May 2009 Archives

Washington, D.C. – United States Representative Heath Shuler announced today the creation of
a new Cooperative Institute for Climate and Satellites, which will be based partially in North
Carolina.  The Institute will be a partnership between scientists at the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and experts from North Carolina State University (NC
State) and the University of Maryland.  The two universities were selected for this honor through
a competitive proposal process.  These institutions will work in collaboration to utilize current
and historical satellite data to better understand our planet’s changing climate.

The new institute will use satellite observations to detect, observe and forecast the impacts of
climate change on the environment, including ecosystems.  Programs conducted in North
Carolina will be centered at the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) in Asheville, home to the
world’s largest climate data archive.  Another center will be located on the campus of the
University of Maryland in College Park.

Researchers from NC State will join with other world-renowned earth scientists from research
institutions across the country to analyze climate data records at NCDC in Asheville and to
produce useful information that someday could help governments and businesses predict and
prepare for specific and regional impacts of climate change.

“This is a remarkable opportunity for North Carolina State University and for the National
Climatic Data Center in Asheville to underscore North Carolina’s position as a leader in climate
research,” Shuler said.   “The work that will be done by this cooperative institute will be vital to
our country’s efforts to understand climate change and mitigate its negative impacts in the
coming decades.  Clearly NOAA recognizes the tremendous climate resources that exist here in
North Carolina.  NCDC in Asheville is home to the world’s preeminent collection of climate
data, and our state is blessed with outstanding research institutions that are well equipped to turn
this data into useable information.”

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Download: NC State University and National Climatic Data Center in Asheville to Form Climate Research Institute Following National Competition

WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday, U.S. Representative Heath Shuler (D-Waynesville) affirmed
his support for the 2nd Amendment by voting for a provision that would let law-abiding citizens
carry firearms in national parks and wildlife refuges in compliance with the law of the state in
which the park or refuge is located.  This legislation passed in the Senate on May 19th and passed
in the U.S. House 279-147 on May 20th.

Included as an amendment to H.R. 627, the Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights Act of 2009, this
2nd Amendment provision unifies regulations in national parks and wildlife refuges around the
country, putting an end to a patchwork system of regulation. At this time, the Forest Service and
the Bureau of Land Management permit carrying of firearms, but the National Park Service and
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (which controls wildlife refuges) do not.

“I believe the Second Amendment provides for a fundamental personal right to keep and bear
firearms, and I am committed to protecting this right from any intrusive legislation or action by
the Federal government,” said Rep. Shuler following the vote.

The provision regarding firearms was added to the Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights in the
Senate.  The House affirmed its support for the Senate version after originally passing the
measure on April 30.

The Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights Act increases consumer protections against unfair,
deceptive, and anti-competitive credit card practices.  Among other protections, the legislation
imposes a 45-day advance notice for credit card account rate increases.

“The Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights is an important step in America’s economic recovery
process,” Rep. Shuler remarked.  “These regulations will help American consumers feel more
secure in their financial futures.” 

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Download: Rep. Shuler Protects Consumers through the Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights & Upholds 2nd Amendment

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Heath Shuler (NC-11) was recognized by the National
Bible Association yesterday morning with the “2009 Capitol Hill Award.”  The annual award,
presented in cooperation with the Chaplains of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives,
recognizes one Member of the U.S. House of Representatives and one Senator for demonstrating
an exemplary commitment to Bible reading. 

“Being a Member of Congress is a job that requires one to make many decisions,” Shuler said after
receiving the award.  “In this position, and in all aspects of my life, I consider Proverbs 3:6 to be
my “life verse,” the verse that guides me in everything I do.  “In all thy ways acknowledge him,
and he shall direct thy path.”

In Congress, Rep. Heath Shuler served as Co-chair of the Weekly House Prayer Breakfast and the
2009 National Prayer Breakfast.  As Co-chair of the Weekly Prayer Breakfast, he identified and
encouraged Members of Congress to speak to a bipartisan group of Members about their personal
faith and how their beliefs intersect with politics.  In the capacity of Co-Chair of the National
Prayer Breakfast, he gathered in prayer more than 3,400 guests, including elected officials from the
United States and 180 nations around the world. 

Additionally, Shuler led efforts to correct policies imposed by the Architect of the Capitol which
would have excluded the word “God,” and any religious reference on the certificates that
accompany flags flown over the Capitol.   He also worked to ensure that the Veterans
Administration end its ban on traditional flag-folding recitations, including the 11th fold which
glorifies, “the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob” and the 12th fold which venerates, “God the
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.” 

