Washington Update

The House Held Hostage

Multiple procedural votes have been left open for hours as Speaker Pelosi tries to jam through her socialist legislation 

Silence. We have been hearing a lot of that from Speaker Pelosi. She still does not have the votes for her tax-and-spend monstrosity, but she is holding the floor hostage as she tries to strong-arm people in her caucus to vote for it.

A fiscally responsible proposal would be fully paid for, require NO gimmicks, and be well-targeted to the needs of American families and infrastructure. What we are seeing is a package filled with more taxes, more regulation, more government control, and more handouts for a far-left vision. Just a few examples—tucked in this 2135-page package are tax cuts for Speaker Pelosi, Senator Schumer, and their neighbors, a refundable tax credit to boost union boss power, billions of dollars to give the IRS more resources to monitor your bank account, amnesty for illegal immigrants, home heating taxes, and taxpayer money that can be utilized for abortions. That is just the tip of the iceberg.

It’s also scary to think it could be the most expensive day in House history. Yet, we still don’t have a total price tag. You read that right. We don’t have a CBO score, which basically provides a fiscal analysis and cost of the bill. We need to know these facts, so every member has the information needed before taking a vote on this massive and consequential package.

Dems have NO idea the true cost of their reconciliation package. But right now, as I write this, they're scurrying to vote before anyone can see the real cost. It’s wrong—and the truth should not be hidden from our constituents and the American people. I joined others in calling for this controversial reconciliation bill to be postponed until the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office can issue a full score and fiscal analysis of the bill as required by law.

Speaker Pelosi likes to say her policies are “for the children.” Well, here is the reality: they will be paid for by our children and grandchildren.

I oppose these radical bills. They won’t Build Back Better, but they certainly will Build Back Broke. We have no updates on when any of these votes will actually happen, but I can assure you—I will be here—and ready to represent Third District Arkansans.

Securing U.S. Technology Against CCP Espionage

Congressman Womack works on his legislative priorities 

Communist China is actively working to target every aspect of American enterprise. The last thing we need is to give companies inextricably tied to Beijing’s espionage efforts access to critical U.S. networks. It’s a glaring national security threat. Every action must be taken to secure our technology and telecommunications infrastructure.

I put forth a bill to help us in the mission. I introduced the American Telecommunications Security Act, bipartisan legislation prohibiting the use of American Rescue Plan Act funds to purchase telecommunications equipment manufactured by the Chinese firms Huawei and ZTE.

In June 2020, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) designated Huawei and ZTE as national security threats due to their ties to the Chinese government and Chinese law requiring them to assist in espionage activities. As a result, no funds from the FCC’s Universal Fund can be used to purchase equipment from these two suppliers.

However, the American Rescue Plan did not include language prohibiting this, allowing states and local governments to purchase telecommunications equipment that poses a national security risk. This bill ensures that state and local governments across the country purchase equipment that maintains our national security against foreign threats.

Learn more here.

Stopping Biden’s Federal Vaccine Mandate

Congressman Steve Womack and Congresswoman Stephanie Bice reflect on Biden Admin announcements and news of the day

I helped introduce the No Vaccine Mandate Act, legislation to prevent the Biden Administration from enacting its announced vaccine mandate on U.S. private businesses and workers. The bill would fight unprecedented federal government overreach by preventing appropriated funds from being used to implement the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rules requiring Americans to undergo COVID-19 vaccinations or testing.

This isn’t about health and safety; it’s about government control. While President Biden contradicts his original stance and forces vaccine mandates on private business, he’s simultaneously flying untested and unvaccinated illegal migrants around the country. So American citizens can lose their jobs, but those breaking our laws can do what they want? I support vaccinations, but this move is a complete federal overreach and likely unconstitutional.

Additionally, these measures will likely exacerbate workforce shortages we are seeing throughout critical industries, including healthcare, child welfare, transportation, and education. 

Read the full text of the bill here.

Fort Smith’s Madison Marsh

Congressman Womack and Madison Marsh of Fort Smith

Madison Marsh, a Fort Smith native and Southside HS graduate, was on Capitol Hill this week. I wanted to share some insights with you on this incredible Arkansan and her trip.

Although she is currently a cadet at the United States Air Force Academy, where she is studying astrophysics and aspires to be an Air Force pilot—and eventually an astronaut—she took time out of her busy schedule to advocate for an issue incredibly personal for her.

Unfortunately, in 2018, Madison’s mother, Whitney Marsh, lost her battle with pancreatic cancer after being misdiagnosed. Since that time, Madison and her family have made it their mission to fight this deadly disease and raise awareness by establishing the Whitney Marsh Foundation—a Fort Smith non-profit that supports cancer research—and holding events like Whitney’s Race Day, which takes place in Fort Chaffee.

Rep. Ken Calvert, Rep. Tom Cole, Madison Marsh, Rep. Hal Rogers, and Rep. Womack

November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, and it was a privilege to support her as she came to Washington to discuss the importance of funding pancreatic cancer research, new technologies in early detection, and propose some ideas on ways that research can be improved.

She sat down with several prominent lawmakers, including Senators Boozman and Cotton, leaders from the National Cancer Institute, and even met Tony Blair, former UK Prime Minister, while walking through the halls.

She’s a trailblazer who also has presented research on Mars, competed in pageants, and flies planes. Her goal—besides eradicating Pancreatic Cancer—is to one day make it to the Moon. I have no doubt a Fort Smith legacy will be left in space one day! To me, her hard work and dedication are just one illustration of the type of students coming out of the region. I am so very proud of Madison—and all of our extremely talented young men and women from Arkansas—who are creating their own trails and pursuing their goals. Read this Talk Business article to learn more about the trip.

