Washington, DC --- Today U.S. Representative Heath Shuler announced the Town of Fletcher has been approved for a $5 million Community Facility Direct Loan through USDA. The funds will be used to construct a Town Hall and public safety building, which will house the local police department.
“I am thrilled that USDA has approved this loan to help the Town of Fletcher make major expansions to its municipal facilities,” said Rep. Shuler. “This $5 million will go a long way to spur economic development in Fletcher and improve public safety and government services for local residents. It is critical that local municipalities across Western North Carolina continue to utilize federal resources like this USDA loan program to make long-term investments in our rural communities.”
The USDA Community Facility Direct Loan program provides financing to construct or improve community facilities in rural areas with up to 20,000 residents. These loans are available to public entities as well as non-profit corporations and tribal governments.
“This is something the town has been working on for many years now and this $5 million puts us where we need to be to go forward with our new town center,” said Town of Fletcher Mayor Bill Moore. “This is going to create a lot of new jobs and growth in this area, and that’s exactly what we need. We owe a lot of thanks to all of our local leaders and delegation, including Congressman Shuler, whose work and help was instrumental in acquiring this loan. We are very thankful and excited to be where we are today.”
The $5 million loan must be paid back over a period of 40 years at a 4.25 percent interest rate.
###
September 2011 Archives
Washington, DC --- On Friday U.S. Representative Heath Shuler, joined by Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) and 41 other original cosponsors, introduced bipartisan legislation that would help states construct and maintain safe public shooting ranges. H.R.3065, the Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act, would allow states flexibility to allocate a greater proportion of their federal Pittman-Robertson wildlife funds to create accessible recreational shooting facilities.
“Opportunities for Americans to participate in recreational shooting and target practice have dwindled on both private and public lands in the past few decades,” said Rep. Shuler. “My bill would help reverse this trend by giving states greater flexibility to use money they already have to build and maintain public ranges for hunters and sportsmen to shoot. This will mean better, safer facilities and more opportunities for people in Western North Carolina and across the country to take up shooting sports.”
States are allocated funding for wildlife purposes under the 1937 Wildlife Restoration Act. The 10% excise tax on guns and ammunition created by the Act is distributed to states for a variety of activities, including managing game populations, restoring habitat, and educating hunters. Currently, however, the Act contains restrictions which limit states’ ability to use Pittman-Robertson funds to develop and expand shooting ranges. H.R.3065 would address these issues by:
• Increasing the amount of money states can contribute from their allotted Pittman-Robertson funds from 75 to 90 percent of the cost to improve or construct a public target range. This would reduce local and state matching requirements from 25 percent to 10 percent;
• Allowing the Pittman-Robertson funds allotted to a state to remain available and accrue for five fiscal years for use in acquiring land for, expanding or constructing a public target range. Under current law, states must use these funds within one year;
• Limiting the legal liability exposure to the federal land management agencies regarding the management and use of federal land for target practice or marksmanship training; and
• Encouraging federal land management agencies to cooperate with state and local authorities to maintain target ranges on federal land so as to encourage their continued use.
###
Rep. Shuler Announces $435,211 Grant for Pisgah Legal Services' Domestic Violence Prevention Program
Washington, DC --- Today U.S. Representative Heath Shuler announced that Pisgah Legal Services in Asheville, NC has been awarded a $435,211 Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) grant through the U.S. Department of Justice. The grant will go toward Pisgah Legal Services’ Mountain Violence Prevention Program.
“For over a decade, Pisgah Legal Services has played a vital role in helping thousands of domestic abuse victims in underserved, rural communities across Western North Carolina get the representation they need and deserve in the legal system,” said Rep. Shuler. “This important funding will ensure that Pisgah Legal Services is able to continue providing equal access to justice to victims who often have nowhere else to turn.”
The Mountain Violence Prevention Program, which was started in 1999 with another LAV grant, serves Buncombe, Henderson, Madison, Polk, Rutherford, and Transylvania Counties. Previous LAV funding has allowed Pisgah Legal Services to provide free legal assistance to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. This service was accomplished through staff attorneys, a social worker, two part-time court advocates, a legal assistant, and a network of trained volunteer attorneys.
