Richard Burr

Richard Mauze Burr a Republican, has represented the state of North Carolina in the Senate since 2004.

Environment
"Cape Lookout Lighthouse Inspires Political Cooperation". News&amp;Observer. July 6, 2010.

www.newsobserver.com/2010/07/06/567003/cape-lookout-lighthouse-inspires.html

Sen. Burr (R-NC) along with Sen. Hagan (D-NC) and Rep. Walter Jones (D-NC) toured the grounds of the Cape Lookout Lighthouse which was newly renovated due to natural deterioration.

"GOP senators' energy bill pushes nuclear power, natural gas". MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS. July 6, 2010.

www.miamiherald.com/2010/07/06/1717769/sen-chambliss-energy-bill-pushes.html

Sen. Burr (R-NC) and Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) have introduced an alternate bill to Sen. Kerry (D-MA) and Sen. Lieberman (I-CT). The newly introduced bill focuses on tax credits for “taxpayer-financed support for nuclear plants, electric vehicles, natural gas vehicles and a variety of renewable energy sources”.

"TV ads portray Burr as beholden to oil". Charlotte Observer. July 5, 2010.

www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/07/04/1543062/tv-ads-portray-burr-as-beholden.html

In a newly released TV ad, Sen. Burr (R-NC) is shown as “beholden to oil” mainly due to his receipt of donations from oil companies.

Health
"Drug Lobby Showers Money On Its Hero Harry Reid". Washington Examiner. July 7, 2010

www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/Drug-lobby-showers-money-on-its-hero-Harry-Reid-97882064.html

“Drug lobby showers money on its hero Harry Reid”. Also mentioned in the article is Sen. Burr’s position as number one recipient from “Pharma PACs” simply because Burr’s “base is in the Research Triangle Park”.

"Easier PTSD rules praised by veterans, others". Fayetteville Observer. July 13, 2010.

www.fayobserver.com/articles/2010/07/12/1013151

This article highlights Sen. Burr's (R-NC) position on the need to "speed up the processing of those [PTSD] claims".

Iraq War
Burr voted for the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 that started the Iraq War.

Environmental record
For more information on environmental legislation, see the Energy and Environment Policy Portal

National Uniformity for Food Act
During the 108th Congress, at the time a Representative in the House, Burr introduced the National Uniformity for Food Act (H.R.2699). Specifically, the bill declared that no state or local government would be permitted to require a warning relating to food, including any component or package of the food, unless the specific warning had been required by the FDA and the state warning was identical to the FDA warning. This requirement of national uniformity in food warnings would apply to the food label, advertising, posters, public notices, and other forms of communication. The bill did not receive consideration on the House floor.

After becoming a Senator, Burr introduced the legislation again, this time in the Senate, on May 25, 2006, during the 109th Congress. It was referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, of which Burr was a member. A hearing was held on July 27, 2006, but no action was taken on the bill.

Bio
Burr was born November 30, 1955 and was eduated at Wake Forest University (B.A. 1978). He was a businessman in Winston-Salem prior to his political career.

Burr represented North Carolina's 5th Congressional the U. S. House of Representatives for five terms. He was first elected to Congress in 1994 as part of the "Gingrich Revolution", promising term limits.

Burr has strong ties to the North Carolina Piedmont Triad Research Park, involving bio-hazard and chemical, vaccines research.

He took large contributions from several chemical-oil companies including MTBE-Conoco in 1997, then sponsored a bill to offer liability protection. The company was found guilty in 1997 of tainting groundwater in the state.[]

In July 2004, Burr won the Republican primary to seek the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by John Edwards. He faced Democrat Erskine Bowles and Libertarian Tom Bailey. Burr won the election by five percentage points.

Burr is the sponsor of Senate bill 1873, the Biodefense and Pandemic Vaccine and Drug Development Act of 2005, nicknamed "Bioshield Two", which he says will give the Department of Health and Human Services "additional authority and resources to partner with the private sector to rapidly velop drugs and vaccines."

Money in politics
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Committees in the 110th Congress (2007-2008)

 * Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
 * Subcommittee on Energy
 * Subcommittee on National Parks
 * Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests
 * Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
 * Subcommittee on Employment & Workplace Safety
 * Subcommittee on Retirement & Aging
 * Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
 * Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs
 * Senate Committee on Indian Affairs

Committee assignments in the 109th Congress (2005-2006)

 * Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
 * Subcommittee on Energy
 * Subcommittee on National Parks
 * Subcommittee on Water and Power
 * Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
 * Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
 * Subcommittee on Bioterrorism Preparendess and Public Health - Chair
 * Subcommittee on Education and Early Childhood Development
 * Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety
 * Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs

External resources

 * Official website
 * MediaMonitors.net - 'Pharma To Republicans - Time To Pay Up Again', Evelyn Pringle (November 24, 2005)
 * See how you compare to Richard Burr

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * Swankville