Weekly Update
In case you missed it, last week’s From the Front newsletter highlighted the thirteen outstanding Arkansas Third District natives who are 2025 graduates of the nation’s most prestigious military service academies— the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the U.S. Naval Academy, and the U.S. Air Force Academy. Read that edition HERE.
Now, let’s recap the highlights from the past two weeks.
Comment from the Capitol
In last week’s special edition of Comment from the Capitol, I sat down with General Randy George, the 41st Chief of Staff of the United States Army, to discuss what Memorial Day means to him ahead of the holiday and West Point’s graduation ceremony which we both attended.
Listen HERE.
On the House Floor…
You may have seen that last week, I voted to advance the One Big Beautiful Bill Act through the budget reconciliation process.
Arguably, the most important component of this bill is the permanent extension of the 2017 Trump tax cuts. This has been and remains one of my top priorities. If Congress doesn’t act, the average taxpayer in Arkansas’s Third District would face a 24 percent tax hike.
For an average family of four earning $72,890, a tax hike like this would mean an additional $1,463 in taxes. That’s roughly eight weeks’ worth of groceries for a typical family.
Apart from protecting our residents from higher taxes, the bill also ensures critical programs like SNAP and Medicaid remain accessible and effective for those who truly need them for years to come. At the same time, it strengthens our national security by investing in our military, securing our borders, and tackling the illegal immigration crisis.
Although the House has done its job in passing this package, the fate of the bill now lies with the Senate, which can make changes. Leadership has signaled their hope that the Senate will pass the package by Independence Day, but it remains to be seen what will happen next.
Read more about the bill HERE.
In other news, the House, with my support, also passed the Simplifying Forms for Veterans Claims Act, a bill I proudly cosponsored to streamline the forms process and make U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) standard forms more user-friendly. Supporting this legislation is commonsense and ensures that veterans and survivors can more easily access the benefits they rightfully deserve.
In the Hearing Room…
At a House Appropriations Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee hearing with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr, I asked him about his ongoing work to ensure that local radio not only survives but thrives.
As many know, my father was a local radio broadcaster in Northwest Arkansas for over 70 years—a role that instilled in me the deep understanding of how important local radio is to our communities.
I also asked Chairman Carr about the challenges of stopping the bad actors who try to scam well-meaning Americans everyday through robocalls.
Watch HERE.
Meanwhile, at a House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee hearing, I asked General Steven Nordhaus, the 30th Chief of the National Guard Bureau, about the cost-effective impact of the State Partnership Program in strengthening our global presence and training prowess.
Watch HERE.
Congratulating the Next Generation of Army Leaders at West Point
As chairman of the West Point Board of Visitors (BOV), I had the opportunity to attend the U.S. Military Academy’s (USMA) graduation ceremony, along with President Donald Trump, Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll, Chief of Staff of the Army General Randy George, Superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy Lieutenant General Steven Gilliand, and other Army senior leaders.
The event honored more than a thousand young men and women, including six cadets from Arkansas’s Third District. It has been an honor to watch their journey, and I know the principles of duty, honor, country will always guide them.
Read more about the ceremony HERE.
Honoring Heroes at the National Memorial Day Concert
Each year, the National Memorial Day Concert takes place on the National Mall, paying tribute to our veterans, service members, military families, and the courageous individuals who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. This event has always moved me deeply, and I’ve had the privilege of being part of it for years.
To my complete surprise, I was honored to receive the inaugural Congressional Patriot Award in recognition of my support for the concert and our collective efforts to honor veterans, Gold Star families, service members, and military families everywhere.
It was truly an honor to receive this award, and I extend my heartfelt thanks to Michael Colbert, Executive Producer of the National Memorial Day Concert, and concert co-host Gary Sinise, along with the entire concert team.
Celebrating Arkansas’s Athletic Allstars
Arkansas’s spring sports finals took place last weekend, and several of the Third District’s baseball, softball, and soccer teams competed and showcased their skill. A huge congratulations to the following teams for bringing home championship titles:
- The Pea Ridge Blackhawks celebrated their first-ever softball state championship, making school history.
- The Life Way Christian Lady Warriors secured the 3A girls soccer state championship.
- The Rogers Heritage War Eagles claimed victory in the 6A boys soccer state championship.
- The Bentonville Lady Tigers continued their dominance, earning their third consecutive 6A girls soccer state championship.
- The Bentonville Lady Tigers also took home the 6A softball state championship title.
- The Rogers Mounties cliched the 6A baseball state title.
Photo Highlights
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It was a privilege to hear President Trump speak at the U.S. Military Academy’s graduation ceremony. His commitment to strengthening and investing in our armed forces is evident, and it was great to hear from a president so dedicated to supporting our military.
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I had the opportunity to meet with the Arkansas Retailers last week, where we discussed small business tax provisions and their support for extending these critical tax priorities through federal legislation.
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Announcements!
I'm hosting a Telephone Town Hall on June 4, 2025, from 7-8 PM CT, to hear from you and answer your questions about what we're working on in Congress. Receiving feedback from people like our From the Front readers is always a pleasure and allows me to effectively represent the Third District.
Visit womack.house.gov/live/ to join the conversation.
Click graphic or HERE to access link to telephone town hall.
Have a great weekend ahead, and I hope to see you around! Be sure to check out my website, X, and Instagram pages in the meantime. |