“Pisgah Legal Services is grateful for the commitment of Congressman Health Shuler and his staff to help more than 1,250 victims of domestic violence get the legal services they need each year,” said Jim Barrett, executive director of Pisgah Legal Services. “We have experienced a 49% increase in calls for help from victims of abuse from 2008 through 2010. This grant ensures that Pisgah Legal Services can continue to provide critical legal services for victims and their families here in Western North Carolina.”
###
Washington, DC --- Yesterday U.S. Representative Heath Shuler sent a letter to United States Postal Service (USPS) Postmaster General Pat Donahoe expressing concern for and opposition to proposed plans that would terminate 120,000 postal employees and close nearly 3,700 postal facilities throughout the country.
“The plans under consideration by the U.S. Postal Service would put a devastating number of postal employees out of work, especially in rural communities like those across Western North Carolina,” said Rep. Shuler. “Now is the time to keep and create jobs, not take them away. I strongly urge the USPS to explore alternative viable options to achieve fiscal solvency before taking drastic action that will ultimately hurt both postal workers and their taxpaying customers.”
In the wake of struggling to meet its financial obligations, the USPS has proposed significant personnel and facility cuts to achieve fiscal solvency. Alternate proposals on the table would create a framework for long-term fiscal solvency without major reductions to employees, facilities, and delivery service. Rep. Shuler is a cosponsor of one such proposal, H.R. 1351, which would reform the USPS retirement system to make up for its current $5.5 billion pension payment shortfall while still protecting USPS retirees.
See the text of the letter below:
###
September 14, 2011
Mr. Pat Donahoe
Postmaster General
475 L’Enfant Plaza SW
Washington, DC 20044-0961
Dear Postmaster Donahoe,
I write to express my concern for and opposition to plans being discussed by the United States Postal Service (USPS) that would result in the termination of 120,000 postal employees by 2015, as well as the USPS’s suggestion to close nearly 3,700 postal facilities throughout the country, many in rural areas. Such closures would put a devastating number of postal employees out of work. This is the time to create jobs, not take them away.
Neither postal employees nor Americans should bear the brunt of policy disagreements between the USPS and the federal government. Frankly, they deserve more.
Though I fully appreciate the immediacy of this situation, the USPS has other options that it can explore before taking such drastic actions that will ultimately hurt both postal workers and their taxpaying customers. For example, it would behoove the USPS to first review the forthcoming plan from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) designed to create a USPS framework for fiscal solvency.
I urge you to exercise abundant caution before taking additional steps prior to the OPM framework proposal. Cogent action is necessary to ensure the USPS does not inflict devastating job losses or facility closures.
Sincerely,
Washington, DC ---- Today U.S. Representative Heath Shuler (D-NC), along with 14 Democratic co-signers, sent a letter to President Obama urging him to swiftly resolve concerns with the proposed transaction between AT&T and T-Mobile USA and to settle and approve the merger, which will create jobs and expand high-speed Internet access to individuals and businesses across the country.
“The road to economic recovery is long, but there is an opportunity before us to immediately create jobs and spur infrastructure investments and technological innovations that will create jobs for years to come,” said Rep. Shuler. “By settling the proposed merger of AT&T and T-Mobile USA we can put thousands of Americans back to work and promote economic development across the country. I urge the President to strongly consider the vast benefits this merger will have on job creation and the economy and quickly resolve any concerns the Administration may have with the proposal.”
A recent study found that the AT&T/T-Mobile USA Merger would almost immediately create approximately 55,000 to 96,000 new jobs. Another study estimates that the long-term next generation wireless broadband investment that will result from this merger will create hundreds of thousands of additional jobs by 2016. Additionally, this merger will spur billions of dollars in new private investment to deploy high-speed wireless Internet to 97% of the U.S. population.
