"Unfortunately, the Education spending bill the House passed this week shortchanges such opportunities for Arkansas’s children by under funding their education needs.  For Arkansas, education cuts fall more than $85 million below spending levels authorized by the No Child Left Behind Act and the IDEA Reauthorization Act. 

"This means our state will lose $52 million in Title I grants that help raise academic performance of students, $12 million in IDEA grants to help school districts educate children with disabilities, $6 million in After-School Program funding that goes to provide academic help and other enrichment activities for young people, and more than $3 million in Teacher quality grants that provide professional development for our teachers. 

"This bill is another example of the heavy cost of the Republican tax cut on Arkansas families and children; it is crowding out other spending priorities like investing in education.  The programs being cut in Arkansas represent missed opportunities for our children and for the future of our state.  Education is one area where we cannot afford to cut corners."

“This is wonderful news for rural residents of Dallas, Union, and Lafayette Counties,” Ross said.  “For people living in these areas, firefighters serve as first responders to a number of emergencies in addition to fires.  These volunteers put their lives on the line, these grants will help to make sure that they are working with the best equipment and training possible.” 

The Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety Program includes funding for training, wellness and fitness, firefighting equipment, personal protective equipment, and modifications to fire stations and facilities.  Departments in the Fourth District receiving grant awards for Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety are as follows:

· Manning Rural Volunteer Fire Department (Sparkman) - $37,170
· Junction City Volunteer Fire Department - $15,633
· Mars Hill (Stamps) - $14,094

This is the fifth round of notifications for the 2003 program.  Further notifications are expected on a weekly basis for the next few months. 
 

Fourth District Rep. Mike Ross (D-Ark.) Friday congratulated Jocelyn Dixon, a recent graduate of Lakeside High School, as her artwork was displayed among pieces from across the nation at the United States Capitol.  Dixon is the Fourth Congressional District winner of the 2003 Artistic Discovery Art Contest, a national contest which selects the artwork to be displayed for the year in the tunnel gallery which connects the House offices to the Capitol Building. 

In addition, her winning painting, “Walking with Grandfather,” will also be entered in a nation-wide contest with the top entries from all the congressional districts, in which the winner will receive a $10,000 scholarship to the Savannah College of Art and Design. 

“The Artistic Discovery contest is a wonderful opportunity to showcase our young artists,” Ross said.  “Every day, hundreds of visitors to our nation’s Capitol, as well as Members of Congress and their staff pass, through the tunnel and stop to look at the artwork.  As you can imagine, this gives young artists quite a bit of exposure.  For those of us who pass the artwork every day, it is a quiet reminder of all that our students can accomplish, and of the tremendous talent our young people possess.  I am proud to have Jocelyn’s work represent our district.” 

Placing second in the district contest was Laura Lawson of Star City High School with a watercolor titled, “Weekend Getaway.”  Angela Lawson, also a Star City student, placed third with a photography piece, “From the Muddy Banks.”  DeQueen High student Emily Rogers’ painting, “Big Red Star,” came in fourth. 

Ross will showcase the second, third, and fourth place winners in his district congressional offices in Arkansas.  This year’s entries were judged by art teachers from colleges throughout the Fourth Congressional District.

Photo: “Walking With Grandfather,” Lakeside High School student Jocelyn Dixon’s winning painting for the 2003 Artistic Discovery Art Contest.  Details on the 2004 contest will be available next spring.