Crime, Drug Policy and the Courts
Congressman McHenry is vice-chairman of the Government Reform Subcommittee on Criminal Justice and Drug Policy. One of his first efforts as a Congressman was to organize a conference with sheriffs and other law enforcement personnel from every county in the Tenth District, along with federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) agents and State Bureau of Investigation [...]
Education and School Choice
Now more than ever, education is vital to success in life. As our economy changes, we must provide the training necessary to prepare future generations for new technologies and developing industries. The federal government can play a role in education, but schools should be controlled to the greatest degree possible at the local level. The [...]
Environmental Policy
As an avid sportsman, Congressman McHenry appreciates the natural beauty present in the United States; and North Carolina’s Tenth District contains some of America’s most breathtaking scenery. It is important to provide adequate protections to our natural treasures for future generations. Congressman McHenry supports President Bush’s Clear Skies Initiative. Clear Skies would dramatically improve air [...]
Federal Budget and Government Efficiency
The federal government now spends $20,000 per household. In constant dollars, that is the most America has spent since fighting a two front war in World War II. Spending that does not include Social Security and Medicare has jumped 39 percent in just three years. Much of that is in military and homeland security spending [...]
Gas Prices and Energy Policy
The United States needs a comprehensive energy policy that focuses on supply, demand, capacity, and alternative sources. Over half of our oil consumption comes from imported sources. It is vital that we access domestic supplies to ensure adequate supply. That is why Congressman McHenry strongly supports developing the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. Another [...]
Healthcare
Access to quality healthcare has been one of the main issues Representative McHenry has worked on in the North Carolina House. The most dangerous obstacle to healthcare access today is the trend of skyrocketing jury awards for so called “pain and suffering” damages. Excessive jury awards are forcing many doctors’ insurance premiums so high they [...]
Higher Education
Having a well-trained and well-educated workforce is the key to keeping America at the forefront of the world economy, and is crucial for attracting good jobs to western North Carolina. Congressman McHenry strongly believes in improving the community college system and worker training and retraining programs that will help folks increase their education, training and [...]
Homeland Security
Securing the homeland, and keeping America and our interests safe is the most important duty of the Congress. As a member of the Budget Committee, Congressman McHenry voted to increase funding for homeland security and national defense by 8%. The Congressman supports active, effective oversight for Department of Homeland Security, and he believes Congress should [...]
Illegal Immigration
Congressman McHenry believes that illegal immigration is one of the top national security issues facing America. There are currently an estimated 11 million illegal immigrants in America, including over 300,000 in North Carolina. The congressman believes we must improve our border security and provide better surveillance equipment. Simply put, Congressman McHenry believes that those who [...]
Jobs, Economy and Financial Services
Congressman McHenry’s top priorities in the United States Congress are national security and economic security. The 10th District has seen significant job loss in the last decade, mainly due to unfair trade agreements and anti-competitive practices, especially from China. Having a well-trained and highly educated workforce is the key to keeping America’s economy strong and [...]
National Security and the War on Terror
The main responsibility expressly outlined for the federal government in the Constitution is providing for national defense. Congress faces no greater duty than ensuring that members of the armed forces have the training, equipment, and funding necessary to protect citizens of the United States and our interests abroad. After September 11th, it is apparent that [...]
Sanctity of Human Life
The United States has always been a compassionate nation that cherishes innocent human life at all stages of development, from conception to natural death. Tragically, judicial activists on the Supreme Court manufactured an interpretation of the Constitution allowing abortion in the 1973 case of Roe v. Wade, resulting in the death of millions of unborn [...]
Sanctity of Marriage
Congressman McHenry has always been a vocal advocate of traditional values and strongly supports a constitutional amendment outlining marriage as the union of one man and one woman. He believes that Congress must act to curb the influence of judicial activists who seek to recklessly redefine marriage and other traditional institutions. Marriage, family and community [...]
Second Amendment
Congressman McHenry strongly supports the Second Amendment to the Constitution. As your representative, Congressman McHenry will defend the rights of law abiding citizens to purchase, use, and keep personal firearms. Gun control laws only endanger honest citizens. Criminals will not be deterred by additional rules and regulations preventing the right to bear arms. Strict enforcement [...]
Small Business
Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy – providing roughly 70-percent of all jobs in the United States. Congressman McHenry is a small businessman and understands the issues that affect the success or failure of these ventures. First, we need to have a system of taxation that encourages investment and entrepreneurship. Currently, small [...]
Strengthening Social Security
Social Security has served Americans well for generations, and we must take proper steps to ensure that the program remains solvent for future generations. But the program was designed in 1935, is broken, and unless Congress acts Social Security will be in serious trouble. In the 1950s, there were 16 workers supporting every retiree on [...]
Tax Relief
Congressman McHenry believes in lowering the tax burden on American workers, families and small business owners. As a Member of Congress, and previously as a State Representative in North Carolina, he has never voted for a tax increase. The Congressman strongly supports President Bush’s 2001 and 2003 tax cuts – the biggest since Ronald Reagan’s [...]
Trade
Few issues are more important to the Tenth District than US trade policy. Free trade must be fair trade: When a country’s industries export goods to the United States, we must insist that they allow our industries to have access to their markets. It is only fair. Congressman McHenry stood with the workers of the [...]
Transportation and Roads
One of the key components of economic investment, development, and growth is adequate infrastructure, including highways. Western North Carolina has historically been underrepresented by state and federal projects. Without needed upgrades, it will be more difficult for businesses to expand and for communities to recruit new industries. North Carolina is a donor state – meaning [...]
United Nations
Congressman McHenry believes that the United Nations has become a bloated and corrupt organization. The status quo at the U.N. is unacceptable and the congressman believes that American tax dollars should no longer be spent on the U.N.’s inefficient, unaccountable bureaucracy which often promotes policies contrary to the American people and our interests. In response [...]
Veterans’ Affairs
North Carolina is one of America’s leading military states. That is why our state’s Congressional delegation must continue to stand firm in support of our troops and our veterans. Congressman McHenry will insist that our troops are paid the good salary they deserve and have the supplies and training they need to effectively defend our [...]