Around the District

Yelcot Communications

Congressman Womack with Yelcot Communications CEO Sara Zimmerman

I started off the week by visiting Yelcot Communications in Yellville. The company provides broadband service in Arkansas and is also focused on supporting the expansion of broadband accessibility in rural communities.

CEO Sara Zimmerman updated me on phase one of their broadband cable plan and discussed the USDA ReConnect Program, which provides loans and grants to supply funds for the costs of construction, improvement, or acquisition of facilities and equipment needed to provide broadband service in eligible rural areas. For example, you may recall me joining Senator Boozman, Congressman Rick Crawford, and USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue in announcing an $11.8 million investment to support high-speed broadband infrastructure projects in Pope, Van Buren, Stone, and Marion counties last year.

Connecting our rural communities to reliable, high-speed broadband has never been more important. These services touch many aspects of life from economic development and education to telehealth services and just being able to connect with loved ones over the internet. As I stated during the meeting, policies coming from Congress should incentivize increased access to the internet, not create more red tape. Strategic investments to expand connectivity and internet access are critical, as is ensuring affordability of services.

Harrison Kiwanis

Congressman Womack speaking to Harrison Kiwanis Club

One of the best parts of my job is talking to and hearing from wonderful Arkansans from around the Third District. It was great to do just that at the Harrison Kiwanis Club. I gave a quick update on the latest policy proposals from Congress and discussed some statewide initiatives and news. I spoke about my support of Camp Jack. As I said, the concept of the facility is something I greatly admire and support. Not only does it consolidate all things veterans, but it also provides a place where younger people can talk to veterans about the sacrifices they made for their country.

I appreciated speaking to such an engaged group and hearing more about their thoughts. Kiwanis members are dedicated to building a strong community, and you could feel that spirit throughout the room.

You can read more about various parts of the meeting from the Harrison Daily here and here.

Camp Jack

Congressman Womack at Camp Jack in Harrison

Camp Jack is a very special place. For those of you who don’t recall some of the information I previously shared in March, the Jack Williams Veterans Resource Center (“Camp Jack") is a non-profit in Harrison that supports veterans. The facility offers a safe and welcoming environment for veterans and their families to find information on benefits, attend a meeting, or even just grab a cup of coffee.

The center is named after Jack Williams, a proud Arkansan and American who saved many lives at the cost of his own during the Battle of Iwo Jima. This World War II hero who selflessly gave his last full measure of devotion to defend our freedom embodies the impact and meaning of the center.

Its foundational mission is focused on serving AR-3's heroes: our veterans. It was my honor to join our fellow neighbors and vets at the facility again and elevate the conversation about doing better and giving back more to those who have served.

Congressman Womack talks to veterans and community members 

When I first came here months ago, I fell in love with their mission. A place where vets can come and talk about their experiences or talk to veteran services groups for their own needs. Through the vision of the people in Harrison and the surrounding areas, we are going to make sure we continue to strengthen its resources.

And, I have been a leading voice in Washington calling for an investment that will do just that. As an appropriator, one of my community project requests that I have been advocating for and secured in one of the House-passed appropriations bills specifically would help upgrade the site. This is about making this space even more representative of the great sacrifices of those who will use this facility, as well as its namesake—Jack Williams. 

To me, this is about showing America does not forget who the men and women are that provide us our safety, our security, and have fought for our freedom. The least we can do as a society is to remember that service: take care of their needs, make sure they’re not homeless, and that they have places like this to go to and seek any help they may need.

eSCO

Congressman Womack gets a firsthand look at eSCO's process on their recycling and refurbishment floor 

When we think of recycling, plastic, cans, and boxes likely first come to mind. But with the rise of technology, properly recycling electronics has quickly become an important step in the circular economy. I visited eSCO Processing and Recycling in Rogers to see their work.

