Washington Update
Legislative Business
As your representative, finding and implementing solutions to the many challenges our nation and communities face is what I came to Congress to do.
I work every day to uphold that promise and serve the great people of the Third District. With that obligation in mind, I introduced two bills this week.
Our veterans deserve the highest standard of care. Unfortunately, we have witnessed abuses and oversights at Veterans Affairs facilities across the country and in my own district.
For example, after two years, the Fayetteville VA Medical Center (VAMC) just announced a permanent medical director. It’s welcome news, but the overall situation highlighted a serious problem: vacancies and long-term staffing shortages have become a recurrent trend.
I have responded to the challenge by teaming up with Senator John Boozman to propose the Veterans Affairs Medical Center Absence and Notification Timeline or VACANT Act.
The measure requires the VA Secretary to fill vacant medical center director positions within 180 days of detailing. It also requires Congress to be notified of open spots, ensuring stronger oversight.
Timely hiring and proper staffing of high-quality professionals should be the standard—not the goal. Dependable management at our VA facilities is critical to providing the care our vets earned. Just as a battalion commander leads a unit, the VA needs leadership in place to ensure health services are being properly delivered to those who’ve worn America’s uniform. Read more about the VACANT Act here.
On another note, the national debt is currently on track to reach $32 trillion. Our unsustainable trajectory is one of the greatest threats to America’s prosperity and security.
I—alongside my Democrat co-lead Rep. Ed Case (HI-1)—reintroduced the bipartisan Sustainable Budget Act to chart a better fiscal and economic path forward. The legislation creates a national commission charged with developing policies to balance the budget within ten years. It’s an idea that stems from the work I did as co-chair of the Joint Select Committee on Budget and Appropriations Process Reform.
When asked about the bill, Maya MacGuineas, President of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, said, "I applaud Representatives Case and Womack for their bipartisan collaboration in proposing the Sustainable Budget Act. This bill would establish a commission to facilitate productive dialogue across the aisle to achieve a more fiscally sound future for our country. We commend them for introducing this common-sense legislation to tackle our nation's long-term debt."
We need to implement every possible mechanism to tackle the nation’s exploding debt. The Sustainable Budget Act will help us identify steps to advance that goal. Learn more about the legislation here.
These initiatives will make America and Arkansas stronger—and I will be working to bring both the VACANT Act and Sustainable Budget Act up for a vote.
This week, the House also passed my cosponsored measure condemning socialism in all forms and opposing the implementation of socialist policies in the United States. It has a straightforward point—but you would be shocked to know that 86 Democrats voted against condemning the horrors of socialism. Some others voted present. It is pretty appalling to see nearly 100 members refuse to denounce socialism.
Here is a reality check for them: socialism is fueled by destroying freedom. It’s an affront to the values America was built on. Yet, some embrace the ideology as a pathway forward. I have seen the dangerous impact of its policies firsthand at the Venezuelan border. It’s a consistent plight all too real for those suffering under authoritarian control. I will always stand to protect liberty and opportunity.
I will be back in D.C. next week and will keep you updated on the latest news from Washington. Wishing you a great weekend ahead! Be sure to check out my website, Twitter, and Instagram pages in the meantime.
Some picture highlights from the week:
In preparation for this week’s National Prayer Breakfast, I was proud to host the Spiritual Heritage Tour of the Capitol. It was a privilege to join others in celebrating and learning more about the revered significance and spiritual history of our nation.
The Spiritual Heritage Tour wouldn’t be complete without a surprise! It was great to have my friend and colleague House Majority Leader Steve Scalise stop in. As we entered the Lincoln Room, we reflected on the Capitol being a living history museum. It holds pieces of America’s past, present, and future.
The Natural State has a strong and proud outdoor heritage! From fishing and hunting to exploring the amazing trails, our state prioritizes both the enjoyment and conservation of the natural wonders that surround us. I appreciated seeing Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Director Austin Booth in D.C. and receiving updates on local management and initiatives. As someone who went duck hunting recently, their mission of ensuring Arkansas’s habitats and wildlife are enjoyed for generations to come is personal to me and our communities.
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I met with members of the National Federation of the Blind of Arkansas from the Third District and across the Natural State. Thank you to Nena of Centerton and Bryson of Conway for sharing their personal stories with me. They don’t let their challenges with their sight hold them back, and their independence is a priority for them. Their advocacy also gives important understanding into accessibility legislation, and it was helpful to get a better understanding of certain proposals and their impact.
The Third District boasts excellent schools and educators. It was a pleasure to sit down with John Brown University President Chip Pollard and local students to discuss higher education issues. They shared the importance of our faith-based colleges and universities in Arkansas and how many JBU students don’t want to leave the area after going to school there. We want to keep talent in our region, so that was a welcome insight!
I am glad I got to say hello to Kelly Haren of Bentonville and Mario De Armas of Rogers while they were visiting our nation's capital! Safe travels back to the Natural State! |