Fiscal State of the Nation

Congressman Womack speaks on the floor, calls for budget reforms

I took to the floor to once again call for budget and appropriations reforms and order Congress to address our nation’s unsustainable fiscal trajectory. During my speech, I voiced my support for the Fiscal State of the Nation Resolution, legislation which would require the Comptroller General to present the Financial Report of the United States to a joint hearing of the House and Senate Budget Committees. The measure was one of the previous reforms I presented as Co-Chair of the Joint Select Committee on Budget and Appropriations Process Reform.

As I said during my remarks, the people I represent in Arkansas don't have a choice but to balance their checkbooks. And if they can't, they're limited on how much they can borrow, and for what. Sadly, the federal government doesn't play by the same rules. We're $29 trillion in debt. We have budget deficits as far as the eyes can see.

We are mortgaging the future of our kids and our grandkids. And it's painfully obvious to me that the governing majority doesn't really care much about deficits and debt—but Third District Arkansans do. H.Con.Res. 44 will require a joint congressional hearing on the Fiscal State of the Union. It won’t fully solve the crisis, but it will help us understand the decisions that need to be made.

I’m happy to share the reform passed the House. The work can’t stop here though. We need this hearing, but we also need comprehensive budget process reform. I will keep advocating for a process that is actually effective for the American people.

Learn more here.

General Atomics

Congressman Womack and General Atomics team following their meeting

A strong national defense is vitally important to the safety and security of the United States. We are blessed to live in a region and country where, generation after generation, we have men and women driven by a call to serve in uniform. It was a great honor to wear the Arkansas National Guard uniform for decades, and the protection of America remains at the forefront of my priorities as a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense.

I sat down with the General Atomics team to discuss the National Guard requirements and concerns related to Army modernization, which could affect our “Always Ready, Always There” citizen soldiers. It’s important to me that the National Guard is not overlooked. They are a critical part of supporting the U.S. National Defense Strategy, and we should always recognize that. During the meeting, we also discovered that Mr. “Lee” Winningham served in the same Arkansas National Guard unit as me and is also a proud graduate of Arkansas Tech. Honored to have been part of the same troop and to make the connection years later!

Arkansas Farm Credit

Congressman Womack meets with Arkansas Farm Credit members 

I always appreciate it when we have more of the Natural State in D.C. It was great to be with members of Farm Credit Services of Arkansas, including Brandon Haberer and Charlie McConnell of Russellville. We spoke about recent legislative proposals, frivolous CFPB regulations that add to Washington’s red tape, and the status of budget and appropriations. Agriculture is critical to the strength of the Third District and our nation. I’m proud of the work of our farmers, ranchers, producers, and those who support them! 

Some other notes and news:

Securing the Southern Border: Border security is national security. We’re a sovereign nation and a country can't exist without borders. I expressed my serious concerns to Department of Homeland (DHS) Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas about the organized migrant caravan—with an estimated 2,000 migrants—that is currently on its way from southern Mexico toward the United States. I want to know what DHS is doing to respond to the caravan, how they are collecting and sharing intelligence, and if they will expel migrants who don’t have a legal basis to be here. In the past year alone, U.S. Border Patrol has recorded nearly 1.7 million migrant apprehensions at the southern border, which is the highest number of illegal crossings in history. If the Administration does not begin to appropriately respond to these caravans and the ongoing border crisis, these surges will surely continue. We must enforce our immigration laws as we do any other laws and ensure migrants in this caravan with nonexistent asylum claims will not be released into the United States. Read my letter to Secretary Mayorkas here.

Standing with Israel: I will always stand with our closest ally in the Middle East. The Obama Administration was mistaken in pushing an anti-Israel agenda—and it seems the Biden Administration is repeating the stance. I strongly disagree with the White House’s move to reopen the United States Consulate in contested East Jerusalem to serve Palestinians. The move is misguided and would be inconsistent with U.S. law, which recognizes Jerusalem as Israel's undivided capital. President Biden’s proposal would have the unconscionable effect of undermining the United States' recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and signal support for dividing Jerusalem. Furthermore, the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority publicly stated that his reason for wanting this consulate opened is for the purpose of dividing Jerusalem. I joined my colleagues in confronting this plan and calling for the idea to be abandoned. We should be affirming our commitment to Israel, not pursuing misguided foreign policy that would weaken stability in the region. Learn more here.  

Opposing Democrat Natural Gas Tax: The Democrat agenda has attacked American energy independence. Right now, Americans are facing rising costs on everything from gas to groceries, yet my colleagues on the other side of the aisle continue to push policies that fuel inflation and cede our energy production to adversaries like Iran, Russia, and China. Now, they want to squeeze your wallet even more by instituting a natural gas tax. It will impact every family, further burdening hardworking Arkansans and Americans. I helped introduce a resolution expressing my complete opposition to instituting this tax and highlighting the negative impact it would have across the country. More information here.

Fighting Addiction: Substance abuse and addiction know no boundaries. There is no state, community, or family that hasn’t been touched by this scourge. I cosponsored the Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act, legislation that would vastly increase access to life-saving addiction medicine by eliminating a duplicative bureaucratic hurdle—colloquially known as the “x-waiver”— which was misguidedly instituted by President Biden and is currently blocking millions of highly trained health professionals from prescribing buprenorphine to their patients. This will increase access to evidence-based treatment that can prevent overdoses and save lives, and I am proud to support it.

Encompass Health Hospital: I had a meeting with the Encompass Health Hospital to discuss challenges that Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities are facing, which could impact patient access. I asked questions about labor shortages, supply chain, and more. Thank you to Dawn Watts of Fort Smith and Janette Daniels of Fayetteville for their time and discussion.

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!