"In our state, 18 percent of our working families earned incomes at or below the poverty level during the past three years.  For a family of three that’s $14,348.  For a family of four, that’s $18,392.  These are the families who would have been helped by extending the child tax credit. 

"President Bush’s so-called economic stimulus, his tax cut, was supposed to create new jobs – when in fact, during the past month alone, 1200 workers in our district lost their jobs.  Those are 1200 hard working people with families who depend on their income to get by – now they’ve joined the millions of unemployed. 

"The tax cut for the wealthy is not helping these people, it is not helping the dozen businesses in our district that had to close this past month, and it’s not helping those families living in poverty who would have earned the child tax credit had Republicans supported our push to extend it.  It’s time we send economic relief where it will do the most good. 

"It is simply wrong to enact a tax cut in the name of economic relief and not give that relief to hard-working families struggling to provide for their children.  I want you to know that we are still fighting to extend the child tax credit to working families with an income between $10,500 and $26,625 per year.  While I voted against the overall tax cut, I have always supported extending the child tax credit because it helps families who need it most."

“This funding will help to enhance our local firefighters’ abilities to respond to emergencies and protect the communities they serve,” Ross said.  “I am particularly pleased to see that the Delight Fire Department will receive the funding they need for a new fire truck – this area in Pike County is pretty spread-out, and the new truck will be put to good use.  Our firefighters do a great job with what resources they have, these grants ensure that they have the equipment they need to save lives and property.”

The Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety Program includes training, wellness and fitness, firefighting equipment, personal protective equipment, and modifications to fire stations and facilities.  The following departments have been awarded grants for Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety:

· Buena Vista Volunteer Fire Department, Stephens - $12,673
· Pine Bluff Fire Department - $104,195
· Boggy Creek Volunteer Fire Department, Fouke - $31,500

The Fire Prevention Program includes public education and awareness activities, fire codes enforcement activities, fire inspector certifications, purchase and installation of smoke alarms and fire suppression systems, wildland fire mitigation, and arson prevention and detection activities.  The following department has been awarded a grant for Fire Prevention:

· 70 West Fire Protection Association, Hot Springs - $42,388

The Firefighting Vehicles Acquisition Program includes pumpers, brush trucks, tankers, rescue, ambulances, quints, aerials, foam units, and fireboats.  The following department has been awarded a grant for a Firefighting Vehicle:

· Delight Rural Fire Department - $40,500