Category: NC Elected Officials

Every year, we look forward to the Fourth of July holiday as an opportunity to celebrate with family and friends by grilling out, enjoying the warm weather, and viewing the community fireworks display.  However, as we enjoy the day of fun, we must not let the significance of our nation’s birthday escape us.   Two hundred and thirty-eight years ago our Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence.  By signing the Declaration, a new nation was established, ruled by the people and for …

  Volume 9, Issue VI July 3, 2014   **Happy 4th of July**     NEWS FROM RALEIGH… I always welcome your comments, project updates, suggestions, and visits. My office door and electronic door are always open to you!  As always, thank you for your support!     NEWSLETTER INDEX   Around the District … and More Scholarships/Grant Awards, Jobs and Other Opportunities For your information Ethics Tip Legislative News Because You Care – Thank you   —————————————————————————-     …

WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) released the following statement today to mark the 50th anniversary of President Lyndon Johnson enacting the landmark Civil Rights Act on July 2, 1964: “Without question, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is one of the most significant laws in this nation’s history. This 50th anniversary is a time to remember the debt all of us owe to the courageous leaders of the civil rights movement of the 1960s.  “This landmark law …

This week, we learned that the U.S. economy declined at a 2.9% annual rate in the first quarter of 2014 — the most in five years! This latest news just highlights the need for the Senate to pass the dozens of House jobs bills that are still awaiting action. In addition to the bad economic news this week, we received even more bad news on Obamacare, including news that health insurance premiums are increasing dramatically as a result of the …

Tuesday, I joined my Senate colleagues and members from the House to discuss legislation which would address the deeply rooted problems at VA. It is now time for us, in partnership with VA, to begin to repair the damage that has resulted from the systemic failures that have undermined the trust veterans had placed in VA. Most importantly, we must ensure that veterans get the appointments they need from the doctor of their choice, provide the transparency needed to do …

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kay Hagan and Congressman G.K. Butterfield introduced legislation in the Senate and House that will protect the ability of North Carolinians harmed by toxic chemicals to seek legal recourse, including Marines harmed by contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune and families exposed to toxic chemicals at the CTS superfund site near Asheville. A recent Supreme Court ruling could prevent these individuals and families from pursuing legal recourse, and Hagan and Butterfield’s legislation clarifies that federal law preempts …

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) released the following statement today on the one-year anniversary of the Shelby County v. Holder ruling: “In the year since the Supreme Court overturned Section 4 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act (VRA) in Shelby County v. Holder, many Republican-led states passed laws that severely diminish Americans right to vote.  “In my home state of North Carolina, Governor Pat McCrory and his party members have destroyed the progressive reputation for voting inclusion …

From senator Angela Bryant: SB 729- Coal Ash Timelines Disposal of coal ash (G.S. 130A-309.208, page 10): July 1, 2014 – No new impoundments or expansion of existing impoundments. October 1, 2014 – No coal ash disposed in impoundments at retired plants. December 31, 2018 – No stormwater discharged into impoundments at retired plants. December 31, 2019 – No stormwater discharged into any impoundment. December 31, 2018 – Must convert to disposal of dry fly ash or retire the electric …

This week marked the 4th anniversary of President Obama’s “Recovery Summer,” but the American economy continues to struggle. House Republicans remain focused on ways to  create new jobs and expand opportunity for everyone. Visit GOP.gov/jobs to see our plan for jobs. Unfortunately, Obamacare continues to negatively affect our economy as a whole, as well as our individual households. In a recent 3,137-County Analysis by the Manhattan Institute, we see more evidence that the “Affordable” Care Act doesn’t live up to …

Yesterday, I spoke on the floor about the growing threat in the Middle East.  I understand that our nation is weary of war.  I respect the sacrifices made by our service members and I work every day to ensure that our brave men and women, our veterans, are provided the care and treatment they deserve.  Their efforts should not be in vain. Our service members served and sacrificed overseas so we could be safe at home.  We cannot in good …

