Update from Washington
Comment from the Capitol
In this week’s audio report, I give a lay of the land on what’s happening in Washington, including an update on the budget reconciliation process, a bill I introduced, and my continued position as Chairman of the West Point Board of Visitors.
Listen here!
House-passed Legislation
The House passed two bills, both with my strong support:
- Midnight Rules Relief Act: This legislation allows Congress to disapprove multiple rules through one joint resolution if those rules were issued during the last year of a President’s term in office. With President Biden cramming 1,500+ regulations from August 2024 until the end of his term, this bill is crucial in rolling back last-minute regulations that are costly and hurt small businesses and the economy.
- Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act: This legislation creates criminal penalties and immigration consequences, including deportation, for those who intentionally flee Border Patrol agents or any law enforcement officer assisting the U.S. Border Patrol within 100 miles of the U.S. border. The bill is named in honor of Agent Gonzalez, a Border Patrol agent killed in a high-speed chase while pursuing a group of illegal aliens.
Supporting Local Radio
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Local radio is a free and trusted source of entertainment and important information for Arkansans. However, the global recording industry continues to push for Congress to impose a new, one-sided, and destructive performance fee on America’s local radio stations, putting everyone’s local stations and their communities at risk.
That’s why Congresswoman Kathy Castor of Florida and I introduced the bipartisan Local Radio Freedom Act – with support from over 100 of our colleagues – to reaffirm Congress’ longstanding support for local radio stations by opposing any new charges that would threaten the viability of these local businesses that many rely on.
Protecting Second Amendment Rights
Using a special code to track gun and ammo sales on Americans simply exercising their constitutional right is plain wrong. I was proud to be an original cosponsor of a bill introduced this week by my colleague Congressman Riley Moore of West Virginia, the Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act, which prevents payment processors from creating an unconstitutional backdoor gun registry using Americans' credit and debit card records. I will continue to support legislation that responsibly protects the rights of law-abiding Americans.
ICYMI: Telephone Town Hall
I held a Telephone Town Hall to update folks on the latest from Washington and answer questions from the audience. In case you missed our conversation, you can listen here. I will be hosting more throughout the year, so stay tuned!
Picture highlights from the week:
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Before I headed to Washington this week, I stopped by Ozark Beer Company’s tree giveaway event. To restore the natural landscape in Rogers after the devastating tornadoes last year, they brewed a beer called "Limb by Limb" and used $2 from every beer sold to purchase 5,000 native tree seedlings to give away for free. I’m so proud of what Ozark Beer and many other businesses around Arkansas’ Third continue to do to support our community.
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From business to computer science and nursing, Northwest Arkansas Community College (NWACC) plays a crucial role in supporting workforce needs and growing the economy. It was great to meet with NWACC leadership to hear more about the ways they create a quality workforce pipeline throughout the region. I want to help support their efforts in any way I can, which is why I previously secured funding for a new CDL training and truck driving program at NWACC.
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I met with folks from Opportunity Finance Network, including Coleman Warren of Fayetteville, to discuss Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) work in Arkansas and CDFI Fund appropriations. The CDFI Fund, something I strongly support, is a federal agency within the Treasury Department to promote community development in distressed urban and rural communities by increasing the availability of credit, investment capital, and financial services.
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The Civil Air Patrol program has a great impact on the youth in Arkansas’ Third. It was an honor to meet with these future leaders and recognize CDT Mikayla Hulvey being awarded one of the Civil Air Patrol’s highest honors, the Spaatz Award. I also shared personal lessons learned from my 30 years of service in the Arkansas Army National Guard and the attributes that make a great leader. I made sure to give each attendee my challenge coin as a token of appreciation for their hard work and efforts serving in the Arkansas Civil Air Patrol!
Reminders:
Deadline to apply for economic injury loans: March 3
Small businesses in Arkansas can still apply for a SBA federal disaster loan for economic injury caused by the severe storms, straight‑line winds, tornadoes, and flooding that occurred on Memorial Day weekend last year. For more details and to apply, please visit here.
Summer 2025 Internships
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Calling all college students and recent graduates – my applications for summer internships are open! Whether you want to be part of my Rogers, Fort Smith, or Washington office, my team and I offer a rewarding experience for those interested in getting an inside look at how Congress operates. Learn more and apply by visiting my website, here!
I look forward to being back in Arkansas next week. 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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