Dear Friend,

Americans everywhere have slowly lost faith in the bedrock of our democracy.  
Our elections and the democratic process are being undermined by ballot harvesting.  

Ballot harvesting takes place when a third party collects absentee ballots from multiple voters and drops them off at a polling place.

This is a problem we have seen in North Carolina in 2016 and 2018 and it continues to threaten the integrity of elections at a local, state, and national level.

I recently introduced the No Federal Funds for Ballot Harvesting Act as a part of the American Confidence in Elections Act.

My bill will prevent federal funds from being used for a federal election in a state that does not prohibit ballot harvesting.

By ending this practice, it will make it easier to vote and harder to cheat. You’ve demanded confidence in our elections and it is my goal to deliver as your congressman by making sure America’s electoral process remains fair and honest.

Read more about the No Federal Funds for Ballot Harvesting Act here.

Bringing home Lance Corporal Sean Willey

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office, American Legion Post 532, Marine Corps League Detachment and other organizations have helped honor the life and sacrifice made by U.S. Marine Lance Corporal Sean Willey. 

Since February 16, 2023, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office has teamed with the family of Sean Willey and his family in upstate New York to help bring Sean home. 

Thanks to the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, American Legion Post 532, Marine Corps League Detachment along with Clay County veterans and several other charity organizations, Sean has been returned home to his family with honor and gratitude from a grateful nation for his service and sacrifice. 

Read more about this incredible story here.  

Combatting the scourge of fentanyl

Drug overdoses are devastating American lives and American society. 
Right now, the towns of Western North Carolina are turning into border towns as illicit fentanyl is being dispersed daily across our country – even in our own backyard.

The Atlanta Customs and Border Protection field office, whose jurisdiction includes all of North Carolina, has seized enough fentanyl across North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia to kill over 2.1 million people so far this year – that’s enough to kill every single citizen of NC-11 three times over.

Tragically, seven out of our district’s 15 counties had a higher percentage of illicit opioid overdose deaths in 2022 than the entire state of North Carolina.

The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) recently reported to the House Oversight Committee that it believes a large quantity of the deadly chemicals (including xylazine or “tranq”) used to extend the effects of fentanyl are being sourced from China and trafficked into the United States by Mexican drug cartels.

This is why I supported the HALT Fentanyl Act. Every fentanyl death is a tragedy, and further exacerbated by Chinese companies supporting this epidemic with Mexican cartels to push as much deadly fentanyl into the country as possible.

It is now time for the Senate and the White House to act. As the border continues to overflow with thousands of unknown individuals, so too do deadly drugs.

At the House Oversight and Accountability Committee hearing, I recently questioned ONDCP Director Dr. Gupta about this heartbreaking epidemic.

WATCH: Congressman Edwards on stopping supply of fentanyl from China to Mexico 

Medicare’s fraudulent COVID kits

Over-the-counter COVID-19 test kit vendors may be defrauding Medicare.

Many of you have made me aware that some COVID-19 test kit vendors have taken advantage of the Public Health Emergency in an effort to unnecessarily sell their products.

Before the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency ended on May 11, Medicare Part B would cover the costs of up to eight OTC COVID-19 test kits per month. As the end of the PHE drew near, these vendors began indiscriminately offloading as much of their test kits as they could to Medicare providers, giving some providers expired tests.

I’ve asked the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for answers and a clearer picture of this situation, and I’ll continue to push for accountability until these vendors return the stolen taxpayer money received for the faulty test kits.

Read the letter here.

Fall internship applications are open!

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

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.

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