Survivors of 'hometown heroes' battle for benefits
WASHINGTON — Volunteer Alabama firefighter Martha Bice died 12 years ago, done in by bad smoke. Many courtroom fights later, the Justice Department will finally be settling accounts for this woman Congress considers a hometown hero. [Read More]

Etheridge Votes to Protect N.C. Families From Financial Crisis
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-Lillington) today voted for legislation to protect homeowners, farmers, small businesses, retirement savings plans, and community bankers from the looming financial crisis. The bill also includes tax relief for North Carolina's middle-class families and an extension of tax cuts for small businesses. The House passed H.R. 1424, Emergency Economic Stabilization Act by a vote of 263-171, and it now heads to the President, who has said he will sign it into law. [Read More]

Delta Farm Press -- Congress suspends base acre provision, extends signup
On Monday, Congress passed bipartisan legislation aimed at righting a USDA misinterpretation of the farm bill base acre provision. Until the provision was suspended for a year by the congressional action, USDA had required producers to have a minimum of 10 base acres to receive program benefits. [Read More]

Etheridge Small Farms Bill on Way To President
WASHINGTON – The U.S. House of Representatives passed by voice vote today a bill by U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-Lillington) that will suspend a provision in the 2008 Farm Bill that would have put thousands of small farms at risk. The bill now heads to the President, who is expected to sign it into law. Etheridge is the Chair of the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management of the House Agriculture Committee. [Read More]