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) today released the following statement regarding the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) “interim response” to his request made last week for an explanation of the long wait times for new mental health patients at the Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC), and the 79-day discrepancy in reported wait times by the Durham VAMC and the Veterans Health Administration (VHA): “I am deeply troubled that the VA did not provide clear, sufficient …

Henderson, NC — North Carolina State Representative Nathan Baskerville released a statement today detailing his growing concerns regarding the discovery of additional coal ash problems.  On June 18, 2014, DENHR identified additional problems at multiple coal ash sites.  There are discoveries that Coal Ash is leaking from deteriorated pipes and cracked joints and has contributed to concrete flaking and chipped pipes in multiple sites, all spelling one thing – another disaster waiting to happen. Plans written by the Governor’s office …

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Representatives G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) and David Price (NC-04) released a letter urging Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy for tougher standards regarding the storage and disposal of coal ash.  Their letter, which is cosigned by 83 members of Congress, presses for stricter standards and enforcement under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act by year’s end, and follows several recent coal ash spills, including the Dan River spill in North Carolina in March. The congressmen …

Last week, I joined Minority Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee members in a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder, pressing the Department of Justice (DOJ) to join efforts with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Inspector General’s investigation into misconduct at VA facilities. On Wednesday, the FBI also opened a criminal probe into the VA scandal. To read the text of the letter, click here. The Senate passed the bipartisan Veterans Access to Care through Choice, Accountability and Transparency Act to …

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) released a letter to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Legislative Affairs Joan Mooney expressing serious concerns over reports of exceptionally long wait times for patients at the Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC).  On Monday, the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Nationwide Access Audit revealed that new patients at the Durham VAMC are waiting an average of 104 days for mental health appointments, the …

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) introduced a bipartisan bill to designate two highways as a “future interstate” that will originate in Raleigh, North Carolina, and travel through Rocky Mount, Williamston, and Elizabeth City, North Carolina to Norfolk, Virginia.  H.R. 4829, or the ROAD Act, is cosponsored by Representatives Walter Jones (NC-03), David Price (NC-04), Howard Coble (NC-06), Mike McIntyre (NC-07), Mark Meadows (NC-11), and Renee Ellmers (NC-02), and will enable transportation improvements to U.S. Highways 17 …

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Butterfield (NC-01) today released the following statement regarding the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Nationwide Access Audit: “The release of the Department of Veterans Affairs nation-wide audit highlights the extent to which the VA healthcare system has failed our veterans. The mistreatment of our veterans is not acceptable and the VA must do better.  In this report, the VA has identified procedures, areas of care, and facilities in North Carolina and across the country that are …

This week the Senate began moving forward on legislative solutions to address the crisis at the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA). On Tuesday, Senators McCain, Coburn, Flake, and I introduced the Veterans Choice Act.  This targeted, commonsense legislation would address the most pressing issues raised by the continuing VA scandal by providing veterans with greater choice and flexibility in health care providers and increasing accountability and transparency at the VA.  The Veterans Choice Act was endorsed by American Legion, Iraq …

It was great to be back in the district this week with stops including Raleigh, Cary, Sanford, and Fort Bragg. Reports regarding substandard health care and treatment of our troops at Womack Army Medical Center are upsetting and require both accountability and a remedy.  I was honored to meet with several military commanders and enlisted personnel during a visit to Womack this week to address my serious concerns. While there, we had the opportunity to discuss the problems at hand …

WASHINGTON, DC – Tomorrow, Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) will join Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regional Administrator Heather McTeer Toney and City of Wilson Mayor C. Bruce Rose at 10:00 a.m. at Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park, 112 Goldsboro Street East, Wilson, N.C. at a ceremony to award the City of Wilson and the Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments a $1 million Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund Grant and a $400,000 Brownfields Community Assessment Grant, respectively. The grants, funded by the …