Representative David Rouzer

Dear Friend,

When not in Washington, I enjoy the opportunity to use the district work periods to travel across the 7th district visiting with job creators, local officials, and more. It's been an honor to connect with many constituents and local groups who play an integral role in our communities and make NC-07 a great place to live, work, and raise a family. Read more about my visits below and be sure to check out the important Hurricane Preparedness Week resources to get ready for the upcoming hurricane season beginning on June 1st.

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Updates from NC-07

Visiting CFPUA to View New Filters Removing PFAS

I recently toured Cape Fear Public Utility Authority's (CFPUA) Sweeney Water Treatment Plant to view the new Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) filtering system. These new filters have proven to be highly effective at removing PFAS at, or near, non-detectable levels. According to CFPUA, 100 percent of the water currently leaving the Sweeney Plant is being treated with the new GAC filters.

For years, PFAS contaminants were discharged into the Cape Fear River from industrial facilities upstream. State and local leaders have dedicated millions of dollars and countless hours working to address this challenge.

The success of this project is a true testament to the leadership of CFPUA as well as the community and state leaders who have all worked to clean up PFAS pollutants for CFPUA customers. I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress along with state and local officials to help ensure all families in North Carolina have access to safe drinking water. To learn more about my efforts, click here to watch my recent interview with Spectrum News on clean water in North Carolina.

Meeting with AARP North Carolina in Wilmington

It was great to meet with AARP North Carolina members in my Wilmington district office to discuss their priorities and my commitment to protect the Social Security and Medicare benefits our seniors have earned.

The Limit, Save, Grow Act, which House Republicans passed last week to responsibly raise the debt ceiling, will help grow the economy and bolster senior safety net programs that require a robust workforce contributing to them via the payroll tax. These are, of course, Social Security and Medicare, which need to be strengthened and preserved so they do not go insolvent.

Conducting Oversight of FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program

This week, I joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers to investigate the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) after recent reports show that for nearly four million Americans the Risk Rating 2.0 version of the program has caused premiums to increase, making it more difficult for many to maintain their flood insurance.

The new premium calculations are purportedly based on risk calculations, however those affected by the new rates report little to no transparency of the input data utilized by FEMA for setting rating factors and premiums. Families in Southeastern North Carolina have seen their flood insurance rates increase from $500 a year to over $4,000 a year for a single home in some cases — and this is just a sample of what is occurring. There are serious transparency concerns surrounding Risk Rating 2.0, and I look forward to getting answers from FEMA on this issue. Read more here.

Hurricane Preparedness Week

This week marks National Hurricane Preparedness Week. As we head into hurricane season, now is the time to prepare and refresh your hurricane safety plans. While many of us have experience with hurricanes, please take a few moments to review these important tips to help keep you and your family safe.

Additionally, my staff and I are readily available to assist you in any way we can before and after future storms. You can visit my Hurricane Resources Website for several preparedness tips, local emergency contact information, specific resources on how my office can help before and after a storm, and more.

ROUZER.HOUSE.GOV/HURRICANE

This Week's Good News Story

For this week's good news story, I'm highlighting Dr. Cherry Maynor Beasley of the University of North Carolina at Pembroke who recently received the 2022 James E. Holshouser Award for Excellence in Public Service.

The award honors faculty who exemplify the University’s commitment to service and community engagement. According to UNC Pembroke, "Beasley is the founding member of UNC Pembroke’s Department of Nursing, and served as the associate dean of health sciences and chief nursing officer of the McKenzie-Elliott School of Nursing, where she was also the Anne R. Belk Endowed Professor in Rural and Minority Health. Today she is the Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.”

Dr. Beasley also holds the distinguished honor of being the first Lumbee to have earned a baccalaureate, master's, and doctorate in nursing. Additionally, she is a veteran of the U.S. Army Reserve Nurse Corps and served our country for eight years from 1982 to 1990.

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Beasley on this significant achievement! I look forward to seeing the work she will continue to accomplish for the state of North Carolina and the UNC Pembroke community.

Closing Thoughts...

"When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on." – Thomas Jefferson