Week in Review
I spent my week in Arkansas, visiting the businesses and hardworking people that make Arkansas’ Third the ideal place to grow a business and grow a family.
Breaking down the Compacts of Free Association
Congress doesn’t return until the 28th of February, but I want to update you on one of my top legislative priorities: renewing the Compacts of Free Association (COFA), or the Compacts as they’re commonly called. You may not have heard of them, but these agreements are vital for two reasons—their national security implications and impact on our community here in Arkansas—and they must immediately be approved by Congress.
National Security Impacts: The Compacts give the US military defense rights in three Pacific Island sovereign nations: Micronesia, Marshall Islands, and Palau. These security and defense rights give our military control of this area of ocean in the Western Pacific as large as the continental United States—let that sink in! Without renewing the agreements, we’d lose this control, which could concede the territory to the Chinese Communist Party. As tensions and threats continue to rise, this would hurt our allies in the region while threatening our own homeland.
Arkansas’ Third District Impacts: Under the Compacts, citizens from the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau can legally live, study, and work in the US. They support our defense, pay taxes, and boost our economy. Northwest Arkansas is proudly home to the highest concentration of Marshallese in the continental US. They’re an integral part of the fabric that makes our community great.
What’s Next: Congress needs to renew these agreements but, unfortunately, we’ve continued to punt on this duty—the Compacts were supposed to be extended before the start of fiscal year 2024. But the next step is House passage, and we can’t afford to waste any more time.
This week, my friend Ed Case of Hawaii and I sent a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson urging him to include the COFA Amendments Act in the next available legislative vehicle. The COFA Amendments Act includes a 20-year Compact renewal between the U.S. and the three Freely Associated States as well as the Compact Impact Fairness Act and the Care for COFA Veterans Act – two pieces of legislation I’ve helped lead.
Delaying Congressional approval sows doubt in our Pacific partners. We must immediately approve this crucial legislation to instill confidence in our ability to uphold our commitments to critical security partners, longtime friends, and allies.
I’ve been a long-time advocate for making sure these agreements are renewed in Congress. Combatting the People’s Republic of China is paramount to our national security, and taking care of the Marshallese in our community will always be a top focus of mine. Sending this letter Wednesday will hopefully get the ball rolling. I will be sure to keep you updated on the COFA renewal process.
Around the District
It’s great to be back in AR-3!
Celebrating Trane Fort Smith
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Trane Fort Smith hit a milestone—12 years, or 5 million hours, without a time loss safety incident. Going that long without an incident is a testament to the culture, the leadership, and the commitment from everyone at Trane Fort Smith to safety. They go above and beyond, increasing their own safety regulations past state and federal guidelines. It’s the top-tier people at Trane Fort Smith who are the reason for their success and ability to produce effective, high-quality HVAC systems.
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It was an honor to be a part of this celebration and to see Trane’s hard work and exciting growth firsthand. I got to tour the facility, and even shoot screws on the floor! Since 1995, Trane has contributed to the development and success of the Fort Smith region. I’m proud they call Fort Smith home. I appreciate the opportunity to visit!
Touring ArcBest Innovation Lab
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ArcBest’s innovation lab finds new ways to move products through complex supply chains. I joked that they’re doing much better than Congress at defeating the status quo! They’re certainly more efficient—I’m incredibly impressed by their development of ways they’ve developed to move products through complex supply chains. I got to see the brand-new Vaux Smart Autonomy system, which turns an hours-long process to mere minutes.
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We had a thoughtful discussion about regulation in the transportation and logistics industry. There’s a place for smart regulation, but it needs to be done in a way that doesn’t hinder innovative projects like ArcBest’s Vaux System. Fort Smith is truly ground zero for exciting growth—from the F-35 mission to Peak Innovation and ArcBest. It’s projects and companies like this that grab the nation’s attention.
Joining Business Leaders at the Springdale Chamber of Commerce
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I was honored to speak to a room full of business leaders from across Springdale—these people make Northwest Arkansas the economic engine of our state. It was particularly special to have our House Majority Leader, and my good friend, Steve Scalise, join us. He is one of my personal heroes. He beat cancer and is now back in the saddle fighting for all of us in Washington—a true inspiration and patriot.
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I spoke about teamwork between the local, state, and federal levels, and how that’s key for success. I’m proud to be a helpful hand in projects that affect Springdale, like securing funding for the XNA Access Road and the Northwest Technical Institute’s Allied Health Facility—both of which will help facilitate the growth in the region. It’s no wonder that the Springdale metropolitan area—the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers region—has been ranked the 7th best-performing city in the US for 2024. That’s a true testament to the work of the Chamber.
2024 Service Academy Day
Coming soon—this years’ Service Academy Day!
WHEN: Saturday, April 20, 2024, from 1:00PM-3:00PM CT
WHERE: Fayetteville High School (994 West Martin Luther King Boulevard, Fayetteville, AR 72701)
Each year I host this event for high school students from the Third District. Students will have the opportunity to speak with representatives from the U.S. Military Service Academies, alumni, and current cadets to learn more about the application, nomination, selection, and appointment processes. Information about the Arkansas National Guard and scholarships available through local Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) programs will also be provided.
One of my greatest honors in my role as a congressman is nominating our next generation of military leaders. If you have any questions, please contact my Fort Smith office at (479) 424-1146. I look forward to seeing you there!
Looking Ahead
Congress will be hit with a rude awakening when we return next week. We will have only three legislative days to avoid a partial shutdown—with four appropriations bills expiring on March 1. The remaining eight bills expire shortly after on March 8. If you feel like this is Groundhog’s Day, you’re right.
We still haven’t considered full-year appropriations. We’re basically finished negotiating final spending levels, but we’re still waiting for a final resolution on what we call riders—policy provisions a range of members want to attach to the bills.
I will be sure to keep you updated on how things progress.
Have a great weekend ahead, and I hope to see you around! Be sure to check out my website, Twitter, and Instagram pages in the meantime.
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