(Washington, D.C.) The Arkansas Congressional Delegation announced
today that an annual spending bill containing millions of dollars for numerous
Arkansas transportation and community development projects is expected
to be finalized by Congress later today.
The six members of the Arkansas Congressional Delegation who fought
for the projects contained in the Fiscal Year 2006 Transportation-Treasury-Judiciary-Housing
and Urban Development Appropriations bill are as follows: Senators Blanche
Lincoln (D) and Mark Pryor (D), Representatives Marion Berry (D-1st), Vic
Snyder (D-2nd), John Boozman (R-3rd), and Mike Ross (D-4th).
The annual spending bill funds the Department of Transportation, Department
of the Treasury, the Judiciary branch, and the Department of Housing and
Urban Development (HUD). The bill was approved earlier today by the House,
and Senate approval is expected by the end of the day. Upon Senate approval,
the bill is then expected to be signed into law by President Bush.
Below is a list of the Federal Highway Administration projects included
in the bill:
$2 million for Highway 71: Texarkana - DeQueen
$3 million for improvements to Junction Bridge - Little Rock
$4 million to the state of Arkansas for bus and bus facilities for urban
and rural transit agencies
$700,000 for improvements on U.S. 412 Mountain Home to Ash Flat
$350,000 to Highway 77 for rail grade separation in Marion
$350,000 to Highway 165 for the Stuttgart Railroad Overpass
$2 million to Highway 63: Interstate 55-Jonesboro
$750,000 to the Interstate 40/Highways 25/64 Interchange
$400,000 to the city of Texarkana, Arkansas, for bussing needs and bus
facilities
The bill also contained the following three Federal Aviation Administration
earmarks:
$577,000 to the Ozark Regional Airport in Baxter County for the final
installation of an ILS system
$300,000 to the Boone County Regional Airport for ramp rehabilitation
$1 million to the Texarkana Regional Airport for the construction of
an Aircraft Firefighting and rescue Station
The following earmarks were included in the Housing and Urban Development
Economic Development Initiative:
$800,000 for the Central Arkansas Resource Conservation and Development
Council in Helena, for the construction of the Phillips County Agricultural
Storage Facility
$200,000 for the Boys and Girls Club of Ouachita County for the construction
of recreational facilities
$200,000 for the City of Conway for downtown revitalization
$200,000 for Audubon Arkansas for the development of the Audubon Nature
Center at Gillam Park in Little Rock
$150,000 to Grand Prairie Center for the Arts and Allied Health, Phillips
County Community College in Stuttgart for facility construction
$150,000 to the City of Little Rock for facilities renovation and improvements
to the community center at Granite Mountain
$150,000 to the El Dorado Public Schools for the expansion of a recreational
field
$150,000 to North Arkansas College in Harrison for renovations to a
conference and training facility
$250,000 to the Vada Sheid Community Development Center, ASU-Mountain
Home for the community development center auditorium. |