by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown walked into Tuesday’s meeting of the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Government Affairs Committee meeting doing the Gator “chop.” Brown went to Florida A&M University for undergraduate degree, but got her Master’s from the University of Florida.
“The Gators football team was in Washington recently, I guess we’ll have to go back,” said Brown, referencing last week’s second NCAA men’s basketball title in as many years for Florida.
In her 15th year in Congress, Brown is chairing the Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials subcommittee of the Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure, a committee she’s been a part of since she was elected to Congress in 1992. In her current capacity, Brown plays a role in how funding for passenger and freight rail is distributed. With Jacksonville being a major East Coast port and at the convergence of two major interstates (I-10 and I-95), Brown said assuring funding for rail and other transportation infrastructure needs is vital to the continued economic development of the area.
Although she did not originally vote in favor of the war in Iraq, Brown has supported all the appropriations proposed by the White House that have provided financial support to U.S. troops. That support may be waning as Brown looks at the needs within this country and what the money being spent in Iraq and Afghanistan could do domestically.
“Thirteen billion dollars would provide water and sewer all over the country,” said Brown, the guest speaker at the Government Affairs Committee meeting. “We have spent $18 billion in Iraq the past five years. That’s $122 million a day. The water bill has passed the House (of Representatives). It will pass the Senate and we will put it on the president’s desk. I do not advise him to veto the bill because we will override his veto.”
Brown said her committee may not get all the press, but it suits her fine.
“Infrastructure many not be glamourous, but it’s the committee I’m excited to be on,” she said. “It’s the committee that puts America to work. Every $1 billion spent creates 48,000 jobs.”
Brown said it will be difficult to support Pres. George W. Bush as he continues to push for funding for the war.
“He’s asking for another $1 billion and that’s tough,” she said. “That’s a lot of money, even in Washington, D.C. That’s 15 cruise ships full of one dollar bills.”
During the meeting, federal issues chair Herschel Vinyard of Atlantic Marine released the committee’s agenda for this year. The following issues will be taken up by members of the committee and others who participate in the Chamber’s Washington, D.C. fly-in, during which members of the local contingent will meet with local U.S. Reps. and Senators. The fly-in is May 16-18. The 13-item agenda was unanimously approved by the committee.
Economic development
• Continued funding for economic development at Cecil Commerce Center.
Education/workforce development
• Reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration. Include legislative or report language to open the Air Traffic Controller Collegiate Training Initiative to qualified colleges and universities offering ATC training programs and degrees.
• Fiscal year 2008 funding to support Aircraft Rescue Firefighting Training at Florida Community College at Jacksonville’s Northeast Regional Fire Science Academy.
Environment
• Federal assistance to the City of Jacksonville, the St. Johns River Water Management District and JEA to improve water quality in the St. Johns River, including wastewater treatment and reclaimed water improvements.
• Provide funding for any federal mandates imposed on electric utilities due to federal climate change legislation and ample time to implement those mandates.
Healthcare
• Simplify Heath Savings Accounts to make it easier for small businesses and individuals to participate.
• Support continuation of policies adopted and approved by Congress for Florida’s Low Income Pool and Medicaid Reform and the care afforded by those programs. If these programs are eliminated as proposed, Shands Jacksonville could lose $62 million and Baptist Medical Center could lose $15 million.
International
• Reauthorize the Trade Promotion Authority which gives the president authority to negotiate trade agreements subject to approval by Congress. Jacksonville is moving toward doing more business internationally.
Military
• Immediate homeporting of appropriate number of additional ships at Mayport Naval Station which shall include amphibious ships.
• Fully fund projects at Naval Air Station Jacksonville required by 2005 Base Realignment and Closure.
Small Business
• Support Small Business Liability Reform Act that would cap punitive damage awards and establish proportional liability for small businesses.
Transportation
• Funding for the following JTA projects: Jacksonville Transportation Center (Downtown multi-modal), management transportation center and the regional transportation system.
• Support improvements to Heckscher Drive to accommodate additional traffic flow from businesses at the Jacksonville Port to I-95.
Other news and notes from the meeting:
• Dan McCarthy, the director of military affairs for the City, said the Florida Air National Guard will pay for locals to fly up to Memphis at the end of the month to learn more about what FANG does.
• Nathan Riska has joined Jackie Smith in U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw’s local office. Riska has worked out of Crenshaw’s Washington, D.C. office the past five years, starting at the front desk and working his way up to legislative aid. “He is in Jacksonville permanently. He brings lots of experience and he lowers the average age in the office by a lot,” said Smith.