Following Tuesday’s State of the Union address from President Barack Obama, Congressman David Rouzer, R-District 7, said the speech failed to address the issues that “are in the hearts and minds of all American citizens,” including his constituents in Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach.
“What is our plan to drag the economy out of the doldrums after seven, eight years of meager growth?” Rouzer asked in an interview with Lumina News. “How will we defeat and destroy ISIS and reassert our influence in the world?”
Southeastern North Carolina’s congressional representative used the occasion of the State of the Union speech to address the legislative successes and ongoing issues in Congress that affect the beaches and New Hanover County.
This spring, Congress will consider passing a new Water Resources Development Act, which funds the Army Corps of Engineers and any funding for coastal storm damage reduction programs, as well as dredging of local inlets and waterways. Rouzer said his position on House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee gives him the opportunity to influence policy on these issues when they’re part of deliberation on the legislation in April or May.
Rouzer said an Army Corps of Engineers report expected in February will also evaluate the costs for projects like Wrightsville Beach’s storm damage reduction programs, which can include beach renourishment funding.
“I’ve been working with the Army Corps of Engineers and the committee all along the way on these issues,” Rouzer said. “Regardless if the issue makes the report, I’ll work to try to get these items addressed in legislation.”
Rouzer cited one act of Congress that should help benefit the region. Transportation funding legislation that passed this fall will free more resources for bridge repair, port maintenance and other infrastructure projects important to the Wilmington area. Plus, with its five-year window, Rouzer said the bill will give transportation planners time to make long-range investments in infrastructure projects.
“We’re growing so fast, planners need to be able to make long-term adjustments to accommodate growth in the area,” Rouzer said. “The highway bill is a major accomplishment.”
Rouzer had a nuanced answer for his position on offshore oil drilling or seismic testing, saying the circumstances could change depending upon the information available.
“It’s not a definite yes or no,” he said. “Let’s make sure we have all the facts on the table. One of the most important things I can do is make sure the citizenry has all of the facts.”
Rouzer said he was generally in favor of pursuing all available sources of energy, but that “it needs to be done in the appropriate and right way.”
He said that seismic testing similar to what is proposed by oil exploration companies has also been performed by the National Science Foundation with little to no impact on marine life. Additionally, he said that the revenues collected on royalties could be used toward projects like coastal storm damage reduction programs.
“There could be some major benefits to exploration off of the coast in North Carolina,” Rouzer said.
Rouzer said his constituents are raising concerns about healthcare costs, which are best addressed by changing policies resulting from the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare.
Rouzer said the complex structure of rules in the ACA was resulting in higher healthcare premiums and that he’s worried because many of his constituents have said they may be forced to reduce coverage or drop it altogether. He said one North Carolinian told him that his premiums would amount to $45,000 alone this year.
Congress was able to send Obama a message when it passed a budget reconciliation bill that repealed several measures within the ACA, Rouzer said, even though the president vetoed the legislation this week.
Finishing his first term in Congress, Tuesday’s speech was Rouzer’s second time seeing a State of the Union address. He said that the raising of the bright lights to film in the chambers of the House of Representatives alone makes the event memorable.
“It makes a huge difference in the chambers,” said Rouzer. “It really brightens the place.”
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