Category: NC Elected Officials

June 21st Governor Holshouser’s friends, colleagues, and loved ones gathered at his memorial service to pay their respects.  His lifelong dedication and service to our state was defined by many outstanding accomplishments that made North Carolina a better place to live.  Governor Holshouser was a trusted counselor, great friend, an exemplary leader, and will be sorely missed.  Please keep Governor Holshouser and his family in your thoughts and prayers. This week the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources passed …

On May 23rd, the House passed H.R. 1911, “The Smarter Solutions for Students Act,” with the goal of getting politicians out of the business of setting interest rates on student loans. If Senate Democrats fail to act by July 1st on this important piece of legislation, student loan rates could double, causing unnecessary harm to borrowers across the country. More information about the student loan fix is provided in this newsletter. This week we celebrate the 50th Annual National Small …

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) today praised the defeat of H.R. 1947, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 (Farm Bill), by a 195-234 vote.  This controversial Farm Bill, which governs the nation’s nutrition and agriculture policies, sought to cut the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, by almost $21 billion.  These cuts would have eliminated food assistance to nearly 2 million low-income people, including working families with …

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representatives G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) and David Price (NC-04) sent a letter to the leadership of the Republican-led North Carolina General Assembly, strongly urging that they repeal State Law (SL) 2013-2, which will cut emergency unemployment insurance for up to 170,000 long-term unemployed workers beginning July 1.  As part of the fiscal cliff deal reached earlier this year, Congress passed an extension through January 1, 2014 for the federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation Program (EUC08).  EUC08 gives …

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) introduced five amendments to H.R. 1947, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 (Farm Bill) to block an attempt at rolling back federal services to seniors, low-income families, and the poor–impacting more than two million Americans.  If adopted, three of Butterfield’s amendments would restore the proposed cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) commonly known as food stamps. The current House version of the Farm Bill, led by …

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Gus M. Bilirakis (R-FL) introduced H.R. 2330, the bi-partisan Medicare Audiology Services Enhancement Act, which clarifies current Medicare rules to expand access to audiology services for seniors who are hearing impaired.  Congressman Butterfield (D-NC), Congressman Guthrie (R-KY), Congressman Gerlach (R-PA), Congressman Huizenga (R-MI), Congresswoman Capps (D-CA), Congressman McKinley (R-WV), Congressman Meehan (R-PA) and Congressman Michaud (D-ME) joined Bilirakis as original co-sponsors. “This important piece of legislation fixes an inequity that punishes both seniors and audiologists,” said …

I would like to send my warmest regards to you and your family this Father’s Day. Now more than ever, we look to these role models to strengthen our community and provide strong, positive examples for our children. In this week’s newsletter you will find more news from the Second District and information about Running Start – a bipartisan political summit that helps teach leadership skills to young women interested in public service. In addition, you will find the latest …

This week, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) held a markup to consider the K-12 education legislation currently being pushed by Senate Democrats, which would lead to more micromanagement of North Carolina’s schools, require transfers of teachers and principals based on test scores, create a national school board that requires reporting of everything from student pregnancies to the amount of local dollars spent on school athletics and coaches, and a mandate on firing at least 35% …

Yesterday, Senate Democrats voted against S. 1003, the Comprehensive Student Loan Protection Act—a permanent solution that would lower and fix interest rates for 100 percent of newly issued student-loans.  I’m left scratching my head over the Senate’s vote.  The solution my colleagues and I put forward would simplify and streamlines the process, save federal taxpayers billions of dollars, and address 100 percent of student loans.   Harry Reid has been stating publicly this week that there was “no reason to work …

As chairwoman of the Republican Women’s Policy Committee (RWPC), I’m honored to call attention to the important work coming from Republican women in the House of Representatives. This week, we unveiled the new committee website and social media platforms to the public as we begin to highlight this important new platform. I hope you will visit the new RWPC website and engage on RWPC social media for more information about the 19 Republican women on the committee. The president visited …

    Volume VI, Issue 8                                                                                                   June 7, 2013       NEWS FROM RALEIGH… I always welcome your comments, project updates, suggestions, and visits. My office door and electronic door is always open to you!  As always, thank you for your support!   NEWSLETTER INDEX Around the District and More   Events   Legislative News     Notes of Thanks   Ethics Tip   Hear and See Legislative Live Daily   If you no longer wish to receive …

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) will join local chapters of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), clergy members, and thousands of supporters on Monday, June 10 during the “Moral Monday” protest at the North Carolina General Assembly in Raleigh.  Butterfield said, “I’ve been deeply troubled by the severe and unilateral cuts being made by the Republican-led legislature in North Carolina.  The cuts to healthcare, education, and unemployment insurance, just to name a few, …

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, urging the department to approve the City of Goldsboro’s Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) V grant application.  Goldsboro is requesting $16.5 million in much-needed funding that would make upgrades and significant functional and aesthetic improvements to Goldsboro Union Station, Center Street Streetscape, and begin construction on the Gateway Transfer Center. Butterfield, who was instrumental in securing nearly a million …

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) today announced his support for H.R. 2228, the Assessment Accuracy and Improvement Act, which would help educators better assess student achievement through the use of a computer-based adaptive testing system that more accurately pinpoints students’ grade level performance.  This is in contrast to current law which allows limited types of standardized testing that can only identify if students are performing at or below their grade level.  However, H.R. 2228 would give states …

NEWS FROM RALEIGH… I always welcome your comments, project updates, suggestions, and visits. My office door and electronic door is always open to you!  As always, thank you for your support!   NEWSLETTER INDEX Around the District and More Events Action for Children Legislative News Senate Budget Overview Ethics Tip Hear and See Legislative Live Daily   If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, please click here —————————————————————————- AROUND THE DISTRICT AND MORE “The Ultimate Page Week” in …

When President Obama campaigned for his health care law he promised repeatedly: “If you like your current insurance, you will keep your current insurance.” Every day there is more evidence to the contrary — most recently news that the so-called “Cadillac tax” provision of Obamacare is already causing some employers to drop the high-end health care plans they currently offer their employees.  In a blog post this week, I talk about some of the negative effects of Obamacare that we …

Representative Michael H. Wray’s Raleigh Report   May 23, 2013   As Crossover came to a close, the speed at the General Assembly intensified as the Senate gave final approval to their budget proposal. The budget now heads to the House where changes will be made before presenting a final plan to Governor Pat McCrory for his signature. In a heated debate, Senate Democrats condemned the measure citing harmful impacts to working families. The Senate budget is another step in …

Statement from Abdul Rasheed on the N.C. Senate’s Cut of All Funding for the N.C. Community Development Initiative: We are deeply disappointed that the North Carolina Senate failed to provide any funding to enable the N.C. Community Development Initiative to continue helping North Carolina’s most economically distressed communities recover and rebuild their economies. Businesses, families and the state’s fragile recovery cannot withstand this move by state legislators and the governor to dismantle 20 years of progress made through public-private investments …