{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where party = \"Republican\", state = \"AR\" and year = 2013 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://womack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=365109", "Arkansas Delegation Supports Disaster Assistance for State Following Snow and Ice Storms", "2013-12-27", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Steve Womack", "W000809", "womack.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3), along with U.S. Senators Mark Pryor and John Boozman and Congressmen Rick Crawford (AR-1), Tim Griffin (AR-2), and Tom Cotton (AR-4), today sent letters to President Obama and FEMA Administrator Fugate supporting Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe\u2019s request for a disaster declaration following devastating snow and ice storms in the state.\r\nThe full text of the letters can be found below:\r\nWe are writing in support of Governor Mike Beebe\u2019s request for a major disaster declaration for the following counties in Arkansas: Crawford, Franklin, Johnson, Logan, Madison, Marion, Newton, Polk, Scott, Searcy, Sebastian, Sharp, and Van Buren.\u00a0\r\nBeginning on December 5, 2013, and continuing through December 8, 2013, these counties experienced overwhelming amounts of snow and ice.\u00a0 The winter storms brought freezing rain and sleet that covered entire roadways and created hazardous conditions.\u00a0 The winter storms caused power outages for 62,000 electrical customers, contributed to the loss of one life, and left the affected communities overwhelmed with tremendous amounts of storm debris. Preliminary assessments indicate that the most severe impact was to roadways and public facilities.\r\nThis year has been a particularly difficult year for Arkansans impacted by natural disasters, and Governor Beebe\u2019s request is the fourth major disaster declaration request for Arkansas in 2013. The compounded nature of the disasters across the state makes recovery efforts particularly difficult. Arkansas is working tirelessly to mitigate loss and recover from the winter storm, but further assistance is needed.\r\nPursuant to the provision of Section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. \u00a7\u00a7 5121-5207 (Stafford Act), and implemented by 44 CFR \u00a7 206.36, we ask that Arkansas receive a major disaster declaration for these counties due to the damage assessed.\u00a0 We would also like to specifically request Public Assistance (Categories A-G) for the counties listed above and Hazard Mitigation statewide.\r\nAs you know, the State of Arkansas and its rural districts are working tirelessly to save lives and begin the process of cleaning up and ultimately rebuilding.\u00a0 All available resources at the state and local level, including the Arkansas National Guard, are being used, but greater federal assistance is needed to help our communities recover.\u00a0 Arkansas is a predominantly rural state and this series of disasters has exceeded the ability of our local government to respond.\u00a0 The past several years have been particularly difficult for Arkansas residents due to numerous severe weather events.\u00a0 We appreciate the financial assistance received as a result of several federal disaster and emergency declarations, many of which impacted the same communities still in the recovery process, and the quick, comprehensive response of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.\u00a0 We hope that a similar response will follow this disaster.\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/weekly-columns?ContentRecord_id=358dd626-a17f-443c-8953-f009ae9a18a0", "Wreaths Across America", "2013-12-27", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "It\u2019s hard not to be in the Christmas spirit when you smell the cookies baking, see the neighborhoods twinkling with lights and find yourself humming the familiar holiday tunes. This season of giving illustrates that we have a lot for which to be thankful.\u00a0\r\nDuring the rush of the season as we check off our long \u2018to-do- list\u2019 it can be easy to forget about the men and women who gave us the gift of freedom.\u00a0 To show appreciation for the people who selflessly sacrificed for our way of life, communities across the country are joining in a new Christmas tradition to pay tribute to these heroes by placing a wreath on the graves of fallen servicemembers and veterans.\u00a0\r\n\u201cWreaths Across America\u201d started at Arlington National Cemetery in 1992 and continues to grow nationwide. Since 2008, Congress has recognized the second Saturday in December as \u201cWreaths Across America Day.\u201d\u00a0\r\nThis is a great opportunity to show our gratitude to the men and women who proudly served our nation. I\u2019m proud to support this tradition that honors our veterans, fallen troops and their families. These events in Arkansas and throughout the country are sponsored by individual and corporate donations and there is overwhelming support. This is a testament to the sacrifice of those who wore our nation\u2019s uniform and demonstrates our appreciation for their courage, service and commitment to protecting our nation.\u00a0\r\nIt\u2019s inspiring to join veterans, families and volunteers, to place the wreaths on the graves. For families, it can be especially difficult knowing that their loved ones can\u2019t celebrate Christmas with them.\u00a0\r\nThese Christmas symbols transformed cemeteries across the state at the Little Rock, Fort Smith and Fayetteville National Cemeteries and the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock, Oaklawn Cemetery in Jonesboro and the State Veterans Cemetery in Birdeye into a truly inspiring holiday scene.\u00a0\r\nWe commemorated this tribute at the U.S. Capitol with a wreath dedicated to honor the sacrifice of our veterans and remember the men and women who serve in the military will area separated from their families this holiday season.\u00a0\r\nThanks to the generosity and spirit displayed by volunteers, generous contributors and families, we have a fitting honor for our veterans during the Christmas season that demonstrates our appreciation for their courage, service and commitment to protecting our nation. We are helping \u201cWreaths Across America\u201d accomplish its mission: Remember. Honor. Teach. We will remember and these brave men and women, honor their sacrifice and teach that doing something for the greater good makes the world a better place.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://womack.house.gov/blog/?postid=365087", "Merry Christmas!", "2013-12-25", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Steve Womack", "W000809", "womack.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Dear Friends,As we celebrate Christmas, close out 2013, and look toward the New Year, I feel it\u2019s appropriate to reflect on the blessings the year has brought.\r\n\r\nWe live in the greatest country the world has ever known.\u00a0 And though we\u2019ve been through a lot of tough times \u2013 wars, civil unrest, economic turbulence, acts of nature, acts of man \u2013 we\u2019ve always landed on our feet.\u00a0 That\u2019s what great countries do.\u00a0 That\u2019s what Americans do.\u00a0 And I\u2019m blessed with the comfort of knowing that, even in the times of uncertainty we face today, we will do so yet again.\r\nAmerica faces many challenges.\u00a0 But the greatest challenge we face is leaving our country better than we found it so our children and grandchildren \u2013 like my new grandson, Kaden \u2013 can live the American dream, too.\u00a0 As we fight to restore fiscal responsibility and government accountability in Washington, I could not be more grateful to represent you and the people of Arkansas\u2019s Third District.\r\nI look forward to serving you as we work toward getting America back on track and preserving our great nation for our children and grandchildren.\r\nMerry Christmas and best wishes for a prosperous, healthy, and blessed 2014.\u00a0\r\nCongressman Steve Womack\r\nArkansas Third District", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=b159378d-27cb-4e62-80eb-daac4da503eb", "Pryor, Boozman Defense Provisions Benefit Arkansas Troops, Installations", "2013-12-20", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON D.C. - U.S. Senators Mark Pryor and John Boozman today applauded the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a critical authorization bill that supports our nation\u2019s troops, their families, and our military installations. The bill now heads to the President for his signature.  \u201cIf there\u2019s one thing we should be able to agree on, it\u2019s supporting our men and women in uniform who\u2019ve fought so hard to protect us here at home and abroad,\u201d Pryor said. \u201cSenator Boozman was a great partner as we fought to help our state\u2019s military installations, honor our brave soldiers, and save Arkansans\u2019 hard-earned taxpayer dollars. I hope we\u2019ll see even more of this bipartisanship in the year to come.\u201d \u201cPassing this bill is an important step to ensuring that our men and women in uniform have the tools they need to protect our national security,\u201d Boozman said. \u201cWorking together, the Arkansas delegation has done a great job of securing the resources and creating a level playing field to ensure that Arkansas remains an important contributor to our nation\u2019s defense.\u201d Highlights of the bill include: \u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Funding for the Arkansas National Guard: The Arkansas National Guard is authorized to receive $21,000,000 to construct a Scout/Reconnaissance Gunnery Complex at Fort Chaffee. \u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Honors for Little Rock soldiers: Pryor and Boozman secured a provision directing the Department of Defense (DoD) to review the eligibility for a Purple Heart for Private William Long and Private Quinton Ezeaqwula, Arkansas service members who were attacked outside of a Little Rock Army recruiting center in 2009 in an act of homegrown terrorism.  \u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Support for the Pine Bluff Arsenal: Included in the bill is a provision, cosponsored by Pryor and Boozman, that directs the DoD to conduct an extensive report on arsenals, their capabilities, and how the DoD can better use them. Pryor also sponsored a measure that requires the DoD to consider arsenal capabilities when fulfilling manufacturing requirements. Under his provision, the DoD is also required to notify arsenals when there is solicitation of work that the arsenal is capable of doing. \u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Cost-efficient defense contracts: Pryor and Boozman sponsored a measure prohibiting the Navy from awarding sole-source $1 billion contracts. By opening up contracts for competition, their provision ensures taxpayer dollars are spent efficiently and effectively.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/weekly-columns?ContentRecord_id=7a1a9c9b-595f-4618-adf6-861a2bf9a068", "Sharing VA Successes, Pushing for More", "2013-12-20", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Snow was falling and the roads were iced over when House of Representatives Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee Chairman Jeff Miller (R-FL) was in Arkansas earlier this month. That didn\u2019t stop us from showing the Chairman around our veterans\u2019 facilities in Little Rock and meeting with officials at the Veterans Day Treatment Center, the St. Francis House and John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans Hospital so we could share some of our success stories and discuss ways we can improve our veterans\u2019 services.\r\nI was particularly eager to show Chairman Miller the unique and effective ways that our mental health professionals are helping Arkansas's veterans. Dr. Kevin Reeder, the clinical consultant for the Residential Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Program of the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHS) briefed us on a new form of therapy called prolonged exposure. This innovative program, along with other therapies offered at CAVHS, was recently featured on CBS\u2019s\u201c60 Minutes.\u201d\r\nBased off therapies that physical or sexual abuse survivors undergo, prolonged exposure forces a veteran suffering from PTSD to remember every detail of what he or she has tried to forget.\u00a0 Mental health professionals are using it, along with other therapies like Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), where the focus is on the impact the trauma has on the life and beliefs of the impacted veteran, to help our veterans cope with PTSD in a more effective manner.\r\nPrescription drug abuse is one area that Chairman Miller and I pressed CAVHS to focus considerable attention. In a well-intentioned effort to help veterans manage long-term pain, the military and the VA are creating dependencies on prescription drugs with the over-prescription of pain medications. Local law enforcement will attest to the additional problems this creates as these narcotics often make their way onto the black market in our communities.\r\nProfessionals at CAVHS are taking steps to reduce the reliance upon pain medication. In some cases, doctors are using injections, like cortisone shots, instead. CAVHS is limiting prescriptions, instilling tough steps to ensure patients don't \u201cdoctor shop\u201d for prescriptions and focusing on overall health, teaching proper nutrition and offering exercise programs like yoga. All of these steps can yield positive results. The end goal is to promote a quality, productive life for our veterans, without relying on prescription drugs.\r\nWe are trying to help address this problem in Washington. I am cosponsoring a bill in the Senate that would create a prescription drug take-back program for members of the Armed Forces and veterans. Drug take-back programs are common sense efforts that offer a safe option to dispose of old or unneeded medications.\r\nWe are grateful that Chairman Miller took the time to visit Little Rock. It was an excellent opportunity to showcase some of our success stories in Arkansas. From the efforts to help veterans overcome substance abuse, find gainful employment and temporary housing at the Day Treatment Center in downtown Little Rock and the St. Francis House to the innovative medical programs offered by CAVHS, we have a great deal to highlight. More work remains to be done to ensure Arkansas\u2019s veterans receive the best services available and Chairman Miller can be a very powerful ally in these efforts.\r\nMy office stands ready help to help Arkansas veterans having trouble navigating the bureaucracy and getting assistance with claims. Please contact me at (479) 573-0189 for more information.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=24b88874-48c6-4911-82f6-b181dd159bd8", "Boozman, Manchin Work to Bring Transparency, Fairness to EPA Science Review Process", "2013-12-18", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) today introduced legislation to improve confidence in the fairness and transparency of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations and rulemaking by reforming the science advisory process.\r\nThe EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act makes changes to the Science Advisory Board (SAB) by increasing transparency, enabling SAB reviews of EPA \u201crisk or hazard assessments\u201d that are used to justify regulations, ensuring that the dissenting views of scientists on review panels are not silenced, standardizing the SAB member selection process to make it consistent with practices at the National Academies and other federal agencies, limiting non-scientific policy advice, increasing SAB disclosures, and eliminating SAB conflicts of interest.\r\n\u201cAmericans are worried about EPA rules and regulations that are not based on transparent science or developed through a fair and open process.\u00a0These actions drive up the cost of food, electricity, gas, and items on the store shelf; and low-income families are hit the hardest.\u00a0We must promote conservation, and protect our air and water.\u00a0But Arkansans and all Americans want the rule-making process to be fair and science-based, without conflicts of interest,\u201d Boozman, a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, said.\r\n\u201cFor too long, the EPA\u2019s regulations have been the result of a process that is too closed and too vulnerable to conflicts of interest and insider politics,\u201d Manchin said. \u201cThe EPA must improve its credibility with the American people and the entire energy sector, and this bipartisan legislation makes sure that the EPA is held accountable for creating fair, unbiased, and science-based rules and regulations. I thank Senator Boozman for his leadership in crafting commonsense ideas on how we can strengthen EPA transparency.\u201d\u00a0\r\nThe SAB was established by the Environmental Research, Development, and Demonstration Authorization Act of 1978 (ERDDA) to provide scientific advice upon the request of the EPA Administrator and Congressional Committees, but improvements need to be made.\u00a0\r\nThis legislation\r\n \r\nStrengthens public participation and comment opportunities\r\nModernizes the selection of Science Advisory Board (SAB) and sub-panel members;\r\nEliminates conflicts of interest and increasing disclosures;\r\nExpands the ability of SAB members to express dissenting views;\r\nEnables SAB reviews of EPA \u201crisk or hazard assessments\u201d; and\r\nLimits non-scientific policy advice.\r\n \r\nSimilar legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives by Representative Chris Stewart, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=6d896b98-1050-4f97-9c9d-03f4cfa77bcf", "Boozman to Vote Against Budget Deal", "2013-12-18", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) released the following statement in opposition to the budget agreement expected to pass the Senate later today:\u00a0\r\n\u201cI appreciate the efforts of both sides to find common ground and avoid another shutdown. However, I cannot support a measure that immediately increases spending and ultimately busts the budget caps that were put place to get us on the path to fiscal responsibility.\r\nSequestration, while not the ideal way to address spending, has actually worked. As a result, we have been able to reduce discretionary spending for two straight years for the first time since the end of World War II. While we should look for a better method to achieve savings than across-the-board cuts, this agreement falls short of achieving significant savings.\u00a0\r\nOne way the budget agreement finds savings comes at the expense of every retired serviceman and woman. The agreement reduces the cost-of-living-adjustments (COLAs) for retired servicemembers under the age of 62. There are better ways to find savings than reducing the retirement compensation of individual military retirees by as much as $72,000.\u00a0It\u2019s simply not appropriate to ask our military retirees for more sacrifice while we continue to ignore our real spending problem.\u00a0\r\nWhile I appreciate the effort to restore regular order to the budget process, we have to get serious about our spending problem. I hope that we can do that during the appropriations process in the coming year. We can\u2019t keep kicking the can down the road and continue the \u2018spend now in return for promises later\u2019 mentality.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=8df6d929-801e-4f2e-8a88-073f7b7f4351", "Pryor, Boozman and Cotton Work to Protect Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. from Chinese Factory Actions", "2013-12-18", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senators Mark Pryor (D-AR), John Boozman (R-AR) and Congressman Tom Cotton (AR-4) urged administration officials to protect the interests of Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. in China ahead of meetings of the U.S.-China Joint Committee on Commerce and Trade (JCCT) in Beijing that begin tomorrow.\r\nCooper is an Ohio-based global tire manufacturer with 2012 revenues of $4.2 billion and major U.S. manufacturing facilities in Arkansas, Ohio and Mississippi. Cooper has a large, majority-owned joint venture manufacturing facility, Cooper Chengshan (Shandong) Tire Company (CCT), in Rongcheng, Weihai City, Shandong Province in China, which accounts for roughly 25 percent of Cooper\u2019s worldwide production.\r\nThe letter sent to Secretary of State John Kerry, Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker and U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Mike Froman calls for action in resolving Cooper\u2019s joint venture in China.\r\nHere are excerpts from the letter sent today:\u00a0\r\n\u201cWe write today with deep concern about a serious issue Cooper Tire & Rubber Company is facing at its joint venture in China which has put the entire company at risk, including more than 5,000 jobs in the United States, and which has serious implications for all American businesses with interests and investments in China. We respectfully request your assistance in resolving this urgent matter.\u201d\u00a0\r\n\u201cCooper has been facing a series of actions in violation of its rights as the majority owner of the joint venture\u2026These actions have included, initially, two 5,000-employee work stoppages and, subsequently, labor actions including forced occupation of the CCT production facility; denial of access for Cooper and its appointed members of CCT management to the facility, financial data, and personal property; workers\u2019 refusal to input financial and production data into CCT systems in accordance with internal operating procedure; workers\u2019 refusal to produce Cooper-branded products; and the unlawful appropriation of company chops and registration documents.\u201d\u00a0\r\n\"In response to these actions, Cooper has requested assistance from Chinese government authorities at all levels, has appealed to local police, and has attempted to seek justice in local courts of law, but the situation continues. Cooper management has made multiple attempts to ... reach a resolution. ... At this point, the situation remains unresolved and Cooper has suffered considerable losses.\"\u00a0\r\nBackground\u00a0\r\nSince June 2013, one of Cooper\u2019s international factories in Shandong Province, China has faced constant work stoppages and other actions threatening the whole company.\u00a0Cooper operates the facility as a joint venture with a Chinese partner.\u00a0\r\nEfforts to resolve this issue have been unsuccessful and the consequences continue to worsen. The production process has not been restored to its previous state, and Cooper has suffered considerable losses. One of the most critical issues that Cooper currently faces is that it is being denied access to the joint venture\u2019s financial and operational information. Without this information, Cooper is unable to file its financial report for Q3 2013 as required by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. This has forced Cooper to be in violation of its U.S. and global regulatory obligations, which could potentially have broad impacts on its U.S. operations and its 5,000 U.S. workers.\u00a0\r\nThe letter was also signed by Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Rob Portman (R-OH), Thad Cochran, (R-MS) and Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Congressmen Jim Jordan (OH-4), Bob Latta (OH-5) and Alan Nunnelee (MS-1).", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=f0c813ef-9468-41fb-a40e-aef681b66661", "Boozman Statement on Senate Approval of  Anne Patterson", "2013-12-16", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) released the following statement after the Senate approved Fort Smith native, Anne Patterson, as Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs.\r\n\u201cAs a Foreign Service officer, Anne has spent her career advancing U.S. interests across the world, including in some of the most volatile regions of the globe. Anne is a highly respected diplomat whose expertise and experience will serve her well in her new role. I am confident that under her leadership she will help promote and protect our national security.\u201d\r\nAs Assistance Secretary of State for Near East Affairs, Patterson will oversee U.S. foreign policy and diplomatic relations in the region including Egypt, Iran, Iraq, and Israel. Patterson has led a successful career in public service, most recently as U.S. Ambassador to Egypt.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/weekly-columns?ContentRecord_id=ee9c9c4d-8971-4596-997e-84d4cc03bbad", "Real Health Care Reform", "2013-12-13", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Obamacare supporters frequently raise a false choice: Either you support the law or you don\u2019t care about the uninsured. To hear them tell it, if you oppose Obamacare you must not care about low-income Americans who cannot afford insurance. You must want to return to the time when younger Americans weren\u2019t allowed on their parents\u2019 insurance, and you want to give insurers the ability to deny coverage to those with pre-existing conditions.\u00a0\r\nNothing could be further from the truth.\u00a0\r\nWe can cover low-income Americans without the regulations, red tape, new taxes and the $2.2 trillion in new spending included in Obamacare. Likewise, we can ensure affordable coverage is available to Americans with pre-existing conditions, and we can ensure younger Americans are able to stay on their parents\u2019 insurance without this massive program. A big government healthcare program that forces millions out of their insurance is not necessary to accomplish these goals.\u00a0\r\nWe should reward quality health care, encourage healthy living, and minimize waste through patient choice and health care ownership.\u00a0\r\nWe need to transition the employer-based private insurance market towards one that allows for flexibility, choice, portability, and fairness. Let's put patients in control and force insurance companies to compete for their business.\u00a0\r\nFor starters, we can allow small business owners to pool together to purchase group insurance. Why shouldn\u2019t my barber, who employs a small number of people, be able to pool with other barbers throughout the country that have similar sized payrolls to purchase health insurance for their employees? \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\r\nIn fact, breaking the tether of employer-based health insurance altogether and introducing portability to the market will go a long way toward fixing our health care system. Currently, health insurance is not transferable from one employer to another. But what if it was? The benefits to our economy would be greatly enhanced as too many Americans are reluctant to leave their current jobs because fewer employers are offering health care benefits. For these Americans, the benefits of professional growth and potential pay raise are outweighed by the hardship of losing one\u2019s health care insurance. This change would eliminate that choice and move health insurance away from the employer and to the individual where it belongs.\u00a0\r\nWhile we\u2019re at it, let\u2019s allow Americans to purchase health insurance across state lines. Isn\u2019t this what the free market is about? Empowering Americans so they can get goods and services at the best rate? You can buy your auto insurance from anywhere in the country. We should be able to do the same for health insurance. If we offer Americans more choices it will result in lower prices.\u00a0\r\nLet\u2019s expand health savings accounts and flexible savings accounts. These options empower individuals, reward commonsense health spending and minimize waste. Again, reform should put health decisions back in the hands of the American people.\u00a0\r\nFinally, we desperately need a paradigm shift in medical liability, wasteful testing and unnecessary procedures. We need to train health care providers to deliver cost effective, necessary services, but defensive medicine needlessly drives up health care costs and malpractice insurance. If we eliminate wasteful defensive medicine, those savings will be passed on to consumers in the form of cheaper insurance.