Celebrating George Washington
As Western Waters President of the Sons of the American Revolution I was invited to participate in a wreath-laying ceremony on George Washington's Birthday with the North Carolina Society of the Cincinnati.
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It was a privilege to join Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Deputy Secretary Kevin Cherry, North Carolina Society of the Cincinnati President Tony Maupin, for a wonderful wreath-laying ceremony in the historic rotunda of the State Capitol at the foot of Antonio Canova's George Washington Statue.
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Joining the NC League of Municipalities
It was a pleasure to meet with Mayor Lynda Sossamon and Town Manager Paige Dowling from Sylva while they were in Raleigh. We had a good conversation about the issues they face in local government, like the need for broadband internet expansion and ways I can help them meet their needs.
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From right to left: Southwestern Commission Executive Director Susan Thomason, Sylva Mayor Lynda Sossamon, and Sylva Town Manager Paige Dowling, along with friends from all across WNC.
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Working for a Bipartisan Broadband Solution
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The Broadband Work Group I am chairing is developing into a bi-partisan Broadband Caucus, and together we are working hard to identify real solutions to the internet connectivity issues that all of our communities face.
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Last week, we heard from Jeff Sural, director of the Broadband Infrastructure Office, and Nate Denny from the Department of Information Technology. This coming week, we will hear from Jay Rouse, director of government affairs for the NC Association of Electric Cooperatives, and SkyLine, a Telephone Cooperative that has expanded broadband in Ashe, Watauga, and Alleghany Counties. The Electric and Telephone Cooperatives in North Carolina have led some of the most innovative broadband solutions in the state.
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Our caucus is growing each week with members from across the state.
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Grant Funding for Telehealth
The Department of Health and Human Services announced on Friday that it won a $98,273 grant to advance telehealth interests in 20 Western North Carolina counties.
Telehealth is the use of digital technologies to remotely access, monitor, and manage healthcare.
“We can use technology to help people lead healthier lives, and this grant will help us bring that possibility to more people in North Carolina,” said Governor Roy Cooper. Gov. Cooper currently serves as co-chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission, which includes North Carolina and 12 other states.
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College Visits
I had productive meetings last Friday with Dr. Don Thomas, president of Southwestern Community College and Dr. Alison Morrison-Shetlar, Interim Chancellor at Western Carolina University.
Our Community Colleges and Universities are among our greatest assets, particularly right here in the western part of the state. A quality education sets the foundation for a happy, healthy, productive life here in the mountains.
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Top and bottom are Southwestern Community College's and Western Carolina University's new science buildings. SCC's $20 million building will break ground in the next few weeks, and WCU's $110 million building is currently under construction. Both are NC Connect Bond projects that will transform student experience and science education in WNC. We are looking forward to these buildings opening in 2021.
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State of the State
Governor Cooper will address the General Assembly tonight at 7 p.m. I'm looking forward to hearing the Governor's update on our progress as a state and the direction we are heading.
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Governor Cooper and I at a recent reception here in Raleigh.
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Close the Coverage Gap
This week I met with advocates for expanding Medicaid and closing the coverage gap. At the Close the Gap breakfast, we heard from the NC Association of Free and Charitable Clinics, the NC Association of Local Health Directors, the North Carolina School-Based Health Alliance, and Care4Carolina.
All of these organizations are made up of the people on the front lines: healthcare providers who see firsthand just how difficult it is for those without insurance, and who understand how much we stand to gain by closing the coverage gap.
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Ben Money, president and CEO of the North Carolina Community Health Center Association and Tammy Greenwell, COO of Blue Ridge Health presented at the Close the Gap breakfast on Monday.
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