[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 91 (Friday, May 24, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E562-E563]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               NEWSLETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN CHUCK EDWARDS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CHUCK EDWARDS

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 24, 2024

  Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the following 
newsletter to give an update to my constituents to bring awareness to 
issues surrounding the border and fentanyl crises, antisemitism and 
Americans' financial privacy.

       Dear Friend,
       It's been more than a year since the House passed H.R. 2. 
     the Secure the Border Act, the strongest border security bill 
     in history.
       H.R. 2 would reimplement President Trump's effective border 
     policies and end this administration's border crisis, which 
     continues to jeopardize our national security and 
     sovereignty.
       In fact, a record-breaking number of nationals from our 
     adversary, China, are illegally crossing our border. In 
     April, the Customs and Border Patrol found that in this 
     fiscal year alone, they have encountered 27,583 Chinese 
     nationals, a nearly 8,000 percent increase from fiscal year 
     2021.
       With the rising threat of the Chinese Communist Party 
     (CCP), border security is paramount to national security and 
     I will not relent in the fight to secure America's borders.
       I recently spoke on the House floor about how the fentanyl 
     pouring in through our borders has taken lives in our own 
     communities in the mountains and urged that this 
     administration put the American people first and close our 
     southern border once and for all.


                    The U.S. must stand with Israel

       As our ally, Israel, is defending itself from terrorist 
     organizations, it is critical that we continue to stand with 
     and support Israel.
       The president recently announced he would stop military aid 
     to Israel at a time when this aid is needed to target Hamas 
     terrorists and avoid more civilian casualties in what

[[Page E563]]

     looks like an attempt to appease the growing pro-Hamas 
     sentiment among the left.
       In light of this administration's misguided decision to 
     halt military aid to Israel, a bipartisan group of colleagues 
     and I demanded that the president provide answers on his 
     decision to withhold shipments to Israel.
       Furthermore, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued 
     baseless arrest warrants for Israeli officials, equating them 
     to the terrorists who committed the horrific attacks of Oct. 
     7. The ICC's decision is great news to terrorists around the 
     globe and is a slap in the face to the only free-standing 
     democracy in the Middle East.
       If I have my way, the United States will never abandon 
     Israel, especially not while it is fighting for the right to 
     exist and the rights of Jewish people everywhere, and no 
     country should recognize any legitimacy of a pro-terrorist 
     international court.


            Protecting Americans' right to financial privacy

       President Biden released a framework to evaluate the 
     establishment of a central bank digital currency (CBDC), 
     which can be used as a surveillance tool and weaponized 
     against the American people.
       In China, the Communist Party has been using a CBDC to 
     track the spending habits of its citizens and we cannot allow 
     this level of financial surveillance in America.
       That's why I cast NC-11's vote for the CBDC Anti-
     Surveillance State Act. This bill protects Americans' right 
     to financial privacy by halting unelected bureaucrats from 
     issuing a CBDC and is the first anti-central bank digital 
     currency legislative effort ever introduced in Congress.


                           WNC Backs the Blue

       During the past three years, the Defund the Police movement 
     and anti-police policies have led to a surge in violent crime 
     across the country.
       In the U.S. House of Representatives, we recently 
     celebrated National Police Week and honored America's law 
     enforcement heroes by passing legislation to support our men 
     and women in blue.
       Some of the bills that I voted for to support our police 
     officers include bills that would:
       Require ICE to detain illegal immigrants who are arrested, 
     charged or convicted with assaulting a law enforcement 
     officer or other first responder.
       Make sure officers can protect themselves and others by 
     allowing concealed weapon possession in more areas open to 
     the public.
       Direct the attorney general to report to Congress on how 
     the border crisis affects law enforcement at various levels.
       Make sure there is adequate data collection to address the 
     rise of attacks on police officers.
       While this year's police week might be over, I will 
     continue to back policies that support America's law 
     enforcement officers who risk their own lives to protect and 
     serve citizens day after day.


