"Everyone connected to the Lewis and Clark project knows how vital it is to communities in South Dakota and other states, and that the President's decision to zero out funding in his Fiscal Year 2009 budget is unacceptable. I worked to authorize this important project when I served in the House of Representatives, and I will continue working with the local leaders I met with today and others to ensure that work on Lewis and Clark continues without delay.
"In previous years, Congress has allocated more money to Lewis and Clark than the President called for in his annual budget, so I am confident that the resources will be there as the project moves forward. Congress determines the final funding levels in the budget, and I will continue to work with the other members of the South Dakota delegation to secure continued funding for this important project."