[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 167 (Thursday, December 16, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2167]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DELTA REGIONAL AUTHORITY (DRA)

                                  _____
                                 

                          HON. JO ANN EMERSON

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 16, 2010

  Mrs. EMERSON. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the Delta Regional 
Authority, DRA, on the occasion of its 10th anniversary. Ten years ago, 
President Clinton signed into law legislation establishing the DRA. He 
did so with the widespread bipartisan support of Members of Congress 
who were eager to give this region a strong foothold up the ladder to 
success.
  The DRA has proven to be effective in leveling the playing field for 
the Delta region. The DRA helps connect opportunity with the sheer 
grit, intelligence, and willpower that already exists in the people of 
the region. For ten years, DRA has made great strides in bridging the 
gaps that have kept the region isolated from progress.
  The DRA is a federal-state partnership that serves 252 counties and 
parishes in parts of Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, 
Louisiana, Mississippi and Missouri. These counties and parishes hold 
great promise for access and trade in bordering the world's greatest 
transportation arterial--the Mississippi River.
  It has been a privilege for me to work alongside DRA and the people 
of the Delta region over the years. The educators, healthcare 
providers, farmers, local officials, small business owners and workers 
in this part of the country have all made meaningful contributions to 
overcome unique challenges and make the Delta region a wonderful place 
to live and work.
  The people of the Delta region are fortunate to have a reliable 
federal partner in the DRA. In its first ten years of work, the DRA has 
made significant progress tackling the region's unique challenges. For 
example, the DRA operates a highly successful grant program in each of 
the eight states it serves, allowing cities and counties to leverage 
money from other federal agencies and private investors.
  An independent report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's 
Economic Research Service found that per capita income grew more 
rapidly in counties where the DRA had the greatest investment. Anyone 
who knows what it is like to live and work in an area without the most 
basic infrastructure systems will understand how important the DRA work 
is to bring critical infrastructure such as new water and sewer 
services to more than 43,000 families.
  I look forward to working with the DRA as it continues to expand its 
regional initiatives in the areas of health care, transportation, 
leadership training and information technology, small business 
development and entrepreneurship, and alternative energy jobs. I am 
proud to recognize the DRA's first ten years of achievements, and I 
look forward to working with the DRA to build an even stronger region 
for our future.

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