Washington, D.C. – Rep. Mike McIntyre pledged to continue his work in Congress to protect the environment, and spur a cleaner, greener, and more prosperous economy for the American people as our nation celebrates Earth Day.

“We have a solemn responsibility to protect our planet and ensure we all have clean air to breathe and clean water to drink,” said McIntyre.

U.S. Representative Mike McIntyre recently welcomed representatives from Star Telephone and Atlantic Telephone to discuss issues affecting communications service for consumers in Southeastern North Carolina. McIntyre and the telecommunication representatives explored the challenges small communications providers face in bringing affordable communications technologies to the rural communities in the 7th Congressional district.

U.S. Representative Mike McIntyre, a senior member of the Armed Services Committee, has just returned from Afghanistan, Africa, and Europe where he met with military commanders and several heads of state to discuss matters of national security and to express thanks to U.S. troops serving abroad.

“With so many of our troops being away from home during this holiday season, it is important to show them our appreciation for their sacrifice and service,” McIntyre stated after visiting troops from all branches of the nation’s armed forces in Afghanistan and Southwest Asia.

In Afghanistan, McIntyre met with General Dan McNeill to discuss progress being made to suppress the Taliban. McNeill, a former commander at Ft. Bragg and a native of Duplin County, is serving as the Commander of the International Security Assistance Forces for NATO in Afghanistan.

U.S. Representative Mike McIntyre and an overwhelming bipartisan majority in the House of Representatives backed legislation that will crack down on online predators, stop the spread of child pornography, and help make the Internet safer for children.

"The Internet is a tremendous resource, but we must be careful to protect our children from those who would do them harm,” said McIntyre. “I was pleased to support legislation that will protect our kids from online predators and help make the information superhighway a safer place for our children."

The bills increase resources to fight Internet crimes against children, authorize a new public awareness campaign to promote Internet safety and provide tough new penalties against those people and companies who produce, view and allow others to purchase child pornography. The legislation also cracks down on sex offenders by allowing judges to require convicted sex offenders to use internet tracking and filtering software that limits offenders’ access to certain material online.

McIntyre Says: “We must do all we can to help those who have lost their jobs because of free trade agreements.”

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Mike McIntyre announced today that the U.S. House of Representatives has passed legislation to help those workers who have lost their jobs due to plant and factory closings.

Congressman McIntyre stated, “In North Carolina we know first hand the devastating affect that free trade agreements have had on our workers and communities. The bill we passed today will help those who have lost their jobs transition through worker training. North Carolina textile and apparel workers are facing challenging times in an ever competitive global environment, and we must help them as they move forward in securing work and providing for their families.”

The Trade and Globalization Assistance Act of 2007 will:

· expand trade adjustment assistance eligibility to include dislocated workers affected by a shift in production in which the workers’ jobs are moved to nations with no preferential trade agreements, such as China and India;

U.S. Representative Mike McIntyre has met with Pentagon officials and written to the U.S. Secretary of the Navy, Donald Winter, urging them to consider having the USS Kitty Hawk permanently based in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Congressman McIntyre stated, “As the home state of the first-powered flight, North Carolina is the logical choice for the namesake of where this flight occurred, and our state should have the USS Kitty Hawk’s final berthing spot. I am pleased that in my initial meeting with Navy officials from the Pentagon, they were quite receptive to this proposal.”

After unanimous passage of a resolution on Monday night by the New Hanover County Commissioners requesting assistance from the state’s congressional delegation, Congressman McIntyre immediately discussed the matter with Pentagon officials on Tuesday. Today, he wrote the Secretary of the U.S. Navy, making the official request for consideration.

Just last month, Representative McIntyre secured approval from the Navy to have the new SSN North Carolina submarine commissioning ceremony in Wilmington next May.

Representative McIntyre is a senior member of the U.S. House Armed Services Committee.

U.S. Representative Mike McIntyre voted for and the U.S. House has passed legislation to expand affordable housing.

Congressman McIntyre, who is a co-sponsor of the bill, stated, “Owning a home is the American dream, and we must do more to help everyone achieve this. Passage of this bill is a critical leap forward in helping address the home ownership challenge. This is a great day for the citizens of our nation and the future of home ownership!”

The National Affordable Housing Trust Fund Act will establish a national affordable housing trust fund to build or preserve 1.5 million homes or apartments over the next 10 years without increasing government spending or the federal deficit. The bill will initially allocate between $800 million and $1 billion annually directly to states and local communities. The Trust fund targets funds more for the construction of affordable housing and more for lower income families facing the greatest needs.

U.S. Representative Mike McIntyre’s bill to create jobs and fight poverty has passed the U.S. House of Representatives. A new regional economic development commission will place a federal focus on job creation, worker training, entrepreneurship and business development.

Congressman McIntyre stated, “This is an exciting day for economic development in North Carolina and the southeastern United States! Passage of this important bill brings us one step closer to helping bring jobs and economic development to our area. This bill will help with resources and capital, so that we can attract jobs and improve lives.”

Republican Congressmen Patrick McHenry, Virginia Foxx, and Sue Myrick refused to sign a letter to help North Carolina farmers get federal disaster assistance, the Winston-Salem Journal reports. North Carolina farms are suffering from a statewide drought.

A bipartisan coalition of 10 of North Carolina’s 13 congressional members wrote a letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. and House Minority Leader Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, asking for help.

The letter comes as the state’s soybean, peanut, and Irish potato production are down by 31, 21, and 15 percent, respectively, from last year.

"This is not a partisan problem, and both parties’ leaderships need to be aware of the severity of the problem," Rep. Mike McIntyre, D-7th, told the Winston-Salem Journal.

McIntyre spearheaded the effort.

But Republican obstructionists McHenry, Foxx, and Myrick all allowed partisanship to get in the way of helping their constituents.

U.S. Representative Mike McIntyre’s bill to create jobs and fight poverty unanimously passed earlier this month the House of Representative’s Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Congressman McIntyre stated, “This is a positive step forward for our citizens and our communities. We must do all that we can to help bring jobs and economic development to our area. This bill will help with resources and capital, so that we can attract jobs and improve lives. I look forward to continuing the work to pass this very important bill.”

The Southeast Crescent Authority (SECA), introduced by Congressman McIntyre on the first day of Congress, creates a federal entity specifically to serve the southeastern United States. SECA will enjoin a local-state-federal partnership to approve grants to state, public, and non-profit entities. Eligible projects include: business development, job training or employment-related education, local planning and leadership development, and public infrastructure including high-tech. This bill authorizes a total of $200 million over 5 years, and at least 50% of the funds approved by the Authority will go to support projects in distressed counties and areas.