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Delta caucus seeks additional funding, plans visit to Washington Tuesday, Apr 11, 2006 Arkansas News Bureau LITTLE ROCK - Representatives of the Delta Grassroots Caucus said Monday they plan to push for additional funding and a more organized presence in the nation's capital during a trip to Washington, D.C., in May. Caucus members said they also would seek to expedite development of the Interstate 69 project in eastern Arkansas, and expansion of the Mississippi River bridge at Helena and the highway from the bridge to I-40. "We just have to make sure that the voices of the Delta are heard," spokesman Lee Powell said. The caucus is a bipartisan Delta advocacy group that represents counties and cities in the eight-state Delta region of the United States. Powell said the coalition has, among other things, worked for funding for infrastructure improvements and programs to bring physicians to the region. During a news conference Monday at the state Capitol, Powell said the caucus is pushing for an increase in the Delta Regional Authority's budget to $30 million. He said the authority's current budget of $12 million lags far behind other regional economic development commissions in Appalachia and Alaska. He said the caucus is planning a trip to Washington, D.C., on May 24-26 and plans to push for a strong Congressional Delta Caucus to represent the needs of the region. The caucus plans to discuss Delta issues with a variety of mayors, county judges, private business leaders, nonprofit organizations and experts in agriculture, rural development, transportation and health care while in Washington. A variety of guest speakers also will address the caucus, including U.S. Reps. Marion Berry and Mike Ross, along with the Sens. Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor, all D-Ark. Powell also mentioned the caucus' opposition to proposed budget cuts in farm programs, rural development, hunger and nutritional programs, alternative energy, health care and education. |