\u00a0\r\nThe key to any real reform of our health care system is driving down the costs of care. Obamacare does absolutely nothing to that end. In fact, it drives up the care of cost. This is why we need free market reform.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://womack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=364288", "House RFS Reform Leaders Applaud Senate Reform Bill", "2013-12-12", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Steve Womack", "W000809", "womack.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "House RFS Reform Leaders Applaud Senate Reform Bill \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington, D.C.,\r\n        December 12, 2013\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      Representatives Steve Womack (AR-3), Bob Goodlatte (VA-6), Jim Costa (CA-16), and Peter Welch (VT-AL) released the following statement today in support of the Corn Ethanol Mandate Elimination Act, which was introduced in the Senate today by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Tom Coburn (R-OK):\r\n\u201cThe Senate joined the House in calling for reform of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) today.\u00a0 The corn ethanol mandate has increased volatility in the corn markets and diverted corn from food and feed uses to fuel production.\u00a0 We have seen costs increase for not only farmers and food producers throughout the nation, but also consumers who purchase these products.\u00a0 Higher volumes of corn ethanol in fuel have also wreaked havoc on small engines, destroying chainsaws, boat motors, and other equipment.\u00a0 We applaud the efforts of Senators Feinstein and Coburn to eliminate this mandate, which is also a provision included in our House bill, the RFS Reform Act (H.R. 1462).\u00a0 We are hopeful that the introduction of this bill in the Senate will help to further propel the growing momentum in the Congress to reform the RFS.\u201d \r\n\u00a0\r\n###\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://womack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=364300", "Womack Statement on Passage of Bipartisan Budget Act", "2013-12-12", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Steve Womack", "W000809", "womack.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Womack Statement on Passage of Bipartisan Budget Act \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington, D.C.,\r\n        December 12, 2013\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      The House today voted on the Bipartisan Budget Act.\u00a0 After passage, Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) released the following statement:\r\n\u201cTo not vote for this bill would have been the easy decision, but I made a vow to my constituents to work with my colleagues in the House and the Senate to address America\u2019s spending problem, a problem which is driven by our mandatory spending.\u00a0 And while certainly not perfect, the Bipartisan Budget Act takes an important step in that direction.\u00a0 In addition to delivering greater deficit reduction without increasing taxes, this agreement moves us away from governing by crisis, provides much-needed certainty, and, more importantly, gets us back to regular order.\u201d\r\n###\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://womack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=363778", "Womack Announces Teletown Hall", "2013-12-09", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Steve Womack", "W000809", "womack.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Womack Announces Teletown Hall \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington, D.C.,\r\n        December 9, 2013\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) announced today that he will be hosting an interactive town hall event on Tuesday, December 10, 2013, which will be open to all residents of the Third District of Arkansas.\r\n\r\n    \r\n        \r\n            \r\n            WHAT:\r\n            \r\n            \r\n            Congressman Womack\u2019s Teletown Hall\r\n            \r\n        \r\n        \r\n            \r\n            WHEN:\r\n            \r\n            \r\n            Tuesday, December 10, 2013, from 6:35-7:35PM CST\r\n            \r\n        \r\n        \r\n            \r\n            CALL-IN:\r\n            ACCESS ID:\r\n            \r\n            \r\n            (877) 229-8493\r\n            112022\r\n            \u00a0\r\n            \r\n        \r\n    \r\n\r\n\u00a0###\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=8d131aed-7845-4b2e-bf14-eb6394e57a6d", "Boozman Statement on Central African Republic", "2013-12-07", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) released the following statement on the deteriorating situation in Central African Republic (CAR) and urged international action to help end the violence.\r\n\u201cI have been watching with extreme concern as the situation in CAR has deteriorated at an alarming rate. The violence has escalated to a point where the international community can no longer stay silent. I appreciate the actions taken by the UN Security Council and especially by the government of France. I urge the Obama Administration to assist the French and MISCA, the African Union-led International Support Mission to the Central African Republic, in the rapid deployment of forces so they can immediately intervene to help put an end to the violence.\u201d\r\nBoozman recently sent a bipartisan letter along with Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), Bob Corker (R-TN), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Edward Markey (D-MA), Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Jim Inhofe (R-OK) urging the Administration to engage with key partners and stakeholders to help diffuse the conflict. Click below\u00a0to read the letter.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/weekly-columns?ContentRecord_id=acdf062b-a190-415d-8640-c134df47fc5e", "Continuing the Good Work of PEPFAR", "2013-12-06", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Recently, I used this column space to discuss how tragedy brings the international community together and to highlight U.S. efforts to assist those abroad suffering from catastrophic events like natural disasters.\r\nHowever, humanitarian assistance doesn\u2019t always take the form of disaster aid. We also engage in goodwill efforts that save thousands of lives, builds a trust with nations, helps with future diplomatic issues and advances our national security. These programs are a testament to the character of our country.\r\nCase in point: The President\u2019s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). This U.S. government initiative to combat HIV/AIDS around the world started under the vision and leadership of President George W. Bush and has been credited with saving millions of lives over the past ten years.\r\nPEPFAR received a new lease on life when the House of Representative and Senate overwhelmingly reauthorized it prior to Thanksgiving. This act of bipartisanship stands a stark contrast to the week\u2019s other accomplishment which was the hyper partisanship power grab Senator Harry Reid conducted when he broke Senate rules to change the filibuster rules in his party\u2019s favor.\r\nThe strong support for PEPFAR across party lines is largely based on the program\u2019s proven track record. As Voice of America notes, PEPFAR \u201csupports almost six million people worldwide who are receiving anti-retroviral drugs, and has provided care and support to nearly 15 million people, including more than 4.5 million orphans and vulnerable children.\u201d\r\nPrior to the creation of the program, an estimated 100,000 people were on anti-retroviral drugs in sub-Saharan Africa. Five years later, when President Bush left office, close to two million people were receiving these life-saving drugs. One million babies have now been born HIV-negative thanks to PEPFAR's mother-to-child interventions.\r\nAlong with tackling HIV in Africa, President Bush was instrumental in fighting malaria on the continent. By the time President Bush left office, the President\u2019s Malaria Initiative (PMI) had halved the cases of malaria in fifteen African countries.\r\nA common thread in these success stories is that neither program relies solely on the government. While the government has a role to play in these battles, faith-based organizations and non-governmental organizations are doing exceptional work in tandem. Federal funds can help leverage public-private partnerships and reach populations of rural Africa to improve the health and education of this epidemic. Government can\u2019t solve the problem on its own. These organizations are vital to this fight.\r\nAs we continue to build on those incredible results, PEPFAR is increasingly transitioning from an emergency U.S.-led program to one in which recipient countries increasingly sustain the effort themselves. This reauthorization will continue the program on this path while ensuring that strong accountability and oversight mechanisms are followed to continue this success.\r\nWith the holiday season in full swing, it is important to remember that the U.S. still has a vital role in helping the less fortunate around the globe. In 2003, when signing the legislation we passed to create the program, President Bush called PEPFAR \"a medical version of the Marshall Plan.\" It truly exemplifies the ideals for which our nation stands. I am excited that we have an opportunity to continue to build on this program\u2019s successes.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://crawford.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=363585", "Crawford Releases Emergency Contact Information for Arkansas\u2019 First District", "2013-12-05", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Rick Crawford", "C001087", "crawford.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Crawford Releases Emergency Contact Information for Arkansas\u2019 First District  \r\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 The office of Congressman Rick Crawford (AR-1) released the following list of emergency contact information in light of the winter storm set to pass through Arkansas this week: Clay County Electric Cooperative:   \r\n1-800-521-2450  \r\n\u2022         Corning Office:  (870) 857-3521  \r\n\u2022         Pocahontas Office:  (870) 892-5251  \r\n\u2022         Rector Office:  (870) 522-3201  \r\nCraighead Electric Cooperative:  \r\nTo report an outage:  1-888-771-7772  \r\nOutage tips:  http://craigheadelectric.coop/content/report-outage  \r\n1-800-794-5012  \r\n\u2022         Jonesboro Office:  (870) 932-8301  \r\n\u2022         Paragould Office:  (870) 239-2557  \r\n\u2022         Walnut Ridge Office:  (870) 886-1616  \r\nEntergy Arkansas:  \r\nTo report an outage:  1-800-968-8243 (1-800-9OUTAGE)  \r\nFarmers Electric Cooperative:  \r\n(870) 523-3691  \r\nJonesboro City Water & Light:  \r\n(870) 930-3300  \r\nMississippi County Electric Cooperative:  \r\nTo report an outage:  1-800-439-4563  \r\n(870) 762-2586  \r\nNorth Arkansas Electric Cooperative:  \r\nTo report an outage:  (870) 895-3221  \r\nOsceola Municipal Light & Power:  \r\n(870) 563-5245  \r\nParagould Light Water and Cable:  \r\n(870) 239-7700  \r\nPiggott Municipal Light Water and Sewer  \r\nTo report an outage:  (870) 593-3208  \r\n(870) 593-3243  \r\nOsceola Municipal Light & Power:  \r\n(870) 563-5245 SHELTERS  \r\nCraighead County:  \r\n-Monette Sr. Life Center, 504 South Williams, remains open as shelter  \r\n-Monette Housing Authority, 429 South Williams, remaining open if there is loss of heat or power  \r\nJackson County:  \r\n-Newport High School gym  RED CROSS Agencies\r\nBlytheville  \r\nPhone: 870-763-4481  \r\nAddress: 630 West Walnut Street, 72315  \r\nJonesboro  \r\nPhone: 870-932-3212  \r\nAddress: 305 West Jefferson, 72401", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases/crawford-releases-emergency-contact-information-for-arkansas-first-district", "Crawford Releases Emergency Contact Information for Arkansas\u2019 First District", "2013-12-05", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Eric A. \"Rick\" Crawford", "C001087", "crawford.house.gov", "crawford", "https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 The office of Congressman Rick Crawford (AR-1) released the following list of emergency contact information in light of the winter storm set to pass through Arkansas this week:\n\nClay County Electric Cooperative:\n\n1-800-521-2450\n\n\u2022 Corning Office: (870) 857-3521\n\n\u2022 Pocahontas Office: (870) 892-5251\n\n\u2022 Rector Office: (870) 522-3201\n\nCraighead Electric Cooperative:\n\nTo report an outage: 1-888-771-7772\n\nOutage tips: http://craigheadelectric.coop/content/report-outage\n\n1-800-794-5012\n\n\u2022 Jonesboro Office: (870) 932-8301\n\n\u2022 Paragould Office: (870) 239-2557\n\n\u2022 Walnut Ridge Office: (870) 886-1616\n\nEntergy Arkansas:\n\nTo report an outage: 1-800-968-8243 (1-800-9OUTAGE)\n\nFarmers Electric Cooperative:\n\n(870) 523-3691\n\nJonesboro City Water & Light:\n\n(870) 930-3300\n\nMississippi County Electric Cooperative:\n\nTo report an outage: 1-800-439-4563\n\n(870) 762-2586\n\nNorth Arkansas Electric Cooperative:\n\nTo report an outage: (870) 895-3221\n\nOsceola Municipal Light & Power:\n\n(870) 563-5245\n\nParagould Light Water and Cable:\n\n(870) 239-7700\n\nPiggott Municipal Light Water and Sewer\n\nTo report an outage: (870) 593-3208\n\n(870) 593-3243\n\nOsceola Municipal Light & Power:\n\n(870) 563-5245\n\nSHELTERS\n\nCraighead County:\n\n-Monette Sr. Life Center, 504 South Williams, remains open as shelter\n\n-Monette Housing Authority, 429 South Williams, remaining open if there is loss of heat or power\n\nJackson County:\n\n-Newport High School gym\n\nRED CROSS Agencies\n\nBlytheville\n\nPhone: 870-763-4481\n\nAddress: 630 West Walnut Street, 72315\n\nJonesboro\n\nPhone: 870-932-3212\n\nAddress: 305 West Jefferson, 72401", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T22:40:02Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=e75001eb-3417-409f-bbb1-0560583cd917", "Bipartisan Support for Extension of Energy Efficiency Initiative", "2013-12-04", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC - Rep. Cory Gardner (R-CO), Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT), Senator Chris Coons (D-DE), and Senator John Boozman (R-AR) applauded the decision by the Obama Administration to extend President Obama\u2019s federal buildings energy efficiency initiative.\r\nThe Administration announced yesterday\u00a0that federal\u00a0agencies will \u201cwork with the Energy Department\u2019s Federal Energy Management Program in early 2014 to identify a pipeline of additional project commitments to further reduce energy use through 2016.\u201d\r\nGardner, Welch, Coons, and Boozman \u2013 joined by 118 House colleagues and 26 Senate colleagues \u2013\u00a0sent a letter last month\u00a0to President Obama requesting an extended residential initiative setting a goal of $1 billion a year for the next five years for the federal government to utilize performance contracts to achieve energy savings.\r\n\u201cAmericans are tired of a Congress that has a seemingly endless inability to work together,\u201d Rep. Cory Gardner\u00a0said. \u201cA growing bipartisan group of Members of Congress have come together to achieve a simple goal: save taxpayer money, and reduce the amount of energy the federal government uses. I am glad the Obama Administration had made the decision to extend this commonsense initiative.\u201d\r\n\u201cEnergy efficiency is a practical idea that cuts through partisan gridlock in Washington and achieves real progress for the American people by creating jobs and saving taxpayer dollars. There is broad bipartisan and bicameral support for energy efficiency investments and the Administration\u2019s announcement today reflects that support. I applaud their decision to extend this program and look forward to working with them achieve even more energy savings,\u201d\u00a0Rep. Peter Welch\u00a0said.\r\n\"Investments in energy efficiency upgrades\u00a0promote energy independence, help our environment, and support American jobs,\"\u00a0Senator Chris Coons\u00a0said. \"Outdated federal facilities spend billions in taxpayer dollars every year on energy use alone. In just two years, the federal buildings energy efficiency initiative has already yielded significant energy and cost savings for the federal government, and I am pleased the administration has chosen to extend this valuable program.\"\r\n\u201cI applaud this commonsense effort to use public-private partnerships to achieve both energy efficiency and savings for American taxpayers. While debate and disagreement are part of a healthy democracy, our bipartisan letter and today's announcement show that we can also find areas of common ground and agreement to tackle challenges our nation faces,\u201d\u00a0  Senator John Boozman\u00a0said.\r\nIn 2011, the President kicked off a 2-year initiative to achieve $2 billion in energy savings in federal buildings. The 2011 executive order employed the use of Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPCs) and Utility Energy Services Contracts (UESCs) to achieve energy savings in federal buildings.\r\nUnder an ESPC or UESC, an energy services company or a utility negotiates a contract with a federal agency that specifies the amount of energy savings it will achieve through retrofits and other measures. The company or utility is then paid for its performance out of the savings it achieves rather than through appropriated funds.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://womack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=363089", "Womack Celebrates Small Business Saturday", "2013-11-30", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Steve Womack", "W000809", "womack.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Womack Celebrates Small Business Saturday \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Rogers, Arkansas,\r\n        November 30, 2013\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) released the following statement regarding Small Business Saturday:\r\n\u201cOur Main Street small businesses make a community our community, and today, Americans across the country are celebrating and thanking them by shopping small.\u00a0 But our Main Streets and the futures of our communities are at stake because of a tax loophole that\u2019s forcing more shoppers to the Internet and more local retailers to close their doors.\u00a0 To ensure that our hometown stores are able to compete on a level playing field, we must pass the Marketplace Fairness Act.\u201d \u00a0\r\n\u00a0\r\n###\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://womack.house.gov/blog/?postid=363090", "Thank You", "2013-11-28", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Steve Womack", "W000809", "womack.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Dear Friends, We live in a times of uncertainty \u2013 times of economic uncertainty, wars, civil unrest, acts of nature, and acts of man.\u00a0 But even in spite of all of this, we Americans have so much for which to be thankful. \u00a0The Thanksgiving holiday is a time to remember these blessings. \u00a0\u00a0\r\nIn America, we are blessed with freedoms that make self-governance and democracy possible, and we have an opportunity to create a better life for ourselves and our children. \u00a0But these freedoms are not free, and throughout our history, our nation has been called to defend our right to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.\u00a0 We are fortunate to have men and women who willingly, courageously, and selflessly serve to protect them.\r\nArkansans are especially blessed.\u00a0 Not only do we enjoy America\u2019s freedoms, but we live in a state whose beauty, hospitality, and rich history of entrepreneurialism are second-to-none.\u00a0\r\nI could not be more grateful to serve as the voice for Arkansas\u2019s Third District in the U.S. House of Representatives.\u00a0 I take this responsibility and my constituents\u2019 trust very seriously.\u00a0 As we craft laws and work towards passing real reforms \u2013 including restoring fiscal discipline, easing the regulatory burden, and reforming our tax code and mandatory programs\u2013 to get America back on track, I always have the best interest of Arkansans in mind.\r\nIn addition to passing laws that make life a little easier for those in the Natural State, my staff and I work every day to help you navigate the bureaucratic maze and cut through red tape, so you can get answers from federal agencies. \u00a0This year, I\u2019m proud to report assisting nearly 750 of you.\u00a0\r\nToday on Thanksgiving, as I pause to consider the fortunes bestowed upon us, I count you as mine.\u00a0 Thank you for your trust and the continued opportunity to serve you.\u00a0\r\nHappy Thanksgiving, and God bless.Congressman Steve Womack\r\nArkansas Third District", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/dr-boozman-s-check-up?ContentRecord_id=10280a74-d52c-4e06-8fb0-b012e6fb59a8", "My Concerns Over the Nuclear Deal with Iran", "2013-11-26", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Over the weekend, the Obama Administration and five other countries struck what is being hailed as a historic nuclear agreement with Iran.\r\nWhile the President praised the agreement as an \u201cfirst step,\u201d Iran\u2019s neighbors and important allies of the U.S. had an entirely different take as Israel and the Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, voiced their discontent with the deal.\u00a0\r\nAfter a careful review of the agreement, I find the deal hard to support.\r\nIran gets a promise of no new sanctions, and a reprieve from current sanctions, providing access to an estimated $7 billion in sanctions relief.\r\nIt was hard enough to get the international community to commit to sanctions in the first place. With a reprieve of this nature, we will never be able to reestablish them should Iran not live up to their end of this agreement.\r\nThe agreement does not require dismantling of current centrifuges, and allows those in place and running to continue to operate. \u00a0Furthermore, not requiring an explicit statement that Iran does not have a \"right\" to enrich uranium implicitly accepts that right and puts the U.S. on record as saying that Iran\u2019s nuclear ambitions are peaceful, which, given the country\u2019s rhetoric and behavior, is far from the truth. \u00a0\r\nUnfortunately, the implementation of this interim agreement has already begun.\u00a0 Therefore, we should immediately move forward with bipartisan legislation that reinstates current sanctions and imposes new ones should the Iranian regime fail to comply with the promises to roll back its nuclear program and significantly dismantle its nuclear infrastructure during the next six months.\u00a0 We must also ensure that this deal does not become permanent.\r\nFor that reason, I am supportive of legislation introduced by Senator Bob Corker, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called the Iran Nuclear Compliance Act of 2013.\u00a0 This legislation ensures that Iran is in full compliance with the interim agreement and sets further specific requirements that must be met by the regime before any final agreement is reached and additional sanctions waived. \u00a0It also reinstates all current sanctions if the interim agreement is violated.\u00a0\r\nWe are all hopeful for a diplomatic solution, and I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues in the House and the Senate, as well as the administration, in order to reach a final agreement that ensures Iran never obtains the capability to develop a nuclear weapon.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=dba195a2-3381-498b-8064-f16112ff3544", "Boozman Encourages Arkansans to Shop Locally in Support of Small Business Saturday", "2013-11-26", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC\u2014U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) encouraged Arkansans to shop locally this weekend in support of Small Business Saturday.\r\n\u201cSmall Business Saturday recognizes the local businesses and neighborhood retailers and the importance they play in our communities. Money spent in our small businesses gets reinvested, draws attention to local merchants and could ultimately lead to more new jobs. In this economy, small businesses have struggled and they need our support. By taking the small step of shopping locally this holiday season, we can make a big impact on our communities.\u201d\r\nBoozman is a cosponsor of the Senate-passed resolution that designates the Saturday after Thanksgiving as Small Business Saturday. The National Retail Federation estimates that 247 million shopper spent nearly $60 billion during Thanksgiving weekend in 2012.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/weekly-columns?ContentRecord_id=2b1907c1-6804-4b56-aace-170918343510", "Small Business Saturday", "2013-11-26", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Small business is the backbone of our economy, employing nearly half of all private sector employees and creating 64 percent of all new jobs. In this economy, small businesses have struggled and they need our support. We can do our part to help this economic engine. Small Business Saturday is an opportunity for us to recognize the local businesses and neighborhood retailers and the importance they play in our communities.\r\nSmall Business Saturday has joined Black Friday and Cyber Monday in the post-Thanksgiving shopping blitz. According to the National Retail Federation, 247 million shoppers spent more than $59 billion on purchases during Thanksgiving weekend last year. The advantage of Small Business Saturday is that money is spent at locally-owned small businesses.\r\nAs a cosponsor of the Senate resolution that supports Small Business Saturday and recognizes the importance local businesses and neighborhood retailers play in the community, I also am working to create a climate that encourages growth for our small businesses.\r\nAs a former small business owner, I recognize the difficulty these businesses have to plan for future growth and investment with rising health care costs, food costs and uncertainty over energy costs. At a time when the Arkansas unemployment rate is more than seven percent with an increasing percentage of people who are underemployed, small businesses have the greatest potential to reverse this economic outlook and put people back to work.\u00a0 We need pro-growth policies to make that happen.\r\nThe best way to address these challenges is to put in place pro-growth policies that will finally jumpstart the economy for small businesses. Measures like increasing production of American energy, expanding our exports, investing in our infrastructure and comprehensive reform of our tax code to spur growth are good starting points.\r\nWhile the majority of Americans recognize the importance of small businesses, their success depends on customers. Money spent in our small businesses gets reinvested, draws attention to local merchants and could ultimately lead to more new jobs. By taking the small step of shopping locally this holiday season, we can make a big impact on our communities.\r\nThis week as we gather with our family and friends to give thanks and count our blessings and enjoy the holiday we should also give thanks for our small businesses and the men and women whose innovations, ideas and hard work drive the economy. Small Business Saturday is gaining momentum. Previous years have been a big success, thanks in large part to the increased awareness about the impact of small business on our economy. Let\u2019s do our part to help development in our communities by shopping at locally owned retailers.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/dr-boozman-s-check-up?ContentRecord_id=59a26205-524c-4173-95ee-da5d91332e6d", "November Reminds Us to Invest in America by Recycling", "2013-11-25", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "We joined fellow Senate Recycling Caucus co-chair, Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE), in writing this piece about the importance of recycling. It was published in The Huffington Post on November 25, 2013.