nAdditional $1.5 billion in agricultural disaster assistance that was unspent from the Fiscal Year 2017 is being reprogrammed to help farmers impacted by 2018 and 2019 natural disasters\r\n$400 million increasefor USDAstate disaster block grants;\r\n$43 million in additional funding to help address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS);\r\nThe highest level of HBCU funding ever.\r\n \r\nThis legislation is a major win for North Carolinians, especially our servicemembers, military families, and veterans,said Senator Tillis.I'm proud of the billions of dollars we secured to upgrade North Carolina's military installations and provide desperately-needed funding for Camp Lejeune to recover from the damage caused by Hurricane Florence. I'm also proud of the provisions that will improve the health care options for veterans, help secure the southern border, and combat the opioid epidemic that is impacting so many families across North Carolina.\r\nAfter giving a boost to our Armed Forces with the passage of the NDAA earlier this week, Congress today approved a funding bill that delivers big wins for North Carolina,said Senator Burr.I'm proud this funding package includes my legislation providing much-needed tax relief to families and businesses still rebuilding from the devastation left by Hurricanes Florence and Michael. It also includes my provisions to improve access to life-changing medical treatments by modernizing Medicare reporting and payment requirements, increase funding for Alzheimer's and cancer research at the National Institutes of Health, and enhance our biodefense countermeasures. I applaud my Senate colleagues for supporting these important measures and I look forward to this legislation being signed into law.\r\nSenator Tillis previouslysecureda $1.8 billion authorization for military projects for North Carolina in the FY2020 NDAA, which passed earlier this week. This spending package appropriates the funding for these projects and an additional $461 million for disaster funding for North Carolina's military.\r\nGrand Total for North Carolina Military Installations:$2,198,316,000\r\nFY2020 Military Construction for North CarolinaInstallations - $554.183Million\r\nCamp Lejeune - $238.06 million\r\n \r\nDef-Wide Camp Lejeune SOF Marine Raider Regiment HQ - $13.4M\r\nNavy Camp Lejeune 10th Marines Himars Complex - $35.11M\r\nNavy Camp Lejeune 2nd MARDIV/2nd MLG Ops Center Replacement - $60.13M\r\nNavy Camp Lejeune 2nd Radio BN Complex, Phase 2 (Inc) - $25.65M\r\nNavy Camp Lejeune ACV-AAV Maintenance Facility Upgrades - $11.57M\r\nNavy Camp Lejeune II MEF Operations Center Replacement - $60M\r\n \r\nMCAS Cherry Point - $240.40million\r\n \r\nNavy MCAS Cherry Point Aircraft Maintenance Hangar (Inc) - $73.97M\r\nNavy MCAS Cherry Point ATC Tower & Airfield Operations - $61.34M\r\nNavy MCAS Cherry Point F-35 Training and Simulator Facility - $53.23M\r\nNavy MCAS Cherry PointFlightline Utility Modernization (Inc) - $51.86M\r\nNavy MCAS New River CH53K Cargo Loading Trainer - $11.32M\r\n \r\nMCAS New River - $11.32 million\r\n \r\nNavy MCAS New River CH53K Cargo Loading Trainer - $11.32M\r\n \r\nFort Bragg  $96.6 million\r\n \r\nDining Facility - $12.5 M\r\nSOF Assessment and Selection Training Complex  $12.1M\r\nSOF Human Platform-Force Generation Facility - $43M\r\nSOF Operations Support Building - $29M\r\n \r\nFY2020 Military Construction for Hurricane Florence Recovery - $1.183Billion\r\nCamp Lejeune -$703.09 million\r\n \r\nNavy Camp Lejeune Courthouse Bay Fire Station Replacement - $21.336M\r\nNavy Camp Lejeune Hadnot Point Fire Station Replacement - $21.931M\r\nNavy Camp Lejeune Hadnot Point Mess Hall Replacement - $66.023M\r\nNavy Camp Lejeune II MEF Simulation/Training Center Replacement - $74.487M\r\nNavy Camp Lejeune LOGCOM CSP Warehouse Replacement - $35.874M\r\nNavy Camp Lejeune LSSS Facility Replacement - $26.815M\r\nNavy Camp Lejeune MC Advisor Battalion HQS Replacement - $30.109M\r\nNavy Camp Lejeune MCCSSS Log Ops School - $179.617M\r\nNavy Camp Lejeune MCES Applied Instruction Facility Replacement - $95.599M\r\nNavy Camp Lejeune NCIS Facilities Replacement - $22.594M\r\nNavy Camp Lejeune PMO Facility Replacement - $34.718M\r\nNavy Camp Lejeune WTBN Headquarters Replacement - $18.644M\r\nDef-Wide Camp Lejeune Ambulatory Care Center (Camp Geiger) - $17.821M\r\nDef-Wide Camp Lejeune Ambulatory Care Center (Camp Johnson) - $27.492M\r\nDef-Wide Camp Lejeune MARSOC ITC Team Facility Replacement - $30M\r\n \r\nMCAS Cherry Point - $14.251million\r\n \r\nNavy MCAS Cherry Point BT11 Range Operations Center Replacement - $14.251M\r\n \r\nMCAS New River - $465.822M\r\n \r\nNavy MCAS New River C12W Aircraft Maintenance Hangar Replacement - $36.295M\r\nNavy MCAS New River Bachelor Enlisted Quarters Replacement - $62.104M\r\nNavy MCAS New River CNATT Classroom Building Replacement - $114.706M\r\nNavy MCAS New River CH53K Maintenance Hangar Replacement - $252.717M\r\n \r\nUSMC Operations and Maintenance Disaster Funding - $461 Million\r\n \r\nHurricane Florence additional FSRM - $330M\r\nOther Operations and Maintenance - $58M\r\nProcurement for replacement IT and Interim Facilities - $73M\r\n \r\n\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2019/12/tillis-introduces-bipartisan-legislation-to-reduce-burdens-placed-on-insurance-savings-and-loan-holding-companies", "Tillis Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Reduce Burdens Placed on Insurance Savings and Loan Holding Companies", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) introducedthe State Insurance Regulation Preservation Act of 2019,bipartisan legislation that would reduce burdens and provide necessary regulatory certainty for insurance savings and loan holding companies (ISLHC).\r\nThis common-sense piece of legislation reduces unnecessary portions of the compliance burden placed on ISLHCs,said Senator Tillis.By ensuring that the Federal Reserve works in tandem with other state and federal regulators, ISLHC can use their resources to better help their clients, rather than wasting them on duplicative reporting and filing requirements.\r\nThe State Insurance Regulation Preservation Act of 2019\r\n \r\nProvides needed regulatory certainty for insurance savings and loan holding companies (ISLHCs) and the policyholders they serve.\r\nAlthough states insurance agencies already provide examination and supervision of ISLHCs, the Dodd-Frank Act brought ISLHCs under the supervision of the Federal Reserve (Fed)\r\nThis practice created a regulatory framework that places ISLHCs under both state and federal regulatory oversight and can lead to duplicative or even conflicting compliance requirement.\r\nMaintains Fed's authority to examine ISLHCs and ensures that examinations are coordinated with other State and Federal authorities, reducing duplicative and potentially conflicting reviews\r\nSen Tillis and Sen Sinema support state based insurance regulation\r\n \r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2019/12/tillis-statement-on-house-impeachment-vote", "Tillis Statement on House Impeachment Vote", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "House Democrats ran this blatantly partisan impeachment process like a kangaroo court, presuming the President was guilty and shamefully denying the President and the minority basic due process rights. In spite of the lack of evidence they gathered and the facts not being on their side, they still voted to impeach the President to pander to their fringe base.\r\nWASHINGTON, D.C. Today, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) issued the following statement after the House of Representative voted to impeach President Trump:\r\nDemocrats have been trying to impeach President Trump since the moment he took office, and they have made it clear they are more interested in playing politics and further dividing our country than carrying out the business of the American people. Democrats have pushed this bitterly partisan impeachment effort instead of focusing on the issues North Carolinians actually care about like growing our economy, supporting our military, passing free and fair trade deals, and securing our border.\r\nHouse Democrats ran this blatantly partisan impeachment process like a kangaroo court, presuming the President was guilty and shamefully denying the President and the minority basic due process rights. In spite of the lack of evidence they gathered and the facts not being on their side, they still voted to impeach the President to pander to their fringe base.\r\nOnce the Senate trial begins, President Trump will finally be treated fairly and presumed innocent until proven guilty. The Democrats' attempt to use impeachment as a weapon to settle political scores will not be allowed to become the new normal.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://mchenry.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402468", "McHenry Votes Against Articles of Impeachment", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Patrick McHenry", "M001156", "mchenry.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "McHenry Votes Against Articles of Impeachment \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        December 18, 2019\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      Today, Congressman Patrick McHenry (NC-10) released the following statement on his vote againstH. Res. 755, Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors:Over the past year, we've seen our Democratic colleagues put partisanship over the American people as they've focused on undoing the results of the 2016 election and removing President Trump from office. We had our first impeachment vote just five months after he was sworn in as our President. Since then we've had seven more votes on impeachment and seen this Congress produce more subpoenas than bills signed in to law. The articles of impeachment Democrats forced through the House this evening are based on the thinnest record in modern history. They are the result of a rushed process, jammed through a mere eleven months before the next election. We could be ending the year celebrating passage of bipartisan accomplishments like USMCA or NDAA. Instead, we are taking the most divisive vote this body has seen in years. This is indeed a sad day for the House. Earlier today, McHenry delivered a speech on the House floor denouncing the articles of impeachment. Click here or on the image below to watch:\r\n\r\n    \r\n        \r\n            \r\n        \r\n    \r\n\r\n\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://holding.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1219", "Rep. Holding Votes Against Articles of Impeachment", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "George Holding", "H001065", "holding.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Holding Votes Against Articles of Impeachment \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        December 18, 2019\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      WASHINGTON -Rep. George Holding (NC-02) released the following statement prior to voting on the articles of impeachment against President Trump:\r\nMonths of investigations have failed to produce any clear, compelling, and unambiguous evidence of impeachable high crimes or misdemeanors.\r\n The Articles of Impeachment before the House tonight are based on theory, hearsay, and conjecture. I will be voting against them. The best place for the Democrats to express their disapproval of the President is the ballot box. In the meantime, Congress needs to stop playing games and get back to work.\"\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://hudson.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=2746", "Hudson Votes Against Impeaching President Trump", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Richard Hudson", "H001067", "hudson.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE \r\n\r\n\tDecember 18, 2019\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tHudson Votes Against Impeaching President Trump\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tWASHINGTON, D.C. Today U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08) released the following statement after voting against partisan articles of impeachment against President Donald J. Trump:\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tOur Founding Fathers warned of the impeachment process being abused for partisan purposes. In Federalist Papers No. 65, Alexander Hamilton warned, there will always be the greatest danger that the decision will be regulated more by the comparative strength of parties, than by the real demonstration of innocence or guilt,' said Rep. Hudson.Washington Democrats just passed two articles of impeachment with zero evidence President Donald Trump committed a crime or an impeachable offense.\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tHudson continued, I'm incredibly disappointed Hamilton's fears have come true  this partisan impeachment has been motivated by politics with zero evidence, facts, fairness or due process. It has been a sham from the start, and the American people are sick and tired of it. This is a dark time in America's history if the new standard for impeaching a president is simply disagreeing with him or her politically.\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tThis partisan impeachment process has been motivated by politics with zero evidence, facts, fairness or due process. The case against President Trump is demolished by four facts:\r\n \r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\tThe call transcript shows no conditionality\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\tPresident Trump and President Zelensky say there was no pressure\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\tUkrainians were not aware the aid was withheld\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\tUkraine got the aid without doing anything to get it\r\n\t\r\n \r\n\r\n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://hudson.house.gov/press-releases/hudson-votes-against-impeaching-president-trump", "Hudson Votes Against Impeaching President Trump", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Richard Hudson", "H001067", "hudson.house.gov", "hudson", "https://hudson.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nDecember 18, 2019\n\nHudson Votes Against Impeaching President Trump\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08) released the following statement after voting against partisan articles of impeachment against President Donald J. Trump:\n\n\u201cOur Founding Fathers warned of the impeachment process being abused for partisan purposes. In Federalist Papers No. 65, Alexander Hamilton warned, \u2018there will always be the greatest danger that the decision will be regulated more by the comparative strength of parties, than by the real demonstration of innocence or guilt,\u2019\u201d said Rep. Hudson.\u201cWashington Democrats just passed two articles of impeachment with zero evidence President Donald Trump committed a crime or an impeachable offense.\u201d\n\nHudson continued, \u201cI\u2019m incredibly disappointed Hamilton\u2019s fears have come true \u2013 this partisan impeachment has been motivated by politics with zero evidence, facts, fairness or due process. It has been a sham from the start, and the American people are sick and tired of it. This is a dark time in America\u2019s history if the new standard for impeaching a president is simply disagreeing with him or her politically.\u201d\n\nThis partisan impeachment process has been motivated by politics with zero evidence, facts, fairness or due process. The case against President Trump is demolished by four facts:\n\nThe call transcript shows no conditionality\n\nPresident Trump and President Zelensky say there was no pressure\n\nUkrainians were not aware the aid was withheld\n\nUkraine got the aid without doing anything to get it", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:45:33Z"], ["https://rouzer.house.gov/press-releases?ID=CF93AA82-1486-4472-8A62-901DFD9DC17F", "Rouzer Lays Out Case Against Impeachment Sham", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "David Rouzer", "R000603", "rouzer.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Facebook Icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tGoogle Plus Icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tInstagram Icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tLinkedIn Icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tTwitter Icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tYouTube Icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tVimeo Icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tClients Icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tEmail icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tMap Icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tPrint Icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tQuote Icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\ticon_share\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tCarousel Arrow - Left\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tCarousel Arrow - Right\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\tHome\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\tNews\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\tPress Releases\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t Print", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walker.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/walker-calls-out-sham-impeachment-house-floor-ahead-vote", "Walker Calls Out Sham Impeachment on House Floor Ahead of Vote", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Mark Walker", "W000819", "walker.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Representative Mark Walker (R-N.C.) delivered a passionate floor speech ahead of the U.S. House of Representative's impeachment vote.\nWatch the speech here and read it in its entirety below:\nWhen emotions supersede the facts, the conclusion is cataclysmic. Today, we are wrapping up not a three-month process, but rather a three-year process with Democrats disdain so much that it has led to the abuse of this very House. These are the same Democrats who promised they saw evidence of Russian collusion. Do the American people trust them? Hell no, they don't. A growing number of American people have condemned this impeachment process and that's with House Democrats setting the rules and then even bending and breaking the rules to fit their narrative. The majority of Americans see this circus for what it is. I wonder how many more will join them.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walker.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/walker-impeachment-vote-roll-over-james-madison", "Walker on Impeachment Vote: Roll Over James Madison", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Mark Walker", "W000819", "walker.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. -U.S. Representative Mark Walker (R-N.C.) today released the following statement after House Democrats voted to impeach President Donald Trump: Congress just impeached an American president on charges from a whistleblower we've never seen. Roll over James Madison. Walker delivered a passionate floor speech ahead of the U.S. House of Representatives' impeachment vote. Watch ithere. Earlier this month, Walker introduced a resolution with U.S. Representative Jason Smith (R-Mo.) to urge the U.S. Senate to change its rules to require any U.S. Senators running for President to recuse themselves from an impeachment trial. Every Senate Democrat who filed for President should recuse themselves from impeachment proceedings; they have devoted themselves to replacing Donald Trump at the ballot box and are incapable of rendering an impartial verdict in an impeachment trial,Walker said. Read more about the resolutionhere.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2019/12/tillis-applauds-sec-proposal-to-update-accredited-investor-definition-to-increase-access-to-investments", "Tillis Applauds SEC Proposal to Update Accredited Investor Definition to Increase Access to Investments", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Tillis has led Congressional efforts to amend the definition\r\nWASHINGTON, D.C. Today, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) applauded the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) voting to propose amendments to the definition of an accredited investor, one of the principal tests for who is eligible to participate in our private capital markets. The proposal seeks to update and improve the definition to more effectively identify institutional and individual investors that have the knowledge and expertise to participate in our private capital markets.\r\nSenator Tillis has led Congressional efforts to amend the definition of accredited investor to expand the number of Americans who are allowed to invest in our nation's small businesses. Last year, Senator Tillisintroducedbipartisan legislation to expand the definition of accredited investor to include individuals who have relevant education, professional expertise, and other credentials to invest in private offerings.\r\nThe SEC'sdecision to update the definition of accredited investor to include individuals with relevant expertise is a win for the American people,said Senator Tillis.Removing this bureaucratic red-tape and allowing companies to receive financing by people with the appropriate expertise will allow small and emerging companies to continue to grow and produce jobs.\r\nThe proposed amendments would allow more investors to participate in private offerings by adding new categories of natural persons that may qualify as accredited investors based on their professional knowledge, experience, or certifications. The proposal would also expand the list of entities that may qualify as accredited investors by, among other things, allowing any entity that meets an investments test to qualify.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2019/12/tillis-co-sponsored-legislation-to-fight-nationwide-rape-kit-backlog-passes-senate", "Tillis Co-Sponsored Legislation to Fight Nationwide Rape Kit Backlog Passes Senate", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. Yesterday, the Senate passed bipartisan legislation co-sponsored by Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) that would reauthorize the Debbie Smith Act and give much-needed resources to state and local law enforcement agencies to complete forensic analysis of crime scenes and untested rape kits.\r\nIn North Carolina alone, there are 15,000 untested rape kits,said Senator Tillis. Victims of this heinous crime deserve justice and we should be doing everything we can to put the perpetrators behind bars. I am proud this legislation unanimously passed the Senate and I hope it gets signed into law soon.\r\nThe Debbie Smith Crime Victims Protection Act reauthorizes the Debbie Smith Act to continue the testing of DNA evidence, including rape kits, from unsolved crimes nationwide, DNA training and education for law enforcement, correctional personnel, and court officers, and the Sexual Assault Forensic Exam Program, which supports forensic nurse training throughout the country.\r\nBackground on the Debbie Smith Act:\r\nThe Debbie Smith Act was originally signed into law in 2004 to provide local and state crime laboratories resources to end the backlog of untested DNA evidence from unsolved crimes, analyze DNA samples, and increase the capacity to process DNA in order to guard against future backlogs. Since it became law, more than 641,000 DNA cases have been processed. In addition to crime scene evidence, Debbie Smith funds are also utilized to process offender DNA samples to ensure evidence from unsolved crimes can be matched against a database of known offenders, similar to the criminal fingerprint databases.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://budd.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=721", "U.S. Rep. Ted Budd to Vote No on Omnibus Spending Bills", "2019-12-17", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "budd.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Rep. Ted Budd to Vote No on Omnibus Spending Bills \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        December 17, 2019\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      Washington D.C.  Today, U.S. Representative Ted Budd (NC-13) released the following statement after he voted against the year-end omnibus spending bills:\r\nI am not going to vote for a spending deal that continues our country's reckless fiscal habits into 2020. At some point we have to get control of the deficits we're running and the debt we're going to have to hand off to our kids and grandkids.\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://foxx.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=399790", "Foxx-Gomez GREAT Act Sent to White House for Signature", "2019-12-17", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Virginia Foxx", "F000450", "foxx.house.gov", "foxx", "https://foxx.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Yesterday, the House of Representatives unanimously passed a Senate-amended update to H.R. 150, the Grant Reporting Efficiency and Agreements Transparency (GREAT) Act. Sponsored by Rep. Virginia Foxx (R \u2013 N.C.) and Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D \u2013 Los Angeles), the GREAT Act will streamline the federal grant reporting process by mandating the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to develop a standardized, government-wide reporting system for federal grant recipients. By replacing outdated, disconnected grant documents with searchable open data, the GREAT Act will increase transparency from grantmaking agencies, reduce compliance costs for grant recipients, and improve congressional oversight of grants awarded by the executive branch.\n\n\u201cAs a former researcher, librarian and college president, I have been grant-writing for all of my professional life,\u201d said Rep. Virginia Foxx. \u201cIt\u2019s hard to believe that the same challenges I faced at the beginning of my career are the same ones faced by federal grant recipients today. The grant reporting process is riddled with antiquated reporting methods that hinder efficiency for grant recipients and transparency for taxpayers. Now that the bill has been sent to President Trump\u2019s desk, the GREAT Act will bring federal grant reporting into the 21st century with searchable documents and open data.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe federal government spends an enormous part of its yearly budget \u2014 over $600 billion \u2014 on grants issued to state and local governments, agencies, small-businesses, and non-profit organizations,\u201d said Rep. Jimmy Gomez. \u201cThese federal dollars touch almost every aspect of American society, highlighting the need to streamline the grant reporting process and make it as transparent as possible to the public. By leveraging technology, the GREAT Act will make the grant reporting process more equitable, efficient, and accessible. I\u2019m proud to have worked across the aisle with Rep. Virginia Foxx to make government work better for the people.\u201d\n\nThe GREAT Act first passed the House this Congress on January 17th and was subsequently amended and passed by unanimous consent in the U.S. Senate on October 21st. Monday\u2019s passage in the House sends the final text of the bill to President Trump\u2019s desk for his signature.\n\nSupporters of the GREAT Act include:\n\nBipartisan Policy Center Action (BPC Action)\n\nAmerican Association of Law Libraries (AALL)\n\nAmerican Library Association (ALA)\n\nAssociation of Government Accountants (AGA)\n\nAssociation of Research Libraries (ARL)\n\nData Coalition\n\nDemand Progress\n\nGovernment Accountability Project (GAP)\n\nGovernment Information Watch\n\nGrant Professionals Association (GPA)\n\nNational Grants Management Association (NGMA)\n\nNational Taxpayers Union (NTU)\n\nNative American Finance Officers Association (NAFOA)\n\nProject On Government Oversight (POGO)\n\nR Street Institute, Senior Executives Association (SEA)\n\nScholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC)\n\n###\n\nU.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx represents North Carolina\u2019s 5th Congressional District and is the Senior Republican of the House Committee on Education and Labor.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:45:33Z"], ["https://meadows.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3102", "Rep. Meadows Introduces Bill to Provide Funds for PTSD Prevention", "2019-12-17", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Mark Meadows", "M001187", "meadows.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "RELEASE:\r\nRep. Meadows Introduces Bill to Provide Funds for PTSD Prevention\r\nWashington, D.C. On Wednesday, Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC) introduced H.R. 5440, the Remembering the Life of Kyle Poteat Act, to improve quality and access to PTSD prevention services for America's veterans.\r\nThe bill provides financial assistance to organizations to help provide and coordinate preventative services to veterans at risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Covered services include outreach to identify veterans at risk of PTSD, baseline mental health assessments, screening, care referral, PSTD education and peer support to families and communities. This bill provides critical support for families of veterans by authorizing the Veteran Affairs Family Caregiver program to act in a consultation role to families to share information about the rights, responsibilities, benefits, services, and treatment being received by a veteran with their family.\r\nRep. Meadows' bill honors the life and sacrifice of Kyle Poteata veteran who tragically committee suicide after suffering with PTSD.\r\nMeadows released the following statement on the bill:\r\nThe tremendous sacrifice of Kyle Poteat in service to our country will not be forgotten. To honor him and his family, we must do all we can to support the individuals and families who suffer due to post-traumatic stress disorder. This bill seeks to accomplish that by allocating tools and resources needed by the Department of Veterans Affairs to best serve veterans and their family members in communities in Western North Carolina and across the nation.\r\nTo read more about the bill, click here.\r\nIf you, a loved one, or someone you know suffers from PTSD, help is available. Please reach out to your local VA or the National Center for PTSD or call: 1-800-273-8255.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walker.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/two-walker-bills-help-churches-and-charities-promote-educational-freedom", "Two Walker Bills to Help Churches and Charities Promote Educational Freedom Pass the House", "2019-12-17", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Mark Walker", "W000819", "walker.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Representative Mark Walker (R-N.C.) today released the following statement after provisions and initiatives from the Lessening Impediments From Taxes (LIFT) for Charities Act and the Scholarships for Opportunity and Results (SOAR) Act were included in the end-of-year government funding packages:\nIncluding these provisions and initiatives will help break the cycle of poverty in North Carolina and across the rest of the country. Churches, charities, and schools are better equipped to empower Americans and pave the way for future prosperity. These provisions will improve school choice and increase graduation rates, while also ensuring that the critical work of churches and charities is not restricted by burdensome taxes and fees.