Tune in to this week’s audio report HERE to get my take on what’s to come!

With the inauguration festivities in the rearview, the real work begins. It’s time to put President Trump’s policy ideas into action. To do that, we must be ready to tackle the challenges ahead for Congress—passing fiscal year 2025 appropriations by March 14, addressing the debt limit, and navigating thin majorities in the House and Senate.

House-passed Legislation

This week, the House passed three bills—all with my support—focused on keeping Americans safe.

Laken Riley Act

Laken Riley was a college student with a bright, promising future. Her life was cut short, murdered by an illegal alien who took advantage of the Biden Administration’s open border. Sadly, this was not an isolated incident. But with this bill, named in Laken’s honor, hopefully, no family will experience a senseless tragedy due to previous Administration’s failures. 

Initially, the bill required ICE to arrest and detain illegal aliens who’ve committed theft offenses, just like Laken’s killer. This version passed the House a couple of weeks ago, but the Senate passed a stronger version that additionally includes illegal aliens who’ve committed a crime resulting in death or injury or an assault of a law enforcement officer. The new and improved version passed the House this week, sending the legislation to President Trump’s desk to sign into law.

Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act

Currently, there’s no requirement for healthcare practitioners to administer lifesaving medical care to babies born alive in their most vulnerable state after an attempted abortion. Instead, some abortionists will just supply “comfort care” or “let” the baby die by not taking any action as the newborn struggles to survive.

It’s heartbreaking even to fathom this tragic reality in our country. That’s why we passed a bill I cosponsored to protect life by ensuring that infants born alive after an attempted abortion receive the same standard of care as any other newborn. This shouldn’t be controversial, yet 204 Democrats voted against the bill. I believe it’s our moral obligation to protect babies in this vulnerable state. Now, the bill heads to the Senate for consideration. I will continue to fight for the voiceless and the fundamental right to life.

Fix Our Forests Act

Over 117 million acres of our nation’s forests are overgrown, fire-prone, and need active management. This poses grave risks to Americans—just like we’ve seen with the devastating wildfires in California.

My friend and fellow Arkansan Congressman Bruce Westerman’s bill aims to restore forest health, increase resiliency to devastating wildfires, and protect at-risk communities in Arkansas and across the nation. I’m pleased to see this critical legislation advance to the Senate!

Introducing Legislation

This week, I introduced two pieces of legislation, both with Third District Arkansans in mind.

BNA Fairness Act

Providing a supplement, such as Basic Needs Allowance (BNA), to support military families and then taxing that benefit just doesn’t make sense. The BNA should be treated just like any other military benefit outside of earned income. I introduced a bipartisan bill with Congressman Seth Moulton of Massachusetts to do just that.

The BNA—especially without the tax burden—is a combat multiplier. Free from additional financial stress, our men and women in uniform can better focus on their mission of defending our homeland. This bill ensures our troops receive the full benefits they’ve earned.

Read more from KARK here.

PURR Act

Nearly 66% of U.S. households own a pet, and it’s important that the owners receive the best quality food to keep their pet healthy. Unfortunately, pet food manufacturers here in Arkansas and across the country are forced to deal with a nearly 100-year-old, costly and confusing dual regulatory system, making it difficult for them to invest in new and improved products.

That’s why I introduced the Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform (PURR) Act with Congressmen Schmidt of Kansas and Harder of California to cut red tape and streamline the system by granting sole authority to the FDA to regulate the labeling and marketing of pet food. By removing the current state-by-state regulatory patchwork and modernizing the system, pet food makers can provide nutritious food for our beloved pets!

Keeping Arkansans Updated