Congressman Mike Ross, Fourth Congressional District of Arkansas

Volume 5, Issue 29,
july 21, 2006
 
Weekly Newsletter
 
 
 
 

 
MIKE'S WEEKLY MESSAGE
 
 
The Agenda Congress is Not Addressing

 

With one week remaining before Congress adjourns for its annual month-long work period in August, there are many items missing from our agenda that the American people are currently demanding their government address.  However, the leadership in Congress is not allowing these important issues to be debated and voted on, and I believe it’s time that we address a real agenda of issues that are vital to the future of our country.      

Atop that list is confronting our national energy crisis, which is crippling working families and suppressing future economic growth.  We should be working on the real solutions to rising gas prices that will create jobs and put us on a real path toward energy independence.  

When we encourage the production of home grown biofuels like ethanol and biodiesel we give our farmers exciting new markets and put ourselves on a path towards energy independence.  Congress should add to its agenda protecting consumers from price gouging.  We should be thoroughly investigating the business practices of the six major oil companies that posted record profits last year. 

In addition, our immigration system is broken and our borders desperately need to be secured.  The leadership in Congress is doing nothing about the entrance of illegal immigrants who are continuing to flow into this country.  This is severely threatening our economic well being and our national security.  Congress owes the American people a real solution to enforcing our borders and not rewarding illegal behavior with amnesty. 

Currently, there are 46 million Americans living without health insurance coverage, including over 8 million children. Nearly 450,000 of those uninsured Americans live in Arkansas. Despite common perceptions, many of the uninsured are employed. Often they work for small businesses that cannot afford the ever-increasing insurance costs for their employees. I believe America can do better, and their elected representatives in Congress should make this a top priority. 

Finally, it’s time Congress make providing our children with a world class education a top priority.  Education is an investment in our future and I believe that we should not be creating new education accountability standards unless we’re going to fund them year in and year out. When we fail to make this a priority, we fail our children.  It’s time that the leadership in Congress make this a real priority, by adequately funding programs such as No Child Left Behind.    

So as my colleagues in Congress prepare to go home for the annual August work period, I encourage them to stop and listen to their constituents about what really matters to them.    Maybe then we can move forward with an agenda of real priorities important to the people of this country. 

 

 

 
 
Ross Reacts to Death of Arkansas
Lieutenant Governor Win Rockefeller
 
 
U.S. Rep. Mike Ross (AR-04) today released the following statement regarding the death of Arkansas Lieutenant Governor Win Rockefeller. 

"When I was a state senator, I had the privilege to serve with Lieutenant Governor Win Rockefeller," Rep. Mike Ross said.  "In presiding over the state senate, he was always fair and ruled without political bias.  I also had the pleasure to know him personally over those years and from our many conversations I will forever be impressed by his genuine love for Arkansas. The people of Arkansas will deeply miss his leadership and his vision to make our state a better place.  His family is in my prayers during this difficult time."


 

 
Please Contact Mike at 
1-800-223-2220  
mike.ross@mail.house.gov or
www.house.gov/ross

 

 

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