\nThe LIFT for Charities Act would eliminate a measure that requires churches, charities, and traditionally tax-exempt organizations to pay federal taxes on provided employee benefits. Without the inclusion of this legislation, employee benefits such as parking spots, provided meals, and transportation could be subject to taxation and strenuous compliance processes.\nWalker has championed the SOAR Act, which would reauthorize funding for D.C. public schools, charter schools, and the Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP) for five years. This program has proven successful in the past, serving more than 10,000 low-income students in the District of Columbia and allowing them to attend any private school of their families' choosing. The current funding package would reauthorize this program through 2023.\nThis legislation and the accompanying rule passed the House in a 297-120vote. You can read the full text here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walker.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/walker-highlights-student-athlete-equity-act-ahead-his-ncaa-event-aspen", "Walker Highlights Student-Athlete Equity Act Ahead of His NCAA Event at the Aspen Institute", "2019-12-17", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Mark Walker", "W000819", "walker.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Representative Mark Walker (R-N.C.) released the following statement on the National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA) Senate working group meeting and his taking part in the Aspen Institute's Future of College Sports: Government's Role in Athlete Pay event this afternoon:\nIt's an ignominious start to the Senate working group when their first meeting is with the chief apologist for an exploitative system and not with the student-athletes that are being exploited. The inequity and injustices in the current NCAA model need to end quickly. That won't happen by ceding power to the person who has blocked progress for decades. My friend Representative Cedric Richmond and I have the only viable legislation introduced in Congress, the Student-Athlete Equity Act, to end the NCAA's moratorium on player's rights to their name, image, and self-worth.\nIn March, Walker introduced the Student-Athlete Equity Act bi-partisan legislation that would amend the definition of a qualified amateur sports organization in the tax code to remove the restriction on student-athletes using or being compensated for use of their name, image and likeness  forcing the NCAA to change its current model.\nSince then, the issue has been thrust into the national spotlight as California passed similar legislation, the Fair Pay to Play Act.\nIn October, Walker hosted a roundtable discussion with ESPN analyst and former college basketball player Jay Bilas, former NFL and NCAA athletes, U.S. Representative Cedric Richmond (D-La.), U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-Utah), U.S. Representative John Yarmuth (D-Ky.), and thought leaders in student-athletes rights.\nRead the full text of the Student-Athlete Equity Act here.\nMore information on the Aspen event here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walker.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/walker-supports-job-protections-veterans-and-north-carolinians", "Walker Supports Job Protections for Veterans and North Carolinians with Disabilities", "2019-12-17", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Mark Walker", "W000819", "walker.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Representative Mark Walker (R-N.C.) released the following statement after the House passed the Department of Veterans Affairs Contracting Preference Consistency Act: We are thankful for the passageof the Department of Veterans Affairs Contracting Preference Consistency Act. The bi-partisan legislation keeps North Carolinians employed, restores VA contracts for IFB Solutions and National Industries for the Blind and protects jobs for people who are blind and veterans employed by AbilityOne agencies. This summer, we saw firsthand at Industries of the Blind Greensboro just how valuable these partnerships are. We are grateful that they will continue. With strong advocacy from nonprofits like IFB, organizations like the Blind Veterans Association and the National Federation for the Blind, and legislative leaders such as U.S. Representative Virginia Foxx and U.S. Representative Mark Walker, I'm very hopeful that the thousands of people like me and Scott Smith who are blind or have other significant disabilities will soon have the employment opportunities Congress intended when it created the AbilityOne program in 1938, IFB Executive Vice President of Strategy and Programs Dan Kelly said. This legislation grandfathers in VA contracts that predate the Veterans Benefits Act of 2006 to restore eligibility for nonprofits who create jobs for veterans and people who are disabled. According to the Republican Study Committee, under the law enacted in 2006, the VA gives contracting preference through its Veterans First program to veteran-owned small businesses, including veterans with disabilities, when it awards contracts for goods and services. The AbilityOne program requires federal agencies to give contracting preference for the provision of certain goods and services to nonprofits employing blind and disabled individuals. The requirements of these contract preferences conflict. This bill would rectify the conflict by requiring the VA to give preference to the AbilityOne program in instances where it is procuring items that were covered by the AbilityOne program prior to the enactment of the 2006 veteran preference law. You can read the full text of the legislation here. Earlier this year, Walker was named an AbilityOne Champion, which is an elected federal policymaker who has demonstrated support for the AbilityOne Program and for related community-based nonprofit agencies in his or her district or state through congressional actions while supporting the enhancement of opportunities for economic and personal independence of persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.burr.senate.gov/press/releases/burr-warner-praise-house-and-senate-passage-of-three-year-intel-authorization-act", "Burr, Warner Praise House and Senate Passage of Three-Year Intel Authorization Act", "2019-12-17", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Richard Burr", "B001135", "www.burr.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.17.19\n\t\t\t Burr, Warner Praise House and Senate Passage of Three-Year Intel Authorization Act \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Included in Defense Spending Bill, IAA Heads to the President's Desk to be Signed into Law\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t Today, on a 86-8 vote, the Senate passed the bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2020, which included the Damon Paul Nelson and Matthew Young Pollard Intelligence Authorization Act (IAA) for Fiscal Years 2018, 2019, and 2020. The legislation was passed last week by the House.\r\nSenate Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Richard Burr (R-NC) and Vice Chairman Mark Warner (D-VA) released the following statements on the bill's passage by Congress:\r\nThe men and women of our Intelligence Community work tirelessly to keep our nation safe by naming the threats we face today and preparing for those we may face tomorrow, said Chairman Burr. This legislation, which passed the Senate Intelligence Committee unanimously and cleared the House and Senate with overwhelming bipartisan majorities, is a significant investment in America's vital interests and national security. It is also an investment in the people who are essential for achieving our strategic goals. The Intelligence Authorization Act deters foreign threats, secures our elections, builds a strong intelligence workforce, and ensures proper Congressional oversight. I am proud to see this bill finally passed by Congress, and look forward to seeing it signed into law.\r\nI applaud the Senate's passage today of the Senate Intelligence Committee's bipartisan authorization legislation as part of our nation's defense authorization bill, said Vice Chairman Warner. The bipartisan intelligence authorization bill ensures that the women and men of our intelligence agencies have the resources they need to do their jobs, as well as robust provisions to improve oversight of our nation's intelligence functions. I am particularly proud that the NDAA carries a provision providing twelve weeks of paid parental leave for government employees that builds upon the Committee's original provision providing twelve weeks of paid parental leave to Intelligence Community personnel, including adoptive and foster parents. This provision will help recruit and retain top talent within the IC. I am also pleased that it includes a number of other provisions aimed at deterring foreign influence in our elections, tackling the technological threats from China as the U.S. and other nations move to 5G communications, modernizing our outdated security clearance process, and enabling the IC to exchange talent with the private sector.\r\nBackground:\r\nThe IAA for Fiscal Years 2018-2020 authorizes funding and enables comprehensive, Congressional oversight of the U.S. Intelligence Community. This legislation is named for two dedicated staff members on the House and Senate Intelligence Committees, Damon Nelson and Matt Pollard, respectively, who passed away last year.\r\nSpecifically, the bill improves the Intelligence Community's ability to defend the United States by:\r\n \r\nDeterring aggression from Russia and other foreign actors by increasing the United States' capability of detecting malign activities, such as active measure campaigns, illicit financial transactions, and other intelligence activities.\r\nSecuring our elections from foreign interference by requiring strategic assessments of Russian cyber threats and influence campaigns, and facilitating increased information sharing between local, state, and federal government officials.\r\nModernizing the security clearance process by requiring plans to reduce the background investigation backlog, capitalizing on technology to improve efficiency, creating an interagency information sharing program for positions of trust, and enhancing the ability of government and industry personnel with active clearances to move between agencies and companies.\r\nProtecting the U.S. Government technology supply chain by creating a task force within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and improving the procurement process to defend against intrusion and sabotage.\r\nBolstering the recruitment and retention of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) professionals by enhancing career path flexibility and benefits for cybersecurity experts working within the Intelligence Community.\r\nAdvancing the Intelligence Community workforce by establishing a Public-Private Talent Exchange to foster professional experiences and growth.\r\n \r\nThe IAA was approved by the Senate Intelligence Committee on a unanimous and bipartisan 15-0 vote on May 14, 2019. The full Senate passed IAA as part of the NDAA on June 27, 2019 on a vote of 86-8.\r\nThe full House passed the House Intelligence Committee's IAA on July 17, 2019, by a vote of 397-31.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2019/12/senate-passes-ndaa-that-includes-tillis-provisions-for-nc-servicemembers-military-families-and-military-installations", "Senate Passes NDAA That Includes Tillis\u2019 Provisions for NC Servicemembers, Military Families and Military Installations", "2019-12-17", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Tillis secured $1.8 billion for NC military installations, major reforms to military housing program, and pay raise for servicemembers\r\n\r\nWASHINGTON, D.C. Today,U.S.Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee,applauded Senate passage oftheNational Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 to improve the lives of servicemembers and military families. The legislation passed on anoverwhelminglybipartisan basis and authorizes $738 billion in national defense funding for fiscal year 2020.    As Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel, Senator Tillis led the effort to pass an across the board 3.1% pay raise for our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines.Additionally, Senator Tillis worked to secure a number of reforms in the FY20NDAAto take meaningful steps to address the serious issues with the Military Housing Privatization Initiative (MHPI). Senator Tillis' personnel subcommitteealsomade efforts to address military sexual assault prevention and response, support military spouse employment, and expand health care for military members and their families.\r\nI was proud to lead bipartisan efforts to provide the largest pay raise for our servicemembers in nearly a decade and major reforms to address the housing crisis affecting installations across the country, including Fort Bragg and Camp Lejeune,said Senator Tillis.This bipartisan legislation is a big win for North Carolina's servicemembers and our military families, and Iam proud it will besigned into law by President Trumpand laythe groundwork for additional reforms on behalf of our military for next year's bill.\r\nTotal Authorized Funding for North Carolina'sMilitary Installations - $1.821billion\r\nTotal MILCON Funding - $586.38 million\r\n \r\nCamp Lejeune - $238.06 million\r\nMCAS Cherry Point - $251.72 million\r\nFort Bragg  $96.6 million\r\n \r\nTotal Hurricane Florence Funding - $1.235billion\r\n \r\nCamp Lejeune -$703.09 million\r\nMCAS Cherry Point - $66.551 million\r\nMCAS New River - $465.822M\r\n \r\nSenator Tillis' Priorities Secured in theNDAA:\r\nMilitary Housing Privatization Initiative (MHPI)\r\n \r\nTheNDAAtakes meaningful steps to address serious issues with the Military Housing Privatization Initiative, including:\r\n\r\nDesignate a Chief Housing Officer, who will be a presidentially appointed and Senate-confirmed DoD official, to oversee the Military Housing Privatized Initiative.\r\nRequire each Service to create a Tenant Bill of Rights that will set minimum standards.\r\nRequire DoD to establish standardized assessment procedures for determining risks in military housing.\r\nIncrease health and hazard inspections.\r\nDirect each military service to develop guidelines for a dispute resolution process to include the ability to withhold BAH until the dispute is resolved.\r\nBan the use of non-disclosure agreements.\r\nEnhance protections for tenants against reprisal.\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\nEnd Strengths/Pay and Compensation\r\n \r\nAuthorizes active duty end strength levels consistent with the President's Budget\r\n\r\nArmy: 480,000\r\nMarine Corps: 186,200\r\nNavy: 340,500\r\nAir Force: 332,800\r\n\r\n\r\nProvides for a 3.1 percent pay raise for members of the Armed Forces.\r\n \r\nMilitary/Civilian Personnel Policy\r\n \r\nAllows parental leave to be taken in multiple increments.\r\nClarifies that any military member or DOD civilian deployed in support of a contingency operation is entitled to free mail home and enhances access to military post offices overseas.\r\n \r\n \r\nExpands authority to reimburse civilian employees for taxes related to relocation expenses.\r\nDirects DOD to brief on how it will standardize childcare eligibility policies and ensure priority of Active-Duty servicemembers' childcare needs over the childcare needs of others.\r\n \r\nHealthcare\r\n \r\nProhibits the reduction of certain military personnel billets until the completion of reviews required in the FY17 NDAA.\r\nEnhances combat casualty care for troops through partnerships with medical expertise outside the Department of Defense.\r\nRequires DoD to develop a comprehensive policy on providing mental health care to service members.\r\nAuthorizes the National Guard to establish a pilot program that would allow Guardsmen to receive immediate access to mental health professionals through a smartphone application.\r\nAuthorizes the Secretary of Defense to allow, settle, and pay administrative claims against the United States for personal injury or death of a member of the Armed Forces resulting from medical malpractice caused by a DoD health care provider.\r\n \r\nMilitary Justice and Sexual Assault Prevention and Response\r\n \r\nIncreases resources available for certain programs to help sexual assault survivors, including increasing the number of investigative personnel and Victim Witness Assistance Program liaisons.\r\nProvides additional training for commanders on their roles in dealing with sexual assault cases.\r\nRequires a special victims counsel be made available not later than 72 hours after a request is made.\r\n \r\nReport on PFOS and PFOA contamination on military installations\r\n \r\nProhibits the use of firefighting foam containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) after October 1, 2024.\r\nEncourages the Secretary of Defense to finalize cooperative agreements with states to address PFAS contamination.\r\nAllows the National Guard to use Defense Environmental Remediation Account (DERA) funds to address PFOS and PFOA exposure and contamination from National Guard activities at National Guard installations.\r\n \r\nLimitation on the transfer of F-35 aircraft to the Republic of Turkey\r\n \r\nThe bill includes a provision based off a bill introduced by Senators Tillis, Lankford, Shaheen and Van Hollen that would prohibit the transfer of F-35 aircraft, equipment, and data to Turkey until Turkey certifies that it will not accept delivery of the S-400 air missile defense system.\r\n \r\nImpact Aid\r\n \r\nAuthorizes an additional $40 million in supplemental impact funding to local education agencies with military dependent students.\r\nAuthorizes an additional $10 million in impact funding for schools with military dependent children with severe disabilities.\r\n \r\nMilitary Spouse Employment\r\n \r\nIncreases employment opportunities for military spouses by including provisions to:\r\n\r\nDouble the reimbursement amount for state licensure expenses incurred by military spouses arising from a permanent change of station.\r\nAuthorize a cooperative agreement with the Council of State Governors to help fund the development of interstate compacts to improve spouse professional license portability.\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2019/12/tillis-introduces-santa-act-to-protect-children-from-dangerous-online-products", "Tillis Introduces SANTA Act To Protect Children from Dangerous Online Products", "2019-12-17", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) introduced legislation to help parents protect their children against dangerous counterfeit toys and products, as Americans increasingly turn to online vendors.\r\nThe Stop All Nefarious Toys in America (SANTA) Act would require new information be included in online marketplaces that clearly show product origins and business name and contact information, among other requirements, for children's toys and products.\r\nAs families across North Carolina celebrate Christmas and the holidays, parents buying toys should have the peace of mind that they are buying safe and reliable products for their children,said Senator Tillis.I'm proud to co-introduce the SANTA Act so online marketplaces like Amazon must include important information to ensure families aren't buying counterfeit products that put their children at risk.\r\nNew information required under the SANTA Act will include:\r\n \r\nFull name, full business address, whether the seller is the manufacturer, importer, retailer or reseller of the children's product and contact information for the seller, including working phone number and working email.\r\nOnline marketplaces should also notify parents if the product is fulfilled or shipped from a seller or warehouse that is different from the original seller.\r\nOnline marketplaces should verify seller information prior to listing through government issued ID, bank accounts, individual and business contact information. This should exclude sellers of used children's products and resellers of children's products.\r\n \r\nThe SANTA Act has received support from the Toy Association, the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) and the Halloween & Costume Association.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://mchenry.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402466", "McHenry Introduces RPM Act", "2019-12-16", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Patrick McHenry", "M001156", "mchenry.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "McHenry Introduces RPM Act \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        December 16, 2019\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      Today, Congressman Patrick McHenry (R, NC-10) introducedH.R. 5434, the Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports Act of 2019 or \"RPM Act\"which permanently blocks attempts by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate modified motor vehicles used for racing.For decades, automotive enthusiasts have modified street vehicles into race cars used exclusively at closed race tracks. In early 2016, the EPA issued a proposed rule that would make it illegal for this practice to continue via the Clean Air Act even though Congress never intended for race cars to be subject to the Clean Air Act. While the proposed EPA regulation was withdrawn in April of 2016, the RPM Act would make permanent that race cars are exempt from EPA regulation via the Clean Air Act. \"Automobile racing plays an important role here in North Carolina, both as a significant part of our local economy and as an activity enjoyed by many,\" said Congressman McHenry. \"I am proud to help protect our state's automotive heritage and ensure motorsports enthusiasts across the country can continue the time-honored tradition of modifying stock vehicles for competitive racing. I look forward to working with my colleagues to help ensure the RPM Act becomes law.\" BACKGROUND:The Clean Air Act authorizes the EPA to regulate motor vehicles but these regulations have never applied to race cars. In 1990, Congress affirmed this exemption when it authorized the EPA to regulate non-road vehicles and explicitly excluded any vehicle used solely for competition from the non-road definition. Despite the clear intent of Congress, the EPA's previously proposed rule attempts to amend the Clean Air Act. H.R. 5434 simply confirms that it would not be considered tampering to modify these vehicles for exclusive track use.  \r\n  \r\nConverting a motor vehicle into a race car is a significant part of American automotive heritage with the practice having played a large role in the foundation of NASCAR. Additionally, the specialty automotive industry employs over one million Americans. Companies that manufacture, distribute, and sell products that improve race vehicle performance are a large and growing part of our economy.\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2019/12/tillis-bipartisan-bill-to-extend-terrorism-risk-insurance-program-nears-passage", "Tillis\u2019 Bipartisan Bill to Extend Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Nears Passage", "2019-12-16", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Tillis-Smith Bill Will Support Major Events Like the 2020 Republican National Convention in Charlotte\r\n\r\n\r\nWASHINGTON, D.C. Today,U.S. SenatorsThom Tillis (R-NC) and Tina Smith (D-MN) secured inclusion of their bipartisan bill to extend the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program for seven years as part of a key government funding packageexpected to pass Congress this week.\r\nThe Terrorism Risk Insurance Program was established in response tothescarcity of affordable insurance coverage for terrorism riskin the wake of the attacksonSeptember 11, 2001. Since then, theprogram has improved the availability and affordability of terrorism risk insurance coverage in the marketplace througha public/private partnership that allows the federal government and the insurance industry to share losses in the event of a major terrorist attack. The program ensures that adequate resources are available for businesses to recover and rebuild if they are the victims of a terrorist attack. Under TRIA, all property and casualty insurers in the U.S. are required to make terrorism coverage available. Without the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program, which is scheduled to expire at the end of 2020, major building projects and other key events could be halted or delayed, causing lost jobs and economic activity.\r\nThe bill is supported by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Coalition to Insure Against Terrorism, the Reinsurance Association of America, Prudential, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, the National Association of Realtors, the American Bankers Association, and the American Property Casualty Insurance Association.\r\nThe Terrorism Risk Insurance Program is an important program that protectsNorth Carolina's economy and providespeace of mind to the private sector by providing insurance protections at no cost to taxpayers,said Senator Thom Tillis.I am proud to see my bipartisan legislation to extend this program will be signed into law so major events like the 2020 RNC Convention in Charlotte and American businesses can be protected and continue to create jobs.\r\nI've been focused on working with both parties to get things done to support jobs and economic growth in Minnesota. Congress is an institution that rarely acts without a deadline, so I'm glad to see my bipartisan measure on the path to being signed into law more than a year before Terrorism Risk Insurance Program is scheduled to expire. The TRIA bill supports vital Minnesota institutions because having access to affordable insurance for terrorism-related risks makes it possible for businesses to be able to grow and create jobs,said Senator Tina Smith.The Terrorism Risk Insurance Program needs to be extended, and successfully including it in this legislative package shows we can work together to do that.\r\nSpecifically, theTerrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2019:\r\n \r\nReauthorizes the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program for seven years, through December 31, 2027,and preserves the taxpayer reforms included in the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2015;\r\nDirects the Treasury Department in its biennial report on the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program and its effectiveness to include an evaluation of the availability and affordability of terrorism risk insurance, including specifically for places of worship; and\r\nDirects the Government Accountability Office to analyze and address, and report on, the vulnerabilities and potential costs of cyber terrorism, adequacy of coverage under the Program, and to make recommendations for future legislative changes to address evolving cyber terrorism risks.\r\n \r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://budd.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=717", "U.S. Rep. Ted Budd Announces No Vote on Impeachment Articles", "2019-12-13", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "budd.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Rep. Ted Budd Announces No Vote on Impeachment Articles \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        December 13, 2019\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      Washington D.C.  Today, U.S. Representative Ted Budd (NC-13) officially announced that he will vote no on the articles of impeachment against President Trump after the House Judiciary Committee sent them to the floor. \r\nRep. Budd said in a statement:\r\nI will be voting against the articles of impeachment. From start to finish House Democrats ran a show trial against President Trump. They brought forward no witnesses who were directed by the president to engage in any kind of bribe, extortion scheme, or other poll-tested crime House Democrats decided to pursue. Even Speaker Pelosi admitted that her caucus had their eyes on impeachment for a couple years.' Sadly, this whole inquiry has been purely political. The American people deserve a Congress that is focused on issues that directly impact their lives, not distracted by politically-driven charades.\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://holding.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1218", "Congressional UK Caucus Co-Chairs Statement on British Election Results", "2019-12-13", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "George Holding", "H001065", "holding.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressional UK Caucus Co-Chairs Statement on British Election Results \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        December 13, 2019\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      \r\n\r\n    \r\n        \r\n            \r\n            IMMEDIATE RELEASE\r\n            December 13, 2019\r\n            \r\n            \r\n            Contact:\r\n            Drew Nirenberg(HOLDING)\r\n            McLaurine Klingler(WILSON)\r\n            \r\n        \r\n    \r\n\r\n\r\n UK Caucus Co-Chairs Holding and Wilson Statement on British Election Results \r\n\r\nWashington, D.C. Today,   Congressional U.K. Caucus Co-Chairs George Holding (NC-02) and Joe Wilson (SC-02) issued the following statement after last night's U.K. election:\r\n\r\nWe extend our warmest congratulations to Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the Conservative Party. We look forward to working together in the coming months to forge a robust US-UK trade agreement and further enhance our wide-ranging bilateral alliance.  \r\n\r\n\r\nFor over seventy years, the Special Relationship has served as the beating heart of the free world and the cornerstone of our foreign policy. We can confidently say that the Special Relationship is as strong as ever and its best days lie ahead.\r\n\r\n###\r\n\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://meadows.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3101", "Rep. Meadows Introduces National Institute on Safety and Quality Act", "2019-12-13", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Mark Meadows", "M001187", "meadows.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "RELEASE:\r\nRep. Meadows Introduces National Institute on Safety and Quality Act\r\nWashington, D.C. This week, Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC) introduced H.R. 5295, the National Institute on Safety and Quality Act  a bill to reorganize the federal government in a way that makes it more efficient, effective, and accountable.\r\nThe bill would consolidate the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and all of its activities into a new institute within the National Institutes of Health (NIH)reducing duplication and best leveraging the capabilities of both groups. The newly formed institute would be referred to as the National Institute for Research on Safety and Quality (NIRSQ).\r\nThe (NIRSQ) would serve as a standard of excellence for improving the quality and safety of American healthcare. Furthermore, this Institute will continue its integral role in support of the Secretary of Health and Human Service's priority to move health care organizations from volume to value by focusing on improving outcomes, reducing cost and expanding choices for consumers. NIRSQ would achieve this by supporting health services research, addressing pressing health care issues through data and technology, and harnessing the power of predictive analytics to improve diagnostics.\r\nFinally, NIRSQ will research and develop innovative technologies to lower costs, synthesize information to patients, and enhance healthcare capabilities for rural and inner-city areasprioritizing those areas in research outcomes.