February 13, 2026

In this week’s edition of Comment from the Capitol (CFTC), I explain the differences between discretionary and mandatory spending, as well as the difficulties Congress faces in balancing the federal budget. I also discuss my vote to protect federal election integrity and the ongoing challenge to pass the Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill. Listen HERE or click image below.

The House began the week by passing legislation aimed at addressing an issue that is increasingly top of mind for many Northwest Arkansans: housing affordability.

While housing affordability is a complex challenge—especially at the federal level—the passage of the Housing for the 21st Century Act represents an important step forward. It targets the root causes of housing shortages which leave us with too few and increasingly expensive homes.

For example, the bill includes a proposal that I have long championed to expand the eligible use of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program funds to build new low- and moderate-income affordable housing.

The CDBG program is one of the critical federal initiatives I oversee the funding of as the House Appropriations Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) and Related Agencies Subcommittee Chair. It is run through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and provides annual grants on a formula basis to states, cities, and counties to expand economic opportunities and improve housing and living conditions, principally for low-and moderate-income people.

In my FY2026 THUD appropriations bill that President Trump just signed into law last week, I allocated $3.3 billion for the CDBG program. The Housing for the 21st Century Act would make it easier for HUD to use those dollars to directly fund new housing construction in the future.

• Create a separate HUD grant program to assist state and local governments, as well as regional planning agencies, in updating their regulatory and permitting processes to increase housing production and affordability; and
• Authorize a Federal Housing Administration pilot program for small-dollar mortgages to assist mortgagors with down payments, closing costs, appraisals, and title insurance.

Together, these provisions would increase housing supply and affordability, including in the Third District. My hope is that House and Senate leadership finalize a bipartisan agreement and get these critical provisions signed into law.

Read more HERE.

The House also passed, with my strong support, the "Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act" or "SAVE America Act." This legislation was drafted to ensure that only American citizens vote in federal elections.

Although U.S. law already prohibits noncitizens from voting in federal elections, enforcement can be challenging because many states do not require proof of citizenship to obtain documents such as a driver’s license.

The SAVE America Act addresses this by requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote and photo ID to cast a ballot in a federal election. Verifying that voters are American citizens protects the integrity of our nation’s time-honored tradition of free and fair elections.

Read more HERE.

The House also passed:

The $2.50 for America’s 250th Act, of which I am a cosponsor, commissions the minting of $2.50 coins to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

The Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025, which seeks to eliminate regulatory hurdles to lay down new undersea cables that carry approximately 95 percent of global internet traffic.

The Securing America’s Critical Minerals Supply Act, which requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to assess and strengthen critical energy resource supply chains that are vulnerable to disruption or overreliance on adversarial nations.

The Law-Enforcement Innovate to De-Escalate Act, which facilitates greater law enforcement access to less-than-lethal technologies such as tasers.

In case you missed it, all $108.476 million in Community Project Funding I secured through the appropriations process for the Third District has been signed into law!

Read what stakeholders are saying about these efforts and the impact the funding will have on the community HERE.

You can also read my op-ed highlighting the funding for key Third District transportation projects HERE.

CONSTITUENT SPOTLIGHT

This week’s constituent spotlight goes to Kent Eikenberry of Rogers.

Kent has served as President and CEO of the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank for the past decade and is preparing for a well-deserved retirement this year. During his tenure, he led efforts to address food insecurity across our region, where more than 95,000 men, women, seniors, and children face hunger.

In 2025, the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank distributed more than 14.4 million pounds of food and provided over 12 million meals across the four counties it serves. Kent’s leadership played a key role in achieving that impact.

Last month, I had the honor of attending a breakfast celebrating Kent’s legacy and retirement. His work has strengthened our community and improved the lives of thousands of Northwest Arkansas families. Congratulations again, Kent, on a job well done!

Read more in the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette HERE.

Read more about the SAVE America Act above and tell me what you think.

Do you support requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections?

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5NEWS: $105M in new federal funding headed to ARDOT for road projects

Madison County Record: City gets $3 million for water system improvements

KNWA: How the 2026 fiscal budget impacts Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley

Spring Break will be here before you know it. Don’t let an expired, or soon‑to‑expire passport, derail your family trip. Double‑check your passport now and make sure you meet the entry requirements for your destination 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.

From The Front...

Congressman Steve Womack
Arkansas Third District

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