From The Front...

Welcome to my weekly newsletter

May 15, 2026

Welcome to my weekly newsletter, From the Front, where I provide a quick update on what I've been working on in Washington, D.C., and back home in Arkansas's Third Congressional District.

COMMENT FROM THE CAPITOL

In this week’s edition of Comment from the Capitol (CFTC), I welcome Michael Colbert, the executive producer of the National Memorial Day Concert and the Capitol Fourth Concert. Colbert previews what’s to come at these two national treasures as America celebrates its 250th birthday this summer. Listen HERE or click below.

And tune in to the National Memorial Concert on PBS next Sunday at 7 PM CT—you won’t want to miss it!

TOP OF MIND

This week, the House passed its first appropriations bill of Fiscal Year (FY) 2027—the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.

In a Congress that likes to test deadlines, House passage of a full-year appropriations bill over 4 months before the September 30th deadline is no small feat. It represents House Appropriators’ hard-fought efforts to restore regular order and puts us one step closer to delivering full-year funding on time.

The FY 2027 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill fully funds veterans’ health care programs and benefits, in addition to funding critical military infrastructure and family housing around the globe. Read more bill highlights HERE.

Passing regular, annual appropriations helps ensure that your taxpayer dollars are not wasted. It is my hope that Congress can continue this momentum and pass all twelve appropriations bills before the end of the fiscal year, fulfilling our responsibility to the American people.

I spoke more about this and the FY 2027 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill on the House Floor HERE.

CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF HARRIS BAKING COMPANY

I spoke on the House Floor to honor Harris Baking Company, which celebrated 100 years of business in Rogers last week. Since it opened in 1926, this bakery has become a well-known institution in Northwest Arkansas, producing an impressive 30 million loaves of bread annually.

I had the opportunity to join the bakery’s festivities and tour their operations while I was back home in the district. I’m proud that Harris Baking Company calls Northwest Arkansas home, and I look forward to seeing their bread on our grocery shelves for the next 100 years.

Watch my full speech HERE.

IN COMMITTEE

After a lengthy markup, the full House Appropriations Committee advanced its fifth FY 2027 funding bill—the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. Among its many provisions, this bill:

Increases funding for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to counter the flow of illicit drugs into our country;
Supports the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) efforts to combat fraud;
Funds programs that protect children and survivors of violence;
Increases support for local and state law enforcement; and
Supports NASA and National Weather Service operations.

In the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee…

As the Chairman of the House Appropriations Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD), and Related Agencies Subcommittee, I led a hearing on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) FY 2027 budget request with Secretary Scott Turner serving as witness.

This was the second time that Secretary Turner has testified before my subcommittee, and I was eager to hear about the progress he has made over the past year to ensure that HUD’s programs benefit the American public.

In my opening statements, I voiced concern that some of the funding cuts in HUD’s budget request would impact programs like the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program which enjoys strong, historic bipartisan support. Watch HERE.

I asked Secretary Turner about his efforts to increase transparency and accountability in federal payments, as well as his strategy for addressing homelessness through programs that promote self‑sufficiency. Watch HERE.

Secretary Turner and I share a common goal to constrain costs, promote housing affordability, and serve our most vulnerable citizens though the programs administered by HUD. His insight on HUD operations is key as I draft my FY 2027 THUD appropriations bill.

In the Defense Subcommittee…

We started the week by hearing from Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine, and Department of War (DoW) CFO Jules Hurst.

To Secretary Hegseth, I asked if there were potential gaps in capability due to uncertainty in the budget process. I then asked General Dan Caine about the DoW’s plan to ensure that the National Guard and Reserve components are recapitalized, maintained, and reimbursed at a pace consistent with their operational role in the National Defense Strategy. Watch HERE.

In another hearing, we heard from Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Daryl Caudle, and Commandant of the Marine Corps General Eric Smith.

I asked Secretary Cao and Admiral Caudle about requirements for the procurement of battle-force ready ships to ensure that taxpayer dollars are used wisely. I also commended General Smith for the Corps’ commitment to being a good steward of taxpayer dollars and discussed the need for the Marine Corps to be fully funded. Watch HERE.

ON THE FLOOR

With my support, the House passed the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA), a bill I was proud to cosponsor. Here’s why it matters:

Retailers across the Third District and nation have increasingly been the victims of Organized Retail Crime (ORC), in which criminals coordinate the large-scale theft of merchandise from stores, transportation routes, warehouses, and more. From 2019 to 2023, retail larceny incidents increased by 93 percent, and in 2022, stores lost over $112 billion to retail theft.

This surge in ORC doesn’t just affect retailers; everyday consumers are also paying the price. Without addressing ORC, consumers will see higher costs and inconsistent levels of inventory.

CORCA tackles these challenges by expanding criminal penalties for organized retail and supply chain crime, in addition to establishing a center within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to coordinate related law enforcement activities.

This bill also builds on the work I have done as THUD Chair. In my FY 2026 THUD appropriations bill, I provided the Office of Multimodal Freight Infrastructure and Policy with a $3 million increase in funding above FY 2025 levels. This office is tasked with coordinating with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and DHS to combat cargo theft on America’s highways and rail lines.

