[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 60 (Wednesday, May 13, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E842-E843]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. LEE H. HAMILTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 13, 1998

  Mr. HAMILTON. Mr. Speaker, I would like to insert my Washington 
Report for Wednesday, May 13, 1998 into the Congressional Record.

                Economic Development in Southern Indiana

       The Ninth Congressional District has changed dramatically 
     since I came to Congress in 1965. Southern Indiana has 
     retained its rural character, but our communities are now 
     more closely linked to the national and global economies. 
     Hoosier farmers and businesses now sell their products 
     throughout the world, and we are attracting more businesses, 
     including major corporations like Toyota and AK Steel, than 
     ever before.
       There have been many important players in this economic 
     development, from entrepreneurs to community leaders to 
     local, state and federal officials. It has been my privilege 
     to have worked with them on a wide range of projects which 
     have helped make southern Indiana what it is today: a region 
     with a booming economy, record-low unemployment and a rising 
     standard of living.
       During the 34 years I have been in Congress, approximately 
     $2 billion in federal grants and loans have been directed to 
     the communities of the Ninth Congressional District. Those 
     funds have served a wide range of purposes in promoting 
     growth, development and quality of life for Hoosier 
     residents.


                     Types of economic development

       Federal support has aided development in six key areas:


                         Highways and Airports

       Federal funding has helped transform our transportation 
     system in southern Indiana. The I-64 and I-65 corridors have 
     provided Hoosier businesses with a vital link to the national 
     economy, and have attracted numerous companies and well-
     paying jobs to our state. I-65, for example, has become a 
     magnet for growth, with many manufacturers and major 
     distribution centers locating along the corridor. We are 
     working now to complete the I-265 beltway in the greater 
     Louisville area and make other highway improvements to the 
     region, including construction of a new U.S. 231 in Spencer 
     County. Federal funds have also helped with the development 
     and expansion of smaller airports in southern Indiana as well 
     as major national airports in Louisville, Cincinnati, and 
     Indianapolis.


                               Ohio River

       The Ohio River has been a powerful force in our region's 
     economy, transporting commodities and creating thousands of 
     jobs. The Clark Maritime Centre with key federal assistance, 
     has given a boost to our river economy. Even if Hoosiers are 
     not in agreement about river-boat gambling, there is no way 
     to ignore the economic impact of this new industry which will 
     bring an investment of $1 billion to the area and the 
     creation of some 15,000 jobs. The Ohio River is also one of 
     the most comprehensively managed rivers in the world, with 20 
     locks and dams and a network of flood-walls and levees to 
     protect river communities. The federal government built this 
     navigation system, and with my support, is modernizing the 
     McAlpine Locks and Dam in New Albany and renovating flood 
     protection facilities from Lawrenceburg to Evansville.


                             Redevelopment

       Military base closings, factory closings and natural 
     disasters have placed strains on some of our communities over 
     the years. The federal government has helped these 
     communities to successfully recover. I have pushed the Army 
     to clean up the Jefferson Proving Ground in Madison so that 
     it can be turned to productive use; helped community leaders 
     in Clark County as they prepare to redevelop the ammunition 
     plant in Charlestown; and worked with several communities as 
     they recovered from natural disasters--most notably the 
     flood-plagued Town of English, which decided to move to 
     higher ground. Last year, for example, the federal government 
     made a special allocation of $6.5 million to help river 
     communities rebuild after the 1997 floods.


                            Water and Sewer

       Constructing water and sewer systems in our communities has 
     been a longstanding priority. These facilities are necessary 
     to improve water quality and to allow communities to grow. 
     When I first came to office, the focus was on improving the 
     water supply

[[Page E843]]

     in southern Indiana by constructing reservoirs at Brookville, 
     Patoka and elsewhere. The emphasis today is on building or 
     extending water and sewer lines. My office spends hundreds of 
     hours each year helping towns and cities throughout the 
     district apply for the grants and loans to get these projects 
     going, and we have had remarkable success getting our fair 
     share of assistance from state and federal sources.


                    Hospitals, Libraries and Schools

       I have attended scores of dedications for improvements made 
     in southern Indiana's libraries, schools, and hospitals, many 
     of them completed with the help of federal grants and loans. 
     I experience genuine satisfaction as I reflect on the 
     improvement each facility makes in the quality of Hoosiers' 
     lives.


                               Recreation

       Southern Indiana is blessed with some of the most scenic 
     areas in the Midwest, and has long been a tourist 
     destination. I have worked to promote recreational 
     opportunities, including: creation of the Muscatatuck 
     Wildlife Refuge as well as the new Charlestown State Park; 
     expansion of the Hoosier National Forest; construction of the 
     Falls of the Ohio River Park and Interpretive Center, with 
     its access to the ancient fossil beds on the Ohio River; and 
     creation of a new Ohio River Greenway linking the communities 
     of New Albany, Clarksville, and Jefferson.


                            Lessons learned

       The past 34 years have provided many lessons in how to 
     promote economic development. First, local officials must 
     take the lead in planning for new development and attracting 
     new businesses. Second, there must be a strong local emphasis 
     on building a skilled workforce, including investment in our 
     schools, vocational programs, and workplace training 
     initiatives. These efforts will be particularly important in 
     coming years as global competition for well-paying jobs 
     intensifies. Third, our state must place a high priority on 
     improving infrastructure. The highway bill currently pending 
     in Congress will significantly boost Indiana's share of 
     federal highway dollars and help address many unmet highway 
     needs. Fourth, we must focus on encouraging our young people 
     and entrepreneurs, never forgetting that the backbone of the 
     Indiana economy is small business, which employs more than 2 
     million Hoosiers.
       And lastly, even with its flaws, government will always be 
     an important part of the economic equation. My experience in 
     Congress has taught that good government at all levels can 
     make our communities more competitive and our lives more 
     pleasant. It can never replace individual Hoosiers' skill, 
     hard work and creativity, but it can help lay the groundwork 
     for successful development efforts, develop through education 
     and training the needed skills in the workforce, build vital 
     infrastructure, and help leverage limited funds to attract 
     investors to our region.

     

                          ____________________