As we start the new year, I’m pleased to share an update on the work my team and I have done on behalf of Western North Carolina. Over the past year, our office resolved 2,625 constituent cases and secured $22,980,007 for families, small businesses, and veterans across our region through direct casework.
As our mountain communities continue to recover from the devastation of Hurricane Helene, my office remains focused on delivering timely assistance and helping our neighbors navigate the recovery process. If you or someone you know needs help with a federal agency, please contact my office at 865-EDWARDS.
Expanding Access to Rural Health Care in Western North Carolina
Rural communities across Western North Carolina face unique health care challenges, from hospital closures and workforce shortages to traveling long distances for care. To help address these issues, I voted to establish the Rural Health Transformation Fund as part of the Working Families Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
Through this initiative, North Carolina will receive $213,008,356 to expand access to quality health care in rural areas. This funding will strengthen local hospitals, support rural clinics and providers, and improve care coordination so families can receive reliable medical services closer to home.
Investing in rural health care infrastructure and workforce support helps ensure families across our mountains can continue accessing the care they need without leaving their communities to get it.
Delivering Housing for Our Veterans
The Asheville Veterans Restoration Quarters (VRQ) provides critical housing and support for homeless veterans across Western North Carolina. After Hurricane Helene destroyed their facility, my office worked closely with VRQ to navigate the FEMA process, successfully securing $1.6 million in assistance, covering 94 percent of rebuilding costs.
Once rebuilt, the renovated VRQ will provide 158 beds, and the adjacent Quality Inn will be converted into 120 apartments, creating housing and services for an estimated 350 homeless veterans in our region. We urge the City of Asheville to provide lenient and expedited permitting so repairs can begin as early as March so our veterans can receive timely support.
Modernizing Veteran Affairs to Serve Our Veterans Better
North Carolina is home to more than 600,000 veterans, and ensuring they receive the benefits and services they’ve earned remains one of my top priorities in Congress. Since January 2025, the backlog of veterans waiting for VA benefits has dropped by 57 percent, a direct result of improved coordination between Congress and the Department of Veterans Affairs to streamline claims and expand access.
These reforms are delivering real results for veterans across our region, speeding access to health care, disability benefits, and other essential services. By modernizing outdated systems and directing resources where they are needed most, Congress is helping ensure veterans get timely, reliable support that reflects their service and sacrifice.
Hurricane Helene Recovery by the Numbers
Recovery from Hurricane Helene continues across Western North Carolina, with significant resources deployed to help families and local industry, including:
- $547.6 million approved for 160,853 households, including assistance for rent, basic home repairs, and other disaster-related needs.
- $983 million obligated to the state for 1,947 Helene recovery projects, with total Public Assistance for all North Carolina disaster declarations now exceeding $1 billion.
- $274.3 million disbursed by the U.S. Small Business Administration in low-interest disaster loans.
- 12,395 families receiving $33.8 million for repair to or replacement of private access roads and bridges.
- Over 7 million cubic yards of debris cleared from public rights-of-way.
- $216.7 million paid in claims by the National Flood Insurance Program.
In recognition of the extensive recovery work undertaken in 2025, the Land of Sky Regional Council honored me with the Hurricane Helene Recovery Champion Award. In the year since the storm hit, my team and I have worked relentlessly — solving hundreds of cases for families and businesses and partnering with federal and state officials — to help Western North Carolina recover and rebuild stronger. This work is far from finished, and we will not slow down until our communities have the resources they need to fully recover.
Ensuring Reliable Connectivity Across Western North Carolina
North Carolina has received final approval on our BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment) proposal, a major step toward expanding reliable broadband access across rural communities in our mountains. Through this effort, the state has been awarded $1,532,999,481 to expand broadband infrastructure statewide. Reliable connectivity is essential for education, health care, small businesses, and public safety, and this investment will help our region gain access to the tools they need to compete, grow, and thrive.
Fighting for Responsible Public Lands Management
From the Blue Ridge Parkway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the public lands in our mountains are the crown jewel of our region. As a member of the bipartisan U.S. House Public Lands Caucus, I work to protect America’s public lands while ensuring they remain accessible and responsibly managed. My work with the caucus is guided by a simple principle: we can protect our forests and waterways while supporting hunters, anglers, hikers, small businesses, and the rural communities that depend on them.
Deadline Extended to Apply for Single-Family Housing Assistance
Western North Carolina homeowners now have until January 31 to apply for assistance through the Renew NC Single-Family Housing Program. If your home was damaged by Hurricane Helene, you may still qualify for additional support, even if you have already received assistance from FEMA or your insurance provider.
For more information and to apply, please visit:
https://www.commercerecovery.
