Blogs

December 5, 2012 - 11:25 AM

CRPD Treaty Would Have Hurt Our Ability to Protect the Rights of Disabled American Citizens and Jeopardized American Sovereignty


Yesterday, I voted against a treaty that would have jeopardized U.S. sovereignty and the ability of American families to make decisions on their own regarding what is best for them and their family members.  The stated goal of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) Treaty was to protect the rights of the disabled, but in reality it would have done nothing to strengthen existing laws and protections and would have had the adverse effect of opening up our laws to international inspection and review from countries such as Cuba, China, and Syria among others.  America is already a beacon to the rest of the world when it comes to caring for citizens with disabilities, why would we allow nations with such abysmal human rights records to have a say in how we care for our own disabled citizens?  

I strongly support the rights and protections of disabled American citizens, and I am proud that our nation has concrete and robust laws in place to advance the cause of the disabled.  During my time in Congress, I have supported – and participated in authoring –  laws and programs that make a real difference in the everyday lives of the disabled, such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the Special Olympics Sport and Empowerment Act,  and the Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Act.  The United States is a world leader when it comes to care for our disabled citizens, and we do not need to ratify a treaty that jeopardizes our sovereignty to prove that.  The best thing we can do is continue to be the gold standard for protecting the rights of those with disabilities and let our example serve to influence other nations to do the right thing as well.

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November 8, 2012 - 2:58 PM

Inaugural Ceremonies Information


Every four years, Americans travel to Washington from all corners of the country to witness the swearing-in of our nation’s newly elected President. My office has received numerous requests for information about the upcoming inaugural ceremonies on January 21, 2013, and for those of you interested in attending, there will be plenty to do that day. I encourage you to visit the website for the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC) for information on the ceremonies and events. That website is: http://inaugural.senate.gov/

Tickets are required to attend the swearing-in ceremony, and we are maintaining a list of everyone who asks for tickets. You are welcome to contact my office at 202-224-3154 to be added to this list, but we have already received more requests than the number of tickets we expect to be allotted. However, the JCCIC plans to expand the public viewing areas of the swearing-in for visitors who do not have tickets and immediately following the swearing-in ceremony, the Inaugural Parade will take place along Pennsylvania Avenue. Tickets are not required to view the parade.

I wish you safe and warm travels to Washington D.C.

Senator Richard Burr

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September 7, 2012 - 11:02 AM

Slowing Job Growth Reflects Weakening Economy


Today’s monthly jobs report is further proof of what many Americans already know: the Administration’s policies are hurting our economy and stifling job creation.   

Only 96,000 jobs were added last month, far below economists’ expectations, and far below 2011’s monthly average of 153,000.  23.1 million Americans remain unemployed or underemployed, and 5 million Americans have been out of work for more than a year now.   

The only remotely good news is that the unemployment rate dropped from the 8.3% to 8.1%, but even that number isn’t encouraging because it doesn’t include the people who gave up looking for work entirely.  Since the federal government only counts people as unemployed if they are actually looking for a job, this drop in the unemployment rate isn’t indicative of the actual situation as it does not count the 368,000 Americans who dropped out of the workforce entirely and gave up looking for work.   

Following several days on the heels of our national debt topping $16 trillion dollars, this jobs report is a clear indication of the lack of will and leadership from the President and Senate Democrats when it comes to our economic recovery. 

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September 4, 2012 - 5:01 PM

America's National Debt Surpasses $16 Trillion


Today, for the first time in our history, the national debt reached $16 trillion.  This monumental amount is just further proof that, unlike American families across the country who are forced to make tough decisions in order to make ends meet, Washington continues to spend money we do not have and saddles future generations of Americans with greater debt and fewer opportunities.  $16 trillion is more than our entire economy, yet we still see no leadership from the President on this issue, and the Senate has failed to produce a federal budget in 3 years to help rein in spending and put our country on a sound fiscal path. 

 

Enough is enough.  Washington must curb its out of control spending, and it must do so before we are in an even worse situation than we are today.  We are limiting the opportunities of our children and grandchildren because we refuse to make the tough choices necessary to cut spending and start paying down our debt.  It is time for Washington to learn from American families and stop spending money it doesn’t have. 

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July 11, 2012 - 5:11 PM

Senator Burr cosponsors resolution honoring intelligence service professionals


Today, I joined other members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence in cosponsoring a resolution that would designate July 26 as United States Intelligence Professionals Day to honor intelligence officers, past and present, for their service and professionalism. These men and women risk their lives in their service to our country, and because of the confidential nature of many of their assignments, they rarely receive the recognition and appreciation they deserve. This resolution represents a small way we can acknowledge their vital service to our nation and thank them for their service.

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June 14, 2012 - 11:23 AM

Happy 237th Birthday to the American Army


Today marks the 237th anniversary of the United States Army, and it is with great honor and reverence that I wish them a happy birthday and thank the men and women who serve for all they have done for our country. 

