Representative David Rouzer

Dear [salutation],

It was very busy in Washington this past week as House Republicans voted to keep the government funded to avoid a shutdown, and my subcommittee members and I focused on how to make U.S. transit systems safer. Read more below!

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Passing a Continuing Resolution in the House

On Friday, with my support, House Republicans voted to pass H.R. 5371, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act of 2026. H.R. 5371 extends government funding through November 21, 2025. The passage of this funding bill would prevent a government shutdown on October 1st and allow work to continue on a full-year appropriations measure that reflects Republican priorities. This temporary Continuing Resolution (CR) prevents interruption of national security and other critical programs.

The House-passed bill failed to get the votes necessary to be brought up in the Senate hours later. You must get 60 votes in the Senate to pass a CR so Democrat votes are needed. If Democrats in the Senate choose to force a shutdown, it could cost American taxpayers billions of additional dollars due to severed contracts and increased expenses from delayed program starts. Shutdowns do not save money; they cost billions more due in large part to all the severed contracts that must be renegotiated.

Improving Safety on U.S. Transit Systems

As chairman of the Highways and Transit Subcommittee, I led a bipartisan roundtable discussion with transit officials, law enforcement officials and stakeholders to discuss the need to identify actionable solutions to improve safety on publicly funded transportation systems to help restore the public’s trust in transit.

The recent deadly stabbing of Iryna Zarutska on Charlotte’s light rail is a stark reminder safety must be at the center of our national transit conversation. While law enforcement and the justice system have their obligations to keep the public safe and ensure justice prevails, Congress has an obligation to address any shortcomings threatening public safety and implement appropriate measures of deterrence and prevention.

This roundtable was an essential step in ensuring every rider can feel safe when they step onto public transit. By bringing together transit leaders and law enforcement, we are focused on real, actionable solutions to protect riders, strengthen community confidence, and uphold the fundamental promise of safe, accessible public transportation systems for all Americans.

According to the Congressional Research Service (CRS), crime on public transportation systems has been generally worse since the COVID-19 pandemic. Compared to the five years prior to the pandemic, the average number of homicides on transit systems more than doubled in the five-year period between 2020 and 2024. Over the same period, assaults on transit systems increased by 80 percent.

The T&I Committee and the Highways and Transit Subcommittee are in the process of developing a major bipartisan surface transportation reauthorization bill this Congress. This bill will provide funding authorizations and policy changes for federal highways, transit, and other surface transportation programs. The current surface transportation authorization expires on September 30, 2026. We are working to make transit services safe and reliable in this reauthorization. Criminal activity on transit systems undermines public confidence, decreases ridership, and harms the effectiveness and sustainability of those systems.

Honoring the Life of Charlie Kirk from NC to DC

There was an incredible gathering in Wilmington (pictured below) last week to honor and remember the life of Charlie Kirk. While I wasn’t able to attend due to votes in Washington, I was grateful to join a moving tribute led by Speaker Johnson in the Capitol (pictured above). It’s truly inspiring to see people from across the country coming together to honor Charlie’s life and legacy.

Congressional App Challenge for Students

The Congressional App Challenge is an annual competition aimed at encouraging middle and high school students to learn how to code by creating their own applications. The Challenge is intended to highlight the value of computer science and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education.

The House of Representatives knows how crucial these skills are, and students should be encouraged to engage in these fields. By recognizing our nation’s young programming talent, Congress hopes to highlight and underscore the importance of developing these skills.

This competition is open to all students who meet the eligibility requirements, regardless of coding experience. We strongly encourage students of all skill levels to participate, enabling them to learn how to create their own apps, program robotics, or develop wearable technology. You can register here.

The deadline to submit your application is 12:00 PM EST on October 30, 2025.

Eligibility and Age Division

To be eligible to participate in the Congressional App Challenge, you must be a middle or high school student who resides in or attends school in the Seventh Congressional District at the time of app submission. Students may register as individuals or as teams of up to four. If competing in a team, at least half of the teammates must be eligible to compete in the Seventh Congressional District.

You can find more information on the Congressional App Challenge website.

This Week's Good News Story

For this week's good news story, I'm highlighting Evan Mattocks! Evan plays baseball for the Miracle League of Wilmington and was recently selected to play in the 2025 Miracle League All-Star Game in St. Louis Missouri!

Congratulations and good luck, Evan!

Read the full story here. You can learn more about The Miracle League of Wilmington here.

Closing Thoughts...

"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning." — Albert Einstein