It’s hard to believe that 2015 is coming to a close and in just a few short days, we’ll be celebrating the beginning of a new year.
In many ways, this year was one of the most fulfilling years of my life. As you may know, my wife Renee and I welcomed our first child into the world on Sept. 29. Shortly after Lane’s birth, a constituent told me “Your perspective on this country will shift drastically.” He was right. I’m even more committed to continuing to fight for the America my son and your children deserve.
We’ve experienced quite a few challenges together this year — an uprising of radical Islamic extremism worldwide, gruesome videos implicating Planned Parenthood in the illegal trafficking of baby organs, a dangerous Iran nuclear deal that funnels $150 billion in sanctions relief to the largest state sponsor of terror — to name a few.
I fought tooth and nail against the president’s dangerous and unprecedented abuse of executive power to rewrite our immigration laws and stopped his green-tip bullet ban. Unfortunately, even after the clear rejection of his agenda last November, President Obama has continued to push his failed policies — like his harmful EPA rule to regulate our mill ponds, streams and ditches — all while ignoring the priorities of the American people.
As trying as these moments have been, we’ve experienced plenty of accomplishments. By far, my favorite part of being your representative has been implementing a top-notch constituent service operation to help folks right here at home. As frustrating as it is to see the bureaucratic hoops people have to go through when trying to deal with agencies like the VA or the Social Security Administration, it is just as satisfying when we’re able to track down a long-lost service medal for a Vietnam War veteran or help thousands of constituents cut through red tape.
With your help and guidance, I’ve had success advancing solutions that directly impact our local communities, including getting the U.S. Postal Service to allow businesses and residents to use “Granite Quarry” as part of their mailing addresses, fighting for the 440th Airlift Wing at Fort Bragg at every turn and defending prayer in Rowan County.
As you know by now, my top three priorities are jobs, jobs and jobs. I’m working to get government out of the way so that small businesses can grow, manufacturing can flourish and folks can find good-paying jobs — I see everything through this lens. I’ve spent valuable time touring many of our local manufacturers and talking to you so I can see what’s working and what I can do to fix what’s not.
Through my work on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, I’ve had success advancing bipartisan solutions — like the North American Energy Security and Infrastructure Act — that will responsibly unlock our natural resources, prioritize jobs and strengthen energy security. We’ve also fought to halt this administration’s plan that would raise energy prices and cost jobs.
This year, we took an important step to get Washington’s bureaucrats out of our local classrooms by ending the administration’s mandate on Common Core and overhauling No Child Left Behind. This was the largest return of control to states and localities from the federal government in a quarter-century.
And last, but not least, despite the president’s veto threat, my bill to stop the president’s plan to admit thousands of refugees from Syria and Iraq until there is stronger, reliable vetting passed the House with a veto-proof majority. While I’m disappointed the Senate did not take up this important legislation this year, I will continue to fight to see this bill passed into law to keep the American people safe.
While I’m honored by what we’ve accomplished together thus far, there is still a lot of work to be done. I made a promise to you that I would work hard to advance solutions that increase economic prosperity, reduce our debt and bring jobs home to North Carolina. As we head into the second session of the 114th Congress, I remain committed to keeping this promise, to making myself as accessible as possible and representing you the best that I can.
Rep. Richard Hudson, R-Concord, represents North Carolina’s 8th Congressional District, which includes Anson County.