“Shelby County and the 9th district received $5.6 billion in resources from the federal government last year, more than any other county in Tennessee.  These resources include benefits for senior citizens, veterans, small businesses and federal employees,” Ford said.  

After the Associated Press (AP) published a flawed study of federal funds going to congressional districts, Ford asked the U.S. Census Bureau to provide an accurate accounting of how much funding Washington actually sent to Shelby County and the 9th congressional district.   The Associated Press study inaccurately stated that the 9th District received $1.7 billion by dividing total number of dollars going to Shelby County equally between the 7th, 8th and 9th congressional districts.  In fact, the 9th District is comprised of more than two-thirds of Shelby County and the overwhelming majority of funding actually flows to Ford’s district.  

“The premise and methodology of the AP study is flawed,” said Ford.  “Federal funding is but one of many ways to judge the effectiveness of a congressman.  The people of the 9th District look to me to represent them with my votes in the House, play an important role in major legislation and ensure that the money we get from Washington is used in an effective way.  I was proud to help craft a corporate governance reform bill , a major campaign finance bill, education reform legislation and trade promotion authority, all of which are important to the people of Shelby County and the nation.”
 
The U.S. Census Bureau report shows that Shelby County and the 9th District received the following federal funding in fiscal year 2001:

Total direct expenditures from the federal government $5.6 billion
 Defense expenditures     $658.7 million
 Non-defense expenditures     $4.93 billion

U.S. Census Bureau shows $5.6 billion in federal 
aid flowed to Shelby County last year
Page 2

Retirement & disability payments    $1.784 billion
 Social Security benefits     $1.382 billion
 Federal retirement payments    $296 million
 Veterans benefits      $70.3 million
 All other retirement & disability payments  $35.1 million

Other direct payments      $998.5 million
 Food Stamps       $112.6 million
 Medicare       $678.9 million 
 Housing Assistance       $129.9 million
 All other        $41.95 million

Grant awards total      $1.12 billion
 Highway construction & planning    $44.1 million
 Family support payments (AFDC & TANF)  $74.9 million
 Medicaid       $638.4 million
 Direct payments other than for individuals  $35 million

Federal procurement contracts & awards   $885.8 million
 Defense procurement contracts & awards  $373.7 million
 Non-defense procurement contracts & awards  $512 million
 Other        $366.2 million

Federal salaries & wages      $801.9 million
 Defense       $159.2 million
 Non-defense       $642.7 million
 U.S. Postal Service      $243.2 million

Other federal assistance total     $976.6 million
 Direct loans       $103.4 million
 Guaranteed loans      $571.7 million
 Insurance       $301.3 million

In addition, data from various federal agencies show federal funding flowing to the following organizations in the 9th District in FY 00-01:

Memphis City Schools Title I funding    $62.5 million
Memphis Area Transit Authority Medical Center Rail  $19.2 million
Memphis International Airport Runway Improvements  $6.93 million
Memphis Zoo Northwest Passage Campaign   $100,000
Soulsville/Stax Revitalization Project    $2.5 million
Shelby County Schools Federal aid    $8.68 million