| It’s been more than a year since the House passed H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act, the strongest border security bill in history.
H.R. 2 would reimplement President Trump’s effective border policies and end this administration’s border crisis, which continues to jeopardize our national security and sovereignty. In fact, a record-breaking number of nationals from our adversary, China, are illegally crossing our border. In April, the Customs and Border Patrol found that in this fiscal year alone, they have encountered 27,583 Chinese nationals, a nearly 8,000 percent increase from fiscal year 2021. With the rising threat of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), border security is paramount to national security and I will not relent in the fight to secure America’s borders. I recently spoke on the House floor about how the fentanyl pouring in through our borders has taken lives in our own communities in the mountains and urged that this administration put the American people first and close our southern border once and for all. The U.S. must stand with Israel As our ally, Israel, is defending itself from terrorist organizations, it is critical that we continue to stand with and support Israel. The president recently announced he would stop military aid to Israel at a time when this aid is needed to target Hamas terrorists and avoid more civilian casualties in what looks like an attempt to appease the growing pro-Hamas sentiment among the left. In light of this administration’s misguided decision to halt military aid to Israel, a bipartisan group of colleagues and I demanded that the president provide answers on his decision to withhold shipments to Israel. Furthermore, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued baseless arrest warrants for Israeli officials, equating them to the terrorists who committed the horrific attacks of Oct. 7. The ICC’s decision is great news to terrorists around the globe and is a slap in the face to the only free-standing democracy in the Middle East. If I have my way, the United States will never abandon Israel, especially not while it is fighting for the right to exist and the rights of Jewish people everywhere, and no country should recognize any legitimacy of a pro-terrorist international court. Protecting Americans’ right to financial privacy President Biden released a framework to evaluate the establishment of a central bank digital currency (CBDC), which can be used as a surveillance tool and weaponized against the American people. In China, the Communist Party has been using a CBDC to track the spending habits of its citizens and we cannot allow this level of financial surveillance in America. That’s why I cast NC-11’s vote for the CBDC Anti-Surveillance State Act. This bill protects Americans’ right to financial privacy by halting unelected bureaucrats from issuing a CBDC and is the first anti-central bank digital currency legislative effort ever introduced in Congress. WNC Backs the Blue During the past three years, the Defund the Police movement and anti-police policies have led to a surge in violent crime across the country. In the U.S. House of Representatives, we recently celebrated National Police Week and honored America’s law enforcement heroes by passing legislation to support our men and women in blue. Some of the bills that I voted for to support our police officers include bills that would: Require ICE to detain illegal immigrants who are arrested, charged or convicted with assaulting a law enforcement officer or other first responder. Make sure officers can protect themselves and others by allowing concealed weapon possession in more areas open to the public. Direct the attorney general to report to Congress on how the border crisis affects law enforcement at various levels. Make sure there is adequate data collection to address the rise of attacks on police officers. While this year’s police week might be over, I will continue to back policies that support America’s law enforcement officers who risk their own lives to protect and serve citizens day after day. House committee investigates China’s role in the fentanyl crisis Following a months-long bipartisan investigation, the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) revealed its findings of the CCP’s role in the deadly fentanyl epidemic that has killed hundreds of thousands of Americans. The fentanyl crisis is one of the most devastating disasters that our nation has faced and has made its way to the mountains of Western North Carolina. Fentanyl kills more than 200 Americans daily on average, which is the equivalent to a packed Boeing 737 crashing every single day. After all, the amount of fentanyl that is considered a potentially deadly dose is as small as the amount that fits on the tip of a pencil. This dangerous drug is the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18-49 and has led to millions more suffering from addiction while continuing to destroy families and communities. The fentanyl crisis is not just limited to the United States, as fentanyl and other mass-produced synthetic narcotics from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) are devastating nations around the world. This is why the U.S. must swiftly act on the following findings from the select committee’s investigation to address the root cause of this global crisis. The select committee’s investigation found that the PRC government, under the control of the CCP: Directly subsidizes the manufacturing and export of illicit fentanyl materials and other synthetic narcotics through tax rebates. Gave monetary grants and awards to companies openly trafficking illicit fentanyl materials and other synthetic narcotics. Holds ownership interest in several PRC companies tied to drug trafficking. Fails to prosecute fentanyl and precursor manufacturers. Allows the open sale of fentanyl precursors and other illicit materials on the extensively monitored and controlled PRC internet. Censors content about domestic drug sales but leaves export-focused narcotics content untouched. Strategically and economically benefits from the fentanyl crisis. The takeaways from these findings are that the U.S. needs to take the following decisive actions to address the fentanyl crisis: establish a Joint Task Force – Counter Opioids; provide law enforcement and intelligence officials with the authorities, tools and resources they need; strengthen U.S. sanctions authorities; enact and use trade and customs enforcement measures and close regulatory and enforcement gaps. Inflation continues to wreak havoc on Western North Carolinians’ way of life Our economy continues to suffer due to this administration’s fiscal policies. Inflation was at 1.4 percent when Biden took office and has risen nearly 20 percent since then. High prices are forcing Americans to spend more than $12,000 more a year to afford the same basics compared to three years ago. From my seats on the House Appropriations and Budget Committees, I am pushing to change how Washington works so that we can restore fiscal responsibility in our government, improve America’s economic outlook and allow Western North Carolinians to keep more of their hard-earned dollars in their wallets. WNC’s latest service academy acceptances One of the most important duties and greatest honors of representing the 11th district of North Carolina is selecting nominees among those who are seeking appointments to our nation’s military service academies. I had the great pleasure and excitement of hosting an event to celebrate the following students whose exceptional leadership, hard work and patriotism made them stand out from a competitive pool of applicants and were accepted into their respective service academies. Cedric Gordon, alumnus of Asheville High School: U.S. Air Force Academy William “Liam” Lawing, student at Nesbitt Discovery Academy: U.S. Air Force Academy Joshua Morgan, alumnus of Asheville Christian Academy: U.S. Air Force Academy Michael Puzerewski, student at Holy Innocence Academy: U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Anita Zavyalova, student at A.C. Reynolds High School: U.S. Naval Academy These students represent the best of America, and I want to extend my congratulations once again for this life-changing achievement. Congressman Chuck Edwards: Unplugged Mark your calendars for Thursday, June 20 to join my next in-person town hall in Graham County. The town hall will take place from 6:00-7:30 p.m. at the Graham County Courthouse, 12 N. Main St., Robbinsville, NC. I’m looking forward to sharing an update about legislative priorities in Congress and answering questions about the issues that matter to you. With my warmest regards,
Chuck Edwards |
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