"My first action as a Member of the United States House of Representatives was to tell the politicians in Washington to keep their hands off the Social Security Trust Fund.  I introduced the Social Security and Medicare Off-Budget Lockbox Act of 2001 (H.R.560), which prohibited the Social Security and Medicare Trust Fund surpluses from being used in national budget surplus projections.   

"There is no substitute for the lifelong, guaranteed, inflation-protected benefits provided through Social Security.  Taking money out of the Social Security Trust Fund to make long-term, speculative investments in the stock market is a privilege not all Americans can afford and it shortchanges all of our low-income seniors.  

Some insist that private accounts are the only way to save Social Security.  Private accounts take away from the Trust Fund; privatization is gambling with a stock market that has proven to be unsteady.  Had we begun investing two percent of the Social Security Trust Fund in the stock market in 1998, it would have lost $31 billion.  Our seniors cannot afford for us to gamble away their income.

"I have seen what it is like for seniors, like my own grandmother, who live from Social Security check to Social Security check.  That is why I am fighting so hard to ensure the future of this program."

“The President’s action today solidifies this monumental funding for the Pine Bluff Arsenal and the defense contractors in East Camden,” Ross said.  “The task of providing the resources necessary to defend our country and keep our homeland secure has been challenging, but I am pleased to see our hard work come to a fruitful end.  The $43 million in military construction appropriations for the Arsenal and $930 million in defense appropriations for our contractors in East Camden will bring jobs and economic opportunities to our district.  What’s more, this substantial funding during this time of conflict reinforces Arkansas’ role in keeping our nation safe and secure.”

Projects in the Fourth Congressional District receiving funding under the Defense and Military Construction Appropriations are as follows:

Pine Bluff Arsenal:
· Non-Stockpile Ammunition Demolition Shop - $18.9 million
· White Phosphorous Munitions Production Facility - $6.5 million
· Clara Barton Center for Domestic Preparedness - $3 million
· M-12 Decontamination System Upgrade - $3 million
· 81MM Mortars, Infrared M816 - $2 million
· M49 Mixed Installation Filters - $1 million
· Filter Surveillance Program - $1.5 million
· Bio-Detection Kit Storage Equipment - $1 million
· M40 Protective Mask – $1.5 million
· Marine Mask - $1.3 million
· M45 Protective Mask - $1 million
· M100 Sorbent Decontamination Kit - $1 million
· M291 Decontamination Kit - $1 million
· M48 Protective Mask - $0.5 million

Camden Defense Industry:
· Patriot PAC-3 - $492 million
· MLRS Launcher - $137 million
· High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) - $131 million
· Rolling Airframe Missile - $65 million
· Hydra-70 Rocket - $52 million
· Guided MLRS - $37.2 million
· MLRS Reduced Range Practice Rockets - $15.9 million

“This grant will help to meet a great need for education opportunities in rural Arkansas,” Ross said.  “The distance learning network will enhance the learning experience of our students, provide an opportunity for teachers to improve their skills, and serve countless adults who are seeking their GED.  An estimated 3,000 students will benefit from this project, along with potentially 80 thousand rural residents.  Such advancements will provide opportunities to people whose educational needs would otherwise go unmet.  This kind of service is essential to the future of the Delta region.”

As part of the funded project, state-of-the-art distance learning labs will be installed in three elementary schools, two middle schools, and three high schools to create a network that expands course offerings, increases the number of advance placement classes, and provides professional development training for teachers.  The communities will benefit from adult education classes such as GED courses as well as the establishment of on-line or multi-site discussions on a variety of health and social issues.  

This project combines existing technology infrastructure such as T-1 lines and local education networks with the self-contained labs that have all the components needed to connect each user end site.  The design of these units is compatible with community college, university, and state educational networks.