Thanks to all the folks who joined my recent tele-town hall, where I had the opportunity to answer your questions and discuss the ways I’m addressing rising costs for Western North Carolina families in Congress.
Assisting Tree Growers in WNC
Hurricane Helene caused severe damage across Western North Carolina, and because tree losses create long-term financial setbacks, replanting quickly is critical for economic recovery. Without programs like USDA’s Tree Assistance Program, many growers face years of lost income, or even permanent closure.
That’s why I introduced the Advance Tree Assistance Program (TAP) Payments Act to help orchardists and nursery tree growers replant or rehabilitate eligible trees, bushes, and vines damaged by natural disasters and plant disease.
Currently, TAP is one of the few USDA programs that provide no upfront support. My legislation fixes that by allowing TAP to cover a portion of producers’ upfront costs, easing the financial burden on growers working to rebuild after natural disasters.
Addressing Affordability for WNC Families
It’s clear that families across the nation are still fighting the effects of inflation. To combat this strain, I am cosponsoring several key efforts in Congress to ease everyday expenses, including:
• The Lower Grocery Prices Act that seeks to bring down grocery prices by requiring a comprehensive review of long-term food-at-home costs and directing actionable recommendations to reduce those costs,
• The Child Care Availability and Affordability Act, a bipartisan effort to make childcare more affordable by strengthening existing tax credits, expanding eligibility for lower-income working families, and increasing the maximum benefit to help with rising out-of-pocket expenses, and
• The Affordable HOME Act to address the rapidly rising cost of housing in WNC by cutting unnecessary regulatory barriers that make it harder and more expensive to build new homes.
Opposition to Lumbee Federal Recognition
Opposition to Lumbee Federal Recognition
North Carolina’s 11th District is the home of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, a sovereign Tribal Nation whose culture and history are a treasure to our state and our country. The Eastern Band’s history, ancestors, and culture are deeply woven into our nation’s story, as they bravely fought to defend their land in the face of forced federal removal years ago.
For over forty years, the Department of the Interior’s Office of Federal Acknowledgment has followed a rigorous, merit-based process to determine federal tribal recognition. An amendment in the National Defense Authorization Act bypasses that historic process and sets a dangerous precedent by allowing groups with unsubstantiated claims to seek recognition through politics rather than merit. This undermines the credibility of Indian Country as a whole and stretches tribal resources that are already spread thin.
While I support the NDAA’s efforts to strengthen our military readiness and support our men and women in uniform, I strongly oppose any attempt to bypass the merit-based process for tribal recognition, including efforts to grant federal recognition to the Lumbee community outside of established standards.
Securing Rural Schools
Since 2000, the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program has helped rural communities offset revenue losses tied to federal forest land by providing stable funding for essential services like education. After the program expired at the end of 2023, school districts nationwide — including those in Buncombe, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Swain, Transylvania, and Yancey Counties — have faced significant funding cuts.
That’s why I voted to advance the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025 and extend critical funding for rural schools and communities that rely on federal land revenues to ensure continued support for education in communities across WNC.
Students from Jobs for North Carolina’s Graduates Visit Washington, DC
Student representatives from the Jobs for North Carolina’s Graduates (JNCG) program visited the Capitol while in DC for the National Student Leadership Academy. My team and I were especially glad to welcome Blu Heinz from the Henderson County Career Academy.
JNCG, part of Communities in Schools of North Carolina, plays a critical role in preparing students for life after graduation. By building trusted relationships, providing mentoring, and equipping students with practical skills, JNCG ensures they have the support they need to thrive in college, careers, and beyond.
