(Washington, D.C.) Fourth District Rep. Mike Ross, along with U.S.
Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor, today announced the FY 2004 Omnibus
Appropriations Bill contains $10,027,000 for Fourth District projects.
“Senators Lincoln, Pryor, and I together worked hard to secure these
projects that are critical to the economic future of the Fourth District,”
said Ross. “This funding will strengthen our community safety, provide
support for important agriculture research and development programs, and
provide the resources necessary to continue construction of our roadways,
which translates into jobs.”
"Final approval of this spending package was long-overdue, and I’m pleased
that Arkansas will now benefit from the many investments we’ve made in
transportation and infrastructure needs, law enforcement technology, and
downtown development projects," Lincoln said. "Every year Arkansas’ economy
depends on the worthwhile resources in this bill for jobs and to spur economic
development in our communities."
"This bill and the process in which we came by it, albeit not perfect,
will translate into millions of dollars to improve our highways, transit
systems, water safety programs and agriculture research and development,"
Pryor said. "These investments in our infrastructure are vital if we are
to truly foster economic development and improve the quality of life in
south Arkansas."
The FY 2004 Omnibus Appropriations Bill contained the following projects
for the Fourth District. Funding for the projects is final, as the President
has signed the bill into law:
Agriculture Appropriations
· $5.199 million for the Delta Regional Authority. The Authority
provides long-term coordination amount federal, state, and local entities
committed to economic development in the Lower Mississippi Delta region.
$1.75 million of the funds are contained in the Rural Community Advancement
Program for grants, and the remaining $3.449 million is contained in the
Rural Development Loan Fund Program to provide loans.
· $208,000 for the University of Arkansas of Pine Bluff for aquaculture
research and education activities.
· $458,000 for the Center for Integrated Forest Management Strategies
- Monticello.
· $1.86 million to the Small Farms, South Central Family Farm
Research Center, Booneville
· $2.687 million to the South Central Family Farm Research Center
in Booneville, to expand cooperative research.
· $300,000 million to the National Water Management Center at
the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff .
· $1.029 million to the Aquaculture Fisheries Center at the University
of Arkansas Pine Bluff.
· $300,000 to the Walnut Bayou Irrigation Project to continue
work on a plan to provide water to cropland in Little River County.
· $2.75 million to the National Water Management Center at the
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
Commerce, Justice, State (CJS) Appropriations
· $250,000 for the Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy
- The Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy (ALETA) provides office
space for both the Arkansas State Police and the Arkansas Highway Police.
· $50,000 for the Nevada County for Law Enforcement Technologies.
- The Nevada County Rescue Unit coordinates all first responders, including
law enforcement, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel.
Veterans Administration, Department of Urban Development (VA-HUD)
· $75,000 for the Camden Boys and Girls Club, to complete construction
of ball fields, basketball courts, soccer fields, education rooms and karate
and dance rooms.
Transportation Appropriations Bill
· $320,000 to the Southeast Arkansas Area Agencies on Aging.
This funding is for buses and bus facilities.
· $4.75 million to the State of Arkansas for its transit needs.
This project is to purchase new and replacement vans and buses for Arkansas’
small urban and rural transit systems. The funds will go toward the construction
of maintenance facilities, and will supplement the procurement of vans
and small buses for Arkansas’ 250 community service organizations serving
the elderly and persons with disabilities.
· $750,000 to the Interstate 69 Connector Project. This project
is for the construction of a new location, four-lane, controlled access
highway extending from Interstate 530 in Pine Bluff to Highway 278 in the
vicinity of Wilmar and the proposed Interstate 69 Corridor. This project
is approximately 39 miles.
· $850,000 to I-49 (Highway 71) - Louisiana State Line to DeQueen.
This project is part of the relocation of Highway 71 as a new Interstate-type
highway from Missouri to Louisiana, also knows as Interstate 49. Interstate
49 is part of the Congressionally Designated High Priority Corridor 1.
· $80,000 for the Hot Springs Bike Trail. Funding will be used
for land acquisition, construction documents, trail and amenity installation. |