I traveled to Hope on Wednesday, where I toured a migrant Even Start class at the Garland Learning Center. This innovative program works with families to break the cycle of poverty by providing services such as early childhood education, adult literacy, and parental education. Even Start helps 500 families in Arkansas – 135 of those who reside in the Fourth District. However, President Bush’s budget for fiscal year 2005 provides no funding for this vital program. It’s one of 38 education programs the president proposes to eliminate.

Finally, I traveled to Smackover Thursday, where I joined Sen. Pryor in meeting with officials from the Ouachita River Valley Association to discuss the critical need to restore funding for the Ouachita Black River Navigation System. The President’s proposed budget -- for the first time ever -- eliminates navigational funding for this waterway, which businesses in Arkansas and Louisiana depend on to stay in business.  Without this waterway, thousands of Arkansas and Louisiana working families could lose their jobs.

There is no doubt the economic state of our country is in disarray. Hard economic times mean we are often faced with making difficult economic choices. But I disagree with the President’s budget, which cuts funding to vital services such as Even Start and the Ouachita Black River Navigation System, but still provides generous tax cuts for the wealthy.

Balancing a budget during a down economy is all about priorities – it can be done. I will continue to fight for the restoration of these vital programs that the President’s budget eliminates as Congress continues to debate this issue in the weeks and months ahead.