[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 148 (Monday, September 23, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E946-E947]
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

                       Monday, September 23, 2024

  Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the following 
newsletter to give an update to my constituents on issues surrounding 
foreign policy, border security and small businesses.

       Dear Friend, Three years ago, 13 U.S. servicemembers were 
     killed in the Abbey Gate terrorist attack in Kabul, 
     Afghanistan, during the final days of the Afghanistan 
     withdrawal.

[[Page E947]]

       The House Committee on Foreign Affairs recently released 
     the report on its investigation of during and after the 
     rushed withdrawal, ``Willful Blindness: An Assessment of the 
     Biden-Harris Administration's Withdrawal from Afghanistan and 
     the Chaos that Followed.''
       The committee found that the Biden-Harris administration 
     was determined to withdraw from Afghanistan no matter the 
     costs, prioritizing the optics of the withdrawal over the 
     security of U.S. personnel and failing to plan for all 
     contingencies.
       The administration's hasty decisions and disregard for U.S. 
     personnel on the ground during the withdrawal led to the 
     deaths of 13 of our military members by a terrorist attack on 
     Aug. 26, 2021, the deadliest day for our military in 
     Afghanistan since 2012.
       This catastrophic withdrawal not only resulted in the 
     deaths of our servicemembers, it has also weakened U.S. 
     national security, with Afghanistan once again becoming a 
     haven for terrorists, and has damaged U.S. credibility on the 
     world stage after abandoning our Afghan allies to Taliban 
     revenge killings.
       This tragedy was preventable, and the Biden-Harris 
     administration has yet to take accountability for its 
     failures or even meet with the Gold Star families of our 
     fallen soldiers. Americans will never forget the ultimate 
     sacrifice made in defense of our nation by:
       Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover, 31, from Salt Lake 
     City, Utah
       Marine Corps Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, 25, from 
     Lawrence, Massachusetts
       Marine Corps Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, 23, from Sacramento, 
     California
       Marine Corps Cpl. Hunter Lopez, 22, from Indio, California
       Marine Corps Cpl. Daegan W. Page, 23, from Omaha, Nebraska
       Marine Corps Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez, 22, from Logansport, 
     Indiana
       Marine Corps Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza, 20, from Rio 
     Bravo, Texas
       Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz, 20, from St. 
     Charles, Missouri
       Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum, 20, from 
     Jackson, Wyoming
       Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, 20, from Rancho 
     Cucamonga, California
       Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui, 20, from Norco, 
     California
       Navy Hospitalman Maxton W. Soviak, 22, from Berlin Heights, 
     Ohio
       Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss, 23, from Corryton, 
     Tennessee


                     Standing up to Communist China

       The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) represents the greatest 
     threat to American values and national security in our 
     lifetime, and we must counter the CCP's efforts to gain 
     leverage over our nation and beyond. President Xi Jinping has 
     gone so far as to say that he will do whatever it takes to 
     bring Taiwan under his control, including through military 
     force.
       From securing our supply chains and protecting American 
     technology to defending American biosecurity and drug 
     manufacturing, the nearly three dozen bills that the House 
     advanced are a step toward reducing China's leverage over the 
     U.S. and strengthening U.S. dominance.
       Just one of the bills that I am co-sponsoring and voted for 
     that would directly affect Western North Carolina is the 
     Protecting American Agriculture from Foreign Adversaries Act, 
     which amends the Defense Production Act of 1950 to require 
     the Secretary of Agriculture to be included on the Committee 
     on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) for 
     agriculture-related issues. It also requires CFIUS to review 
     and potentially block purchases of farmland by foreign 
     adversaries that pose a national security risk.
       We cannot allow enemies of the U.S. to buy up America's 
     farmland, which poses a food and national security threat, 
     and I will continue to work with the House to combat the 
     CCP's aggression here at home and overseas.


     Biden-Harris administration's ``America Last'' foreign policy

       Over the past three and a half years, the Biden-Harris 
     administration's policies have put Americans last, 
     diminishing our national security and draining hard-working 
     Western North Carolinians' hard-earned savings.
       This administration's failed policies have caused sky-high 
     inflation, record-high gas prices and an unprecedented 
     invasion of our borders.
       During my district work period, constituent after 
     constituent--including many small-business owners--have 
     shared about the effects of high prices on running a 
     business.
       Meanwhile, thousands of illegal immigrants continue to 
     flood our borders, endangering the safety and well-being of 
     every American.
       The radical, sanctuary-city policies are incentivizing 
     illegal immigration, and your hard-earned tax dollars should 
     not be used to serve illegal immigrants and further signal to 
     the world that America's borders are open.
       To reverse such harmful policies that are rewarding illegal 
     immigration and to protect women from sex offenders and 
     abusers, I voted for the No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act 
     and the Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act and will 
     continue to push for policies that serve the best interests 
     of our citizens and nation.


                   Championing Main Street businesses

       The National Federation of Independent Business is a voice 
     for small businesses across our nation, and I'm grateful to 
     have been selected for this year's Small Business Guardian 
     Award.
       As someone whose background is in business, I understand 
     the challenges that Main Street faces, including heavy-handed 
     government regulations. We need more pro-growth, pro-small-
     business policies so that small businesses can thrive and 
     create jobs.


                  Welcoming WNC Chamber members to DC

       It was a privilege to welcome members of WNC Chambers of 
     Commerce for their retreat during which they focused on 
     problem-solving and opportunities to improve workforce 
     development and local economies.
       America's risk takers and job creators have long been under 
     attack from Washington, and I'm striving to reduce 
     regulations, create a better tax climate, and help develop a 
     workforce that provides opportunity and fuels our economy by 
     fixing how Washington works.
           With my warmest regards,
                                                     Chad Edwards,
     Member of Congress.

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