Representative David Rouzer

Dear [salutation],

It was a hectic week following the government shutdown triggered by Senate Democrats at midnight on September 30th. All but three Senate Democrats voted against a clean Continuing Resolution (CR) that would have kept the government open and funded through November 21st.

Two weeks ago, House Republicans did our part by passing the clean CR to avoid this kind of disruption. Below, you'll find more information on the Democrat-led Schumer Shutdown and updates from around the district.

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Democrat-led Government Shutdown

By now you have probably heard a lot about the Demcrat-led Schumer Shutdown. House Republicans did their job to keep the government open well before the September 30th deadline by passing a clean Continuing Resolution (CR) through mid-November to provide time for an agreement between the two chambers on the 12 annual appropriations bills for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026.

This was an identical CR to the ones Democrats voted for earlier in the year as well as in late 2024. To be precise, they voted for this exact CR 13 times during the Biden Administration. But at midnight on September 30th, Democrats in both the House and Senate decided a $1.5 trillion spending hike is more important than ensuring stability for seniors, veterans, military families, and others.

Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is so concerned about a primary from Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (or AOC as she is called) (D-NY-14), he decided it’s in his best interest to do what the far-Left wanted and shut down the government.

The thinking is this: Republicans have the White House, a majority in the Senate and a majority in the House. With the help of the liberal media, they believe Republicans will take the blame because most of the American public does not understand you need 60 votes in the Senate to end debate on a CR. Republicans have 53 seats in the Senate, so you’ve got to get a minimum of 7 Democrats to break ranks to end debate on the bill. Quite simply, Democrats are playing politics.

Instead of using taxpayer dollars to fund critical federal functions, Democrats’ proposed $1.5 trillion spending increase over just four-weeks includes:

Reinstatement of FREE health care for illegal aliens
$500 million to prop up liberal news outlets
A $50 billion cut to investments in rural health care and rural hospitals
Billions of dollars to foreign countries for climate projects

Democrats’ vote against the clean Continuing Resolution was a vote against:

Supporting our military and our troops
Critical veterans’ benefit assistance and GI Bill processing
Compensating work by air traffic controllers and TSA agents to keep Americans flying safely and on time
Future food assistance for low-income women, infants, and children
Servicing small business loans that help Main Street survive and grow
FEMA funding to continue disaster recovery
Assisting our homeless veterans and low-income veteran families
Funding Community Health Centers and rural mental health assistance
Implementing protections against surprise medical billing to shield patients from unexpected costs

Regardless of the shutdown, my office and I will continue to provide updates throughout this process. Should you have any questions or concerns that arise from the shutdown, do not hesitate to contact my offices.

You can find a government shutdown resource page here.

Deadly Shooting in Southport

It is with a heavy heart I address the recent tragedy that has shaken the peaceful, close-knit community of Southport, North Carolina. On the evening of September 27th, the serenity of this coastal town was shattered when a lone gunman, a Marine veteran, opened fire at the American Fish Company restaurant. This senseless act claimed the lives of three innocent individuals and left five others wounded.

We owe deep gratitude to the Southport and Oak Island Police Departments, the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office, District Attorney Jon David and his office, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Coast Guard. Their swift and coordinated response not only prevented any further loss of life but also led to the suspect’s arrest within minutes.

This heartbreaking event calls attention to the urgent need to improve how we support our veterans, particularly those silently battling invisible wounds. It is crucial we learn how to recognize the signs of distress early and provide timely intervention before such an act can occur, which is very easy to say but hard to do.

As Southport comes together to grieve and heal, may we honor the victims by striving toward a safer and more compassionate future for all.

Judiciary Committee Field Hearing in Charlotte

This past Monday, I participated in a House Judiciary Committee field hearing in Charlotte, North Carolina. The hearing evaluated the rise in violent crime in American cities, the radical, pro-criminal policies instituted in liberal cities across the country in 2020, and the failure of judges to keep violent criminals off the streets.

In the wake of the deadly stabbing of Iryna Zarutska on a Charlotte light rail system, I have been focused on addressing the rampant crime plaguing public transportation across the nation.

As a North Carolinian and a strong advocate for public safety, I’m deeply concerned about rising violence on public transit. Iryna Zarutska and many others would still be alive if not for soft-on-crime policies and judicial failures. Taxpayer-funded transit systems are failing the very people they’re meant to serve. I’m committed to continue working with my colleagues and the U.S. Department of Transportation to restore safety and accountability.

I want to thank the family members of the victims who spoke at the hearing. I can't imagine the courage it took to share their loved ones' tragic story. Their voices will change lives.

This Week's Good News Story

Cape Fear Realtors recently teamed up with the Wilmington Area Rebuilding Ministry (WARM NC) to make a lasting impact in the community. Volunteers installed a porch and stair railings, providing a safer home for a mother and her son with special needs.

This project is one of many community service initiatives supported by Realtor members throughout the year, each one highlighting their ongoing commitment to giving back.

Through collaboration and service, Realtors are helping build stronger, safer, and more resilient communities. See pictures here.

Closing Thoughts...

"Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did." — Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich