US House 5th District April 30, 2021 Update

In America, we’ve created a tradition of assessing a President after his first 100 days in office – in particular, using those days as a barometer for what lies beyond the horizon for the country. In the case of President Biden, his 100-day mark came this week, and he rightfully deserves an F. I say this for two specific reasons: he has failed to address, let alone recognize, the crisis at the southern border and his spending plans will leave future generations with obscene levels of debt that will continue to pile up. Allow me to elaborate.

The American people deserve to have the truth laid at their feet regardless of the situation. This Administration has bucked numerous opportunities to openly acknowledge that there is a crisis at the southern border. This year alone, the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have apprehended over 5,000 migrants with criminal convictions, there has been a 233% increase in fentanyl seizures, and a 400% increase in the number of migrants apprehended compared to March of 2020. What’s more, President Biden and Vice President Harris have not taken the time to see firsthand the situation unfolding at the border – a concerning message that must be corrected immediately. Their first step in solving this crisis is admitting that there is one.

The American Rescue Plan was touted by President Biden as “a strong foundation” for the country, but in fact, it fell far short of that promise. Only nine percent of the $2 trillion package went to combating the pandemic – with only one percent being allocated to additional vaccination efforts. Republicans were the ones to expose these facts in the first place. Unfortunately, Republicans were not allowed to fully participate in drafting this legislation, making it a one-sided approach that not only doesn’t meet the expectations of the American people, but also neglects bipartisanship and finding common ground in the process. Let me be clear, more wasteful spending will not help America get back on its feet, nor will it ease the burden that will lie on the shoulders of future generations for many years to come.

Though these are just two issues to focus on, there’s more that must be done, in a spirit of bipartisanship and in putting America first. A continued economic comeback, targeted improvements to infrastructure, a bolstered American workforce, and schools safely reopening must be placed atop the President’s list of priorities. Right now, the American people must see demonstrable action on the issues facing the country. Instead the Biden Administration seems obsessed with appeasing the far left or governing solely to cement its place in a history book.

The Lower Costs, More Cures Act

In response to Speaker Pelosi’s attempted government takeover of prescription drug pricing through H.R. 3, I’ve joined my colleagues Representative McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Representative Kevin Brady (R-TX) in introducing the Lower Costs, More Cures Act. This legislation helps move America further away from its reliance on China, empowers patients with more drug price transparency, and cuts the cost of cancer treatments and the administration of other drugs for Medicare beneficiaries by as much as half. This is important news, and I’m proud to help lead the charge to provide the American people with lower drug costs without limiting access to lifesaving cures. Speaker Pelosi’s plan of putting the federal government in charge of setting the price of prescription drugs through H.R. 3 is unacceptable, and our legislation puts the power back in the hands of patients – where it rightfully belongs.

To read a detailed summary of the Lower Costs, More Cures Act, click here.

Our Letter to Governor Cooper

Recently, members of the North Carolina delegation sent a letter to Governor Cooper expressing our concerns over discussions of creating a so-called “vaccine passport” mandate in the state. Making such passports mandatory will signal to North Carolinians that their right to participate in the economic life of our state and the nation is in jeopardy. There is no circumstance under which government may infringe upon Americans’ constitutional liberties, not even in a global pandemic. Any facilitation from the federal or state government in providing or encouraging vaccine passports will politicize vaccination efforts.

To read our letter, click here.

Quote of The Week

“My three P's would be pray, pray first. Second, prepare, and then persist.”

-Senator Tim Scott

Have a blessed weekend.

Sincerely,

Virginia Foxx