Portrait of Congressman Mike Ross
Representing the 4th District of Arkansas
Contact Information Constituent Services Legislative Affairs News & Views Photo Gallery
 
Volume 4, Issue 30,
March 7, 2003
Weekly Newsletter
 
 
MIKE'S WEEKLY MESSAGE
 
A Real Medicare Benefit
 
"The current lack of access to affordable prescription medicine for our seniors is a national crisis, one that we cannot afford to cast aside any longer.  This is a problem I have fought to resolve since day one in office, and I think we’ve found the answer. 

"My fellow House Democrats and I have come up with a plan that I know will truly modernize Medicare to provide prescription drugs for our seniors.  As the only pharmacy owner in Congress, I am proud to be an original cosponsor of the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit and Discount Act; a plan that will make prescription drugs available under Medicare and will guarantee lower prices for the prescription medicine our seniors need. 

"Our proposal adds a new Part D in Medicare that provides voluntary prescription drug coverage for all Medicare beneficiaries beginning in 2005.  Under this legislation, a beneficiary would pay a $25 monthly premium, a small annual deductible of $100, 20 percent co-insurance, and would never spend more than $2,000 a year on prescription drugs.

"Seniors who have grown up and grown old in rural Arkansas, who have been with the same doctor and the same pharmacist for sometimes decades depend on those doctors and pharmacists and trust them with their health and with their lives.  The Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit and Discount Act preserves that choice and protects that trust.

"I have called for my Republican colleagues to put party politics aside and truly consider our plan.  We had an opportunity last fall to resolve this crisis, but unfortunately our efforts ended in a stalemate.  This issue is not about Democrats or Republicans, it’s about our seniors, and I will not rest until they can walk into a pharmacy of their choice, pull out their Medicare card, and be treated just like they are when they visit their doctor or a hospital."

Photo: Ross speaks out on the need for Rx coverage for seniors Tuesday at the US Capitol.
 

 
Ross, Alexander Host Transportation Summit
Highway 167 Expansion Key for Region’s Economic Development 
 
(Junction City, LA) U.S. Reps. Rodney Alexander (D-La.) and Mike Ross (D-Ark.) hosted a Transportation Summit Monday for state and local officials from both Louisiana and Arkansas to discuss the four-laning of U.S. Highway 167 from Interstate 20 at Ruston to the Arkansas-Louisiana state line. 

Highway 167, which connects El Dorado in Southern Arkansas to Interstate 20 at Ruston, has already been four-laned in Arkansas and has been approved for expansion in Louisiana; however, the Louisiana work is not slated to begin until 2010. 

 “Commerce follows our roads and highways,” said Alexander. “By expediting the work to Highway 167 we can increase the flow of traffic between Ruston and El Dorado, bringing many economic opportunities along with that increased traffic. This work has already been approved, but the people of northern Louisiana and southern Arkansas shouldn’t have to wait another eight years for this project to get started. I’m glad that Congressman Ross and I could bring so many people involved in this project together today to reaffirm the importance of this work and the commitment of the community to seeing this development completed.” 

“I was pleased to see so many enthusiastic community leaders from Louisiana and Arkansas come together where our two states meet,” said Ross. “This kind of cooperation is key to increasing jobs and economic opportunity on both sides of the state line.   It’s not about paving a few extra miles of roadway; it’s about closing the gaps in our infrastructure that are halting our potential.  Right now Highway 167 from Ruston to the state line presents a huge gap and a missed opportunity for new commerce, new jobs, and new travelers in our region.  I would like to thank Congressman Alexander and all of today’s participants for their commitment to this project and to our future.”

The Summit, held today at the Senior Center in Junction City, focused on the economic benefits to be gained by both northern Louisiana and southern Arkansas by the expansion of U.S. Hwy 167. A crowd of approximately 350 residents and leaders from communities along the highway heard comments from Alexander, Ross, and other state and local officials including Arkansas Highway and Transportation Director Dan Flowers, who presented his justifications for speeding up the time table for highway construction on Highway 167 in Louisiana.

