ROCKINGHAM- Robert Pittenger is currently serving his third term in the US Congress as Representative of the North Carolina 9th District. The district includes South Mecklenburg, Union, Anson, Richmond, Scotland and Robeson Counties as well as portions of Cumberland and Bladen Counties.
Pittenger was born and raised in Texas and attended the University of Texas. Upon graduation, he spent 10 years working with Campus Crusade for Christ as an Assistant to the President of the organization. In 1985, he and his family moved to Charlotte, where Pittenger and his wife still reside today.
As he addressed the Richmond County Republicans recently at their 2018 Convention, Pittenger discussed his record as part of the 115th Congress. He said, “We passed more legislation this last year in the US Congress than has been passed in the last 25 years.” According to Pittenger, the House of Representatives passed 400 bills with close to 50 of them ultimately being signed by the president.
“We’ve done our work in the House,” said Pittenger. He noted that the Tax and Jobs Bill was one of the most transformational bills and will “change the course of this country.” “You’re seeing it in your paychecks, in job expansion, companies are investing more and expanding more. Apple is reinvesting $350 Billion back into this country. Who would have thought of that a year ago. Who would have thought of Exxon-Mobile investing $50 Billion.” Pittenger noted that companies are coming back to the US, thanks to the new tax changes.
Pittenger talked about a project he is currently working on which would build an interstate down the highway 74 corridor from Charlotte to Wilmington. Pittenger indicated this investment in infrastructure is critical to allow better transportation access from the state’s interior to port.
Pittenger said congress had to fund the enormous requirements that came from Hurricane Matthew. He commented that he had worked and gotten over $1 Billion funded for Hurricane Matthew relief.
“Trust the president, trust the president,” Pittenger stressed in his closing remarks. He said, “I know people are concerned about gun rights, concerned about some of the things he (President Trump) does, he gets out there and stirs up the pot. He knows how to negotiate. Trust the president. I have a 97% voting record with him because I trust him and he knows what he is doing.”
Editor’s note: The Richmond Observer will publish feature articles on each candidate’s speeches from the March Richmond County Republican Convention as well as continue to bring you updates on the 2018 election campaigns.