\r\n\r\nEvery year as summer turns to fall, it's hard not to stop, look around, and contemplate the beauty of our country. From the splendor of the forests and farmlands of Arkansas and the Southeast, to the cool, crisp scenes of Delaware and the mid-Atlantic, the U.S. is filled with natural beauty and it's important to keep it that way. That's why every November, folks across the nation take part in an effort to maintain America's natural beauty by participating in America Recycles Day -- a time to think about what each of us can do to be better environmental stewards while simultaneously strengthening our economy for future generations.\r\nAs co-chairs of the Senate Recycling Caucus, we are working with our colleagues and stakeholders to raise awareness of the many benefits of recycling. Most Americans are familiar with traditional municipal recycling efforts that encourage individuals to recycle household or office goods such as paper or soda cans and bottles. Every little bit helps when it comes to recycling and we are encouraged that municipal recycling rates are increasing year after year, and we strongly encourage further participation in these programs.\r\nBut there's more to recycling than just traditional municipal recycling programs. The United States is home to robust and growing commercial recycling and re-manufacturing industries. For example, the recycling and re-manufacturing industries generated more than $236 billion in annual revenue in past years and created more than one million good-paying American jobs. Also encouraging, the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries notes that scrap recycling generates $4 billion in state and local revenues annually. Increasing recycling rates and collection programs continue to contribute to the economic growth of these industries which in turn helps the larger American economy.\r\nThese statistics offer a window into the benefits of recycling nationally, but we have also seen recycling success stories first hand in our home states. In Arkansas, this success story is found in the rebirth of the American steel industry. Today more than 60 percent of the steel in the United States is produced by recycling scrap metal. Innovation in steel recycling technology has enabled the U.S. steel industry to reduce its energy intensity by 28 percent since 1990. One Arkansas company, Nucor, has the capacity to recycle 6 million tons of steel per year in Arkansas, and over 27 million tons nationwide, making it North America's largest recycler. Recycling and re-manufacturing enables American workers to compete in a global market flooded with subsidized foreign steel.\r\nSimilarly, Delaware has realized significant economic and environmental benefits since Delaware's Universal Recycling Law was passed in 2010. A recent report showed that in 2012, more than 40 percent of recyclables in the state were diverted from landfills and Delaware's recycling, reuse, and re-manufacturing industry contributed $346 million to the State's economy in 2009. For example, the recycling boost has spawned opportunities in the poultry industry. In 2001 Perdue Farms created -- with the encouragement and support of the State of Delaware -- the Perdue AgriRecycle plant in southern Delaware. It takes raw poultry litter and processes it into an pelletized, organic fertilizer sold to Scotts and Holly Tone for use on lawns, park land and golf courses throughout the First State and beyond. Recycling poultry litter amounts to a \"win-win\" situation by enabling poultry producers to responsibly manage the disposal of poultry litter - which benefits the surrounding watershed and fishing economy -- while also creating a valuable organic fertilizer.\r\nAdditionally, a number of Delaware restaurants are now recycling compostable food waste. This lowers their waste disposal costs and nurtures a growing industry utilizing yard waste to make rich mulch and compost soil.\r\nIn short, our country is recycling everything from aluminum cans, cardboard, and glass bottles to electronics, cars, and refrigerators. The recycling and remanufacturing industries give our country access to valuable raw materials -- including rare and expensive materials - while reducing energy use, air and water pollution, and the need for old methods of waste disposal.\r\nIn honor of America Recycles Day, we invite you to join us in making a concerted effort to recycle. When you recycle, you literally reinvest in American manufacturing, providing raw materials for America's factories and economic opportunity for your community. You can be a part of the solution, helping to responsibly support and preserve both our environment and economy.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/dr-boozman-s-check-up?ContentRecord_id=d0ab430d-5cf3-4906-81b9-e5754e4678ca", "Recognizing National Adoption Day", "2013-11-23", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "For most Americans, Thanksgiving is a time where we gather with our families to recognize the blessings we have received over the year. For some of us, these blessings include a fruitful harvest, new jobs, and additions to our families. However, for more than 400,000 children in the United States, it is a time that serves as a painful reminder that they have gone another year without knowing how it feels to enjoy a Thanksgiving full of love surrounded by family.\r\nThese 400,000 children will spend the upcoming holidays in the foster care system, and while the number of adoptions from inside the United States is rising, 40 percent of these children will spend at least three years in the foster care system.\u00a0\r\nAll children deserve the opportunities to grow and strive that sometimes can only be given to them by the love and affection a family can give. This is why I joined a bipartisan group of my colleagues to designate November as National Adoption Month, and November 23 as National Adoption Day. It is our hope that we can bring awareness to the thousands of children who are waiting to find their forever families.\u00a0\r\nI am very encouraged by the work that is being done in Arkansas to raise awareness for the 3,500 children who are in the state\u2019s foster care system at any given time. Honoring the work being done to raise awareness about adoption we recognize Arkansans for their dedication to providing permanent and loving homes for the children who are in the foster care system and are waiting for a family.\u00a0\r\nAs part of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute which coordinates the Angels in Adoption program, we celebrate outstanding individuals for their dedication and commitment to providing children with the protection, permanency, safety and love of a family.\u00a0\r\nFamilies across the state are committed to sharing their love with children who need parents. Hundreds of children were adopted in Arkansas last year and we can continue to\u00a0 find loving homes for children in need.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/dr-boozman-s-check-up?ContentRecord_id=89b770d3-bb67-452d-9836-1f7aa6f02142", "Week in Review: November 18-22", "2013-11-22", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "We wrapped up a busy week in Washington before adjourning for Thanksgiving recess. Here\u2019s what happened in the Senate:\r\n \r\nSenate Rules Change: Senator Reid broke the rules to change the rules of the Senate, majorly altering the way in which the chamber operates. I voted against this change that reduces the minority\u2019s ability to filibuster executive branch and most judicial nominees.\u00a0\r\n \r\n\r\n\r\n \r\nPEPFAR Reauthorized: The Senate reauthorized the President\u2019s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Started under the vision and leadership of President George W. Bush, PEPFAR, the U.S. government initiative to combat HIV/AIDS around the world, has been credited with saving millions of lives during the last decade.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/dr-boozman-s-check-up?ContentRecord_id=de735b35-782e-4339-8fca-88a8c599ac1a", "PEPFAR Reauthorized: Keeping a Rare Washington Success Story Alive", "2013-11-22", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Lost in the hyper partisanship of Senator Reid\u2019s power grab this week was the bipartisan reauthorization of a rare Washington success story: the President\u2019s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Started under the vision and leadership of President George W. Bush, PEPFAR, the U.S. government initiative to combat HIV/AIDS around the world, has been credited with saving millions of lives over the past ten years.\r\nAs Voice of America notes, PEPFAR \u201csupports almost six million people worldwide who are receiving anti-retroviral drugs, and has provided care and support to nearly 15 million people, including more than 4.5 million orphans and vulnerable children.\u201d\r\nPrior to the creation of the program, an estimated 100,000 people were on anti-retroviral drugs in sub-Saharan Africa. Five years later, when President Bush left office, close to two million people were receiving these life-saving drugs. One million babies have now been born HIV-negative thanks to PEPFAR's mother-to-child interventions.\r\nAs we continue to build on those incredible results, PEPFAR is increasingly transitioning from an emergency U.S.-led program to one in which recipient countries increasingly sustain the effort themselves. This reauthorization will continue the program on this path while ensuring that strong accountability and oversight mechanisms are followed to continue this success.\r\nAs we approach the holiday season, it is important to remember that the U.S. still has a vital role in helping the less fortunate around the globe. In 2003, when signing the legislation we passed to create the program, President Bush called PEPFAR \"a medical version of the Marshall Plan.\" It truly exemplifies the ideals for which our nation stands. I am excited that we will be able to continue the important work of this life-saving program.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=3c4d58ed-6651-48c5-ad89-ae909524585a", "Boozman-Donnelly Bill to Authorize National Desert Storm and Desert Shield Memorial Passes Committee", "2013-11-22", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources approved legislation introduced by\u00a0 Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Joe Donnelly (D-IN) that would authorize the construction of a National Desert Storm and Desert Shield Memorial.\u00a0\r\nThe National Desert Storm and Desert Shield War Memorial Act, S. 995, recognizes the 600,000 American troops who were deployed to Operation Desert Storm and Operation Desert Shield, while remembering the 293 who died in theater.\r\n\u201cThe men and women who sacrificed their lives during Operation Desert Storm and Operation Desert Shield deserve this fitting recognition that shows our appreciation for their service.\u00a0 This clears a major hurdle to making this memorial a reality. I\u2019m pleased to join Senator Donnelly in this effort,\u201d Boozman said.\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\u201cI am pleased that the National Desert Storm and Desert Shield War Memorial Act is one step closer to becoming law.\u00a0 The men and women who fought in the first Gulf War, including more than 60,000 Hoosiers, deserve to have their bravery and sacrifices honored.\u00a0 I\u2019m proud to join Senator Boozman in this bipartisan effort, and I look forward to the bill coming to the floor of the Senate,\u201d Donnelly said.\u00a0\r\nThe Boozman-Donnelly legislation would authorize the National Desert Storm Memorial Association to establish the National Desert Storm and Desert Shield Memorial on federal lands within the District of Columbia. Funds for construction of the memorial would be raised privately by the National Desert Storm War Memorial Association.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/weekly-columns?ContentRecord_id=9fc66d80-c434-4894-b5c2-8cd9c33b636e", "Humanitarian Relief: Making the World Better", "2013-11-22", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "While disagreements abound in the international community, the worldwide response to tragedy always brings us together. The best of humanity is on display when we reach out to people in need whether down the street, across the country or around the globe.\u00a0\r\nThe best current example is in the Philippines, where relief efforts are underway after the country was hit by Typhoon Haiyan in early November. One of the strongest storms on record, Haiyan was named a \u2018super typhoon\u2019 and Filipino authorities estimate more than 10,000 people have died as a result of the storm. This is a reminder of how fragile life is and just how vulnerable we are to Mother Nature.\r\nThe clock is ticking on reaching devastated areas where Filipino residents are suffering from lack of food and clean water. Those in need of medical attention are overwhelming the hospitals and clinics, many of which are operating without power and the necessary resources to care for patients.\u00a0\r\nThe United States has always been a beacon of hope to people suffering around the world and we\u2019re doing our part to continue to help. The USS George Washington, a Navy aircraft carrier, is providing emergency relief to the Philippines. This allows us to provide large scale humanitarian assistance, including the ability serve thousands of meals a day to a starving population, convert sea water into 400,000 gallons of drinkable water, provide medical assistance and move supplies to areas where a destroyed infrastructure makes it difficult and near impossible to reach.\u00a0\r\nThis goodwill effort will save thousands of people, provide invaluable positive attention, build a trust with citizens and help with future diplomatic issues. Our response is a testament to the character of our country, but this role is not just limited to government. Other organizations are mobilizing efforts to provide assistance and Americans, showing the true spirit of our generosity and compassion, are overwhelmingly supportive of these recovery efforts. Our office has received a lot of interest from Arkansans anxious to help citizens of the Philippines. The State Department is working with two non-profit organizations to provide immediate assistance to victims of the disaster in the Philippines.\u00a0Additionally, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has a list of resources, including links to identify reliable and well-known organizations that make the most of your donations.\u00a0\r\nNatural disasters have impacted the way people live in all corners of the world, including here in the Natural State. I know that I am joined by all Arkansans as we think of and pray for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan. Our response to this horrific event shows our commitment to making the world a better place.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=375f85a2-0102-4934-9b14-c07cfe669b23", "Boozman: Senator Reid Strips Rights of Minority to Distract From Obamacare Failures", "2013-11-21", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) released the following on Majority Leader Harry Reid\u2019s decision to strip the Senate Minority of its rights in relation to Presidential nominations:\r\n\u201cThis was an act of desperation by the Senate Majority to distract from a disastrous few weeks. Senator Reid\u2019s willingness to break the rules to change the rules so he could divert attention from Obamacare\u2019s failures is understandable given how disastrous the program\u2019s rollout has been. The problem for Senator Reid is that this power grab only turns the spotlight brighter on Obamacare. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\r\nAs millions of Americans begin to lose their health insurance, we see what happens when President Obama and Senator Reid force their agenda through to get their way. Much like today\u2019s power grab, Obamacare was forced on the nation by similar strong-arm tactics. Of course they would like you to forget that, which is why they are trying to change the subject to judicial nominations. \r\nThe first two years of President Obama\u2019s administration were the glory days for the President and Senator Reid. When Americans saw the results of an unchecked Obama Administration, they voted to bring some balance to Washington. Clearly, that did not sit well with Senator Reid who has threatened ever since to go \u2018nuclear.\u2019\r\nOne of the great things about the Senate is that it is an ongoing, living body. Unlike House members who are up for reelection every two years, Senate rules carry over into the new session of Congress. Senator Reid broke the rules, changed the rules and, at some point, is going to regret this decision.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=7223cad3-6af8-42db-a21d-3bbc815144eb", "Pryor, Boozman, Crawford Call on USDA to Support Grand Prairie and Bayou Meto Projects in Arkansas", "2013-11-21", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Mark Pryor and John Boozman, along with Congressman Rick Crawford (AR-1) this week sent a letter to USDA Secretary Vilsack requesting continued support for the completion of the Grand Prairie and Bayou Meto projects in Arkansas. These projects help provide a safe water supply for Arkansas farmers and families, as well as vital benefits such as conservation, flood risk reduction, and habitat protection. The following is full text of the letter: We are writing to request that the Department of Agriculture continue to provide support to the Grand Prairie Area Demonstration Project (White River Irrigation District) and the Bayou Meto Water Management Project (Bayou Meto Water Management District).\u00a0 Both projects are supported in the administration\u2019s FY2014 budget proposal and through the FY14 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill.\u00a0 Furthermore, the Administration committed to an RUS loan to ensure the projects could be built.\u00a0 Recently, USDA Rural Development has insisted on a cost-share program.\u00a0 To help move the project forward and in addition to previous direct support, the State of Arkansas is prepared to front-fund a debt service reserve account in order to provide significant protection from risk exposure to local and federal taxpayers. We believe that the backing of the State of Arkansas is sufficient to ensure a wise investment for USDA and we ask that you continue to work on achieving the end goal of completing work on the Grand Prairie and Bayou Meto Projects. A series of studies by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), and the State of Arkansas have confirmed the critical nature of groundwater problems throughout this region.\u00a0 Area farmers have depended on the Alluvial Aquifer for irrigation for the past century.\u00a0 Our groundwater resources are severely depleted, and the Corps has stated that \u201cwithout an adequate solution to the region\u2019s groundwater problems, studies predict that the Alluvial Aquifer will be commercially useless by the year 2015.\u201d\u00a0 The Corps has also determined that \u201cwithout a supplemental source of irrigation water only about 34 percent of the [Bayou Meto] project area could be irrigated which would cause approximately $48,292,000 losses in net farm revenues\u201d each year.\u00a0\u00a0 Similar analysis for the Grand Prairie project area projects a \u201cdecrease in irrigated cropland by 77 percent\u201d and an annual \u201cdecrease in farm cash receipts by 47 percent or $46 million.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 These projected losses are likely low, due to changes in crop prices since the Corps Report was released. Congress has provided authorization and support for these two projects through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.\u00a0 Unlike western states with groundwater problems, the State of Arkansas does not have access to targeted federal groundwater protection programs such as those operated by the Bureau of Reclamation, which is why support has been provided through other state and federal agencies, including USDA.\u00a0 Presently, both Grand Prairie and Bayou Meto have entered the construction phase, with significant federal and non-federal investment having already occurred.\u00a0 Much of the on-farm water conservation work has been completed, with local, state, and federal supporting, including support from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.\u00a0 To date, the federal government has invested $65.5 million in Bayou Meto Water Management Project, with an additional $21 million invested by non-federal sources.\u00a0 Similarly, for the Grand Prairie Area Demonstration Project, the federal government has invested $105.1 million to date, with an additional $45 million invested by non-federal sources. As you review our request for renewed efforts by the Department of Agriculture to provide support to the these projects, please keep in mind that in addition to providing ground water protection and agricultural water supply, these project provide environmental benefits including water conservation and water quality improvements, and flood risk reduction.\u00a0 The projects also provide habitat for waterfowl and critical wet land buffer units. We appreciate your attention to the needs of Arkansas farmers, and we look forward to receiving your reply.\u00a0 We stand ready to assist you in any way that we can.\u00a0 Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions regarding these critical agricultural water projects that need strong continued support from USDA.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://crawford.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=362302", "Pryor, Boozman, Crawford Call on USDA to Support Grand Prairie and Bayou Meto Projects in Arkansas", "2013-11-20", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Rick Crawford", "C001087", "crawford.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Bayou Meto Projects in Arkansas  \r\nWASHINGTON D.C. - U.S. Senators Mark Pryor and John Boozman, along with Congressman Rick Crawford (AR-1) this week sent a letter to USDA Secretary Vilsack requesting continued support for the completion of the Grand Prairie and Bayou Meto projects in Arkansas. These projects help provide a safe water supply for Arkansas farmers and families, as well as vital benefits such as conservation, flood risk reduction, and habitat protection.The full text of the letter can be found here: We are writing to request that the Department of Agriculture continue to provide support to the Grand Prairie Area Demonstration Project (White River Irrigation District) and the Bayou Meto Water Management Project (Bayou Meto Water Management District).  Both projects are supported in the administration\u2019s FY2014 budget proposal and through the FY14 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill.  Furthermore, the Administration committed to an RUS loan to ensure the projects could be built.  Recently, USDA Rural Development has insisted on a cost-share program.  To help move the project forward and in addition to previous direct support, the State of Arkansas is prepared to front-fund a debt service reserve account in order to provide significant protection from risk exposure to local and federal taxpayers. We believe that the backing of the State of Arkansas is sufficient to ensure a wise investment for USDA and we ask that you continue to work on achieving the end goal of completing work on the Grand Prairie and Bayou Meto Projects. A series of studies by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), and the State of Arkansas have confirmed the critical nature of groundwater problems throughout this region.  Area farmers have depended on the Alluvial Aquifer for irrigation for the past century.  Our groundwater resources are severely depleted, and the Corps has stated that \u201cwithout an adequate solution to the region\u2019s groundwater problems, studies predict that the Alluvial Aquifer will be commercially useless by the year 2015.\u201d  The Corps has also determined that \u201cwithout a supplemental source of irrigation water only about 34 percent of the [Bayou Meto] project area could be irrigated which would cause approximately $48,292,000 losses in net farm revenues\u201d each year.   Similar analysis for the Grand Prairie project area projects a \u201cdecrease in irrigated cropland by 77 percent\u201d and an annual \u201cdecrease in farm cash receipts by 47 percent or $46 million.\u201d   These projected losses are likely low, due to changes in crop prices since the Corps Report was released. Congress has provided authorization and support for these two projects through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  Unlike western states with groundwater problems, the State of Arkansas does not have access to targeted federal groundwater protection programs such as those operated by the Bureau of Reclamation, which is why support has been provided through other state and federal agencies, including USDA.  Presently, both Grand Prairie and Bayou Meto have entered the construction phase, with significant federal and non-federal investment having already occurred.  Much of the on-farm water conservation work has been completed, with local, state, and federal supporting, including support from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.  To date, the federal government has invested $65.5 million in Bayou Meto Water Management Project, with an additional $21 million invested by non-federal sources.  Similarly, for the Grand Prairie Area Demonstration Project, the federal government has invested $105.1 million to date, with an additional $45 million invested by non-federal sources. As you review our request for renewed efforts by the Department of Agriculture to provide support to the these projects, please keep in mind that in addition to providing ground water protection and agricultural water supply, these project provide environmental benefits including water conservation and water quality improvements, and flood risk reduction.  The projects also provide habitat for waterfowl and critical wet land buffer units. We appreciate your attention to the needs of Arkansas farmers, and we look forward to receiving your reply.  We stand ready to assist you in any way that we can.  Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions regarding these critical agricultural water projects that need strong continued support from USDA.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases/pryor-boozman-crawford-call-on-usda-to-support-grand-prairie-and-bayou-meto-projects-in-arkansas", "Pryor, Boozman, Crawford Call on USDA to Support Grand Prairie and Bayou Meto Projects in Arkansas", "2013-11-20", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Eric A. \"Rick\" Crawford", "C001087", "crawford.house.gov", "crawford", "https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "November 20, 2013\n\nBayou Meto Projects in Arkansas\n\nWASHINGTON D.C. - U.S. Senators Mark Pryor and John Boozman, along with Congressman Rick Crawford (AR-1) this week sent a letter to USDA Secretary Vilsack requesting continued support for the completion of the Grand Prairie and Bayou Meto projects in Arkansas. These projects help provide a safe water supply for Arkansas farmers and families, as well as vital benefits such as conservation, flood risk reduction, and habitat protection.\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here:\n\nWe are writing to request that the Department of Agriculture continue to provide support to the Grand Prairie Area Demonstration Project (White River Irrigation District) and the Bayou Meto Water Management Project (Bayou Meto Water Management District). Both projects are supported in the administration's FY2014 budget proposal and through the FY14 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill. Furthermore, the Administration committed to an RUS loan to ensure the projects could be built. Recently, USDA Rural Development has insisted on a cost-share program. To help move the project forward and in addition to previous direct support, the State of Arkansas is prepared to front-fund a debt service reserve account in order to provide significant protection from risk exposure to local and federal taxpayers. We believe that the backing of the State of Arkansas is sufficient to ensure a wise investment for USDA and we ask that you continue to work on achieving the end goal of completing work on the Grand Prairie and Bayou Meto Projects.\n\nA series of studies by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), and the State of Arkansas have confirmed the critical nature of groundwater problems throughout this region. Area farmers have depended on the Alluvial Aquifer for irrigation for the past century. Our groundwater resources are severely depleted, and the Corps has stated that \"without an adequate solution to the region's groundwater problems, studies predict that the Alluvial Aquifer will be commercially useless by the year 2015.\" The Corps has also determined that \"without a supplemental source of irrigation water only about 34 percent of the [Bayou Meto] project area could be irrigated which would cause approximately $48,292,000 losses in net farm revenues\" each year. Similar analysis for the Grand Prairie project area projects a \"decrease in irrigated cropland by 77 percent\" and an annual \"decrease in farm cash receipts by 47 percent or $46 million.\" These projected losses are likely low, due to changes in crop prices since the Corps Report was released.\n\nCongress has provided authorization and support for these two projects through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Unlike western states with groundwater problems, the State of Arkansas does not have access to targeted federal groundwater protection programs such as those operated by the Bureau of Reclamation, which is why support has been provided through other state and federal agencies, including USDA. Presently, both Grand Prairie and Bayou Meto have entered the construction phase, with significant federal and non-federal investment having already occurred. Much of the on-farm water conservation work has been completed, with local, state, and federal supporting, including support from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. To date, the federal government has invested $65.5 million in Bayou Meto Water Management Project, with an additional $21 million invested by non-federal sources. Similarly, for the Grand Prairie Area Demonstration Project, the federal government has invested $105.1 million to date, with an additional $45 million invested by non-federal sources.\n\nAs you review our request for renewed efforts by the Department of Agriculture to provide support to the these projects, please keep in mind that in addition to providing ground water protection and agricultural water supply, these project provide environmental benefits including water conservation and water quality improvements, and flood risk reduction. The projects also provide habitat for waterfowl and critical wet land buffer units.\n\nWe appreciate your attention to the needs of Arkansas farmers, and we look forward to receiving your reply. We stand ready to assist you in any way that we can. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions regarding these critical agricultural water projects that need strong continued support from USDA.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T22:39:47Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/dr-boozman-s-check-up?ContentRecord_id=f59b3dc1-8502-4f6f-99a0-cdd235c11ea5", "Bill to Protect VA Funding Clears Hurdle", "2013-11-20", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The Senate Veteran Affairs Committee took an important step in continuing our promise to the men and women who served in the Armed Forces by funding, in advance, all veteran services such as compensation and pensions and vocational rehabilitation loans programs the same way we do veterans\u2019 health accounts by passing The Putting Veterans Funding First Act of 2013.\u00a0\r\nThis legislation introduced by my colleague Mark Begich (D-AK) and I, would to allow for better planning and management of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and would prevent veterans' benefits from being jeopardized in the event of future lapses in funding. This is a common sense way to fulfill our commitment to take care of the men and women who sacrificed for our country and provide them with the services on which they rely by funding them one year in advance.\u00a0\r\nWhile the legislation is widely supported by Veteran Service Organizations, VA Secretary Shinseki is not embracing this idea. As Military Times reports \u201cShinseki made the point that veterans still would be hurt in a shutdown because many VA programs are inextricably intertwined with other federal agencies.\u201d I agree that we should eliminate the threat of interruptions in government services and this legislation would prevent veterans\u2019 benefits from being threatened in the future.\u00a0\r\nThe approval by the Senate committee is a major hurdle and I encourage the House to support H.R. 813, similar legislation that has been introduced in that chamber.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=2b8c4d42-7220-413e-9184-b17cae02274a", "Senators Build off Success of NWACC National Child Protection Training Center", "2013-11-19", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Mark Pryor (D-AR), John Boozman (R-AR), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Al Franken (D-MN) today introduced the National Child Protection Training Act, a bipartisan bill that seeks to improve child abuse training programs and enhance child protection nationwide.\u00a0\r\nTheir bill would build on the success of the National Child Protection Training Center\u2019s (NCPTC) facilities at Northwest Arkansas Community College in Bentonville, Arkansas and at Winona State University in Winona, Minnesota. These centers have developed cutting-edge curricula, certification and degree programs, and classes for law students, medical students, and professionals to help improve child abuse training.\u00a0\r\n\u201cAs Arkansas\u2019s Attorney General, I saw first-hand the value of reliable leadership and high-quality training when it came to keeping our kids safe,\u201d Pryor said. \u201cThat\u2019s why I\u2019m proud to sponsor this common-sense bill to ensure child advocates have the tools and resources they need to protect our kids. The National Child Protection Training Center in Bentonville has been a strong leader in this fight, and I hope our bill will allow others to learn from their success.\u201d\u00a0\r\n\u201cChild Protection Training Centers are an important tool in the fight against child abuse and neglect,\u201d Boozman said. As the home to the Southern Regional Training Center, Northwest Arkansas Community College has a unique role in developing the most effective training and education to help young victims overcome issues resulting from child abuse. We need to continue the development made on this front to help respond to the needs of children during this critical time in their lives and prevent these horrific crimes from happening in the future.\u201d\r\n\u201cAs a former prosecutor, I\u2019ve seen firsthand how important it is for children and families to have the resources they need to escape the horrors of child abuse,\u201d Klobuchar said. \u201cI have visited Winona State many times to see the good work their National Child Protection Training program is doing to put a stop to child abuse and give victims the support they deserve. This bill will help build on the success of the Winona State program at centers across the country and help make sure our childcare advocates have the tools and training they need to identify and prevent child abuse.\u201d\u00a0\r\n\u201cOne of the best ways to help end child abuse is to spot the signs early, and making sure that those who work closely with children have the appropriate training is key,\u201d said Franken. \u201cThis bill takes an innovative, Minnesota-based program and expands on our success by giving professionals around the country who work with kids the tools they need to detect and prevent abuse.\"\u00a0\r\nThe bill would also direct the Attorney General to coordinate with the NCPTC to operate at least four regional training centers nationwide.\u00a0 It would require these centers to develop undergraduate and graduate curricula on child maltreatment, distribute the curricula to institutions of higher education, and to develop \u201claboratory\u201d training facilities for students and professionals. The centers would also be required to help communities develop child abuse prevention programs and forensic interview training programs.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://crawford.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=361675", "Crawford Statement on Passage of Keep Your Health Plan Act", "2013-11-15", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Rick Crawford", "C001087", "crawford.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Rick Crawford (AR-1) released the following statement as the House of Representatives today passed H.R. 3350, the Keep Your Health Plan Act:\r\n\u201cAs the picture of the ObamaCare law comes into clearer focus, the American people are being faced with a series of choices. The President promised with the passage of the law that the American people would be granted affordable care and greater coverage \u2013 yet now we see families are losing their coverage and paying more to get it back. Soon, the American people will have a choice to stay the course and spend over a trillion dollars we don\u2019t have, or to take a different path toward patient-centered reforms and truly affordable coverage. I look forward to continuing that effort as the Representative of Arkansas\u2019 First District.\u201d\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://crawford.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=361748", "Pryor, Boozman, Crawford & Griffin Respond to U.S. Fish & Wildlife Mitigation Hatcheries Announcement", "2013-11-15", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Rick Crawford", "C001087", "crawford.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senators Mark Pryor and John Boozman and Congressmen Rick Crawford (AR-1) and Tim Griffin (AR-2) issued the following statements as the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service today announced that it would begin a thorough review of mitigation hatchery facilities across the country for their economic viability:\r\n\u201cIt took countless phone calls, letters, and refusing to take \u2018no\u2019 for an answer, but I\u2019m glad we were able to convince the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to keep our fish hatcheries open. The Greers Ferry and Norfork Fish Hatcheries are economic engines for our state, supporting thousands of jobs and contributing millions in economic activity. I\u2019ll continue to work with the Interior, FWS, and the Arkansas delegation on a responsible long-term solution to keep these hatcheries open,\u201d Pryor said.\r\n\u201cThese hatcheries replenish fisheries that were impacted by the construction of federal dams on our rivers, so the continued operation of these hatcheries is a must,\u201d said Boozman.\u00a0 \u201cWorking together, the Arkansas delegation has been able to keep our hatcheries open. We are reviewing the priorities of the Fish and Wildlife Service. As the Ranking Member of the Senate Water and Wildlife Subcommittee, I will hold the agency accountable as they plan and budget for future years.\u201d\r\n\u201cThe Greers Ferry and Norfork mitigation hatcheries in Arkansas\u2019 First District have proven their critical importance to our state\u2019s economy, supporting thousands of jobs and generating over one hundred million dollars in economic output between the two of them,\u201d said Crawford. \u201cCongress must continue to work toward long-term solutions to preserve funding for these facilities, and my bill, H.R. 2261, is one such creative approach that will protect the future of mitigation hatcheries across the country.\u201d\r\n\u201cI\u2019m proud to support Rep. Crawford\u2019s bill to protect hatcheries like the ones at Greers Ferry and Norfork from being closed. These facilities were built to replace fisheries eliminated by federal water development projects, and the federal government should maintain them. Thousands of jobs depend on it, and I\u2019m committed to working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to keep them open,\u201d Griffin said.\r\n###\r\nCongressman Crawford (AR-1) has introduced H.R. 2261, the National Mitigation Fisheries Coordination Act, which will provide a long-term solution that codifies into law future funding for mitigation hatchery facilities. Congressman Griffin (AR-2) today announced that he would be a cosponsor of the bill.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases/pryor-boozman-crawford-griffin-respond-to-us-fish-wildlife-mitigation-hatcheries-announcement", "Pryor, Boozman, Crawford & Griffin Respond to U.S. Fish & Wildlife Mitigation Hatcheries Announcement", "2013-11-15", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Eric A. \"Rick\" Crawford", "C001087", "crawford.house.gov", "crawford", "https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "U.S. Senators Mark Pryor and John Boozman and Congressmen Rick Crawford (AR-1) and Tim Griffin (AR-2) issued the following statements as the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service today announced that it would begin a thorough review of mitigation hatchery facilities across the country for their economic viability:\n\n\"It took countless phone calls, letters, and refusing to take \u2018no' for an answer, but I'm glad we were able to convince the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to keep our fish hatcheries open. The Greers Ferry and Norfork Fish Hatcheries are economic engines for our state, supporting thousands of jobs and contributing millions in economic activity. I'll continue to work with the Interior, FWS, and the Arkansas delegation on a responsible long-term solution to keep these hatcheries open,\" Pryor said.\n\n\"These hatcheries replenish fisheries that were impacted by the construction of federal dams on our rivers, so the continued operation of these hatcheries is a must,\" said Boozman. \"Working together, the Arkansas delegation has been able to keep our hatcheries open. We are reviewing the priorities of the Fish and Wildlife Service. As the Ranking Member of the Senate Water and Wildlife Subcommittee, I will hold the agency accountable as they plan and budget for future years.\"\n\n\"The Greers Ferry and Norfork mitigation hatcheries in Arkansas' First District have proven their critical importance to our state's economy, supporting thousands of jobs and generating over one hundred million dollars in economic output between the two of them,\" said Crawford. \"Congress must continue to work toward long-term solutions to preserve funding for these facilities, and my bill, H.R. 2261, is one such creative approach that will protect the future of mitigation hatcheries across the country.\"\n\n\"I'm proud to support Rep. Crawford's bill to protect hatcheries like the ones at Greers Ferry and Norfork from being closed. These facilities were built to replace fisheries eliminated by federal water development projects, and the federal government should maintain them. Thousands of jobs depend on it, and I'm committed to working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to keep them open,\" Griffin said.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T22:39:47Z"], ["https://womack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=361689", "Womack Votes to Let Americans Keep Their Health Plans", "2013-11-15", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Steve Womack", "W000809", "womack.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Womack Votes to Let Americans Keep Their Health Plans \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington, D.C.,\r\n        November 15, 2013\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      On November 14, 2013, President Obama announced another administrative \u201cfix\u201d to Obamacare, which gives insurers the option to offer current enrollees renewals in plans that are not compliant with Affordable Care Act provisions, which would otherwise be cancelled.\u00a0 Today, the House passed the Keep Your Health Plan Act (H.R. 3350), which allows Americans to enroll in health insurance plans currently available on the individual market next year without penalty.\u00a0 After passage, Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3), a cosponsor of H.R. 3350, released the following statement:\r\n\u201cFrom skyrocketing premiums to canceled coverage, Obamacare is continuing to make life harder for Americans.\u00a0 Unfortunately, the President\u2019s latest in his long list of fixes does not change that and instead, simply passes the buck.\u00a0 Americans don\u2019t need false promises or smoke and mirror fixes; they need relief from Obamacare and an unambiguous guarantee that the plan they have and like will still be available.\u00a0 It\u2019s time the President takes responsibility for both.\u201d \u00a0\r\n\u00a0\r\n###\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://womack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=361700", "Ethanol Reform Legislators React to EPA Blend Wall Proposal", "2013-11-15", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Steve Womack", "W000809", "womack.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Reps. Steve Womack (AR-3), Bob Goodlatte (VA-6), Jim Costa (CA-16), and Peter Welch (VT-AL), authors of the Renewable Fuel Standard Reform Act (H.R. 1462), reacted this afternoon to the Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s (EPA) decision to reduce the amount of ethanol blended into fuel in 2014.\u00a0 These same Members led an October letter signed by 169 House colleagues urging the EPA to adjust the ethanol mandate in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).\n\u201cToday\u2019s decision by the EPA is a step in the right direction that acknowledges that the RFS isn\u2019t working, but it\u2019s not enough,\u201d said Womack.\u00a0 \u201cThe RFS is a weight on our economy, and Congress must make fundamental ethanol policy reforms, which provide a long-term solution to this problem and do more to protect American consumers and businesses.\u201d\u00a0\n\u201cWhile the EPA\u2019s slight reduction of the RFS for 2014 acknowledges that the mandate is unworkable, it is not enough to provide the much-needed relief businesses, farmers, and consumers need,\u201d said Goodlatte. \u00a0\u201cToday\u2019s announcement makes it even clearer that it will now be up to Congress to fix this broken mandate.\u00a0 There is a growing appetite in Congress to reform the ethanol mandate, and I urge Chairman Upton and the House Energy and Commerce Committee to consider the RFS Reform Act as a legislative fix to the growing problems with the RFS.\u201d\n\u201cEPA has finally realized that it was time to step back and stop gambling our food and energy security on a broken policy. The Renewable Fuel Standard was well-intentioned, but this flawed policy needed to be brought back into balance,\u201d said Costa. \u201cThere is still more that needs to be done to restore balance to our energy and ethanol policies, but this is the good-faith effort we needed to continue the conversation about the future of the RFS.\u201d\n\u201cToday\u2019s announcement is welcome news and a call to action for Congress to move forward with much needed ethanol policy reform. \u00a0While well-intentioned, the federal ethanol mandate is inflicting significant economic harm on families by driving up food prices, on dairy farmers by driving up\u00a0feed prices, and on homeowners and outdoorsmen by ruining small engines,\u201d Welch said.\u00a0 \u201cThe EPA\u2019s decision to lower the fuel standard is a clear sign that this law isn\u2019t working.\u00a0 Congress should get about the business of overhauling this misguided policy before more harm is done.\u201d\nThe Renewable Fuel Standard Reform Act would repeal the corn ethanol mandate; cap ethanol use at 10% (E10); and preserve the mandate for the fledgling cellulosic biofuels industry. \n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=82e71ae0-7b3b-4c63-bfca-d54efa2d5110", "Arkansas Members Respond to U.S. Fish & Wildlife Mitigation Hatcheries Announcement", "2013-11-15", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Mark Pryor and John Boozman and Congressmen Rick Crawford (AR-1) and Tim Griffin (AR-2) issued the following statements as the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service today announced that it would begin a thorough review of mitigation hatchery facilities across the country for their economic viability:\r\n\u201cIt took countless phone calls, letters, and refusing to take \u2018no\u2019 for an answer, but I\u2019m glad we were able to convince the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to keep our fish hatcheries open. The Greers Ferry and Norfork Fish Hatcheries are economic engines for our state, supporting thousands of jobs and contributing millions in economic activity. I\u2019ll continue to work with the Interior, FWS, and the Arkansas delegation on a responsible long-term solution to keep these hatcheries open,\u201d Pryor said.\r\n\u201cThese hatcheries replenish fisheries that were impacted by the construction of federal dams on our rivers, so the continued operation of these hatcheries is a must,\u201d Boozman said.\u00a0\u201cWorking together, the Arkansas delegation has been able to keep our hatcheries open. We are reviewing the priorities of the Fish and Wildlife Service. As the Ranking Member of the Senate Water and Wildlife Subcommittee, I will hold the agency accountable as they plan and budget for future years.\u201d\r\n\u201cThe Greers Ferry and Norfork mitigation hatcheries in Arkansas\u2019 First District have proven their critical importance to our state\u2019s economy, supporting thousands of jobs and generating over one hundred million dollars in economic output between the two of them,\u201d said Crawford. \u201cCongress must continue to work toward long-term solutions to preserve funding for these facilities, and my bill, H.R. 2261, is one such creative approach that will protect the future of mitigation hatcheries across the country.\u201d\r\n\u201cI\u2019m proud to support Rep. Crawford\u2019s bill to protect hatcheries like the ones at Greers Ferry and Norfork from being closed. These facilities were built to replace fisheries eliminated by federal water development projects, and the federal government should maintain them. Thousands of jobs depend on it, and I\u2019m committed to working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to keep them open,\u201d Griffin said.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=368562d1-a59d-4876-b4a3-447c1719fa2b", "Boozman Says President's Plan to Address Insurance Cancellations is \"Not a Real Solution\"", "2013-11-14", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON\u2013 U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) said that today\u2019s announcement by President Obama giving Americans who receive health insurance cancellation notices the ability to keep their coverage is \u201cnot a real solution.\u201d\r\n\u201cThe President is just trying to shift the blame for policy cancellations to the insurance companies. His solution is for them to work it out somehow, essentially letting Americans keep their insurance for another year, only to have it taken it away after the election. It\u2019s not a real solution and it will likely result in further pains for the American people. The only real fix is to repeal and replace Obamacare,\u201d Boozman said.\u00a0 \r\n\u201cIf the President plans to just ignore the parts of the law that don\u2019t work, then he better prepare to ignore the entire law. With 20,000 pages of regulation and a trillion dollars\u2019 worth of taxes, he has created a program that is completely inoperable,\u201d Boozman added.\r\nPrior to the President\u2019s announcement, Republican Senators took to the floor to show real-life examples of Americans who are suffering under Obamacare, Boozman highlighted the awful position a Little Rock resident is now in as a result of the President\u2019s law.\u00a0 \r\nBoozman described an email he received from a constituent who has been forced out of the insurance he likes, the very insurance that President Obama promised he would be able to keep. As a result, he will see a 25 percent increase in his deductible and a 300 percent increase in his monthly premiums which will rise from $285 a month to $850 a month. \r\nBoozman said the story is \u201crepresentative of what thousands are going through in Arkansas.\u201d\r\n\u201cWe are trying to provide a voice to millions of Americans who are in need of real health care reform. Obamacare is not the answer. They know that. It is time for the President to own up to that fact as well,\u201d Boozman said.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://womack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=360922", "Womack: Thanks to Our Veterans", "2013-11-11", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Steve Womack", "W000809", "womack.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) released the following statement regarding Veterans Day:\r\n\u201cEvery veteran is a hero, and while we celebrate and honor them today, these heroes serve 365 days a year.\u00a0 A day should never go by in which we take for granted the selfless sacrifices they have made to protect us and our freedoms.\u00a0 Our nation is forever indebted to them, and to our past, current, and future servicemembers, I say thank you.\u201d\r\n\u00a0\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=d9da81e8-2697-494c-8db4-826265b22390", "Boozman Pays Tribute to Veterans", "2013-11-11", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) honors the selfless service and sacrifice of our nation\u2019s veterans on Veterans Day.\u00a0\r\n\u201cOn Veterans Day, we honor and respect our veterans and their families for those the sacrifices that have secured our cherished freedoms,\u201d Boozman said in a video message. \u201cWe take time to reflect on the sacrifices of ordinary men and women from all corners of our nation who have and continue to serve our country.\u201d\r\nAs a member of the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee, Boozman is uniquely situated to help usher through legislation and implement policies that help our nation\u2019s veterans. Improving health care and access, expanding educational opportunities, and providing opportunities for long-term meaningful employment for our nation\u2019s veterans are priorities for the senator as Congress continues its promise to the men and women who wear our nation\u2019s uniform.\u00a0\r\n\u201cIt\u2019s important that we continue to improve the benefits our veterans receive. One way to do that is to provide advanced funding for key veterans\u2019 programs, to ensure that all the services which our veterans have earned, and depend on, will continue should there be future funding lapses,\u201d Boozman said.\u00a0\r\nBoozman honored veterans during several events throughout the weekend. Today he will speak at Paris Middle School's third annual Veterans Day Celebration.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/weekly-columns?ContentRecord_id=c578cdfe-b7bd-4671-9052-534095a8fbe5", "Saluting Our Veterans", "2013-11-11", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The names of World War II battles etched into the granite memorial in our nation\u2019s capital brought back memories for the nearly 80 members of the Greatest Generation who came to see the memorial dedicated to their sacrifice and service. I had the opportunity to experience the veterans\u2019 first look at the WWII memorial that honors their heroics when they flew from Arkansas on an Honor Flight. It was truly inspiring. The stories they told serve as a reminder of the commitment and dedication of our men and women who selflessly served and continue to serve in our military.