Press Releases
February 3, 2003
Bush Budget Shortchanges ND Programs
Water Projects, Rural Schools and Medicare Underfunded
Washington - Senator Kent Conrad said Monday the budget the Bush Administration has sent to Congress shortchanges domestic programs important to North Dakota, including highways, education, agriculture and water projects. However, he cited one bright spot for North Dakota: robust funding for construction projects at both the Minot and Grand Forks air bases.
"This budget would cut funding for North Dakota highways, reverse the progress we've made in bringing new funds to our rural schools, undercut new incentive programs for farmers who want to participate in conservation programs, and dramatically scale back our investment in clean water and flood control projects for our state," Conrad said. "Meanwhile, this budget provides massive new tax cuts for the very wealthiest among us, while adding to our deficits and debt. It just doesn't add up."
Conrad noted items in the budget of immediate concern to North Dakota: – no funding for an outlet to relieve the flooding at Devils Lake. – a 40 percent reduction in funding for flood control projects in Grand Forks. - a 40 percent reduction in funds for Garrison Diversion, the lowest proposed level in 12 years for this project to bring safe, clean water supplies to North Dakota. - no funding for a variety of agricultural research projects at NDSU, UND, and the agricultural Research Service stations at Mandan, Grand Forks and Fargo. - reductions in new farm bill funding to provide strong incentives to farmers and ranchers who wish to participate in conservation programs. - no funding for the Conrad-Collins rural education program, which allows small schools to pool funds from a number of federal programs for greater flexibility. - reduced funding to implement the "No Child Left Behind" education bill of last year, a Bush Administration initiative that puts substantial new demands on local education systems. - a reduction of 11 percent in federal highway programs, which would result in approximately $20 million in cuts to North Dakota highway funding. - Flat funding and underfunding for rural health programs, which will worsen the strains on North Dakota's struggling clinics, hospitals, nursing homes. - A Medicare reform proposal that would offer prescription drug coverage only to seniors in Medicare+Choice, which is available in North Dakota on a limited basis, or in new private plans that would likely include higher premiums and limited ability to choose local doctors and pharmacies.
However, North Dakota would receive a grand total of $75.7 million for military construction in 2004. At Minot AFB, that figure includes $41.1 million for new military family housing and $3.1 million for a new storage facility for the large vehicles that transport the Minuteman ICBMs deployed in silos throughout central and western North Dakota. For Grand Forks AFB, the budget includes $29.6 million for new military family housing. Finally, the budget includes $1.6 million for a new medical annex building for the Army National Guard in Bismarck.
As has been the case for nine straight fiscal years, the budget assumes B-52 cuts at Minot AFB. Under President Bush's 2004 budget, 17 B-52s would be retired. The North Dakota congressional delegation has successfully restored funding to retain and upgrade the additional B-52s every year, adding more than $500 billion for this purpose since 1995.
"The B-52s have performed magnificently in Afghanistan in the war against terror. They were key to victory in the Gulf War with Iraq a decade ago. With the growing prospect of another war with Iraq, Al Qaeda still operating in Afghanistan, and a crisis on the Korean Peninsula, this is no time to retire these reliable, effective workhorses," Conrad said.
Conrad noted that the President's budget is a starting point, and that Congress will work its will on the budget in the coming weeks - beginning with the Senate Budget Committee, where Conrad serves as the senior Democrat.
"With my colleagues on Capitol Hill, I intend to ensure that we have the resources we need to defend this country at home and abroad, and to find more resources for the domestic programs that are so important to our state," Conrad said. "The challenge is to maintain fiscal discipline and control our growing debts. Considering that the President has sent us a budget that does not add up, a budget his own administration admits will result in record-setting deficits and a sea of red ink, that's a very tall order indeed."
