Washington Update

NDAA

Every day—but especially during the week of the 80^th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attacks—we are reminded our military is the greatest force for good and freedom around the world. Congress has a constitutional responsibility to ensure our warfighters are equipped to defend the homeland. We meet that mission in the FY22 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which I proudly voted to pass. It provides a pay raise for our troops, advances investments in tools to stay ahead of our adversaries, and strengthens national security. The legislation also stops President Biden’s dangerous attempt to shortchange our men and women in uniform and requires answers from the White House on the disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal. Now we must deliver full-year appropriations—not never-ending stopgap measures—to institute these priorities.

NDAA measures I strongly support include:

• Stopping Biden Defense Cuts: Reverses harmful cuts proposed by President Biden and ensures our military is properly resourced.
• Troop Pay Raise: Gives our courageous troops a pay raise.
• Afghanistan Accountability: Implements more than 20 provisions to hold the Biden Administration accountable for its disastrous withdrawal in Afghanistan, including necessitating reports detailing the number of American citizens left behind, requiring a plan to evacuate them, and prohibiting any financial support of the Taliban.
• Confronting Russian Aggression: Strengthens European Deterrence Initiative (EDI), which enhances cooperation with Eastern European countries to support collective priories and deter Russia. With growing Moscow aggression against Ukraine, it also includes support for weapons and equipment to avert the Kremlin’s growing military presence along our ally’s border.   
• Countering China: Bolsters resources to improve lethality, reduces our reliance on Chinese supply chains, requires assessment of CCP ties to COVID-19 origins, and implements other deterrence efforts.
• Backing U.S. Allies: Enhances security cooperation with Singapore, prioritizes cooperation between the National Guard and Taiwan, and implements provisions of the my co-led Taiwan Peace and Stability Act to protect Taiwan’s sovereignty and curb Beijing’s control over the Indo-Pacific region.
• Supporting Arkansas Troops: Provides resources to support our troops at Ebbing, Fort Chaffee, and other Arkansas installations.
• Supports Nuclear Triad Modernization: Invests in needed nuclear triad modernization, including full funding of the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent, at a time when China is exponentially expanding its nuclear arsenal and Russia is modernizing its nuclear capabilities at an alarming rate.
• Helping Military Families: Follows the Natural State’s lead by ensuring portability of professional licensures for military spouses when their sponsor receives military change of station orders. I have been a steadfast advocate of policies to implement this nationwide.
• Boosting Lethality: Invests in the tools needed to keep our troops safe, well-trained, and agile and procures critical defense equipment, including new submarines, ships, and advanced weapon systems.
• Advancing Innovation: Emphasizes policies and programs that advance America's security against emerging threats, including artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, biotechnology, and more.
• Border Security: Declares the situation at our southern border a national security crisis and directs National Guard resources to support enforcement efforts.

Debt Ceiling

Democrats continued to play politics with the debt ceiling. As I have said before, they haven’t included Republican input in any negotiations regarding their massive spending measures. They’ve denied us a seat at the table at every turn. If you don’t want our input—don’t expect us to willingly pay for your unilateral decisions. They’ve wielded total government control and have sole responsibility to answer for their irresponsible spending. Now, this week, they are trying to combine the debt ceiling with other things like Medicare issues.

It is disappointing that instead of working in a bipartisan way to rein in government spending, Democrats used the proposed cuts to medical providers as incentive to increase the nation’s debt limit. House Republicans are anxious to address the Medicare sequester, but it’s irresponsible to demand expanding America’s credit limit in the negotiations. They are separate issues. If Democrats want to get serious about the nation’s balance sheet, I’ll be at the table. But this bill was not the answer.

I voted against this proposal.

While we are on the topic of spending, I also want to make sure you saw today’s news from the Congressional Budget Office's recent scoring of the Democrats' reconciliation bill to confirm the true cost of the package. It confirms what we have long known—Speaker Pelosi, President Biden, and others are lying to the American people about the true cost and impact of their agenda.

