Last week I spent a lot of time at home with my family discussing the possibility of running for governor of North Carolina. This time of reflection and prayer gave us the opportunity to talk about the best course of action for us as a family moving forward. It was during this time that I reached the decision not to seek re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012.

This was not an easy decision. However, I am confident that it is the right decision. It is a decision I have weighed heavily over the past few months. I have always said family comes first, and I never intended to be a career politician. I am ready to refocus my priorities and spend more time at home with my wife Nikol and two young children.

I have experienced no greater honor than serving the people of North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District over the past five years. I am proud of the work that my office has done to give Western North Carolina a voice in Congress and make life better for the people who entrusted me with the privilege of representing them in Washington. I am also proud of the work we have accomplished with the Blue Dog Coalition to put our country on a sound fiscal path and promote civility and common-sense solutions amid the divisive, highly-partisan political climate in Washington.

Though my time in Congress will come to an end after this year, my work to move our state and country forward will not. Reducing our $15 trillion national debt and crafting bipartisan solutions to the many problems facing our nation remain my highest priorities. Leaving Congress will give me the opportunity to focus my time and energy on these initiatives without the constant demands of a re-election campaign.

I am grateful for the many close friendships I have made with my colleagues in the Blue Dog Coalition and Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle. I thank the people of Western North Carolina for placing their faith and confidence in me as their elected representative. I thank my colleagues and mentors in Washington who have helped me along the way. Most of all, I want to thank Nikol, Navy, Island, my entire family, friends, supporters, and staff, without whom my career in Congress would not have been possible.  May God bless you all and continue to bless Western North Carolina.

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Washington, DC --- Today U.S. Representative Heath Shuler released the following statement after the announcement that Chico, California-based craft brewing company Sierra Nevada has selected Henderson County as the site for its major East Coast expansion:

“This is outstanding news for local workers and the regional economy. There is no better place to do business than Western North Carolina, and I am thrilled that Sierra Nevada has recognized this by choosing Henderson County to be home to its East Coast expansion. This project will provide a much-needed economic boon to our local manufacturing and tourism industries now and for years to come. I commend state and local officials for their work to foster the economic environment necessary to secure these good-paying new jobs.”

The Sierra Nevada facility in Henderson County is expected to create approximately 95 jobs.

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Washington, DC --- U.S. Representative Heath Shuler released the following statement tonight in response to President Obama's State of the Union address:

“Tonight the President outlined a blueprint to rebuild the economy, revitalize American manufacturing, and put our country on a long-term fiscally sustainable path. The President is right that we must do more to level the playing field for American workers, reward companies that keep and create jobs here in the United States, and pass an agenda that helps our small businesses succeed. He is also right that we must go bigger than the $2 trillion in cuts and savings Congress has already implemented and pass a comprehensive, balanced deficit reduction plan that includes reforms to the tax code and entitlement programs. The President’s bipartisan Simpson-Bowles Fiscal Commission has already laid out the framework for such a plan --- $4 trillion in comprehensive cuts and savings over the next 10 years and long-term reductions in spending. I am currently working with a bipartisan, bicameral group of lawmakers to turn this framework into legislation and give Congress the opportunity to pass a substantive deficit reduction plan that the President can sign into law.

“As President Obama said in his speech tonight, our nation is great because we built it together. I am hopeful that both Democrats and Republicans in Congress will heed the President’s call to action and work together in a bipartisan manner to rebuild our economy, pay down our debt, and move our country forward.”

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Washington, DC – Today U.S. Representative Heath Shuler (D-Waynesville) joined President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama at Ft. Bragg to mark the end of the Iraq war.

“I am proud to stand with President Obama at Ft. Bragg today to honor our troops for their extraordinary service and sacrifice by welcoming them home from Iraq,” said Rep. Shuler. “The conflict in Iraq has cost 4,500 American lives and nearly $1 trillion. Our troops have served our nation bravely and honorably over the course of this 9-year war, but the time has come for our service members to return home and for the Iraqi people to take control of their own destiny.”

More than 200 soldiers based at Ft. Bragg were killed in the Iraq war. In October 2011, President Obama announced his decision to remove all American troops from Iraq by December 31, 2011. The remaining U.S. soldiers in Iraq are scheduled to leave the country within the next few days.

“I applaud President Obama’s leadership to end the war in Iraq and bring our troops home once and for all,” said Rep. Shuler. “Our nation is ready to see this chapter closed, and the American people stand behind the President’s decision. The focus must now be on ensuring our returning troops have the tools they need to transition back to civilian life, which means access to good jobs and the high quality health care, educational, and training benefits our men and women in uniform have earned and deserve.”
 
