As the government shutdown continues, Senate Democrats have chosen partisan politics over the livelihoods of hardworking Americans. Their refusal to negotiate in good faith is hurting families, small businesses, and communities across the nation.
Government Shutdown
Before Democrats forced this shutdown, I voted to responsibly fund the government and pay our troops. Senate Democrats rejected that plan and demanded a $1.5 trillion increase in federal spending. Their proposal includes $200 billion in taxpayer-funded healthcare for illegal immigrants and the elimination of $50 billion for rural hospitals — a devastating blow to communities like ours.
Every day of delay adds to the economic toll. In North Carolina, the state’s GDP is projected to decline by $442 million each week because of this shutdown. The House has acted responsibly. It’s time for Senate Democrats to do the same.
Our families, small businesses, and service members deserve better than Washington gridlock. I continue working to reopen the government responsibly and restore an efficient federal operation that serves the American people, not political agendas.
Democrats’ dirty $1.5 trillion deal is full of waste. It hands out healthcare to illegal immigrants, guts rural healthcare, funds climate initiatives and woke programs in foreign countries, and subsidizes radical news programs. Following are the unreasonable demands of the Democrats which I’ll continue to resist on your behalf.
- Healthcare for Illegal Immigrants = $193 billion
- Democrats’ proposal would repeal commonsense reforms to Medicaid that protect taxpayer dollars from funding healthcare benefits for illegal immigrants. For more information, please click here.
- Woke Programs & Climate Initiatives = $5 billion
- $135 million in contributions to the World Health Organization.
- $158 million from the Lebanon Peacekeeping Mission.
- $83 million from the UN Development Program.
- $33 million from the UN Population Fund.
- $24.6 million for climate resilience in Honduras.
- $13.4 million for civic engagement in Zimbabwe.
- $8 million for the UN Human Rights Council.
- $6 million for “Net Zero Cities” in Mexico.
- $6 million for supporting media organizations and civic life of Palestinians.
- $3 million for sexual reproductive health in Venezuela.
- $3.9 million for LGBTQI+ democracy grants in the Western Balkans.
- $3 million for Iraqi Sesame Street.
- Radical News Programs = $1.1 billion
- PBS:
- Produced a documentary arguing the case for reparations.
- Aired a children’s program featuring drag queens.
- Produced a movie celebrating the sex change of a child.
- NPR:
- Ran a feature around “queer animals.”
- Argued “fat-phobia” is racist.
- Lamented that animals require pronouns.
- PBS:
Even as the shutdown continues, both my district and Washington offices remain open to assist constituents across Western North Carolina. My team continues helping folks in NC-11 navigate issues with federal agencies, casework, and other essential services without interruption.
While some Members of Congress continue receiving their pay during the shutdown, I have waived my salary. No elected official should collect a paycheck while Americans shoulder the consequences of Washington’s dysfunction.
Democrats are pushing to extend pandemic-era Obamacare subsidies: temporary measures that cost taxpayers $450 billion and now cover households earning up to $500,000 after Democrats removed income limits.
I do not agree with their plan. Recent polling shows 53% of voters support allowing these subsidies to expire, and 65% oppose continuing them for high-income households. Americans understand these emergency programs were never intended to be permanent. Fiscal discipline must return to Washington to ensure taxpayer dollars are used wisely.
Hearing on Violent Crime in Charlotte
I joined the House Judiciary Committee recently in Charlotte for a hearing on violent crime following the brutal murder of Iryna Zarutska by a career criminal. During the hearing, I spoke directly with families and individuals who have been impacted by senseless violence and a judicial system that often fails to hold criminals accountable.
Their stories were heartbreaking and reaffirmed the urgent need for action. We must implement transparent policies that restore justice, protect innocent lives, and make our communities safer.
The murder of Iryna Zarutska is another tragic example of violence committed by repeat offenders who are too often released without bail. Our justice system must prioritize public safety, and that’s why I’ve joined my colleagues to introduce the No Funding for Lawless Jurisdictions Act to halt the flow of federal dollars to cities that defund police or allow cashless bail for violent offenders, and the Cashless Bail Reporting Act to require the DOJ to publicly disclose where these dangerous policies are in place.
