Congressman Walter Jones Takes Action | Eastern North Carolina Now

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Jones Votes In Favor Of Budget Baseline Reform

    WASHINGTON, D.C.     Today, Congressman Walter B. Jones (NC-3) voted in favor of legislation that would save taxpayer dollars by revising the formula for establishing the annual budget baseline. Currently, when the baseline is calculated, it automatically assumes that federal spending will increase in certain programs and is inflated as a result. This means that when the projected cost of a piece of legislation is compared to the baseline, it will be considered a spending "cut" if it does not exceed the inflated baseline number – when in reality it is still increasing spending. The Baseline Reform Act (H.R. 1871) would correct this problem by removing automatic inflators from the budget baseline formula.

    "The federal government's reckless spending is the single most pressing issue facing our nation today," said Congressman Jones. "We need to enact real cuts to spending, not settle for the illusion of a cut while our national debt continues to grow. This legislation is an important step in that direction."

Jones Testifies On Bill To Help North Topsail Beach

    WASHINGTON, D.C.     Today, Congressman Walter B. Jones (NC-3) testified before a House Natural Resources subcommittee in support of H.R. 187, legislation he has introduced to correct a decades-old federal mapping error that has prohibited a significant portion of North Topsail Beach from accessing the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). In 1982, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wrongly designated the north end of North Topsail Beach as a CBRA zone despite the fact that it was already under development. This error has wrongly prohibited the town of North Topsail Beach and many homeowners from accessing federal programs, including the NFIP and other disaster assistance. Congressman Jones' bill would replace the existing CBRA map with an accurate one.

    "North Topsail Beach has provided extensive documentation to prove that in 1982, the area was under development and in fact had a great deal of infrastructure already in place," said Congressman Jones. "There is no reason that North Topsail Beach should be prevented from accessing the NFIP, and I am pleased to have had the opportunity to testify in support of my effort to correct this error."

    Also testifying at the hearing was North Topsail Beach Mayor Dan Tuman. Video and text of Congressman Jones' and Mayor Tuman's testimony are available here.

Jones Secures Chairman's Backing To Save Beaufort Lab

    WASHINGTON, D.C.     Today, the chairman of the House Appropriations subcommittee with jurisdiction over President Obama's proposed closure of the Beaufort NOAA lab pledged support for Congressman Walter B. Jones' (NC-3) efforts to keep the lab open. In a letter to Congressman Jones, Chairman Frank Wolf (VA-10) stated that he shares "concerns that disbanding this lab will be detrimental to maintaining the effective research programs and community interactions that staff at this lab have developed." Securing the subcommittee chairman's support for the effort is a critical step in ensuring that the lab will receive the funding it needs to continue operations.

    "The Beaufort lab is both an important provider of scientific research and an integral part of the local economy," said Congressman Jones. "I am pleased to receive the support of Chairman Wolf, and I look forward to continuing to work with him to prevent the closure of this invaluable resource."

    Congressman Wolf's support comes after Congressman Jones sent him a letter detailing Jones' opposition to the lab's proposed closure.


    Sarah Howard
      Communications Director

    Congressman Walter B. Jones (NC-3)

     2333 Rayburn House Office Building
     Washington, DC 20515

     sarah.howard@mail.house.gov  •  (202) 225-3415