Ten service members from the Western Nor

Washington, DC --- U.S. Representative Heath Shuler (D-NC) released the following statement after the announcement that the bipartisan Joint Select Committee, or Super Committee, failed to come up with the $1.2 trillion deficit reduction plan required under the Budget Control Act.

“It is shameful that the Super Committee allowed partisan politics to obstruct the meaningful fiscal reform our nation needs for long-term economic stability and job growth,” said Rep. Shuler. “Failure was not an option for the 12 members of the Super Committee, and their inability to reach a compromise on a deficit reduction strategy may now have a devastating impact on our national economy and global markets.  This failure is beyond disappointing, especially in light of the broad bicameral, bipartisan support the Super Committee had from nearly 150 Members in Congress to ‘Go Big’ and come up with a comprehensive, $4 trillion deficit reduction plan that puts our country on a long-term fiscally sustainable path.”

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Washington, DC --- With just over a week before the Super Committee's deadline, today U.S. Representative Heath Shuler (D-NC), Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD), U.S. Representative Mike Simpson (R-ID), U.S. Senator Mark Warner (D-VA), and U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), lead a bipartisan, bicameral call urging the Super Committee to “go big.”

This bicameral effort represents the first time House and Senate Democrats and Republicans have come together on a large scale to announce their support for a comprehensive $4 trillion plan to reduce the deficit. House Members recently released a bipartisan letter with 102 signatures calling on the Super Committee to “go big,” following a similar bipartisan Senate letter signed by 45 Senators.                  

 “Over the course of the next week, the 12 members of the Super Committee will have the rare opportunity to come up with the comprehensive, $4 trillion deficit reduction plan our nation needs to achieve long-term fiscal reform and bring stability back to the economy,” said U.S. Representative Heath Shuler (D-NC).  “The time is now for the Super Committee to be brave and go big. We are coming together as Democrats and Republicans from both chambers of Congress and across the political spectrum to let them know we have their backs.”

"Today's bipartisan press conference with members from both houses is a hopeful sign that the parties can set politics aside and work together to address our fiscal challenges," said Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD). "We may not all agree on what we would like to see in terms of specifics, but we stood together this morning to send a message that we all agree the Joint Select Committee should send Congress a deal that is big and balanced and considers everything on the table.  Those of us who joined together today are ready to do our part, and we are urging members of the Committee to do theirs."

“Now that the deficit crisis is looming before us, there’s no more time for partisan finger pointing – and frankly, the American people no longer have the stomach for it,” said U.S. Representative Mike Simpson (R-ID). “No political party has a monopoly on failed policies. What Americans really want is for Republicans and Democrats to set aside their party labels and focus on what is best for the country.”

“Every independent and bipartisan analysis has concluded it will require about $4 trillion in debt reduction over ten years to responsibly address our fiscal challenge,” said Senator Mark Warner (D-VA). “Every analysis also concludes that you can't get there without a rational, balanced approach that puts everything on the table. As we've seen from the fiscal upheaval across Europe, you cannot fool the financial markets with smoke screens or half-measures. That's why we must aim higher and 'go bigger.'”  
 
“I urge our colleagues on the super committee to take note of the momentum today among senators and House members, Republicans and Democrats, elected officials and the American people,” said Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-GA). “To see the cost of doing nothing – or of pushing off action – to address America’s fiscal challenges, look no further than the crisis in Europe. World markets are looking to America to show leadership. Our failure to act in a major way means losing our role as the international leader on financial matters.”

“As Democrats and Republicans from across the political spectrum, and from both houses of Congress, we have come together to support the Joint Committee in its effort to reduce the deficit,” said Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-ND).  “We want the panel to succeed.  We urge the committee to be bold, be brave, and to ‘go big.’”

“We understand the pressures facing members of the Committee, and we want them to see that widespread and bipartisan support exists for larger deficit reductions,” said Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID). “There are already more than 40 Senators willing to embrace significant deficit-cutting proposals from the Gang of Six that will grow our economy by lowering tax rates, broadening the base and simplifying the tax code to make it flatter, fairer and more competitive.  We have some of the highest corporate tax rates in the world.  We are discouraging new economic activity and are at gridlock over spending cuts.  We don’t have to be.  We have bipartisan agreement to ‘go big’ and find a solution to our debt crisis.”

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U.S. Coast Guard Required to Give American Manufacturing Priority

Washington, DC --- An amendment offered by U.S. Representative Heath Shuler to require the United States Coast Guard to give priority to businesses that manufacture materials, parts, and components in the United States passed the House by unanimous consent on Friday.

