Update from Rep. Rouzer...1/23/2025

January 23, 2025

Monday marked an historic day in America as President Trump returned to the White House.  I attended this historic inauguration, held in the magnificent Capitol Rotunda, where he laid out his agenda promising a more secure and prosperous future!  You can read more below.

Last week, the Amtrak Executive Bonus Disclosure Act that I introduced passed the House of Representatives.  I also reintroduced the Lumbee Fairness Act to provide the Lumbee Tribe with the full federal recognition they have been denied for decades.

Additionally, I introduced the Creating Obstructions Necessary to Address Illegal and Nefarious Entry Rapidly (CONTAINER) Act, to allow border states to build temporary barriers.  This is just one step we are taking to secure our southern border in the 119th Congress.  Read more details on the bill below! 

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On Monday, I had the privilege of attending the inauguration of President Donald Trump at the U.S. Capitol.  Due to the frigid temperatures in Washington, D.C., the ceremony was moved indoors to the Capitol Rotunda, but the magnificence of the day remained undiminished.

The inauguration marked the beginning of a new chapter for America.  After experiencing record-high inflation, an historic amount of illegal criminal immigrants crossing our southern border, and a diminished presence on the global stage, we embark on a new agenda focused on the mandate delivered with the 2024 election.  

In December, the House passed my bill, H.R. 1101, the Lumbee Fairness Act with bipartisan support, but it never received a vote in the Senate.  Last Thursday, I reintroduced the Lumbee Fairness Act in the 119th Congress along with Congressman Mark Harris (R-NC-08).  

This legislation would provide full recognition and associated federal services to the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina.  The federal government has denied generations of Lumbee Tribe members the full recognition and tribal sovereignty granted to other federally-recognized tribes.

The Lumbee Fairness Act corrects the wrongs written in statute during the Indian Termination era and restores the rightful benefits and services the Lumbee Tribe has long been refused.

The legislation’s broad bipartisan support during this past Congress serves as an indicator of the understanding and support for the sovereignty of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina.  It is our hope that we can get leadership to place this bill on the calendar and passed as quickly as possible during the 119th Congress.

You can read the bill here.

Early last week, my bill, H.R. 192, the Amtrak Executive Bonus Disclosure Act passed in the House.  H.R. 192 would require public disclosure of taxpayer-funded bonuses given to top executives.  The legislation would also include the criteria and metrics Amtrak uses to determine their bonuses. 

Amtrak was created as a for-profit entity in 1971 to provide rail service without putting the entire responsibility of its operation on existing freight railroads.  Since then, they've failed to ever make a profit.  According to the most recent data, in 2023, Amtrak lost $1.7 billion, while receiving $11 billion in taxpayer subsidies.  Meanwhile, Amtrak paid more than $5 million in incentive bonuses to its executives.  This is egregious!  H.R. 192 is the first step toward increasing accountability and ensuring taxpayers know how their dollars are being spent.  

I also reintroduced the Creating Obstructions Necessary to Address Illegal and Nefarious Entry Rapidly (CONTAINER) Act.  This legislation would give border states the explicit authority to place temporary barriers on federal land to protect their communities (and the entire United States!) from illegal criminal cartels and the deadly flow of drugs.

The Biden Administration failed to enforce our laws and secure our border, even suing border states for executing stronger measures.  This has only empowered the drug cartels and human traffickers.  The CONTAINER Act allows states to take measures into their own hands and stop the crisis.  This bill will bolster the strong border policies of President Trump and better achieve an all-of-the-above approach to securing our Southern Border.

Last week, the Senate began confirmation hearings for President Trump's cabinet secretaries.  I know most his nominees — some of whom have served in the House.  They will serve the country well.

After the confirmation hearings (a number of which have already occurred), the committees of jurisdiction will vote to approve the nominees.  However, Executive branch nominees are subject to the filibuster requiring 60 votes to advance to a confirmation vote should any one Senator try to hold up the process.  Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) was the first member to be confirmed late Monday night.  He will serve as Secretary of State.