GREENSBORO, N.C. — This week, Congressman Mark Walker offered to pay for student athletes from New York to stay in a Greensboro hotel, after New York Governor Andrew Cuomo banned them from using school funds for travel in our state for the NCAA Division III Swimming Championship.
Governor Cuomo's 2016 travel ban to North Carolina is still in effect - and he refuses to lift it, despite the repeal of the controversial House Bill 2.
"I think he's very wrong to put this kind of additional stress [on the athletes], when the small college from New York is just trying to compete for a national championship. It doesn't make any sense to me," said Walker.
Representative Walker says since he extended the offer, his constituents have offered up their support as well.
"This is not some political stuff, we have extended this offer and the crazy thing is how many people are reaching out to our office, over Facebook or text message and saying, listen I'll take care of two rooms for them," he said, "I believe many North Carolinians are wanting to say, do not put this on us. We are a very hospitable place. Greensboro is tournament town."
We haven't heard whether Governor Cuomo will allow it. However, we do know the athletes weren't allowed to use money from a GoFundMe set up in their name.