Peace Garden News

Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak of North Dakota conducted her inaugural telephone town hall this week, engaging with over 3,000 individuals from her state. During the discussion, a variety of issues were addressed, including Social Security, Medicaid, the economy, trade relations with Canada, President Trump's agenda, education, cost of living, and national security.

On the topic of Social Security, Fedorchak assured participants that cuts to the program are "not on the table." She stated, "We will not be cutting Social Security. I want to be clear... people pay into Social Security their whole working life. They deserve to get that money—it’s their money, and I believe firmly in that."

Discussing Medicaid, she emphasized the importance of maintaining the program for those in need, warning of unsustainable growth. “Medicaid needs to be maintained for the people who it was intended to serve,” she said, proposing solutions like audits and work requirements for able-bodied individuals.

Fedorchak touched upon economic issues, noting the concern among Americans that the country is on the wrong path, adding “67 percent of North Dakotans voted for President Trump because they felt his policies would get us back on track.” She supported efforts to root out inefficiencies while maintaining essential services and called for a balanced budget to reduce inflation.

Regarding trade with Canada, Fedorchak expressed hope for continued partnership and proposed targeted tariffs to address unfair trade practices. “My message to President Trump is that I hope these tariffs are targeted and short-term so that they’re intended to get some cooperation from Canada on key things,” she stated.

Fedorchak praised President Trump’s efforts to secure the border and work on energy development, describing them as essential for national security and economic progress. On education, she supported devolving control back to local entities, suggesting, “Let’s eliminate the middleman as much as we can and provide as much direct funding to the schools.”

Acknowledging cost of living challenges, Fedorchak attributed them to government size and debt, advocating for the extension of tax cuts to prevent a tax increase for families. On national security, she conveyed the administration's commitment to addressing issues and assured that security information was communicated through appropriate channels.

Fedorchak intends to host regular telephone town halls to keep constituents informed about her work in Washington, D.C.