FOXNEWS

Sep 25, 2009

Letter from Senator Burr on Lejeune Water Contamination

September 25, 2009

This week, the Senate has been voting on an appropriations bill to fund the Department of Interior. Although this was the main bill on the floor, most eyes have been on the Senate Finance Committee as they continue to work on a health care reform proposal introduced by Senator Baucus (D-MT) last week.
An amendment introduced by Senator Bunning (R-KY) that required the health care reform bill and estimates of its costs to be available to the public 72 hours before the final vote in the Finance Committee was rejected by a vote of 11-12. This amendment would have given Senators and the American people the opportunity to analyze and understand what is being voted on by the Committee. Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) introduced a modified version of the amendment, which passed on a party-line vote, that requires that only "conceptual" language (essentially a summary) and cost analysis be available at some point before the Finance Committee votes.

I got the chance this week to speak about health care reform with Jon Scott and Jane Skinner on Fox News' Happening Now. As I’ve noted before, I agree that reform is needed, but the proposal put forth and now being debated in the Senate Finance Committee fails several crucial tests. The bill cuts Medicare by almost half a trillion dollars, increases spending and raises taxes.

To watch the interview, click here.

On Wednesday, I met with the Director of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to discuss CDC’s role in the scientific studies taking place at Camp Lejeune to determine the extent and impact of water contamination on the base. This came on the heels of a meeting I had last week with the Commandant of the Marine Corps and the Secretary of the Navy to discuss the same issue. Earlier this summer, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) issued a report that determined that the water systems at Camp Lejeune were in some cases highly contaminated by two hazardous chemicals, but the report also stated that it could not determine for sure whether the people exposed to these chemicals may have suffered adverse health outcomes as a result. I am deeply concerned by this report as I feel that it creates more questions than answers.

Former Marines, their families, and former employees at Camp Lejeune have waited far too long for answers, and we need to start working toward a resolution. That is why Senator Kay Hagan and I introduced the Caring for Camp Lejeune Veterans Act of 2009. This bill would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide health care to veterans and their family members who have experienced adverse health effects as a result of exposure to well water contaminated by human carcinogens at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. Currently, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a division of CDC, is conducting scientific studies to further understand the extent of human exposure on Camp Lejeune. Once these studies are concluded, we will have a better idea of who was affected and how we can best help them. Stay tuned for updates on this process.

Also this week, the President criticized student lenders for being opposed to legislation that would overhaul federal student loan program. As I have mentioned before, I am against the Administration’s proposal to make the federal government the sole source of student loans because of the negative impact it would have on those trying to pursue higher education. Those affected most by the government taking over the student loan program would be the American students and their families. The Administration’s proposal would have a devastating effect on the non-profit College Foundation in North Carolina, which is the largest provider of student loans in our state.

Located in our State and not run by government bureaucrats in Washington, the College Foundation is best able to respond to the individual needs of North Carolina students and their parents. Last year, there were 354,482 college applications submitted by North Carolinians through CFNC.org (CFNC Services).

For timely updates from Washington, please visit my blog.

Sincerely,

U.S. Senator Richard Burr

*Please do not respond to this email address. To contact me please click here, or visit my website burr.senate.gov.



Asheville
Federal Building
151 Patton Avenue, Suite 204
Asheville, NC 28801
Phone: (828) 350-2437
Fax: (828) 350-2439


Rocky Mount
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Rocky Mount, NC 27804
Phone: (252) 977-9522
Fax: (252) 977-7902


Washington, DC
217 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-3154
Fax: (202) 228-2981

Winston-Salem
2000 West First Street
Suite 508
Winston-Salem, NC 27104
Phone: (800) 685-8916
Phone: (336) 631-5125
Fax: (336) 725-4493

Gastonia
City Hall
181 South Street, Room 222
Gastonia, NC 28052
Phone: (704) 833-0854
Fax: (704) 833-1467

Wilmington
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Phone: (888) 848-1833
Phone: (910) 251-1058
Fax: (910) 251-7975


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Sep 24, 2009

Male breast cancer patients blame water at Marine base - CNN.com

TAMPA, Florida (CNN) -- The sick men are Marines, or sons of Marines. All 20 of them were based at or lived at Camp Lejeune, the U.S. Marine Corps' training base in North Carolina, between the 1960s and the 1980s.