\r\nRep. Meadows released the following statement:\r\nI am proud to work with President Trump on legislation that not only streamlines overlapping functions being performed by the federal government, but also helps patients across the country including in rural areas like Western North Carolina. The changes in this bill will not only keep America's government more accountable, but directly improve its quality. I've long supported efforts to empower patients to be better armed with information that will help them make healthcare decisions and improve the patient-doctor relationships, and this bill does just that. Moving forward, we'll continue to work with the Trump administration on delivering policy initiatives that answer the most pressing healthcare needs facing the country, while promoting value-based healthcare outcomes for patients.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2019/12/tillis-continues-to-push-for-rural-broadband-expansion-in-north-carolina", "Tillis Continues to Push for Rural Broadband Expansion in North Carolina", "2019-12-13", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Home\n                        \n                                            \n                            News\n                        \n                                            \n                            Press Releases\n                        \n                                     \n            \n        \n        \n            \n    \n        \n        \n    \n                Today, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) applauded the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) announcement thatitwill make $550 million in funding available in 2020 to deploy high-speed broadband internet infrastructure in rural America through theReconnect Pilot Programfunding appropriated by Congress.Senator Tillis has worked with communities throughout the state on grant applications to expand broadband in rural North Carolina.This week, USDA announced they will invest $7.9 million in high-speed broadband infrastructure to create or improve e-Connectivity for more than 4,000 rural households in Columbus County. This follows the USDA's announcement that they will invest $23.7 million in high-speedbroadbandinfrastructure that will create or improve rural e-Connectivity for nearly 8,750 rural households in Clinton, North Carolina.High-speed internet remains one of the biggest needs in rural North Carolina and working with the state government to expand access is one of my top priorities,said Senator Tillis.I am proud North Carolina was able to secure over $30 million in 2019, and I look forward to working to ensure North Carolina makesa strong case for additional grantsnext year. I want to thank President Trump and Secretary Perdue for making this substantial funding available for rural communities across the country.USDA will make available up to $200 million for grants, up to $200 million for 50/50 grant/loan combinations, and up to $200 million for low-interest loans. The application window for this round of funding will open Jan. 31, 2020. Applications for all funding products will be accepted in the same application window, which will close no later than March 16, 2020.Earlier this year, Senator Tillishosteda roundtable at Vance-Granville Community College to talk about the need for ruralbroadbandaccess and find ways the federal and state government can work together to reach more North Carolinians.Earlier this week, Senator Tillissenta letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) urging the Commission to prioritize sustainable ruralbroadbandnetworks as the FCC considers new rules in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) proceeding.\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2019/12/tillis-featured-in-national-campaign-to-promote-opioid-treatment", "Tillis Featured in National Campaign to Promote Opioid Treatment", "2019-12-13", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.-This week, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) appeared in anational video campaignon Facebook designed to empower people to break the stigma and shame associated with seeking treatment for opioid use disorder. Stop Opioid Silence, which organized the campaign, offers North Carolina residents struggling with opioid use disorders, as well as their families, the opportunity to share their stories of addiction and recovery.\r\n\r\nWatch the full videoHERE.\r\nThe opioid epidemic is affecting families all across North Carolina and the country,said Senator Tillis.I am proud to be a part of the SOS campaign to help raise awareness and get help to those in need, and I will continue to work with my colleagues on a bipartisan basis to address this crisis by providing more resources and support to North Carolina families and local communities.\r\nOpioid use disorder and opioid-related death are serious issues across the country, including North Carolina.In 2017, 2,414 North Carolinians died from a drug overdose and every 11 minutes opioids take another life in America. Despite this progress, however, there remains a stigma associated with admitting to addiction and seeking assistance.\r\nFacebook is supporting the Stop Opioid Silence campaign by running ads to encourage people to speak out about the crisis. The Facebook ads connect people to information and resources, featuring videos with Tillis, while offering a safe forum to share their stories about addiction and recovery.\r\nStop Opioid Silence was created by Facebook and the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids and Center on Addiction, a leading national nonprofit working to transform how the nation addresses addiction. The organizations have teamed up to launchstopopioidsilence.organd a Get Help messenger bot which connects people all over the country, including North Carolinians, with information about addiction and treatment, recovery and support resources in their state.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://hudson.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=2718", "Hudson Urges Bipartisanship to Lower Drug Prices", "2019-12-12", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Richard Hudson", "H001067", "hudson.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE \r\n\r\n\tDecember 12, 2019\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tHudson Urges Bipartisanship to Lower Drug Prices\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  Today U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08) released the following statement after voting against Speaker Nancy Pelosi's partisan drug pricing plan, which will stifle innovation and lead to fewer cures for Americans desperately in need:\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tThe American people want us to work together in a bipartisan way to bring down the prices of drugs without crushing innovation and taking away lifesaving cures, said Rep. Hudson. It's time for Washington Democrats to put the partisanship aside and pass H.R. 19.\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tOn Monday, Rep. Hudson joined his colleagues to introduce H.R. 19,theLower Costs, More Cures Act of 2019. This legislation uses bipartisan reforms to lower out of pocket spending, protect access to new medicines and cures, strengthen transparency, and champion competition. Every single provision is bipartisan.\r\n\r\n\t\r\n \r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t36 provisions from bills passed out of either Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce Committees with unanimous bipartisan support. All but one is sponsored by a Democrat.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t17 provisions from bills passed out of the House of Representatives with bipartisan support.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t8 provisions from bills passed out of 3 different Senate committees with bipartisan support.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t21 of these provisions come from S. 2543, the bipartisan Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act.\r\n\t\r\n \r\n\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tLast night, Rep. Hudson spoke on the House floor and called on his colleagues to support H.R. 19. To watch the video, click here. The transcript is below.\r\n\r\n\r\n\tRepublicans and Democrats agree: Americans pay too much for prescription drugs.\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tWe agree we need to do something about it.\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tWe agree our friends and loved ones need access to life-saving cures and treatments.\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tAnd Americans want us to work together in a bipartisan way to get things done.\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tYet, today we're considering Speaker Pelosi's partisan Bill. This is an exercise in futilitynot only will it stop an estimated 100 new lifesaving drugs. It has no chance of being signed into law. \r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tI care about the millions of Americans, like my late grandmother, living with Alzheimer's, and the thousands of Americans diagnosed with cancer every single day, and the children who face life-altering diagnoses like spinal muscular atrophy, epilepsy or cystic fibrosis. I want them to have hope. And I want them to have access to the very best medicine. \r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tThat's why we introduced H.R. 19, bipartisan legislation that could be signed into law by President Trump this year. So let's stop the partisan theatrics and get serious about the problem that people are begging us to fix. \r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://hudson.house.gov/press-releases/hudson-urges-bipartisanship-to-lower-drug-prices", "Hudson Urges Bipartisanship to Lower Drug Prices", "2019-12-12", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Richard Hudson", "H001067", "hudson.house.gov", "hudson", "https://hudson.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nDecember 12, 2019\n\nHudson Urges Bipartisanship to Lower Drug Prices\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08) released the following statement after voting against Speaker Nancy Pelosi\u2019s partisan drug pricing plan, which will stifle innovation and lead to fewer cures for Americans desperately in need:\n\n\u201cThe American people want us to work together in a bipartisan way to bring down the prices of drugs without crushing innovation and taking away lifesaving cures,\u201d said Rep. Hudson. \u201cIt\u2019s time for Washington Democrats to put the partisanship aside and pass H.R. 19.\u201d\n\nOn Monday, Rep. Hudson joined his colleagues to introduce H.R. 19,the Lower Costs, More Cures Act of 2019. This legislation uses bipartisan reforms to lower out of pocket spending, protect access to new medicines and cures, strengthen transparency, and champion competition. Every single provision is bipartisan.\n\n36 provisions from bills passed out of either Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce Committees with unanimous bipartisan support. All but one is sponsored by a Democrat.\n\n17 provisions from bills passed out of the House of Representatives with bipartisan support.\n\n8 provisions from bills passed out of 3 different Senate committees with bipartisan support.\n\n21 of these provisions come from S. 2543, the bipartisan Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act.\n\nSpeaker Pelosi\u2019s partisan drug pricing scheme is not only bad policy, it\u2019s never going to become law.\n\nLast night, Rep. Hudson spoke on the House floor and called on his colleagues to support H.R. 19. To watch the video, click here. The transcript is below.\n\n\u201cRepublicans and Democrats agree: Americans pay too much for prescription drugs.\n\nWe agree we need to do something about it.\n\nWe agree our friends and loved ones need access to life-saving cures and treatments.\n\nAnd Americans want us to work together in a bipartisan way to get things done.\n\nYet, today we\u2019re considering Speaker Pelosi\u2019s partisan Bill. This is an exercise in futility\u2014not only will it stop an estimated 100 new lifesaving drugs. It has no chance of being signed into law.\n\nI care about the millions of Americans, like my late grandmother, living with Alzheimer\u2019s, and the thousands of Americans diagnosed with cancer every single day, and the children who face life-altering diagnoses like spinal muscular atrophy, epilepsy or cystic fibrosis. I want them to have hope. And I want them to have access to the very best medicine.\n\nThat\u2019s why we introduced H.R. 19, bipartisan legislation that could be signed into law by President Trump this year. So let\u2019s stop the partisan theatrics and get serious about the problem that people are begging us to fix.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:45:33Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2019/12/final-ndaa-includes-numerous-tillis-provisions-to-improve-the-lives-of-nc-servicemembers-and-military-families/b4cc6a1c-b6a9-4f88-a574-bf23969981b8", "Final NDAA Includes Numerous Tillis Provisions to Improve the Lives of NC Servicemembers and Military Families", "2019-12-12", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Tillis secured major reforms to military housing program, pay raise for servicemembers\r\n\r\n\r\nWASHINGTON, D.C. Today,U.S.Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, announced he secured multiple provisions in the finalNational Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 to improve the lives of servicemembers and military families. The legislation passed out of conference committee on a bipartisan basis and authorizes $738 billion in national defense funding for fiscal year 2020.    As Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel, Senator Tillis led the effort to pass an across the board 3.1% pay raise for our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines.Additionally, Senator Tillis worked to secure a number of reforms in the FY20NDAAto take meaningful steps to address the serious issues with the Military Housing Privatization Initiative (MHPI). Senator Tillis' personnel subcommitteealsomade efforts to address military sexual assault prevention and response, support military spouse employment, and expand health care for military members and their families.\r\nI was proud to lead bipartisan efforts to provide the largest pay raise for our servicemembers in nearly a decade and major reforms to address the housing crisis affecting installations across the country, including Fort Bragg and Camp Lejeune,said Senator Tillis.This bipartisan legislation is a big win for North Carolina's servicemembers and our military families, and I look forward to getting it signed into law by President Trump soon and then laying the groundwork for additional reforms on behalf of our military for next year's bill.\r\n  A summary of theNational Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020is availablehere.  \r\nSenator Tillis' Priorities Secured in theNDAA:\r\nMilitary Housing Privatization Initiative (MHPI)\r\n \r\nTheNDAAtakes meaningful steps to address serious issues with the Military Housing Privatization Initiative, including:\r\n\r\nDesignate a Chief Housing Officer, who will be a presidentially appointed and Senate-confirmed DoD official, to oversee the Military Housing Privatized Initiative.\r\nRequire each Service to create a Tenant Bill of Rights that will set minimum standards.\r\nRequire DoD to establish standardized assessment procedures for determining risks in military housing.\r\nIncrease health and hazard inspections.\r\nDirect each military service to develop guidelines for a dispute resolution process to include the ability to withhold BAH until the dispute is resolved.\r\nBan the use of non-disclosure agreements.\r\nEnhance protections for tenants against reprisal.\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nEnd Strengths/Pay and Compensation\r\n \r\nAuthorizes active duty end strength levels consistent with the President's Budget\r\n\r\nArmy: 480,000\r\nMarine Corps: 186,200\r\nNavy: 340,500\r\nAir Force: 332,800\r\n\r\n\r\nProvides for a 3.1 percent pay raise for members of the Armed Forces.\r\n \r\n\r\nMilitary/Civilian Personnel Policy\r\n \r\nAllows parental leave to be taken in multiple increments.\r\nClarifies that any military member or DOD civilian deployed in support of a contingency operation is entitled to free mail home and enhances access to military post offices overseas.\r\n \r\n \r\nExpands authority to reimburse civilian employees for taxes related to relocation expenses.\r\nDirects DOD to brief on how it will standardize childcare eligibility policies and ensure priority of Active-Duty servicemembers' childcare needs over the childcare needs of others.\r\n \r\n\r\nHealthcare\r\n \r\nProhibits the reduction of certain military personnel billets until the completion of reviews required in the FY17 NDAA.\r\nEnhances combat casualty care for troops through partnerships with medical expertise outside the Department of Defense.\r\nRequires DoD to develop a comprehensive policy on providing mental health care to service members.\r\nAuthorizes the National Guard to establish a pilot program that would allow Guardsmen to receive immediate access to mental health professionals through a smartphone application.\r\nAuthorizes the Secretary of Defense to allow, settle, and pay administrative claims against the United States for personal injury or death of a member of the Armed Forces resulting from medical malpractice caused by a DoD health care provider.\r\n \r\n\r\nMilitary Justice and Sexual Assault Prevention and Response\r\n \r\nIncreases resources available for certain programs to help sexual assault survivors, including increasing the number of investigative personnel and Victim Witness Assistance Program liaisons.\r\nProvides additional training for commanders on their roles in dealing with sexual assault cases.\r\nRequires a special victims counsel be made available not later than 72 hours after a request is made.\r\n \r\n\r\nReport on PFOS and PFOA contamination on military installations\r\n \r\nProhibits the use of firefighting foam containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) after October 1, 2024.\r\nEncourages the Secretary of Defense to finalize cooperative agreements with states to address PFAS contamination.\r\nAllows the National Guard to use Defense Environmental Remediation Account (DERA) funds to address PFOS and PFOA exposure and contamination from National Guard activities at National Guard installations.\r\n \r\n\r\nLimitation on the transfer of F-35 aircraft to the Republic of Turkey\r\n \r\nThe bill includes a provision based off a bill introduced by Senators Tillis, Lankford, Shaheen and Van Hollen that would prohibit the transfer of F-35 aircraft, equipment, and data to Turkey until Turkey certifies that it will not accept delivery of the S-400 air missile defense system.\r\n \r\n\r\nImpact Aid\r\n \r\nAuthorizes an additional $40 million in supplemental impact funding to local education agencies with military dependent students.\r\nAuthorizes an additional $10 million in impact funding for schools with military dependent children with severe disabilities.\r\n \r\n\r\nMilitary Spouse Employment\r\n \r\nIncreases employment opportunities for military spouses by including provisions to:\r\n\r\nDouble the reimbursement amount for state licensure expenses incurred by military spouses arising from a permanent change of station.\r\nAuthorize a cooperative agreement with the Council of State Governors to help fund the development of interstate compacts to improve spouse professional license portability.\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://mchenry.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402462", "McHenry Votes to Support Our Troops", "2019-12-11", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Patrick McHenry", "M001156", "mchenry.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "McHenry Votes to Support Our Troops \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        December 11, 2019\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      Today, Congressman Patrick McHenry (NC-10) released the following statement on House passage of the bipartisanConference Report to accompany S. 1790  National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2020:\"Today's vote is a big win for our troops and helps fulfill our responsibility in the House to provide for a strong national defense. Included in the NDAA is the biggest pay raise the brave men and women of the U.S. military have received in the last ten years. Additionally, today's vote brings us another step towards closing the readiness gap, ensuring our military is prepared to defend our nation at a moment's notice.  \"Beyond supporting our troops, this bill includes funding to help North Carolina military installations recover from hurricane damage, implements sanctions to help cripple the operations of opioid traffickers that are fueling the devastating epidemic here in our country, and provides resources for our continued efforts against ISIS and other hostile actors around the world. I will always work to ensure our military men and women have the resources they need and today's bipartisan vote helps achieve that goal.\"\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://hudson.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=2700", "Hudson Secures Big Wins for Fort Bragg in NDAA", "2019-12-11", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Richard Hudson", "H001067", "hudson.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE \r\n\r\n\tDecember 11, 2019\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tHudson Secures Big Wins for Fort Bragg in NDAA\r\n\r\n\tHouse Passes NDAA Conference Report with Pay Raise for Troops, Hudson's Measures to Address Military Housing, Allow Service Members Recourse in DOD Medical Malpractice\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  Today U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08), Fort Bragg's Congressman and an outspoken advocate for North Carolina's military community, released the following statement after the House passed the bipartisan conference report for the FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which included several of his priorities for Fort Bragg, including a landmark provision he led to allow service members recourse in Department of Defense medical malpractice:\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tWhen I heard from constituents on changes they wanted to see to military policy, I immediately went to work, said Rep. Hudson. While this bill isn't perfect, I'm proud to see many of these policy changes included in the bill. I'll continue to look out for our soldiers and their families at Fort Bragg and across the district. \r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tAllowing Service Members Recourse in DOD Medical Malpractice\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tWhile the NDAA does not fully repeal the Feres Doctrine, it authorizes the Secretary of Defense to allow, settle, and pay an administrative claim against the United States for personal injury or death of a member of the uniformed services that was the result of medical malpractice caused by a Department of Defense health care provider. For the first time since 1950, U.S. military personnel would have legal recourse to seek payment from the military in cases of medical malpractice.\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tImproving Privatized Military Housing and Increasing Oversight and Accountability\r\n\r\n\tEarlier this year, Rep. Hudson introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Better Military Housing Act of 2019, legislation to improve oversight and bring much-needed transparency and accountability to military housing. Today's NDAA includes key provisions from Rep. Hudson's bill, including provisions to:\r\n \r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\tEstablish an IG review of privatized military housing\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\tRequire the Services to establish a Tenant Bill of Rights that sets minimum acceptable livability standards, demands better communication, creates greater transparency, addresses establishment of a formal dispute resolution process, bans the use of non-disclosure agreements as a condition of moving out of military housing, and enhances protections against reprisal\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\tRequire the Department to establish a standardized assessment tool to be used in evaluating military housing for certain risks, including lead and mold;\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\tIncreases transparency for families by requiring disclosure of major repairs/remediation prior to lease signing\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\tRequire new quality control measures and increase health and hazard inspections\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\tAuthorize additional funding to ensure installation housing offices are properly staffed\r\n\t\r\n \r\n\r\n\tRep. Hudson continues to be in close contact with leaders at Fort Bragg and the Department of Defense. He remains committed to working closely with stakeholders to hold those accountable and fix this problem. He has toured military homes and engaged with many military families at Fort Bragg to make sure this legislation addresses their needs.\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tModernizing and Improving Pay Allowance Continuation (PAC)\r\n\r\n\tPay Allowance Continuation (PAC) allows a soldier continuation of special pay during a portion of their rehabilitation time from wounds, injuries, and illnesses they have incurred in a combat operation or combat zone. The NDAA includes a modernization of pay and benefits for soldiers recovering from wounds sustained in combat. Over the past few years, medical capabilities have improved across special operations units to allow operators to receive world class treatment and rehabilitation services back at their home unit. This has allowed Green Berets from Fort Bragg to rehab while being reintegrated into their unit and being surrounded by their family and support network. Previously, these services would have only been available at an inpatient facility like Walter Reed. This amendment ensures that service members recovering from wounds continue to receive the additional pay they are entitled to until they are fit for duty.\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tContributing to Healthy Communities and Addressing PFAS\r\n\r\n\tThe NDAA prohibits the use of firefighting foam containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) after October 1, 2024, with an exception for shipboard use, and immediately prohibits the uncontrolled release of fluorinated aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) and the use of AFFF in training exercises at military installations. The conference agreement encourages the Secretary of Defense to finalize cooperative agreements with states to address contamination by these substances and authorizes the National Guard to access Defense Environmental Remediation Account funds for the limited purpose of addressing PFOS and PFOA exposure and contamination resulting from National Guard activities in and around National Guard bases.\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tProviding a Pay Raise for Troops\r\n\r\n\tToday's NDAA provides a 3.1% pay-raise for our troops  the largest increase in a decade.\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tOverall, today's bipartisan NDAA authorizes $738 billion in defense funding and rejects numerous poison pills from Washington Democrats, such as restrictions on the President's authorities to secure our borders. It also:\r\n \r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\tProvides the resources to continue to rebuild readiness, advance modernization of the nuclear triad, develop emerging technologies, enhance missile defense, and confront our adversaries\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\tMaintains long-standing prohibitions on transferring detainees from Guantanamo Bay and constructing detention facilities in the U.S.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\tProvides an additional $5.3 billion in emergency funding for military installations damaged by natural disasters\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\tEstablishes the United States Space Force as the sixth branch of the military\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\tProvides up to 12 weeks of Paid Parental Leave for the Defense Department, Intelligence Community, and across the federal government, a key administration priority\r\n\t\r\n \r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://hudson.house.gov/press-releases/hudson-secures-big-wins-for-fort-bragg-in-ndaa", "Hudson Secures Big Wins for Fort Bragg in NDAA", "2019-12-11", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Richard Hudson", "H001067", "hudson.house.gov", "hudson", "https://hudson.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nDecember 11, 2019\n\nHudson Secures Big Wins for Fort Bragg in NDAA\n\nHouse Passes NDAA Conference Report with Pay Raise for Troops, Hudson\u2019s Measures to Address Military Housing, Allow Service Members Recourse in DOD Medical Malpractice\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08), Fort Bragg\u2019s Congressman and an outspoken advocate for North Carolina's military community, released the following statement after the House passed the bipartisan conference report for the FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which included several of his priorities for Fort Bragg, including a landmark provision he led to allow service members recourse in Department of Defense medical malpractice:\n\n\u201cWhen I heard from constituents on changes they wanted to see to military policy, I immediately went to work,\u201d said Rep. Hudson. \u201cWhile this bill isn\u2019t perfect, I\u2019m proud to see many of these policy changes included in the bill. I\u2019ll continue to look out for our soldiers and their families at Fort Bragg and across the district.\u201d\n\nAllowing Service Members Recourse in DOD Medical Malpractice\n\nEarlier this year, Rep. Hudson introduced the bipartisan Sergeant First Class Richard Stayskal Military Medical Accountability Act of 2019, a bill named after a Moore County constituent and veteran. Today\u2019s NDAA includes a provision he helped secure based on this legislation to allow service members to seek compensation for medical malpractice unrelated to their military duties and caused by a Department of Defense health care provider.\n\nWhile the NDAA does not fully repeal the Feres Doctrine, it authorizes the Secretary of Defense to allow, settle, and pay an administrative claim against the United States for personal injury or death of a member of the uniformed services that was the result of medical malpractice caused by a Department of Defense health care provider. For the first time since 1950, U.S. military personnel would have legal recourse to seek payment from the military in cases of medical malpractice.