The National Bible Association created the “Capitol Hill Award” in 2005 to recognize and honor
national leaders who set an example for others by seeking first to govern themselves before
working to govern others.  The Senator receiving the award is Senator George Voinovich of Ohio.
The National Bible Association, a non-profit educational organization founded in 1940, strives to
encourage Bible readership amongst Americans of all religious orientations, political distinctions,
and creeds.

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Download: National Bible Association Honors Rep. Shuler with Prestigious “Capitol Hill Award”

Nationally recognized speaker visits Henderson County to discuss the consequences of drunk driving and underage drinking with students

HENDERSON COUNTY, NC — Congressman Heath Shuler (NC-11) worked with The Century
Council, a national not-for-profit organization funded by distillers dedicated to fighting drunk driving and
underage drinking, to bring a life-saving lesson about the dangers of drunk driving and underage drinking to students at East Henderson High School today.  Brandon Silveria and his father Tony spoke to students about the importance of “making the right choice” about alcohol, and that if students are under the age of 21, the only responsible decision is not to drink. Brandon is a young man who was involved in an alcohol- related crash at age 17 just before his high school prom.

“In 2007, 380 youths under 21 were killed in alcohol-impaired traffic fatalities during Prom and
Graduation Season (April, May, and June),” said Congressman Shuler.  “It is important we continue in
our efforts to stop drunk driving and underage drinking.  We must do more to keep our nation’s roadways safe and alcohol-free.  I welcome Brandon and Tony Silveria back to North Carolina and am proud to have them with us today to communicate their life-saving message.”

“In North Carolina in 2007, 408 youths under age 18 were arrested for driving under the influence and
1,307 youths were arrested for liquor law violations,” said Jennifer Curley of The Century Council.  “The
goal with Brandon’s presentation is to raise awareness about this serious problem and help our youth to
make the right choice about alcohol.  I’m pleased we were invited to East Henderson High School today, and I am hopeful that Brandon and Tony’s words will resonate with the students.”

During the presentation, Brandon told students his wrenching story of how as a high school student he
had everything a teenager could want—a job, a girlfriend and plans for the future—until he had a few
drinks at a party and chose to drive home.  After falling asleep at the wheel, crossing the centerline and
crashing into a tree, he was left in a coma for three months and spent several years in rehabilitation. 
Brandon was so badly injured that basic motor functions such as walking, talking and swallowing had to
be re-learned.  He has permanent brain injury and suffers from dangerous seizures.  Brandon’s
presentations continue to receive standing ovations from students across the country.

“What you become depends on the choices that you make,” said Brandon.  “When I was 17, I had a job
and a girlfriend.  Because of my crash, I lost both of them.  My hope is that by sharing my experiences
with other young people, I can prevent others from being hurt or killed.”

Through educational efforts such as the Silveria lecture and video program, The Century Council educates students across the country about the hazards of underage drinking and driving.  Since Brandon and his father Tony have become spokespeople for The Century Council, they have addressed well over three million high school students nationwide and have been featured on such television programs as “Rescue 911,” NBC’s “Today,” as well as media outlets across the country. 

The Century Council is a national, not-for-profit organization dedicated to fighting
drunk driving and underage drinking.  Founded in 1991, The Council is funded by distillers.
For more information on The Council and its mission, please log onto www.centurycouncil.org.

# # #

2345 Crystal Drive, Suite 910 ⋅ Arlington, VA 22202 ⋅ Tel 202 637-0077 ⋅ Facsimile 202 637-0079
www.centurycouncil.org

Download: CONGRESSMAN HEATH SHULER (NC-11) WELCOMES BRANDON SILVERIA TO ENCOURAGE TEENS TO “MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE” DURING PROM AND GRADUATION SEASON

Award-Winning Financial Literacy Program to Help Mountain Heritage High School Students Invest in Their Futures

San Francisco, CA - May 11, 2009 - Visa Inc. announced today the donation
of a new mobile computer lab to Mountain Heritage High School in Burnsville,
North Carolina.  The 10 Apple iMacs being given to the school are laptops, which
allow students and teachers to use them throughout the school.  The laptops are
also loaded with Visa’s award-winning financial education program, Practical
Money Skills for Life. 

U.S. Representative Heath Shuler (NC-11) joined Visa as a special guest at
today’s announcement at Mountain Heritage High School, which included a
demonstration of the Practical Money Skills for Life program by Mountain
Heritage students. 