“High-speed internet will continue to be a critical tool for success as businesses across America struggle to compete in the global economy,” said Rep. Shuler. “This merger will help expand broadband service to rural areas and other underserved populations, promoting economic growth and job creation. The President has set a goal of deploying next generation high-speed wireless to 98% of Americans in the coming years. The merger will not only help meet this goal, but do it without taxpayer money during a time of fiscal crisis in our country. I look forward to working with the Administration to settle and approve this merger while ensuring consumers and competitive markets are protected.”
See below for the full text of the letter:
###
September 15, 2011
The Honorable Barack Obama
President of the United States
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. President:
On September 8th, you came before a Joint Session of Congress and asked us to focus our efforts on solving America’s jobs crisis by working to reduce unemployment, encourage private investment and promote new and innovative technologies that will drive job creation. We agree wholeheartedly, and both the Congress and the Administration should take action immediately to battle our country’s severe economic crisis.
One opportunity rests squarely before you with the proposed transaction between AT&T and T-Mobile USA. We urge the Administration to resolve expeditiously your concerns and approve the proposed merger between AT&T and T-Mobile USA. The current merger proposal embraces the three job creation strategies you have already highlighted.
First, the merger will reduce unemployment. AT&T has announced plans to repatriate 5,000 jobs that are currently being performed overseas. In addition to these 5,000 jobs, a recent study has shown that the merger will create somewhere between 55,000 and 96,000 new jobs to integrate the two networks and upgrade facilities.
Secondly, the merger will engender new private investment to deploy wireless high speed Internet access services to 97% of the U.S. population. Coverage of this magnitude will necessitate an additional $8 billion investment from AT&T over and above its current industry leading capital investments.
You recognized the economic importance of these services in your “State of the Union” address to the nation last January, when you said “within the next five years, we’ll make it possible for businesses to deploy the next generation of high-speed wireless coverage to 98% of all Americans.” The proposed merger will virtually achieve that goal – and do so on a faster timetable than you had proposed and without a single dime of taxpayer money.
Finally, the deployment of next generation, wireless broadband is the type of investment in new and innovative technology that will drive job creation for years to come. A recent study by Deloitte predicts that next generation wireless broadband buildout by the wireless industry will create 371,000-771,000 jobs and GDP growth between $73 billion and $151 billion by 2016. AT&T’s proposed merger commitment to make available this new technology to 98% of the nation’s population will be a key component of the industry buildout.
We recognize that the Department of Justice has intervened in the merger to ensure competitive markets and protect consumers. Addressing these concerns through a settlement agreement that ensures robust competition while preserving the job creation, capital infrastructure investment and wireless broadband deployment benefits of the merger should be the Department’s goal.
We urge you to encourage resolution of this matter in a timely fashion and appreciate your consideration of our concerns.
Sincerely,
Heath Shuler
Member of Congress
Letter co-signers:
- Rep. Shuler
- Rep. John Barrow
- Rep. Mike Ross
- Rep. Dan Boren
- Rep. Dennis Cardoza
- Rep. Joe Baca
- Rep. Leonard Boswell
- Rep. Ben Chandler
- Rep. Jim Costa
- Rep. Henry Cuellar
- Rep. Mike McIntyre
- Rep. Mike Michaud
- Re. Collin Peterson
- Rep. Loretta Sanchez
- Rep. David Scott
Washington, DC --- Today U.S. Representative Heath Shuler applauded Riverbend Elementary in Clyde, NC for being named a 2011 National Blue Ribbon School. The Blue Ribbon Schools Program, administered through the U.S. Department of Education, honors the highest-achieving public and private schools across the country.
“I am thrilled that Riverbend Elementary has been recognized as one of the top schools in the nation,” said Rep. Shuler. “Riverbend has been a model of academic excellence for years and has consistently outperformed schools across the state and country on annual progress tests. This prestigious honor reflects the hard work and shared commitment to high-quality education by Riverbend Elementary teachers and staff, students, parents, and the local Haywood County community.”