“At a time when people in Western North Carolina and across the country are seeing more and more American jobs shipped overseas, we must do everything we can to bolster our domestic manufacturing industry and put American workers first,” said Rep. Shuler.  “This amendment not only protects American manufacturing jobs, but ensures the Coast Guard is able to procure the highest-quality equipment possible from a safe, reliable, domestic source.”

Rep. Shuler has introduced and co-sponsored similar House-passed “Make it in America” initiatives in the past, including an amendment that would encourage federal agencies to give priority to American small businesses in federal contracts and legislation that would require the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to buy American products essential for military readiness. Most recently, Rep. Shuler voted against three so-called “free trade” agreements with South Korea, Colombia, and Panama that are estimated to send more than 8,000 manufacturing jobs in Western North Carolina overseas.

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Washington, D.C. – Congressman Heath Shuler (D-NC) and Congressman Mike Simpson (R-ID) are leading a 100-Member strong bipartisan effort to send a simple but important message to the Joint Select Committee on the Deficit Reduction, known as the Super Committee: Go Big. The 100 bipartisan Members of Congress sent a letter today to the Super Committee with the simple and direct message that everything should be on the table and the goal should be closer to $4 trillion rather than the $1.2 trillion in deficit reduction required under the Budget Control Act.

 “I am so proud of all of my colleagues who signed this letter for their courage to put country before political parties and do what is right for the fiscal future of our nation,” said Rep. Shuler (D-NC). “Many believed the House could never come together to provide the real solutions and leadership our nation needs to get on a fiscally sustainable path. We are here today to show that we can. I applaud Representative Simpson for his hard work and steadfast determination to make this bipartisan effort successful. He is a visionary leader and true statesman, and we need more people like him in Congress.”

“This letter is signed by conservative, moderate, and liberal members of the House, and while their political philosophies may differ, they all understand the urgency that our national debt crisis represents.  They understand that the Super Committee represents our best, and possibly only, chance to make the real reforms needed to return our country to fiscal health,” said Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID). “I commend Representative Shuler for his tireless efforts to gather support for this letter. Heath understands that this is the time to act, and the respect he has among his colleagues and his ability to build consensus have made him a crucial partner in this important effort.”

The text and signatories of the letter follows:

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Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Dear Congressman Hensarling, Senator Murray, and Members of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction:

We write to you as a bipartisan group of representatives from across the political spectrum in the belief that the success of your committee is vital to our country’s future.  We know that many in Washington and around the country do not believe we in the Congress and those within your committee can successfully meet this challenge.  We believe that we can and we must.

To succeed, all options for mandatory and discretionary spending and revenues must be on the table.  In addition, we know from other bipartisan frameworks that a target of some $4 trillion in deficit reduction is necessary to stabilize our debt as a share of the economy and assure America’s fiscal well-being.

Our country needs our honest, bipartisan judgment and our political courage.  Your committee has been given a unique opportunity and authority to act.  We are prepared to support you in this effort.

