Last week marked the first days of the new year and we are off to a good — albeit cold — start. Here in North Carolina, we saw heavier than expected snowfall due to the so-called “bomb cyclone” winter storm that made its way up the East Coast. Moore County saw some of the biggest snowfall with 6 inches reported in various locations. Tragically, we lost several people because of the storm. My wife Renee and I send our condolences to their families during this difficult time. We also want to thank local officials, NCDOT crews and employees, utility crews, first responders, Fort Bragg personnel and law enforcement for their tireless work to keep us safe during the winter storm.
On the national front, we are continuing to see the real benefits of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. More businesses are giving bonuses, increasing wages, hiring new people and making investments to get our economy back on track. So far, more than 100 companies have made these kinds of announcements, and this is all happening barely two weeks after the bill was signed into law!
Of course, I continue to hear naysayers try to downplay this economic growth. But like a constituent who commented on my Facebook wall put it, “Any time that the American taxpayer has more money in their pocket, it is a good thing.” I couldn’t have said it any better.
We are on the brink of a real growth economy, and the American people understand. According to a national Gallup Poll from Jan. 2, Americans felt overwhelmingly positive about the economy in 2017. Keep in mind, this is the first positive annual average since Gallup started tracking this in 2008; that’s incredible.
At the end of the day, I recognize this confidence hasn’t touched all corners of our community and there is still a lot of work to do. But in the coming year, I’m confident we will continue to see more economic progress and the full impact of tax reform in the form of more jobs, higher wages and more money in your pocket. I pledge that I will continue to work to improve the lives of every American.
This week, I’ll return to Washington for the second session of the 115th Congress. While the economy and good-paying jobs are at the forefront of my agenda, I also remain committed to improving health care for our veterans and supporting our military community. And I will continue to reach across the aisle to solve problems and do the work that matters to you and your family.
