Weekly Update
Comment from the Capitol
In this week’s edition of Comment from the Capitol (CFTC), I discuss the tragic assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and the troubling rise of political violence in the United States.
Listen HERE.
Appropriations Update
In the House Appropriations Committee, we completed markup on the final two of twelve government funding bills: the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act and the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.
The Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act provides a total discretionary allocation of $184.5 billion. Amongst its many provisions is a $10 million increase in funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which helps families manage costs like energy bills, ensuring they can stay warm in winter and cool during the summer heat. The bill also provides $48 billion in funding to support biomedical research and $3 billion for our biodefense to bolster national security.
Read more about the bill HERE.
The Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act provides a total discretionary allocation of $76.824 billion. This bill protects and strengthens Second Amendment rights by prohibiting the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) from enforcing rules on pistol braces and privately made firearms. In addition, it addresses the flow of fentanyl and other opioids by allocating new funding to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and ensuring appropriate support for the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces.
Read more about the bill HERE.
As you’re reading this, Congress has only seven working days left before the government funding deadline—and three of those are “fly-out days,” where typically very little gets done. That leaves us with virtually no wiggle room to complete our work and fund the government by September 30. My hope is that we can, at the very least, package several of the funding bills into a minibus package, get those across the finish line, continue work on the remaining bills.
What would not be acceptable, however, is another long-term continuing resolution, extending the Biden-Harris budget. I am actively urging my colleagues in both the House and Senate to work together to prevent that outcome and ensure the government is properly funded.
On the House Floor…
With my support, the House passed the Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery and National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026. The annual legislation authorizes $892.6 billion to improve service member quality of life, secure our borders, bolster our defense systems and equipment, and ensure our military is prepared for the next conflict.
But passing this bill is just the first step. To finish our work, Congress must expeditiously pass an FY26 Defense Appropriations Bill to fund these authorizations.
Read more about the bill HERE.
I also voted this week to pass the Stop Illegal Entry Act, which increases penalties for illegal aliens who repeatedly re-enter the U.S. after being removed. This commonsense legislation strengthens our borders and sends a clear message to the world: the U.S. is serious about enforcing our immigration laws.
Honoring Huntsville’s Lew Thompson
On the House floor, I honored the life of Huntsville business leader and legend Lew Thompson.
Lew started his business as a one-man show hauling turkeys and grew it into a nationally known company. But Lew’s impact reached far beyond his business footprint as he gave generously to his community in Madison County.
I had the chance to visit with Lew, his family, and his team at their headquarters just a week before his passing. It’s a heartbreaking blow to me personally—and to the larger community—to lose Lew so soon.
Watch my full speech HERE.
Photo Highlights
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I met with Marcy Doderer, CEO of Arkansas Children’s Hospital, to discuss new developments at their Northwest Arkansas campus and how her team is working to expand access to care for pediatric patients in our region.
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I spoke with leaders from Community Health Centers of Arkansas about their plans to broaden their reach in the state, helping mitigate costs for families and keeping people out of the emergency room.
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I caught up with Sandy and Brad Johnson of the American Academy of Dermatology to hear how they serve their patients in Arkansas and how Congress can support that work to keep Arkansans healthy.
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I met with representatives from the Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) to talk about federal programs to unleash American energy sources like nuclear and alleviate rising power demand.
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United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby and I discussed air traffic control modernization and my work as Chair of the House Appropriations Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Subcommittee to support the Federal Aviation Administration.
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Reminders!
America’s 250th anniversary is nearly upon us, and as a member of the Congressional America250 Caucus, I am excited to share once-in-a-generation opportunities to celebrate our nation’s milestone birthday.
This fall, America250’s Our American Story tour will be making stops across the great state of Arkansas, and you are invited to participate. This national storytelling project is gathering thousands of interviews from Americans in every corner of the country, with select stories ultimately archived at the Library of Congress for generations to come.
Tour stops in Arkansas:
- Oct. 6: Bentonville, AR
- Oct. 7: Bentonville, AR
- Oct. 8: Little Rock, AR
This is a unique opportunity for our state to take part in America’s 250th anniversary and ensure that our voices are represented in this historic effort.
You can learn more about Our American Story and view upcoming tour stops across the nation HERE.
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. |