\n\nImproving Privatized Military Housing and Increasing Oversight and Accountability\n\nEarlier this year, Rep. Hudson introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Better Military Housing Act of 2019, legislation to improve oversight and bring much-needed transparency and accountability to military housing. Today\u2019s NDAA includes key provisions from Rep. Hudson\u2019s bill, including provisions to:\n\nEstablish an IG review of privatized military housing\n\nRequire the Services to establish a Tenant Bill of Rights that sets minimum acceptable livability standards, demands better communication, creates greater transparency, addresses establishment of a formal dispute resolution process, bans the use of non-disclosure agreements as a condition of moving out of military housing, and enhances protections against reprisal\n\nRequire the Department to establish a standardized assessment tool to be used in evaluating military housing for certain risks, including lead and mold;\n\nIncreases transparency for families by requiring disclosure of major repairs/remediation prior to lease signing\n\nRequire new quality control measures and increase health and hazard inspections\n\nAuthorize additional funding to ensure installation housing offices are properly staffed\n\nRep. Hudson continues to be in close contact with leaders at Fort Bragg and the Department of Defense. He remains committed to working closely with stakeholders to hold those accountable and fix this problem. He has toured military homes and engaged with many military families at Fort Bragg to make sure this legislation addresses their needs.\n\nModernizing and Improving Pay Allowance Continuation (PAC)\n\nPay Allowance Continuation (PAC) allows a soldier continuation of special pay during a portion of their rehabilitation time from wounds, injuries, and illnesses they have incurred in a combat operation or combat zone. The NDAA includes a modernization of pay and benefits for soldiers recovering from wounds sustained in combat. Over the past few years, medical capabilities have improved across special operations units to allow operators to receive world class treatment and rehabilitation services back at their home unit. This has allowed Green Berets from Fort Bragg to rehab while being reintegrated into their unit and being surrounded by their family and support network. Previously, these services would have only been available at an inpatient facility like Walter Reed. This amendment ensures that service members recovering from wounds continue to receive the additional pay they are entitled to until they are fit for duty.\n\nContributing to Healthy Communities and Addressing PFAS\n\nThe NDAA prohibits the use of firefighting foam containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) after October 1, 2024, with an exception for shipboard use, and immediately prohibits the uncontrolled release of fluorinated aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) and the use of AFFF in training exercises at military installations. The conference agreement encourages the Secretary of Defense to finalize cooperative agreements with states to address contamination by these substances and authorizes the National Guard to access Defense Environmental Remediation Account funds for the limited purpose of addressing PFOS and PFOA exposure and contamination resulting from National Guard activities in and around National Guard bases.\n\nProviding a Pay Raise for Troops\n\nToday\u2019s NDAA provides a 3.1% pay-raise for our troops \u2013 the largest increase in a decade.\n\nOverall, today\u2019s bipartisan NDAA authorizes $738 billion in defense funding and rejects numerous poison pills from Washington Democrats, such as restrictions on the President\u2019s authorities to secure our borders. It also:\n\nProvides the resources to continue to rebuild readiness, advance modernization of the nuclear triad, develop emerging technologies, enhance missile defense, and confront our adversaries\n\nMaintains long-standing prohibitions on transferring detainees from Guantanamo Bay and constructing detention facilities in the U.S.\n\nProvides an additional $5.3 billion in emergency funding for military installations damaged by natural disasters\n\nEstablishes the United States Space Force as the sixth branch of the military\n\nProvides up to 12 weeks of Paid Parental Leave for the Defense Department, Intelligence Community, and across the federal government, a key administration priority", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:45:33Z"], ["https://meadows.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3099", "Rep. Meadows Statement on President Trump\u2019s Executive Order Against Anti-Semitism", "2019-12-11", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Mark Meadows", "M001187", "meadows.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "RELEASE:\r\nRep. Meadows Statement on President Trump's Executive Order Against Anti-Semitism\r\nWashington, D.C. Today, Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC) praised President Trump's executive order taking action against anti-Semitism in the United States. The executive order adopts the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of anti-Semitism and provides important tools to protect American Jews being targeted by anti-Semitism.\r\nMeadows released the following statement on the order:\r\nToday, President Trump signed an executive order taking a new step to better protect Jewish Americans from anti-Semitic discrimination. This executive order clarifies that whenever anti-Semitic discrimination is based on race, color or national origin, Title VI anti-discrimination protections must apply. Anti-Semitism anywhere is unacceptable, and new steps to prevent it are unfortunately needed. I am glad to know that President Trump takes this very real issue to heart, and I am proud that our government is taking action to fight something so depraved. Anti-Semitism endangers millions of Americans, and we can never be complacent in our fight against it.\r\nIt should be noted that some reporting has suggested the executive order defines Judaism as a nationality. This is false. The order doesn't even define Judaism at all. Whenever anti-Semitic discrimination is based on race, color or national origin, Title VI protections should apply, and the executive order does so.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walker.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/walker-votes-give-military-servicemembers-historic-pay-raise", "Walker Votes to Give Military Servicemembers Historic Pay Raise", "2019-12-11", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Mark Walker", "W000819", "walker.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Representative Mark Walker (R-N.C.) today voted in support of the Conference Report to accompany S. 1790, the National Defense Authorization Act for FY20 (NDAA) to set the Department of Defense (DoD) policies and its annual budget. Walker served as a Conferee for this year's NDAA Conference Committee. The legislation passed in a 376-48 vote.\nNorth Carolina is the nation's most-military friendly state and as a leader in the conference for this defense bill, we have put North Carolina's military families first. The NDAA provides the largest pay raise in a decade for our servicemembers and provides for our most critical military programs and cutting edge equipment, Walker said. This legislation keeps America safer and stronger while fully equipping our military to complete their missions and advance our interests abroad.\nThis legislation authorizes and prioritizes funding for the DoD and military activities and construction, and prescribes military personnel strengths for Fiscal Year 2020. Major provisions of the legislation include:\n \n\t\t3.1% pay raise for American troops - the largest in a decade,\n\t\n\t\n\t\tEnhanced family benefits and support,\n\t\n\t\n\t\tAdditional resources for military readiness, including nuclear weapons modernization, F-35 procurement and new standards for aircraft carrier preparedness,\n\t\n\t\n\t\t$5.3 billion for emergency disaster recovery to restore installations, including those at Camp Lejeune, NC,\n\t\n\t\n\t\tProhibition on transferring Guantanamo Bay detainees to the U.S. mainland, and\n\t\n\t\n\t\tNo restrictions on the transfer authority for funds to be directed towards a border wall.\n\t\n \nYou can read the full text of the legislation here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2019/12/tillis-secures-1-8-billion-for-north-carolina-military-installations-in-defense-authorization-legislation", "Tillis Secures $1.8 Billion for North Carolina Military Installations in Defense-Authorization Legislation", "2019-12-11", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Includes Authorizing$1.235Billion for Hurricane Florence Recovery\r\nWASHINGTON, D.C. -Today, Senator Thom Tillis(R-NC),a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, securedtheauthorization of $1.821 billionforNorth Carolina military installations in the finalNational Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020. The legislation passed out of conference committee on a bipartisan basis includes funding for Hurricane Florence recovery.\r\nNorth Carolina's military installations continue to play a crucial role in protecting the United States against threats all across the world,said Senator Tillis.I'm proud that I was able to secure more than $1.8 billion in authorized funding for North Carolina, which will support our brave men and women in uniform and help Camp Lejeune recover from the devastation caused by Hurricane Florence.\r\nTotal Authorized Funding for North Carolina'sMilitary Installations - $1.821billion\r\nFY2020 Military Construction for North CarolinaInstallations\r\nCamp Lejeune - $238.06 million\r\n \r\nDef-Wide Camp Lejeune SOF Marine Raider Regiment HQ - $13.4M\r\nNavy Camp Lejeune 10th Marines Himars Complex - $35.11M\r\nNavy Camp Lejeune 2nd MARDIV/2nd MLG Ops Center Replacement - $60.13M\r\nNavy Camp Lejeune 2nd Radio BN Complex, Phase 2 (Inc) - $25.65M\r\nNavy Camp Lejeune ACV-AAV Maintenance Facility Upgrades - $11.57M\r\nNavy Camp Lejeune II MEF Operations Center Replacement - $92.2M\r\n \r\nMCAS Cherry Point - $251.72 million\r\n \r\nNavy MCAS Cherry Point Aircraft Maintenance Hangar (Inc) - $73.97M\r\nNavy MCAS Cherry Point ATC Tower & Airfield Operations - $61.34M\r\nNavy MCAS Cherry Point F-35 Training and Simulator Facility - $53.23M\r\nNavy MCAS Cherry PointFlightline Utility Modernization (Inc) - $51.86M\r\nNavy MCAS New River CH53K Cargo Loading Trainer - $11.32M\r\n \r\nFort Bragg  $96.6 million\r\n \r\nDining Facility - $12.5 M\r\nSOF Assessment and Selection Training Complex  $12.1 M\r\nSOF Human Platform-Force Generation Facility - $43 M\r\nSOF Operations Support Building - $29 M\r\n \r\nTotal MILCON Funding - $586.38 million\r\nFY2020 Military Construction for Hurricane Florence Recovery\r\nCamp Lejeune -$703.09 million\r\n \r\nNavy Camp Lejeune Courthouse Bay Fire Station Replacement - $21.336M\r\nNavy Camp Lejeune Hadnot Point Fire Station Replacement - $21.931M\r\nNavy Camp Lejeune Hadnot Point Mess Hall Replacement - $66.023M\r\nNavy Camp Lejeune II MEF Simulation/Training Center Replacement - $74.487M\r\nNavy Camp Lejeune LOGCOM CSP Warehouse Replacement - $35.874M\r\nNavy Camp Lejeune LSSS Facility Replacement - $26.815M\r\nNavy Camp Lejeune MC Advisor Battalion HQS Replacement - $30.109M\r\nNavy Camp Lejeune MCCSSS Log Ops School - $179.617M\r\nNavy Camp Lejeune MCES Applied Instruction Facility Replacement - $95.599M\r\nNavy Camp Lejeune NCIS Facilities Replacement - $22.594M\r\nNavy Camp Lejeune PMO Facility Replacement - $34.718M\r\nNavy Camp Lejeune WTBN Headquarters Replacement - $18.644M\r\nDef-Wide Camp Lejeune Ambulatory Care Center (Camp Geiger) - $17.821M\r\nDef-Wide Camp Lejeune Ambulatory Care Center (Camp Johnson) - $27.492M\r\nDef-Wide Camp Lejeune MARSOC ITC Team Facility Replacement - $30M\r\n \r\nMCAS Cherry Point - $66.551 million\r\n \r\nNavy MCAS Cherry Point Physical Security Compliance - $52.3M\r\nNavy MCAS Cherry Point BT11 Range Operations Center Replacement - $14.251M\r\n \r\nMCAS New River - $465.822M\r\n \r\nNavy MCAS New River C12W Aircraft Maintenance Hangar Replacement - $36.295M\r\nNavy MCAS New River Bachelor Enlisted Quarters Replacement - $62.104M\r\nNavy MCAS New River CNATT Classroom Building Replacement - $114.706M\r\nNavy MCAS New River CH53K Maintenance Hangar Replacement - $252.717M\r\n \r\nTotal Hurricane Florence Funding - $1.235billion\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2019/12/tillis-slams-doj-misconduct-during-hearing-with-ig-horowitz", "Tillis Slams DOJ Misconduct During Hearing With IG Horowitz", "2019-12-11", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), a member of Senate Judiciary Committee,questioned Inspector General Michael Horowitz over the alleged Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) abuse.\r\nIt seems to me that this organization, this closely held organization of highly educated, highly experienced people that I have to believe were handpicked for this process  they were picked because they had some of the best reputations in there  they had to know it was going to come to this, that it was going to be scrutinized,said Senator Tillis.Regardless of who the subject of the investigation was, if the names were changed and the parties were changed, we would still be here. And it looks like they were trying to skate along the edges and get away with it and I can't imagine they did it for any other reason than a political motivation.\r\n\"These people [at the DOJ] turning a blind eye to damning evidence [undermining the Steele Dossier] to serve as a basis to renewing the FISA warrants is just beyond my comprehension,Senator Tillis continued.The weight of the evidence in your report is pretty strong. I hope my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, when we take up impeachment next month, have that same standard for the weight of evidence we look at.\r\nWatch Senator TillisHERE.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://hudson.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=2593", "Hudson Secures Landmark Provision in NDAA Allowing Service Members Recourse in DOD Medical Malpractice", "2019-12-10", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Richard Hudson", "H001067", "hudson.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE \r\n\r\n\tDecember 10, 2019 \r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tHudson Secures Landmark Provision in NDAA Allowing Service Members Recourse in DOD Medical Malpractice\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  Today U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (R-NC), Fort Bragg's Congressman and a voice for veterans, released the following statement announcing the bipartisan Conference Report for the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) includes a provision he helped secure to allow service members to seek compensation for medical malpractice unrelated to their military duties and caused by a Department of Defense health care provider:\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tWhen I first met Rich and his family last year, I promised him I'd work hard to fix the injustice of the Feres Doctrine, said Rep. Hudson.This is a historic moment for Rich, his family and our men and women in uniform. It's about fairness and what's right, and I applaud Rich for his courage and tireless work to get this done. While there's still more work to do, this is a good start. I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation to help restore the civil rights of all service members.\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tRep. Hudson and SFC Stayskal.\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tAfter meeting with SFC Stayskal and hearing his story, Rep. Hudson introduced the bipartisan bill with his colleagues Reps. Jackie Speier (D-CA), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), and Charlie Crist (D-FL). Currently, the Feres Doctrine, which originated in a 1950 Supreme Court case, prevents service members from having their day in court when malpractice by military health care providers unconnected to combat results in severe injury or even death.\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tWhile the NDAA does not fully repeal the Feres Doctrine, it authorizes the Secretary of Defense to allow, settle, and pay an administrative claim against the United States for personal injury or death of a member of the uniformed services that was the result of medical malpractice caused by a Department of Defense health care provider. For the first time since 1950, U.S. military personnel would have legal recourse to seek payment from the military in cases of medical malpractice.\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tSFC Stayskal developed terminal lung cancer after being misdiagnosed in a military health facility.\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://hudson.house.gov/press-releases/hudson-secures-landmark-provision-in-ndaa-allowing-service-members-recourse-in-dod", "Hudson Secures Landmark Provision in NDAA Allowing Service Members Recourse in DOD Medical Malpractice", "2019-12-10", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Richard Hudson", "H001067", "hudson.house.gov", "hudson", "https://hudson.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nDecember 10, 2019\n\nHudson Secures Landmark Provision in NDAA Allowing Service Members Recourse in DOD Medical Malpractice\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (R-NC), Fort Bragg\u2019s Congressman and a voice for veterans, released the following statement announcing the bipartisan Conference Report for the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) includes a provision he helped secure to allow service members to seek compensation for medical malpractice unrelated to their military duties and caused by a Department of Defense health care provider:\n\n\u201cWhen I first met Rich and his family last year, I promised him I\u2019d work hard to fix the injustice of the Feres Doctrine,\u201d said Rep. Hudson. \u201cThis is a historic moment for Rich, his family and our men and women in uniform. It\u2019s about fairness and what\u2019s right, and I applaud Rich for his courage and tireless work to get this done. While there\u2019s still more work to do, this is a good start. I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation to help restore the civil rights of all service members.\u201d\n\nEarlier this year, Rep. Hudson introduced the bipartisan Sergeant First Class Richard Stayskal Military Medical Accountability Act of 2019, a bill named after a Moore County constituent and veteran.\n\nRep. Hudson and SFC Stayskal.\n\nAfter meeting with SFC Stayskal and hearing his story, Rep. Hudson introduced the bipartisan bill with his colleagues Reps. Jackie Speier (D-CA), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), and Charlie Crist (D-FL). Currently, the Feres Doctrine, which originated in a 1950 Supreme Court case, prevents service members from having their day in court when malpractice by military health care providers unconnected to combat results in severe injury or even death.\n\nWhile the NDAA does not fully repeal the Feres Doctrine, it authorizes the Secretary of Defense to allow, settle, and pay an administrative claim against the United States for personal injury or death of a member of the uniformed services that was the result of medical malpractice caused by a Department of Defense health care provider. For the first time since 1950, U.S. military personnel would have legal recourse to seek payment from the military in cases of medical malpractice.\n\nSFC Stayskal developed terminal lung cancer after being misdiagnosed in a military health facility.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:45:33Z"], ["https://rouzer.house.gov/press-releases?ID=C66EF648-716A-44B4-BF08-0C7AC1D99CE9", "Rouzer Statement on USMCA Agreement", "2019-12-10", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "David Rouzer", "R000603", "rouzer.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Facebook Icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tGoogle Plus Icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tInstagram Icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tLinkedIn Icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tTwitter Icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tYouTube Icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tVimeo Icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tClients Icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tEmail icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tMap Icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tPrint Icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tQuote Icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\ticon_share\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tCarousel Arrow - Left\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tCarousel Arrow - Right\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\tHome\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\tNews\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\tPress Releases\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t Print", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walker.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/walker-supports-future-act-boost-opportunities-hbcu-students-north", "Walker Supports FUTURE Act to Boost Opportunities for HBCU Students in North Carolina", "2019-12-10", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Mark Walker", "W000819", "walker.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Representative Mark Walker (R-N.C.) today released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Fostering Undergraduate Talent by Unlocking Resources for Education (FUTURE) Act in a 319-96 vote:\nOur economy is the envy of the world. Unemployment in all of our communities is the lowest it has ever been in my lifetime. We need to ensure that our education and job-training programs keep up with the demand for skilled workers and give our students the opportunity for a lifetime of peace and prosperity. As an advocate for historically black colleges, I am thankful Congress will send the FUTURE Act to the President's desk so we can uphold our commitment to HBCU students and institutions in North Carolina and across the country.\nThe legislation reauthorizes minority-serving institution (MSI) funding  including for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) like North Carolina A&T State University  within the Higher Education Act permanently.\n\n\nIn North Carolina, HBCUs are 16 percent of the four-year institutions but enroll 45 percent of all black undergraduates and award 43 percent of all black bachelor's degrees in the state. North Carolina's ten HBCUs generate $1.7 billion in total economic impact and 15,663 jobs for our local and regional economy.\n\n\nNationwide, HBCUs educate 300,000 students every year and contribute nearly $15 billion annually to our nation's economy. HBCUs have provided pathways of opportunity for millions of Americans, many of whom are first-generation college students and come from low-income backgrounds.\nThis Saturday, Walker will join the graduating class of Elizabeth City State University - one of North Carolina's great HBCUs - as their commencement speaker.\nI am humbled by this invitation and consider it a great honor transcending our political environment, Walker said.\nWalker joins U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) in hosting an annual event engaging with Presidents and Chancellors from HBCUs in an event called the HBCU Fly-In. Walker also joined U.S. Representative Alma Adams (D-N.C.) in creating the first-ever paid internship program on Capitol Hill for HBCU students  the HBCU Bi-Partisan Congressional Internship Program.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walker.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/walker-touts-usmca-success-president-trump-and-north-carolina", "Walker Touts USMCA as Success for President Trump and North Carolina", "2019-12-10", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Mark Walker", "W000819", "walker.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Representative Mark Walker (R-N.C.) today released the following statement on the United StatesMexicoCanada (USMCA) trade agreement:\n\"With billions in new economic growth and valuable North Carolina jobs that depend on trade with Canada and Mexico, the USMCA means our North Carolina farmers can grow more, our manufacturers can build more and our small businesses can thrive more. For more than a year, the USMCA trade deal was held hostage by House Democrats as they put political games over American workers for the purpose of denying President Trump this huge accomplishment. I can only hope the love for the American people will overshadow their disdain for President Trump.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2019/12/tillis-the-usmca-will-provide-boost-to-north-carolina", "Tillis: The USMCA Will Provide Boost To North Carolina", "2019-12-10", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. -Today, Senator Thom Tillis issued the following statement on the United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade deal:\r\nFor far too long, Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats have delayed the ratification of the USMCA and have obstructed President Trump's reform agenda with political exercises like their ongoing partisan impeachment attempt. I'm glad this unnecessary delay finally looks like it's over. President Trump promised to replace NAFTA with a better trade deal for American workers, and he deserves a tremendous amount of credit for negotiating the USMCA, which will provide a great boost to North Carolina's small businesses and hardworking farmers.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://hudson.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=2475", "Hudson Urges Army to End Ban on Religious Dog Tags", "2019-12-09", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Richard Hudson", "H001067", "hudson.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\r\n\r\n\tDecember 9, 2019\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tHudson Urges Army to End Ban on Religious Dog Tags\r\n\r\n\tHudson leads letter urging DOD to investigate, reverse decision & protect religious freedom\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tWASHINGTON, D.C. Today U.S. Representative RichardHudson(NC-08), Fort Bragg's Congressman, sent Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper a letter regarding recent reports the Department of the Army reversed its longstanding practice of allowing biblical references on Army-licensed products, including replica dog tags. Rep. Hudson spearheaded a letter with 14 of his colleagues urging Sec. Esper to investigate this matter, reverse the Army's decision, and continue to protect the religious freedom of our men and women in uniform.\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tRep. Hudson was joined by Representatives Jodey Arrington (TX-19), Dan Bishop (NC-09), Ted Budd (NC-13), Doug Collins (GA-09), Russ Fulcher (ID-01), Mark Green (TN-07), Vicky Hartzler (MO-04), Trent Kelly (MS-01), Barry Loudermilk (GA-11), John Moolenaar (MI-04), Greg Murphy (NC-03), Mike Rogers (AL-03), Mike Simpson (ID-02), and Mark Walker (NC-06).\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tThe text of the letter is below.\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tThe Honorable Mark T. Esper\r\n\r\n\tSecretary of Defense\r\n\r\n\t1000 Defense Pentagon\r\n\r\n\tWashington, DC 20301-1000\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tDear Secretary Esper,\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tWe write to you today to express our grave concerns about a recent decision by the Department of the Army to reverse its longstanding practice of allowing biblical references on Army-licensed products, including replica dog tags.\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tDuring the War on Terror, many soldiers have found hope and inspiration by carrying the simple reminder of their faith and service to our nation in the form of dog tags with biblical verses or references printed on them. Since 2002, the company Shields of Strength (SoS) has provided many of these products to service members and they have grown exponentially in popularity. In 2003, the Department of Defense formalized their relationship with SoS and began selling their products in Army and Air Force Exchanges. In 2012, the Army granted SoS a license to feature Army trademarks on its products and has since provided these products to service members all over the world.\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tUnfortunately, after the Army received a threatening letter from an atheist group bent on removing any form of faith in the military, they caved and told SoS to remove all biblical references from their products immediately. By doing so they have unconstitutionally discriminated against service members and created a hostility toward religion within the Army.\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tThe Constitution expressly prohibits the establishment of religion to include the disfavoring of certain religious views. Additionally, the First Amendment's Free Exercise Clause protects both individuals and private entities such as SoS. To be clear, no one was forced to buy, wear, or carry any of these products. It was solely based on an individual's choice to carry a simple yet powerful reminder of their faith.\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tWe understand that, above all else, you value the welfare of our men and women in uniform. Spiritual health is an important aspect of their overall wellbeing, and protecting the free exercise of religion is a critical pillar upon which our nation was founded - a right that generations have fought, and died, to uphold.\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tWe believe that each service member should have the ability to choose to engage or not to engage in such a simple act as carrying a faith based product. We urge you to investigate this matter, reverse the Army's decision, and continue to protect the religious freedom of our men and women in uniform.\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tSincerely,\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tRichard Hudson\r\n\r\n\tMember of Congress\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://hudson.house.gov/press-releases/hudson-urges-army-to-end-ban-on-religious-dog-tags", "Hudson Urges Army to End Ban on Religious Dog Tags", "2019-12-09", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Richard Hudson", "H001067", "hudson.house.gov", "hudson", "https://hudson.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nDecember 9, 2019\n\nHudson Urges Army to End Ban on Religious Dog Tags\n\nHudson leads letter urging DOD to investigate, reverse decision & protect religious freedom\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08), Fort Bragg\u2019s Congressman, sent Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper a letter regarding recent reports the Department of the Army reversed its longstanding practice of allowing biblical references on Army-licensed products, including replica dog tags. Rep. Hudson spearheaded a letter with 14 of his colleagues urging Sec. Esper \u201cto investigate this matter, reverse the Army\u2019s decision, and continue to protect the religious freedom of our men and women in uniform.\u201d\n\nRep. Hudson was joined by Representatives Jodey Arrington (TX-19), Dan Bishop (NC-09), Ted Budd (NC-13), Doug Collins (GA-09), Russ Fulcher (ID-01), Mark Green (TN-07), Vicky Hartzler (MO-04), Trent Kelly (MS-01), Barry Loudermilk (GA-11), John Moolenaar (MI-04), Greg Murphy (NC-03), Mike Rogers (AL-03), Mike Simpson (ID-02), and Mark Walker (NC-06).\n\nThe text of the letter is below.