\u00a0\r\nOn Veterans Day we honor the sacrifice, heroism and determination of those who have been called to serve our nation in uniform and recommit ourselves to fighting on their behalf.\u00a0\r\nThere are more than 20 million living veterans, more than 250,000 of whom call Arkansas home. Honoring our promise to the men and women who selflessly placed themselves in harm\u2019s way has always been one of my highest priorities. The Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee is always looking for ways to improve programs and implement new plans to help make the lives of our veterans better. I have worked to improve access to veteran health care services, expand educational opportunities and provide opportunities for our veterans to find meaningful employment once they leave the service so they can provide for their families and succeed in our global economy.\u00a0\u00a0\r\nWe have made progress on the front of expanding veterans\u2019 benefits, but there is still work to be done.\u00a0 It\u2019s important that we continue to improve these benefits. That\u2019s why I support advanced funding for key veterans\u2019 programs, to ensure that all the services which our veterans have earned, and depend on, will continue should there be future funding lapses. As a cosponsor of Putting Veterans Funding First Act, I am committed to fulfilling our commitment to veteran services. This legislation would require Congress to fully fund the Department of Veterans Affairs\u2019 discretionary budget one year ahead of schedule, just like the medical accounts are funded a year in advance.\u00a0\r\nOur Armed Forces are made up of patriots from all corners of our nation who are called to a higher service in defense of our freedoms. I encourage all Americans to use this day as a time to thank a veteran for their courage, commitment and honor. It\u2019s because of their dedication and sacrifice that we enjoy our freedoms.\u00a0\r\nBrave Americans will continue to bear the burden of defending our interests at home and abroad and sacrificing their lives for the future of our nation. We salute our veterans for their selfless commitment and immeasurable sacrifice to protect this nation and its ideals so we can continue to be the greatest, freest country the world has ever known. To all of our veterans, thank you and may God bless you, your families, and the United States of America.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://crawford.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=360962", "Successful A-State ROTC Program Safe for Now", "2013-11-08", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Rick Crawford", "C001087", "crawford.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The ROTC program at A-State in Jonesboro, a long and successful program that has helped thousands of students learn the value of dedication, hard work, and discipline, has been an important part of the university and the community at large for years. As an Army veteran and A-State alumni, I recognize the great importance of this program and its continued success in fulfilling its mission preparing students for military service.However, last month the Army announced without warning that it planned to shutter thirteen programs, including the A-State program. The Army cited a need to concentrate its resources in urban areas, yet has failed to give concrete data or evidence for the necessity of this shift or any signs they had followed their own lengthy procedures for closing a program. Additionally, local leaders and elected representatives in Washington were not consulted, left without the opportunity to counter the Army\u2019s sudden decision with the great impact this program has had over the last 67 years, and further inform the Army of the negative effects this shift would have on the student body and community at large. Stories began to emerge of students who came to A-State on ROTC scholarships that would be hung out to dry after the program closed.  Senator Pryor, Senator Boozman and I realized this was an unacceptable situation for Northeast Arkansas. As a team, we worked together to inform the Army of the negative effects this would have on the student body, the university, and on the community while demanding concrete evidence and numbers for exactly how the A-State program had failed to live up to Army standards. We participated on numerous calls and wrote letters, working hard to find a solution to preserve this important program. With continued pressure from all sides, earlier this week the Army finally relented, announcing they would delay the projected closings for one year while communicating a clear set of criteria to A-State that would need to be met in order to keep the program open. With the program\u2019s long and successful history of training students and consistently meeting or exceeding requirement set before them, my colleagues and I are confident any reasonable set of requests can be met. I am proud to stand together with my Senate colleagues to defend Arkansas\u2019 interests in Washington. This was truly a team effort. As this issue continues to develop, I look forward to working together to defend this important program and ensure its availability for future generations of A-State students.  ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases/successful-a-state-rotc-program-safe-for-now", "Successful A-State ROTC Program Safe for Now", "2013-11-08", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Eric A. \"Rick\" Crawford", "C001087", "crawford.house.gov", "crawford", "https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "November 8, 2013\n\nThe ROTC program at A-State in Jonesboro, a long and successful program that has helped thousands of students learn the value of dedication, hard work, and discipline, has been an important part of the university and the community at large for years. As an Army veteran and A-State alumni, I recognize the great importance of this program and its continued success in fulfilling its mission preparing students for military service.\n\nHowever, last month the Army announced without warning that it planned to shutter thirteen programs, including the A-State program. The Army cited a need to concentrate its resources in urban areas, yet has failed to give concrete data or evidence for the necessity of this shift or any signs they had followed their own lengthy procedures for closing a program. Additionally, local leaders and elected representatives in Washington were not consulted, left without the opportunity to counter the Army's sudden decision with the great impact this program has had over the last 67 years, and further inform the Army of the negative effects this shift would have on the student body and community at large. Stories began to emerge of students who came to A-State on ROTC scholarships that would be hung out to dry after the program closed.\n\nSenator Pryor, Senator Boozman and I realized this was an unacceptable situation for Northeast Arkansas. As a team, we worked together to inform the Army of the negative effects this would have on the student body, the university, and on the community while demanding concrete evidence and numbers for exactly how the A-State program had failed to live up to Army standards. We participated on numerous calls and wrote letters, working hard to find a solution to preserve this important program.\n\nWith continued pressure from all sides, earlier this week the Army finally relented, announcing they would delay the projected closings for one year while communicating a clear set of criteria to A-State that would need to be met in order to keep the program open. With the program's long and successful history of training students and consistently meeting or exceeding requirement set before them, my colleagues and I are confident any reasonable set of requests can be met. I am proud to stand together with my Senate colleagues to defend Arkansas' interests in Washington. This was truly a team effort. As this issue continues to develop, I look forward to working together to defend this important program and ensure its availability for future generations of A-State students.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T22:39:47Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/dr-boozman-s-check-up?ContentRecord_id=44f0c568-d02c-41d1-a641-fd7267eaef63", "Release Pastor Saeed Abedini from Iranian Prision", "2013-11-08", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Pastor Saeed Abedini, an American held captive in Iran for practicing his Christian faith, has been behind bars in Iran for more than a year. Recent reports indicate that he was transferred from a prion in Teharn to Rajai Shahr in Karaj, a notoriously brutal prison.\r\nThis abrupt transfer is cause for concern. The American Center for Law and Justice calls this transfer a grave danger to Pastor Saeed and urged President Obama\u2019s attention.\r\nI joined several of my colleagues urging the President to act to save Pastor Saeed and call for his release. Read our letter here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=8e6fbc1d-434a-4f5e-9416-c4b17a9224ab", "Boozman Announces Spring Intern Program", "2013-11-08", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) today announced that his office is seeking full or part-time interns to help staff in his Washington, D.C. and state offices during the 2014 spring semester.\u00a0 \r\n\u201cWorking in a Senate office allows interns to experience what they\u2019ve learned in school, acquiring firsthand knowledge of the legislative process and constituent services responsibilities. It\u2019s a great opportunity to do rewarding work on behalf of the people of Arkansas,\u201d Boozman said.\u00a0\u00a0 \r\nThe Washington intern program emphasizes both practical and educational aspects of working on Capitol Hill from the first-hand perspective. Interns participate in the daily operation of the Senate office, as well as attending both Committee hearings and watching floor proceedings from the Senate gallery.\r\nInternships in Washington give students an opportunity to learn about the legislative process and the federal government by working closely with the legislative, communications and constituent services staff members. In addition, interns will provide constituents with private tours of the U.S. Capitol.\u00a0 \r\nStudents may also apply to serve in one of the state offices where each will have the opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge about how a senator\u2019s office provides constituent services, interacts with the community, and serves as a liaison to the Washington, D.C. office.\u00a0 \r\nInterns in state office will work closely with staff to help individual constituents with casework, such as VA benefits, Social Security issues and Passports.\u00a0 Senator Boozman has seven state offices to serve the various regions of Arkansas\u2014Lowell, Fort Smith, Mountain Home, Jonesboro, Little Rock, Stuttgart and El Dorado.\u00a0 \r\nInterns will be able to receive academic credit for their work if they so choose depending on their college\u2019s requirements for such credit. Students are required to receive academic credit if they accept an internship in one of the state offices. Priority is given to Arkansas students who have completed at least their sophomore year of college. The positions are unpaid.\u00a0 \r\nThe spring session dates are January 6 \u2013 May 16, 2014 for Washington and January 13 \u2013 May 2, 2014 for the state. \r\nInterested applicants should visit www.boozman.senate.gov and click on the \u201capply for an internship link.\u201d The deadline to apply is November 30th.\u00a0 \r\nQuestions should be directed to the intern coordinators, Clermon Acklin, in the D.C. office at (202) 224-4843 and Stacey Mattingly, in the state at (479) 725-0400.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=21498614-d243-4602-a4c6-abadb9102a46", "Boozman to Participate in Events Honoring Veterans", "2013-11-07", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) will honor the service and sacrifice of veterans and their families at events across Arkansas over the next several days.\r\n\u201cOn Veterans Day we reflect on the sacrifices of the men and the women who put their lives on the line for liberty. These men and women and their families are selfless Americans who deserve our thanks and appreciation for their tireless efforts to protect our country,\u201d Boozman said.\r\nThe media is invited to all of these events. The following are details of the visits:\r\nFriday, November 8\r\nOzark Heritage Bank Veterans' CelebrationOzark Heritage Bank  802 East Main Street  Mountain View  11 a.m. \u2013 1 p.m. (Ceremony is at 12 p.m.)  Ozark Heritage Bank honors a local veteran one Thursday a month. They host a celebration with all their past honorees around Veteran\u2019s Day each year. Boozman will be on hand to help honor the veterans during this ceremony. \u00a0 \u00a0\r\nSaturday, November 9\r\nLand Donation Ceremony to Fayetteville Veterans\u2019 CemeteryFayetteville National Cemetery  700 Government Ave  Fayetteville  8-9:30 a.m.  Boozman will attend the ceremony that will transfer 2.3 acres of land from the Regional National Cemetery Improvement Corporation (RNCIC) to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for expansion of the Fayetteville National Cemetery. The transfer ceremony (at approximately 8:30 AM) will immediately follow the completion of the Fifth Annual Veterans Memorial 5K race, which will begin at 8:00 AM at the entrance to the Fayetteville National Cemetery.\r\nFort Smith Veterans\u2019 Day ParadeStarts at Taylor Ave and Ward St. near the Chaffee Crossing Historic District  Fort Smith  1:00 p.m.  Boozman will be a guest on the Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority float during the 2nd Annual Veterans Day Parade at Chaffee Crossing.\r\nMonday, November 11\r\nParis Middle School's Veterans' Day CelebrationParis Middle School  602 N. 10th Street  Paris, AR  11 a.m. \u2013 12:30 p.m.  Boozman will speak at the Paris Middle School's third annual Veterans Day Celebration. The theme for this year\u2019s ceremony is \"Your Story, Our Freedom.\" Paris Middle School students are participating in a writing contest focused on this theme and the winning entries will be presented during the Veterans Day Ceremony.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=b24236d3-6093-42d8-bdfa-7aac92bba2e1", "Boozman Announces Lonoke County Mobile Office", "2013-11-07", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013U.S. Senator John Boozman announced today that members of his staff will be in Lonoke County for a Mobile Office event. Boozman\u2019s staff will be available at the walk-in event to help Arkansans who are having problems involving the federal government and to hear their thoughts about legislative issues.\r\nThe Mobile Office will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 14 at the Plaza Building in Cabot.\r\n\u201cMobile Office events are great opportunities for Arkansans to get help and to speak one-on-one with my staff about their questions pertaining to the federal government. My staff is looking forward to visiting with the residents of Lonoke County and answering their questions and helping resolve issues they may be having with federal agencies,\u201d Boozman said. \u201cI have a great staff that works to help navigate the often-confusing federal agencies. These staffers act as liaisons; working to resolve issues affecting Arkansans such as Social Security or Medicare paperwork glitches, passport problems or tax matters.\u201d The senate office can help answer questions, find solutions, or just cut through the red tape. Arkansans are encouraged to reach out to Boozman\u2019s office for assistance with a problem involving a federal agency.\r\nFor more information on this event, contact the Senator\u2019s Stuttgart office at (870) 672-6941.\r\nLonoke County Mobile OfficeDate: Thursday, November 14, 2013Time: 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.Place:\u00a0The Plaza Building,\u00a0110 South First St. in Cabot, Arkansas\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\r\n**This is a staff-led constituent service event. Senator Boozman will NOT be attending**", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=d64fd7c3-9dd3-4594-9388-96f09f23c3e4", "Boozman Announces Pike County Mobile Office", "2013-11-07", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013U.S. Senator John Boozman announced today that members of his staff will be in Pike County for a Mobile Office event. Boozman\u2019s staff will be available at the walk-in event to help Arkansans who are having problems involving the federal government and to hear their thoughts about legislative issues.\r\nThe Mobile Office will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, November 12 at the Delight Public Library.\r\n\u201cMobile Office events are great opportunities for Arkansans to get help and to speak one-on-one with my staff about their questions pertaining to the federal government. My staff is looking forward to visiting with the residents of Pike County and answering their questions and helping resolve issues they may be having with federal agencies,\u201d Boozman said. \u201cI have a great staff that works to help navigate the often-confusing federal agencies. These staffers act as liaisons; working to resolve issues affecting Arkansans such as Social Security or Medicare paperwork glitches, passport problems or tax matters.\u201d The senate office can help answer questions, find solutions, or just cut through the red tape. Arkansans are encouraged to reach out to Boozman\u2019s office for assistance with a problem involving a federal agency.\r\nFor more information on this event, contact the senator\u2019s Fort Smith office at (479) 926-8235.\r\nPike County Mobile Office   Date:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Tuesday, November 12, 2013   Time: \u00a0 \u00a0 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.   Place:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Delight Public Library   \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 420 East Antioch Street   \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Delight, Arkansas\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\r\n\u00a0**This is a staff-led constituent service event. Senator Boozman will NOT be attending**", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://crawford.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=360964", "Pryor, Boozman, Crawford Announce Army Decision to Keep Arkansas State University ROTC Program Open", "2013-11-06", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Rick Crawford", "C001087", "crawford.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC\u2014U.S. Senators Mark Pryor and John Boozman, along with Congressman Rick Crawford (AR-1) today announced that the U.S. Army has withdrawn its proposal to eliminate Arkansas State University\u2019s ROTC program. The Army will keep A-State\u2019s program open for an additional year while it re-evaluates its program criteria. \u201cThanks to numerous phone calls, community support, and an Administration hold, we were able to keep A-State ROTC\u2019s doors open for another year. Now, we have the opportunity to prove our case and show the Army why this program is invaluable to our state and nation,\u201d Pryor said. \u201cThis was definitely a team effort, and I want to thank Senator Boozman and Congressman Crawford for working with me to help maintain this critical program.\u201d \u201cThe decision to continue the Arkansas State ROTC program offers an opportunity to demonstrate its value and meet the criteria established by the Army. I am confident that once we understand the evaluation methodology, Arkansas State will be able to excel and surpass the Army\u2019s requirements,\u201d Boozman said. \u201cI appreciate Secretary McHugh\u2019s swift attention to this issue as the delegation works to protect this vital program.\u201d \u201cI am extremely pleased to receive word from the Secretary of the Army that he has delayed the Army\u2019s decision to shutter Arkansas State\u2019s historic and successful ROTC program. This initial action was conducted without proper input from local leaders, lacking opportunity for congressional oversight, and most importantly without a clear rationale explaining the program\u2019s announced closure. Arkansas has spoken loud and clear that this program is an important part of our community, and I am proud to have worked with our two Arkansas Senators to reach this result. As an Army veteran and A-State alumni, I thank the Secretary for making the right decision and look forward to working with him in the future to preserve this valuable program for generations of A-State students,\u201d said Crawford. \u201cWe are very grateful to Sen. Pryor, Sen. Boozman and Congressman Crawford for working with the university and fighting so hard to save our historic R.O.T.C. program,\u201d Chancellor Tim Hudson said. \u201cIt took a team effort to show the Army why the Red Wolf Battalion deserves the chance to grow its mission at Arkansas State.\u201d \u201cA-State will continue to work with Col. Clark and his staff to provide scholarship and military service opportunities to our students. We also celebrate this decision with all of our alumni \u2014 including the likes of Gov. Mike Beebe \u2014 who received R.O.T.C. commissions here and served our country with honor.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases/pryor-boozman-crawford-announce-army-decision-to-keep-arkansas-state-university-rotc-program-open", "Pryor, Boozman, Crawford Announce Army Decision to Keep Arkansas State University ROTC Program Open", "2013-11-06", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Eric A. \"Rick\" Crawford", "C001087", "crawford.house.gov", "crawford", "https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "November 6, 2013\n\nWASHINGTON, DC\u2014U.S. Senators Mark Pryor and John Boozman, along with Congressman Rick Crawford (AR-1) today announced that the U.S. Army has withdrawn its proposal to eliminate Arkansas State University's ROTC program. The Army will keep A-State's program open for an additional year while it re-evaluates its program criteria.\n\n\"Thanks to numerous phone calls, community support, and an Administration hold, we were able to keep A-State ROTC's doors open for another year. Now, we have the opportunity to prove our case and show the Army why this program is invaluable to our state and nation,\" Pryor said. \"This was definitely a team effort, and I want to thank Senator Boozman and Congressman Crawford for working with me to help maintain this critical program.\"\n\n\"The decision to continue the Arkansas State ROTC program offers an opportunity to demonstrate its value and meet the criteria established by the Army. I am confident that once we understand the evaluation methodology, Arkansas State will be able to excel and surpass the Army's requirements,\" Boozman said. \"I appreciate Secretary McHugh's swift attention to this issue as the delegation works to protect this vital program.\"\n\n\"I am extremely pleased to receive word from the Secretary of the Army that he has delayed the Army's decision to shutter Arkansas State's historic and successful ROTC program. This initial action was conducted without proper input from local leaders, lacking opportunity for congressional oversight, and most importantly without a clear rationale explaining the program's announced closure. Arkansas has spoken loud and clear that this program is an important part of our community, and I am proud to have worked with our two Arkansas Senators to reach this result. As an Army veteran and A-State alumni, I thank the Secretary for making the right decision and look forward to working with him in the future to preserve this valuable program for generations of A-State students,\" said Crawford.\n\n\"We are very grateful to Sen. Pryor, Sen. Boozman and Congressman Crawford for working with the university and fighting so hard to save our historic R.O.T.C. program,\" Chancellor Tim Hudson said. \"It took a team effort to show the Army why the Red Wolf Battalion deserves the chance to grow its mission at Arkansas State.\"\n\n\"A-State will continue to work with Col. Clark and his staff to provide scholarship and military service opportunities to our students. We also celebrate this decision with all of our alumni \u2014 including the likes of Gov. Mike Beebe \u2014 who received R.O.T.C. commissions here and served our country with honor.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T22:39:47Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=eccf09de-9f7c-44fd-801d-50b99769df1a", "Pryor, Boozman, Crawford Announce Army Decision to Keep A-State ROTC Program Open", "2013-11-06", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC\u2014U.S. Senators Mark Pryor and John Boozman, along with Congressman Rick Crawford (AR-1) today announced that the U.S. Army has withdrawn its proposal to eliminate Arkansas State University\u2019s ROTC program. The Army will keep A-State\u2019s program open for an additional year while it re-evaluates its program criteria. \u201cThanks to numerous phone calls, community support, and an Administration hold, we were able to keep A-State ROTC\u2019s doors open for another year. Now, we have the opportunity to prove our case and show the Army why this program is invaluable to our state and nation,\u201d Pryor said. \u201cThis was definitely a team effort, and I want to thank Senator Boozman and Congressman Crawford for working with me to help maintain this critical program.\u201d \u201cThe decision to continue the Arkansas State ROTC program offers an opportunity to demonstrate its value and meet the criteria established by the Army. I am confident that once we understand the evaluation methodology, Arkansas State will be able to excel and surpass the Army\u2019s requirements,\u201d Boozman said. \u201cI appreciate Secretary McHugh\u2019s swift attention to this issue as the delegation works to protect this vital program.\u201d \u201cI am extremely pleased to receive word from the Secretary of the Army that he has delayed the Army\u2019s decision to shutter Arkansas State\u2019s historic and successful ROTC program. This initial action was conducted without proper input from local leaders, lacking opportunity for congressional oversight, and most importantly without a clear rationale explaining the program\u2019s announced closure. Arkansas has spoken loud and clear that this program is an important part of our community, and I am proud to have worked with our two Arkansas Senators to reach this result. As an Army veteran and A-State alumni, I thank the Secretary for making the right decision and look forward to working with him in the future to preserve this valuable program for generations of A-State students,\u201d said Crawford. \u201cWe are very grateful to Sen. Pryor, Sen. Boozman and Congressman Crawford for working with the university and fighting so hard to save our historic R.O.T.C. program,\u201d Chancellor Tim Hudson said. \u201cIt took a team effort to show the Army why the Red Wolf Battalion deserves the chance to grow its mission at Arkansas State.\u201d \u00a0\u201cA-State will continue to work with Col. Clark and his staff to provide scholarship and military service opportunities to our students. We also celebrate this decision with all of our alumni \u2014 including the likes of Gov. Mike Beebe \u2014 who received R.O.T.C. commissions here and served our country with honor.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/weekly-columns?ContentRecord_id=ec19ced0-2ff8-4457-b553-66bc0d56f940", "Obamacare's Problems Are More Than a Broken Website", "2013-11-06", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Recent reports indicate that fewer than 200 Arkansans have signed up for health care coverage through the exchanges. Insurance company executives blamed problems Arkansans have encountered logging on to Healthcare.gov, the federal website that must be used to sign residents up for the exchanges. Americans across the country have encountered the same problem. The website is simply not ready for use, but Obamacare\u2019s problems are much greater than just a broken portal. \u00a0\r\nHowever, even if you could manage to log on to the Arkansas Health Connector Website, you would find at most, four plans offering coverage. Over 75% of the state will have three or fewer provider options.