Over the past week, many parts of the country, including here in North Carolina, were devastated by severe storms, tornadoes and flooding. Please join me in continuing to pray for those affected by these terrible storms. You can find information about ways to prepare for severe weather at Ready.gov and visit Ellmers.house.gov for additional information about disaster preparedness and assistance.
This week, I voted for and the House passed H.R. 4486, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations funding bill. This bill increases overall funding for the VA by $1.5 billion — including funding to address the VA backlog. This bill ensures veterans have access to quality medical care, job and training programs, and other benefits that they have earned for their service. This bill will help us keep our promises to veterans and guarantees that our nation’s heroes have the support systems and infrastructure to promote and preserve a sound quality of life.
This week, I observed “Take Our Daughters to Work Day” by adopting a Girl Scout as my “daughter for the day.” The Girl Scout I had the opportunity to spend time with was named Elizabeth, and she has been a life-long scout. I also met with members of the Guil-Rand Fire Department from Archdale and was able to speak with other firemen from the district as well.
On Friday, I was back in the district speaking at the spring meeting of the North Carolina Health Information Management Systems Society (NCHIMSS) with an update on Healthcare IT and the work we are doing in the House on this issue.
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We are here to serve you, and it continues to be an honor to represent your voice in Congress. Please contact my office if you have questions, concerns, or need assistance.
Families Deserve Better Options for Education
This week, I joined a House Republican press conference, to discuss my recent visit to The Academy of Moore County – a tuition-free, public charter school that has allowed families in the second district of North Carolina to find better options for their children and their future potential. Charter schools are providing millions of children with additional educational opportunities while providing moms and dads with more choice. Click here or on the image below to watch my statement on video.
Below is a transcript of my statement from the press conference:
“I just want to speak a moment on one of my stops when we were home over the two week break. I went to the Academy of Moore County, which is a charter school in my district. It was an absolutely wonderful experience. The children are fabulous—what they are doing at that school is amazing. Teaching those children leadership and plans of action, and goal-oriented education [is so important].”
“It was a great experience for me, but what I found out – what I learned – was that those schools – the charter schools – are very much wanting to work with the other public schools and private schools simply to offer choice to families.”
“Moms and dads should be able to make more choices for their children, and they [charter schools] are more than willing to work in that effort.”
Click here to read my op-ed in The Sanford Herald, touting the importance of public-private education partnerships in North Carolina.
Who’s Paid?
According to data provided to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce by Obamacare exchange insurance providers, as of April 15, only 67% of Obamacare enrollees in the Federally Facilitated Marketplace had paid their first month’s premium. Additionally, only 25% of paid enrollees are ages 18-34. Next week, on May 7, the Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations will hold a hearing on Obamacare enrollment.
We also received additional information this week on how the Affordable Care Act is making health insurance unaffordable for North Carolina families. According to data compiled by CAI, a Raleigh human resource management firm, North Carolina families pay $1,397 per month for health insurance — a 4.6 percent increase on employer-based health insurance premiums over last year.
Time to Build
Last weekend, I appeared on “Sunday Morning Futures” with Maria Bartiromo to talk about the need to build the Keystone XL pipeline for jobs and energy independence. I called on Senator Reid and the Democrats in the Senate to stop playing politics and vote for approval of the Keystone XL pipeline. You can watch the segment by clicking here or on the image above.
Snapshots from the Week
(Above) Meeting with members of the Guil-Rand Fire Department from Archdale in my Washington office.
(Above) In Dunn for the unveiling of a historical marker commemorating Link Wray.
(Above and below) Speaking at the spring meeting of the North Carolina Health Information Management Systems Society (NCHIMSS) with an update on Healthcare IT.
(Below) I stopped to talk with a group from Rolling Thunder in the Capitol this week.
In the News
Reid pressed to bring Keystone XL to Senate floor
Ripon Advance
Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-N.C.) said on Sunday that it’s time for Senate Majority Leader Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to bring legislation that would authorize the Keystone XL oil pipeline to a vote.
The Politics of the Keystone XL Pipeline
Sunday Morning Futures – Fox News Channel
Rep. Renee Ellmers discusses the politics behind the Obama administration’s decision to delay until after midterm elections.
Rep. Ellmers: Time for a vote on Keystone XL
The Hill
Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-N.C.) said its time for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to bring approval of the Keystone XL pipeline up for a vote his chamber. On Sunday, Ellmers blasted the administration for the latest delay in the State Department review of the $5.4 billion pipeline, saying it is time for Congress to act.
U.S. Rep. Renee Ellmers tours food bank during stop in Fayetteville
Fayetteville Observer
Ellmers paid a visit to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Southeast North Carolina while in Fayetteville on Friday afternoon.