Committee Room
I started the day at the Health committee where I listened to 4 bills. One on Organ Donor registration, one on insurance cards, one on decriminalizing a drug, and the last one on increasing Lipedema research. It was fun to watch because the chairman keeps making funny jokes. It was also fun to watch how they have changed in the covid environment, mixing a virtual and in-person group. I then listened to Chris take a call with Ms. Jackson about the upcoming BRAC meeting that Rep. Martin was invited to.
DMVA Building
We then walked over to her office at the Department of Military and Veteran Affairs. On the way over Chris explained what a BRAC was to me. A BRAC is when the federal government looks around and sees states that are not ‘military friendly’ and take away their bases. Rep. Martin works in his committee to stay one step ahead to make sure NC doesn’t get a BRAC, At the DMVA we met all the staff and we talked about their military experiences and what their jobs were. From cemeteries to family counseling. We were going to speak with the secretary (the big cheese) but he had a meeting. Next, we went to Senator Newtons Press Conference on his upcoming tax cut bill. Then we came back to his office where Chris called Domonique and they discussed Bill 791, which Grier Martin did some work on. Then we went and talked to some L.A.s and we visited the House Page coordinator to ask when the program will be up and running again, she said she didn’t know. Then we went on the ‘red carpet’ which led us up to the viewing rooms for each chamber. Then we went across the mall and tried to find Ms. Wheatley,
Rotunda at the top of the ‘red carpet’
but she wasn’t there. We returned to the office where Chris skimmed Yahoo news while Lee answered emails. We then discussed how people have been eating cicadas. Then we discussed soul food cafes in the triangle with some other Las. Then Rep. Martin arrived and we chatted for a few minutes while we waited for his BRAC meeting. Then we attended the BRAC meeting. Then Jaqueline and her mentor arrived and we talked about her mentor and Rep. Martin’s work on the interstate compact for counseling licensing. We talked about how it affects the quality of life for military members and how hopefully it will help military spouses get licenses in NC quicker. Once the meeting ended Rep. Martin left so Chris and I attending the Immigration Briefing for State and Local Elections meeting hosted by the White House on zoom. Then we started talking office gossip and that was the end of our day.
