Weekly Update from Congressman Tim Moore | February 15, 2026

This week, the House passed the SAVE America Act, legislation I was proud to cosponsor to strengthen the integrity of our federal elections and restore confidence in the democratic process. At its core, this bill is about a simple principle: American elections should be decided by American citizens.

The SAVE America Act requires documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections and mandates a valid government-issued photo ID when casting a ballot. It also directs states to establish programs to identify and remove non-citizens from existing voter rolls. These are straightforward safeguards designed to protect every legal vote and ensure that election outcomes reflect the will of eligible voters.

I also want to address the false claim that the SAVE America Act would prevent married women from voting — this is one of the most disgusting examples of partisan fearmongering I’ve seen in a long time. The bill does not take away anyone’s right to vote, and it does not single out married women or anyone who has changed their name. In America, women vote after marriage, after updating their name, and after renewing their identification, and that will not change. Existing procedures already allow voters to verify their identity and citizenship, even if their current legal name differs from prior documentation.

We want every eligible citizen to vote. We must make it easy to vote and hard to cheat. Requiring proof of citizenship and valid identification protects the value of every lawful ballot, including the votes of married women across this country.

Public support for these measures is strong and consistent. 83% of Americans support requiring government-issued photo ID to vote (including 71% of Democrats). 86% support requiring states to verify that an individual is a U.S. citizen when registering to vote. There are very few public policy issues that draw that level of broad agreement.

Right now, states lack consistent authority to require proof of citizenship for federal voter registration. That gap has made it harder to confirm eligibility and keep voter rolls accurate. This legislation strengthens their ability to enforce the law and protect the integrity of the system.

Confidence in our elections is foundational to the strength of our republic. When rules are clear and focused on ensuring that only eligible citizens participate, it reinforces faith in the outcome. The SAVE America Act moves us in that direction by putting practical safeguards in place and reaffirming that the right to vote in federal elections belongs to American citizens. 

On Monday, I had the opportunity to visit the Spangler Branch Library in Lawndale to officially present $750,000 in federal funding that I secured through the Agriculture and Rural Development Appropriations bill. This investment will support a major expansion of the library and ensure it can better serve families across northern Cleveland County.

With more than 22 percent of Lawndale residents living below the poverty line, it serves as an important resource — providing internet access, educational resources, job search tools, and community programming. Expanding this facility means more space for students to learn, and more opportunities for the entire community to grow.

As someone who believes deeply in investing in rural North Carolina, I’m proud to deliver real results that strengthen our communities for decades to come. 

I was proud to welcome Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan V. Gould to Charlotte for a roundtable with leaders from across North Carolina’s banking community. Around the table were executives from Wells Fargo, Fifth Third, PNC, and Regions Bank, along with community institutions like Peoples Bank, Hometrust, and blueharbor bank. We were also joined by the North Carolina Bankers Association and UNC Charlotte’s Belk College of Business.

Charlotte, the second-largest banking center in the country, serves as a key hub for both established institutions and emerging financial innovation. The roundtable fostered a detailed conversation on how regulation can better reflect the complexity of today’s financial system without limiting access to credit or new technology. Participants and regulators alike recognized the value of direct input in shaping policy that supports institutional strength and broader economic resilience.

Under the leadership of President Trump, financial institutions of all sizes are finally getting the clarity and support they need to thrive without being buried in red tape. Today’s discussion illustrated that this Administration is committed to listening to industry leaders and tailoring policies accordingly to ensure the financial sector remains both competitive on the world stage and responsive to the needs of American families and businesses.

“The OCC is focused on common sense regulatory reforms and tailoring supervision to more accurately reflect the material financial risk of individual banking institutions,” said Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan V. Gould. “I appreciate the invitation to join Congressman Moore here in Charlotte to learn first-hand from North Carolina’s bankers on how the OCC’s reforms can reinforce banks’ efforts to support a vibrant economy, consistent with the vision set forth by President Trump.” 

On Friday, I joined EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin for a press conference at Toyota of North Charlotte to discuss the Trump Administration’s repeal of the Obama-era 2009 Endangerment Finding and the vehicle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions mandates that followed.

In 2009, the EPA issued what’s known as the “Endangerment Finding,” a legal determination that classified greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide as a threat under the Clean Air Act. That finding became the legal foundation for years of sweeping federal regulations on cars and trucks, including increasingly strict GHG emissions standards and compliance programs that significantly raised manufacturing costs.

