Legislative Update by Congressman Mike Ross

It's All About Priorities
 
April 16, 2004
 
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.


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