Washington Update
Congress Returns to Washington
After the August district work period, Congress returned to Washington, D.C., this week to tackle important issues facing the nation.
At the top of the to-do list was finding a solution to fund the government and avoid a harmful government shutdown ahead of the September 30 deadline. Speaker Mike Johnson proposed a 6-month continuing resolution (CR), which would temporarily fund the government through next March. His plan is to attach the SAVE Act to the CR—a bill I voted for in July that requires in-person proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections. The House was set to vote on this package this week, but it was clear we did not have enough votes to pass the package.
Listen to this week’s Comment from the Capitol HERE to hear my firsthand report about the funding situation right now and what you can expect from Congress in the coming weeks as we get our fiscal house in order!
Combatting the Threat of the Chinese Communist Party
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) presents one of the greatest threats to American values and national security in our lifetime. Combatting their aggression and strengthening America’s competitive advantage was another focus of the week for the House. We passed a slate of strong legislation, some with bipartisan support, to combat the CCP’s malign influence. Here are highlights of some of the bills we passed:
- Pacific Partnership Act: I’m a cosponsor of this bill, which bolsters American defense capabilities and strengthens our longstanding relationship with the Pacific Islands, a crucial region in our defense against the CCP. Given the high concentration of Marshallese in Arkansas’ Third District, it's especially important this bill took a step forward in becoming law.
- End Chinese Dominance of Electric Vehicles in America Act: This bill prevents the CCP from taking advantage of the Biden-Harris Administration’s lenient “foreign entity of concern” regulations for electric vehicle tax subsidies by requiring the Treasury Department to utilize stricter guidelines to block the flow of taxpayer money to China, restore security in American manufacturing, and combat the threat of CCP influence.
- Protecting American Agriculture from Foreign Adversaries Act: This bill adds the Secretary of Agriculture to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States for certain covered transactions; including agricultural land, biotechnology, and industry to ensure the CCP is not purchasing American farmland while seeking to undermine our institutions and way of life.
- No WHO Pandemic Preparedness Treaty Without Senate Approval Act: This bill ensures Congressional oversight of decisions made by international bureaucrats at the World Health Organization (WHO) by requiring that any convention or agreement on pandemic-related issues resulting from the WHO’s intergovernmental negotiating body be deemed a treaty requiring the advice and consent of the Senate.
- DHS Restrictions on Confucius Institutes and Chinese Entities of Concern Act: This bill prohibits the Department of Homeland Security from providing funding to any U.S. institution of higher education that has a relationship with a Confucius Institute funded by the CCP or a Chinese entity of concern.
- Protect America’s Innovation and Economic Security from CCP Act: This bill reestablishes the Trump Administration’s CCP Initiative at the Department of Justice to identify and prosecute individuals engaged in the theft of trade secrets, hacking, and economic espionage, and protect critical U.S. infrastructure from being compromised based on foreign investment and supply chains.
Update on the Protecting Veteran Access to Telemedicine Services Act
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The House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs’ Subcommittee on Health considered my bill, the Protecting Veteran Access to Telemedicine Services Act in a hearing this week.
This bill ensures our nation's veterans have uninterrupted access to healthcare services by permanently extending a COVID-19 exemption that delivers care right to their homes, which is particularly vital for veterans in rural communities. The continuation of this exemption is not just a matter of convenience—it's a matter of necessity. It ensures that veterans in every corner of our country have equal access to the care they need and deserve. Our veterans have sacrificed so much for our freedom, and it’s our duty to ensure they receive the care they have earned in a manner that meets their needs in today's world.
I was able to speak about the importance of the legislation and urge swift passage, which you can watch here. I’m pleased we made progress this week on making this important bill law!
Picture highlights from the week:
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I welcomed the Ambassador of New Zealand, Rosemary Banks, to my office to discuss the importance of the New Zealand-United States relationship and how we can further strengthen this relationship in the future. We also discussed my recent defense-focused congressional delegation to New Zealand and Australia and our mutual continued support of the Indo-Pacific and countering the CCP in that region.
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Arkansas’ Third is home to fantastic doctors across all medical fields, and Dr. Sandy Johnson is a shining example of one of our talented doctors. She is a dermatologist in Greenwood, and she came by to talk about Medicare reimbursement and patient access to care with a colleague of hers from Kentucky. Of course, I had to grab my good friend Congressman Hal Rogers of Kentucky to say hello!
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I sat down with my friend and fellow House Appropriations Committee member, Congressman Mike Simpson of Idaho, to talk through the appropriations process and my Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) bill. Our conversation will be on social media soon, so stay tuned!
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Ensuring housing support for our most vulnerable citizens—especially the elderly, disabled, veterans, and working poor—is a priority of mine as Chairman of the THUD Subcommittee on Appropriations. I joined the Public Housing Authority Directors Association’s forum to discuss these issues and how we can best support those in need.
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As we know well, Northwest Arkansas is home to abundant natural beauty and incredible recreational activities to enjoy. Members of the Outdoor Alliance came by to talk about the importance of strengthening the accessibility of outdoor recreation activities throughout the region to the public, particularly to the young people in our area.
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The path forward after the tragic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in March continues to be a problem Congress is focused on solving. Maryland Governor Wes Moore visited me to provide an update on rebuilding and recovery efforts, as the port is vital to our nation’s economy and supply chain.
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I heard directly from trucking companies from Northwest Arkansas about how important truck parking is for the industry, which is why I made sure to secure $200 million for truck parking in my THUD appropriations bill. The Truckload Carriers Association came by to reiterate this need and discuss the harmful effects of the Biden-Harris Administration’s rush to electrify heavy-duty vehicles and push combustion engine vehicles out of the marketplace.
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The decorated golfer and current Solheim Cup Captain for Team USA – Stacy Lewis – is a proud Arkansas Razorback alum. Her family was in town for the Solheim Cup, and I had the chance to give them a tour of the People’s House! Good luck to Stacy and Team USA as they compete throughout the weekend!
9/11: Never Forget
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This week, we honored the 23rd anniversary of one of the darkest days in American history, when evil terrorists attacked our nation because of the freedom we proudly display. We'll never forget the innocent lives lost, those that were forever changed, and the response from heroes on that day and in the years since who have selflessly defended the American people and our values.
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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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