Dear Friend,

Last week, President Joe Biden gave his second State of the Union address to Congress.

As crime, debt, inflation, and illegal immigration continue to destroy lives and communities in Western North Carolina and across our nation, it is clear the Biden administration is out of touch with the everyday lives of American citizens.

In fact, most Americans agree that the Biden administration’s policies have made living conditions worse. A recent Gallup poll revealed that over half of Americans are worse off financially than they were a year ago.

READ: Half of Americans Say They Are Worse Off, Highest Since Great Recession

Biden made several inaccurate statements during the State of the Union, including the Democrat talking point that Republicans are coming for Social Security. This comment couldn’t be further from the truth, and the president himself knows it.

As gas prices and inflation continue to burden hard-working Western North Carolinians, Biden made it clear in his speech that he is determined more than ever to continue reducing America’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve and is pushing the nation closer toward radical Green New Deal policies. He even suggested that the United States should be reliant on fuel for only 10 more years.

Biden also made it clear that there is no plan to stop the invasion at the southern border. As illegal migrants and drugs continue to pour into our country daily, the Biden administration has turned every town into a border town and refuses to acknowledge how his administration's lack of action endangers American lives and threatens our national security.

I invite President Biden and his administration to work with Republicans to find responsible and reasonable solutions to uphold the rule of law, secure our southern border and bring fiscal sanity back to the country.

WATCH:

Open-border policies endanger lives in WNC

During a recent Oversight committee hearing, I heard from Customs and Border Patrol officials who shared how U.S. Border Patrol agents are placing their lives at risk defending our southern border.

I also met with sheriffs throughout my district who have told me our communities in WNC are directly affected by the fentanyl coming across our border and into the mountains, and local law enforcement has been put on high alert as a result of Biden’s reckless open-border policies.

WATCH:

Lives across North Carolina and our nation are being endangered by this administration’s abandonment of our southern border and our overwhelmed Border Patrol agents. As your congressman, I will continue to fight for a strong and secured border and nation.

Constituent highlights

This week I had the privilege of meeting with several constituents from across the district. See photos from our meetings below.

Members of the North Carolina Fraternal Order of Police and Congressman Chuck Edwards

Andy Barnett with Asheville Habitat for Humanity and Congressman Chuck Edwards

Congressman Chuck Edwards and Luke Aldridge from Graham County

Congressman Chuck Edwards and Michelle Fortune, CEO of St. Luke’s Hospital in Polk County

Members of SourceAmerica, former Congressman Jon Porter, Congressman Chuck Edwards and Leca Chapman with Transylvania Vocational Services

Tribal members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and Congressman Chuck Edwards

Now hiring: Spring interns!

My offices in Washington, DC, and Hendersonville, NC, are now hiring interns!

Interns will have the opportunity to gain valuable experience working in a congressional office, as well as seeing firsthand how Congress works. Interns are also paid.

Responsibilities in the Washington office include answering phones, conducting research, drafting written materials, attending hearings and briefings, giving tours of the Capitol, and participating in other projects and educational opportunities.

Responsibilities in the Hendersonville office include answering phones, conducting research, assisting with casework, participating in community outreach, drafting correspondence, and other projects and educational opportunities.

Interested applicants can send an email and resume to Lauren Radford at lauren.radford@mail.house.gov.