The company is an electronics recycling and asset recovery firm. They focus on maximizing the recovery value of electronics and other materials to reduce waste and stop products from ending up in landfills. We talked about their recycling models, workforce, and different locations—and I was also able to watch some of the disassembly and refurbishment work in their facility.

Read a little more about my visit here.

Open Avenues

Congressman Womack outside Open Avenues

As a nation, it's up to us to support our veterans through obstacles as they shift back into civilian life. Open Avenues is helping us serve those who have served through their Community Employment Program. The center helps disabled vets and others develop new vocational skills and secure permanent jobs. Their stated mission is opening avenues of opportunity for people with disabilities by facilitating personal growth and attainment of vocational goals, as well as ensuring all people with disabilities are respected for their unique contributions to the community. They provide several resources, including a training center, pre-vocational program, community employment support, and transportation for participants.

You immediately see the difference being made in the lives of Arkansans. They are successfully helping each person who walks through their doors reach their full potential. It benefits residents who are learning new pathways to success, while also strengthening our workforce.

I appreciated the time of Jeff Hairston, Mary Lou Gates, Jacob Sheatsley, and the rest of the Open Avenues team. Furthermore, I loved meeting all the program participants who were working hard in the training center.

Northwest Arkansas Realtors

Congressman Womack speaks to NABOR members

I joined the Northwest Arkansas Board of Realtors (NABOR) for their monthly meeting in Lowell. I shared the latest updates from Washington, talked about the legislative process, and also heard more about local housing industry challenges and priorities. Thanks to all the NABOR members for their time and warm welcome.

Some other notes and news:

Protecting Americans from Biden’s IRS Surveillance Proposal: This week, I continued my work to stop the Biden Administration’s attempt to institute unwarranted Internal Revenue Service (IRS) surveillance on Americans’ bank accounts and financial transactions by cosponsoring the Protecting Financial Privacy Act. The legislation would block a Democrat-proposed mandate that would allow the IRS to monitor annual inflows and outflows of $600 or more. Having the federal government’s hands permanently in your wallet is not enough for President Biden’s tax and spend agenda. He now wants eyes on your bank account and ATM transactions. The IRS doesn’t need to know when you pay your rent or go to the grocery store. It’s a radical overreach and unprecedented invasion of privacy. This bill will proactively stop this terrible mandate—and I am proud to cosponsor it and safeguard the rights of Arkansans. Learn more here.

Dismal Jobs Report: The dismal September jobs report majorly missed expectations—this time by over 306,000 jobs. Expectations were 500,000 jobs added; reality was only 194,000 net new jobs added. This is way less than anybody expected and actually comes in as the worst jobs report of 2021 to date. With these numbers, we've actually seen higher reported illegal border crossings in both July and August than job gains. The policies of House Democrats and the Biden Administration are hurting our nation, hampering growth, and leaving workers on the sidelines.

Congressional App Challenge: The entrepreneurial spirit of Arkansas is one of our greatest strengths. Each generation, forward-thinking and innovative minds have helped shape the success of our state—and the Congressional App Challenge inspires continued ingenuity. I can’t wait to see our best and brightest minds get creative and leverage their STEM skills again this year. I encourage all local middle and high school students to participate! If you are a student or know someone who should apply, you can click here to learn more about how to sign up before the November 1 deadline.

University of Arkansas National Semiconductor Fabrication Facility: Engineering researchers led by Distinguished Professor Alan Mantooth have received $17.87 million from the National Science Foundation to build and operate a national silicon carbide research and fabrication facility at the University of Arkansas. From advancing electrified transport to improving the power grid and more, silicon carbide tech is critical to national security. U of A research in this area is driving innovation right here in the Third District. I proudly helped secure funding for this center. Learn more about the grant and facility here.

Wishing you a great weekend ahead! You can keep an eye on my website or check out my Twitter and Instagram pages to stay up-to-date with the latest news from my office. Also, if you are having issues with a federal agency or have a casework question, don’t forget to check out my office’s upcoming mobile office hours here!