\n\nThe Honorable Mark T. Esper\n\nSecretary of Defense\n\n1000 Defense Pentagon\n\nWashington, DC 20301-1000\n\nDear Secretary Esper,\n\nWe write to you today to express our grave concerns about a recent decision by the Department of the Army to reverse its longstanding practice of allowing biblical references on Army-licensed products, including replica dog tags.\n\nDuring the War on Terror, many soldiers have found hope and inspiration by carrying the simple reminder of their faith and service to our nation in the form of dog tags with biblical verses or references printed on them. Since 2002, the company Shields of Strength (SoS) has provided many of these products to service members and they have grown exponentially in popularity. In 2003, the Department of Defense formalized their relationship with SoS and began selling their products in Army and Air Force Exchanges. In 2012, the Army granted SoS a license to feature Army trademarks on its products and has since provided these products to service members all over the world.\n\nUnfortunately, after the Army received a threatening letter from an atheist group bent on removing any form of faith in the military, they caved and told SoS to remove all biblical references from their products immediately. By doing so they have unconstitutionally discriminated against service members and created a hostility toward religion within the Army.\n\nThe Constitution expressly prohibits the establishment of religion to include the disfavoring of certain religious views. Additionally, the First Amendment\u2019s Free Exercise Clause protects both individuals and private entities such as SoS. To be clear, no one was forced to buy, wear, or carry any of these products. It was solely based on an individual\u2019s choice to carry a simple yet powerful reminder of their faith.\n\nWe understand that, above all else, you value the welfare of our men and women in uniform. Spiritual health is an important aspect of their overall wellbeing, and protecting the free exercise of religion is a critical pillar upon which our nation was founded - a right that generations have fought, and died, to uphold.\n\nWe believe that each service member should have the ability to choose to engage or not to engage in such a simple act as carrying a faith based product. We urge you to investigate this matter, reverse the Army\u2019s decision, and continue to protect the religious freedom of our men and women in uniform.\n\nSincerely,\n\nRichard Hudson\n\nMember of Congress", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:45:33Z"], ["https://meadows.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3098", "Meadows Statement on IG Report", "2019-12-09", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Mark Meadows", "M001187", "meadows.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "RELEASE:\r\nMeadows Statement on IG Report\r\nWashington, D.C. Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC) released the following statement after reviewing the Office of the Inspector General's report on FISA applications and other areas of the FBI's Crossfire Hurricane investigation:\r\nThe Inspector General's report is a damning indictment of former senior FBI and DOJ officials who repeatedly broke the rules to investigate Americans associated with Donald Trumpa Presidential candidate they opposed.\r\nThe report is as disturbing as we expectedand in many ways it's worse, given the false preemptive leaks that permeated the media the last several weeks. It outlines disturbing details of the FBI's errors and malfeasance at every level of their decision to investigate individuals in the Trump campaign. These include the FBI's failure to properly vet the accuracy of FISA applications, knowingly withholding exculpatory information, using 'defensive briefings' to secretly investigate individuals in the Trump campaign, recording individuals within the campaign, and more.\r\nTime and time again, these errors were emblematic of a culture where senior officials broke rules, bypassed procedures, and used faulty information  all in a manner that worked directly against the Trump campaign. By any metric, their conduct is totally unacceptable.\r\nIn light of the report, FBI Director Wray has indicated he is totally committed to reforming the agency and making sure this never happens again, including as many as 40 specific steps the agency plans to take. He should be commended for this, and I look forward to hopefully working with him to do so. It should be noted that the apparent plans for reform should cast an exposing light on any assertion that the former officials implicated in this reported are somehow vindicated. They are not vindicated, as anyone who reads the report can see.\r\nNow, as we await John Durham's investigation of a more criminal nature, Congress should allow Michael Horowitz to testify and explain his findings. This should happen immediately. I hope my Democrat colleagues, who have lately shown a lot of concern for allegations thin on evidence, will show the same concern for conduct where real evidence exists.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2019/12/tillis-statement-on-department-of-justice-inspector-general-report-on-fisa-abuse-investigation", "Tillis Statement on Department of Justice Inspector General Report on FISA Abuse Investigation", "2019-12-09", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Tillis: The results of the Inspector General report are deeply disturbing, revealing numerous missteps and interference during the FBI's investigation into President Trump and raising serious questions about the competency, integrity, and impartiality of some elements of the Department of Justice.\r\nWASHINGTON, D.C.Today, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement on the Department of Justice Inspector General's report on FISA abuse investigation:\r\nThe initial results of the Inspector General report are deeply disturbing, revealing numerous missteps and interference during the FBI's investigation into President Trump and raising serious questions about the competency, integrity, and impartiality of some elements of the Department of Justice. The American people deserve answers to these alarming revelations. I look forward to the upcoming release of U.S. Attorney John Durham's investigation into the origins of the Russia investigation, and I'm committed to doing everything I can to make sure this kind of misconduct is never repeated in the future.\r\nThe Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on Wednesday to hear testimony from Inspector General Michael Horowitz and examine his report on FISA abuses.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2019/12/tillis-urges-fcc-to-prioritize-rural-broadband", "Tillis Urges FCC to Prioritize Rural Broadband", "2019-12-09", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Today, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), along with Senator John Thune (R-SD), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and 46 Senate colleagues, sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) urging the Commission to prioritize sustainable rural broadband networks as the FCC considers new rules in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) proceeding.\r\nWith so many North Carolinians living in rural parts of the state, it's more important than ever to fight for those who do not have access to high speed, quality broadband, said Senator Tillis. We are moving more into a digital age, which is why it's simply not right for those in urban areas to have access to resources that others in rural areas do not. We must level the playing field which is why this continues to be one of my top priorities. As the FCC considers new rules, I hope they consider the millions of Americans who desperately need reliable broadband networks.\r\nFull text of the letter below:\r\nThe Honorable Ajit Pai\r\nChairman, Federal Communications Commission\r\n445 12th Street Southwest\r\nWashington, D.C. 20554 \r\nDear Chairman Pai:\r\nAs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) considers new rules in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund proceeding, we write to emphasize the importance of sustainable networks that meet the needs of consumers now and in the future.\r\nGiven that the FCC plays a critical role in connecting rural communities to high-speed internet through the universal service fund (USF), we encourage the FCC to make the most efficient and effective use of those funds. Any large-scale infrastructure project requires reasonable planning that takes account not only of current needs, but also of projected demands over the life of the asset being funded; and the distribution of USF should be no different. For broadband specifically, this requires that networks, built using USF, must be capable of delivering speeds, latency, and usage capacity according to what the FCC deems necessary to meet the needs of consumers over the next decade.\r\nIf our rural communities are to survive and flourish, our rural constituents need access to services that are on par with those in urban areas. By contrast, it would be an inefficient use of resources to promote services that cannot keep pace with consumer demand and the evolution of broadband in urban areas. As the FCC moves forward to adopt new rules in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund proceeding, we urge you to promote the deployment of networks that will be sustainable even as new advancements are made and are capable of delivering the best level of broadband access for the available USF budget for many years to come.\r\nSimilarly, we believe it is important for the FCC to be responsible for USF resources and ensure that those parties receiving such support can deliver on the commitments they make. This requires monitoring and reporting once USF support is received to guarantee it is being used as intended. The FCC should also make sure before the auction occurs that the participants in the auction can successfully deliver on their promises. If a party is incapable of delivering broadband as promised, the American ratepayer loses twice over  first for having contributed sums that did not go toward the deployment of broadband as hoped, and then again for those ratepayers who reside in the area that ended up not receiving the promised service. It is therefore critical that any use of an auction to distribute USF support include meaningful processes upfront to prequalify bidders. This should apply to all bidders, regardless of the technology they propose to use or the performance levels they promise to deliver.\r\nThank you for your work to deploy reliable broadband networks in rural America. We look forward to working with you to help close the digital divide and provide rural American consumers with the same kinds of digital opportunities that many others take for granted.\r\nSincerely,\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://hudson.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=2316", "Hudson Statement on Holding Retirement", "2019-12-06", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Richard Hudson", "H001067", "hudson.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\r\n\r\n\tDecember 6, 2019\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tHudson Statement on Holding Retirement\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tWASHINGTON, D.C.- Today, U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08) released the following statement on the retirement of Rep. George Holding (NC-02):\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tGeorge Holding is one of the finest individuals and most outstanding legislators to ever serve in the U.S. Congress. His retirement is a loss for the state of North Carolina. It has been an honor serving with George who has become a dear and trusted friend, said Rep. Hudson.As a leader on the Ways and Means Committee, George has accomplished big things  lowering taxes on hardworking families, fighting for our farmers and rural communities, and protecting innovation in health care. Renee and I wish George, Lucy and their family all the best in this next chapter of their lives.\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://hudson.house.gov/press-releases/hudson-statement-on-holding-retirement", "Hudson Statement on Holding Retirement", "2019-12-06", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Richard Hudson", "H001067", "hudson.house.gov", "hudson", "https://hudson.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nDecember 6, 2019\n\nHudson Statement on Holding Retirement\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08) released the following statement on the retirement of Rep. George Holding (NC-02):\n\n\u201cGeorge Holding is one of the finest individuals and most outstanding legislators to ever serve in the U.S. Congress. His retirement is a loss for the state of North Carolina. It has been an honor serving with George who has become a dear and trusted friend,\u201d said Rep. Hudson. \u201cAs a leader on the Ways and Means Committee, George has accomplished big things \u2013 lowering taxes on hardworking families, fighting for our farmers and rural communities, and protecting innovation in health care. Renee and I wish George, Lucy and their family all the best in this next chapter of their lives.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:45:33Z"], ["https://meadows.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3095", "Rep. Meadows Pursuing Solutions to Rising Prescription Drug Costs", "2019-12-06", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Mark Meadows", "M001187", "meadows.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "RELEASE:\r\nRep. Meadows Pursuing Solutions to Rising Prescription Drug Costs\r\nWashington, D.C. This week, Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC) sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about barriers to market access for low-cost generic prescription medications and possible solutions to rising prescription drug costs.\r\nUnder President Trump, the FDA has expedited the approval process for a record-breaking number of generic and biosimilar pharmaceutical products. Unfortunately, many of these lower-cost alternatives have not made it to the market because of anti-competitive barriers to market access. In a letter sent on December 5, 2019, Rep. Meadows expressed his concern over anti-competitive practices, such as patent gaming, that are keeping low-cost prescription drugs off the market, as well as the need for statutory and regulatory resolutions to address this problem. \r\nThe text of Rep. Meadows letter can be found here.\r\nRep. Meadows released the following statement on the letter:\r\nAmericans continue to bear the burden of rising prescription drug costs, and Congress must make the accessibility of affordable drugs a top priority. Anti-competitive practices are keeping Americans from accessing life-saving medications at affordable prices. I am ready to take more actions to address the important issue of rising prescription drug prices, and I look forward to partnering with the FDA and FTC to bring about the best outcomes for seniors and patients in Western North Carolina and across the country.\r\nTo read about additional actions Rep. Meadows has taken to address prescription drug costs, click here and here. \r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2019/12/tillis-sinema-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-requiring-the-va-to-provide-support-for-outgoing-servicemembers", "Tillis & Sinema Introduce Bipartisan Legislation Requiring the VA to Provide Support for Outgoing Servicemembers", "2019-12-06", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Home\n                        \n                                            \n                            News\n                        \n                                            \n                            Press Releases\n                        \n                                     \n            \n        \n        \n            \n    \n        \n        \n    \n                This week, SenatorsThom Tillis (R-NC) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ)introduced bipartisan legislationthat would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to create networks of support for servicemembers transitioning to civilian life.TheSgt. Daniel Somers Veterans Network of Support Actwill allow active duty servicemembers leaving the service to designate up to 10 loved ones to receive information from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) on benefits and services available to veterans and their loved ones from the VA and community partners. By directly engaging families and loved ones, the VA can prepare and equip veterans' friends and families to better understand the transition from service to civilian life, notice when veterans struggle, and ensure they have access to the necessary tools to help veterans get assistance or care.The brave men and women who served our country were faced with challenging situations that many are still coping with and we must make sure they have the resources they need to get the appropriate care,said Senator Tillis. One aspect of achieving that goal is ensuring they have a support system of family and loved ones to help them in times of need, and this bipartisan legislation will require the VA to create that network of support so families are engaged and aware of the resources available to veterans.Troops leaving military service face confusing and complicated red tape when navigating their veterans benefits. Educating and empowering our veterans' loved ones about the resources available will ensure veterans never feel alone and get the support and benefits they've earned,said Senator Sinema.The Sgt. Daniel Somers Veterans Network of Support Actis cosponsored by Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY). Congressman Scott Peters (D-CA) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://rouzer.house.gov/press-releases?ID=CDD633BA-2589-4CA2-A576-68E075B47DB1", "Rouzer Statement on Pelosi Impeachment Announcement", "2019-12-05", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "David Rouzer", "R000603", "rouzer.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Facebook Icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tGoogle Plus Icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tInstagram Icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tLinkedIn Icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tTwitter Icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tYouTube Icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tVimeo Icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tClients Icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tEmail icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tMap Icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tPrint Icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tQuote Icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\ticon_share\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tCarousel Arrow - Left\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tCarousel Arrow - Right\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\tHome\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\tNews\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\tPress Releases\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t Print", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walker.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/walker-introduces-resolution-force-senate-democrats-running-president", "Walker Introduces Resolution to Force Senate Democrats Running for President to Recuse from Impeachment Hearings", "2019-12-05", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Mark Walker", "W000819", "walker.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Representative Mark Walker (R-N.C.) today introduced a resolution with U.S. Representative Jason Smith (R-Mo.) to urge the U.S. Senate to change its rules to require any U.S. Senators running for President to recuse themselves from an impeachment trial.\nUnless it benefitted their fundraising or propped up their campaign issues page, the Senate Democrats running for President have ignored their day job and their constituents, Walker said. Suddenly returning to Washington in pursuit of their Spartacus moment' is an embarrassment to our standards of judicial impartiality and a poor excuse for public service. Every Senate Democrat who filed for President should recuse themselves from impeachment proceedings; they have devoted themselves to replacing Donald Trump at the ballot box and are incapable of rendering an impartial verdict in an impeachment trial.\nCurrently, Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) are seeking the Democratic nomination for President.\nCurrent U.S. Senate rules require the Vice-President to recuse himself from his position as President of the Senate during an impeachment trial due to a clear conflict of interest. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court assumes this role to ensure impartiality over impeachment trials. This resolution would hold U.S. Senators seeking election to become President.\nJust how the Founding Fathers understood the clear conflict of interests that the Vice President would have in an impeachment proceeding, there too exists a conflict of interest for a number of Senators who are trying to become their party's nominee and face Trump at the ballot box, Smith said. This resolution is about fairness. No Senator should participate in this trial when they are able to abuse their power in the United States Senate by attempting to remove their political opponent and help their own political ambitions.\nThis resolution is cosponsored by U.S. Representatives Ted Yoho (R-Fla.), Phil Roe (R-Tenn.), Denver Riggleman (R-Va.), Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), Ron Wright (R-Texas), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-Mo.), Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) , Billy Long (R-Mo.), Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.), Jodey Arrington (R-Texas.), Brian Babin (R-Texas), Scott DesJarlais (R-Iowa), Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas), Michael Guest (R-Miss.), Kevin Hern (R-Okla.), Jim Banks (R-Ind.), Rick Crawford (R-Ark.), Jeff Duncan (R-S.C), Jody Hice (R-Ga.), Mike Waltz (R-Fla.), Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) and Austin Scott (R-Ga.).  \n\t\nFull text of the resolution can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walker.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/walker-urges-state-department-designate-mexican-drug-cartels-foreign", "Walker Urges State Department to Designate Mexican Drug Cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations", "2019-12-05", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Mark Walker", "W000819", "walker.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Representative Mark Walker (R-N.C.) today joined U.S. Representative Chip Roy (R-Texas) and U.S. Representative Mark Green (R-Tenn.) in sending a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo urging the Department of State's Bureau of Counterterrorism to expeditiously designate Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs).\nThink about this: a Mexican state that shares a 230-mile border with the U.S. holds the same State Department travel warning as Iran and Syria  both state sponsors of terrorism  because of their rampant and violent cartels, Walker said. Just like terrorist organizations, these cartels commit appalling acts of violence and executions to instill fear and they are doing it just miles from American soil. While House Democrats ignore the security crisis at our border and feen over their impeachment obsession, we need to make sure the Administration is using every tool at its disposal to keep American families safe.\nThere is no doubt that dangerous Mexican drug cartels are threats to both Americans and Mexicans alike. Recent events remind us of the threat they pose, and the need for action. We have a responsibility to stop these groups from harming Americans - which they are doing on a daily basis, while politically destabilizing our neighbor, murdering Mexican politicians and law enforcement personnel, and trafficking human beings and drugs across our southern border, Rep. Roy said. I was proud to introduce legislation earlier this year requesting Sec. Pompeo designate certain Mexican drug cartel factions Foreign Terrorist Organizations. I'm thankful for Rep. Mark Walker, who is joining Rep. Mark Green and I in leading the effort to ensure the United States can use all tools at our disposal to target these cartels. We will not stand idly by while Americans and our neighbors in Mexico are suffering at the hands of these dangerous groups.\nI'm honored to join Rep. Walker and Rep. Roy to continue to urge the State Department to label Mexico's drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. These cartels use brutal ISIS and al Qaeda terrorist tactics to murder and torture innocent American citizens, Mexican civilians, and migrants, Rep. Green said. They destabilize countries, assassinate members of law enforcement, and traffic in dangerous narcotics. It's past time to call them what they areand end this assault on our Nation's families and communities.\nWalker sent the State Department a similar letter earlier this year and received a response detailing the Administration's efforts to deem these groups as such. However, recent events have made this designation even more significant.\nRead the full letter here or below:\nDear Mr. Secretary:\nThank you for your response letter in July on the issue of designating certain Mexican cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs). We are appreciative of and encouraged by the Administration's recent statements regarding plans to deem these groups as such. Recent events remind us of the need to address the threat they pose, which is why we write today to strongly urge the Department of State's Bureau of Counterterrorism to label these groups as FTOs as expediently as possible. While there are many of these criminal entities present in Mexico, four major cartels use extreme terrorist tactics to exert both political and economic influence throughout the country. As a result, the Sinaloa Cartel, the Jalisco New Generation, the Gulf Cartel, and Los Zetas Cartel endanger United States citizens and threaten our country's national security. This designation would help U.S. efforts to limit the groups' power and control and protect American citizens.\nThese four cartels meet the three criteria required to be labeled as FTOs by the U.S. government. All are based in and operated from different regions within Mexico, meeting the standard that they must be foreign entities. Cartels engage in several of the terrorist activities defined under Section 212 (a)(3)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(3)(B)), another requirement for the State Department to designate an organization. There are countless cases of these groups kidnapping individuals as well as using various types of weapons to harm civilians to name a few examples.\nThe goal of these four cartels' attacks is that of a terror group - to instill fear and exert as much power and control over the Mexican people and their government as possible. Unfortunately, employing more heinous tactics has led to their increasing success. In fact, a map recently prepared by the Mexican government and President Andrs Manuel Lpez Obrador to fight organized crimes shows that over 80% of regions are either in disputed or complete cartel control, with many of the areas being key smuggling routes and border towns.\nPerhaps the most important criterion to be labeled as an FTO is threat to the security of U.S. nationals and economic interests of our nation. There is substantial risk to American lives from these four organizations. In fact, the State Department issued a Do Not Travel' Advisory for five Mexican states, including one that shares a 230-mile border with the United States, due to risk of violent crime such as homicide, kidnapping and more  the same level as Syria and Afghanistan.\nThe most recent activity from these cartels highlights how their acts affect the American public and serves as an impetus for writing to you today. Earlier this month, three American mothers and their six children were ambushed and killed by the Sinaloa Cartel in the Mexican state of Sonora. This brutal attack follows the international outrage earlier this year after a string of violent attacks and murders in resort towns where tourists regularly visit such as Cancun and Tulum.\nAs sponsors and cosponsors of H.R. 1700, a bill calling for designating certain cartels as FTOs, we are confident this action will help to weaken the groups and combat their illicit activities. As demonstrated above, these organizations engage a wide range of crimes through various terror tactics and activities. If the cartels are classified as FTOs, it would provide a legal justification to prosecute someone for knowingly providing material support or resources to the four cartels and would also require financial institutions to freeze all assets of the groups. Additionally, once these cartels are labeled as an FTO, their members are inadmissible to the U.S. and under certain circumstances are removable from the U.S  something we all agree should be done.\nThank you for your work over the last year and a half to advance American interests abroad and protect our nation from a wide range of existential risks. Cartels engage in a wide range of crimes, from kidnapping and murder to human trafficking and drug smuggling, and we again thank the Administration for indicating plans to label these groups what they are: terrorist organizations. Doing so as quickly as possible would be a major step forward to protect U.S. national security and save American citizens' lives. Thank you for your consideration.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.burr.senate.gov/press/releases/senate-confirms-richard-e-myers-to-serve-as-district-judge-for-eastern-north-carolina-in-historic-vote", "Senate Confirms Richard E. Myers to Serve as District Judge for Eastern North Carolina in Historic Vote", "2019-12-05", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Richard Burr", "B001135", "www.burr.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.05.19\n\t\t\t Senate Confirms Richard E. Myers to Serve as District Judge for Eastern North Carolina in Historic Vote \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tToday, Senators Richard Burr (R-NC) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) voted to confirm Professor Richard E. Myers to serve as a U.S. District Judge for Eastern North Carolina. Professor Myers was confirmed by the Senate on a strong bipartisan vote of 68-21.\r\nProfessor Myers is well-qualified, widely respected, and an excellent choice for the Eastern District of North Carolina,said Senator Burr. I am grateful that even after so many years of public service, in roles as an Assistant U.S. Attorney and now a distinguished educator, Professor Myers is still answering the call to service today. I was pleased to support his nomination, and to see the Senate confirm a brilliant legal scholar to the bench.\r\nI want to congratulate Richard Myers on his confirmation as the Eastern District Judge of North Carolina,said Senator Tillis.His extensive experience is the reason President Trump nominated him to fill the vacancy and I have no doubt he will serve the people of Eastern North Carolina well. I am proud I was able to support his nomination out of the Judiciary Committee and I applaud my colleagues for confirming this well-qualified nominee.\"\r\n\r\nSens. Burr and Tillis speak on the Senate floor ahead of Professor Myers' confirmation vote today.