Other participants in Monday’s summit included Bill Temple, the Chief Engineer of the Louisiana Department of Transportation; Arkansas State Highway Commissioner Madison Murphy; Preston Rodgers, Mayor of Junction City, LA; Jerry Brewer, Mayor of Junction City, AR; AR State Senator Gene Jeffords; Dan Hollingsworth, Mayor of Ruston LA; LA State Representative Rick Gallot; Former AR State Representative Mark Smith; LA State Rep. Hollis Downs; LA State Rep. B.L. “Buddy” Shaw; LA Speaker of the House Charlie De Witt; Union County, AR Judge Bobby Edmonds; Jim Crotty, Mayor of Norphlet, AR; Columbia County, AR Judge John Blair; Union County, AR Sheriff Ken Jones; Margaret Rogers, Mayor of Dubach, LA; Minor Patton, Mayor of Bernice, LA; Mary Sue Farrar, Mayor of Farmerville, LA; Don Essmeier, Mayor of Jonesboro, LA; Deano Thornton, Mayor of Winnfield, LA; Jeremy Carter, Alderman for Junction City, AR; and a representative from U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.). 

Photo: Ross addresses area residents in Junction City at Monday’s summit on Highway 167.  Congressman Rodney Alexander is seated next to Ross.
 
 

 
Ross Announces 4th District Congressional Art Contest
 
WASHINGTON, DC – Fourth District Rep. Mike Ross (D-Ark.) Friday with his wife, Holly, announced a call for entries for the Congressional Arts Competition for the Fourth Congressional District. The competition is held annually to showcase talent from all over the country. Each of the 435 congressional districts across the United States is given the opportunity to select one outstanding art piece to be displayed in the tunnel to the United States Capitol. This tunnel is used by Members of Congress and their guests to traverse to the Capitol from the congressional office buildings.

“The Artistic Discovery contest is a wonderful opportunity to showcase our young artists,” Ross said.  “It’s a long walk through the tunnel to the Capitol Building, and along that walk 435 students are able to display their works of art to thousands of visitors from all over the country.  I pass our 2002 winner Tina Crump’s painting almost every day as my fellow Representatives and I vote, attend hearings, and carry out business in the Capitol Building.  It is a quiet reminder of all that our students can accomplish, and of the tremendous talent our young people possess.  Holly and I are looking forward to seeing what this year’s students will create.”

Ross and his wife have asked each high school within the Fourth District to organize a contest within their school to choose first- and second-place semi-finalists to be judged with the semi-finalists from other schools within the district. 
All local contests must be completed by April 30, 2003 and the two winning entries sent to the Pine Bluff Congressional office located at 2300 West 29th, Suite 1A, no later than Friday, May 9, 2003. 

In mid-May, Ross plans to host a reception for the artists and their families to announce the winners, who will be selected by art teachers from colleges throughout the Fourth Congressional District.  The judges will choose first-, second-, and third-place as well as honorable mention winners. 

“I am proud to be associated with this contest and look forward to working with our high schools and our very talented students on this project,” Holly Ross said.  “Young people offer a unique and fresh look at the world, and I believe this contest will help them express themselves through art.  It will also provide our congressional district with an opportunity to showcase one of our best young artists in our nation’s capitol.”

The winning selection will be entered into a contest with first place winners from across the nation and have a chance to win the grand prize - a $10,000 scholarship to the Savannah College of Art and Design.  The second and third prize winners will be honored by having their artwork hung in the congressional office in Washington, D.C., and honorable mention winners will have their artwork hung throughout the district congressional offices in Arkansas. 
Students are encouraged to call 1-800-223-2220 with any questions and/or to let the office know if you are able to implement this contest within your high school. 

Photo: Ross and 2002 winner Tina Crump find her painting among the other winning pieces in the tunnel to the US Capitol.
 
 

 
Please Contact Mike at 
1-800-223-2220 or 
mike.ross@mail.house.gov
 
 
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   El Dorado: 870-881-0681  |  Prescott: 870-887-6787 


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