Washington Update

Paying Tribute to Lois Bouton, “The Coast Guard Lady”

Rep. Womack honors Lois Bouton on the House floor

As legislative business on the House floor opened up this morning, I had the opportunity and privilege to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. After saluting our flag, I rose again to remember the remarkable life of an honorable patriot—the late Lois Bouton of Rogers, Arkansas—who recently passed away at the age of 102.

Most know her lovingly as the “Coast Guard Lady.” But that nickname didn’t just stem from her 20 years as a member of U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 085-05-06 on Beaver Lake.

During World War II, she enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard Women’s Reserve, where she acted as a radio operator.

She was discharged from the “SPARs” – the acronym reflecting the Coasts Guard’s motto “Semper Paratus – Always Ready” – in 1945 as a Radioman Third Class. However, her passion for the service never left. It only grew and followed her through life.

Lois made it a point to visit with wounded and recovering military members—always taking particular care to find her fellow Coasties.

That was just the start of her mission to uplift others. With a pen and paper, she deployed her very own "fleet." She tirelessly wrote over 100,000 handwritten letters to greet and encourage personnel. Her words have crossed oceans and seas—reaching legions of Coast Guard members and their families all over the world.

Her dedication earned her the rank of Honorary Master Chief Petty Officer, Department of Defense’s Spirit of Hope Award, the U.S. Coast Guard Distinguished Public Service Award, and more. But she always maintained that her greatest accomplishment was the joy she helped spread.

She touched the lives of all who knew her, and we should all strive to replicate the giving spirit she upheld daily.

I wanted the nation to know of this extraordinary American. Fair Winds and Following Seas to the beloved Coast Guard Lady from Arkansas. She will be laid to rest in the Third District on Monday, and I hope you will join me in praying for her and the entire Bouton family. 

Read more here.

Legislative Business

Rep. Womack voted against a nearly 3,000-page bill that allows taxpayer dollars to flow to Chairman Xi and does little to hold Beijing accountable

All eyes in the House were on China this week – but it wasn't because of the Olympics. Countering the threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) must be a priority for both parties. From hiding the origins of the COVID-19 virus and actions to steal technology information to human rights violations and aggression in the South China Sea, the CCP must be held accountable for its hostile actions. Unfortunately, House Democrats, under the direction of Speaker Pelosi, aren't serious about confronting these issues. This week, instead of even attempting to put together a bipartisan bill, they pushed a highly partisan bill that both failed to make America more competitive and address ongoing threats posed by the CCP. Besides being weak on China, it was also stuffed with more Washington control over the economy and ideological pandering to the far-left base political base.    

And, the bill is ironically reminiscent of the Chinese Communist Party itself. Developed behind closed doors, with no public hearings, transparency, or debate—it props up Chairman Xi at the expense of U.S. enterprise. We can’t surrender America’s standing to a communist regime—and a toothless proposal that references "coral reefs" more than "China" will do little to boost our competitiveness and counter Beijing’s many abuses. There is no question the CCP is intent on controlling the future. Arkansas even saw a professor arrested in recent years for his alleged connection to the Chinese government.  As their agents employ all tools to subvert our institutions and steal proprietary information, this legislation fails to confront that serious threat. 

Aspects of the House Democrat package that you should know about:

• Adds fuel to inflation fire: Costs $325 billion, and there’s no offset to pay for the bill, so much of it will be added to our national debt.
• Puts welfare expansion ahead of closing the trade gap with China: Renews and significantly expands the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program without including new Trade Promotion Authority and holding small businesses across the country hostage by including radical climate and union-boss-favored labor requirements.
• Wastes taxpayer dollars on issues completely unrelated to China: Examples include $8 billion for the UN Green Climate Fund, funding for studies on coral reefs, and placing suffocating regulation on U.S. fisheries.
• Invites more malign CCP actors into the country: Creates a new class of visa that would be even less secure than the existing visa programs already riddled with fraud. Shockingly, an unlimited number of members of the Chinese Communist Party are eligible to take advantage of the new visa program to carry out their malign activity here in the States.
• Ties U.S. hands behind our back: The bill urges the U.S. to abide by the dangerous and short-sighted Paris Climate Agreement which would cripple our economic output and does almost nothing to stop China’s much more rampant pollution.
• Distracts our military from focusing on China: The bill would direct the U.S. Armed Forces to train to combat climate change events.
• Lets China off the hook for their role in the pandemic: The only mention of the investigation into COVID origins is a meaningless requirement that mandates Biden give a report to Congress. No independent investigation, no sanctions, no punishment.
• Pads China’s coffers: China will be eligible for financial assistance from the World Banks Group and Asian Development Banks if assistance will contribute to “fighting climate change.”
• Turns a blind eye to Confucius Institutes: The bill fails to ban federal funding for colleges and universities that host Confucius Institutes, a tool of the Chinese Communist Party to steal our intellectual property and censor our campuses.
• Allows China to continue their propaganda: The bill does not call for moving the International Olympic Games outside of China, instead opting for a weak slap on the wrist, a.k.a. a “diplomatic boycott.”
• Covers up genocide: Tries to appease Chairman Xi by omitting the word “genocide” from provisions on human rights in Xinjiang. The bill also softens language condemning the Chinese Communist Party and their authoritarian manner of governing.

It was another missed opportunity to work together to confront a real threat. Speaker Pelosi chose to advance a partisan measure that will never get signed into law in its current form. We could have stood together, and in a united voice showed the CCP that we will hold them accountable for their espionage, predatory trade practices, human rights abuses, and suppression of transparency and information at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, Democrat leadership just played more political games and wasted time. I opposed this weak and misguided legislation. I will continue fighting for legislation that enhances America’s defense edge, reduces our reliance on Chinese supply chains, requires assessment of CCP ties to COVID-19 origins, tackles China’s predatory behavior, addresses inequities that have disadvantaged American producers, and implements other deterrence efforts.

Winter Storm

Please stay safe and warm!

Arkansas has been experiencing a big winter storm. Our region has been impacted by snow, sleet, ice, and extremely frigid temperatures. While we are hoping to see melting in the coming days, temperatures will once again plummet tonight. This will make for hazardous driving conditions as snow and ice refreeze overnight. I wanted to share some resources to help you stay informed and safe in the coming days.

AR Emergency Info: 

Roads: 

Energy: