June 16, 2023

Washington Update

Upholding my Oath of Office

The House got back to work this week and passed conservative legislation to rein in government overreach, but we also voted on something different. One of my Republican colleagues, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, filed a resolution to censure Rep. Adam Schiff, a Democrat from California, for the misrepresentations he made over the Mueller probe.

Let me be clear. What Schiff did was indefensible. He allowed partisan politics to infiltrate his work as the Intelligence Committee chairman when Democrats had the majority. He needs to be held accountable.

The problem with the Luna resolution is that it included language proposing a fine of $16 million. It was that language that caused me to vote against the resolution. It runs afoul with the Constitution, on matters of due process, and excessiveness of monetary penalties. 

However, I am in no way defending Schiff and his actions. If you think or hear otherwise, I hope you know, nothing is further from the truth. If that language is taken out, then I’ll vote yes to censure. My understanding is that Luna is going to do just that. We should be voting on the new resolution next week.

Here's the bottom line. We cannot wrap ourselves in the Constitution when it’s convenient yet look the other way when it’s not. I’ve been very clear about my commitment to my oath to the Constitution – not any political party, not the Freedom Caucus, not the President – my oath is to the Constitution. My vote on January 6^th was about the Constitution, my votes on the Second Amendment are about the Constitution, and my vote to table the resolution on Schiff was about the Constitution.

America’s genius is its remarkable constitution. We should honor it every time we vote, not just when it’s politically expedient.

Appropriations Season Begins

This week, my colleagues in the House Appropriations Committee and I got together for two full days of markup, where we debated two bills and passed both out of the committee.

First, we tackled the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs bill. Arkansas’ Third has a long history of supporting our defenders, and I’m proud to say this year’s bill continues this legacy. It secures funding for Ebbing Air National Guard Base construction in support of the critical FMS mission that will soon bring the sound of freedom to Fort Smith. We also salute our nation’s veterans by fully funding their care and benefits in this bill. Bolstering our national security capabilities in the district and across the country remains a top priority of mine in Congress.

The following day we considered the Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration bill. Farmers and ranchers feed our nation and fuel our economy. I’m glad my colleagues and I passed this bill, which supports our food supply chain in Arkansas’ Third and pulls back the Biden Administration’s green agenda and federal overreach so our producers on the ground can effectively do their job.

This week was another step toward regular order and advancing conservative priorities. We have 10 more appropriations bills to finish, one of them being a bill from the subcommittee I chair, the Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee. It’s critical we take our job as appropriators seriously and responsibly fund the government.

Womack-Backed Legislation

The House passed 5 bills this week that aim to pull back government overreach, all of which I supported:

• H.J. Res. 44: The Biden Administration’s ATF Pistol Brace Rule erodes the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding gun owners and disabled combat veterans across the nation. I strongly supported H.J. Res. 44, which overturns this unconstitutional government overreach and protects the rights of the American people, especially those who have courageously sacrificed for our nation.
• Gas Stove Protection and Freedom Act & Save Our Gas Stoves Act: Our President’s assault on gas stoves is typical of the hyper-regulatory environment that Democrats aim at the heart of consumer and economic freedom. The left shouldn’t tell Americans how to live their lives, especially when choosing how to cook food for their families affordably. It’s commonsense to support these bills that keep the federal government out of American households.
• REINS Act & Separation of Powers Restoration Act: President Biden has signed over 100 executive orders, costing taxpayers over $1 trillion and circumventing Congressional approval. We voted to rein in executive branch overreach, ensure the proper separation of constitutional powers, and prioritize government accountability.

Bill Introductions

I introduced two bills with Arkansas’ Third in mind.

• As our nation celebrated Flag Day on Wednesday, I reintroduced a constitutional amendment to restore the authority of Congress to protect our national emblem of freedom by prohibiting the desecration of the American flag. The stars and stripes embody the freedom that’s foundational to our great nation. We salute the American flag to signify our loyalty to the U.S. and show our deep gratitude for those who’ve sacrificed to preserve our liberties. Generations of Americans have fought under this symbol of freedom, and it’s our duty in Congress to protect it.
• I introduced a bill with Rep. Morgan McGarvey of Kentucky called the Duty Drawback Clarification Act. This bipartisan bill that would allow American whiskey distillers to participate in the duty drawback program, which is already available to other beer, wine, and spirit makers in the United States. The duty drawback program refunds duties and fees paid by importers when they export similar amounts of the same product. The entrepreneurial spirit is strong throughout the Natural State, and this policy change will help our businesses be successful. I’m glad to advance legislation that fosters economic growth, prioritizes American jobs, and unleashes new sources of opportunity for our distillers.

Some picture highlights from the week:

From the front...

Congressman Steve Womack
Arkansas Third District