Category: NC Elected Officials

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) expressed his extreme disappointment with Governor Pat McCrory for signing into law House Bill 589, the Voter Information Verification Act, which makes sweeping and regressive reforms to voting laws in the state.  In reaction to the bill’s enactment, Butterfield said, “Governor McCrory and his party members have destroyed the progressive reputation for voting inclusion this state has long held.  With one stroke of his pen, McCrory has effectively reversed 30 years …

I’m so happy to be back home in the Second District this month! The Congressional recess provides me the opportunity to spend invaluable time listening to the concerns of the men, women and families across my district. Last week, I spoke to the Mary Stewart Lions Club in Dunn and visited the NC Defense & Economic Development Trade Show in Fayetteville. You’ll find some photos from those events below, and more information and photos on Facebook and Flickr. I also …

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 ·        Grant Awards and Opportunities ·        Events ·        Legislative News ·        Hear and See Legislative Live Daily ·        Ethics Tip ·        A Note of Thanks —————————————————————————- AROUND THE DISTRICT AND MORE Youth Speaker Javan Richardson visits the General …

Last week began with an important event to help our veterans find jobs in the Fayetteville area. On Monday, my office hosted our second annual “Recruit-a-Vet” job fair and we were thrilled to have over 300 veterans, members of the military, and military spouses participate. As our economy slowly recovers, those looking for employment need all the help they can get and I was honored to be able to provide this opportunity to the men and women who have sacrificed …

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) today issued the following statement on the passing of civil rights leader and former North Carolina Central University Chancellor Julius L. Chambers: “The loss of Julius Chambers will be felt across North Carolina and the civil rights community.  As an attorney and educator, Julius enriched the lives of people nationwide, including my own.  His dogged pursuit of fairness and equality helped to usher in an era of change.  And his life’s work …

WASHINGTON, DC – North Carolina Democratic Representatives David Price (NC-04) and G.K. Butterfield (NC-01) today urged their colleagues to support complementary bills they will introduce this afternoon to address two critical aspects of our national teacher shortage: improving teacher retention and attracting teachers to schools with the greatest needs. The representatives, whose districts both include portions of North Carolina’s Research Triangle,  believe that recruiting and retaining high-quality teachers is a critical component of improving public education and maintaining our economic …

North Carolina’s colleges and universities are among the finest in the nation, and our students are among the best and brightest. They are working their way through school or taking out loans to pay for college because they know it is an investment that will pay off in the long run — that will help them reach their goals, land a good-paying job and support their families.  However, as a result of congressional inaction, interest rates on undergraduate subsidized federal …

WASHINGTON, DC – Late yesterday evening, the House unanimously passed Congressman G. K. Butterfield’s (NC-01) bill, H.R. 2754, the Collectible Coin Protection Act.  Under existing law, the Hobby Protection Act, it is unlawful to manufacture in the U.S. or to import into the U.S. for distribution in commerce any imitation coin or currency unless it is “plainly and permanently” marked with the word “copy.”  The Collectible Coin Protection Act would extend the law to cover the commercial sale of an …

WASHINGTON, DC – At a press conference today, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (CT) announced the introduction of the Senate companion bill to U.S. Representative G. K. Butterfield’s (NC-01) World War II Merchant Mariner Service Act.  Like the House bill, the Senate version, S. 1361, would also expand the very specific list of acceptable documents considered by the Federal government for Merchant Mariners who served during World War II when they apply for veterans’ status.  “I look forward to working with …

I was very happy to see the President return his focus to jobs and the economy this week — an issue where House Republicans have been laser focused all along.  All of us see and feel the pain which the Obama economy has caused — far too many American families and businesses have been devastated in the last few years alone. The numbers really show the extent of harm that this Administration has caused to our economy. When President Obama …

WASHINGTON, DC – Late yesterday, Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) was joined by Congresswoman Donna Christensen (USVI) in offering an amendment to H.R. 2218, the Coal Residuals Reuse and Management Act of 2013, to help protect vulnerable populations from the public health risks associated with the storage of and emission of coal ash residue from power plants and industrial facilities.  The amendment would ensure that low-income families, children, pregnant women, the elderly, and workers at industrial facilities are better protected …

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!   IMPORTANT BUDGET UPDATE: GOP leaders agree on $20.6 billion NC budget (AP) — Leaders in the North Carolina House and Senate announced Sunday that they have reached agreement on a $20.6 billion budget that will end teacher tenure and allow taxpayer money to be spent for private school …

After much discussion and hard work I am pleased to announce that a bipartisan group that I am a part of was able to come together to score a big victory for 100% of students and borrowers.  Along with Senators Manchin, King, Coburn, Carper, Harkin, Alexander, and Durbin, I introduced the Bipartisan Student Loan Certainty Act yesterday.  This bipartisan compromise puts in place a sustainable, market-based solution that ensures access and affordability for students seeking to improve their lives through …

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) today applauded the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for awarding $4.1 million in grant awards to 31 health centers in North Carolina, including 10 in the First Congressional District.  The grant award will be divided amongst the community health centers and used to hire additional staff that will help enroll uninsured North Carolinians in new health coverage options made available by the Affordable Care Act.  In North Carolina, 31 …

Last week the Senate grappled with legislation on student loan rates and, once again, did not reach a consensus. Despite rates doubling last Monday, Harry Reid and other Senate Democrats chose to stand behind Senators Reed and Hagan’s stop-gap measure that would kick the can until next year – the same action taken in 2012 – instead of the bipartisan bill introduced by Senators Manchin, King, Alexander, Coburn, Carper, and me. Our bill offers a permanent solution that lowers rates …

The recent announcement by the Obama administration that they were delaying the implementation of the employer mandate found in Obamacare until 2015 is a reluctant admission that the law is fundamentally flawed.  It’s also an admission that the law poses a danger to American jobs.  However, the delay that the administration has proposed only provides relief for large businesses, and does nothing for everyday Americans living under the soon to be imposed individual mandate. Obamacare is not just a threat …

WASHINGTON, DC — On Wednesday, Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) offered an amendment to H.R. 2609, the Fiscal Year 2014 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, to prioritize disaster relief and flood mitigation for Army Corps of Engineers construction projects.   The Corps works to improve the safety of communities such as those near the Neuse River in Goldsboro, North Carolina and in Princeville, North Carolina where Hurricane Floyd all but destroyed the town due to rapidly rising …