Last week was a busy one in our Nation’s capital. Between committee hearings and meetings, I was proud to join North Carolinians to discuss important issues, including the role our universities play in critical research, the significance of our agriculture industry and the challenges they face, and the importance of an on-time highway bill.
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Honoring Our Servicemembers at Fort Bragg
President Donald J. Trump greets troops after delivering remarks to military families at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Fort Bragg is home to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command and Delta Force, the elite unit which executed Operation Absolute Resolve and captured Nicolas Maduro, an illegitimate leader, dictator, drug dealer, and terrorist. On Friday, I was honored to be asked to join President Trump to recognize and honor the dedicated servicemembers who captured the dictator on January 3, 2026, and brought him to the United States to face narcoterrorism charges.
On Tuesday, I was pleased and honored to join my friend NC State Chancellor Kevin Howell, Dean Jim Pfaendtner of NC State’s College of Engineering, and Congresswoman Deborah Ross (D-NC) for a panel discussion. Special thanks to the American Society for Engineering Education and NC State University for organizing this. It is always valuable to discuss how we can work together to enhance research, innovation, workforce development, and education in our great state of North Carolina and nationwide.
I also had the pleasure of welcoming the National Council of Agricultural Employers (NCAE) to Washington. As the only national association focused exclusively on the agriculture employer’s perspective, their advocacy is essential to the vitality of our rural economies.
My commitment to our farmers took root as I grew up working the summers on my family’s farm in Johnston County and continued with my time serving as an agriculture, tobacco, and trade staffer for Senators Jesse Helms and Elizabeth Dole. North Carolina’s more than $113 billion agriculture economy relies on a critical workforce essential to feeding and clothing every American. Labor expenses have been at record highs in recent years, putting a number of growers out of business and making it that much harder for those still in business to continue to survive.
I applaud the Trump Administration for their work to bring these costs down. Additionally, my colleagues and I in Congress are working to make changes in the law to reform and improve the agricultural guest worker program so that it is not so costly and cumbersome to utilize.
Protecting Election Integrity
Election safeguards should be in place to restore confidence in future elections. Our election laws should protect every legal vote cast by a U.S. citizen. I previously cosponsored and voted in favor of the SAVE Act last year, which strengthened election integrity to ensure only U.S. citizens are voting in our elections. This past week, with my support, the House passed the SAVE America Act, which builds on the integrity measures of the SAVE Act by also including a photo ID requirement for federal elections to further protect our republic from election fraud.
The SAVE America Act:
Mandates a valid photo ID for all federal elections.
Requires documentary proof of citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections.
Orders states to establish programs to identify and remove non-citizens from existing voter rolls.
Requiring a valid ID to vote in an election isn’t extreme – it’s common sense. As the graphic below shows, the need for a photo ID is common across our country to ensure accountability, even for something as simple as renting a car. Every vote cast by someone ineligible to participate in our elections, and those knowingly committing fraud, violates the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens and threatens the integrity of our elections.
Strengthening UNC Pembroke
This past week, I had a great meeting with UNC Pembroke Chancellor Robin Cummings to discuss the recently announced move of Indian education programs to the Department of the Interior from the Department of Education. These programs are vital to the mission of UNC Pembroke and their work serving the Lumbee people.
With passage of the Lumbee Fairness Act, full federal recognition will expand programming on campus and strengthen the school’s ability to serve its students and the region as a whole. Ensuring the smooth transition of these programs will provide our institutions and the state the flexibility to best address their unique needs.
Now Accepting 2026 Internship Applications! I am excited to announce my office is now accepting internship applications in my Washington, D.C. and North Carolina offices! Congressional interns will gain firsthand experience of the legislative process by assisting with research and supporting constituent services. Interested students should apply here by March 2, 2026.
This Week's Good News Story
For this week’s good news story, I want to honor a dedicated member of our community: Brunswick County K9 Oti, who is officially hanging up his badge. Throughout his years of service, Oti has been a faithful and fearless partner to the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office. He will be greatly missed by his colleagues, especially his handler, Sgt. J. Smith. I wish Oti a wonderful retirement filled with well-earned rest and plenty of treats!
Read more here about Oti’s final mission and join us in thanking him for his years of brave service to Brunswick County.
Closing Thoughts...
"Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty… I have never in my life envied a human being who led an easy life. I have envied a great many people who led difficult lives and led them well." - President Theodore Roosevelt