\r\nAhead of the Senate's confirmation vote,Senators Burr and Tillis both spoke on the Senate floorin support of Professor Myers' nomination.\r\nSenator BurrintroducedProfessor Myers at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on September 11, 2019.\r\nAt therecommendation of Senators Burr and Tillis, President Trump nominated Professor Myers on August 14, 2019.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2019/12/senate-confirms-richard-e-myers-to-serve-as-district-judge-for-eastern-north-carolina-in-historic-vote", "Senate Confirms Richard E. Myers to Serve as District Judge for Eastern North Carolina in Historic Vote", "2019-12-05", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Today, Senators Richard Burr (R-NC) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) voted to confirm Professor Richard E. Myers to serve as a U.S. District Judge for Eastern North Carolina. Professor Myers was confirmed by the Senate on a strong bipartisan vote of 68-21.\r\nProfessor Myers is well-qualified, widely respected, and an excellent choice for the Eastern District of North Carolina,said Senator Burr. I am grateful that even after so many years of public service, in roles as an Assistant U.S. Attorney and now a distinguished educator, Professor Myers is still answering the call to service today. I was pleased to support his nomination, and to see the Senate confirm a brilliant legal scholar to the bench.\r\nI want to congratulate Richard Myers on his confirmation as the Eastern District Judge of North Carolina,said Senator Tillis.His extensive experience is the reason President Trump nominated him to fill the vacancy and I have no doubt he will serve the people of Eastern North Carolina well. I am proud I was able to support his nomination out of the Judiciary Committee and I applaud my colleagues for confirming this well-qualified nominee.\r\n\r\nSens. Burr and Tillis speak on the Senate floor ahead of Professor Myers' confirmation vote today.\r\n\r\nAhead of the Senate's confirmation vote,Senators Burr and Tillis both spoke on the Senate floorin support of Professor Myers' nomination.\r\n\r\nSenator BurrintroducedProfessor Myers at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on September 11, 2019.\r\n\r\nAt therecommendation of Senators Burr and Tillis, President Trump nominated Professor Myers on August 14, 2019.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2019/12/senate-passes-bipartisan-legislation-with-tillis-co-sponsored-provisions-to-fund-american-hbcus-and-msis", "Senate Passes Bipartisan Legislation with Tillis Co-Sponsored Provisions to Fund American HBCUs and MSIs", "2019-12-05", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Legislation provides $255 million annually for HBCUs and Minority Serving Institutions\r\n\r\nWASHINGTON, D.C.- Today, the U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan amendment to the House-passed FUTURE Act co-sponsored by Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) to make permanent $255 million in annual funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Serving Institutions (MSI), simplify the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for 20 million American families, and streamline income-driven repayment for nearly 8 million borrowers.Senator Tillis was also a co-sponsor of the FAFSA Act that was included in the legislation.\r\nHBCUs play an important role in developing a strong, diverse workforce in North Carolina and across the country,said Senator Tillis.I am proud the Senate was able to come together on a bipartisan basis to permanently reauthorize annual funding for HBCUs and MSIs so we can provide certainty to these institutions and help millions of students.\r\nBackground on theAmendment:\r\n \r\nPermanently reauthorizes and provides $255 million in annual mandatory funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other Minority Serving Institutions\r\nIs fully paid for by including the FAFSA Act which passed the Senate unanimously last year and which:\r\n\r\nAllows Providing Tax Information only OnceStudents do not have to give their tax information to the federal government twice\r\nEliminates up to 22 QuestionsStudents give permission to the Department of Education to request tax return data already given to the Internal Revenue Service, which reduces the 108 questions on the FAFSA by up to 22 questions\r\nEliminates Verification NightmareFor most students, eliminates so-called verification which is a bureaucratic nightmare that 5.5 million students go through annually to make sure the information they gave to the Department of Education is exactly the same as they gave to the IRS\r\nEliminates $6 Billion in MistakesAccording to the Department of Education, helps taxpayers by eliminating up to $6 billion each year in mistakes (both overpayments and underpayments) in Pell grants and student loans\r\nEnables 7 million applicants who are currently unable to access their IRS data for their FAFSA to verify that they do not file taxes without requesting separate documentation from the IRS\r\nStreamlines income driven repayment by eliminating burdensome annual paperwork for 7.7 million federal student loan borrowers on income-driven plans\r\n\r\n\r\nAccording to the Congressional Budget Office, the FAFSA Act saves taxpayers $2.8 billion over ten years which will be used to pay for the permanent funding for HBCUs and other minority-serving institutions.\r\n \r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2019/12/tillis-coons-cassidy-hirono-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-seize-counterfeit-products-and-protect-american-consumers-and-businesses", "Tillis, Coons, Cassidy & Hirono Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Seize Counterfeit Products and Protect American Consumers and Businesses", "2019-12-05", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.CToday, U.S. Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Chris Coons (D-DE), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) introduced bipartisan legislation to authorize U.S. Customs and Border Protection to seize imported merchandise that infringes a design patentand harms U.S. consumers and businesses.\r\nAccording to a recentstudy, the estimated value of international and domestic trade in counterfeit and pirated goodswas over $1 trillion in 2013 and the estimated value is projected to reach nearly $2 trillion in 2022. TheCounterfeit GoodsSeizure Act of 2019would help reduce the flow of counterfeit goods entering the United States and protect U.S. consumers and businessesfrom dangerous, harmful, and illegal products.\r\nThe inflow of counterfeit goodsinto the United States is an issue that affects American consumers and businesses alike and results inthe American economy losingbillions of dollarsevery year,said Senator Tillis.I am proud to introduce thisbipartisan legislation to give U.S. Customs and Border Protection the authority to seize merchandise that infringes on design patents so we can take steps to stem the flow of counterfeit goods and protect American interests.\r\nCounterfeit goods brought into the United States from overseas cheat Americans who don't get the products they expect with their money,said Senator Coons.They also pose serious safety risks, line the pockets of organized crime, damage the reputations of legitimate American businesses, and rob them of hard-earned revenue. I am proud to introduce this bipartisan bill that will empower U.S. Customs and Border Protection to seize products for design patent infringement and safeguard American businesses and consumers.\r\nCounterfeit products undermine American businesses and put families in danger,said Dr. Cassidy.Criminal organizations sell counterfeit goods to fund illegal activity. This Legislation better enables American law enforcement to combat criminal groups and protect Americans.\r\nCounterfeit products from China and other countries flood our country at an alarming rate. These products steal sales from American companies and damage the brands those companies have worked so hard to build. Even more concerning, counterfeit products put the health and well-being of American consumers at risk,Senator Hirono said.While Customs and Border Protection has the authority to seize products that infringe copyrights and trademarks at the border, it lacks this same authority for products that infringe a design patent. Counterfeiters exploit this loophole by importing counterfeit products separately from labels containing an infringing trademark, only attaching the label once the counterfeit product has cleared customs. The Counterfeit Goods Seizure Act of 2019 closes this loophole by giving CBP the authority to seize counterfeit products that infringe design patents at the border. This simple change will go a long way toward protecting American consumers and businesses from harm.\r\nThe Intellectual Property Owners Association and American Intellectual Property Law Association wrote a letter of supporthere. The International Trademark Association also wrote a letter of supporthere.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://budd.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=715", "U.S. Rep. Ted Budd Secures FTA Grant for Salisbury", "2019-12-04", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "budd.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Rep. Ted Budd Secures FTA Grant for Salisbury \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        December 4, 2019\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      Washington D.C.  Today, U.S. Representative Ted Budd (NC-13) announced that the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has awarded the City of Salisbury, NC a $480,000 grant to improve the city's outdated public buses.\r\nRep. Budd secured the funding through the FTA Buses and Bus Facilities Program.  \r\n\r\nRep. Budd said in a statement:\r\nI'm thrilled that the FTA awarded these funds to Salisbury. This grant will go a long way to improve public safety and allow the city to modernize its fleet of vehicles. I'm committed to making it easier for folks to travel around our community for work or to spend time with their friends and families, and that's what this grant will help accomplish.  \r\n\r\nRead the grant award notice HERE.\r\n\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walker.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/walker-joins-house-administration-telling-house-democrats-put-election", "Walker Joins House Administration in Telling House Democrats to Put Election Security Ahead of Politics", "2019-12-04", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Mark Walker", "W000819", "walker.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Representative Mark Walker (R-N.C.) sent a letter, along with his Republican colleagues on the House Committee on House Administration, urging House Democrats and committee leadership to prioritize bi-partisan election security reform over the impeachment proceedings. It is time to get back to work for the American people and finish what they sent us here to do, said Walker. Rather than focusing on real solutions to protect the integrity of our elections, House Democrats would rather satisfy their impeachment obsession at the expense of our national security and the faith in our elections. The letter, also signed by U.S. Representative Rodney Davis (R-Ill.), Ranking Member of the House Committee on House Administration, and U.S. Representative Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.), outlines the priorities the minority Members of the Committee would like to focus on ahead of the 2020 elections. These priorities include hearings on bi-partisan election security legislation, oversight of the Federal Election Commission (FEC), social media companies, and preventing foreign interference in elections. This letter follows Walker's co-sponsorships of the Election Security Assistance Act and the Honest Elections Act. The Election Security Assistance Act would provide federal grants to states to update their infrastructure, empower state officials by increasing reporting requirements to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and increase resources for election officials to connect state and officials with leading election cybersecurity experts. The Honest Elections Act would strengthen the Foreign Agent Registration Act, modernize online political ads disclosures, and provide further protections against foreign interference in U.S. elections. Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Chairperson Lofgren (D-Calif.) have not taken up either bill for consideration at this time. Click here or see below for the full text of the letter. The Honorable Nancy PelosiSpeakerU.S. House of RepresentativesH232 The CapitolWashington, D.C. 20515 Dear Speaker Pelosi, I write to express my disappointment that the Democratic Leadership has sidelined the important work of the House Administration Committee (Committee) on election security as a result of the impeachment proceedings against President Trump. Only 337 days remain before the 2020 election and the Committee has the important duty of ensuring that states have the resources they need in order to safeguard this upcoming election. This duty should not be pushed to the corner as a result of the time constraints and competing priorities imposed by the impeachment proceedings. I would like to highlight several urgent Committee tasks that are being displaced by the Democratic Leadership: 1. Bipartisan Election Security Legislation. I have said throughout this year that I am ready and willing to work with the Majority of the Committee to produce a bipartisan election security bill. We stand in agreement on many pertinent issues, including the need for additional election infrastructure funding for states, increased information technology and other technical support for election officials, and updated guidance related to disclosures and disclaimers on political advertising. I understand that the Majority's focus on partisan election security legislation this year has been a directive from your Leadership, and distractions such as this are not advancing the cause of passing a bipartisan election security bill. 2. Congressional Hearing of the Federal Election Commission (FEC). It is unfortunate that the Committee had to cancel an FEC oversight hearing scheduled for September 25th due to a conflict with a Democratic Caucus meeting related to the impeachment proceedings. This is a direct example of how Democratic Leadership has interfered with Committee business. However, I still think it is necessary that we exercise the Committee's oversight authority of the FEC as Election Day 2020 rapidly approaches. 3. Congressional Hearing of Social Media Companies on Preventing Foreign Interference in Elections. Chairperson Lofgren and I both agree that social media companies play a large role in the dissemination of political advertising. A few of these companies have decided recently to eliminate the existence of political advertising from their platforms entirely. Another company has chosen to restrict the scope of political ad targeting on its platform. These developments, together with what we know about Russia attempting to use trolls on these platforms necessitate that the Committee host hearings to seek further information on what happened in 2016 and the future of online political advertising. 4. Congressional Hearing of the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) Focusing on Election Preparation. The EAC has the important task of assisting states with election administration. With the Commission currently in flux as it searches for a new Executive Director and General Counsel continued oversight by the Committee is necessary to ensure that the EAC fills these important vacancies in a timely manner. It is also imperative the EAC continues to operate efficiently while candidates for these openings are being vetted. The EAC must be able to seamlessly transition to a new leadership and continue to perform its core function of assisting states in the 2020 Election. 5. Congressional Hearing of Election Vendors. Election machine vendors are on the front lines of responding to any issues that occur on Election Day. It is important that the Committee seek information related to the vendors' preparedness for any potential 2020 cyber-intrusions. It is my hope that Chairperson Lofgren and I can work together to address these issues despite the impeachment proceedings, but we have no time to waste as the 2020 election rapidly approaches. Sincerely, Rodney Davis  Ranking Member Cc: Chairperson Zoe Lofgren", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2019/12/tillis-pushes-for-passage-of-usmca-on-senate-floor", "Tillis Pushes for Passage of USMCA on Senate Floor", "2019-12-04", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. -Today, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) spoke on the Senate floor calling on House Democrats to pass the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), replacing the 25-year-old North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). President Donald Trump signed the USMCA agreement one year ago with leaders from Mexico and Canada.\r\nWatch Senator Tillis' floor speech HERE.\r\nWe've had so many opportunities to modernize our trade agreement with our two most important trade partners and the USMCA is the opportunity to do that, said Senator Tillis. While it only took a month to ratify the NAFTA agreement, knowing there would be a lot to be done before we would completely benefit from it, we've waited a year to ratify an agreement that will be immediately beneficial to the American economy. It will create more than 170,000 new jobs and $70 billion a year in additional economic activity.\r\nNorth Carolina is the ninth largest agricultural economy in the country, with nearly $90 billion a year in agriculture products. Since 2018, North Carolina has exported $10.4 billion to Canada and Mexico, with $6.6 billion to Canada and $3.8 billion to Mexico.\r\nWe want those markets open in Canada and Mexico so we can grow our farm economy in North Carolina, said Senator Tillis.\r\nEarlier this fall, Tillis wrote an op-ed in the Salisbury Post calling on House Democrats to pass the USMCA.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2019/12/tillis-continues-to-push-for-improvements-to-military-housing", "Tillis Continues to Push for Improvements to Military Housing", "2019-12-03", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Tillis Calls for the End of NDAs Used to Silence Military Families\r\nWASHINGTON, D.C Today, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) attended a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing and discussed issues military families are facing with on-base military housing, specifically the continued use of non-disclosure agreements (NDA) by private military housing providers.\r\nWatch Tillis' full comments HERE\r\nIf you have a non-disclosure agreement that says you can't even speak even about the existence of the agreement and you can't speak disparagingly about the housing provider, then how does the answer to that question go? Which is why these damn things have to be eliminated, said Senator Tillis.\r\nAs Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel, Senator Tillis has led the effort to reform the Military Housing Privatization Initiative and has worked with colleagues to secure a number of provisions in the FY2020 NDAA to address Military Housing Privatization Initiative (MHPI).\r\nSome of the previsions that Tillis worked to secure to address serious issues with the MHPI, include:\r\n \r\nImproving quality of life for servicemembers and their families living in privatized military housing by creating a Tenant Bill of Rights, setting up a dispute resolution process, and increasing oversight\r\nHolding private military housing companies accountable by instating new quality assurance and quality control measures and increasing health and hazard inspections\r\nStrengthening management of military housing by providing an additional $301.8 million to ensure each installation has the necessary government housing personnel to implement thorough oversight and planning measures\r\n \r\nThis year, Tillis toured homes on Fort Bragg and Camp Lejeune and held two town halls to discuss on-base housing issues with military families.\r\nI've had town halls at Camp Lejeune, I've had town halls at Fort Bragg, I have had multiple sessions, and I have literally met with hundreds of military families down on those two bases, said Senator Tillis. And things are improving there, but I had at least one military spouse drive up from Fort Benning and she said we were here when you all really started shining a light on Fort Bragg but now I'm down at Benning and it's not so good.' It sounds like it's improving, but I would encourage all of my colleagues in the Senate and in the House to cast light on these folks. It makes a difference. We're making progress, but we're not making it nearly as quickly as we should. And I really do believe it's time to draw a line with some of these venders, some of these contracts and say enough is enough.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walker.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/walker-introduces-legislation-allow-low-and-middle-income-taxpayers", "Walker Introduces Legislation to Allow Low and Middle Income Taxpayers to Deduct Charitable Giving", "2019-12-02", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Mark Walker", "W000819", "walker.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Representative Mark Walker (R-N.C.) tomorrow, on Giving Tuesday, will introduce a bill that incentivizes charitable giving for low and middle income earning individuals and families through tax deductions.\n\tThe Universal Charitable Giving Act establishes a universal charitable deduction for individuals and married couples who do not itemize, in addition to the standard deduction. This would be an above-the-line deduction up to one-third of the new standard deduction  about $4,000 for individuals and $8,000 for married couples.\n\t\"People not the government offer the best solutions to solve the ailments that face our society, and by supporting charities, we make our communities and our country a better place for Americans from all walks of life, Walker said. \"The Universal Charitable Giving Act allows everyone to deduct charitable giving, regardless of itemizing status while increasing support for the great work our faith-based and charitable organizations contribute.\n\tCharitable giving is one of the largest individual income tax provisions, estimated at $56.9 billion in FY2017. Roughly 71% of tax expenditures for charitable giving in FY2017 will be claimed by taxpayers in the $200,000 and above income class.\n\tGiving Tuesday, taking place on December 3, 2019, is a worldwide philanthropic event, harnessing the generosity of millions to support the causes they believe in and the communities in which they live. According to the United Way Worldwide, last year, more than 3.6 million people from 150 countries joined together to raise $400 million for charity on Giving Tuesday. The Universal Charitable Giving Act would only enhance these great efforts for some of our most valued organizations.\n\tCongressman Walker's legislation could reverse troubling giving trends by empowering more donors to increase their donations to their church or charity of choice. A universal (nonitemizer) deduction would allow donors to give to those in need without having to pay taxes on income they have donated,\"Steve Taylor, Senior Vice President and Counsel for Public Policy, United Way Worldwide said. While we know Americans give for altruistic reasons, good tax policy will allow people to give more.\n\tYou can read the full text of the legislation here.\n\tThe North Carolina Center for Nonprofits also issued a statement of support for the Universal Charitable Giving Act and applauded Walker's work for charitable organizations:\n\tNonprofits use private charitable contributions to provide essential services such as food, education, health care, spiritual development, job training, youth programs, arts and culture, child care, services for seniors, affordable housing, and assistance for victims of domestic violence. Recent studies such as the annual Giving USA survey indicate that charitable giving declined in 2018, particularly among middle-class Americans. When the NC Center for Nonprofits asked North Carolina nonprofits about giving patterns earlier this year, nearly a third said that they expect a further drop in individual giving this year.\n\tAt a time when 56% of North Carolina nonprofits are unable to meet basic needs, any decline in charitable giving takes away from nonprofits' ability to serve communities and increases the number of North Carolinians relying on government services. This costs taxpayers money and diverts public funds from other pressing needs.\n\tBy encouraging all Americans to give more generously to support the work of charitable nonprofits, the Universal Charitable Giving Act would strengthen nonprofits' capacity to provide essential services in communities across North Carolina.\n\tThe Universal Charitable Giving Act, which Walker also introduced in the 115th Congress, has the support of organizations including Alliance for Charitable Reform, Alliance for Strong Families and Communities, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, American Red Cross, Boy Scouts of America, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Catholic Charities USA, Charitable Giving Coalition, City Year, The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, Feeding America, Girl Scouts of the USA, Girls Incorporated, Goodwill Industries International, Inc., Habitat for Humanity International, Independent Sector, The Jewish Federations of North America, Leadership 18, Lutheran Services in America, Mental Health America, National Council on Aging, The National Council of Nonprofits, Salvation Army, Volunteers of America, YMCA of the USA, United Way Worldwide and YWCA USA.\n\t<iframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/eCg0GK_3TB4\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen></iframe>", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://mchenry.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402455", "McHenry Leads Fellow Republicans Calling to Protect American's Personal Information from Disclosure in Democrats' Impeachment Probe", "2019-11-27", "2019", "2019-11", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Patrick McHenry", "M001156", "mchenry.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Last Thursday, Congressman Patrick McHenry (NC-10), the Ranking Republican of the House Financial Services Committee, and every Republican member of the House Financial Services Committee signed a letter to Chairwoman Maxine Waters (CA-43) expressing concern with the process by which documents, containing private American citizens' personal financial information, may be transmitted to the House Judiciary Committee as part of the ongoing impeachment investigation. These documents were obtained through subpoenas issued by Chairwoman Waters for President Trump's financial records to advance her long-standing interest in impeaching the President. However, none of the documents received to date are related to the President or his financial records. The Chair issued these subpoenas under the pretext of an investigation into financial industry compliance with banking statutes and regulations. However, Republicans remind the Chair that the committee advanced and, in October, the House passed the first major reform of the Bank Secrecy Act and anti-money laundering regulations since 2001 without a single mention of the records obtained by the Chair. These broad subpoenas issued to Deutsche Bank and Capital One, among others, covered records related to the President and his family, including records of financial transactions related to the President's 13-year-old son and ten grandchildren, the youngest of whom is three months old. In addition to these invasive subpoenas, the Chair has obtained highly sensitive records from the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). However, some of these records were requested and provided based on mistaken identities, meaning, the Committee now has in its possession private American citizens' personal financial records simply because they happen to share a surname with members of the President's family. As one of the six investigating committees instructed to transfer records to the Judiciary Committee by Democrats' H. Res. 660, Republican committee members are alarmed by the prospect that these private citizens' sensitive information could now be furnished to the Judiciary Committee and subsequently released. Every Republican member of the House Financial Services Committee has signed the letter to the Chairwoman raising concerns and urging her to consult the Republican members of the committee before turning over these documents and potentially endangering American citizens' most personal and highly sensitive information in an effort to support House Democrats' attempt to undo the 2016 election. Read the full text of the letter here or below: \r\n  \r\nDear Chairwoman Waters:\r\nOn September 25, 2019, Speaker Pelosi held a press conference to launch impeachment proceedings against President Trump and instructed our committee and several others to proceed with investigations of the President under that umbrella of impeachment inquiry. House Democrats subsequently passed H. Res. 660, which directs the six investigating committees, including ours, to . . . continue their ongoing investigations as part of the existing House of Representatives inquiry into whether sufficient grounds exist for the House of Representatives to exercise its Constitutional power to impeach Donald John Trump, President of the United States of America. H. Res. 660 further instructed you and each of the chairs of the investigating committees to transfer records or materials relating to the impeachment inquiry to the Committee on the Judiciary. H. Res. 660 was silent as to which of the Committee's investigations may be relevant to the impeachment inquiry, nor does it describe how any relevant records should be handled. These and other deficiencies in the Speaker's impeachment process raise fundamental privacy and fairness concerns.  Presumably, H. Res. 660 references our Committee because of your long-standing interest in impeaching the President. You issued subpoenas to obtain the President's financial records to advance that effort under the pretext of an investigation into financial industry compliance with banking statutes and regulations. The subpoenas you issued to Deutsche Bank and Capital One covered records related to the President and his family, including records of financial transactions related to the President's 13-year-old son and ten grandchildren, the youngest of whom is three months old. To our knowledge, you have been unwilling to exclude such records from the scope of the subpoenas.  The Committee also sought and obtained highly sensitive records from the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). Some of those records were requested and provided based on mistaken identitiesin other words, the Committee has sensitive financial records related to private citizens who simply happen to share a surname with members of the President's family. The unprecedented breadth of your requests for records related to the President's finances captured personal and sensitive information from people and businesses with no connection to the impeachment inquiry. H. Res. 660 provides no direction as to whether you must provide every record obtained in the course of your investigation to the Judiciary Committee, or if you have the authority to withhold or redact non-pertinent, sensitive information.  