Dear Students,

Thank you for visiting my website and for your interest in my responsibilities as your Congressman. Within this section of my website you will find information of particular interest to students including:

• Financial Aid
• The U.S. House of Representatives Page Program
• Internships
• The Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives’ Website: Kids in the House

I also want to share with you some information about me and my job as your Representative. As the son of a city councilman who was active in local and state political campaigns, I developed a keen interest in politics and public service at a young age. As a high school student, I was able to spend time in Washington as a part of Washington Workshops, a program designed to educate students about our federal government, and as an intern for U.S. Congressman Charlie Rose, my predecessor. I also served as student body president of my high school. After high school, I was fortunate enough to be accepted at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a Morehead Scholar, where I received my undergraduate degree in political science and later my law degree. These seven years prepared me for practicing law in my hometown of Lumberton for the next 15 years.

One of the best things about being a Congressman is that I meet new people every day. I have many meetings with people who come to my office to express their concerns and discuss possible solutions to the problems that face our country. When Congress is in session, I travel to North Carolina almost every weekend to visit with my family and the people of our district. I visit schools, churches, and other organizations to listen to the concerns of North Carolinians. These meetings and visits help me to understand the issues affecting Southeastern North Carolina so that I can better represent you.

I also discuss the problems of our country with other Representatives in meetings and on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. Each Member of Congress serves on different committees which study and review specific issues in-depth. The committees report their findings to the full House of Representatives so that we will all be informed. I am a member of the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Armed Service Committee.

I hope that you find the information included within these pages informative. If you have additional questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact any of my offices.