Sincerely,

Rep. Andrews (D-NJ)
Rep. Barrow (D-GA)
Rep. Bass (R-NH)
Rep. Tim Bishop (D-NY)
Rep. Boren (D-OK)
Rep. Boswell (D-IA)
Rep. Cardoza (D-CA)
Rep. Carney (D-DE)
Rep. Carter (R-TX)
Rep. Castor (D-FL)
Rep. Chandler (D-KY)
Rep. Cleaver (D-MO)
Rep. Coble (R-NC)
Rep. Cole (R-OK)
Rep. Connolly (D-VA)
Rep. Cooper (D-TN)
Rep. Costa (D-CA)
Rep. Crenshaw (R-FL)
Rep. Cuellar (D-TX)
Rep. Davis (D-IL)
Rep. DeFazio (D-OR)
Rep. DeGette (D-CO)
Rep. Dent (R-PA)
Rep. Dicks (D-WA)
Rep. Dold (R-IL)
Rep. Duncan (R-TN)
Rep. Emerson (R-MO)
Rep. Fattah (D-PA)
Rep. Fitzpatrick (R-PA)
Rep. Fortenberry (R-NE)
Rep. Garamendi (D-CA)
Rep. Gosar (R-AZ)
Rep. Grimm (R-NY)
Rep. Hanna (R-NY)
Rep. Harper (R-MS)
Rep. Higgins (D-NY)
Rep. Himes (D-CT)
Rep. Hoyer (D-MD)
Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA)
Rep. Kildee (D-MI)
Rep. Kind (D-WI)
Rep. King, Peter (R-NY)
Rep. Kingston (R-GA)
Rep. Larsen (D-WA)
Rep. Larson (D-CT)
Rep. LaTourette (R-OH)
Rep. Lipinski (D-IL)
Rep. Loebsack (D-IA)
Rep. Long (R-MO)
Rep. Lummis (R-WY)
Rep. Maloney (D-NY)
Rep. Marino (R-PA)
Rep. Matheson (D-UT)
Rep. McIntyre (D-NC)
Rep. McKinley (R-WV)
Rep. Meehan (R-PA)
Rep. Meeks (D-NY)
Rep. Moran (D-VA)
Rep. Nunes (R-CA)
Rep. Owens (D-NY)
Rep. Pascrell (D-NJ)
Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX)
Rep. Perlmutter (D-CO)
Rep. Peters (D-MI)
Rep. Peterson (D-MN)
Rep. Petri (R-WI)
Rep. Pingree (D-ME)
Rep. Platts (R-PA)
Rep. Polis (D-CO)
Rep. Price, David (D-NC)
Rep. Quigley (D-IL)
Rep. Rahall (D-WV)
Rep. Tom Reed (R-NY)
Rep. Ribble (R-WI)
Rep. Roe (R-TN)
Rep. Rooney (R-FL)
Rep. Mike Ross (D-AR)
Rep. Rothman (D-NJ)
Rep. Ruppersberger (D-MD)
Rep. Schiff (D-CA)
Rep. Schrader (D-OR)
Rep. Schwartz (D-PA)
Rep. Sewell (D-AL)
Rep. Shuler (D-NC)
Rep. Simpson (R-ID)
Rep Adam Smith (D-WA)
Rep. Stutzman (R-IN)
Rep. Sullivan (R-OK)
Rep. Terry (R-NE)
Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA)
Rep. Tsongas (D-MA)
Rep. Bob Turner (R-NY)
Rep. Visclosky (D-IN)
Rep. Walz (D-MN)
Rep. Watt (D-NC)
Rep. Welch (D-VT)
Rep. Whitfield (R-KY)
Rep. Wolf (R-VA)
Rep. Yarmuth (D-KY)
Rep. Young (R-AK)
Rep. Sue Myrick (R-NC)
Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA)

Washington, DC --- Today U.S. Representative Heath Shuler voted against three “free trade” agreements with Colombia, Panama, and Korea that will outsource an untold number of American jobs overseas.

The US-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act, the US-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act, and the US-Korea Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act were modeled after the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). 

“At a time when the focus in Washington should be putting Americans back to work, Congressional leaders should not be pushing new NAFTA-style trade agreements that will hurt American workers and send more jobs overseas,” said Rep. Shuler. “These latest trade deals are more of the same poorly-crafted agreements that destroyed millions of good-paying U.S. jobs and devastated our domestic manufacturing industry. I will continue to stand against these failed policies and fight for trade agreements that help and protect American workers.”

All three trade agreements passed the House despite bipartisan opposition. H.R. 3078, the United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act, passed the House 262-167. H.R. 3079, the United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act, passed the House 300-129. H.R. 3080, the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, passed the House 278-151.

The House also passed H.R. 2832, an extension of the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Act. The TAA program provides retraining opportunities to American workers laid off as a result of foreign trade. Rep. Shuler joined a strong bipartisan majority to pass the extension by a margin of 307-122. H.R. 2832 extends TAA through December 2013.

“While I am disappointed that the House approved three bad trade deals today, I was pleased that my colleagues on both sides of the aisle came together to pass an extension of TAA,” said Rep. Shuler. “This highly-effective, bipartisan program is exactly the sort of trade initiative that American workers need to stay competitive in the global economy.” 

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Washington, DC --- Today U.S. Representative Heath Shuler announced the Town of Fletcher has been approved for a $5 million Community Facility Direct Loan through USDA. The funds will be used to construct a Town Hall and public safety building, which will house the local police department. 

“I am thrilled that USDA has approved this loan to help the Town of Fletcher make major expansions to its municipal facilities,” said Rep. Shuler.  “This $5 million will go a long way to spur economic development in Fletcher and improve public safety and government services for local residents. It is critical that local municipalities across Western North Carolina continue to utilize federal resources like this USDA loan program to make long-term investments in our rural communities.”

The USDA Community Facility Direct Loan program provides financing to construct or improve community facilities in rural areas with up to 20,000 residents. These loans are available to public entities as well as non-profit corporations and tribal governments.

“This is something the town has been working on for many years now and this $5 million puts us where we need to be to go forward with our new town center,” said Town of Fletcher Mayor Bill Moore. “This is going to create a lot of new jobs and growth in this area, and that’s exactly what we need.  We owe a lot of thanks to all of our local leaders and delegation, including Congressman Shuler, whose work and help was instrumental in acquiring this loan. We are very thankful and excited to be where we are today.”

The $5 million loan must be paid back over a period of 40 years at a 4.25 percent interest rate.

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