Portrait of Congressman Mike Ross
Representing the 4th District of Arkansas
Contact Information Constituent Services Legislative Affairs News & Views Photo Gallery
 
Volume 3, Issue 9,
April 26, 2002
Weekly Newsletter
 
 
MIKE'S WEEKLY MESSAGE
 
The ABCs of Fiscal Discipline
 
"The Blue Dog Coalition, of which I am proud to be a member, is a group of 33 moderate to conservative Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives that focuses on fiscal discipline and advocates honesty and responsibility in the federal budgeting process. 
"As our country now faces projected deficits and increasing debt for the rest of the decade, we believe it’s time for Congress and the President to sit down, roll up our sleeves, and have an honest discussion about what we need to do to put the budget back in order.      

"On Thursday, April 25th, the Blue Dogs outlined four principles to prevent our children and grandchildren from being stuck with the burden that our country is accumulating today because our generation’s budget decisions.  We call these four principles “The ABCs of Fiscal Discipline”:  A – Assuring Honesty and Accountability, B – Balancing the Budget without Raiding Social Security, C – Climbing out of the Deficit Ditch, and D – Defending Children from Paying our Bills.      

"The ABCs of fiscal discipline says we need enforceable budget restraints that will expose deceptive budget practices and provide a guardrail to keep our spending within the government’s means.  It says we need a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution that requires us to balance the budget every year, an amendment that could only be waived in extraordinary times such as a war or military conflict and that takes Social Security completely off the table.  It says that if we have to raise the limit on our national debt, that we do so with a plan that will put our fiscal house back in order, just like a family facing financial hardships works to get approval to refinance their debts.  And finally, it says that Congress must have a supermajority—a 3/5 majority—to approve additional government borrowing.     

"We believe following the ABCs of Fiscal Discipline is the right thing to do for this Congress, for our nation, and for the future of our children and grandchildren."
 

 
ROSS APPLAUDS USDA DECISION TO BUY FARM-RAISED CATFISH 
Statement by Congressman Ross
 
(WASHINGTON, DC) – “Last September, I wrote to USDA Secretary Ann Veneman to request that the Department of Agriculture consider purchasing catfish to donate to school lunch programs and federal food assistance programs.  I am very pleased that USDA has finally chosen to buy $6 million worth of farm-raised catfish for our kids and adults that need it.

“In recent months, many of our catfish producers have had to cut back production or shut down altogether because of imports of so-called ‘catfish’ from Vietnam.  As it currently stands, catfish farmers in Arkansas and other states face the risk of losing their business if they are forced to continue selling their product at below cost.  This decision is good news not only for our struggling catfish farmers, but also for the local economies and jobs depending on catfish production and, most importantly, for our children and those who will benefit from this added source of nutrition.”
 
 

 
FAA AWARDS $2.1 MILLION FOR 4th DISTRICT AIRPORTS 
 
(WASHINGTON, DC) – U.S. Representative Mike Ross (AR-4) Tuesday announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved grants totaling $2,111,651 to cities in Arkansas’s Fourth Congressional District for improvements at local airports.  The funds will go to Arkadelphia, Camden, Hope and Texarkana.

“These airports are an important component of the infrastructure and economy in these communities.  Many local businesses and residents depend on them,” Ross said.  “I am pleased that the FAA has approved this funding to maintain and improve the runways and lighting at these air fields to help ensure their safe use.” 

The money provided in the grants will be awarded as follows:

  • Arkadelphia, Dexter B. Florence Memorial Field, $105,751 - To rehabilitate runway 4/22 lighting
  • Camden, Harrell Field, $150,000 - To rehabilitate the airfield lighting system
  • Hope, Hope Municipal Airport, $494,200 - For Phase I construction of a new parallel taxiway to runway 16/34
  • Texarkana, Texarkana Regional-Webb Field, $1,361,700 - To rehabilitate runway 13/31 
All administrative and statutory requirements have been met for project approval by the FAA for each of these projects. 
 
 
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 


Newsletter            Newsletter List            Newsletter