Five days after the tragic shooting at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, President Obama said that he is committed to reducing the epidemic of gun violence that plagues this country every single day. At a press conference in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, the President announced that Vice President Joe Biden will lead a new initiative that has been tasked with identifying concrete proposals for real reform by January. The Vice President, …
Category: Press Release
Butterfield on Passing of Wayne County Commissioner Jasper “J.D.” Evans
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) today released the following statement regarding the passing of Commissioner Jasper “J.D.” Evans: “I join with so many others in grieving the loss of an exceptional educator, public servant, and friend. Commissioner J.D. Evans’ dedication to education and the people of Wayne County inspired all who serve. Not only was he devoted to his community, but also to his family and church. I am truly saddened by his passing. My thoughts and …
President Obama at Prayer Vigil for Connecticut Shooting Victims: “Newtown, You Are Not Alone”
President Obama traveled to Newtown, CT to meet with the families of those who were lost in Friday’s tragic shooting, and to thank first responders for their work. This evening the President spoke at an interfaith vigil for families of the victims, and all families from Sandy Hook Elementary School. He offered the love and prayers of a nation grieving alongside Newtown: Here in Newtown, I come to offer the love and prayers of a nation. I am very mindful …
Congresswoman Renee Ellmers: Protecting America`s Future
In the debate over avoiding the “fiscal cliff,” an important point is not getting enough attention. When it comes to solving our debt, government SPENDING must be addressed. Until spending is tackled in a significant and meaningful way, we will remain on course to leave our children and grandchildren saddled with a huge burden of debt. In this newsletter you will find a chart prepared by Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan that demonstrates just how big our spending problem is. …
Butterfield Issues Statement on Passing of North Carolina Senator Ed Jones
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman G. K. Butterfield today released the following statement regarding the passing of North Carolina State Senator Ed Jones of Halifax County last week. “Today North Carolina mourns the loss of Senator Ed Jones, a remarkable public servant and friend. As a tireless advocate for rural communities, his service touched us all. Senator Jones was a gentle soul devoted to his family, church, and community. I am deeply saddened by his passing and my sympathies are with …
White House Weekly Address: Nation Grieves for Those Killed in Tragic Shooting in Newtown, CT
The President says the nation’s thoughts and prayers are with those who lost a loved one during Friday’s tragic shooting in Newtown, CT. Welcome to the West Wing Week, your guide to everything that’s happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. This week, the First Family attended the annual Christmas in Washington concert, the Vice President talked #My2k over lunch with middle-class Americans and attended the Army Navy football game with Dr. Biden, while the President signed the Child Protection Act into …
President Obama Makes a Statement on the Shooting in Newtown, Connecticut
Video: President Obama delivers a statement on today’s shooting at a school in Newtown, Connecticut. December 14, 2012. Police say 26 people, including 20 children, were killed by a gunman who opened fire at an elementary school in Newton, Conn., Friday morning. The gunman is also dead, as well as another adult who lived with the shooter.
