Dear Friend,

According to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the Fiscal Responsibility Act is the largest spending cut ever enacted by Congress in U.S. history, reducing the deficit by $2.1 trillion over the next six years.

This legislation will help stop the inflationary out-of-control spending while fully funding critical veterans’ programs and protecting senior citizens by preserving Social Security and Medicare.  

The bill will also help lift more Americans out of poverty through new SNAP reforms and work requirements to help get Americans back to work, and claw back the tens of billions of unspent COVID funds – including the $400 million from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that continues to send taxpayer money to China.

My yes vote also secured a substantial victory for our troops in the Fiscal Responsibility Act, which will provide $886 billion for our men and women in uniform and our national defense.

Lastly, this bill helps rein in executive overreach and slashes funding for President Biden’s army of IRS agents.

The Fiscal Responsibility Act is not perfect, and we have plenty of work still to do, but I consider it a huge win for conservatives, especially when we face the harsh reality that President Biden controls the White House and Chuck Schumer controls the Senate.

WATCH: Rep. Edwards’ remarks on the Fiscal Responsibility Act

Backing the Blue and Honoring the Fallen

While crime is skyrocketing, the left’s war on our law enforcement officers continues. 

In 2023, 135 officers have been shot and 15 officers have been killed by gunfire. The number of officers shot in the line of duty is up 52 percent since 2020.

Radical House Democrats continue to express their disdain for law enforcement. 

Rep. Rashida Tlaib (MI-12) called for “no more police,” and Rep. Ilhan Omar (MN-5) called for both the defunding and dismantling of police departments. 

This rhetoric is completely irresponsible and ludicrous. There is a thin blue line that stands between civilized society and anarchy, and we need our law enforcement officers now more than ever.

During National Police Week, I cast NC-11’s vote to strengthen our support for the brave men and women who protect us because in Western North Carolina, we honor - not defund - the police.

Our police officers courageously and selflessly put their lives on their line to keep us and our loved ones safe, and they deserve the support and resources to do their jobs. House Republicans are delivering on our Commitment to America by upholding the rule of law, defending our law enforcement from radical leftists, and keeping communities safe. 

As your congressman, I will always stand for law and order, support our law enforcement and Back the Blue.

American lives are on the line

Fentanyl poisoning is now the number one cause of death among adults 18-49 years old – surpassing COVID-19, cancer, heart disease and car accidents – and all it takes is a few milligrams of fentanyl to be lethal – an amount small enough to fit in the ear of Lincoln on a penny.

Border Patrol agents have seized more than 17,000 pounds of fentanyl so far in fiscal year 2023 and this administration has made it easier than ever for criminals to sneak lethal drugs across our southern border.

This is entirely unacceptable. Every second the border stands wide open, more Americans are dying from this dangerous drug that continues to infiltrate American neighborhoods.

The House voted 289 to 133 recently to support the bipartisan HALT Fentanyl Act, which will help supply law enforcement officers with the tools they need to keep drugs off our streets and make the class-wide scheduling order for fentanyl-related substances permanent.

American lives are on the line, and I cast NC-11’s vote for this bill to help protect our nation from the influx of illegal fentanyl pouring through our open southern border.

Gas stove regulations = Green New Deal hot air

From my seat on the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, I examined the president’s recent attempts to regulate Americans’ gas stoves.

A witness testified during the committee’s hearing on the Department of Energy’s proposed rule that “it’s going to wipeout 50 percent of the market.”

Regulating gas stoves out of existence is more Green New Deal hot air, and I will continue to push back against this outrageous ruling.

BACKGROUND: Keeping the Biden administration out of your kitchen

Edwards appoints new Agricultural Advisory Board

I’m pleased to report that our newly appointed Agricultural Advisory Board held our first meeting.

As your congressman, I know it's absolutely vital that I hear from our district’s farmers, large and small, to ensure that WNC remains at the forefront of agriculture.

The skill, expertise and guidance from this board is key as we work our way through the Farm Bill, which expires this year after five years and must be passed again by Congress. I look forward to the work ahead and am grateful for this superb team.

READ: Meet NC-11’s Agricultural Advisory Board