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 …
Category: Press Release
Butterfield and Price Press State to Restore Unemployment Insurance for Thousands of North Carolinians
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 …
Butterfield Fights Drastic Cuts to the Food Stamp Program Proposed in the U.S. Farm Bill
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 …
Butterfield Original Cosponsor of Bipartisan Legislation to Expand Seniors’ Hearing Services
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 …
Congresswoman Renee Ellmers: A Running Start
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 …
Senator Richard Burr Newsletter
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% …
White House Weekly Address: Celebrating Father’s Day Weekend
President Obama discusses Father’s Day and notes that nothing substitutes for the love and support of the presence of a parent in a child’s life. President Obama hosts a Father’s Day luncheon in the State Dining Room to celebrate the importance of strong families and mentorship. June 14, 2013. This week, the President hosted the new President of China at a two-day informal summit in California, spoke on the importance of supporting the implementation of the Affordable Care Act and …
Attorney General Roy Cooper: Watch out for summer job scams
Students across North Carolina are getting out of school for the summer and many are looking to land a summer job. Unfortunately, scammers use the lure of employment and potential earnings to try to rip off eager job seekers. Here are ways to tell a phony job offer from a legitimate opportunity: Be skeptical of high earnings claims. Jobs that promise big money for simple tasks or say you’ll earn thousands of dollars a week by working from home are …
Senator Richard Burr Newsletter
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 …
Congresswoman Renee Ellmers: The Republican Women’s Policy Committee
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 …
Senator Angela Bryant Newsletter
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 …
Butterfield to Join “Moral Monday” Protests at North Carolina Legislature
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, …
White House Weekly Address: Time to Pass Commonsense Immigration Reform
In this week’s address, President Obama says that the United States Senate will soon take action to fix our broken immigration system with a commonsense bill, and urges lawmakers to act quickly to pass this bill so that we can continue to live up to our traditions as a nation of laws, and also a nation of immigrants. This week, the President urged Congress not to let student loan rates double and to confirm three judges for the federal appeals …
Butterfield Advocates for Additional Federal Funding for Goldsboro’s Transportation Projects
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 …
Butterfield Cosponsors Bill to Better Assess Student Performance
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 …
Senator Angela R. Bryant Newsletter
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 …
Congresswoman Renee Ellmers: Broken Promises
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 …
White House Weekly Address: Congress Should Take Action to Continue Growing the Economy
In this week’s address, President Obama says that the economy is moving in the right direction, but there is still more work to do. He calls on Congress to act to give every responsible homeowner the chance to save money on their mortgage by refinancing at historically low interest rates, put more Americans to work rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure, and fix our broken immigration system — so that we can continue to grow our economy and create good middle class …
Attorney General Roy Cooper: Lottery scammers target real winners
Telling people that they’ve won a prize but must pay taxes or fees before they can collect it is a common and unfortunately effective scam. Some recent winners of the North Carolina Education Lottery have been targeted by a new twist on this ever-popular scam. Recent lottery winners have gotten calls informing them that in addition to the prize they already knew about, they’ve won a Mercedes-Benz. But before taking possession of their new car, they need to pay $499 …
Representative Michael Wray’s Newsletter
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 …