Moving Forward
North Carolina's Legislature will return this Wednesday, September 2nd. We haven't met since July, so we will have many Covid-19 related issues to check up on to ensure that North Carolinians will be able to weather the remainder of the pandemic.

North Carolina continues to expand Testing and Tracing so we can provide our citizens the help they need to contain the spread of this virus. By working together we can contain the spread. That's the key to our economic recovery. North Carolina is determined to do this and recover better than ever.
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Support for a Determined North Carolina

I'm looking forward to working with the Governor and my colleagues to move North Carolina forward.

Important items in the budget are:
Expand Medicaid
Governor Cooper’s budget recommends closing the healthcare coverage gap by expanding Medicaid to cover 600,000 more North Carolinians who are currently in a health care coverage gap.
Expand Internet Access
We must bridge the digital access gap and bring opportunities to rural areas by expanding internet access, improving health care, and investing in rural infrastructure.
Increase NC Unemployment Benefits
We must increase our state unemployment benefits, which are among the stingiest in the country, by extending the maximum number of weeks from 12 to 24 and upping the maximum weekly benefit from $350 to $500 per week.
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Invest in Education and More...
Please take the time to read the Governor's cover letter and if you have extra time the full budget is included.
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Still Waiting
We're still waiting for the second round of CARES funding. North Carolina and all the states need Federal Assistance in this incredible pandemic recession to continue unemployment benefits for our citizens out of work and to help our struggling small businesses survive. We had a good start in May, but the Federal Assistance is floundering at the present.

Your encouragement to our delegation would be helpful. Click here for your delegation's contacts.
Complete the Census
Please fill out your census, and spread the word to family and friends to do likewise. Being counted is key to us getting our fair share of future resources.

Select the image below to file:
Blue Ridge Heritage Festival
Hallelujah! Before the summer was over, we did have the Second Annual Blue Ridge Heritage Festival on the spacious grounds of the Historic Shelton House. Yours truly was honored to be the Master of Ceremonies for two great days of entertainment. I'm here introducing one of Haywood County's great string bands, the Sons of the Log Cabin Boys. We had the yard full of fine craftsmen along with wonderful food trucks and assorted local breweries. A good and safe time was had by all.
Joe Sam's Notes
Stay safe and consider your plan to vote.

My next newsletter will be on voting.
  • Voting absentee by mail.
  • Voting early at one stop.
  • Voting on Election Day - November 3rd.

Stay tuned. Plan to vote.
Until we speak again, stay safe. If you or a loved one is concerned about your health, the numbers for each of District 119's Health Departments are listed below:

Haywood - (828) 452-6620
Jackson - (828) 586-8994
Swain - (828) 488-3198
Sincerely,
Please share this with your friends!

P.S. check out our legislative web page at www.joesamqueennc.com. You can find all of my previous newsletters and more!