
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, February 10, 1995                   TAG: 9502100040
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                 LENGTH: Short

BOUCHER: BUDGET PROPOSAL TREATS SOUTHWEST VA. WELL

Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Abingdon, said President Clinton's proposed $1.6 trillion budget treats the 9th Congressional District well, but the area still faces obstacles.

``My highest priority for the current year is protecting Southwest Virginia's economic development monies that flow from the federal government,'' Boucher said following the budget presentation earlier this week.

Those monies are included in the budget at the same levels as the past year, he said. But, with the leadership changes in Congress and its Republican majority, he said he is concerned that efforts might be made to eliminate them.

The next test will come when the budget goes before the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, Boucher said.

He said federal monies that helped establish industrial parks in the various 9th District communities are a major reason the district has experienced twice as much economic development as the average congressional district.

by CNB