March 8, 2019

WEEK IN REVIEW 

To start off this week's From the Front... I would like to thank all of the Arkansans who stopped by my Washington office during their visits to our nation’s capital, including Matthew Smith of Hermitage, Mariah Latting of Benton, the Ham family of Alma, and the Dillard family of Rogers. Safe travels back to the Natural State!

It was another busy week in Washington filled with votes, meetings, and hearings. You might have heard that the Democrats brought H.R. 1 to the floor, which is also known as the Democrat Politician Protection Act. I voted against this partisan, deeply-flawed legislation – which would waste taxpayer money, federalize the election system, weaken safeguards for voter registration, and violate the free speech rights of the American people.  

H.R.1 dismantles the foundation of our democracy – taking power away from states and local communities, restricting the constitutional rights of voters, and forcing Arkansas taxpayers to subsidize candidates they may not support. It is bad policy that is designed to serve the Democratic Party and force the American people to foot the bill. The CBO confirmed that this legislation would create a new mandatory spending program for publicly-financed campaigns – a reckless maneuver that could drive our nation further into debt.  I urge the Senate to protect our budget, defend our democracy, and reject this proposal. Learn more about the bill here.

The House also voted on a resolution to condemn hatred and anti-Semitism following comments by Rep. Ilhan Omar. While I voted in favor of the bill – because we must always stand against hate and bigotry – it’s disappointing to see that the resolution was watered-down and failed to properly condemn Rep. Omar’s anti-Semitic rhetoric and beliefs. Bottom line, Democratic leadership should be addressing this issue front and center.

Other bills voted on during the week include the Streamlining Energy Efficiency for Schools Act of 2019 (H.R. 762), the Responsible Disposal Reauthorization Act of 2019 (H.R. 347), a bill to reauthorize the West Valley demonstration project, and for other purposes (H.R. 1138), the Burn Pit Registry Enhancement Act (H.R. 1381), the Vet HP Act (H.R. 1271), and a bill to designate the outstation of the Department of Veterans Affairs in North Ogden, Utah, as the Major Brent Taylor Vet Center Outstation (S. 49).

HEARINGS

This week, the House Budget Committee held Members’ Day, an annual opportunity for Members of Congress to share their perspectives and priorities on the upcoming year’s budget resolution. I spoke about the fact that we have a moral obligation to get our fiscal house in order — to make sure that our children and grandchildren aren’t saddled in the future with the spending decisions Washington makes today — and that requires tough choices. That requires asking ourselves: can we afford it — and should our constituents be forced to pay the price? Watch my full remarks and the hearing here.

I also attended the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development hearing on affordable housing issues. I asked questions about the role municipalities and county governments play in housing efforts, and what can be done to ensure federal resources are being used effectively. Additionally, I received classified briefings on defense and national security issues during the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense hearings, which focused on the U.S. European Command and U.S. Central Command.

MEETINGS

I had great meetings with Arkansans and organizations in between legislative business. I started off the week with the Council for Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching, where I had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Mark Cochran, University of Arkansas System Vice President for Agriculture, and other members about the importance of agriculture research and the needs of Arkansas farmers, ranchers, and producers. Research will help ensure that U.S. agriculture remains globally competitive and continues to lead the way in innovation. I then met with the Office of Management and Budget Acting Director, Russ Vought, to talk about budget issues and administration priorities.

Later in the day, I welcomed Boys and Girls Club representatives from Siloam Springs and Bentonville. I appreciated learning more about the organization’s mentorship and workforce readiness programs. They are doing great work that positively impacts our community and next generation! I then sat down with Katie Cottier and Emily Lancaster of Yellville, who shared personal stories about the impact Lupus has had on their lives and families. Lupus is a debilitative autoimmune disease that is difficult to diagnose, treat, and live with. We talked about medical research and the NIH’s efforts to develop treatments. We are making progress, but there is still a lot of work to be done to find a cure!

I’m always amazed by the smart and determined students from our district. It was a pleasure to meet osteopathic medical students from Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Russellville, and Barling to talk about patient care and health programs. Washington policies have a big impact on the healthcare sector and practitioners, so I always appreciate hearing from our medical experts firsthand. I finished up the day talking about infrastructure and development issues with members of the Association of Arkansas Counties.

On Wednesday, I met with Anne Idsal, EPA Region 6 Administrator, to touch base on the Trafalgar Road Fire, local, state, and federal coordination, and other regional issues. I have appreciated the open line of communication EPA Region 6 has kept with my office regarding challenges in Bella Vista. I continue to engage every level of government as we continue to monitor the fire and remediation efforts. JDRF Advocacy Arkansas then stopped by my office to discuss type 1 diabetes (T1D) and T1D research. Type 1 diabetes has nothing to do with diet or lifestyle, and there is nothing you can do to prevent it. Currently, there is no cure – but medical research will hopefully help change that!

I also had the opportunity to speak with the Arkansas chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. I heard the story of Azaylee, who currently suffers from Cystic Fibrosis, which is a progressive, genetic disease that causes persistent lung infections and limits one’s ability to breathe. We talked about critical NIH and FDA funding, and I also made sure to send the group home with a challenge coin for Azaylee as she fights this disease. I wrapped up the week by meeting with Dr. Gary Wheeler, Chief Medical Officer at the Arkansas Department of Health, to talk about proper antibiotic use in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and with out-patient providers.

Wishing Arkansas’s Third District a great weekend! Remember to keep an eye on my website or check out my Twitter and Instagram pages to stay up-to-date with the latest news from the Third District and Washington. 

From the front...

Congressman Steve Womack
Arkansas Third District