First elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1994, Richard served five terms in the House and is currently serving North Carolina in his third term in the U.S. Senate. During his time in the House, he led legislation modernizing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and began his work to improve our nation’s biodefense and pandemic preparedness capabilities.
In the Senate, Richard serves as Ranking Member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. Promoting innovation in America’s healthcare system has been a priority for him throughout his time in Congress. Richard has led on a number of significant legislative priorities, including the creation of today’s pandemic response framework through the passage and reauthorization of the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA), improving FDA’s ability to regulate cutting-edge treatments for patients, and consistently championing funding for medical innovation and research.
Every North Carolinian should graduate high school ready for college or a career. I believe decisions about our children’s education are best made by those who are closest to the classroom – parents, teachers, and local representatives. That’s why I fought to end federal mandates like Common Core and No Child Left Behind.
When it comes to higher education, North Carolina is home to some of the finest colleges and universities in the world, and our institutions of higher learning graduate among the largest number of students of any state in the country. I proudly co-authored the Bipartisan Student Loan Certainty Act, a law that has saved Americans roughly $46 billion in student loan costs over the last three years. I am continuing to work in a bipartisan fashion to offer proposals that make college tuition more affordable and address student loan debt.
Also important to working families is the ability to find affordable, quality child care. As a member of the Senate, I have successfully fought to pass legislation to improve the safety, affordability, and quality of child care so that our kids are in good hands during the work day and prepared for elementary school.