A series of conflicting justifications for your investigation raised additional concerns that sensitive, non-pertinent records were obtainedand may be releasedpursuant to your effort to investigate the President. For legal reasons, House Democrats have repeatedly represented your investigation is being conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the Bank Secrecy Act, among other legislative purposes. For instance, in letters to Deutsche Bank and Capital One that accompanied the subpoenas, you described the investigation as focused on financial industry compliance with banking statutes and regulations, including Bank Secrecy Act compliance.  House Democrats subsequently defended the subpoenas in federal court on the pretext that the President and his family serve as a useful case study for broader problems in the financial industry. Before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, House Democrats reiterated the subpoenas were issued for a legislative purpose and stated the purpose of the investigation is to develop regulations to minimize risky activities by banks. Your public statements paint a different picture. Indeed, you disclosed the purpose for seeking records from Deutsche Bank is to investigate rumors about the President's finances. In February 2019, in an interview with CNBC's John Harwood, you stated: Harwood: What is your objective in the joint investigation that you plan with Congressman Schiff of Deutsche Bank? Waters: We know that Deutsche Bank is one of the biggest money laundering banks in the country, or in the world perhaps. And we know that this is the only bank that will lend money to the president of the United States because of his past practices. He won't show his tax returns and we have a certain information that leads us to believe that there may have been some money laundering activity that might have been connected with Mr. Manafort, with some people in his family. Harwood: Do you believe that money laundering has been a significant part of President Trump's business? Waters: I know that there are a lot of rumors. I think we need to learn more about the finances of the president of the United States, and he's hiding that information from us. He's not disclosing that information. And I think we need to delve deeper into that and find out what is going on and whether or not money laundering has been involved and whether or not there are connections with the oligarchs of Russia. In a subsequent television appearance in May 2019, you described the investigation as an effort to understand [the President's] relationship to Russia. We want to understand his finances and financing. In June, you stated, Perhaps the dots will be connected in a way that you have to move to impeachment.  Meanwhile, legislation to reform the Bank Secrecy Act moved through the Committee without a mention of your so-called investigation into financial industry compliance with banking statutes and regulations, including Bank Secrecy Act compliance. Democrats released a proposal to reform the Bank Secrecy Act and anti-money laundering laws in March 2019, before the investigation even started. On May 9, 2019, the Committee considered the COUNTER Act, the first major reform of the Bank Secrecy Act and related anti-money laundering regulations since 2001. Democrats did not raise the need to wait for the outcome of the investigation. In fact, when the Committee debated the bill at a business meeting, the investigation did not come up at all. The House passed the COUNTER Act in October, without any reference to your investigation or the records in question. To create the appearance that your investigation has a legislative nexus, you sought and obtained an extraordinarily broad swath of financial records from dozens of Americans. Now that the true purpose of your investigation is clear, those Americans are right to be concerned whether their records will be furnished to the Judiciary Committee and subsequently released. Your insistence on obtaining non-pertinent and highly personal records has become a matter of urgent concern considering the Committee's role in the ongoing impeachment inquiry. According to H. Res. 660, any transfer of records from our Committee shall occur in consultation with the ranking minority member. The resolution is silent as to the nature and extent of such consultation. To date, no such consultation has occurred, and to our knowledge, you have not transferred any records or materials to the Judiciary Committee. If the Committee obtains and determines to transfer records that you believe are relevant to the Judiciary Committee's impeachment function, we respectfully urge you to consult the minority in a meaningful way to preclude the possibility that non-pertinent and highly personal records are released.\r\n Sincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walker.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/walker-honors-randolph-county-s-kyosha-lowery-community-hero-month", "Walker Honors Randolph Countys Kyosha Lowery as Community Hero of the Month", "2019-11-26", "2019", "2019-11", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Mark Walker", "W000819", "walker.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "ASHEBORO, N.C.  U.S. Representative Mark Walker (R-N.C.) honored Randolph County's Kyosha Lowery as the Sixth District Community Hero of the Month for November 2019.\nEach month, Rep. Walker awards a constituent, business, or organization in his district for displaying extraordinary acts of service and for making a difference in the lives around them.\nKyosha Lowery is the founder of Leach Helping Hands, a nonprofit that gives hygiene bags and other items to those in need. Her desire to give back is sparked by her own hardships growing up. She often helped with the bills, and was blessed to receive the assistance of her church, teachers, and a social worker at her school when the family was short on funds and supplies. Inspired by those who helped her, she has now collected over 500 hygiene bags for middle and high school students in need. She points out that while there are many school supply donations, people often don't realize the need for hygiene items. The hygiene bags are discreetly distributed by school social workers upon request, and the bags also contain encouraging quotes.\nI'm inspired by Kyosha's positive outlook, enthusiasm, and willingness to dedicate so much of her time and resources to helping others. She knows what it's like to be in need, and these bags provide supplies and encouragement to others, Walker said. I have no doubt that Kyosha will continue to make a difference in Randolph County and beyond.\nThe proud Asheboro High School graduate is now a business student who wants to give back. She was presented with a certificate and a flag flown over the Capitol in her honor.\nRead more of Kyosha's inspiring story here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walker.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/walker-joins-roundtable-federal-and-state-officials-discuss-impact", "Walker Joins Roundtable with Federal and State Officials to Discuss the Impact of Sanctuary Cities in North Carolina", "2019-11-25", "2019", "2019-11", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Mark Walker", "W000819", "walker.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "RALEIGH, N.C. - Today, Representative Mark Walker (R-N.C.) joined Acting Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Chad Wolf and Acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Matt Albence for a roundtable on North Carolina's sanctuary city policies and inmate-holding policies by sheriffs.\nThis has to stop, Walker said. North Carolina public officials who would rather release criminal illegal immigrant child sex offenders back onto our streets than work with the Trump Administration are endangering our communities. We have to put North Carolina's families and safety over politics.\n\nThe roundtable is in response to recent legislation passed by the North Carolina General Assembly to prohibit counties or cities from being a sanctuary jurisdiction and failing to comply with federal enforcement agencies. Governor Roy Cooper (D-N.C.) vetoed this legislation.\n\nCurrently, 90% of ICE arrests are convicted criminals and roughly 70% of the arrests are made at local jails and state prisons across the country. ICE reported in September that North Carolina jurisdictions have released 489 illegal immigrants with criminal records since October 2018. These crimes include sex offenses, kidnapping, arson, and homicide.\n\nOn the federal level, Representative Walker has supported the No Sanctuary for Criminals Act and Kate's Law. These pieces of legislation threatened federal grants for sanctuary jurisdictions and raised penalties for those re-entering the United States after deportation.Watch Walker's full remarks here or below.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walker.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/walker-announces-24-million-infrastructure-investment-north-carolina", "Walker Announces $24 Million Infrastructure Investment in North Carolina Triad", "2019-11-22", "2019", "2019-11", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Mark Walker", "W000819", "walker.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. - Representative Mark Walker (R-N.C.) today released the following statement after the Department of Transportation (DOT) announced $24,043,000 coming to North Carolina through the Grants for Buses and Bus Facility Programs:\nKeeping our transportation systems running and efficient is essential for prosperity and economic development in our community. These grants will assist state and local governments in keeping consumers, businesses, and workers accessible and connected. I commend DOT and our municipal governments for their hard work in advancing our shared goals of connectivity and economic expansion.\nThese grants will be used to both purchase new vehicles and construct and renovate facilities for the Piedmont. The award will be split into two different accounts, with $17,275,000 going to the North Carolina Department of Transportation and $6,768,000 going to the Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation (PART). PART serves municipalities in Guilford, Alamance, Randolph, Forsyth, Davidson, and Surry Counties.\nThis announcement will add to North Carolina's bus transportation system. In the Sixth Congressional District, there are several public transportation systems which utilize expansive bus systems to supplement state efforts. The Greensboro Transit Agency (GTA) currently operates approximately 260,000 people with 16 different routes in Guilford County. Burlington and Gibsonville are currently served by Link Transit and Chatham County serves Pittsboro and the surrounding municipalities through the Chatham Transit Network.\nMore information regarding the grants can be found here:\nNC DOT\nPART", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walker.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/walker-homeland-security-committee-republicans-impeachment-stalling-key", "Walker, Homeland Security Committee Republicans: Impeachment Stalling Key Committee Priorities", "2019-11-22", "2019", "2019-11", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Mark Walker", "W000819", "walker.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. - House Homeland Security Committee Republicans yesterday urged Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) to refocus the committee's efforts on critical legislative priorities that have stalled during the majority's impeachment inquiry.\nIn the mist of impeachment, the majority has failed to make progress on important homeland security legislative priorities such as securing the border, safeguarding chemical facilities from acts of terrorism, protecting vulnerable public and private networks from cyber threats, or moving a comprehensive authorization of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS),Committee Republicans wrote in a letter,Committee Republicans are ready and willing to work with you on these, and many other critical homeland security issuesWe urge you to reject the divisive politics of impeachment and work with us to solve these challenges in a bipartisan manner.\nAll committee Republicans signed onto the letter: Ranking Member Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), Reps. Peter King (R-N.Y.), Michael McCaul (R-Texas), John Katko (R-N.Y.), Mark Walker (R-N.C.), Clay Higgins (R-La.), Debbie Lesko (R-Ariz.), Mark Green (R-Tenn.), Van Taylor (R-Texas), John Joyce (R-Pa), Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) andMichael Guest (R-Miss.).\nRead the letterhereand below.\nDear Chairman Thompson:\nWe are very concerned the Democrat majority's overwhelming preoccupation with its partisan quest to impeach the President is undermining the ability of our Committee to move critically needed legislation to secure the homeland. In the mist of impeachment, the majority has failed to make progress on important homeland security legislative priorities such as securing the border, safeguarding chemical facilities from acts of terrorism, protecting vulnerable public and private networks from cyber threats, or moving a comprehensive authorization of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).\nIn the wake of an unprecedented humanitarian crisis at the Southwest Border this year, Democrats have steadfastly refused to consider legislation to address the root cause of the crisis or provide the manpower, assets, and infrastructure necessary to prevent a future one. Even commonsense bipartisan bills to require Customs and Border Patrol to inform Congress of its workforce requirements have failed to move to the House floor.\nEarlier this year, we worked closely on a reauthorization of the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards program (CFATS). Unless we enact a reauthorization in the next five months, this critical program designed to prevent terrorist attacks at our nation's chemical facilities will expire. If that happens, DHS will no longer be able to inspect chemical facilities to ensure their compliance with security standards. Unfortunately, the majority has made no efforts to negotiate on this critical legislation since the impeachment inquiry began.\nThe Committee has been briefed numerous times on threats from nation states and criminals intent on gaining control over the public and private networks that run our nation's most critical infrastructure. We've stood by as the number of ransomware attacks on state and local governments have exploded by over 100 percent this year. Public services such as healthcare, utilities, welfare, and schools have suffered crippling ransomware attacks. Republicans and Democrats have introduced legislation to address this growing threat, but the Committee has yet to consider any of these bills.\nFinally, we remain very concerned the Committee has yet to consider a comprehensive DHS authorization bill. Last Congress, the Republican majority made significant progress navigating jurisdictional issues and securing passage of the first authorization bill for the Department. Unfortunately, it appears the Democrat majority is not interested in replicating that effort this Congress. To date, no staff discussions have started on the subject, no memorandum among committees on how to proceed has been negotiated, and no public commitment from Democrat leadership has been made to consider a DHS authorization bill.\nCommittee Republicans are ready and willing to work with you on these, and many other critical homeland security issues. These are the challenges the American people elected us to confront. We urge you to reject the divisive politics of impeachment and work with us to solve these challenges in a bipartisan manner.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2019/11/tillis-burr-and-mchenry-advocate-on-behalf-of-nc-and-secure-10-million-dot-grant-for-asheville-regional-airport", "Tillis, Burr and McHenry Advocate on Behalf of NC and Secure $10 Million DOT Grant for Asheville Regional Airport", "2019-11-22", "2019", "2019-11", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "ASHEVILLE, N.C.Today, North Carolina Senators Thom Tillis and Richard Burr and RepresentativePatrickMcHenryapplauded the Department of Transportation (DOT) for awarding Asheville Regional Airport a $10 million grant for terminal rehabilitation.\r\nSenator Tillis and Secretary Chao held apress conferencetoday at Asheville Regional Airport to announce the grant.\r\nSenators Tillis and Burr and Representative McHenryworkedwith stakeholdersin Western North Carolinaand USDOT staffto highlight the importance of Asheville Regional Airport's need and ensure they had the strongest application possible.\r\nThis $10 million grant to rehabilitate a terminal at Asheville Regional Airport is crucial as Western North Carolina continues to improve its infrastructure and welcome people from all over the world,said Senator Tillis.I was proud to work with my colleagues to advocate for AVL to secure this grant from DOT, and I want to thank Secretary Chaoand President Trump for investing in the future of North Carolina.\r\nAsheville Regional Airport has served Western North Carolina and its visitors from around the world for more than 50 years,said Senator Burr. But its current passenger loads and future expansion means there are much-needed upgrades to make to the airport's infrastructure. That's why I was proud to work with my colleagues to help secure this $10 million grant, which will give AVL the resources to improve its terminal for its passengers and pave the way for even more growth in the future.\r\nThis announcement is great news for Asheville and all of western North Carolina,said Representative McHenry.The Asheville Regional Airport plays a crucial role in driving tourism and growing businesses in our part of the state. I thank the Trump Administration for this investment which I'm confident will contribute to continued economic growth in our area.\r\nThe robust economy is enabling more passengers to travel by air so this Administration is investing billions of dollars in America's airports which will address safer operations, fewer airport delays, and greater ease of travel for air travelers,said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L.Chao.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://budd.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=714", "Rep. Ted Budd & Colleagues Introduce Bill Supporting Health Reimbursement Accounts", "2019-11-21", "2019", "2019-11", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "budd.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington D.C. -- Today, U.S. Representative Ted Budd (R-NC) introduced the Increasing Health Coverage through HRAs Act with Rep. Dan Bishop (R-NC), Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR), and Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-PA). This legislation codifies into law the Trump Administration's rule on Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRAs).\r\nHRAs are special employer-based accounts that employers put tax-free funds into for their employees to use to cover medical expenses including out of pocket costs and anything that traditional insurance doesn't cover. The funds in these HRA accounts can be rolled over from year to year and for the first time in the history of these accounts, employees can use them to pay for premiums on the individual health insurance market.\r\nRep. Budd said in a statement:\r\nThis legislation takes an important step forward in reversing the damage caused by Obamacare, which has become unaffordable for more and more Americans. In contrast to Obamacare's rigid and costly regulations have limited health care choices, HRAs increase health care choices for more Americans. In fact, the Department of Health and Human Services has said that within the next five years, the new HRA rule could incentivize as many as 800,000 businesses to provide health reimbursement accounts to their employees which would offer health care coverage to more than 11 million workers. It's time for Congress to make the Trump Administration's HRA rule permanent because all citizens of our great country deserve affordable health insurance options that are free from Obamacare's regulations.\r\nText of the bill can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://hudson.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=2209", "Hudson Announces $321,150 Grant for Stanly County Schools", "2019-11-20", "2019", "2019-11", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Richard Hudson", "H001067", "hudson.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\r\n\r\n\tNovember 20, 2019\n\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tHudson Announces $321,150 Grant for Stanly County Schools\n\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tALBEMARLE, N.C.- Today, U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08) announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded Stanly County Schools a Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant of $321,150.00:\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tI continue to work to tackle the root causes of violence, make our schools safer and improve mental health in our communities, said Rep. Hudson.This grant will go a long way to ensure thousands of students in our community can get help if they need it. \n\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tThe Rural Development investment will assist Stanly County Schools install a state-of-the-art telemedicine project to connect 20 schools with trained mental health professionals at a clinic. All 20 schools and the behavioral health clinic are in Stanly County. This telemedicine project will serve 8,700 students.\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://hudson.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=2210", "Hudson Statement on Bipartisan PFAS Legislation", "2019-11-20", "2019", "2019-11", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Richard Hudson", "H001067", "hudson.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\r\n\r\n\tNovember 20, 2019\n\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tHudson Statement on Bipartisan PFAS Legislation\n\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  Today U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08), a leader on efforts to tackle GenX, issued the following statement after the House Energy and Commerce Committee voted to advance a bipartisan PFAS reform package (H.R. 535) to the House floor:\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tWhile I support today's PFAS package, I have concerns about some provisions and the unintended consequences that non-science based decisions may have on our economy, said Rep. Hudson. I'll continue to work with my colleagues and state and local officials in a bipartisan way to keep our water clean and safe for our citizens. \n\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tBackground\n\r\n\r\n\tIn September, after consistent pressure from Rep. Hudson, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it will begin an investigation to determine what actions the EPA took to verify compliance with requirements of the 2009 Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Premanufacture Notice Consent Order with DuPont [Chemours] to prevent release of the chemical GenX into the Cape Fear River basin. \r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tOn April 26, 2018, Rep. Hudson questioned Administrator Scott Pruitt and asked, Was GenX used in a manner that was incompatible with the consent agreement under the Toxic Substances Control Act? Are you in a position to determine that? To watch this questioning, click here.\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tIn September 2018, during a Subcommittee hearing to examine PFAS, Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden applauded Rep. Hudson's leadership saying, I understand, from Mr. Hudson, that a similar situation exists in his state and I appreciate his efforts to help North Carolinians. In addition, Subcommittee Chairman John Shimkus said, Many of us are familiar with these substances because of the work of our colleagues, Mr. Tonko, Mr. Upton, and Mr. Hudson, in their districts and states. Click here to watch Rep. Hudson's opening statement during the Subcommittee hearing. The transcript and more information on that hearing can be found here. \r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\n\r\n\r\n\tRep. Hudson chaired September's Subcommittee hearing on PFAS water contamination.\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tOn August 14, 2018, Rep. Hudson arranged for the EPA to hold a PFAS community engagement event in Fayetteville. Rep. Hudson invited the EPA to hold the community engagement event so the EPA can hear directly from constituents to take action on PFAS.\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tOnce the event was confirmed, he invited Michael S. Regan, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, to attend the PFAS community engagement event in Fayetteville to further coordinate efforts between federal, state, and local leaders. To read that letter, click here.\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tOn June 21, 2018, Rep. Hudson sent a letter to Administrator Pruitt encouraging the EPA to consider visiting North Carolina as part of their continued work on PFAS. Rep. Hudson invited the EPA to visit the eighth district, specifically Fayetteville. To read that letter, click here.\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tIn April 2018, he questioned Administrator Pruitt on GenX and continued his efforts to monitor reports of GenX in areas along the Cape Fear River, to encourage the swift collection and evaluation of data, and to help ensure appropriate measures are taken. To watch Rep. Hudson's questioning of Administrator Pruitt, click here.\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tOn March 6, 2018, Rep. Hudson sent a letter to Administrator Pruitt to encourage a thorough examination of GenX that would help develop a comprehensive plan for containment and removal of GenX. To read the letter, click here. The agency responded on April 24, 2018, saying, A key priority for the EPA is to further the understanding of human health impacts of PFAS to support states and local communities. The EPA is currently developing human health toxicity information for GenX that will provide a scientific basis for states and communities to set or refine public health goals. To read that letter, click here.\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tThis letter followed Rep. Hudson's questioning of Administrator Pruitt at a Subcommittee on Environment hearing on December 7, 2017. To watch those questions, click here.\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://hudson.house.gov/press-releases/hudson-announces-321150-grant-for-stanly-county-schools", "Hudson Announces $321,150 Grant for Stanly County Schools", "2019-11-20", "2019", "2019-11", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Richard Hudson", "H001067", "hudson.house.gov", "hudson", "https://hudson.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nNovember 20, 2019\n\nHudson Announces $321,150 Grant for Stanly County Schools\n\nALBEMARLE, N.C. - Today, U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08) announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded Stanly County Schools a Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant of $321,150.00:\n\n\u201cI continue to work to tackle the root causes of violence, make our schools safer and improve mental health in our communities,\u201d said Rep. Hudson. \u201cThis grant will go a long way to ensure thousands of students in our community can get help if they need it.\u201d\n\nThe Rural Development investment will assist Stanly County Schools install a state-of-the-art telemedicine project to connect 20 schools with trained mental health professionals at a clinic. All 20 schools and the behavioral health clinic are in Stanly County. This telemedicine project will serve 8,700 students.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:43:09Z"], ["https://hudson.house.gov/press-releases/hudson-statement-on-bipartisan-pfas-legislation", "Hudson Statement on Bipartisan PFAS Legislation", "2019-11-20", "2019", "2019-11", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Richard Hudson", "H001067", "hudson.house.gov", "hudson", "https://hudson.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nNovember 20, 2019\n\nHudson Statement on Bipartisan PFAS Legislation\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08), a leader on efforts to tackle GenX, issued the following statement after the House Energy and Commerce Committee voted to advance a bipartisan PFAS reform package (H.R. 535) to the House floor:\n\n\u201cWhile I support today\u2019s PFAS package, I have concerns about some provisions and the unintended consequences that non-science based decisions may have on our economy,\u201d said Rep. Hudson.\u201cI\u2019ll continue to work with my colleagues and state and local officials in a bipartisan way to keep our water clean and safe for our citizens.\u201d\n\nBackground\n\nIn September, after consistent pressure from Rep. Hudson, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it will begin an investigation to determine what actions the EPA took to verify compliance with requirements of the 2009 Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Premanufacture Notice Consent Order with DuPont [Chemours] to prevent release of the chemical GenX into the Cape Fear River basin.\n\nOn April 26, 2018, Rep. Hudson questioned Administrator Scott Pruitt and asked, \u201cWas GenX used in a manner that was incompatible with the consent agreement under the Toxic Substances Control Act? Are you in a position to determine that?\u201d To watch this questioning, click here.\n\nRep. Hudson continues to be on the front lines of this issue. Earlier this year, he met with EPA Assistant Administrator for the Office of Water Dave Ross to discuss the Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Action Plan. This action plan followed the EPA\u2019s draft toxicity assessment which was released in November 2018 to gather public input.\n\nIn September 2018, during a Subcommittee hearing to examine PFAS, Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden applauded Rep. Hudson\u2019s leadership saying, \u201cI understand, from Mr. Hudson, that a similar situation exists in his state and I appreciate his efforts to help North Carolinians.\u201d In addition, Subcommittee Chairman John Shimkus said, \u201cMany of us are familiar with these substances because of the work of our colleagues, Mr. Tonko, Mr. Upton, and Mr. Hudson, in their districts and states.\u201d Click here to watch Rep. Hudson\u2019s opening statement during the Subcommittee hearing. The transcript and more information on that hearing can be found here.\n\nRep. Hudson chaired September\u2019s Subcommittee hearing on PFAS water contamination.\n\nOn August 14, 2018, Rep. Hudson arranged for the EPA to hold a PFAS community engagement event in Fayetteville. Rep. Hudson invited the EPA to hold the community engagement event so the EPA can hear directly from constituents to take action on PFAS.\n\nOnce the event was confirmed, he invited Michael S. Regan, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, to attend the PFAS community engagement event in Fayetteville to further coordinate efforts between federal, state, and local leaders. To read that letter, click here.