MEDIA ADVISORY
June 26, 2009
Contact: Katie Laning Niebaum, Leah Vest
(202) 224-4843

Lincoln to Travel State, June 29 - July 4

Washington – U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln will travel across Arkansas during Congress’ annual Fourth of July work period, Monday, June 29, through Saturday, July 4.

“After a busy session in Washington fighting for priorities such as health care and energy reform, I’m looking forward to coming home,” Arkansas’s senior senator said.  “As we recognize the independence that our forefathers fought to provide, we must not forget our men and women in uniform who continue to fight to preserve that freedom today.  The Fourth of July is a wonderful time to spend with family and friends celebrating the blessings we enjoy as Americans.  I am proud that I will have the opportunity to honor this occasion with my fellow Arkansans.”

During the week, Lincoln will attend several health care-focused events to highlight ways health care reform will bring all Arkansans greater stability—stable coverage that can’t be taken away through ups and downs; stable costs that won’t eat away at paychecks and put coverage out of reach; and stable quality so patients get the treatment they need, when they need it, and from the doctors they choose.  Lincoln has said her top priority in health care reform, currently being debated in Congress, is to ensure all Arkansans have access to quality, affordable, and meaningful coverage. 

Lincoln will wrap up her week with several Fourth of July celebrations in Northeast Arkansas.

Senator Lincoln’s Schedule: Monday, June 29 – Saturday, July 4

Monday, June 29
Pine Bluff

9:00 AM         Lincoln will speak at the grand opening of the Jefferson Regional Medical Center School of Nursing in Pine Bluff.  Senator Lincoln successfully secured more than $950,000 in federal funds for the expansion of the nursing program in 2007.  9:00 AM; 4000 South Hickory in Pine Bluff.

Tuesday, June 30
Little Rock

8:30 AM         Lincoln will join Governor and Mrs. Beebe and other members of the congressional delegation at a breakfast at the Governor’s Mansion honoring Her Excellency Ambassador Chan Heng Chee, Singapore’s Ambassador to the United States. 

10:30 AM       Lincoln will visit with residents of Woodland Heights retirement community and discuss how health care reform legislation will affect Arkansas’s seniors.  Lincoln also will participate in a flag raising event for the facility; at the request of Woodland Heights, Lincoln had an American flag flown over the U.S. Capitol.  10:30 AM; 8700 Riley Drive in Little Rock.

Wednesday, July 1
Little Rock, Hot Springs

8:30 AM         Lincoln will attend the opening of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) office.  10825 Financial Centre Parkway, Suite 200 in Little Rock.

10:15 AM       Lincoln will tour St. Joseph’s Mercy Health Center in Hot Springs.  Following the tour, Lincoln will hold a press conference at 10:45 AM to highlight the nation’s broken health care system and how health care reform will bring greater stability to Arkansas’s patients and providers.  The press conference will take place in the Mercy Heart and Vascular Center, Dublin Room, 300 Werner Street in Hot Springs. 

11:45 AM       Lunch at McClard’s Bar-B-Q, 505 Albert Pike Road in Hot Springs. 

2:00 PM          Lincoln will visit with patients at Harmony Health Clinic, Little Rock’s newest charitable clinic which provides medical and dental services to Central Arkansas’s underserved and uninsured population.  In the seven months since its opening, Harmony has had nearly 1,100 patient visits.  2:00 PM; 201 E. Roosevelt Road in Little Rock.   

Thursday, July 2
Fayetteville, Gentry, Bentonville

10:20 AM       Lincoln will meet with Ray Boudreaux, Manager of Fayetteville Municipal Airport at Drake Field.  4500 S. School Avenue, lobby.

2:00 PM          Lincoln will tour McKee Foods in Gentry, 105 McKee Drive. 

3:20 PM          Lincoln will tour the Flint Creek power plant in Gentry, 21797 SWEPCO Plant Road.   

4:45 PM          Lincoln will meet with Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport officials, One Airport Boulevard in Bentonville. 

Friday, July 3
Russellville

8:30 AM         Lincoln will tour Arkansas Nuclear One in Russellville.

10:45 AM       Lincoln will meet with Russellville Mayor Tyrone Williamson.  Fat Daddy’s, 7206 U.S. Highway 64 West. 

11:15 AM       Lincoln will meet with members of Ozark Mountain Regional Public Water Authority.  Fat Daddy’s, 7206 U.S. Highway 64 West.

Saturday, July 4
Piggott, Corning, Portia, Jonesboro, Caraway

9:00 AM         Lincoln will participate in Piggott’s 82nd Annual Fourth of July Parade.

12:00 PM        Lincoln will speak at the Corning Courthouse as part of Corning’s 65th Annual Homecoming Parade and Picnic. 

1:30 PM          Lincoln will attend the 104th Portia Picnic.

3:00 PM          Lincoln will attend “Fourth in the Forrest” at Craighead Forrest Park in Jonesboro.

4:30 PM          Lincoln will deliver a speech at Caraway’s annual Fourth of July picnic.