March 29, 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 the Williams family of Rogers and Crabtree family of Bentonville. 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 tried to overturn President Trump’s veto of a bill that would have nullified his border wall emergency declaration. The measure failed.

Did you know that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) detained more than 4,100 migrants on Tuesday? That is the highest one-day total at the border in more than a decade. Just last month, CBP reported that more than 76,000 migrants illegally crossed into the U.S. – a 12-year high. Kevin McAleenan, the Commissioner of U.S. CBP, has described the situation as a “breaking point.” With these facts, it’s hard for me to believe that some of my colleagues still refuse to acknowledge the dire situation we face.

There is no denying that there is a humanitarian, security, and drug crisis at our southern border. Yet instead of working to secure and get operational control of our borders, Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats continue to prioritize obstructionism over effective policy. It’s a bad strategy – which is exactly why their latest effort to deny the American people a secure border failed. I remain committed to defending our borders and protecting U.S. communities.

Additionally, you might have seen that a U.S. District Judge in Washington, D.C. blocked work requirements for Medicaid in two states — Arkansas and Kentucky. I wanted to share my take on the ruling and work requirements in general.  

Medicaid work and community engagement requirements allow our most vulnerable to receive a hand-up by equipping them with both the assistance and the tools needed to earn a job. This is about creating a system that not only helps those when they hit tough times, but also encourages them to get back on their feet. States should be able to decide what requirements and rules work best for their communities – not liberal, activist judges who are trying to legislate from the bench. Governor Asa Hutchinson has urged the Department of Justice to seek an expedited appeal of the decision – and I join him in that call. I hope this misguided ruling will be overturned.

Other bills voted on during the week include the Lytton Rancheria Homelands Act  (H.R. 1388), Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians Restoration Act (H.R. 297), a bill to authorize the honorary appointment of Robert J. Dole to the grade of colonel in the regular Army (S. 252), Venezuela Arms Restriction Act (H.R. 920), Humanitarian Assistance to the Venezuelan People Act (H.R. 854), European Energy Security and Diversification Act (H.R. 1616), Medicaid Services Investment and Accountability Act (H.R. 1839), and the Russia-Venezuelan Threat Mitigation Act (H.R. 1477).

BUDGET HEARINGS

On Tuesday, the House Budget Committee held a hearing with Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Deputy Secretary Eric Hargan on the President’s FY 2020 budget request for HHS. At the hearing, members discussed the administration’s steps to reform mandatory spending programs such as Medicare, which are growing at an unsustainable rate and driving our nation’s rising deficits and growing debt. I discussed how Congress and the administration, together, have a shared responsibility to address our challenges and put our health care spending back on a sustainable path. That requires taking a hard look at what’s working and what’s not. It demands the courage to make tough choices that preserve and strengthen programs for Americans today and in the future.

The Committee also held a hearing with Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) and Chief Financial Officer David Norquist on the Department of Defense (DOD) budget request. DOD plays a critical role in keeping Americans safe and secure. The consequences of failing to fully fund our national defense going forward are deadly serious and far-reaching. We have a constitutional responsibility to ensure the safety and security of the American people. As Ranking Member and a veteran, I will always fight to provide our brave men and women in uniform with the support and resources they need to succeed.

MEETINGS

I started off the week meeting with Chief of Navy Reserve, Vice Admiral Luke McCollum, to talk about defense and military readiness issues. He’s not only the Chief of the Navy Reserve, but he’s also a Bentonville resident. As commander of the Navy Reserve Force, he leads approximately 60,000 Reserve Component personnel who support the Navy, Marine Corps and joint force.

I then sat down with Joe Willis, Director of the Northwest Arkansas Economic Development District, to talk about the growth, business development, and infrastructure projects in the region. Later that night, I met with Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force, General David L. Goldfein. He is the senior uniformed Air Force officer responsible for the organization, training and equipping of 670,000 active-duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian forces serving in the U.S. and overseas. Great to meet and speak with a patriot whose work directly supports our troops. 

On Tuesday, I welcomed Arkansas members of AIPAC to my office. I am thankful for their work to support the Jewish community, enhance the strong U.S.-Israel relationship, and fight anti-Semitism. Israel is our most important ally in the Middle East, and it's vital to the security and strength of both our nations that our relationship remains strong and grows through each generation. I then attended a closed House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee hearing on the United States Indo-Pacific Command. 

The next day, Charlie Reece, Managing Director of The Villages of Carroll County, stopped by my office. The mission of the organization is to build affordable homes in the county. We talked about the work of the organization, housing issues, and housing needs in the area. Mr. Reece developed The Villages of Carroll County after seeing how the growth of Carroll County was leading to an extreme need for affordable places for residents and members of the local workforce to live and raise their families.

Lieutenant Governor Tim Griffin then sat down with the Arkansas Congressional Delegation to discuss policy and Arkansas’s priority issues. In between legislative business, I also met with Alan Fortenberry, Chief Executive Officer of Beaver Water District. We discussed important issues related to the Beaver Water District, which is the primary source of water for Northwest Arkansas. Topics we spoke about included water quality, infrastructure, and conservation. Mr. Fortenberry will be retiring, so I also had the opportunity to speak with his successor, Lane Crider.

My next meeting was with local college students from Arkansas, who are part of the Arkansas Association of Student Assistance Programs. This program helps hundreds of low-income and first-generation college students matriculate and succeed in institutions of higher education. It was great to hear how these students have worked through hardship to empower themselves and pursue their education. I then met with Ashton Caton of Rogers and David Penney of Springdale to discuss issues related to diabetes. We talked about the work of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Institutes of Health, as well as the importance of prevention and management programs and research to help find a cure for type 1 diabetes. I wrapped up my week in Washington by meeting with the members of the Textile Rental Services Association from Springdale.

Today is Vietnam War Veterans Day. It’s a time to salute the veterans who served and made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam. We will never forget those who have answered the call of duty. Please take a moment to thank or honor a Vietnam veteran - we are forever grateful. I am currently in Russellville celebrating the Vietnam Veterans Commemorative 50th Anniversary at the Columbus Club with some of our nation’s heroes. God bless all of our men and women in uniform – past and present!

Wishing you a great weekend! I will be back in Washington next week for legislative business. 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