With the general election just over four months away, Democrat Kathy Manning, a candidate for Congress from North Carolina’s 13th District, continues to gain endorsements from local leaders and action groups.

Recent endorsements include:

• Governor Roy Cooper: “As a mom, business owner and nonprofit leader, Kathy Manning has worked tirelessly to make North Carolina a better place to live, work and raise a family. We need leaders who will put North Carolina first and cut through the partisan dysfunction of Washington. Kathy has a proven track record of bringing people together and getting hard things done, and there’s no one I trust more than Kathy to do the job for North Carolina families in Congress.”

• League of Conservation Voters Action Fund: “Kathy Manning knows that a healthy environment is key to economic growth,” said Tiernan Sittenfeld, senior vice president of government affairs. “In Congress, she will support North Carolina’s continued leadership in renewable energy and fight to make sure that every family in North Carolina has clean air to breath and clean water to drink. We are proud to support her campaign for Congress.”

“Kathy Manning is a proven leader and trusted environmental ally,” said Carrie Clark, executive director of the North Carolina League of Conservation Voters. “She knows that there is nothing more important than the health and well-being of North Carolina’s families, and we look forward to working with her in Congress to ensure a cleaner and healthier North Carolina for generations to come.”

• U.S. Rep. Alma Adams, a Democrat who represents the 12th District: “Greensboro needs Kathy Manning in Congress. She will be a bold, determined leader who will bring people together and get things done — just like she always has.”

• State Rep. Pricey Harrison, D-57: “I’m proud to endorse Kathy Manning. She’s spent her career making our community a better place to live, work and raise a family. We will be well served with Kathy as our representative in Congress.”

• State Sen. Gladys Robinson, D-28: “It is important that the constituents of the 13th District have a representative that can get things done for the community. I’m supporting Kathy because she’s the most capable person to do this.”

• State Rep. Cecil Brockman, D-16: “In Congress, I know Kathy will be able to find solutions and work hard to get them done for her constituents.”

• Pastor Odell Cleveland: “For over 25 years, I have known Kathy Manning. I have seen the qualities that have made her a leader: courage, commitment, competence and compassion. She is also a doer. During the past recession, she brought people together to ensure those who lost jobs would still have access to food on their table and a roof over their heads. There is not a better person to represent us in Washington than Kathy Manning.”

• Former Gov. Jim Hunt: “Kathy has spent the last 30 years building her community. She leads with her values — family, faith, hard work, and the belief that if you work hard and play by the rules, you should be able to build a better future for yourself and your children.”

• Triad Central Labor Council President John Crawford: “The Triad Central Labor Council along with the N.C. State AFL-CIO proudly endorses Kathy Manning for U.S. House District 13. We feel she has working people’s best interest at heart.”

Richard Hudson’s bipartisan bills pass House

Bipartisan bills sponsored by U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson, a Republican who represents the 8th District, passed the House of Representatives on Friday.

The bills are part of a package of legislation to combat the opioid crisis.

Hudson serves as a leader on the Energy and Commerce Committee, the panel tasked with writing most of the nation’s health care laws. Recently, the committee has worked to learn more about how and why the opioid epidemic happened and what legislative solutions can be pursued.

“Seventy percent of heroin addictions begin in the family medicine cabinet. This is the front line in this all-hands-on-deck fight to end the opioid crisis,” said Hudson. “This isn’t a partisan issue – it’s an American one, and I’m proud of the bipartisan work we’ve done to stop the deadly cycle of opioid addiction.”

Hudson introduced the Sound Disposal and Packaging Act with Rep. G.K. Butterfield, a Democrat from North Carolina’s 1st District. It seeks to encourage and promote improved packaging and disposal methods for opioids.

The Safe Disposal of Unused Medication Act is meant to prevent the misuse or diversion of unused medications by equipping hospice professionals with the legal authority to safely dispose of unused drugs after a hospice patient’s death.

The legislation follows the passage of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act and the 21st Century Cures Act by the last Congress, as well as the $4 billion appropriated earlier this year to help combat the opioid crisis. These efforts are supported by 161 patient advocacy groups.