This week, I traveled throughout the Fourth Congressional District,
and visited some of the programs and services that will lose funding if
Congress adheres to the President’s proposed funding for fiscal year 2005.
In Texarkana I met with members of the Texarkana Chamber of Commerce
to discuss the status of the transportation bill – in particular funding
for Interstate 49.
Currently the House and Senate are working on a compromise concerning
this important legislation. As I told folks in Texarkana, I am cautiously
optimistic the final transportation bill will contain a significant amount
of money for Fourth District road projects. In fact in the House Bill I
was proud to secure $64 million for road projects in our district. But
the bottom line is, our nation has $1 trillion dollars in road needs, and
the President said he would veto any bill that covers more than 25.6% of
those needs. It’s critical to our economic future in our region to complete
Interstate 49, 69, and I-530.
I traveled to Hope on Wednesday, where I toured a migrant Even Start
class at the Garland Learning Center. This innovative program works with
families to break the cycle of poverty by providing services such as early
childhood education, adult literacy, and parental education. Even Start
helps 500 families in Arkansas – 135 of those who reside in the Fourth
District. However, President Bush’s budget for fiscal year 2005 provides
no funding for this vital program. It’s one of 38 education programs the
president proposes to eliminate.
Finally, I traveled to Smackover Thursday, where I joined Sen. Pryor
in meeting with officials from the Ouachita River Valley Association to
discuss the critical need to restore funding for the Ouachita Black River
Navigation System. The President’s proposed budget -- for the first time
ever -- eliminates navigational funding for this waterway, which businesses
in Arkansas and Louisiana depend on to stay in business. Without
this waterway, thousands of Arkansas and Louisiana working families could
lose their jobs.
There is no doubt the economic state of our country is in disarray.
Hard economic times mean we are often faced with making difficult economic
choices. But I disagree with the President’s budget, which cuts funding
to vital services such as Even Start and the Ouachita Black River Navigation
System, but still provides generous tax cuts for the wealthy.
Balancing a budget during a down economy is all about priorities – it
can be done. I will continue to fight for the restoration of these vital
programs that the President’s budget eliminates as Congress continues to
debate this issue in the weeks and months ahead. |