[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 130 (Tuesday, August 13, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E821-E822]
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

                        Tuesday, August 13, 2024

  Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the following 
newsletter to give an update to my constituents on issues surrounding 
spending bills, healthcare consolidation, and government regulations.
       Dear Friend, I'm disappointed that the Do Our Job Act, the 
     bill I introduced to keep us in DC until our budget work is 
     completed, did not get the support it needed and deserved to 
     make it to a committee hearing. But I've learned that many 
     ideas need to be introduced many times before they get 
     traction. Fixing how Washington works will not be easy, so I 
     am undeterred, and I'll continue to push for this reform.
       While I enjoy time in the district with my constituents, I 
     would rather be in DC passing the rest of our appropriations 
     bills and avoiding the threat of another government shutdown 
     or continuing resolution.
       The Do Our Job Act would have made sure that Congress did 
     not leave for this district work period unless the House 
     passed all 12 annual appropriations bills. While the House 
     Appropriations Committee, which I am a member of, passed all 
     12 spending bills to be considered by the House, the House 
     has only passed five of these 12 spending bills.
       In the nearly five decades that our current appropriations 
     process has been in place, Congress has only passed all 12 
     bills four times. Four times in almost 50 years. Western 
     North Carolinians and the American people deserve better than 
     an 8 percent success rate for funding our government.
       The American people have been far too generous with us, and 
     it is high time that we fix how Washington works.


           increased health costs, decreased quality of care

       Western North Carolina is no stranger to high healthcare 
     costs, and as a member of the House Budget Committee, I want 
     to share what we learned from the committee hearing that 
     evaluated the budgetary effects of healthcare consolidation.
       The hearing discussed the unsustainable trajectory of 
     federal health spending and policy opportunities to combat 
     consolidation and enhance free market competition; or to put 
     it simply, how to make health care more affordable and more 
     accessible for the American people.
       The U.S. is seeing a surge in hospital mergers, resulting 
     in increased federal health spending and higher patient 
     costs. Simultaneously, patients have been experiencing lower 
     quality of care, which is a less easily quantifiable but 
     arguably worse consequence than dealing with high costs.
       This is the reality right here in our mountains following 
     the Mission HCA Healthcare acquisition in 2019. That is why I 
     have demanded the Federal Trade Commission, the agency 
     responsible for all acquisitions and mergers, re-review the 
     Mission/HCA deal and take action to overturn the acquisition 
     if malfeasance is found.
       It is my mission as a member of the House Budget Committee 
     and House Appropriations Committee to promote policies and 
     funding that deter consolidation and promote greater choice, 
     affordability, and quality of care for the citizens of NC-11 
     and beyond.


                    revitalizing communities in wnc

       During my time in our mountains, I continuously hear from 
     constituents who are interested in developing environmentally 
     challenged properties in Western North Carolina but decide 
     not to because of the significant cleanup, redevelopment 
     costs and time delays that are often required from 
     environmental contamination.
       The Economic Opportunity for Distressed Communities Act 
     that I introduced would provide a tax incentive for those who 
     decide to redevelop Superfund and brownfield areas by 
     designating such environmentally challenged properties as 
     Opportunity Zones. By incentivizing cleanup and development 
     of brownfield and Superfund sites, we can create jobs, 
     business opportunities and increase property values for 
     Western North Carolina and nationwide.


                     regulations backed by science

       As a small business owner, I have experienced the real-life 
     consequences of new government regulations imposed by 
     Washington bureaucrats who do not understand the implications 
     of their misguided rules.
       The Show Me the Science Act that I introduced would require 
     federal agencies to publish the data that they use to inform 
     decisions behind new rules. If a federal agency cannot prove 
     that the benefits of a new rule outweigh the costs, then we 
     should not burden the American people and Main Street 
     businesses with unnecessary regulations.
       Federal agencies make legally binding requirements on the 
     public, often with an inability or unwillingness to share the 
     information that they use to form the basis of their rules 
     and fail to calculate the costs and benefits of those rules 
     for American taxpayers.
       We need to fix how Washington works by requiring more 
     transparency in federal rulemaking and improving 
     congressional and public oversight of the rulemaking process.


        ``unplugged'' town hall series is coming to macon county

       Join my next in-person town hall in Macon County on 
     Thursday, August 15. The town hall will take place from 5:30 
     to 7:00 p.m. at the Robert C. Carpenter Community Building, 
     1288 Georgia Rd., Franklin, NC.
       I'm looking forward to sharing an update about the latest 
     legislative opportunities

[[Page E822]]

     and challenges in Congress and answering questions about the 
     issues that matter to you. Don't miss out on this opportunity 
     to connect with fellow Western North Carolinians who care 
     deeply about our district and nation.
           With my warmest regards,
                                                    Chuck Edwards,
     Member of Congress.

                          ____________________