The Paris Agreement is a one-sided pact that is sure to boost China’s economic vitality over the United States’. In November of last year, President Trump withdrew the United States from this abysmal deal to protect American innovation, families, and small businesses. Unfortunately, on his first day in office, President Biden reversed course and entered the United States back into this unfair agreement without getting anything in return from China or any of the world’s worst polluters. This is a troubling course to charter, and my Republican colleagues and I are fighting back.

This week, I signed on as an original cosponsor to the Paris Transparency and Accountability Act that was introduced by Representatives Graves (R-LA), McCaul (R-TX) and McMorris Rodgers (R-WA). The simple truth is that this bill brings accountability and transparency right to the feet of the American people. But how? It requires the President to submit a detailed report to Congress listing explicit details on projected economic and workforce impacts of any Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) – plans, policies, or initiatives taken by the government in response to climate change. At its core, this bill is about exposing the facts that would have otherwise been hidden from the American people’s view.

Let’s turn to the facts about what reentering the Paris Agreement – as it stands now – will do to the United States. Here are three topline points from the Heritage Foundation that reveal how bad of a deal this really is:

• The Paris Agreement would cost America over 400,000 jobs, with half of them being in the manufacturing sector. This doesn’t even account for the energy jobs that were eliminated by President Biden this year alone.

• Families of four would face an average loss of $20,000 per year due to increased energy costs and mandates.

• The United State’s gross domestic product (GDP) would face a sizable loss of over $2.5 trillion.

America’s economy is built by dedicated men and women in countless industries – especially in manufacturing and energy. The last thing this country needs is more jobs wiped off the map, more economic impediments, and more failed policies that hurt economic growth rather than promote it. I’ll continue to stand against President Biden’s radical climate agenda so that families, small businesses, and hardworking patriots – both in the Fifth District and across the country – can continue to grow and prosper without the threat of increased government mandates.

President Trump’s Protect Life Rule Is In Danger

On Tuesday, I joined over 100 of my Republican colleagues in the House and Senate in sending a letter to Secretary Xavier Becerra of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) urging him not to suspend and revise the Protect Life Rule in order to prevent Title X funds from being used for abortion. Created by Congress in 1970, Title X of the Public Health Service Act authorized taxpayer funds to assist “voluntary family planning projects.” The Title X statute clearly intended to prohibit federal funds from being used “in programs where abortion is a method of family planning.” The Protect Life Rule fulfills the spirit and letter of this decades-old law by separating abortion from family planning. It does not cut any funding for family planning services: it merely directs taxpayer funds to family planning providers who are not in the business of abortion.

To read more, click here.

New Scam Alert

Spring has just begun in North Carolina, and so too has a new wave of scams that you may already be familiar with. In 2020, North Carolinians who were caught in faulty contracting scams lost $1,200 on average, but the financial harm could be much worse. Here are a few tips from the Better Business Bureau of North Carolina that can help you avoid these scams:

• Watch out for red flags. Cash-only deals, high upfront payments, and handshake deals are dangerous, so just say no. Also, be cautious if a contractor contacts you first about home repairs – especially after a natural disaster or heavy storm.

• Ask for references and do your research. If a contractor is hesitant or reluctant to share important information with you, proceed with caution. You can check bbb.org to check and see what other customers have experienced or reported.

• Always get a written contract. The more specific details you receive, the better.

• Know the law. Work with local businesses that have proper identification, licensing, and insurance. Confirm that your vendor will get related permits and make sure you know who is responsible for what according to your local laws and that your vendor is ready to comply.

• Arrange a payment schedule. Never pay in full upfront. Stagger your payments so your final payment is not due until the work is complete and you have fully inspected it. Do not pay cash; make sure your check is written to a company, not an individual, or that you use a credit card.

Quote of The Week

"Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak. Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen."

-Winston Churchill

Have a blessed weekend.

Sincerely,