Representative David Rouzer

Dear [salutation],

During this District work period, I’ve been traveling through the Seventh District to meet with various organizations, businesses, and other groups. This past week, I spent time in Wilmington, visiting with the Chamber of Commerce, Coastal Horizons, and other organizations to discuss the topics on their mind. I enjoyed meeting with our community leaders and listening to their efforts to make improvements in our communities as well as to discuss ways my staff and I can assist.

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This Week in North Carolina

Visiting the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce

It was great to meet with the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce, their Foundation Board members, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. I was honored to be presented with the Advocate for American Business Award from the U.S. Chamber. Additionally, we discussed upcoming bills Congress may consider during the last half of the year and the impacts changes in policy would have on small businesses and their employees throughout Southeastern North Carolina. The Chamber always provides me with great insight, and I was glad to have the opportunity to give them updates on my work in Congress.

Visiting Coastal Horizons

I also had the opportunity to visit with the great team at Coastal Horizons, a mental health, drug rehab, and crisis intervention facility in Wilmington that serves more than fifty counties throughout the state. It wasn’t my first visit to Coastal Horizons, but it was helpful to hear how the challenges our communities face have evolved over time. Addiction is a battle, but Coastal Horizons’ team of professionals continues to change lives.

Visiting the Veterans Advisory Counsel

I met with my Veterans Advisory Committee at the American Legion Post 10. It was a great opportunity to speak with veterans and veteran service organization representatives. We discussed the frustrations they are currently experiencing with the VA and possible ways that Congress can assert better oversight. Additionally, I was pleased to congratulate and present Tom Cerniglia with an honorary certificate for his recent appointment as Commander of the American Legion Department of North Carolina.

Rip Current Information

Dangerous conditions continue to be expected on many beaches on the coast of NC-07. Below are useful tips for beachgoers.

If caught in a rip current...know your options:

Relax, rip currents don’t pull you under.
Don’t swim against the current.
You may be able to escape by swimming out of the current in a direction following the shoreline, or toward breaking waves, then at an angle toward the beach.
You may be able to escape by floating or treading water if the current circulates back toward shore.
If you feel you will be unable to reach shore, draw attention to yourself. If you need help, yell and wave for assistance.

If you see someone in trouble:

Don’t become a victim while trying to help someone else! Many people have died trying to rescue rip current victims.

Get help from a lifeguard.
If a lifeguard is not present, call 9-1-1, then try to direct the victim to swim following the shoreline to escape.
If possible, throw the rip current victim something that floats.
Never enter the water without a flotation device.

This Week's Good News Story

For this week’s good news story, I’m highlighting Kathleen Baker, an Olympic gold medalist who has been sharing her experience at the 2016 Rio Olympics games with troops in the Middle East. She gave them some details on how the Olympics works behind-the-scenes. According to WWAY, Kathleen can't watch the Olympics the way she did before she competed, but her experience continues to bring joy to others.

Closing Thoughts...

"We can't help everyone, but everyone can help someone." — Ronald Reagan