Over time, those mandates expanded well beyond traditional air pollution controls. They included mechanisms like “off-cycle credits,” which allowed automakers to meet emissions targets on paper by adding features such as start-stop systems. While framed as climate policy, these layered requirements drove up vehicle prices and limited consumer choice.

The Trump EPA concluded that the Clean Air Act does not grant the agency authority to regulate greenhouse gases from vehicles in the sweeping way it had been interpreted. Importantly, this action applies only to greenhouse gas standards — it does not eliminate regulations that address traditional air pollutants like smog, particulate matter, or toxic emissions that directly affect air quality and public health.

The agency also determined that even eliminating all U.S. vehicle greenhouse gas emissions would not materially affect global climate indicators through 2100, given the global nature of emissions. Based on that analysis, EPA argued that maintaining these mandates was not necessary to fulfill its core mission of protecting human health and the environment.

According to EPA estimates, repealing these mandates will save Americans more than $1.3 trillion and lower the average cost of a new vehicle by over $2,400. For families and small businesses in North Carolina, that means more affordable transportation, stronger domestic manufacturing, and regulatory policy rooted in the law as written by Congress. 

I was proud to present a $629,000 federal check to the Gastonia Police Department to launch its Rapid DNA Program, funded through the Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations bill. This investment will give local officers the ability to analyze DNA evidence in-house and dramatically speed up investigations.

Rapid DNA technology allows law enforcement to process evidence in hours instead of waiting weeks or months for results from an overburdened state lab. That means suspects can be identified faster and arrests made sooner, helping prevent additional crimes. In law enforcement, timing matters, and this tool helps officers act quickly and decisively.

This program will also help reduce the backlog at North Carolina’s state crime lab. By shifting some DNA analysis to the local level, we ease pressure on centralized labs and shorten case timelines statewide. Even agencies without Rapid DNA capability will benefit from faster turnaround times. It’s a smart investment in public safety that strengthens Gastonia and supports law enforcement across our region.

Did you know the Duhart Sewer Pump Station handles nearly 5 million gallons of wastewater every single day? It receives flow from 15 other pump stations, making it one of the most critical pieces of infrastructure in the system. As our community continues to grow, so does the volume and complexity of what this station manages.

That’s why I was proud this week to present an $835,000 federal check to support Phase I of the Duhart Sewer Pump Station and Force Main Upgrade project, that I secured funding for through the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. While the station has been upgraded over the years, the current pump setup isn’t ideally suited for the wide range of flow conditions it handles, leading to increased maintenance and long-term capacity concerns.

This funding will allow the city to move forward with engineering design, permitting, surveying, and specialized geotechnical work needed to begin the full upgrade. The completed project will replace four sewage pumps, update fittings and valves, modernize electrical equipment and the SCADA control system, and address the undersized force main to ensure the system can meet future demand. This is a proactive investment in infrastructure that both protects public health and allows for future growth.

Earlier this month, on February 2, I sent a letter to the U.S. Postal Service urging the immediate reopening of the Chimney Rock Village Post Office. Repairs to the facility had already been completed, and a USPS assessment conducted in October 2025 determined the building was suitable for operation. Despite that, the post office had remained closed, leaving residents and business owners without access to their local branch during a critical period of recovery from Hurricane Helene.

In response to my letter, USPS confirmed that the Chimney Rock Post Office will officially reopen at its Main Street location on February 23 at noon. The facility will resume regular weekday hours from noon to 4:00 p.m. and will provide full retail services along with Post Office Box access.

While temporary arrangements allowed mail access through nearby facilities, having a fully operational post office in Chimney Rock matters. It supports prescription deliveries, business correspondence, financial transactions, and everyday communication that keeps a small town running.

I appreciate the Postal Service’s formal response and commitment to restoring service. I will continue monitoring the situation to ensure the reopening proceeds as promised and that Western North Carolina communities receive the timely attention and federal responsiveness they deserve.

Thank you for staying engaged and informed about the work I'm doing in Washington and at home. Your voice and your concerns matter deeply to me. If there’s ever anything my office can assist with, please don’t hesitate to reach out. 

Sincerely, 

Congressman Tim Moore 

North Carolina's 14th District