Newsletter From Congressman Chuck Edwards
Floor Speech
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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.
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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