Congressman Walter Jones Takes Action | Eastern North Carolina Now

News Releases:

Jones Works to Secure Buxton Shore Protection Project

    WASHINGTON, D.C.     Congressman Walter B. Jones (NC-3) and Senators Richard Burr (R-NC) and Kay Hagan (D-NC) have asked U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell to meet with Dare County officials about the county’s proposed shore protection project for the Buxton Village area of Hatteras Island. The project is necessary to protect and maintain the structural integrity of NC Highway 12, which was badly damaged by Hurricane Sandy. While Dare County has secured funding to move forward with the project, a meeting with the Department of the Interior is a necessary step before beginning the permitting and engineering process.

    In a letter to Secretary Jewell, Congressman Jones and the senators asked for a meeting to be scheduled as soon as possible given the urgency of conditions in Buxton.

    “Dare County is ready to move forward with this project,” said Congressman Jones. “They have a viable plan to protect the infrastructure in Buxton, and they have the funding to pay for it. All they need is a commitment that they will get a fair shake during the permitting process. I am grateful to Senators Burr and Hagan for joining me in this effort, and I am hopeful that Secretary Jewell and her staff will see how important this is to the safety and economic future of Buxton and Hatteras Island.”

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