Dear Friend,

I had a great time during the last weeks of summer in North Carolina. From a visit to Western North Carolina to a town hall with veterans, I spent the August District Work Period speaking directly with members of our community and listening to the issues that matter most to you.

Once August wrapped up, I returned to Washington where I have been working to help Epstein survivors reach justice and working to prevent a harmful and unnecessary government shutdown.

Take a look at what I've been up to over the past few weeks.

Visiting Western North Carolina

During the August District Work Period, I had the chance to visit Western North Carolina. I spent time in Ashe, Avery, and Watauga Counties, where I met with residents and saw the ongoing hurricane recovery efforts firsthand.

In Congress, I've been fighting to replenish the Disaster Relief Fund and ensure western communities get the support they need.

While there is still work to be done in some communities, many of the places I visited are rebuilding and are now open for business. The Town of Lansing is preparing for its first-ever Lansing Day on September 27th, which will be a celebration of their strength and perseverance.

If you want to help Western North Carolina, think about planning a visit and learn more about travel here.

Hosting an Affordable Housing Roundtable

For too many North Carolinians, homeownership feels out of reach right now. That's why I sat down with local leaders and homeownership experts to hear directly about the challenges families are facing and how tariffs and rising costs are making things worse.

Despite these obstacles, I heard encouraging stories of new developments and innovation that will help make homeownership affordable and sustainable for North Carolinians. In Congress, I am pushing for solutions like expanding the low-income housing tax credit and fighting back against duties on exports. I look forward to sharing what I learned with my colleagues in Washington.

Supporting Teachers, Parents and Students

As the school year began, I visited Tools4Schools, WakeEd Partnership’s free supply store which helps Wake County educators stock their classrooms. Teachers are already forced to spend more than $1,600 out of pocket every year for supplies, and Trump’s tariffs are making necessary supplies even more expensive.

I heard directly from educators and community leaders about the strain that these rising costs place on families and classrooms. In Congress, I’ll keep pushing back against harmful tariffs and education cuts so that every child is prepared for the school year.

Hearing from our Veterans

I had the honor of joining veterans and local leaders for a town hall. They talked about the challenges veterans face accessing their earned health care and benefits. This has become especially pressing at a time when Republicans in Congress are attacking the vital services that veterans rely on.

I shared updates on my bipartisan work, including legislation to ensure veterans exposed to toxic water during their time stationed at Camp Lejeune can access the justice they are owed. Most importantly, I listened to their concerns and frustrations. As a representative for a state that is home to a large and growing community of military veterans, I will always fight for the men and women who put on the uniform to serve our country.

Standing with Epstein Survivors

As Co-Chair of the Democratic Women’s Caucus Policy Task Force, I met with survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s horrific abuse. These courageous women traveled to Capitol Hill to share their stories and demand accountability from a system that failed them.

Prior to the meeting, I signed on to a discharge petition that would force a vote on releasing the Epstein files. Survivors and the American people deserve the truth. Their bravery is inspiring, and I will do everything I can to help them.

Preventing a Government Shutdown

For months, Trump and Congressional Republicans have taken a chainsaw to the services that North Carolina relies on, including FEMA, the VA, Medicaid, and SNAP. I would enthusiastically support a bipartisan funding bill that improves the health, safety, and economic well-being of working Americans. However, I will not support a partisan Republican spending bill that will hurt millions of American families.

Let's be clear: if the government shuts down, Republicans control all branches of government and they will only have themselves to blame.

Listen to my conversation with Spectrum News below:

If you have questions about my work in Congress or need help with a federal agency, please don't hesitate to reach out to my office. My team is here to assist. You can send me an email through my website or call my Raleigh office at (919) 334-0840. For updates on my work on behalf of our community, follow me on Facebook, BlueSky, and Instagram.

Very truly yours,

Deborah