\r\nBefore the law\u2019s implementation, state officials assured us that there would be up to eight carriers offering insurance on the individual market. The President even compared shopping on the exchanges to the ease of buying airline tickets online from a website like Expedia or Travelocity.\r\nHow does this shopping experience remotely resemble anything close to Expedia or Travelocity when you have only one, maybe two carriers to shop from?\u00a0 This is sadly the case in large parts of Arkansas\u2014just one airline with overpriced tickets for coach to pick from.\r\nThe Administration wants to brush these troubles off as a small bump in the road to implementation. The lack of coverage options is just one example of how the troubles with Obamacare run far deeper than \u201ctechnical glitches.\u201d The Administration\u2019s lackluster response to the online enrollment problems shines a light on this program\u2019s gross mismanagement.\r\nThe clock is ticking. Every American who is not enrolled in Administration-approved medical insurance by the end of March will be taxed. Yet, the Administration\u2019s failures make compliance impossible for millions of Americans. Instead of acknowledging this error, the President and his team plan to subject Americans to this unjust tax if they do not comply by March 31, 2014, despite the fact that the administration has failed to make the website work.\r\nThis is all the more reason why every American should be granted a reprieve from Obamacare. This week, I joined Senator Marco Rubio and seven of our colleagues to introduce the Delay Until Fully Functional Act. This bill would delay the individual mandate until six months after the Government Accountability Office (GAO) certifies that the exchange website is fully functional.\u00a0\r\nCertainly the rollout of the Obamacare website has been nothing short of a disaster. However, Healthcare.gov is a microcosm of the serious problems created by putting a government bureaucracy in charge of our health care. Setting up and thoroughly testing a fully-operational website prior to launching it should be the easy part. The fact that the Administration can\u2019t deliver on the easiest of its healthcare promises doesn\u2019t bode well for Americans forced into this bureaucratic monstrosity. It is safe to say that there will be more problems if we continue to move forward, even for those \u201clucky\u201d few who can sign-up before the deadline.\r\nUntil we can achieve the real solution of repealing this law and replacing it with market-based reforms, delaying the individual mandate is the only fair course of action.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://crawford.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=360361", "Crawford to Attend Series of Events Honoring Veterans", "2013-11-05", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Rick Crawford", "C001087", "crawford.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "JONESBORO, AR \u2013 Congressman Rick Crawford (AR-1) will attend a series of events in Arkansas thanking veterans and their families for their service over the following days: \u201cThis Veterans Day, it is important to remember those who have given so much in service to our nation. As an Army veteran and the Representative for Arkansas\u2019 First District, I am especially grateful to these brave men and women, without which we could not enjoy the blessings of democracy and freedom today. I thank our veterans and their families for their sacrifice and look forward to honoring Arkansas veterans at this series of events in the First District.\u201d  NOVEMBER 7TH  \r\n9:00 am: \u201cFREEDOM ISN\u2019T FREE\u201d EVENT  \r\nMountain Home High School Gymnasium  \r\n2301 Rodeo Dr., Mountain Home, AR NOVEMBER 8TH  \r\n11:00 am: VETERANS DAY RECOGNITION CEREMONY  \r\nOzark Heritage Bank  \r\n802 E. Main St., Mountain View, AR NOVEMBER 9TH  \r\n10:00 am: JONESBORO VETERANS DAY PARADE AND CEREMONY  \r\nDowntown Jonesboro, AR NOVEMBER 11TH  \r\n11:00 am: AMERICAN LEGION VETERANS DAY CEREMONY  \r\nAmerican Legion Armory  \r\n300 Commerce Dr., Cabot, AR ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases/crawford-to-attend-series-of-events-honoring-veterans", "Crawford to Attend Series of Events Honoring Veterans", "2013-11-05", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Eric A. \"Rick\" Crawford", "C001087", "crawford.house.gov", "crawford", "https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "November 5, 2013\n\nJONESBORO, AR \u2013 Congressman Rick Crawford (AR-1) will attend a series of events in Arkansas thanking veterans and their families for their service over the following days:\n\n\"This Veterans Day, it is important to remember those who have given so much in service to our nation. As an Army veteran and the Representative for Arkansas' First District, I am especially grateful to these brave men and women, without which we could not enjoy the blessings of democracy and freedom today. I thank our veterans and their families for their sacrifice and look forward to honoring Arkansas veterans at this series of events in the First District.\"\n\nNOVEMBER 7TH\n\n9:00 am: \"FREEDOM ISN'T FREE\" EVENT\n\nMountain Home High School Gymnasium\n\n2301 Rodeo Dr., Mountain Home, AR\n\nNOVEMBER 8TH\n\n11:00 am: VETERANS DAY RECOGNITION CEREMONY\n\nOzark Heritage Bank\n\n802 E. Main St., Mountain View, AR\n\nNOVEMBER 9TH\n\n10:00 am: JONESBORO VETERANS DAY PARADE AND CEREMONY\n\nDowntown Jonesboro, AR\n\nNOVEMBER 11TH\n\n11:00 am: AMERICAN LEGION VETERANS DAY CEREMONY\n\nAmerican Legion Armory\n\n300 Commerce Dr., Cabot, AR\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T22:39:47Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/dr-boozman-s-check-up?ContentRecord_id=7373496b-5013-4686-90e7-da62df738c16", "A Way to Let You Really Keep the Insurance You Like", "2013-11-05", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "\u201cIf you like your health care plan, you\u2019ll be able to keep your health care plan\u201d is a phrase President Obama often repeated while campaigning for his signature health care law.\r\nIt was meant to alleviate the concerns that millions of Americans had about being forced off their insurance and/or losing their doctors. Turns out those concerns were valid.\r\nThis oft-repeated, \u201cpromise\u201d was a \u201cwhopper\u201d of a lie, according to the Fact Checker blog at The Washington Post. \u00a0\r\nThe Post writes:\r\nThe president\u2019s statements were sweeping and unequivocal \u2014 and made both before and after the bill became law. The White House now cites technicalities to avoid admitting that he went too far in his repeated pledge, which, after all, is one of the most famous statements of his presidency.\r\nThe president\u2019s promise apparently came with a very large caveat: \u201cIf you like your health care plan, you\u2019ll be able to keep your health care plan \u2014 if we deem it to be adequate.\u201d\u00a0\r\nWhat President Obama really meant was if he likes your health care plan you can keep it. If not, you\u2019re out of luck.\r\nOne month in and at least 3.5 million Americans have received insurance cancellation notices. That number is only expected to continue to climb in the final weeks of 2013 and beyond.\r\nThe President\u2019s response to the mess he created is telling the millions of Americans who have received cancellation notices they can \u201cjust shop around\u201d for new policies that often come with more expensive premiums and higher deductibles.\r\nThere\u2019s a better way forward, Mr. President. Short of repealing and replacing this disaster of a program, we need to add flexibility to the standards for policies under Obamacare and give Americans the freedom to keep their plans if they so choose. We can easily accomplish that by passing a bill introduced by Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI), which has the support of a majority of Senate Republicans, including myself, and will give Americans who like their individual policies the ability to keep them.\r\nDecreased coverage, increased premiums and expanded government is not what the American people want, need or deserve. This is not what they want in a healthcare system. The real solution is repealing this law and replacing it with healthcare reform that will work. Until we can achieve that goal, we must offer some relief to the millions of Americans who are now receiving cancellation notices thanks to Obamacare.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=45e506b8-a772-4e74-b967-81a255d284bf", "Senators Work to Improve Human Rights in Vietnam", "2013-11-05", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and John Cornyn (R-TX) today introduced legislation to improve human rights in Vietnam. The Vietnam Human Rights Act of 2013, would establish measures to combat human rights abuses by the Vietnamese government.\r\n\u201cThe Vietnamese government is increasingly persecuting its own citizens and failing to honor basic human rights. The heavy hands of this regime are to blame for some gross violations that include unlawful incarceration, human trafficking and torture. We have a moral obligation to stand up to this oppression and lead the charge for change and encourage a democratic environment free from tyranny and violence,\u201d Boozman said.\r\n\u201cThe Vietnamese government\u2019s deeply troubling backsliding on political and religious freedoms and other human rights is and will remain an area of considerable concern to the United States,\u201d said Cornyn.\u00a0\u201cThe U.S. must make it clear that it will not continue to support or strengthen ties with a government that cruelly imprisons its own citizens and shows a blatant disregard for basic human rights.\u201d\r\nThe bill prohibits any increase in non-humanitarian assistance to the Government of Vietnam above Fiscal Year 2012 levels unless the government makes substantial progress in establishing a democracy and promoting human rights, including freedom of religion and expression and releasing political and religious prisoners.\r\nThe Vietnamese Community of Arkansas showed its support for this legislation in a letter sent a letter to Boozman in September.\r\n\u201cThe Vietnam Human Rights Act of 2013 is a much needed step in the right direction, to express to the Vietnamese government the United States' resolve to champion human rights, not only in Vietnam, but in all corners of the world,\u201d Vinh Pham, President of the Vietnamese Community of Arkansas wrote. Click here to read the letter.\r\nThis legislation is identical to House-passed legislation overwhelmingly supported by members in August.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://crawford.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=360158", "Farm Bill Conference Committee Critical for Arkansas Jobs", "2013-11-01", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Rick Crawford", "C001087", "crawford.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "As a conferee to the 2013 Farm Bill conference committee, last week I had the privilege of participating in the first public meeting of the committee with members of both the House and Senate. There, each of the 41 conferees, including myself and Arkansas Senator John Boozman, had the opportunity to lay out their initial markers and priorities on what the bill should contain. It is an important first step as we begin the negotiating process to hammer out the differences between the two bills and reach a consensus that will be fiscally responsible and support agriculture jobs around the country.I am pleased the Commodity Title in this legislation has been crafted in such a way that provides options for farmers, based either on revenue or price, which provides the right amount of regional flexibility. Historically, Farm Bills have been written to favor Midwestern interests while Southern farmers were left with programs that were not the perfect fit for their needs. I am proud to have worked with House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas to address the regional needs of both Southern and Midwestern farmers, and am looking forward to a final product that preserves this regional flexibility. Additionally, this bill does an excellent job of addressing regulatory overreach from the federal government that is hurting production and jobs in the agricultural sector. For instance, the legislative text of my regulatory relief bill, the FUELS Act, was included in the House-passed Farm Bill to provide relief for on-farm fuel storage facilities. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has imposed burdensome and costly regulations that cost tens of thousands of dollars per farmer on average to any farmer with on-farm storage over 1,320 gallons \u2013 which, according to the USDA, comprises nearly 70% of American farms. According to the University of Arkansas, my legislation will save the agricultural sector $3.36 billion in compliance costs that can be reinvested into capital and growth. This is just one example of a reform-minded Farm Bill that gets government out of the way of job creation. I am looking forward to the conference committee process and working with my Arkansas colleague, Senator Boozman, to ensure the voice of Arkansas is well represented. As the top industry in Arkansas, it is imperative that we have a final bill that provides certainty for our growers while remaining fiscally responsible. I look forward to a final product that addresses these concerns and will provide a long-term vision for American agricultural policy. ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases/farm-bill-conference-committee-critical-for-arkansas-jobs", "Farm Bill Conference Committee Critical for Arkansas Jobs", "2013-11-01", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Eric A. \"Rick\" Crawford", "C001087", "crawford.house.gov", "crawford", "https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "As a conferee to the 2013 Farm Bill conference committee, last week I had the privilege of participating in the first public meeting of the committee with members of both the House and Senate. There, each of the 41 conferees, including myself and Arkansas Senator John Boozman, had the opportunity to lay out their initial markers and priorities on what the bill should contain. It is an important first step as we begin the negotiating process to hammer out the differences between the two bills and reach a consensus that will be fiscally responsible and support agriculture jobs around the country.\n\nI am pleased the Commodity Title in this legislation has been crafted in such a way that provides options for farmers, based either on revenue or price, which provides the right amount of regional flexibility. Historically, Farm Bills have been written to favor Midwestern interests while Southern farmers were left with programs that were not the perfect fit for their needs. I am proud to have worked with House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas to address the regional needs of both Southern and Midwestern farmers, and am looking forward to a final product that preserves this regional flexibility.\n\nAdditionally, this bill does an excellent job of addressing regulatory overreach from the federal government that is hurting production and jobs in the agricultural sector. For instance, the legislative text of my regulatory relief bill, the FUELS Act, was included in the House-passed Farm Bill to provide relief for on-farm fuel storage facilities. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has imposed burdensome and costly regulations that cost tens of thousands of dollars per farmer on average to any farmer with on-farm storage over 1,320 gallons \u2013 which, according to the USDA, comprises nearly 70% of American farms. According to the University of Arkansas, my legislation will save the agricultural sector $3.36 billion in compliance costs that can be reinvested into capital and growth. This is just one example of a reform-minded Farm Bill that gets government out of the way of job creation.\n\nI am looking forward to the conference committee process and working with my Arkansas colleague, Senator Boozman, to ensure the voice of Arkansas is well represented. As the top industry in Arkansas, it is imperative that we have a final bill that provides certainty for our growers while remaining fiscally responsible. I look forward to a final product that addresses these concerns and will provide a long-term vision for American agricultural policy.\n\n###\n\nFarm Bill Conference Committee Critical for Arkansas Jobs", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T22:39:47Z"], ["https://womack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=359874", "169 Bipartisan Members Urge EPA to Lower RFS", "2013-10-31", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Steve Womack", "W000809", "womack.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Reps. Steve Womack (AR-3), Bob Goodlatte (VA-6), Jim Costa (CA-16), and Peter Welch (VT-AL) sent a letter today to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy urging her to consider a fair and meaningful adjustment to the ethanol mandate in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). \u00a0In total, 169 bipartisan Members of Congress signed the letter:\nRep. Steve Womack (AR-3): \u201cThe RFS is unrealistic, and the EPA knows it.\u00a0 It is time for the agency to exercise its authority and provide immediate and much-needed relief to American consumers and our economy by adjusting the RFS.\u201d\nRep. Bob Goodlatte (VA-6): \u201cWhether it\u2019s increasing amounts of ethanol in fuel or higher food and feed prices, the RFS continues to negatively impact American consumers and the economy.\u00a0 The demands of the current RFS are unrealistic and are causing great uncertainty.\u00a0 As the blendwall approaches, it is clear that this flawed policy is not working.\u00a0 The growing support from Members of Congress from across the nation and a diverse coalition of outside groups makes it clear that we must consider real legislative reforms to this mandate.\u00a0 In the meantime, I urge Administrator McCarthy to take immediate action to provide much needed relief from the RFS.\u201d\u00a0\nRep. Peter Welch (VT-AL): \u201cWhile well-intentioned, the federal ethanol mandate is inflicting significant economic harm on families by driving up food prices, on dairy farmers by driving up\u00a0feed prices, and on homeowners and outdoorsmen by ruining small engines.\u00a0 Administrator McCarthy has at her fingertips the authority to push the pause button so that Congress can reevaluate this misguided policy before more harm is done. \u00a0She should do so immediately.\u201d\nFull text of the letter can be found here.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/dr-boozman-s-check-up?ContentRecord_id=854afc4e-45a0-4f88-a03d-6618bcc849a8", "Don't Make Americans Responsible for the Administration's Obamacare Failures", "2013-10-31", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The Arkansas Democrat Gazette (subscription required) reported today that fewer than 200 people have signed up for health care coverage through the exchanges. Insurance company executives blamed problems with Healthcare.gov, the federal website we have to use to sign residents up for the exchanges.\r\nThe Administration wants to brush these troubles off as a small bump in the road to implementation. In reality, what the Administration calls \u201cglitches\u201d may have a detrimental impact on the pocketbook of everyday Americans. \u00a0\r\nThe clock is ticking. Every American who is not enrolled in Administration-approved medical insurance by the end of March will be taxed. Yet, the Administration\u2019s failures make compliance impossible for millions of Americans. Instead of acknowledging this error, the President and his team plan to subject Americans to this unjust tax if they do not comply by March 31, 2014, despite the fact that the administration has failed to make the website work.\r\nThis is all the more reason why every American should be granted a reprieve from Obamacare. This week, I joined Senator Marco Rubio and seven of our colleagues to introduce the Delay Until Fully Functional Act. This bill would delay the individual mandate until six months after the Government Accountability Office (GAO) certifies that the exchange website is fully functional.\r\nCertainly the rollout of the Obamacare website has been nothing short of a disaster. However, Healthcare.gov is a microcosm of the serious problems created by putting a government bureaucracy in charge of our health care. Setting up and thoroughly testing a fully-operational website prior to launching it should be the easy part. The fact that the Administration can\u2019t deliver on the easiest of its healthcare promises doesn\u2019t bode well for Americans forced into this bureaucratic monstrosity. It is safe to say that there will be more problems if we continue to move forward, even for those \u201clucky\u201d few who can sign-up before the deadline.\r\nUntil we can achieve the real solution of repealing this law and replacing it with market-based reforms, delaying the individual mandate is the only fair course of action.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=6035be28-30d3-42ca-9eb6-7920db963427", "Pryor, Boozman, Crawford Bill Will Strengthen Trucking Industry, Improve Highway Safety", "2013-10-31", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON D.C. - U.S. Senators Mark Pryor and John Boozman introduced bipartisan legislation to improve the safety of Arkansas\u2019s roads and highways by eliminating a hurdle in the commercial trucking industry\u2019s pre-employment drug screening process. Congressman Rick Crawford (AR-1) introduced a complementary bill, H.R. 3403, in the House of Representatives. Under current procedures in the commercial trucking industry, urinalysis is the only accepted method of drug and alcohol testing. Unfortunately, urinalysis is often less effective in detecting substance abuse, with only a 2-3 day window of detection, than hair testing, which provides a 60-90 day window. For example, from March 2008-June 2012, Schneider National\u2019s pre-employment drug testing data found 120 prospective drivers failed the urine test, while 1,400 applicants had drug-positive hair test results. This discrepancy is causing many trucking companies to take on additional costs by paying for both methods of testing. The Drug Free Commercial Trucking Act of 2013 would instruct the U.S. Department of Transportation to recognize hair testing as alternative option to give companies greater flexibility when conducting drug and alcohol testing. \u201cWith millions of private-sector jobs and businesses relying on the trucking industry, I\u2019m working every day to find new ideas to strengthen this economic powerhouse,\u201d Pryor said. \u201cBy allowing companies to eliminate duplicative processes, this bill will ensure our businesses have the certainty they need to invest, expand, and create jobs while securing the safety of our roads.\u201d \u201cAdvanced uniform drug testing requirements for trucking companies will help cut costs, spur economic growth and improve safety on our roads,\u201d Boozman said. \u201cHiring drivers who lead a drug-free lifestyle is good for the industry and other drivers who share the roads.\u00a0 It makes sense to have the most accurate drug tests available and the ability to share those results among the industry.\u201d \u201cThis bill is a win-win situation for the trucking industry, law enforcement, and the safety of Arkansas families. By keeping drug addicted drivers from behind the wheel of rigs across the country, we can reduce liability costs while preventing accidents to keep our roads and highways safer. This bipartisan legislation is gaining momentum in the House of Representatives and I am proud to stand with our two Senators to work on this common-sense solution,\u201d said Crawford.\r\nThis bill is supported by the Arkansas Trucking Association.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=66a01ae8-3016-40c0-9b9f-19598dae7ff1", "Boozman Announces Bradley County Mobile Office", "2013-10-31", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013U.S. Senator John Boozman announced today that members of his staff will be in Bradley County for a Mobile Office event. Boozman\u2019s staff will be available at the walk-in event to help Arkansans who are having problems involving the federal government and to hear their thoughts about legislative issues.\r\nThe Mobile Office will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, November 8 at the Warren Senior Center.\r\n\u201cMobile Office events are great opportunities for Arkansans to get help and to speak one-on-one with my staff about their questions pertaining to the federal government. My staff is looking forward to visiting with the residents of Bradley County and answering their questions and helping resolve issues they may be having with federal agencies,\u201d Boozman said. \u201cI have a great staff that works to help navigate the often-confusing federal agencies. These staffers act as liaisons; working to resolve issues affecting Arkansans such as Social Security or Medicare paperwork glitches, passport problems or tax matters.\u201d The senate office can help answer questions, find solutions, or just cut through the red tape. Arkansans are encouraged to reach out to Boozman\u2019s office for assistance with a problem involving a federal agency.\r\nFor more information on this event, contact the senator\u2019s El Dorado office at (870) 863-4641.\r\nBradley Mobile Office   Date: \u00a0 \u00a0Friday, November 8, 2013   Time:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Place:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Warren Senior Center   \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a096 S. Etheridge Street   \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Warren, Arkansas\r\n**This is a staff-led constituent service event. Senator Boozman will NOT be attending**", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=e753a402-1305-448b-b5c7-dd4d372b382f", "Senators Fight to Protect Farmers and Hunters from Burdensome Regulations", "2013-10-31", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Mark Pryor (D-AR), John Boozman (R-AR), Thad Cochran (R-MS), and Mary Landrieu (D-LA) today introduced the Farmer and Hunter Protection Act to prevent the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) from unfairly penalizing farmers and sportsmen for rolling their fields during hunting season. During the summer of 2012, weather conditions in the Southeast caused some harvested rice fields to re-head, creating accidental second growth crops. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service may now view these second growth crops that have been rolled as baited fields, even though this practice was recommended by local cooperative extension services as a way to return nutrients to the soil. Inadvertent baiting of a field can level a fine of up to $100,000 for a farmer, $15,000 for a hunter, and prohibit hunting on the land. \u201cIt\u2019s inexcusable that the Fish and Wildlife Service may force our farmers and hunters to pay a fine for a long-standing agricultural practice,\u201d Pryor said. \u201cThis irresponsible action would not only harm our families\u2019 way of life, it would negatively impact hunting season\u2014which is a huge driver of economic activity in Arkansas. Our common-sense bill will resolve this issue and ensure the rights of Arkansans are protected.\u201d \u201cThis is a common, recommended agriculture practice Arkansas farmers have followed for generations. Threatening to penalize our farmers for this normal procedure is bad policy that will have a lasting impact on the industry in addition to the sportsmen who use the land. Allowing state cooperative extension offices the ability to determine what is acceptable is a commonsense solution,\u201d Boozman said. \u201cThis an example of a regulatory process gone wrong.