August 2, 2024

Week in Review 

August District Work Period

Congress has now entered the time of year referred to as the August District Work Period, also known as August recess. This means both Representatives and Senators will head back home to our districts and states, as there are no votes scheduled in Washington, DC, until September. It’s a useful time to get a pulse on the hearts and minds of those we represent so that we can effectively advocate for them when we return to DC. Also, it allows lawmakers to strategize and prepare for legislative battles ahead, such as finishing our appropriations work, advancing our conservative agenda, and pushing back against the harmful policies of the Biden-Harris Administration.

With that, on top of regular weekly updates, I will take this opportunity to go further in depth on issues important to Third District Arkansans that remain my focus in Congress. Read below!

Biden’s Title IX and Protecting Women’s and Girls Sports

Every four years, we cheer on USA in the Olympic games and see American athletes showcase their talents on the world stage in their quest for gold.

As a fan of women’s sports, one of my favorite parts of the games is watching American women compete and dominate. Part of that dominance stems from Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibits sex discrimination in education programs that receive federal financial assistance and applies to almost all public and private K-12 schools, colleges, and universities. Title IX has provided countless women and girls access to opportunities both in the classroom and on the playing field. In fact, since its enactment, female participation in sports at the high school level has grown by 1057% and at the collegiate level by 614%! 

Unfortunately, we are seeing a threat to this incredible progress. In this year’s Olympics and in certain areas around our country, biological males are competing in women’s athletic events. In America, this is being made worse by the Biden Administration’s push to change Title IX regulations to eliminate states’, including Arkansas’, ability to prohibit biological males from competing in women’s sports. 

To preserve the integrity of women’s athletic competitions, I voted in support of the House-passed H.R. 734, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, which strengthens existing protections for female athletes. Specifically, the bill clarifies that a federally funded education institution violates Title IX if that institution operates, sponsors, or facilitates athletic programs that are designated for women and girls, but allows a biological male to participate.

Ignoring biological differences and allowing men in women’s competition erodes over 50 years of progress for female athletes and undermines their hard work and achievements. It is nonsensical to me that we would allow the athletic futures and opportunities of female athletes to be erased. I will continue to support legislation and policies that preserve a level playing field for women in sports.

Advocating for Arkansas Volunteer Fire Departments 

Communities throughout Arkansas are safe because of the selfless work of our local, volunteer firefighters. However, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has proposed a new rule that would undermine the important work of volunteer fire departments.  

OSHA’s proposed rule would significantly harm small, rural towns in the Natural State by forcing the elimination of services provided by volunteer fire departments, search and rescue units, and emergency medical services providers. 

I’ve heard directly from Third District Fire Chiefs who are deeply concerned about implementing this burdensome proposed rule for a few reasons:

• At over 250 pages long, and with 23 additional consensus standards, it would be incredibly difficult for volunteer fire departments to adequately implement the new rules without lawyers or compliance staff.
• With a costly $15,000 price tag, the requirements in the proposal will likely force the closure of fire stations, particularly for older stations that may not have the space or capital to expand or add the additional facilities needed for compliance.
• 974 of the 1,003 fire departments in the state are either fully or partially staffed by volunteer firefighters and support personnel. These departments already have minuscule annual budgets. If OSHA’s proposed rule goes into effect, it could decimate departments who utilize volunteers, leaving entire counties with either grossly understaffed fire departments, or possibly no fire department at all.

Each outcome is completely unacceptable. In a letter led by Congressman Rick Crawford of Arkansas’ First District, my colleagues and I in the Arkansas delegation demanded that OSHA rescind this ill-advised and dangerous rule. We must support those who sacrifice so much to keep our communities safe. 

Important Disaster Relief Information 

If you were impacted by the Memorial Day weekend severe weather, you have until August 28 to apply for FEMA disaster assistance! You may apply any of the four ways below:

From the front...

Congressman Steve Womack
Arkansas Third District