Portrait of Congressman Mike Ross
Representing the 4th District of Arkansas
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Volume 4, Issue 37,
February 13, 2004
Weekly Newsletter
 
 
MIKE'S WEEKLY MESSAGE
 
Funding Our Roads and Highways
 
Recently in Congress, my colleagues and I began the process of deciding what projects will be included in the transportation reauthorization bill, which will determine the next six years of funding for our nation’s roads and highways.

As I’ve done since my first day in Congress, I am pushing for the full-funding of the I-49 corridor, and I-69, including I-530. I am also working hard to make sure the transportation bill funds other regional needs in our district, such as 4-laning highway 167 from Little Rock to the Louisiana line, and completing the Hot Springs express way. 

Achieving full-funding for these projects will not be easy, nor will it be cheap.  We have $4 billion in road needs in our congressional district alone, and we will be competing against nearly $1 trillion in requests. And President Bush has only proposed $275 billion to fund the transportation reauthorization program for the next six years -that’s $100 billion less than the amount requested by Don Young of Alaska, Chairman of the House Transportation Committee. 

There is no question that securing funding for our district’s highway needs in the upcoming transportation bill is a vital component to our economic future.  Funding these projects will not only ease congestion and open trade routes, but will also create jobs and economic opportunities for our area.  Rest assured I will be there fighting for the funding of our district’s needs, every step of the way.
 

 
Ross Proposes Animal ID Tracking System
 
Fourth District Rep. Mike Ross (D-Ark.), ranking member of the U.S. House of Representative’s Livestock & Horticulture subcommittee, made the following statement today at a press conference to introduce the National Farm Animal Identification and Records Act (FAIR Act). Ross is a leading co-sponsor of the bill.

“I believe the implementation of an Animal Identification program is necessary toward ensuring a safe and reliable source of food, and increasing consumer confidence in the beef industry. The recent outbreak of BSE has created new challenges, and as the ranking member of the Livestock and Horticulture Subcommittee, I recognize that re-opening beef export markets is critical to the future of the beef industry. 

“This bill does not endorse any one national plan over another, but rather, directs the Secretary of Agriculture to establish an electronic national identification system that would require all livestock, from birth to slaughter, to be identified. This national identification system would also ensure a rapid response within 48 hours to livestock disease outbreaks.

“Further, this bill properly addresses particular cost and privacy concerns associated with the establishment of a national animal identification system that my constituents have expressed to me. The burden of this program should not be laid upon cattle producers alone, and must be affordable to all cattle producers -- large and small.

“The Administration must allow for some cost sharing to fully protect our nation’s beef supply.  Finally, the program must ensure the privacy of everyone in the industry.”
 

 
Photo of the Week
 
Sam Neal, of Pine Bluff, was in Washington, DC with the National Youth Leadership Conference.  As part of the NYLC program, Sam spent the week learning about the political process by discussing legislative priorities for members and his personal legislative interest.
 
 
Please Contact Mike at 
1-800-223-2220 or 
mike.ross@mail.house.gov
 
 
Contact Information Constituent Services Legislative Affairs News & Views Photo Gallery


   El Dorado: 870-881-0681  |  Prescott: 870-887-6787 


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