\u00a0 Farmers and hunters, who follow recommended land management practices, should not be subjected to unfair and costly penalties,\u201d Cochran said. \u201cSportsman\u2019s Paradise is not just a slogan on our license plates; it\u2019s a way of life in Louisiana. By unfairly fining farmers and hunters for tried and true techniques, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services would make sportsmen, hunters, and farmers the next endangered species. As someone who enjoys hunting, I know how important the hunting season is in Louisiana. The last thing our hunters and farmers need is senseless and ridiculous regulations ahead of this year\u2019s hunting season,\u201d said Landrieu. The Farmer and Hunter Protection Act would allow each state\u2019s cooperative extension service to distinguish between normal agriculture practices and baiting.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://crawford.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=359811", "Crawford Delivers Remarks at First 2013 Farm Bill Conference Committee Meeting", "2013-10-30", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Rick Crawford", "C001087", "crawford.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Rick Crawford (AR-1), Chairman of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock, Rural Development, and Credit and a conferee to the 2013 Farm Bill Conference Committee, delivered his opening remarks at today\u2019s first meeting of the 2013 Farm Bill conference committee:\u201cI would like to thank Chairman Lucas, Ranking Member Peterson, Chairwoman Stabenow and Ranking Member Cochran for their outstanding work and dedication to making a Farm Bill a reality. But I don\u2019t think there\u2019s anyone more deserving of our thanks than the farmers and ranchers across rural America for their extraordinary patience as we\u2019ve worked through this long, difficult process. \u201cAs this conference committee begins the hard work of settling the differences between the House and Senate Farm Bills, it is critical to keep in mind the input we\u2019ve received from our rural constituents. The House Agriculture Committee made this possible through holding hearings in nearly every region of the country, including my District, allowing producers to contribute by having their voices heard.   \u201cThis extensive outreach translated into a Farm Bill which fairly addresses the challenges producers face in the most diverse agriculture economy in the world. It is my prerogative that the final product of this conference committee reflects the principles set forth by the House Farm Bill.  First and foremost, a one-size-fits-all approach will not work for the entirety of American agriculture. The bill must reflective of the farmer\u2019s production risk \u2013 whatever that may be. In my view, a producer\u2019s choice program is best-suited to achieve this goal in the commodity title.  \r\n\u201cOur conservation efforts must achieve the right balance of meeting 21st century production needs, while aiming to preserve America\u2019s vast wildlife and natural resources.   \r\n\u201cFarm Bill policies must keep in mind that the modern agriculture economy has come a long way. Antiquated policies that squeeze supply and inflate consumer prices are not the right answer, and neither are policies that will disrupt our trade partnerships, such as Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling in the protein sector.   \u201cWe must also meaningfully address the problem of overreaching federal agencies that are imposing excessive regulatory costs, hurting competition, and violating the privacy of farmers and ranchers. For instance, the House-passed GIPSA amendment would stem proposals that would have fundamentally and negatively changed the way livestock and poultry are marketed in this country. Common-sense reforms to the EPA, such as relieving small-scale producers from fuel storage regulations, and protecting producer privacy are also among the examples of important steps the House took.   \u201cFinally, it is critical to address the waste and abuse present in the Nutrition Title, preserving this important safety net for those who truly need it and ensuring its solvency for years to come. The American people demand responsible budgets that reduce the debt, and it is imperative that every taxpayer dollar spent be closely examined for its utility.    \r\n\u201cThe final product of the overall Farm Bill must be a bipartisan bill that saves taxpayers\u2019 money and reforms outdated government programs. If we strike the right balance, the Farm Bill will be foundational to the success of rural communities, and American agriculture will continue to be the envy of the world.\u201d ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases/crawford-delivers-remarks-at-first-2013-farm-bill-conference-committee-meeting", "Crawford Delivers Remarks at First 2013 Farm Bill Conference Committee Meeting", "2013-10-30", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Eric A. \"Rick\" Crawford", "C001087", "crawford.house.gov", "crawford", "https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "October 30, 2013\n\nCongressman Rick Crawford (AR-1), Chairman of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock, Rural Development, and Credit and a conferee to the 2013 Farm Bill Conference Committee, delivered his opening remarks at today's first meeting of the 2013 Farm Bill conference committee:\n\n\"I would like to thank Chairman Lucas, Ranking Member Peterson, Chairwoman Stabenow and Ranking Member Cochran for their outstanding work and dedication to making a Farm Bill a reality. But I don't think there's anyone more deserving of our thanks than the farmers and ranchers across rural America for their extraordinary patience as we've worked through this long, difficult process.\n\n\"As this conference committee begins the hard work of settling the differences between the House and Senate Farm Bills, it is critical to keep in mind the input we've received from our rural constituents. The House Agriculture Committee made this possible through holding hearings in nearly every region of the country, including my District, allowing producers to contribute by having their voices heard.\n\n\"This extensive outreach translated into a Farm Bill which fairly addresses the challenges producers face in the most diverse agriculture economy in the world. It is my prerogative that the final product of this conference committee reflects the principles set forth by the House Farm Bill. First and foremost, a one-size-fits-all approach will not work for the entirety of American agriculture. The bill must reflective of the farmer's production risk \u2013 whatever that may be. In my view, a producer's choice program is best-suited to achieve this goal in the commodity title.\n\n\"Our conservation efforts must achieve the right balance of meeting 21st century production needs, while aiming to preserve America's vast wildlife and natural resources.\n\n\"Farm Bill policies must keep in mind that the modern agriculture economy has come a long way. Antiquated policies that squeeze supply and inflate consumer prices are not the right answer, and neither are policies that will disrupt our trade partnerships, such as Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling in the protein sector.\n\n\"We must also meaningfully address the problem of overreaching federal agencies that are imposing excessive regulatory costs, hurting competition, and violating the privacy of farmers and ranchers. For instance, the House-passed GIPSA amendment would stem proposals that would have fundamentally and negatively changed the way livestock and poultry are marketed in this country. Common-sense reforms to the EPA, such as relieving small-scale producers from fuel storage regulations, and protecting producer privacy are also among the examples of important steps the House took.\n\n\"Finally, it is critical to address the waste and abuse present in the Nutrition Title, preserving this important safety net for those who truly need it and ensuring its solvency for years to come. The American people demand responsible budgets that reduce the debt, and it is imperative that every taxpayer dollar spent be closely examined for its utility.\n\n\"The final product of the overall Farm Bill must be a bipartisan bill that saves taxpayers' money and reforms outdated government programs. If we strike the right balance, the Farm Bill will be foundational to the success of rural communities, and American agriculture will continue to be the envy of the world.\"\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T22:39:21Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/dr-boozman-s-check-up?ContentRecord_id=0d105a1a-f176-4da2-99c4-e16852270fae", "Protecting Essential Veterans Services", "2013-10-30", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Despite the rainy weather, we still had a good turnout for our bipartisan, bicameral press conference on veterans funding this morning.\r\nSenate and House Veterans Affairs\u2019 Committee chairmen were on hand to speak as were representatives from many of the leading Veterans Service Organizations including the Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, The American Legion, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America and Military Officers Association of America.\r\nMy remarks at the event focused on a bill I am sponsoring with Senator Mark Begich of Alaska (who also participated in this morning\u2019s event) to allow Congress to pass advanced funding for key veterans\u2019 programs.\r\nIn this era of budget uncertainty and funding lapses, protecting essential veterans\u2019 services from being used as political footballs is the right thing to do. Expanding one-year advanced funding for these VA programs, like we currently do for VA health care, can ensure that all the services which our veterans have earned, and depend on, will continue should there be future funding lapses. As we saw from the shutdown, many veterans\u2019 benefits \u2013 including disability compensation, pension and GI Bill benefits \u2013 also need the protection that advance funding provides them.\u00a0\r\nAt the same time, protecting veterans during budget fights isn\u2019t the only reason to do this. To me, this seems like common sense budgeting that would enable the VA to have greater certainty and better planning for programs it\u2019s implementing for our men and women who have served. So let\u2019s work together to pass this bill and get our veterans the certainty they deserve.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=0c6f0a75-cf0a-4af2-ae6f-88c2f0447362", "Boozman and Conference Committee Members Begin Work on Farm Bill", "2013-10-30", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee and Farm Bill conferee, joined congressional members appointed to hammer out the differences between the House and Senate bills in the group\u2019s first meeting today. The 41 members of the Farm Bill Conference Committee are tasked with crafting a compromise bill that can pass both chambers and be signed into law. \u00a0\r\n\u201cWe still have some differences to work out, but this is work that must be done. Rural America, our farmers, ranchers, forestry stakeholders, manufacturers, retailers, and the most vulnerable members of our communities are counting on us to settle these differences and provide the five years of certainty they need to plan for the future. Of equal importance is the impact that this legislation has on our nation\u2019s economy, and the economies of all our states and districts,\u201d Boozman said in his opening statement.\u00a0\r\nThe Farm Bill lays out our nation\u2019s agriculture policy, defines and authorizes funding for agriculture\u2019s safety net and provides certainty for agri-businesses as they plan for the future of their business. This hearing marks the official beginning of the conference process.\u00a0\r\nBoozman is confident the committee will find common ground for a five-year Farm Bill that includes safety nets for agriculture producers nationwide.\u00a0\r\n\u201cOur safety net needs to responsibly invest in the future, enable the next generation to enter farming, and provide opportunities for our veterans who would like to work the land.\u00a0 We need to make sure that our research and scientific infrastructure is strong to protect our families and crops from bacteria, weather, and disease \u2013 and we need to make sure that our programs protecting the most vulnerable members of our communities maintain integrity and the support of the public, while meeting the needs of those that they are designed to serve,\u201d Boozman said in his statement.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://crawford.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=356976", "Crawford Looks Forward to First Farm Bill Conference Committee Meeting", "2013-10-29", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Rick Crawford", "C001087", "crawford.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Crawford Looks Forward to First Farm Bill Conference Committee MeetingWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Congressman Rick Crawford (AR-1), Chairman of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock, Rural Development, and Credit and a conferee to the 2013 Farm Bill, will attend the conference committee\u2019s first meeting tomorrow afternoon in the Longworth House Office Building.  \u201cAs this conference committee begins the hard work of settling the differences between the House and Senate Farm Bills, it is critical to keep in mind the input we\u2019ve received from our rural constituents. The House Agriculture Committee made this possible by holding hearings in nearly every region of the country, including my District, allowing producers to contribute by having their voices heard. This extensive outreach translated into a Farm Bill which fairly addresses the challenges producers face in the most diverse agriculture economy in the world.  \u201cThe final product must be a bipartisan bill that saves taxpayers\u2019 money and reforms outdated government programs. If we strike the right balance, the Farm Bill will be foundational to the success of rural communities, and American agriculture will continue to be the envy of the world.\u201d Who: Congressman Rick Crawford, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, House and Senate Farm Bill conferees  \r\nWhat: 2013 Farm Bill Conference Committee Meeting  \r\nWhen: Wednesday, October 30 at 1:00 p.m. ET  \r\nWhere: House Ways & Means Committee Room, 1100 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC###  \r\n\r\n\r\nFrom the House Agriculture Committee Press Shop: Due to limited space, all press wishing to attend are required to RSVP [with the Committee], and seats will be reserved in order of response. Additionally, an overflow room will be provided to accommodate those unable to sit in the committee hearing room. The meeting will also be streamed live on the House Agriculture Committee website at this link.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases/crawford-looks-forward-to-first-farm-bill-conference-committee-meeting", "Crawford Looks Forward to First Farm Bill Conference Committee Meeting", "2013-10-29", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Eric A. \"Rick\" Crawford", "C001087", "crawford.house.gov", "crawford", "https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Congressman Rick Crawford (AR-1), Chairman of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock, Rural Development, and Credit and a conferee to the 2013 Farm Bill, will attend the conference committee's first meeting tomorrow afternoon in the Longworth House Office Building.\n\n\"As this conference committee begins the hard work of settling the differences between the House and Senate Farm Bills, it is critical to keep in mind the input we've received from our rural constituents. The House Agriculture Committee made this possible by holding hearings in nearly every region of the country, including my District, allowing producers to contribute by having their voices heard. This extensive outreach translated into a Farm Bill which fairly addresses the challenges producers face in the most diverse agriculture economy in the world.\n\n\"The final product must be a bipartisan bill that saves taxpayers' money and reforms outdated government programs. If we strike the right balance, the Farm Bill will be foundational to the success of rural communities, and American agriculture will continue to be the envy of the world.\"\n\nWho: Congressman Rick Crawford, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, House and Senate Farm Bill conferees\n\nWhat: 2013 Farm Bill Conference Committee Meeting\n\nWhen: Wednesday, October 30 at 1:00 p.m. ET\n\nWhere: House Ways & Means Committee Room, 1100 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC\n\n###\n\nFrom the House Agriculture Committee Press Shop: Due to limited space, all press wishing to attend are required to RSVP [with the Committee], and seats will be reserved in order of response. Additionally, an overflow room will be provided to accommodate those unable to sit in the committee hearing room. The meeting will also be streamed live on the House Agriculture Committee website at this link.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T22:39:21Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/dr-boozman-s-check-up?ContentRecord_id=4bebad8c-7dee-411a-8498-5f8f600aa1bc", "Myth: If you like your healthcare plan you can keep it", "2013-10-29", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "President Obama promised that Americans who liked their healthcare plan would not lose existing coverage as a result of his healthcare overhaul. Unfortunately millions of Americans are experiencing the reality that they will not be able to keep their health insurance.\r\nWhat\u2019s worse is that the Administration expected this to happen. The only thing that seems to being going according to plan with this rollout is the cancellation of millions of people from their current health plans.\r\nEarly last year the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released a report showing that 4 million fewer Americans will receive employer-based healthcare coverage under Obamacare.\r\nDecreased coverage, increased premiums and expanded government is not what the American people want, need or deserve. This is not what they want in a healthcare system. The real solution is repealing this law and replacing it with healthcare reform that will work. I continue to work toward that goal.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://womack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=356771", "Boozman, Crawford, Griffin, Womack, and Cotton Write HHS Secretary with Concerns about Health-Insurance Availability, Affordability", "2013-10-28", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Steve Womack", "W000809", "womack.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, Senator John Boozman, along with Congressmen Rick Crawford (AR-1), Tim Griffin (AR-2), Steve Womack (AR-3), and Tom Cotton (AR-4) sent a letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius expressing concern about the impact of Obamacare on the availability and affordability of health-insurance plans in Arkansas.\n\u201cWe are now seeing the detrimental impact of the flawed law on health-insurance rates across Arkansas,\u201d the letter states.\u00a0 \u201cWhile the average Arkansas family has seen their income fall 9% over the past decade, the government regulations and mandates of Obamacare will require these same families to pay between 100% and 600% more for comparable insurance coverage, or risk losing their family doctor if they choose a plan that costs less.\u201d\u00a0\nThe letter also discusses the numerous problems with the rollout of the Obamacare exchanges and the burden they place on hard-working Arkansans. It requests Secretary Sebelius provide correspondence and information pertaining to: 1) HHS\u2019s knowledge of the impact this law would have on the number of state insurance providers, 2) state stakeholders\u2019 knowledge of the exchanges\u2019 status leading up to their October 1, 2013, launch date, and 3) the number of confirmed enrollments in Arkansas.\nThe letter requests a response by November 1, 2013.\nFull text of the letter can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/dr-boozman-s-check-up?ContentRecord_id=0de1863d-0686-4ee6-89fb-7237158c3d88", "Lack of Options is More Than a Glitch", "2013-10-28", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The rollout of Obamacare has been nothing short of a disaster. Before the law\u2019s implementation, state officials assured us that there would be up to eight carriers offering insurance on the individual market. The President even compared shopping on the exchanges to buying airline tickets online from a website like Expedia or Travelocity.\r\nSounds easy right?\r\nIf you try logging on to the Arkansas Health Connector Website, you will find at most, four plans offering coverage. Over 75% of the state will have three or fewer provider options.\r\nHow does this shopping experience remotely resemble anything close to Expedia or Travelocity when you have only one, maybe two carriers to shop from?\u00a0 This is sadly the case in large parts of Arkansas\u2014just one airline with overpriced tickets for coach to pick from.\r\nThe troubles with Obamacare run far deeper than \u201ctechnical glitches.\u201d The Administration\u2019s lackluster response to the online enrollment problems shines a light on this program\u2019s gross mismanagement.\r\nSo far, the Administration is failing to meet constitutional requirements of fairness and equality before the law. This is why Congressmen Rick Crawford (AR-01), Tim Griffin (AR-02), Steve Womack (AR-03), Tom Cotton (AR-04) and I sent a letter to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Kathleen Sebelius requesting information so that we can evaluate legislative solutions to address these issues. \u00a0\r\nWe requested that she provide:\r\n \r\nAll correspondence between HHS and the Arkansas Department of Insurance regarding the impact regulations will have on the number of providers within the Arkansas insurance market.\r\nAll correspondence you provided to stakeholders in Arkansas regarding the status of the exchanges leading up to their launch on October 1, 2013.\r\nThe number of confirmed enrollments in Arkansas, as of Friday, October 25, 2013.\r\n \r\nThe full letter is attached below. Secretary Sebelius needs to quickly and thoroughly respond to these questions. I will share the Secretary\u2019s response upon receipt.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://crawford.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=356354", "Water Resources Reform & Development Act a Chance for Reform", "2013-10-25", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Rick Crawford", "C001087", "crawford.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "This past Wednesday the House passed, by a bipartisan vote of 417-3, landmark legislation known as the Water Resources Reform & Development Act (WRRDA), which supports jobs and trade in Arkansas by maintaining our critical waterways infrastructure. A fiscally responsible bill, it makes smart reforms that will keep Arkansas growers and manufacturers competitive on the global stage by driving down transportation costs and promoting international trade.Historically, Congress has enacted water resources reform legislation every two years. Yet, the last such legislation to be enacted into law was in 2007 \u2013 nearly 5 years overdue. This bill is a reform bill, called the most responsible water resources legislation ever considered \u2013 de-authorizing $12 billion in outdated or unnecessary projects while simultaneously making smart investments in our ports and waterways that lead to jobs and growth. The bill also cuts burdensome bureaucratic red tape, reducing the amount of wasted taxpayer dollars on paperwork and lost time while narrowly focusing on important projects for authorization. The bill focuses on broad reforms that maintain Congressional oversight of water infrastructure projects and serves as an important check on the power of the Executive Branch. America currently enjoys a competitive advantage over other nations in the global marketplace because of our well-developed waterways infrastructure that makes it cheap and easy for our producers to transport goods to our ports and be shipped across the world. Currently, roughly one-third of the United States\u2019 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is generated by international trade, with 99% of those goods passing through our ports. If we fail to maintain these critical arteries of commerce, developing nations like Brazil who are investing in their own infrastructure to compete with our producers will diminish or erase this advantage we currently enjoy.  Maintaining our waterways infrastructure means jobs and growth for Arkansans. I am proud to serve on the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee which authored this legislation and brought it to the floor, and I was proud to cosponsor the bill and support its passage last week. I am looking forward to working with my colleagues to see this strong reform legislation passed into law which will reduce the debt, create jobs, and keep America and Arkansas competitive on the global stage.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases/water-resources-reform-development-act-a-chance-for-reform", "Water Resources Reform & Development Act a Chance for Reform", "2013-10-25", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Eric A. \"Rick\" Crawford", "C001087", "crawford.house.gov", "crawford", "https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "This past Wednesday the House passed, by a bipartisan vote of 417-3, landmark legislation known as the Water Resources Reform & Development Act (WRRDA), which supports jobs and trade in Arkansas by maintaining our critical waterways infrastructure. A fiscally responsible bill, it makes smart reforms that will keep Arkansas growers and manufacturers competitive on the global stage by driving down transportation costs and promoting international trade.\n\nHistorically, Congress has enacted water resources reform legislation every two years. Yet, the last such legislation to be enacted into law was in 2007 \u2013 nearly 5 years overdue. This bill is a reform bill, called the most responsible water resources legislation ever considered \u2013 de-authorizing $12 billion in outdated or unnecessary projects while simultaneously making smart investments in our ports and waterways that lead to jobs and growth. The bill also cuts burdensome bureaucratic red tape, reducing the amount of wasted taxpayer dollars on paperwork and lost time while narrowly focusing on important projects for authorization. The bill focuses on broad reforms that maintain Congressional oversight of water infrastructure projects and serves as an important check on the power of the Executive Branch.\n\nAmerica currently enjoys a competitive advantage over other nations in the global marketplace because of our well-developed waterways infrastructure that makes it cheap and easy for our producers to transport goods to our ports and be shipped across the world. Currently, roughly one-third of the United States' Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is generated by international trade, with 99% of those goods passing through our ports. If we fail to maintain these critical arteries of commerce, developing nations like Brazil who are investing in their own infrastructure to compete with our producers will diminish or erase this advantage we currently enjoy.\n\nMaintaining our waterways infrastructure means jobs and growth for Arkansans. I am proud to serve on the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee which authored this legislation and brought it to the floor, and I was proud to cosponsor the bill and support its passage last week. I am looking forward to working with my colleagues to see this strong reform legislation passed into law which will reduce the debt, create jobs, and keep America and Arkansas competitive on the global stage. Water Resources Reform and Development Act a Chance for Reform", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T22:39:21Z"], ["https://womack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=356420", "Womack Announces Teletown Hall", "2013-10-25", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Steve Womack", "W000809", "womack.