January 3, 2025

Update from Washington

With the start of 2025 comes the start of the 119th Congress. Members of the House of Representatives met today to end the 118th Congress, elect the Speaker of the House, take our oaths of office, and debate and vote on the rules package for the 119th Congress!

Supporting Speaker Johnson

Some expected the speaker election to take multiple rounds—or even days—as it did for former Speaker Kevin McCarthy. This time around, the margins were even thinner. Speaker Johnson could only afford to lose one Republican vote, as all Democrats planned to vote for Minority Leader Jeffries. But today, we coalesced and re-elected Speaker Johnson in one round of voting.

This was the right thing to do. Speaker Johnson is a hardworking man, a devoted Christian, and a capable conservative who’s earned the confidence of President Trump and the House Republican Conference. With the narrow margin in the House, governing won’t be easy. It’s critical that our conference remains united in our shared goals of restoring American values and freedoms. I’m proud to support Speaker Johnson as we work to deliver on President Trump’s agenda.

Sworn in for an Eighth Term

After Speaker Johnson was re-elected, he swore in all members of the U.S. House of Representatives. Although it’s my eighth time taking the oath of office in Congress, it’s a moment I will never take for granted. Serving Third District Arkansans is the honor of my life.

Now, with Republicans at the helm in the House, Senate, and White House, we are determined to revive the American dream and get our nation back on track after a disastrous four years under the Biden Administration. That means securing the border, reasserting dominance on the world stage, boosting the economy, and restoring fiscal responsibility. I will cast my votes in favor of conservative values that support Arkansas families and make our country great again. I stand ready to continue to deliver superior constituent service and ensure your values are represented in Washington.

If you ever need assistance with a federal agency, want to visit Washington, D.C., or have questions about the legislative process, please contact my office here. We are here to serve you!

Presiding Over the House Floor

I had the honor of presiding over the opening of the final session of the 118^th Congress and leading the House in the Pledge of Allegiance for the first time in 2025. You can watch the recording here.

I also oversaw the first rule debate for the 119^th Congress’ rules package—legislation that sets the guidelines for House operations for the next two years to efficiently respond to the needs of the American people. You can watch the debate here.

Looking Ahead

With these important items in the rearview, my House Republican colleagues and I cleared the runway to focus on advancing President Trump’s agenda and tackling the major issues that are coming down the pike, such as addressing the debt ceiling, passing full-year appropriations, and extending tax cuts. But first, on Monday, we will certify the 2024 President Election results and officially confirm President Trump as our 47^th President. I’ll be sure to keep you posted as we get to work on behalf of the American people! 

From the front...

Congressman Steve Womack
Arkansas Third District