"CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- A member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs says 'despite numerous and repeated directives,' some VA hospitals have not corrected mistakes with endoscopic equipment.

Republican Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina said a Wednesday hearing will hopefully reveal more about problems that have members of Congress requesting surprise inspections of VA hospitals."

"I remain deeply concerned that this recent report ... still raises more questions than it answers," Burr said. "I am continuing to press the Department of the Navy for a resolution to this issue because veterans and their families have waited long enough."

U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., made the following comments during a oversight hearing of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. He is the top Republican on the Committee.

" ... it concerns the over $1.4 billion allocated to V.A. on the part of the stimulus package.... According to the administration's Web site, the latest numbers indicate that just over three-hundredth of 1 percent of these dollars has actually been spent to date — three hundredth of 1 percent.

We're now in the fourth month since the stimulus package was signed into law. I'm anxious to hear why there's been a delay in spending money that was meant to stimulate the economy and what the plan is going forward. "

"U.S. Senator Richard Burr didn't mince words when describing the importance of the topic he was asked to comment about during the North Carolina Chamber's third annual Manufacturing Summit.

Broad policy changes to how energy is delivered and used could be coming out of Washington, D.C., and Burr wanted North Carolina's manufacturing sector to know how influential it could end up being.

'This is one of the most impacting issues we can talk about in Washington. It's one of those issues you have to get right. We can't afford mistakes,' Burr said as a part of a day-long gathering of executives from manufacturing companies, supporting businesses and utility providers.

'This is an issue that affects every family and business in the country,' Burr added."

"The legislation is sponsored by Sens. Richard Burr, R-N.C., and Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and Rep. John Carter, R-Texas. It would allow the spouse to have residency in the same state as the military member to take advantage of the law. ...

The legislation would have no expense to the federal government."

"Winston-Salem, NC -- A World War II bomber pilot never returned from a mission over the Asian Pacific in 1944.

The Air Force declared Thomas B. Arthur "Buried at Sea" two years later.

His remaining family - - mostly living in Reidsville today - - didn't have much to show for his service and sacrifice until now.

"On behalf of a very, very grateful nation I'd like to present to you the Purple Heart for Thomas Arthur," declared Senator Richard Burr during Monday's ceremony.

For more than 65-years - - Arthur's sacrifice went unrecognized until now.

Senator Richard Burr presented his medals to his surviving brother, Grier Arthur.

"I appreciate Richard Burr getting them for me. But it's not much to show. Not much to show for a life. I'd rather have him than have these," Grier Arthur shared."

The Safe Routes to School National Partnership is pleased to announced that today, Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA), Richard Burr (R-NC) , Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Susan Collins (R-ME) joined together to introduce the Safe Routes to School Program Reauthorization Act.

The federal Safe Routes to School program was first created in 2005 through the SAFETEA-LU transportation bill and is authorized through 2009. The program funds infrastructure improvements (such as sidewalks, pathways, bike lanes, and safe crossings) and education, law enforcement, and promotion campaigns to make it safer and more common for children to walk and bicycle to and from school in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The program is up for reauthorization by Congress as part of the next surface transportation bill, which will be under discussion this summer.