Representative David Rouzer

Dear Friend,

This Memorial Day Weekend please join me in taking a moment to honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our country and preserve our liberty. Let us remember every soldier, sailor, airman and Marine who made this sacrifice.

We will never forget their service and selflessness — a poignant reminder that our freedom is not free. I hope everyone stays safe this Memorial Day weekend as we pay tribute to our fallen servicemembers.

This Week in DC

From passing legislation to protect our communities from the deadly fentanyl crisis, to working with my colleagues on supply chain solutions, I'm proud of the many significant achievements the House passed this week.

Meanwhile, Wrightsville Beach received welcome news from the U.S. Army Corps, and the Supreme Court released their ruling on a critical case impacting our communities. Keep reading below for more details and important updates.

Delivering Supply Chain Solutions

My colleagues and I on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure advanced seventeen bills to strengthen the nation’s supply chain and improve the movement of goods across the country.

These policy solutions address a wide range of factors contributing to supply chain disruptions. Everything from removing regulatory barriers to policies that will ease labor shortages to promoting smarter infrastructure investment, these bills will help lower costs and improve the movement of goods for all American consumers and businesses. The Committee also adopted my amendment to ensure the federal government and the American people fully understand the adverse impacts Electric Vehicles (EVs) pose before spending taxpayer dollars on federal grants for projects investing in EVs for supply chain purposes. Click here or on the image below to read more. Wholesale adoption of EVs could easily bring the supply chain to a grinding halt — and that wouldn’t be the only negative outcome.

SCOTUS Protects Private Property and States' Rights

Earlier this week, the Supreme Court released their ruling on Sackett vs. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a case involving the scope and definition of “waters of the US”, also referred to as “WOTUS" for short.

In a win for America's farmers, small businesses, private property owners, and entire communities, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Chantell and Mike Sackett and against the EPA. As I have said all along, the Biden Administration should have waited on this ruling before issuing their costly, burdensome, and overreaching WOTUS rule. Thankfully, they will now have to write a new rule under fairly strict parameters.

Supporting the HALT Fentanyl Act

With my support, the House passed the HALT Fentanyl Act. This bill would authorize the Drug Enforcement Administration to permanently classify fentanyl-related substances as a Schedule I narcotic, which provides law enforcement agencies the authority they need to curb the fentanyl scourge and protect communities from this deadly drug.

NC-07 Updates and Resources

Army Corps Takes Emergency Action for Wrightsville Beach

I’m pleased the Army Corps of Engineers has approved an emergency exception allowing Wrightsville Beach to use their 50 plus year traditional borrow site to replenish the beach. I appreciate the Corps working closely with me and my staff to find the most expedient solution to address the Biden Administration’s new interpretation of the Coastal Barrier Resources Act handed down by the Department of Interior. This misguided interpretation has been preventing the use of sand from Masonboro Inlet for beach renourishment purposes.

For long-term certainty, this emergency exception needs to be made permanent. H.R. 524, legislation I introduced at the beginning of this new Congress, would do just that. A long-term fix is imperative for the town's protection — including further inland — from storm damage as well as resiliency, maintaining the natural ecosystem, and to protect our local economy. Read more here.

NC-07 Art Competition Winner

Congratulations to Samantha Strahley from John T. Hoggard High School in Wilmington on being named the winner of North Carolina’s 7th Congressional District Art Competition! Her artwork, entitled “Raccoon,” will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for visitors, staff and members of Congress to see. Every year, students from across our region demonstrate great artistic talent, and I thank each student who participated in this year's competition!

IRS Alert for Businesses

The IRS is renewing an alert for businesses to watch out for signs of misleading claims involving the Employee Retention Credit. The IRS and tax professionals continue to see a barrage of aggressive broadcast advertising, direct mail solicitations and online promotions pertaining to the Employee Retention Credit. While the tax credit is legitimate, aggressive promoters are misrepresenting and exaggerating who can qualify for the credits. Please click here for more information and warning signs.

This Week's Good News Story

For this week's good news story, I am recognizing Brunswick County Sheriff John Ingram, who has dedicated his life to our community during his long and distinguished tenure in law enforcement. It was my honor to congratulate him on his recent retirement and extend my sincere gratitude for his extraordinary service during a recent speech on the House Floor. Click here or on the image below to watch.

Closing Thoughts...

“You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.” ― Abraham Lincoln