 

From the American Revolution to the current conflicts in the Middle East, America’s Army has fought to ensure our freedom, protect our country, and promote justice and democracy in countries across the world.  For centuries, American men and women have selflessly taken up arms to fight for their nation, sacrificing much in service to their fellow Americans.  Despite the difficulties and the sacrifices they must make, our military community continues to answer the call with a stoic sense of duty, honor, and patriotism. 

 

On this day, and every day, we give thanks to those who serve in the Army – your service and sacrifice have kept our nation safe, and your courage and dedication inspire us all.  Happy birthday, and God bless all who serve.

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June 12, 2012 - 1:59 PM

Putting an end to national-security leaks


Today, I joined Senator McCain and 17 other colleagues in the U.S. Senate in introducing a Congressional Resolution urging the Attorney General of the United States to appoint an outside special counsel to investigate the recent leaks to the news media of apparently classified and highly sensitive information.

As a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, I am exposed to sensitive and classified information about our national security, and understand first-hand the grave importance of keeping that information secure.  The unauthorized and reckless disclosure of classified information undermines the hard work of our intelligence officers, puts lives at risk, and jeopardizes our relationships with overseas partners.  Congress’s intelligence oversight committees will not tolerate it, nor should the American people.

To learn more, read this press release or the full Congressional Resolution.

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June 7, 2012 - 4:27 PM

Repeal Medical Device Tax to Preserve Innovation, Jobs, Improve Care for Patients


In a statement yesterday, the Administration threatened that the President would veto Congressman Paulsen’s bill to repeal the medical device tax.  At a time when the President should be doing everything in his power to spur job creation and prevent the exportation of American jobs, innovation and life-saving devices overseas, he continues to place politics above all else. 

Rather than admitting that the medical device tax included in Obamacare could cost tens of thousands of American jobs and would be a huge blow to American competitiveness in medicine, he continues to defend every piece of his massive and unaffordable health care law. The latest jobs report revealed that the United States added only 69,000 jobs in May - the fewest in a year.  In addition, unemployment rates have hovered above 8% every month that  President Obama has been in office, and our debt has soared to record heights.  

As Governor Perdue highlighted in a recent letter expressing her concern about this destructive, Obamacare-imposed tax, Democrats and Republicans in North Carolina want to see it repealed so that the almost 8,000 North Carolinians employed directly by the medical technology industry and the thousands of other who work in indirectly related positions can keep their jobs and continue our state’s vital role in this sector.  Now, more than ever, we need to eliminate policies that stifle innovation and competitiveness and cost American jobs. 

This medical device tax is a burden on small businesses and must be repealed.  Even more, we must restore America’s position as the leader in the research and development of life-saving products and uphold our promise to patients in North Carolina and around our nation to continue innovating on their behalf.

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June 6, 2012 - 12:08 PM

68th Anniversary of D-Day


On June 6, 1944, D-Day, tens of thousands of American and Allied servicemembers stormed the beaches of Normandy in the largest amphibious invasion in history.  The bravery and sacrifice of these men set the stage for the liberation of France and marked a turning point that would lead to Allied victory in Europe in World War Two. 

I have had the opportunity to travel to Normandy, where I visited the American cemetery and walked the very beaches that these brave men fought and died to secure.  Today, 68 years later, we honor the service and the sacrifice of those who so valiantly fought on those beaches.  We remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice and died there, we honor and thank those who survived, and we show our appreciation to all those men and women who have fought to protect our nation and preserve and promote justice and democracy across the world.

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June 5, 2012 - 3:39 PM

CBO Long-Term Budget Outlook Is A Wake-Up Call to Put Health Care Programs on a Sustainable Course


The release of today’s Long-Term Budget Outlook from the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) underscores what we have known for some time now – that the policies being put forth by the Administration are hurting, not helping, our economy and will leave our nation in a very dangerous place for future generations if we fail to make the tough choices now to put our economy back on the right track. 

The report released today highlights several major factors contributing to our debt, including the President’s health care bill.    Despite promises to lower health care costs, this report shows that spending on health care will actually increase 93% over the next 25 years and will account for 10.4% of GDP in 2037.  The report states that increases in health care spending “cannot continue indefinitely, because if they did, total spending on health care would eventually account for all of the country’s economic output—an impossible outcome.”  This is yet another wake-up call by that we must put our nation’s health care programs on a sustainable course if we are going to avoid an even bigger crisis than we currently face.  Earlier this year, I unveiled a plan to save Medicare and make it more sustainable for our nation’s seniors.  You can learn more about that bill here

To read the entire Long-Term Budget Outlook, click here.

In addition to today’s long-term outlook, CBO recently released another report regarding the “fiscal cliff” our country faces if we fail to address impending tax increases that could take effect at the end of this year.  To read more about that report, click here

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