Picture of the Week:
 |
| On Monday evening, the Architect of the Capitol, members of Congress, and the Forest Service gathered outside on the west terrace of the U.S. Capitol to light the Capitol Christmas tree. This has been a tradition since 1964, and every year the Christmas tree gets more beautiful. |
As we approach the end of the 113th Congress, the House of Representatives remains hard at work. This past week, the House passed Representative Ted Yoho’s bill to hold President Obama accountable for his unilateral executive overreach on immigration. Additionally, we voted to prevent a tax hike affecting “people ranging from schoolteachers, families of college students and taxpayers in states without an income tax…” Read more about this vote in this article in the Fayetteville Observer.
New subcommittee appointments were announced this week in the Energy and Commerce Committee. In addition to serving on the Health Subcommittee, and the Communication and Technology Subcommittee, I’m incredibly honored to have been appointed to the Energy and Power Subcommittee for the 114th Congress. North Carolina plays an incredibly important role in our country’s energy industry. We are the 4th largest state for solar power capacity, providing more than 3,100 jobs to the people of N.C. Additionally, the oil and gas industry supports approximately 146,000 jobs and pumps an additional $12.5 billion into our state’s economy! My role on this committee will give North Carolina a voice as we work to shape our nation’s energy policy.
We saw new reports this week saying that rises in health insurance premiums are coming in 2015. Now even Democrats that strongly supported Obamacare are realizing what Americans have known — that it didn’t make health care more affordable or accessible. Senator Tom Harkin, one of the authors of Obamacare, is now saying it is too complicated and it may have been better not passing anything at all.
I am so thankful for the opportunity to serve you in Congress. Please contact my office in Washington, Dunn or Asheboro if we can be of assistance to you.
 |
In Energy & Commerce:
 |
| I’m looking forward to the work I’ll be doing on the Energy and Power Subcommittee to explore new ways to increase energy efficiency and create new jobs in the Tar Heel State! |
In the Second District:
 |
| The Express Clydesdales of Express Employment Professionals were in Sanford this week! Six Express Clydesdales pulled a stagecoach carrying Santa Monday night in the Sanford Christmas Parade. A member of my staff took the picture above of two horses, Topper and Hedges, Tuesday at the Express open house. |
 |
| At their “Open House with the Clydesdales,” Express Employment Professionals collected canned food for The United Way of Lee County and its partner agencies, The Salvation Army and Christians United Outreach Center of Lee County. |
Made in the USA Month:
 |
| December is “Made in the USA” month. This is a great time to say thank you to our manufacturers in the Second District and around the nation. |