    House committee investigates China's role in the fentanyl crisis

       Following a months-long bipartisan investigation, the House 
     Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) 
     revealed its findings of the CCP's role in the deadly 
     fentanyl epidemic that has killed hundreds of thousands of 
     Americans.
       The fentanyl crisis is one of the most devastating 
     disasters that our nation has faced and has made its way to 
     the mountains of Western North Carolina. Fentanyl kills more 
     than 200 Americans daily on average, which is the equivalent 
     to a packed Boeing 737 crashing every single day. After all, 
     the amount of fentanyl that is considered a potentially 
     deadly dose is as small as the amount that fits on the tip of 
     a pencil.
       This dangerous drug is the leading cause of death for 
     Americans aged 18-49 and has led to millions more suffering 
     from addiction while continuing to destroy families and 
     communities. The fentanyl crisis is not just limited to the 
     United States, as fentanyl and other mass-produced synthetic 
     narcotics from the People's Republic of China (PRC) are 
     devastating nations around the world.
       This is why the U.S. must swiftly act on the following 
     findings from the select committee's investigation to address 
     the root cause of this global crisis.
       The select committee's investigation found that the PRC 
     government, under the control of the CCP:
       Directly subsidizes the manufacturing and export of illicit 
     fentanyl materials and other synthetic narcotics through tax 
     rebates.
       Gave monetary grants and awards to companies openly 
     trafficking illicit fentanyl materials and other synthetic 
     narcotics.
       Holds ownership interest in several PRC companies tied to 
     drug trafficking.
       Fails to prosecute fentanyl and precursor manufacturers.
       Allows the open sale of fentanyl precursors and other 
     illicit materials on the extensively monitored and controlled 
     PRC internet.
       Censors content about domestic drug sales but leaves 
     export-focused narcotics content untouched.
       Strategically and economically benefits from the fentanyl 
     crisis.
       The takeaways from these findings are that the U.S. needs 
     to take the following decisive actions to address the 
     fentanyl crisis: establish a Joint Task Force--Counter 
     Opioids; provide law enforcement and intelligence officials 
     with the authorities, tools and resources they need; 
     strengthen U.S. sanctions authorities; enact and use trade 
     and customs enforcement measures and close regulatory and 
     enforcement gaps.


Inflation continues to wreak havoc on Western North Carolinians' way of 
                                  life

       Our economy continues to suffer due to this 
     administration's fiscal policies.
       Inflation was at 1.4 percent when Biden took office and has 
     risen nearly 20 percent since then. High prices are forcing 
     Americans to spend more than $12,000 more a year to afford 
     the same basics compared to three years ago.
       From my seats on the House Appropriations and Budget 
     Committees, I am pushing to change how Washington works so 
     that we can restore fiscal responsibility in our government, 
     improve America's economic outlook and allow Western North 
     Carolinians to keep more of their hard-earned dollars in 
     their wallets.


                WNC's latest service academy acceptances

       One of the most important duties and greatest honors of 
     representing the 11th district of North Carolina is selecting 
     nominees among those who are seeking appointments to our 
     nation's military service academies.
       I had the great pleasure and excitement of hosting an event 
     to celebrate the following students whose exceptional 
     leadership, hard work and patriotism made them stand out from 
     a competitive pool of applicants and were accepted into their 
     respective service academies.
       Cedric Gordon, alumnus of Asheville High School: U.S. Air 
     Force Academy
       William ``Liam'' Lawing, student at Nesbitt Discovery 
     Academy: U.S. Air Force Academy
       Joshua Morgan, alumnus of Asheville Christian Academy: U.S. 
     Air Force Academy
       Michael Puzerewski, student at Holy Innocence Academy: U.S. 
     Merchant Marine Academy
       Anita Zavyalova, student at A.C. Reynolds High School: U.S. 
     Naval Academy
       These students represent the best of America, and I want to 
     extend my congratulations once again for this life-changing 
     achievement.


                  Congressman Chuck Edwards: Unplugged

       Mark your calendars for Thursday, June 20 to join my next 
     in-person town hall in Graham County. The town hall will take 
     place from 6:00-7:30 p.m. at the Graham County Courthouse, 12 
     N. Main St., Robbinsville, NC. I'm looking forward to sharing 
     an update about legislative priorities in Congress and 
     answering questions about the issues that matter to you.
           With my warmest regards,
                                                    Chuck Edwards,
                                               Member of Congress.