Salute the Troops: Two Years After the End of Combat Missions in Iraq On August 31st, 2010, President Obama addressed the nation from the Oval Office. “So tonight,” he said, “I am announcing that the American combat mission in Iraq has ended.” To mark two years since the end of combat in Iraq, and with troops still serving in Afghanistan, take a moment to show your support for those that serve and their families. Here’s how you can participate: Use the …
Category: Press Release
White House: Remembering Neil Armstrong
In 2009, President Obama welcomed Neil Armstrong and his Apollo 11 crewmembers Michael Collins and Buzz Aldrin to the White House in honor of the 40th anniversary of the Armstrong’s historic first steps on the lunar surface. Michelle and I were deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Neil Armstrong. Neil was among the greatest of American heroes – not just of his time, but of all time. When he and his fellow crew members lifted off aboard …
Butterfield Urges DOT to Reallocate Funds to Goldsboro and Havelock
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) today sent a letter to North Carolina Department of Transportation Secretary Gene Conti urging reallocation of unspent transportation funds to the cities of Goldsboro and Havelock for transportation projects that can strengthen the economy and create jobs. In his letter, Butterfield wrote, “It is my understanding that North Carolina has $703,634 in unspent transportation funds that are eligible to be redirected toward other projects. I urge you to consider reallocating those funds …
Congresswoman Renee Ellmers
According to a recent manufacturing industry report, the economic burden of federal government regulation has risen sharply over the past 20 years and has had far reaching effects — especially on manufacturers. On my blog this week I wrote about this report and what I have been hearing from constituents across the Second District. Below you will find that blog post and a link to video of comments made by one of my constituents regarding the burden of regulation. Please …
White House Weekly Address: Preserving and Strengthening Medicare
President Obama speaks to the American people about the critical need to strengthen and preserve Medicare for our seniors and future generations. This week, The White House held an historic, first-ever Kids’ State Dinner; hosted Americorps, School Improvement Grantees, and Presidential Innovation Fellows. The President held a news conference and spoke with regional reporters about the need for Congress to agree on a balanced deficit reduction plan; and the First Lady made a major veterans hiring announcement in Jacksonville, Florida. …
Butterfield Applauds Award of USDA Loan Guarantee to Chemtex for Construction of Cellulosic Ethanol Refinery
WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) today applauded the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack’s announcement of a $99 million loan guarantee to Chemtex International, Inc. for the construction of a cellulosic ethanol refinery in Sampson County, North Carolina. The facility will be the first commercial-scale biorefinery in the United States and will produce an estimated 20 million gallons per year of cellulosic ethanol. “Today’s announcement is great news for eastern North Carolina and the nation …
Congresswoman Renee Ellmers: Listening Across the Second District
As I’ve traveled the District the past few weeks, I’ve talked with groups, business leaders, healthcare professionals, and with constituents one-on-one. In this newsletter, you will find photos and information about the meeting of my Healthcare Advisory Council in Clayton last week and recent visits across the district. The comments I am hearing in the District are in line with results of my August 5 Constituent Survey. In the survey results, constituents said the economy and jobs were their top …
Attorney General Roy Cooper: Watch out for “reload” scams
Reload scams hit consumers when they’re down, offering to help them make back money they lost to a previous scam or bad business decision. These scams have been popular for years with telemarketing fraud rings but can also follow other types of fraud. We’re now seeing reload scams seeking to recruit consumers who were members of Zeekler, a penny auction website headquartered in North Carolina that shut its doors last week and entered into a settlement with the U.S. Securities …
White House: Behind the Scenes White House Chefs Prep the Kids’ State Dinner
The Kids’ State Dinner is a White House original in many ways — it’s not only the first time the guests of honor are ALL under the age of 13, it’s also the first time the White House kitchen has served a formal meal where the entire menu was created by “chefs” who have no formal training. But Executive Chef Cris Comerford and Executive Pastry Chef Bill Yosses say they learned a thing or two about healthy cooking from the …
Attorney General Roy Cooper: Information about Zeekler/Zeek Rewards
Based on complaints filed by consumers, last month we issued a civil investigative demand to Zeekler, a penny auction website based in Lexington, NC, seeking records so we could examine its business practices. We have started receiving those documents and are continuing to investigate the company. Zeekler apparently shut down its website and closed its doors overnight, leaving many consumers with questions. Today, Rex Venture Group, the parent company of Zeekler and Zeek Rewards, entered into a settlement with the …
White House Weekly Address: Congress Should Back Plan to Hire Teachers
