Key Votes
FY26 Military Construction & Veteran Affairs Appropriations
As the representative of over 76,000 veterans, as well as Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Stations Cherry Point and New River, it is my honor to advocate for federal funding on their behalf.
I proudly supported Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations to increase the VA's budget by 10 percent and ensure that our service members and veterans receive the resources they need and deserve. North Carolina is proud to be called home by hundreds of thousands of active-duty members of our military and those retired from the armed forces.
I'm grateful the Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act was included in this package, as well as supporting language for the F-35 sustainment center and the utilities upgrade for future F-35 squadrons.
Watch my floor speech in support here or by clicking on the picture below:
Introduced Bipartisan Ensuring Justice for Camp Lejeune Victims Act
In August of 2022, the PACT Act was signed into law to expand access to health care and benefits for veterans exposed to toxic substances during service. Included in the historic legislation was my bill, the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, which provides fair and timely relief for those affected.
Of the more than 408,000 claims filed by individuals related to the toxic water at Camp Lejeune, only 230 settlements have been offered. To make matters worse, not a single case has gone to a jury trial.
I introduced the Ensuring Justice for Camp Lejeune Victims Act, bipartisan and bicameral legislation, to implement important reforms to reduce the case backlog and provide timely resolutions and long-awaited closure for those affected.
This bill clearly provides for jury trials, not just bench trials, expressly states that victims must show general causation, permits cases to be heard in any district court in North and South Carolina, and caps attorney fees.
Learn more about the Ensuring Justice for Camp Lejeune Victims Act here.
Participated in Press Conference with HHS Secretary Kennedy Highlighting Prior Authorization Reform
Thank you to President Trump, Secretary Kennedy, and CMS Administrator Oz for working to improve the prior authorization process for American patients.
As a physician for over 30 years, I witnessed the ridiculous and ever-increasing obstructions caused by insurance companies to delay or deny care to patients. These bureaucratic hurdles end up hurting patients and those who care for them. Practices have had to hire many more staff just simply to fight with insurance companies.
I have made reform a top priority of mine since coming to Congress. I am grateful for the collaborative effort by stakeholders to make commitments to streamline approvals and look forward to them delivering on this pledge.
Participated in Punchbowl News' Future of Medicine Event
America leads the world in innovation of new, life-saving therapies. Punchbowl News, a dynamic, DC-based media outlet, hosted me to participate in its "The Future of Medicine" series, exploring how the landscape for medicine is changing politically, both domestically and internationally, and how we can harness advancements in technology to push the boundaries of patient care.
We must fix the Inflation Reduction Act to improve access to life-saving drugs. I introduced the EPIC Act, bipartisan, bicameral legislation to fix the IRA’s small molecule “pill penalty,” to ensure continued R&D investments into small molecule medicines like aspirin, ibuprofen, antihistamines, statins, and certain antibiotics. Small molecule funding has dropped by 70% since September 2021, when the IRA was introduced.
Learn more about my bill, the EPIC Act, here.
House Administration Committee Oversight Hearing of the Federal Voting Assistance Program
I am grateful for the contributions of the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) to ensure that service members, their family members, and overseas citizens are properly informed of their right to vote and offered resources to exercise it from anywhere in the world.
As the representative of three military installations, which are home to nearly 50,000 active-duty service members, I want to ensure their voices can be heard if they are deployed abroad.
Further, while North Carolina is a popular destination for people moving to the US and within our country, many native North Carolinians also choose to live abroad.
VA Committee Hearing on Veteran Transition to Civilian Life
The House Veterans’ Affairs Committee held a hearing to examine ways to improve readjustment outcomes for the all-volunteer force. Additionally, we discussed how the non-profit and philanthropic industry fills the gap for servicemembers and their families as they transition to civilian life.
As the representative of over 76,000 veterans, ensuring that our service members can successfully transition into civilian life is one of my top priorities.
Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health Hearing on Veteran Transition to Civilian Life
The Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health held a hearing to discuss how access to digital health data can help improve patient health and the challenges associated with adopting new technologies.
Digital advancements are revolutionizing health care in a very exciting way. Telemedicine, wearable devices, mobile health apps, and electronic health records have already dramatically helped improve the well-being of millions of Americans.
We must ensure patients and their physicians are put in the driver’s seat.
House Administration Committee Oversight Hearing of the Architect of the Capitol
The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) works tirelessly to maintain and preserve the U.S. Capitol complex for lawmakers, staff, and visitors. Although they often work behind the scenes, the agency is an integral part of the functions of Congress and dates back to the late 1700s.
If you have ever visited the U.S. Capitol or plan to do so in the future, just about everything you see is maintained by the AOC. The House Administration Committee held a hearing to conduct oversight on the agency to ensure it remains a good steward of the Capitol campus and taxpayer dollars.
Meeting with ECU Chancellor Rogers
I had a wonderful time having East Carolina University Chancellor Phillip Rogers by my office to share all the wonderful accomplishments ECU has achieved this year and its contributions to the Greenville community.
Thank you for your leadership, and go Pirates!
Meeting with UNC Dental Students
It was a pleasure to meet with students from UNC’s Adams School of Dentistry to discuss dental research and resources to support education. Oral health is vitally important to an individual’s overall well-being, and I appreciate these students’ advocacy.
Founded in 1950, Adams School of Dentistry was the first dental school in the state and is one of the best institutions in the world today.
Go Tar Heels!
