December 23, 2024

Year in Review

My colleagues and I will return to Washington on January 3 to begin the 119th Congress. Congress will be unified with Republicans in control of both the House and Senate, and President Trump will take office just a couple weeks later, on January 20. I look forward to hitting the ground running to get our nation back on track and restore the American dream.

As we welcome the new, I want to take the opportunity to reflect on the last year. Whether it was crafting legislation, visiting the great people and places around the district, or securing funding for important local projects, my team and I worked hard to deliver for Third District Arkansans throughout 2024.

Putting the Third District First

Securing Funding for District Projects

One of the elements of the annual appropriations process is Community Project Funding (CPF). This funding does not increase federal spending. Instead, the process allocates money that would be spent by federal agencies and uses it to address local needs. This allows legislators like me—who know the unique needs of our community way better than Washington bureaucrats— to dedicate funds for critical projects throughout our respective districts that solve problems, create jobs, and boost the economy. These requests will go into effect once we pass full-year FY25 appropriations. Read more about the impacts each FY25 CPF will have on Arkansas’ Third District here.

Providing Aid for Disaster Victims and Impacted Farmers

In case you missed it, the continuing resolution that passed last Friday included funding that will directly address the immediate needs of Arkansans. Under my Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee’s jurisdiction, there’s $122 million included in disaster assistance for Arkansans who are recovering and rebuilding from the devastating Memorial Day weekend storms. It also provides much-needed resources to Arkansas' agriculture industry dealing with crop loss, government overregulation, and high inflation.

Assisting with Federal Agencies

Helping constituents solve problems with federal agencies is one of my most important tasks in Congress. From the VA to the Social Security Administration to the IRS—and every agency in between—my team and I can intervene on a person's behalf to answer questions, find solutions, or just cut through the red tape. My team successfully helped 1,060 constituents this year by closing their cases. If you need help with a federal agency, my team is the best in the game. We stand ready to assist you. Find resources here.

Visiting the People and Places of AR-3

My visit to TG Smith Elementary was one of the many visits to AR-3 schools I made this year. It's always a pleasure to tour schools and visit with the students and teachers! Thank you to the educators who dedicate themselves to developing our next generation of leaders.

Although voting in Washington is our primary duty, the 2024 legislative calendar allowed House members to spend over 20 weeks at home to get a pulse on what’s happening in our districts. Visiting with the great people, organizations, schools, and businesses that call Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley home allows me to be your voice in Washington effectively. Check out my social media to see the stops I made over the year and stay updated as we enter 2025.

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Bringing Washington to Arkansas

It’s important for me to bring Washington to Arkansas to ensure my constituents’ needs are met and their voices are heard. I want leaders in our nation to understand our challenges and see firsthand the exciting things happening in our corner of our state, which is why I hosted CDC Director Cohen, SBA Administrator Guzman, and NIH Director Bertagnolli this year. Fostering these relationships at the local and federal level helps overall outcomes for Arkansans.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Mandy Cohen visited various partner organizations in the area, shared the importance of strong investments in community health, and saw the partnership between the CDC and local health care in action.

National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Dr. Monica Bertagnolli visited the River Valley and Northwest Arkansas to meet with local medical organizations, gain a comprehensive understanding of the region’s needs, and strengthen the partnership between the NIH and local health care.

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman came to Northwest Arkansas to survey damage from the Memorial Day weekend storms, engage with small businesses, and receive an update on the recovery process from local, state, and federal officials.

Advancing Critical Legislation

FY25 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill

Securing the border was and will continue to be a top focus of mine. I helped pass the fiscal year 2025 Homeland Security Appropriations bill through the House, which secures our southern border by providing robust funding for border patrol agents and technology, counters China, bolsters national security, and rejects the Biden Administration’s attempts to further its reckless agenda to encourage more illegal immigration.

FY25 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)

I helped pass this year’s NDAA, which authorizes $895.2 billion for our national security, including resources to enhance military preparedness in Arkansas’ Third and nationwide, improve quality of life for our troops and their families, deter foreign adversaries, and focus the Department of Defense on its core mission.

Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform (PURR) Act

I helped introduce the PURR Act alongside my friend, Representative Jake LaTurner (KS-02), which streamlines an outdated system by granting sole authority to the FDA to regulate the labeling and marketing of pet food while eliminating the state-by-state regulatory patchwork. Whether the pet purrs or barks, the PURR Act's regulatory clarity will help meet the needs of today's pet owners and pet food makers in Arkansas' Third!

Compact of Free Association (COFA) Amendments Act

The Compacts of Free Association are agreements between the U.S. and certain countries in the Indo-Pacific region, which are vital to our national security and our community in Northwest Arkansas. I’m proud to have helped lead the charge in renewing these agreements, which instills confidence in our ability to uphold our commitments to critical security partners, longtime friends, and allies. Importantly, it continues to support the large population of Marshallese in our district who are citizens of the Freely Associated States and entitled to live, study, and work and access certain public benefits in the U.S. without a visa through the Compacts.

Protecting American Energy Production Act

My cosponsored bill—the Protecting American Energy Production Act—passed the House this year. Hydraulic fracturing postures America as an energy production leader, lowers costs for families, and grows our economy. This legislation prevents any president from unilaterally banning hydraulic fracturing and expresses a sense of Congress that states should oversee the regulation of hydraulic fracturing for oil and natural gas production on state and private lands, not the federal government. I will continue to work to unleash American energy production.

Protecting Veteran Access to Telemedicine Services Act

I introduced the Protecting Veteran Access to Telemedicine Services Act to permanently extend current exemptions that allow the VA to deliver, distribute, and dispense medically necessary controlled substances to veterans via telemedicine. This legislation is critical for the millions of veterans—particularly in rural communities—who rely on the VA's successful use of telehealth services.

Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act

I helped pass the SAVE Act through the House, which amends the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) of 1993 to require individuals to provide proof of United States citizenship to register to vote in federal elections. Voting in U.S. elections is a foundational privilege of being an American citizen and must be protected.

Veterans Affairs Medical Center Absence and Notification Timeline (VACANT) Act

I introduced the VACANT Act with my friend and fellow Arkansan, Senator John Boozman (R-AR), in response to the Fayetteville VA Medical Center’s experience of being without a permanent medical director for nearly two years. It aims to enhance oversight and accountability of VA leadership. Now, it’s passed both the House and Senate and will become law!

VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) Training Act

I introduced this legislation also in response to the complete lack of accountability by leaders at the Fayetteville VA Medical Center that caused inexcusable mistreatment and deaths of veterans. This crucial bill requires VA employees to complete trainings from the VA’s OIG so that staff are fully informed on how to report waste, fraud, and abuse, and participate in whistleblower processes and investigations. It also will soon become law. Delivering top-tier care that our nation’s heroes have earned remains a priority of mine.

Wishing you a Happy New Year!

As one year ends, a whole new chapter of opportunity is presented to every one of us. Let us take this time to reflect on the old, and welcome in the new. Wishing you and your loved ones a blessed, healthy, and joyful 2025. From my family to yours, Happy New Year!

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.

From the front...

Congressman Steve Womack
Arkansas Third District

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