I hope everyone had a wonderful and restful Thanksgiving last week spent with loved ones. It was wonderful being back in the district to celebrate with my family and our Marines. We are so blessed to live in Eastern North Carolina, one of the most beautiful regions in the country.
In Washington this week, the House passed legislation in support of our ally Israel and to prevent the unfreezing of any Iranian assets, my bill the Federal Election Audit Act passed through committee, and I introduced legislation to eliminate unnecessary fees on patients and physicians.
I had the honor of spending my Thanksgiving with the brave men and women who serve our country. In the morning, I spoke to the Marines on the USS Bataan, and later I visited USMC Air Station Cherry Point to serve Thanksgiving dinner.
I am always grateful for the opportunity to meet our country's men and women in uniform and personally thank them for their service.
As always, it’s an honor to represent you in Congress and be your voice on the critical issues facing our nation.
No Fees for EFTs
As a result of the unnecessary and burdensome fees imposed by health insurers, physicians are struggling to provide quality care. To address this issue, I introduced the No Fees for EFTs Act. This act aims to protect healthcare providers from percentage-based fees charged on electronic payments for healthcare services.
According to Medical Group Management, these fees contribute to an annual budget of $1 million in medical practices. This amount of money could be better spent on improving patient experiences. Unfortunately, it is being deposited back to insurers.
Insurance companies target patients and doctors with predatory fees to line their pockets. This act will ensure doctors can focus on life-saving treatments while patients prioritize their health.
Resolutions to Support Israel
October 7th was a day Israelis and those across the world will never forget, as Hamas viciously attacked their state. Women, the elderly, children and infants were slaughtered, raped, killed and captured.
In a bipartisan effort, the House passed two resolutions to show our unwavering support to the people of Israel.
The first calling on Hamas to immediately release all hostages taken during the attack on Israel in October 2023, and the second to reaffirm the State of Israel’s right to exist.
Our commitment to supporting Israel and its fight to defend itself remains unwavering. We must support Israel in its mission to eliminate Hamas.
No Funds for Iranian Terrorism Act
The No Funds for Iranian Terrorism Act imposes immediate sanctions preventing any foreign financial institution from facilitating the transfer of the $6 billion the Biden Administration planned to release to Iran, or any other frozen asset of the nation.
Iran is the world's largest financial sponsor of terrorism. This legislation cracks down on the regime’s resources used to finance terrorist activities.
Federal Election Audit Act
Free and fair elections are a cornerstone of American democracy. However, trust in our elections has eroded in recent years. To restore confidence, I introduced the Federal Election Audit Act.
On Thursday, it passed through the Committee on House Administration. This legislation would allocate federal funds to states for conducting thorough post-election audits, which would enhance transparency and ensure the integrity of elections.
The first step of this bill requires audits to be carried out independently, and officials or contractors from state and local offices are not allowed to conduct them. Secondly, these audits must be comprehensive and encompass all aspects of the election process, including voter registration, check-in, voting, tabulation, canvassing, and post-election procedures. Finally, this bill ensures that audits are completed promptly, taking place before the expiration of the period when one can legally challenge the election results under state law.
Americans deserve to be confident their votes matter and are represented accurately, and this legislation aims to do just that.