\n\nOn June 21, 2018, Rep. Hudson sent a letter to Administrator Pruitt encouraging the EPA to consider visiting North Carolina as part of their continued work on PFAS. Rep. Hudson invited the EPA to visit the eighth district, specifically Fayetteville. To read that letter, click here.\n\nIn April 2018, he questioned Administrator Pruitt on GenX and continued his efforts to monitor reports of GenX in areas along the Cape Fear River, to encourage the swift collection and evaluation of data, and to help ensure appropriate measures are taken. To watch Rep. Hudson\u2019s questioning of Administrator Pruitt, click here.\n\nOn March 6, 2018, Rep. Hudson sent a letter to Administrator Pruitt to encourage a thorough examination of GenX that would help develop a comprehensive plan for containment and removal of GenX. To read the letter, click here. The agency responded on April 24, 2018, saying, \u201cA key priority for the EPA is to further the understanding of human health impacts of PFAS to support states and local communities. The EPA is currently developing human health toxicity information for GenX that will provide a scientific basis for states and communities to set or refine public health goals.\u201d To read that letter, click here.\n\nThis letter followed Rep. Hudson\u2019s questioning of Administrator Pruitt at a Subcommittee on Environment hearing on December 7, 2017. To watch those questions, click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:43:09Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2019/11/senate-banking-committee-unanimously-passes-tillis-smith-legislation-to-extend-terrorism-risk-insurance-program", "Senate Banking Committee Unanimously Passes Tillis & Smith Legislation to Extend Terrorism Risk Insurance Program", "2019-11-20", "2019", "2019-11", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. Today,the Senate Banking Committee unanimously passed bipartisan legislation led byU.S. SenatorsThom Tillis (R-NC)and Tina Smith (D-MN), membersof the Senate Banking Committee, that would extend the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program for seven years.Entitieslikethe2020 RNC Conventionin Charlotteand DNCConvention, NASCAR, the NFL,andthe NHL all require Terrorism Risk Insurancefor their facilities.\r\nThe Terrorism Risk Insurance Program was established in response tothescarcity of affordable insurance coverage for terrorism riskin the wake of the attacksonSeptember 11, 2001. Since then, theprogram has improved the availability and affordability of terrorism risk insurance coverage in the marketplace througha public/private partnership that allows the federal government and the insurance industry to share losses in the event of a major terrorist attack. The Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA), which was enacted by Congress in November 2002, ensures that adequate resources are available for businesses to recover and rebuild if they are the victims of a terrorist attack. Under TRIA, all property and casualty insurers in the U.S. are required to make terrorism coverage available.\r\nI want to thank Chairman Crapo and theSenateBanking Committee for making reauthorization of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program a priority,said Senator Tillis.This important program, created in the wake of the 9/11 attacks at no cost to taxpayers, protects North Carolina's economy and providespeace of mind to the private sector by providing insurance protections.\r\nThank you to my colleagues on the Senate Banking Committee for understanding that access to affordable insurance for terrorism-related risks is critical for American businesses to be able to grow and create jobs,said Senator Smith.The Terrorism Risk Insurance Program needs to be extended, and unanimously passing it out of Committee with bipartisan support shows we're all committed to doing that.\r\nThe legislation is co-sponsored by Senators Martha McSally (R-AZ),Bob Menendez (D-NJ), David Perdue (R-GA),Chris Van Hollen (D-MD),Kevin Cramer (R-ND),Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-NV),Jerry Moran (R-KS), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Tim Scott (R-SC), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Mike Crapo (R-ID), and Sherrod Brown (D-OH).\r\nSpecifically, theTerrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2019:\r\n \r\nReauthorizes the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program for seven years, through December 31, 2027,and preserves the taxpayer reforms included in the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2015;\r\nDirects the Treasury Department in its biennial report on the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program and its effectiveness to include an evaluation of the availability and affordability of terrorism risk insurance, including specifically for places of worship; and\r\nDirects the Government Accountability Office to analyze and address, and report on, the vulnerabilities and potential costs of cyber terrorism, adequacy of coverage under the Program, and to make recommendations for future legislative changes to address evolving cyber terrorism risks.\r\n \r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://budd.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=712", "Rep. Ted Budd Introduces Resolution to End Stigma of Substance Abuse Treatment and Recognize Addiction as a Disease", "2019-11-19", "2019", "2019-11", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "budd.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington D.C.-- Today, U.S. Representative Ted Budd (R-NC) introduced a House resolution on substance abuse treatment that does three things:\r\n \r\n    \r\n    Recognizes addiction as a treatable, chronic medical disease involving complex interactions among brain circuits, genetics, the environment, and an individual's life experience.\r\n    \r\n    \r\n    Supports evidence-based treatment approaches for substance use disorder that address the biological, psychological, and social aspects of the disorder.\r\n    \r\n    \r\n    Supports efforts to prevent and destigmatize substance use disorder and addiction.\r\n    \r\n \r\n  \r\nRep. Budd said in a statement:\r\nThe opioid crisis is the biggest public health crisis facing our country. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 70,000 Americans died from a drug overdose in 2017, making drug overdose one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Unfortunately, many people struggling with addiction do not seek the treatment they need because of the stigma surrounding substance abuse treatment and for a fear of being judged. Substance abuse treatment is essential in helping people recover from drug addiction and plays a key role in preventing relapse. We must do everything in our power to destigmatize substance abuse treatment and encourage more people to seek help when they most need it. I am proud to introduce a resolution that accomplishes these goals.\r\n  \r\nPaul H. Earley, MD, DFASAM, President of The American Society of Addiction Medicine said in a statement:\r\nThe American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) applauds Congressional leaders for recognizing addiction as a chronic, treatable medical disease and for resolving to ensure that high-quality, evidence-based addiction treatment is available to all Americans who need it. Public acknowledgement by our nation's policy leaders is important to ongoing efforts to destigmatize addiction, address this disease compassionately and effectively, and save lives.\r\n  \r\nThis bill is also endorsed by: American College of Medical Toxicology, American College of Emergency Physicians, American Osteopathic Academy of Addiction Medicine, American Psychological Association, American Society of Addiction Medicine, A New PATH (Parents for Addiction Treatment & Healing), Center on Addiction, Faces & Voices of Recovery, National Council for Behavioral Health, National Health Care for the Homeless Council, National Safety Council, National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists, SMART Recovery, Shatterproof, Society of Physician Assistants in Addiction Medicine, Young People in Recovery.\r\nText of the bill can be foundhere.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://hudson.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=2207", "Hudson Asks MLB Not To Eliminate Minor League Teams", "2019-11-19", "2019", "2019-11", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Richard Hudson", "H001067", "hudson.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\r\n\r\n\tNovember 19, 2019\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tHudson Asks MLB Not To Eliminate Minor League Teams\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tWASHINGTON, D.C. Today U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08) joined a bipartisan effort with more than 100 of his colleagues in the House of Representatives to urge Major League Baseball (MLB) to abandon its plan to eliminate 42 Minor League teams. This effort follows recent reporting that the MLB's proposal would eliminate 42 affiliated teams in total and would shrink the number of affiliated minor league teams by 25 percent.\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tIn a letter written to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, with every team copied, the Members of Congress underscored the damage this move would cause to the local communities where the teams are located.\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tMinor League Baseball plays a tremendous role in our local communitiesgenerating economic growth, boosting tourism and supporting jobs, said Rep. Hudson. While preliminary reports point to only one North Carolina team on the chopping block, I am concerned this decision sets a dangerous precedent that no Minor League team is safe. I am proud to help lead this effort to protect the communities in our state  like Fayetteville and Kannapolis in my district  that enjoy Minor League Baseball and have invested in facilities and infrastructure.\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tThe MLB plan was offered in spite of the fact that Minor League Baseball (MiLB) just completed its 15th consecutive season with an attendance above 40 million; and it was the ninth-largest single season total in MiLB's 100-plus year history. Many of the Minor League clubs would fail without a PDCleaving as many as 1,200 players out of work and letting down the fans, players, municipalities, stadium vendors and employees who have supported these clubs for decades.\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tYou can view the final letter HERE and see the text below:\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tNovember 18, 2019\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tDear Commissioner Manfred,\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tWe are writing to express our firm opposition to Major League Baseball's radical proposal to eliminate numerous Minor League Baseball clubs. If enacted, it would undermine the health of the minor league system that undergirds talent development and encourages fan loyalty. It would particularly be felt in areas far from a major league team or where tickets to a major league game are cost-prohibitive.\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tTens of millions of fans attend Minor League Baseball games each season. These professional baseball clubs are vital components of our communities because they provide affordable, family-friendly entertainment to members of our communities, support scores of allied businesses, employ thousands of individuals, donate millions of dollars in charitable funds, and connect our communities to Major League Baseball. A number of these Minor League clubs operate at a loss but continue to persist due to strong fan support and club ownerships' commitment to their communities and America's Pastime.\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tThe abandonment of Minor League clubs by Major League Baseball would devastate our communities, their bond purchasers, and other stakeholders affected by the potential loss of these clubs. We want you to fully understand the impact this could have not only on the communities we represent, but also on the long-term support that Congress has always afforded our national pastime on a wide variety of legislative initiatives.\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tFor over a century, Congress has taken numerous actions specifically designed to protect, preserve, and sustain a system and structure for both Major and Minor League Baseball to flourish.\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tYou are the most important steward of the great game of baseball and tasked with ensuring the popularity and love of it across the world. Reducing the number of Minor League Baseball clubs and overhauling a century-old system that has been consistently safeguarded by Congress is not in the best interest of the overall game of baseball, especially when Major League Baseball's revenues are at all-time highs.\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tAs members of Congress who recognize the tremendous value of the Minor League system, we ask Major League Baseball to strongly reconsider its proposed course with Minor League Baseball and do all that it can to ensure the continuation of affiliated baseball in our communities.\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tSincerely,\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tRepresentatives Lori Trahan, David McKinley, Mark Pocan, David Trone, Tim Ryan, Max Rose, David Loebsack, Joe Courtney, Jamie Raskin, William R. Keating, Deb Haaland, Susan Wild, Joseph Morelle, Cindy Axne, Marcy Kaptur, JoeCunningham, TJCox, Veronica Escobar, Peter A. DeFazio, Chrissy Houlahan, Lauren Underwood, Brian Higgins, Elissa Slotkin, Sean Patrick Maloney, Joseph P. Kennedy, III, Suzan DelBene, Ann McLaneKuster, Peter Welch, Anthony Brindisi, Chris Pappas, David Price, John Yarmuth, Kathleen M. Rice, JoyceBeatty, Andy Levin, Doris Matsui, Abby Finkenauer, John Garamendi, Lloyd Doggett, Alma S. Adams, Ph.D., Steven Horsford, Kurt Shrader, Jimmy Panetta, David N. Cicilline, Jose Serrano, Marc Veasey, Dina Titus, Lisa Blunt Rochester, Suzanne Bonamici, Antonio Delgado, Marcia L. Fudge, C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, James E. Clyburn, Susie Lee, Jerry McNerney, Terri Sewell, Betty McCollum, Paul D. Tonko, Chellie Pingree, Anthony G. Brown, Donald McEachin, Elise Stefanik, Rob Bishop, David P.Roe, M.D., Scott R. Tipton, Denver Riggleman, John Moolenaar, Andy Barr, ChrisStewart, Mike Simpson, Mark E.Green, MD, BrianFitzpatrick, Michael R.Turner, Glenn \"GT\"Thompson, David Kustoff, Jim Banks, SteveWomack, Chuck Fleischmann, Fred Keller, Doug Lamborn, H. Morgan Griffith, Tim Burchett, Mike D. Rogers, KevinHern, John Katko, Rick Crawford, Mark Amodei, Mark Walker, Brett Guthrie, Carol D. Miller, Robert Aderholt, TomReed, Robert J. Wittman, Mike Kelly, French Hill, Greg Gianforte, David Joyce, MarkwayneMullin, Ted Budd, William R. Timmons IV, Christopher H. Smith, MichaelWaltz, RichardHudson, Ken Calvert, Brad R. Wenstrup, and Kevin McCarthy.\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://hudson.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=2208", "Hudson Votes Against Short-Term Spending Bill", "2019-11-19", "2019", "2019-11", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Richard Hudson", "H001067", "hudson.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "E-mail Address:\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat is the top issue you think the U.S. House of Representatives should address in the 115th Congress? \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t*\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFiscal issues, like tackling government spending and debt.\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNational security issues, like the war on terror and defeating ISIS.\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEconomic growth issues, like cutting taxes and creating jobs.\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBorder issues, like stopping illegal immigration into our country.\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tVeterans issues, like fixing the VA.\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHealth care issues, like repealing Obamacare.\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAll of the above.\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tI have other thoughts I would like you to know (Add Below).\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAdd additional thoughts, here: \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\tVerify the number:\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\tRefresh Number\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t*By answering this survey, you are subscribing to my newsletter.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://hudson.house.gov/press-releases/hudson-asks-mlb-not-to-eliminate-minor-league-teams", "Hudson Asks MLB Not To Eliminate Minor League Teams", "2019-11-19", "2019", "2019-11", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Richard Hudson", "H001067", "hudson.house.gov", "hudson", "https://hudson.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nNovember 19, 2019\n\nHudson Asks MLB Not To Eliminate Minor League Teams\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08) joined a bipartisan effort with more than 100 of his colleagues in the House of Representatives to urge Major League Baseball (MLB) to abandon its plan to eliminate 42 Minor League teams. This effort follows recent reporting that the MLB\u2019s proposal would eliminate 42 affiliated teams in total and would shrink the number of affiliated minor league teams by 25 percent.\n\nIn a letter written to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, with every team copied, the Members of Congress underscored the damage this move would cause to the local communities where the teams are located.\n\n\u201cMinor League Baseball plays a tremendous role in our local communities\u2013generating economic growth, boosting tourism and supporting jobs,\u201d said Rep. Hudson. \u201cWhile preliminary reports point to only one North Carolina team on the chopping block, I am concerned this decision sets a dangerous precedent that no Minor League team is safe. I am proud to help lead this effort to protect the communities in our state \u2013 like Fayetteville and Kannapolis in my district \u2013 that enjoy Minor League Baseball and have invested in facilities and infrastructure.\u201d\n\nThe MLB plan was offered in spite of the fact that Minor League Baseball (MiLB) just completed its 15th consecutive season with an attendance above 40 million; and it was the ninth-largest single season total in MiLB\u2019s 100-plus year history. Many of the Minor League clubs would fail without a PDC\u2014leaving as many as 1,200 players out of work and letting down the fans, players, municipalities, stadium vendors and employees who have supported these clubs for decades.\n\nYou can view the final letter HERE and see the text below:\n\nNovember 18, 2019\n\nDear Commissioner Manfred,\n\nWe are writing to express our firm opposition to Major League Baseball\u2019s radical proposal to eliminate numerous Minor League Baseball clubs. If enacted, it would undermine the health of the minor league system that undergirds talent development and encourages fan loyalty. It would particularly be felt in areas far from a major league team or where tickets to a major league game are cost-prohibitive.\n\nTens of millions of fans attend Minor League Baseball games each season. These professional baseball clubs are vital components of our communities because they provide affordable, family-friendly entertainment to members of our communities, support scores of allied businesses, employ thousands of individuals, donate millions of dollars in charitable funds, and connect our communities to Major League Baseball. A number of these Minor League clubs operate at a loss but continue to persist due to strong fan support and club ownerships\u2019 commitment to their communities and America\u2019s Pastime.\n\nThe abandonment of Minor League clubs by Major League Baseball would devastate our communities, their bond purchasers, and other stakeholders affected by the potential loss of these clubs. We want you to fully understand the impact this could have not only on the communities we represent, but also on the long-term support that Congress has always afforded our national pastime on a wide variety of legislative initiatives.\n\nFor over a century, Congress has taken numerous actions specifically designed to protect, preserve, and sustain a system and structure for both Major and Minor League Baseball to flourish.\n\nYou are the most important steward of the great game of baseball and tasked with ensuring the popularity and love of it across the world. Reducing the number of Minor League Baseball clubs and overhauling a century-old system that has been consistently safeguarded by Congress is not in the best interest of the overall game of baseball, especially when Major League Baseball\u2019s revenues are at all-time highs.\n\nAs members of Congress who recognize the tremendous value of the Minor League system, we ask Major League Baseball to strongly reconsider its proposed course with Minor League Baseball and do all that it can to ensure the continuation of affiliated baseball in our communities.\n\nSincerely,\n\nRepresentatives Lori Trahan, David McKinley, Mark Pocan, David Trone, Tim Ryan, Max Rose, David Loebsack, Joe Courtney, Jamie Raskin, William R. Keating, Deb Haaland, Susan Wild, Joseph Morelle, Cindy Axne, Marcy Kaptur, Joe Cunningham, TJ Cox, Veronica Escobar, Peter A. DeFazio, Chrissy Houlahan, Lauren Underwood, Brian Higgins, Elissa Slotkin, Sean Patrick Maloney, Joseph P. Kennedy, III, Suzan DelBene, Ann McLane Kuster, Peter Welch, Anthony Brindisi, Chris Pappas, David Price, John Yarmuth, Kathleen M. Rice, Joyce Beatty, Andy Levin, Doris Matsui, Abby Finkenauer, John Garamendi, Lloyd Doggett, Alma S. Adams, Ph.D., Steven Horsford, Kurt Shrader, Jimmy Panetta, David N. Cicilline, Jose Serrano, Marc Veasey, Dina Titus, Lisa Blunt Rochester, Suzanne Bonamici, Antonio Delgado, Marcia L. Fudge, C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, James E. Clyburn, Susie Lee, Jerry McNerney, Terri Sewell, Betty McCollum, Paul D. Tonko, Chellie Pingree, Anthony G. Brown, Donald McEachin, Elise Stefanik, Rob Bishop, David P. Roe, M.D., Scott R. Tipton, Denver Riggleman, John Moolenaar, Andy Barr, Chris Stewart, Mike Simpson, Mark E.Green, MD, Brian Fitzpatrick, Michael R.Turner, Glenn \"GT\" Thompson, David Kustoff, Jim Banks, Steve Womack, Chuck Fleischmann, Fred Keller, Doug Lamborn, H. Morgan Griffith, Tim Burchett, Mike D. Rogers, Kevin Hern, John Katko, Rick Crawford, Mark Amodei, Mark Walker, Brett Guthrie, Carol D. Miller, Robert Aderholt, Tom Reed, Robert J. Wittman, Mike Kelly, French Hill, Greg Gianforte, David Joyce, Markwayne Mullin, Ted Budd, William R. Timmons IV, Christopher H. Smith, Michael Waltz, Richard Hudson, Ken Calvert, Brad R. Wenstrup, and Kevin McCarthy.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:43:09Z"], ["https://hudson.house.gov/press-releases/hudson-votes-against-short-term-spending-bill", "Hudson Votes Against Short-Term Spending Bill", "2019-11-19", "2019", "2019-11", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Richard Hudson", "H001067", "hudson.house.gov", "hudson", "https://hudson.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nNovember 19, 2019\n\nHudson Votes Against Short-Term Spending Bill\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08), Fort Bragg\u2019s Congressman and an outspoken advocate for North Carolina's military community, released the following statement after voting against a short-term continuing resolution that will extend government funding at current levels until December 20, 2019 and continues to provide a cloud of uncertainty for our military:\n\n\u201cWhen Washington kicks the can down the road, our troops and their families suffer the most,\u201d said Rep. Hudson. \u201cThe men and women at Fort Bragg who I represent are the tip of the spear, and they must be given the resources they need to fight and win. Today\u2019s measure fails to provide our service members the support and long-term budget certainty they deserve.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:43:09Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2019/11/tillis-co-sponsored-legislation-to-help-restore-and-rebuild-our-national-parks-passes-committee", "Tillis Co-Sponsored Legislation to Help Restore and Rebuild Our National Parks Passes Committee", "2019-11-19", "2019", "2019-11", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) applauded committee passage of bipartisan legislationhe co-sponsoredthat would address the nearly $12 billion backlog in long-delayed maintenance projects at the National Park Service. That backlog includes $215 million for projects in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.\r\nAmerica was blessed with stunning landscapes that attract visitors from all over the world and add substantial economic and cultural value in regions like Western North Carolina and the Outer Banks,said Senator Tillis.We must actively work to rebuild and improve our National Parks, including the $215 million backlog in the Great Smoky Mountains, and I am proud to support this legislation to make that a priority.\r\nThe Restore Our Parks Act would establish the National Park Service Legacy Restoration Fund to reduce the maintenance backlog by allocating existing revenues the government receives from on and offshore energy development. This funding would come from 50 percent of all revenues that are not otherwise allocated and deposited into the General Treasury not to exceed $1.3 billion each year for the next five years.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://budd.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=709", "Rep. Ted Budd Applauds TRIA Passage Through House", "2019-11-18", "2019", "2019-11", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "budd.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Ted Budd Applauds TRIA Passage Through House \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        November 18, 2019\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      WASHINGTON, D.C.- Today, U.S. Representative Ted Budd (R-NC) released the following statement after the passage of H.R. 4634- the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (TRIA) of 2019:\r\nI applaud my colleagues for passing the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program through the House today in such a strong bipartisan manner. TRIA is a critically important program that protects our nation in the event of major catastrophic terror attacks and it was vital that the House get long-term reauthorization language over to the Senate before going home for Thanksgiving. I urge my Senate friends to pass this language soon and let's get this on the President's desk.\r\n \r\n    \r\n    Rep. Budd was one of the first Republicans to co-sponsor the legislation.\r\n    \r\n \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2019/11/tillis-discusses-his-record-advocating-for-north-carolina-s-veterans", "Tillis Discusses His Record Advocating for North Carolina's Veterans", "2019-11-18", "2019", "2019-11", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) recently sat down with Loretta Boniti of Spectrum News to talk about his record advocating for North Carolina's veterans and his work to improve the VA. Last week, Tillis' office released anew videohighlighting Tillis' work with President Donald Trump, VA Secretary Robert Wilkie and his colleagues to deliver results for North Carolina veterans, including landmark reforms to improve health care for veterans, expanding career and educational opportunities for veterans, and pursuing justice for the victims of toxic water contamination at Camp Lejeune.\r\nSenator Tillis has used his position on the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee to advocate on behalf of veterans, leading efforts to reform the VA to deliver more timely, quality, and accessible health care for veterans. Working with President Trump, Senator Tillis helped lead the passage of the MISSION Act, landmark legislation that puts health care decisions back in the hands of veterans. Tillis has also worked across the aisle assist veterans exposed to toxic burn pits while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, leading the successful passage of the Helping Veterans Exposed to Burn Pits Act, which was codified into law by President Trump in 2018.\r\nWatch the interviewHERE\r\nTillis on veterans being a top priority for him:\r\nIt has been for a variety of reasons. My father was a veteran and North Carolina is about to surpass California in the number of veterans in any state behind only Texas and Florida. When you think about them having a population three times the size of ours, it gives you an idea of how many people in our state served our nation and we owe them a debt of gratitude and I'm going to do everything I can to make sure we repay it.\r\nTillis on the state of the VA today:\r\nVA Secretary Robert Wilkie, who worked for me for three years, has taken the VA from 17th in preferred places to work in the federal government to 6th in one year. We have leaders who are thanking people who are doing a great job but also holding people accountable when they are notIt is putting us in a position to continue improving the VA. A lot of people in Washington like to take shots at the VA, but as one of the largest health care systems in the United States, they do fairly well but it won't be good enough for me until they do extraordinarily well.\r\nTillis on ensuring veterans get the benefits they deserve:\r\nThey deserve every benefit. Every consultation, every crisis moment, and every interaction with the federal government should be seamless and respectful. I ask any veteran that if they feel like they aren't getting the respect they deserve, the first phone call may be to the VA or federal government but the next one needs to be to my office.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 821, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"party\" = :p0 and \"state\" = :p1 and \"year\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "Republican", "p1": "NC", "p2": "2019"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=NC&year=2019", "results": [{"value": "Republican", "label": "Republican", "count": 821, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=NC&year=2019", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=NC&year=2019", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 821, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=NC&year=2019&chamber=House", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=NC&year=2019", "results": [{"value": "NC", "label": "NC", "count": 821, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Republican&year=2019", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=NC&year=2019", "results": [{"value": "2019", "label": "2019", "count": 821, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=NC", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2019-11-18,https~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Etillis~2Esenate~2Egov~2F2019~2F11~2Ftillis-discusses-his-record-advocating-for-north-carolina-s-veterans", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=NC&year=2019&_next=2019-11-18%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Etillis~2Esenate~2Egov~2F2019~2F11~2Ftillis-discusses-his-record-advocating-for-north-carolina-s-veterans&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 230.0622370094061, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}