A Step Forward for Broadband

Last week the House voted in favor of Senate Bill 310/House Bill 387, "Electric Co-Op Rural Broadband Services." I was a co-sponsor of this bill, and I am proud that we were able to send it to Governor Roy Cooper to sign into law.

The last two weeks have been a good run for internet expansion in the 119 th district, with GREAT Grants awarded in Jackson and Swain Counties, serving over 900 families, and special funding for Wi-Fi awarded to Bryson City. Haywood County EMC's members will benefit from this week's electric co-op bill.

Recently, I spoke with our Haywood County EMC's leadership here in Raleigh. All agreed, high-quality broadband is a top priority for their members! Joining me around the table are Clay Talley, Larry Clark, Tom Batchelor, and Roy Stamey. I'm proud that we were able to pass the Electric Co-Op Rural Broadband Services Bill for them!

Preparing for 5G

I joined with tech leaders and my legislative colleagues for a forum on advancing 5G over the next several years across North Carolina, another step forward in our pursuit of high-speed internet. The session was very informative, and we learned a lot about the potential that 5G offers and the incredible opportunities it brings for expanding internet speed and capacity all across North Carolina. Once it launches, 5G will support internet capacity and speeds 100 times faster than our current 4G wireless. It raises the stakes, and we have to meet the challenge in our state. Everywhere we have electricity, we must have high-speed internet infrastructure. For 5G, that means fiber.

Representative Jason Saine, President of NC Tech Association Brooks Raiford, Morrisville Town Council Member Steve Rao, myself, Representative Gale Adcock, and Representative Wayne Wayne Sasser.

Our Sheriffs Visit Raleigh

I had the pleasure of welcoming Haywood County Sheriff Greg Christopher and Jackson County Sheriff Chip Hall to Raleigh last week. They visited the legislature to advocate for policies to help our law enforcement officials. We spoke about the importance of expanding Medicaid so that our sheriffs can have the medical resources they need to help those who suffer from addiction. They firmly believe that incarceration is not the solution. Medical services and counseling are, and Medicaid Expansion is absolutely critical to getting these services provided. Sheriff Christopher shared that we had 26 overdose deaths in Haywood County last year. Experience has shown that Medicaid Expansion has cut overdose deaths in half in other states. It's time that we expand Medicaid and save lives here in North Carolina!

It was great to welcome Sheriff Christopher and Sheriff Hall to Raleigh for the North Carolina Sheriff's Association Legislative Day.

Supporting Our Craft Brewers

Last week I joined Governor Roy Cooper as he signed House Bill 363 into law. This bill is a great piece of legislation to help our craft brewers in North Carolina. We have nine craft breweries in Haywood, Jackson and Swain: Frog Level Brewing in Waynesville Boojum Brewing in Waynesville BearWaters Brewing in Canton Innovation Brewing in Sylva Balsam Falls Brewing in Sylva Whiteside Brewing in Cashiers Nantahala Brewing in Bryson City Mountain Layers Brewing in Bryson City 7 Clans Brewing, Cherokee's first! Our craft brewers add a lot to the richness and vitality of our small towns, creating a vibrant, fun atmosphere. They are a hub for fine local food, quality craft beer, and homegrown music. Our breweries are creating lots of great new jobs, building community, attracting tourists, and boosting economic activity across our region.

Representative Chuck McGrady, myself, Governor Roy Cooper, and Representative John Bell

Joe Sam's Notes

Paid Family Leave I applaud Governor Roy Cooper's signing of Executive Order No. 95 last week to provide parental leave to state employees beginning on September 1, 2019. The policy will provide eight weeks of paid leave for employees who have just given birth and four weeks for spouses of a new parent. It also provides four weeks of paid leave for anyone who has had an adoption, foster care placement, or other legal placement of a child. No parent should have to choose between caring for their family and keeping their job. The unfortunate reality is that the choice between job and family is still the case for many North Carolinians, especially women. This executive order is a great step in the right direction for our state.

Research has shown that Paid Family Leave allows new families to achieve a happy, healthy start, and it will also save taxpayer money. Paid Family Leave reduces demand on the social safety net by improving health outcomes for newborns and their families. Governor Cooper's Paid Family Leave Executive Order leads the way toward a brighter future for North Carolina families. Thank you, Governor Cooper for leading the way on this important issue for real North Carolina families!

Sincerely,

P.S. The Senate has rolled out its budget. Look for a focus on the three budgets and how they compare next week.

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