The passage of these unemployment benefits is a huge victory for the millions of Americans who are unemployed. Before the extension of these benefits takes effect, the Senate must pass the legislation, and the President must sign the bill into law. And, I hope the Senate and the President will recognize the dire need to pass this legislation. Because at the very least, those who are looking for work deserve to have the peace of mind of knowing they can pay their utility bills, and put food on their family's table. 

The need to extend unemployment benefits is great.  The federal unemployment program expired at the end of last year, denying assistance to approximately 90,000 people nationwide each week since December 21! Even worse, the federal unemployment program expired over the holidays, leaving those out of work who ran out of state unemployment benefits without any federal help. 

As your United States Representative, I will continue to fight for the passage of legislation that will stimulate our economy, which will in turn create new jobs. But our economy won't improve if we don't restore fiscal responsibility to our government. Our government simply cannot continue to spend money we don't have.  There is no magic secret -- if a pressing issue requires us to increase our spending  - such as the added expense of Homeland Security  - our government must use good fiscal judgment, and make cuts to other areas.

“My colleagues and I are already hard at work to undo the so-called prescription drug benefit that I voted against but the President signed into law,” said Ross. “One of the least sensible inclusions in the law is language that actually prohibits the federal government from negotiating with the drug manufacturers to lower drug costs. That is why I have signed on to sponsor two separate bills that would reverse that provision, and give the federal government the explicit ability to negotiate for lower pharmaceutical prices on behalf of Medicare beneficiaries.”

Ross is supporting the Medicare's Equitable Drugs for Seniors Act of 2004 (H.R. 3707), which would reverse the provision of the Medicare Prescription Drug law that prohibits the federal government from using its collective purchasing power to negotiate with drug companies to lower prescription drug costs. 

Ross is also a co-sponsor of the Medicare Prescription Drugs Savings Act, which would permit the government to negotiate with drug companies and create a permanent, Medicare-administered prescription drug plan. The current law’s dependence on private health drug plans will leave Arkansas’s nearly 260,000 rural seniors without an adequate safety net.  Generally, private health insurance plans have not been available to America’s rural seniors.  Ensuring seniors’ access to quality, affordable prescription drug coverage is an important goal. 

Finally, Ross encourages all his constituents who have access to the Internet to visit his website, where they can calculate how much of a savings - if any - they will receive on prescription drugs under the new Medicare law. The calculator is located on Ross’s website, http://www.house.gov/ross/rxdrugs.htm.

“By going to my website, seniors can actually calculate the cost they will supposedly save under the current Medicare bill,” said Ross. “I think many Medicare beneficiaries will find this is not a meaningful benefit, and does nothing to bring down high cost of prescription drugs.

“Providing our seniors with a voluntary, but guaranteed and meaningful prescription drug benefit remains my top priority,” said Ross. “And I will not stop fighting for our seniors until they can walk into the pharmacy of their choice, pull out their Medicare card, and receive the same benefit that they get when they go to the doctor or hospital.”

“The Delta Regional Authority is a unique federal and state grant partnership program that provides millions of dollars every year to poverty-stricken areas in the impoverished Delta region,” said Ross. “In fact, last year the DRA awarded over $7.5 million to 69 applicants. I encourage all the counties in my district to apply for this crucial funding.”  

The Delta Regional Authority (DRA) is a federal-state grant partnership that provides funding for economically distressed areas in eight states.  The DRA  provides grants that enhance infrastructure development, make transportation improvements, foster business development and provide job training services. Federal law mandates that at least 75 percent of DRA funds must be invested in distressed communities and/or poverty-stricken areas, and 50 percent of that funding must be used for transportation and basic infrastructure improvements.

More information and applications may be obtained through the DRA’s website, www.dra.gov <http://www.dra.gov>, by e-mailing pre-app.team@dra.gov <mailto:pre-app.team@dra.gov>, or by calling 1-800-GO-TO-DRA.  Potential applicants may also submit their request in writing by writing to DRA 2004 Federal Grant Program - Pre-Application Team, Delta Regional Authority, 236 Sharkey Avenue - Suite 400, Clarksdale, MS  38614. 

The mailing address to the Prescott office is 221 West Main St., Prescott, Ark., 71857.