Butterfield Expresses Disappointed with Ambassador Rice Withdrawal as Candidate for Secretary of State
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) today issued the following statement regarding U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice withdrawal as a candidate for Secretary of State: “I am extremely disappointed to learn U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice has withdrawn as a candidate for Secretary of State. Ambassador Rice has served our country without flaw within the global community. As a seasoned diplomat and Oxford-educated Rhodes Scholar, Ambassador Rice has effectively worked to build meaningful relationships with foreign nations. She has successfully …
Butterfield Sends Letters to OMB and CDC, Urging Protection of Minority Health Programs
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) joined more than 40 colleagues today to send letters to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) urging the protection of critical federal programs that address ethnic and racial health disparities. Such programs as the Area Health Education Centers and the Health Careers Opportunity Program remain vital to minority and underserved communities, but face significant budget cuts regardless of whether sequestration occurs. …
Butterfield Applauds Savings Generated by Health Care Law in North Carolina
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) today applauded an announcement from the U.S. Department of Health Human Services that savings generated by the Affordable Care Act reached $5.1 billion. In North Carolina, Medicare beneficiaries have saved $149 million because of expanded Medicare prescription drug coverage gap known as the “donut hole.” Between January and October alone, 80,000 North Carolinians saved an average $640 on prescription drugs costs. During the same period, about 905,000 people with original Medicare in …
White House Weekly Address: Congress Must Extend the Middle Class Tax Cuts
President Obama urges Congress to extend the middle class income tax cuts for 98 percent of Americans and 97 percent of small businesses without delay, making it clear that a balanced approach to deficit reduction means that Republicans in Congress must agree to ask the wealthiest Americans to pay higher tax rates. Welcome to the West Wing Week, your guide to everything that’s happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. This week, the President visited a toy factory, hosted Kennedy Center Honorees, …
Congresswoman Renee Ellmers: Three Important Subcommittee Assignments
This week marks the 71st anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor – “a date which will live in infamy.” This day continues to remind us of the sacrifices made by those who came before us and that our freedom is not free. I am thankful for our brave members of the military and veterans everyday and am honored to represent them in the Second District. Last week, I was excited to learn that I had been appointed to the …
Senator Richard Burr Newsletter
Fiscal Cliff Update Another week has passed, and we are one week closer to going over the fiscal cliff with little progress being made in Washington. Last week, the President offered a proposal that included a $1.6 trillion tax hike that would hit more than just the wealthiest 2% of Americans and called for even more federal “stimulus” spending. This is not a plan that will help fix our economy, it is more of the same tax-and-spend policies that …
President Signs Butterfield and Bono Mack Bill to Extend Online Consumer Protections through 2020
WASHINGTON, DC – Late yesterday, President Obama signed into law H.R. 6131, a bill to reauthorize the U.S. Safe Web Act of 2006. Introduced by Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittee Chairman Mary Bono Mack (R-CA) and Ranking Member G.K. Butterfield (D-NC), H.R. 6131 extends the Safe Web Act, a key consumer protection law, until 2020. “I am a strong supporter of granting the FTC the powers it needs to effectively protect consumers against fraud, whether originating here or abroad; so …
Congresswoman Renee Ellmers: Energy and Commerce
This is a busy time in Washington as negotiations continue to avoid the “fiscal cliff” – a problem we will face if nothing is done to exend the Bush tax cuts that expire at the end of the year. There is also a great deal of activity and excitement leading up to the 113th Congress. This week, I was very happy to learn that I have been named to the House Energy and Commerce Committee for the upcoming term. In …
Butterfield Congratulates Kinston Community Health Center on Grant Award
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) Friday announced the Kinston Community Health Center’s receipt of a $756,983 grant by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS). The grant will assist the health center in providing primary, preventative, and dental care to target populations, which include uninsured, underinsured, low-income adults, children and families, migrant and seasonal agricultural workers, minority populations, and people who are geographically or socially isolated. Congressman Butterfield expressed joy at the news. “The Kinston …
Senator Burr: Fiscal Cliff Update
With only a few weeks left in the 112th Congress the Senate has a lot on its plate, but very little progress was made this week on the most pressing issue facing our nation – the impending fiscal cliff. As you know, unless Congress acts quickly, every American will experience a perfect storm of unprecedented tax increases and automatic cuts to spending on everything from defense to Medicare on January 1, 2013. Unfortunately, despite the severity of this …
White House Weekly Address: Urging Congress to Extend the Middle Class Tax Cuts
President Obama speaks to the American people from a busy factory floor in Pennsylvania about the urgent need to pass the middle class tax cuts, which will give families and businesses preparing for the holidays the certainty they need going into the New Year. Democrats and Republicans must come together to pass one thing that everyone agrees on—extending income tax cuts for 98 percent of American families and 97 percent of small businesses, and there is no reason to wait. …
White House: Increasing Taxes on Middle-Class Families Will Hurt Consumer Spending
Today, as we move into the holiday shopping season, the National Economic Council and the Council of Economic Advisers released a report called The Middle-Class Tax Cuts’ Impact on Consumer Spending and Retailers. This report provides new analysis on the impact to retailers and consumer spending if Congress fails to act to avoid taxes going up on 98 percent of Americans at the end of the year. If Congress doesn’t act, middle-class families will see their income taxes go up …