Issue-Jobs and Economy
Working with our local officials to create a better atmosphere for economic development and jobs is one of the most important things our office does.
Our strategy for job growth is two-pronged: working to protect jobs in our traditional industries such as agriculture and manufacturing, while creating new opportunities in emerging industries, such as defense.
Agriculture has a tremendous influence on the 8th District economy, and I believe that our farmers can be an integral part of our efforts to expand our supply of alternative fuels and lessen our dependence on the Middle East. As a member of the House Agriculture Committee, it is my goal to help make the
2007 Farm Bill - H.R. 2419 serve as a vehicle to help our North Carolina farmers succeed in the 21st Century.
In 2005, we succeeded in curbing the flow of Chinese textiles which were saturating our markets. I think we need to do more to curb the flow of all Chinese goods and to ensure they are playing by the rules. I support new penalties on Chinese imports if their government does not change their unfair monetary policy which artificially cheapens their goods -
H.R. 782.
I have strongly pushed our "Buy American" laws that require textiles and apparel purchased by the military to be made in America. This year I have worked to expand this requirement to sensitive uniform purchases in the Department of Homeland Security -
H.R. 917 to ensure that terrorists and criminals cannot pose as Border Patrol agents or airport screeners.
We have worked with all 10 of our counties to help them attract more jobs and opportunities through better infrastructure, and I have introduced legislation to help our dislocated workers by expanding assistance eligibility while increasing health coverage -
H.R. 1729.
One industry that I believe holds tremendous promise for our region is defense. We have had some recent success in attracting new defense companies to the 8th District, as well as strengthening our existing defense firms.
In an effort to create more defense opportunities, my office has hosted and annual Defense Economic Development and Trade Show in Fayetteville over the past several years. The Department of Defense and major defense companies spend billions of dollars each year on subcontracts. The Defense Economic Development and Trade Show connects our local businesses with DoD and these companies, and helps them understand how they can expand their business in the defense industry.
