Blogs

December 1, 2010 - 4:57 PM

World AIDS Day


Today marks World AIDS Day, a day for us to remember those whom have lost their battle to this disease and to recommit ourselves to providing life-saving treatment, care, and prevention to those affected by HIV/AIDS.   

While we observe World AIDS Day, we must recommit ourselves to the fight against this disease here at home and acknowledge the work that remains to be done.  I have long been a supporter of the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), a life-saving program that provides treatment to low-income HIV/AIDS patients.  Sadly, nine states – including North Carolina – have ADAP waiting lists with thousands of individuals waiting for life-saving treatment.  Every day that a patient waits to enroll in these life-saving programs threatens their health and overall quality of life.  This is simply unacceptable.  I remain committed to ensuring  HIV/AIDS patients across North Carolina and our nation have access to the life-saving treatment they need.

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November 30, 2010 - 10:31 AM

Senator Burr Statement on S. 510, the Food Safety Modernization Act


Today, Senator Burr issued the following statement on S. 510, the Food Safety Modernization Act:

 

“Our nation’s food safety system was designed over a century ago and was appropriate for a world in which most of our food was grown and processed domestically.  I voted in support of S. 510 today because I believe it is important that we modernize and update our approach to food safety to address issues that stem from our increasingly global food supply. After months of discussion and debate, I am confident the final version will work for North Carolina and will protect small processors and farms.” – U.S. Senator Richard Burr [read more]


November 17, 2010 - 10:44 AM

Senate Republicans Support Ban on Earmarks


posted by: Sen. Burr press office

Momentum is increasing in support of a ban on earmarks, a term used to describe projects that lawmakers tack onto larger bills in order to help their own states. Yesterday evening, Senate Republicans approved a resolution that would prohibit earmarks over the next two years.  By adopting this resolution, Republicans are taking a stand on behalf of taxpayers and against wasteful spending. Next, four Senators across both parties are asking for a full Senate vote on a proposal to bar earmarks on all legislation through the fiscal year ending on Oct. 1, 2013.
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November 16, 2010 - 5:33 PM

Deadline for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay Extended


posted by: Sen. Burr press office

The Army, Marine Corps, Air Force and Navy have extended the deadline to apply for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay (RSLSP) until December 3, 2010.  Soldiers, veterans and beneficiaries may be eligible to receive this special pay.

 

Below is contact information and additional resources to aide members of the military and other potential recipients:

 

Army: Apply for these benefits by calling 1-877-736-5554, by visiting the Army website at www.stoplosspay.army.mil or by emailing RetroStopLossPay@conus.army.mil


Marines: https://www.manpower.usmc.mil/portal/page/portal/M_RA_HOME/MI/B_MID/SL_CMS
  

Navy: http://www.npc.navy.mil/channels

Air Force: http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/stoploss/

 

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November 5, 2010 - 2:36 PM

New Report Predicts Nonstop Government Growth


posted by: Sen. Burr press office

 

Americans’ concerned about our ballooning federal government find little consolation in a study released last week by the Heritage Foundation.

 

The report, based on data compiled and released by the Government Accountability Office, finds that the federal government imposed 43 new, major regulations on Americans in 2010.  The new federal mandates will cost tax payers $26.5 billion, a figure that breaks the record for any other year for which data is available. 


These regulations will drive up the costs of cars and food and deplete jobs that workers desperately need. Americans can expect to pay for more regulations already in the pipeline as federal agencies implement new rules for the health care, energy, financial services, and telecommunications sectors.  Take a look at the detailed report here.  [read more]


October 14, 2010 - 5:30 PM

Presidential Disaster Declaration for Eastern NC Counties


Today, President Obama issued a “major disaster declaration” for areas of North Carolina severely impacted when Tropical Storm Nicole swept over the coastal areas from September 27 to October 1. 

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will offer assistance to individuals and households in Beaufort, Bertie, Craven, Hertford, Onslow and Tyrrell counties. Those seeking help should use the toll-free tele-registration number for disaster survivors: 1-800-621-3362 (FEMA), TTD 1-800-462-7585. 

FEMA has also employed its Hazard Mitigation Grant Program for the entire state of North Carolina, so that state and local governments as well as certain non-profit organizations who took actions to prevent or reduce risk to life and property may be eligible for assistance.

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October 14, 2010 - 4:59 PM

CMS: Health Care Law Increases Costs for America's Seniors


Yesterday, American seniors received more bad news about the impact the new health care overhaul will have on their Medicare plans.  

Richard Foster, the Chief Actuary for the non-partisan Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, announced that health care reform will result in an increase in out-of-pocket expenses for seniors enrolled in Medicare Advantage and said that they can expect “less generous benefit packages” as a result of the law.  To read the article, click here 

Despite promises by the President and Congressional Democrats to lower the cost of health care, their health care overhaul is doing just the opposite.  The bad news about this health care law continues to grow every day, and ultimately, hard-working Americans who are already struggling in this difficult economy and our nation’s seniors are going to bear the brunt of it.

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October 7, 2010 - 2:41 PM

Sen. Burr Greets Veterans from the Raleigh/Triangle area


Today, at the WWII memorial on the National Mall, I had a chance to greet and talk with over 100 World War Two veterans from the Raleigh/Triangle area.  I also presented this Honor Flight group with a plaque from the North Carolina Automobile Dealers Association thanking them for their “valor and sacrifice which preserved Freedom for all Americans. ” I’m thrilled that the Honor Flight Program has been able to serve so many North Carolinians. To learn more about this program, please see yesterday’s blog post here.

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October 6, 2010 - 5:29 PM

Senator Burr Visits With NC Veterans at World War Two Memorial in Washington, DC


HonorFlight10610

I met more than one hundred World War Two veterans from the Triad at the WWII memorial on the National Mall today, where I was able to visit with the veterans and thank them for their service.  The men and women had a chance to tour the monument, most of them for the first time, and to steal a few quiet moments to remember their comrades in arms.

 

The veterans I met today are participants in the Honor Flight Network, a non-profit organization that flies World War Two veterans from around the country into Washington, DC, to visit the memorial dedicated to them. Today’s visit was made particularly special when a number of elementary school students showed up to give the men homemade thank you cards and wave American flags in their honor.

 

I look forward to each of these visits, where I can shake these veterans’ hands and hear from them firsthand what I can do to help them as Ranking Member on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.  I’m deeply grateful to the Greatest Generation for their love of country and strength of character.  They deserve the best we can do for them.

 

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October 6, 2010 - 1:45 PM

Sen. Burr Holds Hearing on Technology for Veterans


Following a report that the Department of Veterans Affairs spent $127 million on a failed Information Technology (IT) project, Sen. Burr, Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, called for a hearing to investigate this issue and demand accountability for other IT matters in the VA.  That hearing took place this morning. 

The Committee heard from a panel of experts that included Roger W. Baker, Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology for the Department of Veterans Affairs. Sen. Burr asked Mr. Baker and the panel about what has been and can be done to update the VA’s antiquated technology systems as well as the best ways to incorporate the advantages of private-sector IT systems into the public sector. Mr. Baker also offered testimony about a system that the VA has recently adopted called the Program Management Accountability System (PMAS), which pinpoints and ultimately halts obsolete or under-functioning projects. 


The panel reported that, thanks in part to investigations commissioned by Sen. Burr, the VA has eliminated poorly performing projects and restructured many others to lower risk and reduce spend rates.
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