|
.png "Introducing_Bill_(3).png")
Great news – my bill, the Veterans Affairs Medical Center Absence and Notification Timeline Act, or VACANT Act, passed the House! My friend and fellow Arkansan, Senator John Boozman, and I crafted this legislation in direct response to the Fayetteville VA Medical Center’s experience of being without a permanent medical director for nearly two years. This is completely unacceptable. Our legislation ensures this won’t happen again by providing the oversight and accountability our veterans deserve. Without proper leadership at the top, veterans won’t receive the top-quality care they’ve earned and rely on. By receiving approval from my colleagues in the House, we’ve taken a critical step forward in making the VACANT Act law!
Bills of the week
Here’s an update on additional legislation I supported this week, both of which passed the House:
- Committing Leases for Energy Access Now (CLEAN) Act: Cuts red tape and requires the Department of the Interior to increase the frequency of geothermal lease sales to expand America’s energy portfolio, meet the growing demand, and decrease reliance on foreign adversaries for our energy needs.
- Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act: Prevents the IRS from charging late fees and penalties on American citizens wrongfully detained abroad and revokes the tax-exempt status of U.S. non-profit organizations who have been found to provide support to terrorist groups like Hamas.
Preparing future Army leaders
|
As Chairman of the West Point Board of Visitors (BOV), it’s my duty to help prepare cadets to fight and win America’s future battles. Developing the next generation of strong military leaders is vital to our national security. That said, I make trips to West Point throughout the year to visit with cadets and academy leadership and lead BOV meetings. During these visits, we receive briefings on military development priorities and discuss a host of topics, including modernizing readiness capabilities and developing leaders of character.
|
Our future Army leaders never fail to impress me with their work ethic, intelligence, and dedication to serving our great nation. I’m incredibly proud of each of them, who commit themselves every day to the values of Duty, Honor, and Country.
|
|
Picture highlights from the week
|
Miss Arkansas Camille Cathey came by to discuss her service to the Natural State over the last year. She shared her passion for volunteerism, which is her primary work as Miss Arkansas, as well as her plans to attend the University of Arkansas School of Law in the fall. I look forward to supporting her as she prepares to represent the great state of Arkansas in the Miss America pageant in January! I featured her on this week’s edition of Comment from the Capitol, which you can listen to here!
|
It’s always great to join our local TV to share updates with Third District Arkansans on what’s happening in Congress. This week, I joined KNWA to discuss the GOP governing trifecta and our priorities for next year, including lowering taxes, securing the border, and strengthening national security. You can watch the clip here!
|
Farmers, ranchers, and producers are the backbone of our nation’s economy. Folks from Arkansas Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers and Ranchers Program met with me to share their priorities and how we can work together to support Arkansas’ agriculture industry. I’m grateful for their tireless work to feed, fuel, and clothe Arkansans and Americans across the nation.
|
Strong defense policy and adequate and stable federal funding are critical to our national security and deterring our adversaries. I discussed the importance of public-private partnerships and continuing to innovate in the defense space with Punchbowl News. You can listen to the conversation here!
|
It’s an honor to be part of the bipartisan For Country Caucus – a group of members who’ve all worn America’s uniform. This week, we met with General C.Q. Brown, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He provided updates from the Pentagon, discussed regional hot topics, and shared post-election shifts.
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|