From The Front...

Welcome to my weekly newsletter

October 23, 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.

HAPPENING IN THE DISTRICT

This week, I had the privilege of attending two events highlighting the incredible growth and development of our region, both held in communities that are key drivers of that progress.

In the River Valley, I spoke at the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce’s annual meeting where business and community leaders gathered to reflect on the past year and strategize before a new one begins.

I highlighted the major transportation infrastructure projects taking shape such as the 14-mile segment of I-49 that will connect Alma to Barling. This was one of the projects I was proud to showcase to U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy earlier this month (Read more HERE). During my remarks, I also recognized Arkansas Highway Commission Vice Chairman Keith Gibson for his work on the project.

I then discussed how the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) mission at Ebbing Air National Guard Base has become the premier F-35 training facility for our foreign partners. Pilots from Finland recently joined members of the Polish Air Force at Ebbing, and Germany’s first F-35 aircraft just rolled off the production line. Soon, our future foreign partners will also make use of a new $74 million Academic Training Center that is under construction after breaking ground earlier this year.

Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs Colonel (Ret) Robert Ator and Senator Tom Cotton were in attendance, and I recognized them for their work alongside me to secure the mission. The support of the greater Fort Smith community is critical to this mission’s success and a testament to the River Valley’s high degree of patriotism.

I also enjoyed hearing from Dorota Markiewicz-Zemke, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Poland in the United States, who was presented the City of Nations Recognition to symbolize the partnership between Poland and Fort Smith.

I look forward to seeing this community continue to rally behind the FMS mission, as well as the businesses and transportation projects that will position the region for long-term growth. Thanks to Chamber President and CEO Tim Allen for his leadership and for inviting me to speak at Thursday’s event.

In Fayetteville, I joined the 15th annual State of the Northwest Arkansas Region luncheon hosted by the Northwest Arkansas Council and the Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER) at the Sam M. Walton College of Business.

The event marks the release of a new edition of the State of the Northwest Arkansas Region Report which highlights our region’s growth and compares it to other high-performing regions around the nation.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Northwest Arkansas ranks as the nation’s ninth fastest‑growing metropolitan area. Between 2024 and 2025, the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers metropolitan area added 14,744 residents, or approximately 40 new residents each day. Experts project the region could reach a population of 1 million by 2050.

While this growth comes with greater opportunities, it also necessitates greater adaptability, such as building better infrastructure that can keep up with demand. That’s exactly why I have secured millions of dollars in federal funding through the appropriations process to help local entities strengthen roads, bridges, water systems, and other services that define a thriving community. Read more about the Fiscal Year 2027 Community Project Funding I am working to get signed into law HERE.

From innovation and education to business and culture, Northwest Arkansas is poised for an exciting decade of growth. I’m excited to help support that growth and ensure that you and your family benefit from all the opportunities ahead. Thank you to CBER Director Mervin Jebaraj for inviting me to today's luncheon.

Scroll down to photo highlights to see who I met with this week.

CONSTITUENT SPOTLIGHT

This week’s constituent spotlight goes to Tracy Rieff of Farmington.

Earlier this year, Tracy retired from his role as Deputy Fire Chief with the Farmington Fire Department. He served with the department as a volunteer firefighter for 36 years.

Tracy was first inspired to volunteer with the fire department to help his neighbors. His father set this example for him at a young age, and Tracy knew he wanted to give back to his community. Additionally, his brother was a volunteer with the Prairie Grove Fire Department and Tracy wanted to follow in his hero’s footsteps.

Those at the Farmington Fire Department know Tracy for his consistency and dedication. He has set high expectations and pace for all volunteers, exemplifying a life dedicated to service. At a time when Northwest Arkansas is booming, the volunteers who step up to serve their communities are vital.

When asked if there was anything he’d like readers to know about his time with the fire department, Tracy answered: Volunteering at an emergency service for the community is a very satisfying and fulfilling time. You help people at the worst time of their lives and can actually make a difference for the betterment of their outcomes. There are times that are saddening, and disheartening outcomes occur. Unfortunately, that is life, but with perseverance, training, and compassion, volunteering helps people in the community.

Even though he’s stepping down from his role as Deputy Fire Chief, Tracy will continue his work as a Community Paramedic with Central EMS. He has served the people of Washington County in this role since he became nationally registered as an EMT-Intermediate in 1986.

The people of Arkansas’s Third District are immensely grateful to Tracy Rieff for his service with the Farmington Fire Department and his continued public service. Congratulations on your retirement, Tracy!

