The Delta Grassroots Caucus (DGC) is a broad coalition of grassroots leaders in the eight-state Delta region. DGC is also a founding partner of the Economic Equality Caucus,
which advocates for economic equality across the USA.

Scrutiny of how US Representatives Voted on Efforts to Eliminate or Cut DRA, June, 2012

Posted on June 12, 2012 at 10:43 AM

We need to keep a close track of the roll call votes so as to verify how Members of Congress voted on key regional issues. We were very glad that the US House of Representatives resoundingly defeated both the Chabot amendment to eliminate the DRA, as well as the Mulvaney amendment to cut the DRA budget by 24%.

There are 30 US Representatives from the eight states of the Greater Delta Region, and 28 out of the 30 voted against the Chabot amendment to eliminate the DRA.

26 of the 30 US Representatives voted against the Mulvaney amendment to cut the DRA budget by 24%.

Here is how the regional delegation voted:

The only two Representatives in our region who voted for eliminating the DRA were Congressman Steve Scalise and Congressman Jeff Landry, both representing districts in southern Louisiana.

We emphatically disagree with the votes of Representatives Scalise and Landry of Louisiana. We have contacted their offices to ask for an explanation.

US Representative Steve Fincher of west Tennessee and US Representative Tim Griffin of central Arkansas voted against the Chabot amendment to eliminate the DRA, and we certainly appreciate those votes.

However, Representatives Griffin and Fincher voted in favor of the Mulvaney amendment to cut the DRA budget by 24%. We of course disagree with this vote and would respectfully ask Rep. Griffin and Rep. Fincher to reconsider and vote against any future attempts to cut the DRA budget.

It is disturbing that any US Representative from the Delta region would vote to eliminate a program that helps create and retain jobs, conducts job training programs, helps fund infrastructure improvements, supervises the exemplary Delta Doctors program to put more doctors in the underserved Delta, develops thoughtful and comprehensive strategic plans on transportation, broadband and many other key issues, helps coordinate programs among many federal and state agencies, and generally exerts a unifying impact on our region.

The votes to cut its budget were not as alarming but nonetheless very disappointing.

After the roll call votes’ list below, we include a list of constructive accomplishments of the DRA.

Here, we would like to briefly note that the DRA helps create and retain jobs, conducts job training programs, helps fund infrastructure improvements, supervises the exemplary Delta Doctors program to put more doctors in the underserved Delta, develops thoughtful and comprehensive strategic plans on transportation, broadband and many other key issues, helps coordinate programs among many federal and state agencies, and generally exerts a unifying impact on our region.

We would like to commend the great majority of the US Representatives from our region who supported the DRA budget, listed below. Please look over the list to see how your Representative voted:

Rep. Rick Crawford, First District of Arkansas, voted against both anti-DRA amendments.

Rep. Mike Ross, Fourth District of Arkansas, voted against both amendments.

Rep. Steve Womack, Third District of Arkansas, voted against both amendments.

As discussed above, Rep. Tim Grifffin voted against the Chabot amendment and in favor of the Mulvaney amendment to cut the DRA budget.

Rep. Robert Aderholt, Alabama, voted against both amendments.

Rep. Jo Bonner, Alabama, voted against both amendments.

Rep. Mike Rogers, Alabama, voted against both.

Rep. Martha Roby, Alabama, voted against both.

Rep. Terri Sewell, Alabama, voted against both.

Rep. Tim JOhnson, Illinois, voted against both.

Rep. Jerry Costello, Illinois, voted against both.

Rep. John Shimkus, Illinois, voted against both.

Rep. Ed Whitfield, Kentucky, voted against both.

Rep. Rodney Alexander, Louisiana, voted against both.

Rep. Charles Boustany, Louisiana, voted against both.

Rep. Bill Cassidy, Louisiana, voted against both.

Rep. John Fleming, Louisiana, voted against both.

As discussed above, Rep. Jeff Landry, Louisiana, voted in favor of both amendments.

Rep. Cedric Richmond, Louisiana, voted against both.

As discussed above, Rep. Steve Scalise, Louisiana, voted in favor of both amendments.

Rep. Russ Carnahan, Missouri, voted against both amendments.

Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, Missouri, voted against both amendments.

Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, Missouri, voted against both amendments.

Rep. Alan Nunnelee, Mississippi, voted against both.

Rep. Gregg Harper, Mississippi, voted against both.

Rep. Steve Palazzo, Mississippi, voted against both.

Rep. Bennie Thompson, Mississippi, voted against both.

As discussed above, Rep. Steve Fincher, Tennessee, voted against the amendment to eliminate the DRA but voted for the amendment to cut its budget by 24%.

Rep. Stephen Cohen, Tennessee, voted against both amendments.

Rep. Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee, voted against both.

Short List of DRA Accomplishments

The DRA’s budget is approximately $12 milllion through energy and water appropriations and another sum of approximately $3 million through USDA Rural Development, so these are very tiny parts of the federal budget. It is ludicrous to argue that abolishing an exemplary but small program like this would do anything to help our deficits problem.

Considering the relatively small budget they have to work with, they have stretched their dollars a very long way at the DRA. To cite several examples:

-Targeted investments in each of the eight states created over 6000 jobs and retained nearly the same number of jobs. With a leverage ratio of 23:1, the Delta Regional Authority leveraged $1.4 billion in private investment with DRA projects and helped 17,000 families gain access to clean water and sewer service.

-The DRA developed extensive strategic plans on broadband, transportation and other infrastructure, and the Delta Doctors Program has placed over 150 doctors in underserved areas in the region without any additional appropriations costs. Please continue to remind your representatives in Congress of the importance of supporting the DRA funding.

We would like to praise Congressman Hal Rogers of Kentucky, who is chairman of the US House Appropriations Committee, and who is a stalwart defender of the ARC, DRA and other regional commissions. Appalachia and the Delta stand united on this issue!

The DRA does many other valuable activities in coordinating programs throughout the program and disseminating valuable information about our regional issues on a regular basis. Help us keep the DRA in business so they can continue their diligent and constructive work. Lee Powell and Board of Directors, Delta Grassroots Caucus (202) 360-6347