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.
[read more]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]
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.
Navy: http://www.npc.navy.mil/channels
Air Force: http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/stoploss/
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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.
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.
[read more]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.
[read more]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.
[read more]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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