Pryor Update For November 2, 2009

Statement

Protecting Pocketknives
I heard an outpouring of concern from firemen and farmers, policemen and electricians, hunters and fishermen when U.S. Customs and Border Patrol tried to ban ordinary pocketknives. For them and many other Arkansans, a pocketknife can serve as an entire toolbox, and I don't believe government has any business taking that away from them. That's why I'm pleased President Obama signed into law my measure to block this regulation from moving forward. [Read More]
Strengthening Our Defense Policy
President Obama this week signed into law the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010. This legislation reflects a strong commitment to provide fair compensation and first rate health care to active duty, the National Guard and Reserves and their families. In addition, it ensures our troops have the resources, training and equipment to succeed in combat and stability operations. I included several provisions to enhance troop readiness and equipment, benefit defense-impacted communities, and expedite the military's use of renewable fuels in its fleet. My amendments will:
Retire Certain C-130Es and Waive Expensive Storage Requirements. The C-130E has served the Air Force well for many years, but the reality is that some of these aging planes are losing their effectiveness for combat training or operations, certain ones having center wing cracks, deteriorating outer wing panels and old hydraulic lines. My amendment waives stringent and expensive storage requirements for selected C-130E aircraft and retires them, allowing the Air Force to focus its attention and resources on other aircraft.
Facilitate a Camp Robinson Land Exchange. This amendment facilitates a 40.5-acre land exchange between the City of North Little Rock and Camp Robinson by waiving a 1950 statute requiring the Arkansas National Guard to relinquish land to the federal government if it is not needed for training. The waiver enables the Guard to gain land more conducive for training exercises in exchange for terrain it considers too rugged and unsecure, while allowing the City of North Little Rock to use the unwanted land for economic development opportunities. This common sense provision is a win-win situation for the Arkansas National Guard and North Little Rock.
Allow Communities to Recover from Base Closures. Bureaucracy too often stands in the way of economic development for hundreds of communities who have experienced base closures. The Red River Redevelopment Authority (RRRA) has been unable to obtain an Economic Development Conveyance (EDC) to redevelop and reinvigorate the area at and around the Lone Star Army Ammunition Plant in Texarkana, TX. Military officials have informed the RRRA they are instead seeking fair market value for the property, an approach that has left communities abandoned and is costing taxpayers millions in property management responsibilities. I joined forces with Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) to ensure that economic development authorities who wish to obtain surplus military property through an EDC at cost or no-cost could receive equal consideration from the military as other methods of property disposal. This amendment enables communities to foster new economic development opportunities while also saving taxpayers millions of dollars. [Read More]
FEDERAL FUNDING FOR ARKANSAS
$2.3 million for Woodruff Electric
$2 million to Boost Broadband in the State
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
In an October 28th article titled, "$2 Million Grant to Map Arkansas' Broadband Gap," the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette discussed how the federal stimulus' broadband programs are helping Arkansans get "online":
"The U.S. Department of Commerce is setting aside more than $2 million to map how much of Arkansas has access to broadband - the highspeed connections that bring the Internet to life, allowing people to watch movies and send loads of content over their computers. The grant, announced this week, is a small part of the $7.2 billion that, as an element of the economic stimulus package passed in February, is going nationally toward providing broadband service in rural communities and cities where service is lacking."
"At a Senate Commerce subcommittee hearing Tuesday [. . .] Arkansas' Sen. Mark Pryor questioned the definition of ‘remote' that is being used by the Department of Agriculture to make grants. Currently, areas are considered remote - and meet a key requirement for grants - only if they are at least 50 miles from an urban center."
"Pryor displayed a map showing only two small areas of Arkansas that would meet that definition - all of Baxter, Fulton, Izard and Marion counties and parts of 11 other counties."

"I hope you'll take into consideration the situation on the ground and not just use an arbitrary x number of miles" in determining what is remote, Pryor said."
"'We're going to completely revisit that in the next round of funding,' said Jonathan Adelstein, administrator of the Rural Utilities Service."
"Desha County Judge Mark McElroy said high-speed Internet service is not readily available throughout his county. He said broadband can act as a tool to improve the local economy."
"'The Internet can put us on Main Street with New York,' allowing residents of the Delta to sell goods and services worldwide."
"In an interview, McElroy said the county is losing Internet-savvy younger residents, who leave to go to population centers such as Dallas and Little Rock. ‘If they could have access to the Internet, they could stay right here,' he said."

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