Washington Update
It was a hectic few days in Washington! Read below for legislative highlights and a rundown on what happened in the House of Representatives this week.
House Approved Legislation
Here’s my take on the House-passed bills of the week:
- FAA reauthorization: This week I was proud to support the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation (SGRLAA) Act, which ensures America continues to be the world’s gold standard in aviation. It reauthorizes the programs of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the nation’s aviation safety and infrastructure programs for the next five years. With increased competition worldwide, investments in aviation safety, innovation, and the industry’s economy are critically important. I’m especially glad a proposed amendment that could have affected Arkansans’ easy access to the People’s House through a direct flight from XNA to DCA was defeated on the House floor and excluded from the bill. This was a big win for Arkansas’ Third! It’s important for Arkansans to have accessibility to their elected representatives and our nation’s rich history.
- Schools not Shelters Act: As you know, we have seen an unprecedented surge of illegal immigrants entering our country since President Biden took office and quickly implemented his administration’s open-border policies. The Administration’s inability to secure our southern border continues to have a detrimental impact on our communities, as they cope with the influx of immigrants. In various cities across the United States, like New York City, officials have considered plans to house migrants seeking asylum in public schools. Students, teachers, and American taxpayers should not be paying the price for the failures of this Administration. This week, my House Republican colleagues and I took steps to ensure this does not happen by passing the Schools not Shelters Act to prohibit the use of taxpayer-funded public school facilities to provide shelter or housing for those who have not been legally admitted into the United States.
- Condemning Antisemitism: In case you missed it, my colleague from the other side of the aisle, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, recently accused Israel of being a “racist state.” To stand up for our friend and democratic ally, Israel, Congress passed an overwhelmingly bipartisan resolution this week denouncing this dangerous and reckless rhetoric from the far left, and to reaffirm the enduring and important relationship between our two nations. There is no place for antisemitism in Congress or our nation.
Welcoming the Israeli President to the Capitol
|
The same week we passed that resolution was the same week Israeli President Isaac Herzog came to our nation’s capital to address Congress. We celebrated 75 years of strong partnership and friendship between Israel and the United States. The unwavering support of our ally is critical for our national security and for standing up for democracy.
Comment from the Capitol: Securing Third District Priorities
In this week’s edition of Comment from the Capitol, which is an audio segment I produce each time I’m in DC so folks back at home listening to local radio can get a firsthand breakdown of the latest news, I discuss something called Community Project Funding, or earmarks. These are direct wins for the district within the annual appropriations bills.
Tune in HERE to hear more about how this process works, and which Third District priorities I’ve secured.
Picture highlights from the week
I’m always delighted to have folks from AR-3 visit me while I’m in DC.
|
.jpg "Sen._Boozman_Intern_Speaker_Series_(2).jpg")
Thankful for my friend Senator Boozman for having me speak at his intern speaker series on Monday. These interns are proudly serving Arkansans this summer in DC by helping Members and our teams of the Arkansas delegation, giving tours of the People’s House to visitors from our state, and providing excellent constituent service. I'm always glad to see young people interested in public service and to talk about my experience in Congress!
|
It was an honor to meet with Hungarian Ambassador Takacs and Prime Minister Orban’s Chief of Staff Gergely Gulyas in my office. We sat down to discuss the war in Ukraine and Hungary’s stance on allowing Sweden’s accession into NATO. It was an excellent opportunity to further strengthen the relationship between our respective countries.
|
I also welcomed to my office Jack Ading, the Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Marshall Islands, and Phil Muller, the Chief RMI Negotiator for the Compact of Free Association. The Compact Negotiations between the US and Marshall Islands, which expires this September, must be renewed to maintain and strengthen our relations in the Pacific region ensure the Marshallese citizens living in Arkansas continue to receive their crucial benefits and freedoms.
|
When I’m unable to make an event in the district because of my duties in Washington, I still make sure to send my message back home! I’m grateful for the staff and services provided here in DC so my colleagues and I can effectively represent and communicate with the very people who sent us here.
|
It’s been a busy couple months filled with appropriations markups. This week we debated and passed the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development bill and the Interior, Environment bill out of the House Appropriations Committee. We have 10 down and 2 more to go!
|
Two of my constituents visited me this week to discuss the importance of specialty physicians in Arkansas. Dr. Michael Saitta and Dr. Sandra Marchese Johnson spoke with me about policies to ensure seniors have timely access to quality healthcare and the necessary treatments they need to maintain a healthy quality of life. Making sure people get the care they need will remain important to me.
|
Christians United for Israel from Arkansas, Kathy Hoover, Chris Hoover, and Nancy Drewry, met with me to discuss legislation related to Israel, including one I cosponsored. The Stop Harboring Iranian Petroleum (SHIP) Act cracks down on illicit purchases of Iranian oil and holds Iran's enablers accountable. This legislation is another tool in our toolbox to support Israel and deter our adversaries.
|
Meeting with constituents is a good excuse to step out of daylong appropriations markups! I appreciate Justyn McEntire, Amy Pumphrey, Beau Pumphrey, and Audra Bocksnick from Arkansas Educational Theatre Association for meeting with me. We discussed the most important thing for our youth: a well-rounded, enriching education.
|
These executives from food banks across Arkansas are on the front lines of addressing food insecurity in the state. The Farm Bill is in the works, and they came to share with me their priorities within this legislation. Thank you to Kent Eikenberry, Christie Jordan, Brian Burton, Jeff Quick, Camille Wrinkle, and Lance Whitney for visiting me and keeping me updated on their important work around our state.
.jpg "Jeff_Hill_(VFW_Post_2952).jpg")
Jeff and Tina Hill from AR-3 took a tour of the Capitol this week and had a meeting with me to discuss Veterans of Foreign Wars issues. As an Air Force Commander and a member of VFW Post 2952, Mr. Hill is privy to the community’s insights about our country’s current condition, and he shared his thoughts on behalf of his team. It is always an honor to meet with those who dutifully serve our country.
|
It’s always a joy to meet with the bright young minds of Arkansas who will shape the future of our great country. On Thursday, I got the chance to speak with Kirsten Grace Higley, a rising junior from Bentonville. She traveled to DC to take place in the Washington Journalism and Media Conference as a National Youth Correspondent. We sat down to discuss education and healthcare policy, and I made sure to share with her the ways in which I strive to effectively represent the district. Thanks for stopping by Kirsten Grace!
The week ahead
Next week is the last week before August recess, meaning Members of Congress won’t be back in Washington until September. This also means it will be a race to the finish. We plan to see floor action on the Agriculture, Rural Development, and FDA appropriations bill, as well as the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs bill. As a reminder, all 12 appropriations bills must pass through the House before the fiscal year ends on October 1st. It’s a daunting task but it’s our duty to responsibly and effectively fund our nation’s government and be a steward of hardworking taxpayer dollars.
I wish you a great weekend ahead! Be sure to check out my website, Twitter, and Instagram pages in the meantime.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|