They all have had breast cancer -- a disease that strikes fewer than 2,000 men in the United States a year, compared with about 200,000 women. Each has had part of his chest removed as part of his treatment, along with chemotherapy, radiation or both.

Male breast cancer patients blame water at Marine base - CNN.com

Sep 17, 2009

Camp Lejeune Contamination On CNN 9/24-25

Next week will be an important milestone in our struggle. On Thursday and Friday night (September 24th and 25th), CNN will air a two part story on the Campbell Brown show about Camp Lejeune at 8P.M. EST. The focus of the show will be on the discovery of 22 men who either lived, worked or served aboard Camp Lejeune and now share an unusual and rare commonality, male breast cancer.

The existence of this rare cancer clusters belies the Marine Corps’ latest attempt to kill the Camp Lejeune issue through the NRC report which was released last June. If their craftily structured report from the NRC is correct, then why have we found 22 men with breast cancer whose only commonality is that we all were exposed to the toxic drinking water while at Camp Lejeune? We also know that male breast cancer is not the only rare cancer cluster we have seen at Camp Lejeune. This report will open a lot of eyes and generate questions that the Marine Corps does not wish to be asked. Our intent is not only to ask the questions, but to force them to provide honest answers!

Please spread the word and get as many people as you can in front of the TV set next Thursday and Friday!

Sep 16, 2009

Obama and Acorn - WSJ.com

Obama worked for Acorn and Acorn worked for Obama. That doesn't mean the president is implicated in any wrongdoing, but it suggests at least that the worse things get for Acorn, the more embarrassing it is for him. If the Justice Department fails to prosecute, it invariably would raise suspicions of political favoritism. This column does not care for special prosecutors, but the case for appointing one would seem to be stronger here than usual.
Obama and Acorn - WSJ.com

Big Government-SEIU: One of the Pillars of the ACORN Family

SEIU: ‘One of the Pillars of the ACORN Family’by Don Loos
For one of Big Labor’s most notorious organizing partners, ACORN, the “chickens have come home to roost” thanks to the James O’Keefe and Hannah Giles continuously unfolding ACORN exposé. If you rely on MSNBC for your news, you may not have noticed ACORN’s very thin “community organizer” veneer being sanded away exposing the rotten termite-infested wood underneath.
Part of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now’s (ACORN) rotten core includes a very cozy relationship with Big Labor. In fact, in many instances ACORN and Big Labor are one and the same. In 2008, Big Labor funneled ACORN millions of dollars for so-called organizing activity. But, that is only the tip of the Big Labor iceberg.

ACORN controls or significantly dominates several Big Labor unions and organizations. ACORN created and controls SEIU 100 (Gulf Region) and SEIU 880 (a recently expanded SEIU mega-local that covers Chicago, Illinois, Indiana, and Kansas).

ACORN founder S. Wade Rathke referred to mega-union SEIU 880 as “one of the pillars of the ACORN Family.”
by Don Loos

For one of Big Labor’s most notorious organizing partners, ACORN, the “chickens have come home to roost” thanks to the James O’Keefe and Hannah Giles continuously unfolding ACORN exposé. If you rely on MSNBC for your news, you may not have noticed ACORN’s very thin “community organizer” veneer being sanded away exposing the rotten termite-infested wood underneath.
Part of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now’s (ACORN) rotten core includes a very cozy relationship with Big Labor. In fact, in many instances ACORN and Big Labor are one and the same. In 2008, Big Labor funneled ACORN millions of dollars for so-called organizing activity. But, that is only the tip of the Big Labor iceberg.