So much for zero. Today’s CBO report confirms the Democrats’ Build Back Broke plan will cost American taxpayers nearly $5 trillion and add $3 trillion to the debt. They are bankrupting our nation and unleashing inflation all to give millionaires in New York and California tax breaks. Reckless, especially when the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the Consumer Price Index rose to 6.8% in November, the highest since 1982. This is a direct result of the out-of-control spending and bad policies being pushed by my colleagues on the other side of the aisle. From gas and groceries to heat and everyday products, the American people are paying more. Inflation is taxation. It will only get worse as they continue to try and advance their radical tax and spend spree.

Ocean Shipping Reform Act

I’m proud to announce the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2021, legislation I cosponsored, passed the U.S. House of Representatives with my support. The bill aids our supply chain, increases global market access for our products, and establishes reciprocal commerce opportunities to help address America’s longstanding trade imbalance with China and other countries.

Shipping bottlenecks and disruptions have grown to crisis levels. Americans shouldn’t pay the price of bad policy. Congress must actively advance reforms to strengthen our economy and movement of goods. This bipartisan legislation delivers increased global market access for Arkansas and American-made products and supports our supply chain and global competitiveness. This is one of many solutions I am working to implement.

This is one of my latest steps to solve supply chain challenges, bolster America’s economic competitiveness, and lower costs for U.S. consumers. I am a cosponsor of Supplying America Needs Truckers Aged 18 Act, or SANTA 18 Act—which would eliminate unnecessary red tape and restrictions to allow more truckers and maximize the labor force to keep the supply chain flowing—the DRIVE Safe Act—which promotes job opportunities, enhances safety training for new members of the workforce, and addresses driver shortages in the trucking and logistics industry—and I have urged Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to immediately have the Department of Transportation (DOT) allow truck drivers under 21 to cross state lines. I have also consistently called on the Biden Administration to prioritize efficient movement of goods instead of pushing radical proposals that have unleashed decades-high inflation levels.

Other notes and meetings:

Congressman Womack speaks to National Guard members

National Guard Industry Day: Always Ready, Always There! Honored to have joined National Guard members and defense partners at the National Guard Industry Day event. The Guard remains strong, and it's our duty to ensure they are properly equipped to meet each mission. That means passing full-year funding—not constant CRs.

Congressman Womack with Nammo leadership

Nammo: Spoke to Nammo about key missile programs and the importance of strengthening diplomatic relations around the globe. We also talked about Fort Chaffee and Arkansas’s dedication to supporting a strong national defense.

General Richard Clarke and Congressman Womack

U.S. SOCOM Commander: I met with General Richard Clarke, Commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), to discuss issues of national security and military capabilities. USSOCOM develops and employs fully capable Special Operations Forces to conduct global operations and protect and advance U.S. policies and objectives. We spoke in-depth about near-peer competition and great power conflict, as well as FY22 appropriations. We ended with talking about the upcoming Army-Navy game, as he is a graduate of West Point and former commandant. Go Army!

Congressman Womack with Ambassador of Georgia and other embassy representatives 

Georgian Ambassador: Sat down with David Bakradze, Ambassador of Georgia, to discuss concerns regarding Russia’s aggressive behavior in the region. The Kremlin continues its aggressive posture towards Ukraine, Georgia, and other countries in the region. It is part of their long-term plans to undermine the West’s democratic institutions. We must continue to use diplomacy to promote stability and democracy across the globe.

Congressman Womack at a previous Army-Navy game! Go Army!

Army-Navy Game: As many of you know, I’m proud to serve as the Chairman of the United States Military Academy Board of Visitors. Tomorrow, America’s game will be played! One of the greatest rivalries in sports will take to the football field for a time-honored tradition. No matter the outcome of the game, the day always ends the same way. The teams turn to face the stands with the fans and sing the defeated team’s alma mater – a tradition known as “Honoring the Fallen.” They then run to the other side and sing the winning team’s alma mater. That’s why you’ll hear many folks chant “Sing second!”—because the winning team’s song goes last. The tradition is about mutual respect that goes beyond football. It tells me—that in America—you can still be fierce rivals, and, when it’s over, still stand shoulder to shoulder and be one team again. That’s what our military does. You know who I am rooting for—GO ARMY! Listen to my recent podcast with the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, where I talk about recent updates on COFA negotiations and end with a few remarks about the Army-Navy game! I can’t wait to watch the game and spend time with all the young men and women in the crowd who are following a path of service and are committed to defending our exceptional nation in uniform!