The NC House of Representatives passed legislation today that would ensure cars purchased by state government are fuel efficient. HB2720-"Energy-Efficient State Motor Vehicle Fleets”, introduced by Rep. Charles Thomas (R-Buncombe), Rep. Pricey Harrison (D-Guilford), and Rep. Grier Martin (D-Wake), would require state government to purchase only cars that are in the top 15% of their class in fuel efficiency. If passed, the bill will save the state millions of dollars in fuel costs over the next several years.

“At a time when North Carolinians must make tough choices because of rising gas costs, it is important that state government lead by example in the choices we make” said Rep. Martin during debate on the bill on the House floor.

The bill now goes to the Senate.

For more on the bill read the Greensboro News & Record coverage.

For more on the bill read the Greensboro News & Record coverage.

Grier attended the Sanderson High School graduation today at Memorial Auditorium. He met several members of the impressive senior class. Congratulations, Spartans!

Rep. Grier Martin introduced legislation today that would ease the transition to new schools for children of military parents.

Rep. Margaret Dickson, along with former school board members Rep. Rick Glazier and Rep. Alice Underhill, also sponsored the bill, which would allow North Carolina to join an interstate compact that would work together to help military dependent children who transfer schools. The Council of State Governments worked with educators and the Department of Defense to develop the compact. The group plans to meet this fall to examine ways for states to help these children more easily participate in extracurricular activities.

The average military student changes schools more than twice during high school and most military children will be in six to nine different school systems from kindergarten to 12th grade, according to the Military Education Coalition. Frequent transitions between schools can delay educational achievement.

The compact would allow states to work together for easier transfer of records between school systems; proper course placement and consistent graduation requirements. It will become operative after 10 states agree to join.

Kansas, Kentucky and Arizona have already agreed to join the compact. At least 18 other states are considering similar legislation. It has passed at least one legislative chamber in at least 11 states and awaits only the signature of a governor in five states.

The legislation is particularly important in North Carolina, which has the third-largest military population in the nation and is home to Fort Bragg, Pope Air Force Base, Camp Lejeune, Cherry Point Air Station, New River Air Station, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and other military installations.

The Fort Bragg and Camp Lejeune areas are expecting large influxes of new military personnel in the next few years as the recommendations of the federal Base Realignment and Closure committee are implemented.

Read the Fayetteville Observer's coverage: Military families may get help

Rep. Grier Martin and Rep. Pricey Harrison introduced legislation today that would direct North Carolina to study the costs and benefits of requiring cars sold in the state to meet higher emissions standards. Over a dozen states already have the higher standards in place. "The people I serve are concerned about global warming and about rising gas prices," said Martin "and they expect action. Today, North Carolina is acting."

Read NBC17's coverage of the bill here: NC House Looks At Clean Car Program To Cut Emissions and the Asheville Citizen-Times' article Lawmakers look to raise car emissions standards.

Rep. Martin spoke at the Memorial Day ceremony at The Heritage retirement community in Raleigh. Martin, an Afghanistan veteran, was joined in speaking by a World War II veteran and an Iraq veteran. Martin offered thank form his generation of veterans to the earlier generations who have led the way.

Each year, teams from the House and Senate face off in a contest to see who can change the tires on a NASCAR race car the fastest. The event is held to highlight the importance of tourism to North Carolina's economy.

This year Rep. Martin joined the House team, which avenged last year's loss to the Senate. The contest wasn’t even close this year, with the House changing tires in 52 seconds and the Senate taking a leisurely 1 minute 22 seconds.

Joining Rep. Martin on the bipartisan House team were Rep. Bonner Stiller, Rep. Bill Daughtridge, Rep. Jim Harrell, and Rep. Thom Tillis.

Read more about the competition here.

Rep. Grier Martin is ranked as the most effective of the 35 first and second term members of the House of Representatives. In the annual rankings of legislative effectiveness by the non-partisan North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research, Martin also placed in the top quarter overall of all 120 House members. The rankings are based on surveys completed by legislators, the press, and lobbyists.

Rep. Martin attended the groundbreaking for the W. Travis Porter Veterans Resource Center at Maple Court Apartments in Durham. Maple Court Apartments will provide services and transitional housing for homeless veterans. Funding for the project came from the N.C. Housing Finance Agency, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Community Investment Corporation of the Carolinas and the CIty of Durham.

The Resource Center is named for the late Travis Porter. In his life, Porter served as President of the University of North Carolina Board of Governors and was a proud veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps.

Rep. Martin attended the third annual NC State Graduate Student Research Symposium today. The Symposium was cosponsored by the N.C. State Graduate School and the University Graduate Student Association. The top students nominated by graduate students across campus presented results of their research, with the best receiving awards. Before briefly addressing the audience, Rep. Martin was able to view many of the presentations and discuss the results with the students. "I was amazed the the incredible breadth and quality of research going on at N.C. State," said Rep. Martin.

As part of a visit by children's book author Robert Sans Souci, Grier went to Hunter Elementary School today. Grier met teachers, students, and parents, in addition to Mr. San Souci. "As the parent of a five-year-old reader," said Grier "it was exciting to find a new source of reading material."

Rep. Martin attended a ceremony where Cadet Jeremiah Coogan and Cadet Ross Hertzler of the Raleigh-Wake Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol were promoted and received awards. Rep. Martin spoke briefly and presented the cadets with certificates of appreciation from Speaker of the House Joe Hackney.

The Civil Air Patrol is the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force and plays a significant role in our nation's and our state's ability to respond to emergencies. It maintains a cadet program to develop leadership skills in youth.

Read more about the ceremony at the Civil Air Patrol's website.

As part of Sanderson's "Legislative Day 2008", Grier visited Career and Technical Education classes at the high school.  He saw student- led demonstrations in broadcasting, advertising, engineering, and other disciplines and met many students and teachers in the program.  Joining Grier was his legislative assistant, Sylvia Hammons.  Sylvia is a both Sanderson graduate and the mother of a Sanderson graduate.

Accompanied by his wife Louise and daughter Sara, Rep. Grier Martin filed for re-election to a third term in the North Carolina House of Representatives.  "It has been an honor to serve the people of Raleigh and of North Carolina," said Martin.  "I look forward to continuing to work for my constituents in the General Assembly."