ACORN controls or significantly dominates several Big Labor unions and organizations. ACORN created and controls SEIU 100 (Gulf Region) and SEIU 880 (a recently expanded SEIU mega-local that covers Chicago, Illinois, Indiana, and Kansas).

ACORN founder S. Wade Rathke referred to mega-union SEIU 880 as “one of the pillars of the ACORN Family.”

Read the rest Big Government

Freedom's Lighthouse: Fox News' Griff Jenkins Confronts Sen. Roland Burris on Why He Voted to Protect ACORN - Video 9/15/09

Video of Fox News' Griff Jenkins confronting Illinois Democrat Sen. Roland Burris about why he voted to protect funding for ACORN the other day. Burris was one of only seven Senators to vote for ACORN.


Freedom's Lighthouse: Fox News' Griff Jenkins Confronts Sen. Roland Burris on Why He Voted to Protect ACORN - Video 9/15/09

ACORN: Attack Videographer Caught in Manipulation and Lies

I'm just wondering... is that headline from ACORNS site a threat or a command, or a pathetic battle cry?

This "attack" is outrageous. That alone should get them investigated...

ACORN: Attack Videographer Caught in Manipulation and Lies

Sep 15, 2009

RealClearPolitics- Fables for Adults

Since It's a dog eat dog world--- a lesson to remember--

Thomas Sewell tell us the story...
RealClearPolitics - Fables for Adults

Big Government-ACORN in San Bernardino

This is a Part I of the ACORN San Bernardino exposé.
Big Government

Big Government-Reps. Boehner, Cantor, Camp to IRS: Sever ACORN Ties Now

Big Government

Big Government-ACORN office in the state of Maryland is potentially operating illegally

ACORN office in the state of Maryland is potentially operating illegally.
Big Government

Kansas Departments Use Taxpayer Money and State Resources to Collect Healthcare Workers' Names for the SEIU -- redOrbit

Kansas Departments Use Taxpayer Money and State Resources to Collect Healthcare Workers' Names for the SEIU - Health News - redOrbit

Sep 10, 2009

Burr, Hagan to discuss water contamination at Camp Lejeune

Burr, Hagan to discuss water contamination at Camp Lejeune
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: September 9, 2009

CAMP LEJEUNE
North Carolina's two senators plan to meet with military leaders to discuss past water contamination at Camp Lejeune.

Republican Sen. Richard Burr and Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan will meet Wednesday afternoon with Navy Secretary Ray Mabus and Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Conway.

Burr has proposed a bill that would grant care at a VA facility to any veteran or family member who was based at Camp Lejeune and suffers from adverse health effects.

Water was contaminated by dry cleaning solvents and other sources at the base's major family housing areas, and health officials believe as many as 1 million people may have been exposed before the wells were closed 22 years ago.

Sep 4, 2009

The People Decide - For The People

H.R.3400

Bill Name: Empowering Patients First Act

Bill Category: Authorization

Extented Title: To provide for incentives to encourage health insurance coverage, and for other purposes.

Bill Summary: This information is intended to be a nonpartisan summary and may not include all specifics contained in the full text of the bill. Further research may be necessary in order to make an informed decision. This bill would provide tax credits for low income individuals if they have individual health care coverage. This bill would allow for a credit of up to $2000 for the coverage of a taxpayer and up to $500 for each covered dependant. This bill would also put into place a program where the credit, instead of going directly to the taxpayer, could be paid to a health insurer in lieu of premiums paid by the taxpayer. This bill states that a person who is eligible for government sponsored health services like Medicare or Medicaid could instead elect to take a tax credit and purchase their own health care. This bill also would provide a tax deduction for costs paid for health insurance. Tax credits will also be given to small business employers who provide health insurance to their employees.

The People Decide - Non-Partisan Political Website, For The People

Obama Regulation Czar Advocated Removing People’s Organs Without Explicit Consent

CNSNews.com - Obama Regulation Czar Advocated Removing People’s Organs Without Explicit Consent