"I am pleased that the Congress has come together to support our troops and make sure they have everything they need to be successful and to be safe, and I think that is appropriate and necessary right now. 

"Regardless of how you feel about this war, now is the time to focus our concern our brave men and women in uniform who are fighting so that we can know life in America the way we did before September 11, 2001. 

"We have the most well trained, well equipped and the most dedicated military in the world, and because of this supplemental funding, they will be an even greater force to be reckoned with.  Our troops—Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, will succeed, and as I read the daily reports of their progress, the stories of their heroic and selfless acts, I am so proud of them. 

"Because of their dedicated and fearless actions, an evil dictator will no longer cast a cloud over his country and ours.  A dangerous threat will no longer place our country and the world at risk.  And most importantly, a nation in peril will soon be free."

I rise today in objection to the treatment of our veterans in the House-passed budget.  Last October, we authorized President Bush to send our men and women in uniform into battle.  Is this how we show our support for the brave soldiers who are risking their lives to fulfill their missions, by slashing funding that will take care of them after they have served time taking care of us?

Last week the House managed to pass a budget that cuts veterans’ benefits by $28.3 billion over the next ten years.  This includes cuts to disability payments and pensions, the Montgomery GI Bill, the VA Health Care System, and other veterans programs.

I reject the notion that we need to cut funding for veterans and retirees in order to pay for a multi-billion dollar tax cut package.  During this time of military conflict, we have no business supporting tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans over benefits to provide for the needs of our veterans.

As the conference committee meets to resolve the House and Senate budget differences, I urge them, on behalf of those who have served our country and those who are serving our country right now, to restore funding to the veterans programs that protect those who protect us.

“I am pleased to have this opportunity to represent rural interests, especially Arkansas’s,” Ross said.  “There are 435 Members of Congress from 435 very different areas of our country, with 435 different ideas and goals.  This group provides rural representatives with an equal seat at the table that sets the priorities for House Democrats.  Those of us who come from rural communities have different ideas about health care, education, job opportunities, transportation, and other needs.  I look forward to working with my fellow rural Members and the House leadership in this new capacity, and to working for common sense solutions to our problems in providing a voice for rural Arkansans.”

The Rural Working Group will meet once a week at the United States Capitol.  Members include Reps. Rodney Alexander (La.), Marion Berry (Ark.), Sanford Bishop (Ga.), Leonard Boswell (Iowa), Allen Boyd (Fla.), Dennis Cardoza (Calif.), Brad Carson (Okla.), Lincoln Davis (Tenn.), Chet Edwards (Texas), Bob Etheridge (N.C.), Martin Frost (Texas), Ralph Hall (Texas), Tim Holden (Pa.), Chris John (La.), Ken Lucas (Ky.), Jim Marshall (Ga.), Mike McIntyre (N.C.), Mike Michaud (Maine), Brad Miller (N.C.), James Oberstar (Minn.), Earl Pomeroy (N.D.), Max Sandlin (Texas), Ike Skelton (Mo.), Charlie Stenholm (Texas), and John Tanner (Tenn.). 

Ross also sits on the Democratic Policy and Steering Committee, the House Financial Services Committee, and the House Agriculture Committee, where he serves as Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Livestock and Horticulture.
 

Arkansas 4-H students paid a visit to Mike Ross this week during their trip to Washington, DC.  Pictured are Dustin Parsons of Benton, Necole Hayes of Magnolia, Josh Evatt of Vilonia, Marianne Vollmer of Ward, Priscella Thomas of Little Rock, and Amanda Rowland of El Dorado.