With students starting to head back to school, President Obama discusses the critical role that education plays in America’s future. Welcome to the West Wing Week, your guide to everything that’s happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. This week, the White House hosted PTA day and the annual Iftar dinner, the President addressed the drought and spoke with the Curiosity team, and the Administration began accepting applications for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. That’s August 10th to August 16th …
Representative Michael H. Wray’s Raleigh Report
The General Assembly continues to stay busy, even when we are not in session. There are a number of studies, task forces and interim committees that work in between our regular sessions. This week, I want to share some information with you about the work going on in the interim concerning issues of interest. I hope you will find it helpful. Fraud The Consumer Protection Division of the Department of Justice has been directed to form the Task Force on …
White House: 11 facts about the tax debate
If Congress doesn’t act, taxes are going to go up for 114 million middle-class families on January 1. The good news is that nearly everyone in Washington agrees we need to do something about it. The bad news is that Republicans in the House of Representatives are refusing to act unless they can also extend cuts for the wealthiest two percent of people in this country. But right now, most Americans don’t really understand just how stark a difference there …
White House: Helping Our Farmers Cope with the Drought
Farmers in Iowa are among those struggling with the fallout from the historic drought. Crop yields for corn and soy beans are down sharply, driving up the cost of feed and making it more expensive to raise livestock. Yesterday, President Obama saw the damage first-hand and described a new effort to help livestock producers. Touring McIntosh Family Farms in Missouri Valley, Iowa, the President announced that the Department of Agriculture will begin to buy up to $170 million worth of beef, pork, …
Butterfield to Focus Week in District on Economic Development, Healthcare, and Education
WASHINGTON, DC – This week, Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) will travel throughout North Carolina’s First Congressional District to participate in a groundbreaking, highlight healthcare initiatives, and encourage educational achievement within the region. On Tuesday, Butterfield will attend a groundbreaking ceremony for the new facility of Ahoskie Fire Department. The site’s construction was funded in part by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The Congressman will later travel to Jackson to celebrate the expansion of the Nurse-Family Partnership into …
Congresswoman Renee Ellmers
I was proud to spend this week traveling throughout the district and meeting with local businesses, farmers, and representatives of the defense industry. In this newsletter you will find updates from my work in the district as well as information regarding the award I received on behalf of RetireSafe for “standing up for America’s seniors.” Please continue to stay informed and engaged by subscribing to this newsletter, sharing it with your friends (using the forms in the right sidebar) and …
White House Weekly Address: All-Hands-On-Deck Response to the Drought
President Obama discusses the Administration’s all-hands-on-deck approach to one of the worst droughts in more than fifty years. West Wing Week: “We Have A Moral, Sacred Duty” This week, the President continued to push for middle class tax cuts, spoke with both the AAPD summer interns with disabilities and with the White House summer interns of 2012, signed the Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act, and convened his Rural Council to discuss ways to ease the …
The PTA Visits the White House
Today, we will welcome more than 150 Parent Teacher Association leaders from 41 states, DC, and US military bases overseas to the White House for a day-long briefing. But this Friday isn’t just for those joining us at the White House: we’ll also be engaging with millions of moms and dads who can’t make it to Washington. We’re hoping you’ll tune-in live and join the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #WHPTA. Watch the conversation live at WhiteHouse.gov/Champions for PTA Day tomorrow, …
White House: Getting Women the Care They Need
As chair of the White House Council on Women and Girls, I am incredibly proud to highlight an important part of the health care law that gives women more control over their health care. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, 47 million women will have access to the preventive services they need. We all know that women and men face unique health risks and benefit from different preventive services. For too long, too many women have gone without these services due …
Butterfield to Promote Healthcare, Employment, and the Arts in the District this Week
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) will make several stops in North Carolina’s First Congressional District this week to highlight the work of community healthcare facilities, present grants to deserving organizations, and discuss employment relations with factory workers. On Tuesday, Butterfield will visit Elizabeth City State University to meet with university officials and present a $128,000 grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to fund a cellular research study. Later in the day, Butterfield …