Davis Visits to Inform, Listen to Giles Countians
By Claudia Johnson
The Giles Free Press
August 21, 2003

Giles County's United States Congressman Lincoln Davis was in Pulaski Monday to meet with his constituents at the Giles County Courthouse. Davis, who represents 23 counties in addition to Giles in the 4th Congressional District, told the gathering of approximately 40 people that he asked to serve on committees that he believed are vital to his district.

At his request he was appointed to the House Committee on Science, the Subcommittee on Energy and the Subcommittee on Environment, Technology and Standards since within his district lies Arnold Engineering Center, Oak Ridge and the University of Tennessee Space Institute. Additionally many people along the southern corridor of the 4th District work at Redstone Arsenal or Marshall Space Flight Center.

A life-long farmer, Davis said he felt he could make a contribution as a member of the House Committee on Agriculture. He noted that farmers in his large district raise cotton, soybeans, corn and tobacco. Timber is harvested in several counties, and the nursery industry thrives in others. Davis serves on the Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition and Forestry and the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management.

"Many of the people in my district live in small towns, so transportation and infrastructure development is important to them," Davis observed, explaining why he was pleased to be accepted as a member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.

He mentioned that in his district there are 10,000 miles of roadway, specifically, he said he is interested in developing better east-west parts through the widening of U.S. Highways 64 and 100 and improving access between Lewis County and Columbia.

"My hopes are that my work on these key committees will prove beneficial in terms of job creation and bringing resources to the district," Davis said, adding that the 4th District covers a quarter of the state's geographic area but only contains one-ninth of the population.

In Washington, Davis joined several coalitions and caucuses he said he believes will benefit the people he represents. Among these groups are the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus, whose mission is to protect the rights of hunters and anglers, support wildlife habitat programs and advance wildlife conservation.

Another group, the Congressional Blue Dog Coalition, was formed in the 104th Congress as a policy-oriented group to give moderate and conservation Democrats in the House of Representatives a common sense, bridge-building voice within the institution.

Davis said that while 40 percent of Americans live in households with an income of less than $40,000, the number is 58 percent in the 4th district.

"You know who is lobbying for these people?" Davis asked. "Nobody."

Through the Congressional Rural Caucus, Davis believes he can assist in promoting policies that will foster sustained economic growth in rural communities, ensure access to quality, affordable health care in rural areas, improve education and workforce training opportunities, promote responsible use of public lands and natural resources and modernize the rural telecommunications infrastructure.

Among the problems brought to Davis' attention Monday was the rerouting of Highway 53 in Alabama to by-pass the business district of Ardmore and the loss of manufacturing jobs from small town to foreign counties. Many voiced concerns about personal situations, which Davis referred to his field representatives who were on hand to speak privately with each individual.

"Whatever your request or problem, if it has something to do with the federal government, we will do our best to assist you," Davis said. "My staff and I are committed to providing a number of serves such as arranging flags to be flown over the U.S. Capitol for special occasions, scheduling tours of the Capitol or arranging tours of the White House."

Some of the areas where his staff may be of service are with obtaining federal grants, securing a passport, nominating qualified individuals for admission into one of the U.S. service academies or applying for an internship at the U.S. Capitol.

For more information on services provided through Davis' office, visit http://www.house.gov/lincolndavis.