Washington Update
Appropriations Work
Congressman Womack gives remarks during House Appropriations Committee markups
House Appropriations Committee markups continued this week. As a reminder, this is the process by which congressional committees and subcommittees debate, amend, and rewrite proposed legislation before it is advanced to the floor.
Throughout the meetings, I called for fiscal sanity and worked to improve currently unworkable packages. Examples of amendments I proposed or supported include, but are not limited to:
Cutting Red Tape, Fighting Inflation: With decades-high inflation and news the economy contracted, amendments were offered to reverse the White House’s heavy-handed regulatory agenda that has constrained growth and contributed to recession risks. One amendment would prohibit the Department of Labor from proposing any new rules that don’t help reduce inflation or increase job training until the Consumer Price Index (CPI) returns to pre-pandemic levels. Another would focus the Department of Treasury’s regulatory efforts on reducing the cost of gas or lowering the CPI.
Addressing Infant Formula Crisis: Based on how the FDA has handled the infant formula crisis, it’s clear that strong leadership is needed at the FDA, not a significant increase in funding. This amendment would hold the Office of the FDA Commissioner accountable for the formula crisis by withholding 30% of funds until the FDA provides a comprehensive plan to address the dire situation families with babies and those with special needs are facing across the country.
Unleashing American Energy: This amendment would strengthen American energy production, bolster national security, and increase domestic energy supply to lower gas prices.
Preventing Wasteful USPS Spending: This amendment would remove funding for a USPS pilot program for postal banking. The Postal Service needs to focus on its core mission of delivering reliable, affordable, and universal physical mail, not expanding into areas where it doesn’t have expertise.
Supporting Arkansas Truckers: This amendment stands with Arkansas’s hardworking truckers by blocking burdensome regulations, which would disrupt our protein supply chain and negatively impact Arkansas producers and consumers.
Helping Address Southern Border Crisis: This amendment maintains Title 42 enforcement. This measure is a critical legal tool that allows our law enforcement to expeditiously expel migrants as illegal crossings continue to skyrocket.
Pro-Life Protections: These amendments would defend the sanctity of life by restoring the long-standing prohibitions on the use of taxpayer dollars, Federal Employee Health Benefits, and District of Columbia local funds for abortion.
Combating Russia: This amendment ensures taxpayers dollars used for peacekeeping missions are prohibited from being used to buy Russian-made equipment. Not one dollar should support Putin's war machine.
Holding Iran Accountable: This amendment holds Iran, the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism, accountable by prohibiting the Treasury Department from weakening sanctions against this rogue regime.
Stopping Taxpayer Funded Crack Pipes: With previous reports that the Biden Administration was using a Department of Health and Human Services grant program to purchase smoking kits, which often included crack pipes, in an effort to “reduce harm” in substance abuse, this amendment ensured U.S. taxpayer money can’t be used to purchase crack pipes.
West Point
Congressman Womack at lunch with West Point cadets
It's an honor to be Chairman of the West Point Board of Visitors (BOV), and I am at the United States Military Academy for our quarterly meeting to discuss objectives and welcome the 61st Superintendent Lt. Gen. Steven Gilland—who was just sworn in this week.
Congressman Womack observing air assault training
This leadership institution is hard at work as new cadets are in the midst of training! I am observing cadet summer training as these young men and women begin their journey from civilian to soldier. Cadets are being immersed in the fundamentals of marksmanship, survival tactics, leadership, and more.
Congressman Womack during West Point BOV quarterly meeting
I am proud to share the newest class of cadets from Arkansas’s Third District who are beginning their journeys at West Point:
- Aubrey Bailey of Fort Smith
- Ellery Doyna of Fayetteville
- Luke Monk of Fort Smith
- Madison Phillips of Bentonville
- Sydney Rhuda of Bentonville
- Joey Sta Romana of Centerton
- Luke Welcher of Fayetteville
Go Army!
I hope to see you around Arkansas next week! 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. |