The Blue Ribbon award is considered the highest honor a school can receive for academic achievement. Blue Ribbon schools often have greater opportunities to receive grant money or federal funding.
Riverbend Elementary was one of only eight schools in North Carolina to be selected for the award in 2011. Representatives from the school will join the other 2011 Blue Ribbon winners to be honored at an awards ceremony and conference in Washington, DC on November 14-15.
###
Washington, DC --- Today U.S. Representative Heath Shuler joined fellow leaders of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition to send a letter to the members of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, or "Super Committee," advocating that Republicans and Democrats work together to achieve a balanced, bipartisan solution that cuts the deficit by $4 trillion over 10 years.
“People in Western North Carolina and across the country have sent a clear message to Congress: put aside the partisan bickering and get something accomplished,” said Rep. Shuler. “The members of the ‘Super Committee’ have a rare opportunity to do just that by working together to produce a long-term plan that will reduce the deficit and put stability back in the economy. Now is the time for Congress to stop thinking about the 2012 elections and start doing what’s right for the American people.”
The 12-member bipartisan, bicameral “Super Committee” was created by the Budget Control Act of 2011 and tasked with identifying a minimum of $1.2 trillion in deficit reductions before the end of this year. The letter from the Blue Dog Coalition urges the Super Committee to go even further and cut the deficit by $4 trillion over the next 10 years.
“Trimming $1.2 trillion from the deficit is an important first step, but we must go bigger and bolder to achieve long-term fiscal stability,” said Rep. Shuler. “The best deficit reduction plans out there, including the Blue Dog Benchmarks of Fiscal Reform, would cut the deficit by $4 billion over 10 years, stabilize the debt, reduce the size of government, and bring long-term certainty to the economy. I urge the Super Committee to take a serious look at these proposals as they move forward.”
See below for the full text of the letter:
###
September 14, 2011
Dear Members of Joint Committee on Deficit Reduction:
On August 11, 2011, we sent a letter to every member of the Committee, urging you to work with your colleagues to achieve a balanced, bipartisan solution that will ensure the United States remains the world’s leading economy.
We have spent the past month with our constituents back home. As Blue Dogs, we represent diverse districts that span the country, yet we heard one consistent message: quit the partisan bickering and get something accomplished.
Congress and the Joint Committee on Deficit Reduction have a rare opportunity to put our fiscal house in order at a time when the public is paying close attention to our deficits and debt. Leaders of both parties will urge you to retreat to the stale party positions and talking points. Political operatives, with an eye toward November 2012, will turn this into a battle of Democrats versus Republicans.
Now is the time to take a time-out from the 2012 elections, put party affiliations aside, and work together for the sake of our country’s future.
The Budget Control Act of 2011 charged you to find $1.2 trillion in deficit reductions, but we urge you to think bigger and bolder. We believe that the Joint Committee on Deficit Reduction should report a plan to Congress that would truly stabilize the debt as a share of the economy, and cut the deficit by $4 trillion over the next 10 years.
The roadmaps to achieve this goal are plentiful and bipartisan. In March, the Blue Dog Coalition outlined the “Blue Dog Benchmarks of Fiscal Reform,” which would cut the deficit by $4 trillion over ten years, stabilize the debt, and reduce the size of government. These benchmarks were based on the Fiscal Commission Report, but there are other large, bipartisan plans that achieve the same goals. The ideas are out there. Now we just need to prove that Congress has the political will.
We are heartened by the tone and optimism of your opening statements at the first official Joint Committee meeting. We stand willing to work with you to achieve big results for the future of our country.
Sincerely,
Rep. Heath Shuler, Co-chair, Administration
Rep. John Barrow, Co-chair, Policy
Rep. Mike Ross, Co-chair, Communications
Rep. Dan Boren, Co-chair, Whip
Rep. Kurt Schrader, Chair, Fiscal Task Force
Rep. Jim Cooper, Vice-chair, Fiscal Task Force
Rep. Dennis Cardoza
Rep. Jim Matheson
