Weekly Rundown
As Congress turns to the August District Work Period, I want to take this opportunity to go further in depth on a topic important to 3rd District Arkansans.
Fort Smith Foreign Military Sales Update
We’ve all heard the news; Fort Smith’s Ebbing Air National Guard Base has been selected as the future home of the U.S. Air Force’s F-35 Foreign Military Sales (FMS) pilot training center. In addition to training F-35 pilots from around the free world, Ebbing will also host a Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) F-16 squadron.
This strategic mission will also be a boon to our region’s economy. Initially, the mission will consist of up to 24 FMS F-35 aircraft and 12 RSAF F-16 aircraft. In the future, it is expected to grow as more countries purchase F-35s. These aircraft will bring hundreds of U.S. Air Force personnel, contract employees, and foreign pilots and aircraft maintainers to the River Valley. They will add to our already vibrant community and economy.
The foreign pilots and aircraft maintainers training in Fort Smith will be among the best of their respective nation’s air services. They will be trained in F-35 operations, tactics, techniques, and procedures, and then will return to their home countries to train and lead F-35 organizations. All the countries training in Fort Smith are valuable allies and partners of the United States. The training they receive in Arkansas will help multiply American military power and protect American interests.
The Polish Air Force will bring the first F-35s to Fort Smith, and they are expected to arrive in the late summer or early fall of next year. The Singaporean F-16s will begin operations in 2026, followed by Finland’s F-35s, Germany’s F-35s, and the Singaporean F-35s. As I mentioned, we expect many additional partners to train in Arkansas.
I am proud I was able to work with Senators Boozman and Cotton, as well as Governors Hutchinson and Sanders and Fort Smith leadership, to make sure the U.S. Air Force understood that Fort Smith was the ideal place for this mission. We are continuing our work by including facilities and equipment investments in the upcoming year’s Defense and Military Construction Appropriations Bills. I look forward to seeing F-35s and F-16s on the Ebbing runway very soon!
My Congressional Trip to Gibraltar and Germany
Earlier this week I was in Gibraltar and Germany alongside my colleagues on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense. Being on the ground allows us to get an operational and tactical understanding of threats abroad, while bringing us greater perspective to how we can further America's security interests through our work in Congress.
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We packed a lot of key visits in to our 24 hours in Gibraltar, including meeting with territory senior leadership, receiving an overview of the Ministry of Defense program and a Royal Navy update, and visiting the Eisenhower Bunker and World War II defense batteries.
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We also made it to the top of the Rock of Gibraltar! You can see Morocco over our shoulders.
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The highlight of the trip for me was getting to see Arkansas National Guardsmen in action! We traveled to Grafenwoehr Training Area in Germany to meet with the leadership and members of the Arkansas National Guard’s 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT), a unit I proudly served in during my tenure in the National Guard.
More than 150 soldiers are currently deployed on an important mission: To advise and train members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to help deter further aggression in Europe. There is no group better prepared to help than our fellow Arkansans.
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I was honored to spend time with fellow Arkansas Guardsmen—including one of my former Gunslingers, the Commander of the 39th IBCT, Colonel Chad Bridges—who are assisting with training our Ukrainian partners. I'm also glad my friend General Darryl Williams, Commanding General U.S. Army Europe-Africa, joined our visit and witnessed the hard work and professionalism displayed by the 39th IBCT. These men and women are making Arkansas proud!
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Here I am back in 2002 when I deployed my battalion, the 2nd Battalion of the 153rd Infantry Regiment—“the Gunslingers”—to Sinai, Egypt. Our deployment marked the first time a National Guard unit performed the mission of the Multinational Force and Observers. It was a special, full circle moment, to reconnect with my old friends as they continue to dutifully serve Arkansas and our nation.
Congratulations to “The Colonel”!
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A man of character, a true difference maker in our community, and a great father to me—Kermit Womack—received the 2023 Dick Daniel Distinguished Citizen Award from the Rogers Rotary Club earlier this week.
I was unable to make the event as I was still overseas, but I shared my sincere congratulations for all the guests to hear.
You can hear my tribute to the Colonel by clicking here.
Celebrating our Educators
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I finished my week by thanking and offering words of encouragement to the teachers of LISA Academy as they embark on a new school year. These teachers have a critical role in educating the bright minds of the future and shaping our next generation of leaders. I shared how in Congress my colleagues can sometimes get distracted from fixing the true problems facing our nation. As a result, we have what I believe is the biggest threat to our republic—the division of the body politic. I reminded our educators of their critical role in solving this dire problem, by returning our youth to a basis of history and knowledge so they understand what makes this country the greatest the world has known. Molding the minds of our future leaders is one of the most important duties in our country. I’m proud Arkansas’ Third is home to dedicated and driven teachers, like those I visited with today.
The week ahead
I look forward to a week full of traveling around the district, meeting with more teachers as they prepare for the upcoming school year, giving my take on what’s happening in Washington at Kiwanis meetings, and visiting local businesses. This will help me continue to get a pulse on what’s on your minds and bring those thoughts back with me to Washington.
Have a great weekend, and I hope to see you around AR-3 soon! Be sure to check out my website, Twitter, and Instagram pages in the meantime.
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