PHOTO HIGHLIGHTS

At J.B. Hunt headquarters, I heard directly from some of the company’s leadership—including EVP of Safety, Sustainability, and Maintenance Greer Woodruff and Senior Director of Engineering and Technology Marc Alley—about aspects of the federal landscape that impact their business and employees, including the ongoing construction on I-49 in Crawford and Sebastian Counties. I also talked to Senior Executive Assistant Amy Bain who has been working at J.B. Hunt since she was 19 years old.

I had a special morning celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Rogers Adult Wellness Center with Director Lesli Ossenfort and many of the center’s members. For two decades, this space has welcomed adults over 50 and helped them lead healthier, more active, and productive lives. The opening of the wellness center remains one of my proudest moments from my time as mayor of Rogers, and it’s rewarding to see the lasting impact it continues to have on our community today.

At the Bentonville Public Library, I talked to Kelly Kemp-McLintock, the Executive Director of the Bentonville Library Foundation, about how unique and valuable the library is to the community. From an extensive collection of reading materials to its Makerspace and much more, the Bentonville Public Library brings people of all ages together and provides fellowship and learning opportunities.

In Fort Smith, I toured the Good Samaritan Clinic and met with their hardworking team—including CEO and Executive Director Patti Irwin, Board Chairman Tim Hearn, as well as Board Members Stephen Gebhart, Jennifer Terry, and Chris Kelly—who provides medical care to residents in need across the River Valley. I appreciate their daily commitment to keeping our neighbors healthy and helping them live life to the fullest. And while I was there, I got to experience their excellent level of patient care firsthand by receiving my annual flu shot!

At Knight Sales and Manufacturing, I learned more about the company’s work providing specialty furniture and upholstery services throughout the region. From residential spaces to businesses, their work serves a wide range of needs, and I enjoyed seeing it firsthand with Danny Comstock and his wife Marcie.

In West Fork, I was led on a tour of the elementary school by four impressive 5th and 6th graders who serve as student ambassadors. Athletic Director David Ferrell also showed me the high school’s gymnasium before I was welcomed by the band, football team, and cheerleaders. I then spent time with juniors and seniors taking AP classes to answer their questions about my work in Congress. It’s always important to me to connect with students and give them a better understanding of how our government works. I then ran into Patty Burnett whose family recently won the Washington County Farm Family of the Year Award. Also attending was High School Principal Trey Outlaw, Elementary School Principal Joli Sotallaro, Assistant Superintendent Andrea Ward, West Fork Mayor Heith Caudle, Mayor Elect Brian Kichline, School Board President Mark Reed, and School Board Members TJ Howerton, Josh Boyd, and Brandi Berta. Thank you to Superintendent John Unger for the invite!

COMBATING ORGANIZED RETAIL AND CARGO THEFT

Arkansas is home to some of the nation’s largest companies in the retail and trucking industry— including J.B. Hunt—whose executives I met with this week. Companies like J. B. Hunt and other giants like Walmart and Tyson Foods directly provide tens of thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in economic benefit to our state and local communities.

But over the past decade, organized retail and cargo theft has increased exponentially, disrupting critical supply chains and resulting in significant financial losses. But what is organized retail and cargo theft?

Organized retail and cargo theft can take many forms. These crimes may look like physically stealing products off a delivery truck or altering product barcodes to purchase them for discounted prices or even using counterfeit receipts to return stolen items for cash. But what all these crimes have in common is that they are orchestrated by organized crime groups.

To make matters worse, these groups often resell stolen goods and use the money to bankroll numerous other criminal activities such as human and drug trafficking and black-market weapons sales.

The decentralized and covert nature of these groups, coupled with a patchwork of law enforcement agencies of jurisdiction, has made rooting out these operations particularly difficult. That’s why I was proud to cosponsor H.R. 2853, the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA), that would help state and federal law enforcement work together to combat retail crime. This legislation would…

Allow smaller thefts by the same network to be combined into a single legal case—expanding the overall prosecution of crime syndicates.
Establish an Organized Retail and Supply Chain Crime Coordination Center at the Department of Homeland Security to ensure that collaboration among law enforcement agencies and retail crime associations remains cohesive.
Authorize forfeiture upon conviction of any property obtained through the proceeds of reselling stolen goods.

CORCA passed the House earlier this year with my strong support and is currently awaiting consideration by the Senate. Retail theft is not a victimless crime; it negatively impacts employees, consumers, and communities in Arkansas, the nation, and abroad. It is my hope that Congress can do its part to combat these crimes before the year is over.

WHAT DO YOU THINK

Now I want to hear from you.

Should Congress update federal law to help the criminal justice system prosecute organized retail and cargo theft cases?