Promises Made, Promises Kept

Economic Development

• Led the effort to establish the North Carolina Center for Health and Aging here in Western North Carolina with a $45 million dollar appropriation
• Supported legislation to create Business Incubation Authority to assist small business development
• Supported adjustments to the Community Development Block Grant criteria to assure WNC gets its fair share
• Funded economic development incentives to create jobs here in Western North Carolina, already producing real results especially in Mitchell, McDowell, and Yancey counties
• Worked to attract biotech industry jobs to the region, led Biotech symposiums in community colleges across the district.

Education & Children's Issues

• Supported increased funding for More At Four and Smart Start early childhood education programs
• Supported pay increases for North Carolina Teachers
• Sponsored legislation to establish the Amber Alert System, to protect our children from abduction
• Backed funding for "Schools of Excellence"
• Introduced legislation to enhance civic education in our schools
• Helped successfully elect Ed Broadwell and Adelaide Key to represent Western North Carolina on the UNC Board of Governors

Environment

• Sponsored the "Save Lake James" Legislation that created 4,400 acres of state parks and public game lands on the North Shore of the lake
• Developed specialty license tags to support the Blue Ridge Parkway and Appalachian Trail
• Supported research into wind energy's potential as an alternative energy source for North Carolina
• Requested Wildlife Resource Commission conduct trout management research
• Successfully sponsored and passed legislation to promote the preservation of farmlands
• Helped secure grants for major water and sewer projects in Madison, McDowell, and Yancey counties

Fair & Responsible Government

• Doubled the Child Care Tax Credit and eliminated the marriage penalty - both are family friendly tax cuts for working people
• Expanded the estate tax exemptions by 50%
• Successfully fought to expand the pay raises for state employees by 25% over the Governor's budget proposal.
• Worked on many statewide efforts that grew our economy and expanded our revenues over a billion dollars without raising income tax, sales tax, or corporate tax rates.

Regional Enhancements

• As Co-Chair of 2004 Flood Relief, I led the effort to provide $250 million of assistance to distressed mountain communities.
• Established Folkmoot USA as North Carolina's official international festival and supported Folkmoot with a $100,000 grant
• Secured 1000 additional Community Alternative Program slots for the disabled across North Carolina
• Supported the NC Small Town and Main Street programs, especially the efforts of Marion and Newland to become Main Street towns
• Supported the funding to restore historic railroad depots in Marion and Old Fort
• Worked for passenger rail service for WNC
• Facilitated work group to establish the 1776 Rutherford Trace as a National Historic Trail
• Helped secure four state heritage officers to assist with the work of the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area
• Helped secure the funds to keep the Western North Carolina tobacco market open

Senator Queen lead the campaign to build

Haywood Regional Medical Center’s Health and

Fitness Center. He continues to spearhead efforts

to make WNC a leader in health care and a player

in the health care economy.

Senator Queen helped secure funds to keep the Western North Carolina tobacco market open.

Senator Queen established Folkmoot USA as North Carolina’s Official International Festival.