Volume
5, Issue 3,
December 21, 2004 |
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On January 4th, I will return to Washington, D.C, to be sworn in for my third-term in office. You have put your faith and confidence in me to represent your interests and values in the United States Congress, and I am incredibly grateful that you have entrusted me with this honor and responsibility. I am optimistic and hopeful that the New Year and the new session will bring a fresh start and a new perspective to the manner in which Congress works together to accomplish meaningful legislation. I use the term "meaningful legislation" to define legislation that truly benefits the majority of the American people. We must pass a Transportation Reauthorization Bill - which Congress addresses every six years and which funds local transportation projects - that truly responds to our nation's vastly growing road needs. Would you believe that over the next six years, our nation has roughly $400 billion in road needs and highway projects alone? At a time when 9 million Americans are out of work and many of our nation's roads are in disrepair, passing a Highway bill that repairs our current roads, builds Interstates such as I-49 and I-69 that create economic opportunities for the future, and puts people back to work is simply the right thing to do. We must also pass an Energy Bill that will truly reduce the high-cost of gasoline, diesel fuel and natural gas, while encouraging the continued research and development of alternative fuel sources. Our nation is becoming increasingly dependent on foreign countries to supply our energy sources, setting a dangerous course that has hurt us economically. And finally, perhaps the most pressing issue Congress must address this year is how to salvage our nation's Social Security system, which today is on the verge of a financial crisis. It's estimated that by 2035, Social Security will owe $318 billion more to retirees than it can pay. To thwart this from occurring, we must reform the system immediately, and allowing payees to invest part of their savings into the risky and volatile stock market is not the solution. Politicians must also keep their hands off the Social Security Trust Fund! Since Social Security's institution, the government has borrowed $1.5 trillion from the Trust Fund - a practice that must stop. I am glad Congress and the Administration are finally coming together to have an open, honest debate on this issue that I hope will ultimately result in maintaining the solvency of our nation's retirement system for today's retirees and for future generations. Many seniors today depend on their monthly Social Security check to keep them out of poverty -- we cannot jeopardize their means of survival. When Congress returns to Washington in January, I will be there every step of the way, fighting for the solutions that will be the most beneficial to the working families of Arkansas's Fourth Congressional District. And if I could have any wish for the New Year, it's that my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will stop campaigning and start governing. It's time for Congress to put our differences aside and do the job we were elected to do - and that is to represent the American people. I wish you and your family a safe and wonderful holiday season, and I'll see you next year. |
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The funds are used to help individuals and families with non-disaster, temporary emergency needs. The EFS National Board, chaired by the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and composed of representatives from American Red Cross; Catholic Charities, USA; United Jewish Communities; National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.; The Salvation Army; and United Way of America, provides supplemental funding to shelters, soup kitchens, and food banks. Additional jurisdictions in Arkansas may be selected at a later date by the EFS State Set-Aside Committee, which received $71,165. The following Arkansas counties received EFS awards: Arkansas County
Ashley County
Baxter County
Benton County
Boone County
Bradley County
Carroll County
Chicot County
Clark County
Clay County
Cleburne County
Columbia County
Conway County
Craighead County
Crawford County
Crittenden County
Cross County
Dallas County
Desha County
Drew County
Faulkner County
Franklin County
Garland County
Greene County
Hempstead County
Hot Spring County
Howard County
Independence County
Izard County
Jackson County
Jefferson County
Johnson County
Lawrence County
Lee County
Lincoln County
Logan County
Marion County
Miller County
Mississippi County
Monroe County
Ouachita County
Perry County
Phillips County
Poinsett County
Polk County
Pope County
Pulaski County
Randolph County
St. Francis County
Sebastian County
Sevier County
Sharp County
Stone County
Union County
Van Buren County
Washington County
White County
Woodruff County
Yell County
State Set-Aside Committee, AR
The EFS Program has been in existence since 1983 and was authorized under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 1987. The EFS Program has distributed more than $2.65 billion to communities nationwide, and has accounted for millions of additional meals and nights of shelter to the hungry and homeless most in need across the nation. |
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1-800-223-2220 mike.ross@mail.house.gov or www.house.gov/ross |
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