WASHINGTON -- Last week, lawmakers spent much of their time debating and voting on a five-year highway funding bill totaling more than $300 billion. But they also found time for various other activities.
Embassy talks
On Monday, members of the Arkansas delegation met with Mexico's top diplomat, Miguel Basanez. Among topics they talked about was trade relations. Basanez was named Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Mexico to the United States by Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto in August and started his new post in September. He is a former professor at Tuft University's Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in Massachusetts.
Long-distance
Arkansas' 4th District U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman spoke with American astronauts Wednesday, but it took some high-tech assistance to pull it off. As a member of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, Westerman was able to participate in a satellite downlink with the crew of the International Space Station.
Astronauts Scott Kelly, who is serving a one-year stint above Earth, and Kjell Lindgren, who has been on board since July, told lawmakers about their work. Westerman, of Hot Springs, flew home Thursday and was scheduled to speak Friday at the annual meeting of the Ouachita Society of American Foresters in Fort Smith. Today, he plans to participate in a Toys for Tots motorcycle parade at Rodney's Cycle House in Little Rock. After that, he's due to stop by the Camp Robinson Christmas open house in North Little Rock.
Delta discussion
Arkansas' 1st District U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford stopped by the Lutheran Church of the Reformation on Wednesday morning, and spoke with anti-poverty activists at a gathering sponsored by the Delta Grassroots Caucus and several other groups. Crawford talked about the importance of increasing economic opportunities for communities along the Mississippi River Delta and the potential for increased trade with Cuba. On Thursday, he cheered passage of the new highway bill, in part because it includes language that will clear the way for a road in his district to be added to the interstate highway system. Once he finished on Capitol Hill, the Jonesboro Republican headed to New Orleans so he could speak Friday to the Mississippi Valley Flood Control Association. The organization has been working to tame and contain the Mississippi River since 1922.
In Northwest Arkansas
Arkansas' 3rd District U.S. Rep. Steve Womack returned to his district Thursday so he could attend a Blue Ribbon Celebration on Friday morning at Vandergriff Elementary School in Fayetteville. The Republican from Rogers, who previously served as the town's mayor, also planned to speak at the Arkansas Municipal League fall conference in Springdale. A day before leaving Washington, he was able to visit with Arkansas National Guard Adjutant General Mark Berry. Earlier in the week, he also sent seasons greetings to members of the armed forces, writing cards that will be sent to overseas troops as part of the Red Cross Holiday Mail for Heroes program.
Cheney 'busted'
U.S. Sen. John Boozman attended the bust unveiling for former Vice President Dick Cheney in Emancipation Hall of the Capitol Visitors Center on Thursday. Cheney, the Wyoming Republican who served as George W. Bush's running mate, also showed up for the event, smiling and admiring the artist's work. The former president was also there, joking that he's returned to Washington "only to find my vice president getting busted in the Capitol."
Like Womack, Boozman participated in the Holiday Mail for Heroes event and met with Arkansas National Guard leaders. During the week, Boozman, of Rogers, also released his latest "Salute to Veterans" video, this one paying tribute to World War II veteran Robert Fahr of Conway. The videos are available on Boozman's website, boozman.senate.gov, by clicking on the "Services" tab and then scrolling down to "Veterans History Project."
Opposing Putin
Foreign Affairs, which weighs in on top international issues, has published a piece by U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton. In the essay, the Dardanelle Republican says Russian President Vladimir Putin "is very consciously challenging the United States and the U.S.-led international order, and is now waging a proxy war against it. It is well past time for the West to recognize his challenge, rise up to it, and move to win the proxy war. Otherwise, Washington may find itself in a genuine war against a nuclear peer."
Last week, Cotton filed legislation that would require telecommunications companies to give the government notice if they intend to get rid of certain "meta-data" such as billing records, numbers dialed and lengths of calls. Phone companies that intend to keep these records less than 18 months would have to give the government 180 days' notice before disposing of the information. Under a new law, federal agents will no longer be able to compel companies to turn over this data unless the agents have obtained court orders. These data are used by intelligence agencies and are an important tool to help track down terrorists, Cotton said.
Talking about regulation
Arkansas' 2nd District U.S. Rep. French Hill spoke at the Main Street Growth Project's inaugural "policy lunch."
The project is a nonpartisan, nonprofit group. According to its website, its goal is to "strengthen communities and help small businesses by educating Americans about the operation and regulation of financial markets -- but also by demonstrating why that matters to everyone."
According to the group's website, Hill "talked about regressive regulation in the banking sector, including the 'fixed-costs' of the compliance burden. He described how costs fall more heavily on smaller banks and thus their small-business customers."
The Little Rock Republican was a banker before running for Congress, serving as chief executive officer of Delta Bank and Trust before its purchase by Simmons First National Corp. in 2014.
Planning to visit the nation's capital? Know something happening in Washington, D.C.? Contact Frank Lockwood at (202) 662-7690 or [email protected].
SundayMonday on 12/06/2015