Read more HERE.

Apart from this, I also voted against a bill that would allow for the year-round, nationwide sale of E15 gasoline. Biofuel blending mandates are not a new idea, and I have long been concerned that implementing one would divert corn needed to feed livestock and poultry while also imposing burdensome requirements on oil and gas producers without providing any environmental benefit.

HAPPENING IN THE DISTRICT

Mercy Fort Smith and Mercy Northwest Arkansas have earned “A” grades for patient safety from The Leapfrog Group, placing them among just eight hospitals in Arkansas to receive the designation. The hospitals were also recognized for earning straight “A” grades across five consecutive Leapfrog reporting periods, reflecting sustained performance in patient safety and quality care.

After being severely damaged by the Memorial Day tornadoes in 2024, the Rogers Public Library has fully reopened to the public. The library hosted a grand reopening and welcomed readers from Northwest Arkansas back to a stronger and more upgraded building.

The University of Arkansas School of Art reopened its historic Fine Arts Center following a $38 million restoration that coincided with the building’s 75th anniversary. University officials said the project restored key original architectural features while modernizing the space for current use.

In case you missed it, I had the special opportunity to speak at the University of Arkansas’s Spring Commencement last week. I’m excited to see how the University continues to grow as the premier learning institution in our state. Watch my full remarks HERE.

CONSTITUENT SPOTLIGHT

This week’s constituent spotlight goes to the phenomenal track and field teams in the Third District who won state titles and broke state records this track season.

The Bentonville High School boys and girls track teams, led by Coach Mike Power and Coach Randy Ramaker, both won 6A titles.

Brian Burns, a senior at BHS who’s committed to the University of North Carolina, even broke a state record by running the 800-meter race with a time of 1:50.83. His brother, Sean, also won a title for the Tigers running the 3,200 in 9:10.78. The Lady Tigers claimed titles in the 4x100, 4x200 and 4x400 relays. Laney Dollar won the 300 hurdles while Morgan Langley won the long jump.

The Van Buren High School boys track team, led by Coach Hays Lemley, took home the 5A state championship—the first track and field title in the school’s history.

And at Providence Academy, the girls track team, led by Coach Daniel Ramsey, secured the Class 3A title. Senior Gabbie Bishop broke her own state record by running the 400 meter in 58.09 seconds. This past November, she committed to run for the University of Arkansas in the fall.

Congratulations to these incredible athletes. You have made the Third District proud, and I encourage each of you to keep running the good race.

PHOTO HIGHLIGHTS

Every year during National Police Week, law enforcement officers from around the country travel to visit the nation's capital. This week, I had the honor of meeting officers from the Bentonville Police Department who told me about how they are working to keep Third District Arkansans safe and how the leaders here in Washington can help support their mission. Thank you to Sargeant Beau Sisson, Sargeant Onan Castro, Corporal Sayer Smith, and Officer Michael Coller for your service to the Bentonville area. I also thank Taylor Castro, Sargeant Castro’s wife, for her support and sacrifice as one of our community’s law enforcement spouses.

Arkansas Head Basketball Coach John Calipari was in D.C. this week to discuss all things NIL and transfer portal. It is always good to hear how Congress can support our young men and women competing at the NCAA level. I have the utmost faith in Coach Calipari to help find a commonsense solution for the NIL landscape and to lead our Razorbacks this coming season.

I had the incredible opportunity to meet NASA’s Artemis II crew during their visit to the nation's capital. Their historic mission last month to fly around the dark side of the Moon is a true testament to how American leadership is out of this world.

Phil Jasper, President of RTX's Raytheon, and his team were in my office this week to discuss the important role they play in America's national security and the defense industrial base. We talked in-depth about how the Appropriations Committee serves as the lynchpin in the relationship between industry and the Department of War, along with some of the issues—like the need for multi-year procurement—the defense industry faces. Raytheon has a large presence in Arkansas, and I look forward to further discussing how AR-3 can play a larger role in Raytheon's future.

With leaders from the Section 4 Coalition, I discussed how my THUD bill supports the Section 4 Capacity Building Program which helps to advance housing and community development initiatives. I look forward to working with these folks on my FY 2027 bill to right size our federal budget while supporting our nation’s most vulnerable.

On the topic of asphalt and concrete pavement construction and materials, I had the chance to meet with two AR-3 constituents who are experts: NW Arkansas General Manager of APAC Central Murray Cline and Sales Manager at APAC Central Teddy Craft. We discussed the upcoming Surface Transportation Reauthorization bill and how I can continue to support the exponential growth we are seeing in Northwest Arkansas. I am proud to have brought home $108 million in infrastructure funding last year, and I look forward to bringing home more this fiscal year.

My dear friend John Horne stopped by my office with his wife, Candace, and their nephews, Connor and Chris. I described to Connor and Chris how forming good relationships—including with those you disagree with—will positively affect your life and your sphere of influence. As an example, I invited them to watch me speak on behalf of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs funding bill on the House Floor. This bill unanimously passed the full Appropriations Committee—a true example of bipartisan teamwork.

WHAT DO YOU THINK

As I outlined above, the House this week passed the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA). I want to hear from you.

Do you support the passage of CORCA?