“Financial illiteracy is a serious problem facing our nation and the most effective
way to combat it is to ensure that parents, schools, government and the private
sector form a united front in this effort,” said Congressman Shuler.  “I want to
thank Visa for giving students in my District access to this money-management
program and new computers that will help give them a roadmap to financial
success.”

“It is important that financial education begins early in life, and we are grateful
to be receiving this new mobile computer lab from Visa and access to their
Practical Money Skills for Life program,” said Mountain Heritage High School
Principal Patricia R. Bennett.  “I know that our teachers and students will benefit
from Visa’s generosity and expertise.”  

As part of its ongoing outreach efforts to promote early and continuous financial
education, since 2000, Visa has helped to bridge the digital divide by donating
computers to high schools around the country and providing schools with the
Practical Money Skills for Life curriculum.  In addition, Visa has provided teacher
training on the program so that educators can maximize the program’s many
valuable resources and benefits. 

“An important part of Visa’s commitment to financial education is focused on
young people because it is critical that students understand financial basics
before graduating high school,” said Denise Dunckel, Senior Business Leader,
Visa Inc.  “Visa is proud to be working with leaders like Congressman Shuler in
their efforts to help ensure that students in North Carolina are prepared to make
wise financial decisions throughout their life.”

Practical Money Skills for Life (www.practicalmoneyskills.com) is a free program
that is available in English, Spanish and Chinese. It contains three
comprehensive sections, complete with money management resources and
lesson plans tailored for use at home, in the classroom or at work.
It also contains an array of tips to help prepare for life changing financial events,
from planning for a baby to saving for college and retirement, as well as a
number of other budget calculators and interactive games. Visa also runs What's
My Score (www.whatsmyscore.org), a leading higher education consumer
awareness program. The Web site guides college students through the ABC's of a
FICO credit score, from factors that can lower a score to ways on improving it, at
no charge.

About Visa Inc.

Visa Inc. operates the world's largest retail electronic payments network
providing processing services and payment product platforms. This includes
consumer credit, debit, prepaid and commercial payments, which are offered
under the Visa, Visa Electron, Interlink and PLUS brands. Visa enjoys
unsurpassed acceptance around the world, and Visa/PLUS is one of the world's
largest global ATM networks, offering cash access in local currency in more than
170 countries. For more information, visit www.corporate.visa.com.
Contact:  Steve Burke, CRC Public Relations, Tel: +1 703-683-5004, ext. 108

Download: Visa Inc. Donates Mobile Computer Lab, Financial Education Resources to Mountain Heritage High School in cooperation with U.S. Representative Heath Shuler

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Heath Shuler joined with Manna Food Bank and the
National Association of Letter Carriers to kick-off the Stamp Out Hunger! campaign on Friday,
May 8th.

Stamp Out Hunger! is the largest single-day food drive in the nation, during which postal carriers
collect non-perishable food items along their route. Postal carriers will be collecting food on
Saturday, May 9th. The food collected will then be delivered to Manna Food Bank to assist
people in Western North Carolina.

The Stamp Out Hunger! drive arrives on the heels of a new study of USDA data released on May
8th entitled “Child Food Insecurity in the US, 2005 – 2007.”  The study analyzed food insecurity
among very young children (birth to four years of age) on a state-by-state basis.  The study found
that 24.1% of children under 5 in North Carolina are food insecure, the 2nd highest in the
county.  19.4% of all North Carolina children (18 and under) are food insecure, the 10th highest
in the nation.

“It is appalling to me that so many young children live at risk of being malnourished and
hungry.  Early childhood hunger can lead to irreversible health damage and negatively impact
kids’ ability to learn effectively in school and succeed later in life,” commented Shuler.

The study was conducted from 2005-2007.  “These numbers… reflect an economy from
2005-2007 that was much healthier than it is now, leading us to believe that these numbers could
be even higher than this study indicates,” remarked Joshua Stack of MANNA Food Bank.

“I applaud the local churches and faith-based groups who have been collecting food over the past
few weeks, and encourage everyone to take part in the food drive now being organized by the
postal carriers.  I am working hard in Washington to ensure that our kids get access to proper
nutrition and am glad to have a partner in the Manna Food Bank.  With our entire community
aware of the problem of local childhood hunger and working to overcome it, I am confident that
we can turn this number around and ensure food security for all children in Western North
Carolina,” said Shuler.

Note: Postal carriers will be collecting non-perishable food items on Saturday, May 9th. People
wishing to donate food should leave items in a bag, next to their mailbox.

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Download: Rep. Shuler to Join Manna Food Bank & NALC to Stamp Out Hunger!