Weekly Rundown
Arkansans are footing the bill for the president’s out of touch Green New Deal agenda. This week, I break down why families have had to drain their wallets for everyday necessities and how my House Republican colleagues and I have responded with America’s true priorities in mind.
Standing up for American Energy
Last week, the Biden Administration celebrated the one-year anniversary of the so-called Inflation Reduction Act. They claimed this legislation would reduce inflation and advance their climate priorities. The stated goal was to make life more affordable for Americans, but their real purpose was to provide a blank check for their Green New Deal. The Inflation Reduction Act poured trillions of dollars into far-left climate priorities that have done next to nothing for everyday Americans who continue to pay sky-high prices to keep the lights on, fill up their gas tanks, and heat their homes.
My Republican colleagues and I understand the harmful consequences of the Biden Administration’s continual attack on American energy and have worked to pass legislation that would combat these far-left policies and lower energy costs for American families.
Earlier this year, House Republicans passed H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act, which would increase domestic energy production and lessen our reliance on foreign adversaries, repeal the $6 billion natural gas tax included within the Inflation Reduction Act, reform the permitting process to streamline federal reviews for all sectors of the economy, disapprove of President Biden’s decision to cancel the Keystone XL pipeline, and enhance America’s ability to develop critical energy resources. This legislation cuts regulatory red tape and strikes at the heart of the White House’s burdensome energy policies.
The Biden Administration has proven time and time again that they are out of touch with the true needs of American families. They will stop at nothing to implement policies that do nothing but impose costly climate regulations that burden consumers, even to the point of telling you what type of stove to use.
That’s why my colleagues and I passed the Save Our Gas Stoves Act, which would prohibit the Department of Energy (DOE) from imposing a rule to ban gas stoves and clarify that DOE cannot issue standards that effectively ban a product based on the fuel it uses. We also passed the Gas Stove Protection and Freedom Act which would block the Consumer Product Safety Commission from issuing a rule to ban gas stoves and bar the use of federal funds to regulate gas stoves. The left shouldn’t tell Americans how to live their lives, especially when choosing how to affordably cook food for their families.
I am committed to fighting the Biden Administration’s hyper-regulatory partisan policies that burden consumers, drive up costs, and ignore what this country really needs: an all-of-the-above energy approach that does not pick winners and losers but instead works in the best interest of American families. Unleashing all American energy sources – oil, gas, coal, nuclear, and renewables—will drive job creation, fuel economic growth, and allow us to achieve energy independence from our adversaries abroad.
Looking ahead: The looming end of the fiscal year and what it means for our nation
When Congress returns to Washington after a month-long of traveling around our respective districts, we will be faced with the stark reality of a potential government shutdown. Shutting the government down is nonsensical to me. It’s our most fundamental duty in Congress to ensure the government is equipped to respond to the needs of the American people. Unfortunately, dangerous divides within the House have made a pathway forward before September 30th difficult to see.
Arkansans deserve the truth from their representative, regardless of how hard the truth may be to hear. Read more about what I expect when the House returns to DC September 12th from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette here.
More from around the district
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It was an honor to stand with the people who keep the lights on in the River Valley. OG&E plays an important role in our community by supplying homes and local businesses with reliable and affordable electricity. Eddie Lee Herndon and Chris Bristol showed me the vast region they service right from the Fort Smith facility. I also got to hear from the linemen and give a rundown on what’s happening in Washington and answer questions. I appreciate the people of OG&E’s hard work and dedication to serving the Third District!
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Haas Hall scholars are dedicated, driven, and hardworking. Both students and parents recognize that education is an investment, and the Haas Hall model makes a great return on that investment. From receiving a special gift from the scholars to leading the Pledge amongst them, and even getting challenged to pushups by my friend Leonardo, visiting with these young people was a highlight of my week. Read more from KNWA here.
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Accessible and top-notch care is what our American heroes deserve. The new Fort Smith Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC), opened in 2022, delivers for roughly 10,000 veterans and offers a variety of new healthcare services. I visited with Dr. George Velez, the Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks Medical Center Director, as well as many nurses and lab technicians, to hear about and thank them for their work in taking care of those who served.
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A good education, taking care of your health, making good decisions, and the spirit of charity are four keys to success in life I shared with the kids of Mountainburg High School and Kingston School. At both visits, hands were raised across the gyms as students asked me thoughtful questions ranging from our national debt to important personality traits. Engagement like this from our next generation gives me hope for our future. A special thank you to educators across AR-3 who spark curiosity and mold the minds of America’s future leaders.
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The people at Abilities Unlimited do great work to improve the living and working conditions of those with disabilities to promote long-term individual growth. It's one of the places that make my district special. I appreciate Bill Loyd showing me the lifechanging services they provide. Thank you for all you do!
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Stephen Eaton of the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture showed me the Vegetable Research Station in Alma, which is used for vegetable and agronomic crop research and is the primary research site for the vegetable breeding program. I'm always proud to see the innovative work happening at the University of Arkansas.
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The historic Carnation Milk Plant in downtown Rogers was recently transformed and rehabilitated to house the Ecological Design Group—a landscaping and civil engineering company—as well as retail and flexible space. Built in 1927-1928, this facility processed and distributed milk from dairies on farms in Northwest Arkansas. Buildings like this allow Arkansans to reconnect to our heritage and celebrate the hardworking Arkansans before us. Thank you to those at Preserve Arkansas and the Ecological Design group for showing my team and me around!
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You may not know that the single biggest export that we have in Arkansas is in the aerospace industry. This is because Northwest Arkansas has grown to have a unique blend of a business-friendly environment, trailblazing people, and a deep-seated entrepreneurial spirit that attracts innovation in the aerospace and defense industries important to our national security. I was proud to share these sentiments with defense companies visiting Rogers at the Mid-America Aerospace & Defense Summit. Read more about this booming industry in the Natural State from 40/29 here.
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I sat down with the Pea Ridge Mayor Nathan See to hear about the projects necessary for Pea Ridge’s continued growth. As a former mayor myself, it’s always a pleasure to hear about projects that become real difference-makers for the region. Things you may not always think about, like water and sewer projects and road construction, open the door for economic opportunities that will directly improve the lives of Arkansans and allow for growth.
PACT Act Announcement
Thanks to the PACT Act, veterans who deployed to combat zones and never enrolled in VA healthcare can now enroll directly for a limited time. If you or a veteran you know left active-duty service between Sept. 11, 2001, and Oct. 1, 2013, you have until Sept. 30 to secure retroactive benefit coverage. You can still apply after September, but you will not be eligible for benefits retroactive to the passage of the PACT Act. More information here!
I look forward to two more weeks in Arkansas before heading back to Washington for legislative business. I hope you have a great weekend ahead, and I hope to see you around Arkansas! Be sure to check out my website, Twitter, and Instagram pages in the meantime.
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