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Womack Announces Teletown Hall \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington, D.C.,\r\n        October 25, 2013\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) announced today that he will be hosting an interactive town hall event on Tuesday, October 29, 2013, which will be open to all residents of the Third District of Arkansas.\r\n\r\n    \r\n        \r\n            \r\n            WHAT:\r\n            \r\n            \r\n            Congressman Womack\u2019s Teletown Hall\r\n            \r\n        \r\n        \r\n            \r\n            WHEN:\r\n            \r\n            \r\n            Tuesday, October 29, 2013, from 6:35-7:35PM CDT\r\n            \r\n        \r\n        \r\n            \r\n            CALL-IN:\r\n            ACCESS ID:\r\n            \r\n            \r\n            (877) 229-8493\r\n            112022\r\n            \r\n        \r\n    \r\n\r\n  \r\n\u00a0\u201cWith so much going on in our nation\u2019s capital, I\u2019m very much looking forward to this opportunity to hear from you,\u201d said Womack. \u00a0\u201cI hope you\u2019ll join the discussion!\u201d ###\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/weekly-columns?ContentRecord_id=c6e0bdd4-bf10-4f52-b2b8-fc22ddd84afc", "Building a Solid Fiscal Foundation", "2013-10-25", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Imagine your most recent trip to the grocery store. If you\u2019re like me you have a list and maybe some coupons from the Sunday paper or the store discount card. At the checkout we pay for our bill and if we don\u2019t have the right amount of money we prioritize what our family needs and put something back that is not so important. This is a basic financial responsibility and Washington still needs to learn this fundamental obligation.\u00a0\r\nWashington has a spending problem. The runaway spending is hamstringing economic growth and creating a sluggish economy. With a national debt of almost $17 trillion we are paying our bills on the backs of future generations. This is unacceptable, irresponsible and unsustainable. That\u2019s why we need policies that grow the economy and strengthen the middle class. Slowly, we are making progress.\u00a0\r\nIn 2011 Congress passed the Budget Control Act (BCA) to simultaneously address federal spending and the debt ceiling. In an effort to cut Washington\u2019s spending by a trillion dollars, President Obama proposed and agreed to the spending caps set out in this legislation. As a result of the BCA, for the first time since the end of the Korean War we have reduced federal spending for two consecutive years.\u00a0\r\nWe need to continue this progress. That\u2019s why I supported legislation that allows us time to focus on further budget negotiations and work toward significant spending cuts while reopening the government and avoiding a default on paying the bills our nation already owes. It also paves the way for the House and Senate to convene a budget conference to resolve our larger fiscal issues. Bringing members from both chambers together to negotiate a framework for spending is good for our nation\u2019s fiscal health and is an important step to moving back towards regular order in the budgeting and appropriations process. \u00a0\r\nIt\u2019s important for us to get back to the way the Senate was designed to work with a committee hearing on bills before coming to the floor for a vote. We\u2019ve seen this process bypassed too often as Congress waits until a deadline to pass critical legislation.\u00a0\r\nAs a member of the Appropriations Committee, we did the necessary work, holding hearings and discussions about what programs should be funded and at what level. We need to work within the framework set by the BCA for long-term planning and outlining how taxpayer dollars are spent. This proper process is necessary so we can avoid future government shutdowns. \u00a0\r\nGoverning by crisis has become too common. We need to eliminate the approach that takes away our ability to pass sound policies while eliminating the waste, fraud and abuse of taxpayer dollars. By returning to regular order and taking a serious look at our long-term fiscal policies, we can continue to rein in spending and build a solid foundation for a healthy fiscal future.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/dr-boozman-s-check-up?ContentRecord_id=4d21b110-d138-45ee-b9d8-ae0018c88763", "World Polio Day", "2013-10-24", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "While the U.S. eradicated polio more than 30 years ago, globally this fight is not over. In August an outbreak of polio in Somalia inflicted 105 people with the deadly disease, more cases than all other countries combined. The UN became alarmed earlier this month at the looming threat of polio throughout regions of Sudan and vaccinations against the disease in Pakistan are coming under attack and threatening global health efforts to eradicate the disease.\r\nWe have the vaccine to stop polio in its tracks and a worldwide push is underway to eliminate the disease. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative implemented a five year strategic plan to eradicate polio by 2018. The Shot@Life Campaign, Rotary International, the Gates Foundation, and many others are making a difference on this front. Efforts to fight polio have reduced cases by 99 percent since 1988, but clearly more work needs to be done.\r\nThat\u2019s why we\u2019re raising awareness about this disease and recognizing today as World Polio Day. I am happy to join my senate colleagues in supporting a resolution that commends the international community for fighting against this disease by vaccinating kids around the world and offers our continued commitment to eradicate this disease once and for all.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://crawford.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=356237", "Crawford Statement on Passage of Water Resources Reform & Development Act", "2013-10-23", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Rick Crawford", "C001087", "crawford.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Rick Crawford (AR-1), a Member of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, issued the following statement after the House passed H.R. 3080, the Water Resources Reform & Development Act (WRRDA):\"Today, the House passed legislation that is fiscally responsible while supporting trade, manufacturing, and job growth at home in Arkansas. Ports and waterways like those in Arkansas\u2019 First District are critical in keeping American businesses competitive and bolstering America\u2019s standing as a global trade and manufacturing powerhouse. As other nations continue to build out infrastructure systems to compete with American producers, we must continue the maintenance and improvement of these waterways while remaining conscious of budgetary constraints. \u201cThis bill has been lauded as the most fiscally responsible waterways legislation ever considered, de-authorizing $12 billion of outdated or unnecessary projects while cutting red tape to greatly reduce the time and taxpayer funds it takes to complete water resources projects. Nearly one-third of America\u2019s GDP is generated from international trade, 99% of which passes through American ports every year, supporting 30 million jobs. I am proud to support this legislation and look forward to working with my colleagues to see its enactment into law.\u201d ###\r\nHistorically, Congress has considered waterways legislation every 2 years \u2013 yet the last bill to pass into law was enacted in 2007. As a Member of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, Congressman Crawford has played a leading role in the renewed push for waterways legislation in supporting the Water Resources Reform & Development Act alongside full Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (PA-9) and Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Chairman Bob Gibbs (OH-7).", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases/crawford-statement-on-passage-of-water-resources-reform-development-act", "Crawford Statement on Passage of Water Resources Reform & Development Act", "2013-10-23", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Eric A. \"Rick\" Crawford", "C001087", "crawford.house.gov", "crawford", "https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "October 23, 2013\n\nCongressman Rick Crawford (AR-1), a Member of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, issued the following statement after the House passed H.R. 3080, the Water Resources Reform & Development Act (WRRDA):\n\n\"Today, the House passed legislation that is fiscally responsible while supporting trade, manufacturing, and job growth at home in Arkansas. Ports and waterways like those in Arkansas' First District are critical in keeping American businesses competitive and bolstering America's standing as a global trade and manufacturing powerhouse. As other nations continue to build out infrastructure systems to compete with American producers, we must continue the maintenance and improvement of these waterways while remaining conscious of budgetary constraints.\n\n\"This bill has been lauded as the most fiscally responsible waterways legislation ever considered, de-authorizing $12 billion of outdated or unnecessary projects while cutting red tape to greatly reduce the time and taxpayer funds it takes to complete water resources projects. Nearly one-third of America's GDP is generated from international trade, 99% of which passes through American ports every year, supporting 30 million jobs. I am proud to support this legislation and look forward to working with my colleagues to see its enactment into law.\"\n\n###\n\nHistorically, Congress has considered waterways legislation every 2 years \u2013 yet the last bill to pass into law was enacted in 2007. As a Member of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, Congressman Crawford has played a leading role in the renewed push for waterways legislation in supporting the Water Resources Reform & Development Act alongside full Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (PA-9) and Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Chairman Bob Gibbs (OH-7).", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T22:39:21Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=7cfe1461-1fca-481c-8f2e-4a2ac379545a", "Pryor, Boozman Congratulate Silicon Solar Solutions of Arkansas", "2013-10-22", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON D.C. - U.S. Senators Mark Pryor and John Boozman today congratulated Silicon Solar Solutions, an Arkansas-based startup, on receiving the SunShot Initiative Award from the U.S. Department of Energy. Silcon Solar Solutions, which was founded by entrepreneur Dr. Douglas Hutchings, is located in the Arkansas Research and Technology Park in Fayetteville, Arkansas. \u201cSilicon Solar Solutions has not only been a leader in our state, but across the nation when it comes to advancements in solar energy,\u201d Pryor said. \u201cArkansas is proud to claim them as our own, and we look forward to seeing them build on their success with the SunShot Initiative Award. Our nation\u2019s energy future is in good hands with innovative companies like Silicon Solar Solutions at the helm.\u201d \u201cI congratulate Silicon Solar Solutions for its solar manufacturing innovations which help ease our dependence on foreign oil and gas,\u201d Boozman said. \u201cThis national recognition shows that pioneering manufacturers are successful in Arkansas, due to our skilled workforce, business-friendly environment, transportation infrastructure, and low operating costs.\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s an honor to be receiving this prestigious award and it represents a major milestone for our company. The SunShot Incubator has enabled us to partner with leaders in industry to transition our technology from the lab to the market,\u201d said Dr. Douglas Hutchings, CEO of Silcon Solar Solutions. \u201cSuccessful completion of this project will perfectly position our technology to play a major part in reducing the cost of solar-generated electricity.\u201d As a SunShot Initiative Award recipient, Silicon Solar Solution will receive $500,000 in funding to support the continued development and incorporation of their technologies. The award will also allow Silcon Solar Solutions to label their technologies and research with the SunShot brand, which is a symbol of excellence in energy development and processing.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://crawford.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=355918", "Crawford Statement on Rep. Tim Griffin\u2019s Retirement Announcement", "2013-10-21", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Rick Crawford", "C001087", "crawford.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Rick Crawford (AR-1) issued the following statement after Representative Tim Griffin (AR-2) announced this morning he would not seek reelection in 2014:\u201cCongressman Griffin has been an excellent public servant representing the voice of Arkansas\u2019 Second District, and a great partner in achieving tangible results for our state. I will truly miss my friend and colleague in the House of Representatives. Stacy and I wish Tim and Elizabeth all the best as they prepare to start a new chapter in their life together.\u201d ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases/crawford-statement-on-rep-tim-griffin-s-retirement-announcement", "Crawford Statement on Rep. Tim Griffin\u2019s Retirement Announcement", "2013-10-21", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Eric A. \"Rick\" Crawford", "C001087", "crawford.house.gov", "crawford", "https://crawford.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "October 21, 2013\n\nCongressman Rick Crawford (AR-1) issued the following statement after Representative Tim Griffin (AR-2) announced this morning he would not seek reelection in 2014:\n\n\"Congressman Griffin has been an excellent public servant representing the voice of Arkansas' Second District, and a great partner in achieving tangible results for our state. I will truly miss my friend and colleague in the House of Representatives. Stacy and I wish Tim and Elizabeth all the best as they prepare to start a new chapter in their life together.\"\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T22:39:21Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/dr-boozman-s-check-up?ContentRecord_id=61940079-f2c4-4016-995a-46c42aab8c50", "The President's Right: The ACA is Not Just a Website (Which is Exactly Why You Should be Worried)", "2013-10-21", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Yesterday, as he struggled to explain away the failures of healthcare.gov\u2014the website that most Americans must visit to enroll in Obamacare\u2014President Obama said, \u201cThe Affordable Care Act is not just a website. It\u2019s much more.\u201d\r\nHe\u2019s right. It\u2019s not just a website. However, the website should be the easy part. The fact that the Administration can\u2019t deliver on the easiest of its healthcare promises does not bode well for Americans forced into this bureaucratic monstrosity.\r\nAccording to Consumer Reports, of the nearly 9.5 million people who tried to register in the first week, only 271,000 were able to create an account. That's not even close to the amount of people who were able to actually purchase a plan. That number, while not released by the White House, is anticipated to be significantly lower.\r\nThe low number of actual accounts is just part of the problem.\r\nRon Fournier of National Journal has documented a number of the complaints being directed at the White House from those who have tried to sign-up for Obamacare:\r\n \r\nLow-income people erroneously told they don't qualify for Medicaid\r\nInsurance companies getting confusing information about who has signed-up\r\nInaccurate information provided to people about federal tax credits\r\n \r\nThe last point is particularly startling, and it\u2019s a preview to what is the next major shock created by Obamacare.\r\nAs the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) points out, much of the current tech problems stem directly from the failure of Healthcare.gov to reliably calculate subsidies.\r\nSo what happens when Americans inevitably find out they don\u2019t actually qualify for the subsidies they were promised? When a government\u2019s miscalculation means Americans owe more money, who suffers?\r\nAgain, this was supposed to be the easy part. What happens when the federal government tries to verify coverage, subsidy qualifications or compliance?\r\nThe troubles with Obamacare run far deeper than \u201ctechnical glitches.\u201d The Administration\u2019s lackluster response to the online enrollment problems shines a light on this program\u2019s gross mismanagement.\u00a0\r\nHealthcare.gov is a microcosm of the serious problems created by putting a government bureaucracy in charge of your health care. Bloated. Incompetent. Glitchy. Americans have to tolerate this from government services on a daily basis. It is the very reason that we are trying to prevent President Obama\u2019s unprecedented expansion of the federal government. With a dubious track record of results from federal programs, President Obama now wants to put our health care in the hands of the very people who mismanage the other dysfunctional services the government provides.\r\nThe Administration needs to own up to the fact that Obamacare is not ready for primetime and delay the individual mandate. The real solution is repealing this law and replacing it with healthcare reform that will work. I continue to work toward that end.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=01c6ca51-93a3-4c1b-af6d-ab9a08883489", "Boozman Statement on Congressman Tim Griffin's Retirement", "2013-10-21", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) released the following statement in response to Congressman Tim Griffin\u2019s (AR-02) announcement that he will not be running for reelection:\r\n\u201cTim is a dependable steward of Arkansas values as a representative in Washington. His hard work, determination and resolve help improve the lives of Arkansans. Tim is never afraid to stand up to those who stand in the way of progress in the state. We are thankful for his commitment to public service and understand the sacrifices that families in this position have to make. I know how important it is to be with family and I am confident Tim is making the best decision for his constituents and his wife Elizabeth and their young children.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/weekly-columns?ContentRecord_id=faeb5117-a1fc-45d4-84b6-84357261bbcd", "How to Avoid Future Debt Ceiling Debacles", "2013-10-18", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "When you look for reasons why our economy continues to lag, Washington\u2019s spending problem has to be given a critical look. Our debt has increased twice as much as the economy has grown over the last two years. It is unsustainable, irresponsible, and it is holding our economic growth back.\r\nOver the past four years, the out-of-control spending has increased our deficit spending and forced us to increase the debt ceiling\u2014the cap set by Congress on the amount of debt we can legally borrow\u2014seven times. This means Washington has added $43,000 in debt for every American household.\r\nAccording to the Treasury Department, Congress is facing an October 17 deadline to raise the debt ceiling or face a default on the bills our country owes. 61 percent of Americans believe that it\u2019s \u201cright to require spending cuts when the debt ceiling is raised.\u201d I wholeheartedly agree with them.\r\nImpassioned debates around major decisions like raising the debt ceiling in the past have resulted in positive policy changes. In fact, half of the 53 times Congress has agreed to raise to the debt ceiling since 1978, they have attached conditions to it.\r\nThe Graham-Rudman Act is a perfect example. We talk a lot about the need to cap spending in Washington. Graham-Rudman actually did that. And it led to a balanced budget.\r\nEven the Budget Control Act, which gave us sequestration, was born out of this type of constraint. Sequestration is the first time in a long time that we have managed to curb the growth in Washington\u2019s spending.\r\nThe government has a responsibility to pay its financial obligations, but continuing to unconditionally raise the debt limit is not an approach that puts our country on the path to fiscal responsibility. We need a mechanism that prevents us from overspending and forces the government to budget within its means. The only way to get a handle on the out-of-control spending is to reform how we allocate federal dollars. That\u2019s why I\u2019m supportive of a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution.\r\nJust think how differently our financial outlook would be had Congress passed the Balanced Budget Amendment in 1995. The House approved the amendment but it failed in the Senate by one vote.\r\nWashington needs to follow in the footsteps of Arkansas where state leaders are required to balance the budget. If Arkansas can do it, Washington can too.\r\nOur current mess has been brought on in part by our inability to follow regular order here in Washington. During my time in the Senate, we have passed one individual appropriations bill prior to the end of the previous fiscal year. We didn\u2019t consider a single appropriations bill on the Senate floor last year.\r\nWe have to make difficult spending decisions. That begins with passing a budget and approving the 12 appropriations bills. Following proper procedure allows for proper oversight to help eliminate waste, fraud and abuse with taxpayer dollars.\r\nHardworking Arkansas families are forced to spend within their means and Washington needs to do same. We need a long-term plan to put our country on the road to fiscal responsibility and that begins by reining in spending.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://womack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=355731", "Womack Statement on Passage of Continuing Appropriations Resolution", "2013-10-16", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Steve Womack", "W000809", "womack.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Womack Statement on Passage of Continuing Appropriations Resolution \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        October 16, 2013\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      The House and Senate today passed H.R 2775, the Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014, which funds the government through January 15, 2014, suspends the debt ceiling until February 7, 2014, establishes a committee to negotiate plans for longer-term fiscal solutions, and requires income verification for federal premium subsidies for health insurance purchased through an exchange.\u00a0 After passage, Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) released the following statement:\r\n\u201cI am disappointed there has been little accomplished during this shutdown.\u00a0 Obamacare hasn't been significantly changed, a lot of pain has been inflicted on innocent Americans and, with this vote, we've all but assured the nation another round of brinksmanship after the first of the year.\u00a0 But it is important that our country honor its credit obligations, move toward regular order, and resolve the budget issues plaguing America.\u00a0 On behalf of all Americans, I am relieved that Congress has finally come together to do what we were sent here to do: govern.\u201d\r\n###\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=e48d24cd-71a3-4c3e-828b-b1d1d646c0a1", "Boozman Supports Agreement to End Government Shutdown, Avoid Default", "2013-10-16", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) today said he will vote for a bipartisan bill that ends the government shutdown and avoids default on our nation\u2019s financial obligations.\r\n\u201cThe government shutdown and the debt ceiling are two major issues with very serious impacts. Already, Arkansas\u2019s seniors, veterans, families and businesses are feeling the effects of shutdown. This bipartisan solution ends the unnecessary pains caused by the shutdown and avoids the potentially dramatic hit to the savings and pensions of hardworking Arkansans,\u201d Boozman said. \u201cThis agreement extends through the first of the year which allows us to continue negotiating on debt and deficit reduction while chipping away at Obamacare.\u201d\u00a0\r\nThe agreement reached between the two Senate leaders holds federal spending at the Budget Control Act spending levels for the life of the continuing resolution.\r\n\u201cAs a result of the Budget Control Act, we have curbed the growth in Washington\u2019s spending for the first time in decades. In fact, this is the first time since the end of the Korean War that we have reduced federal spending for two consecutive years. It is imperative that we do not reverse this positive outcome,\u201d Boozman said.\r\nBoozman said the shutdown and the debt ceiling debate underscore the need for Washington to return the budgetary process to regular order.\u00a0\r\n\u201cThe requirement for the House and Senate to convene a budget conference to resolve our larger fiscal issues is a step in the right direction to returning to regular order in Washington. We have a budget that can\u2019t be strained any further. Our debt stands at nearly $17 trillion. $6 trillion of that has been added on President Obama\u2019s watch. You can\u2019t take on that much debt and pretend it isn\u2019t a problem,\u201d Boozman said.\r\nFinally, Boozman noted that the agreement included language that requires income verification for recipients of subsidies under Obamacare\u2019s newly-established exchanges.\r\n\u201cThis is no-brainer. Requiring income verification to assure that subsidies for Obamacare are going to right people will help prevent waste, fraud and abuse,\u201d said Boozman, who previously helped U.S. Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) introduce the No Subsidies Without Verification Act in an effort to eliminate Obamacare\u2019s honor system.\r\nSpecifically, the bill would:\r\n\u2022 Keep the government funded, at Budget Control Act spending levels, through January 15, 2014\r\n\u2022 Extend the debt limit until February 7, 2014\r\n\u2022 Require income verification for recipients of subsidies under Obamacare\u2019s newly-established exchanges\r\n\u2022 Provide back-pay for furloughed workers\r\n\u2022 Allow Congress to vote to disapprove of the debt ceiling increase and require President Obama to veto that legislation if it passes in order to raise the debt ceiling.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=89838d00-d5be-4f9e-9799-57275a9436a9", "Boozman Joins Bipartisan Letter to Obama in Opposition of UN Arms Trade Treaty", "2013-10-15", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013The U.N. Arms Trade Treaty poses a threat to the Second Amendment and U.S. Senators including Sen. John Boozman (R-AR) said they will not support it after Secretary of State John Kerry signed it in late September.\u00a0\r\nAccording to the Constitution, two-thirds of the Senate must approve any treaty in order for the U.S. to comply with the international agreement. 50 senators signed a letter to President Obama outlining their concerns with the U.N. Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) and wrote that they will not give their advice and consent to the treaty.\u00a0\r\n\u201cWe urge you to notify the treaty depository that the U.S. does not intend to ratify the Arms Trade Treaty, and is therefore not bound by its obligations. As members of the Senate, we pledge to oppose the ratification of this treaty, and we give notice that we do not regard the U.S. as bound to uphold its object and purpose,\u201d the senators wrote.\u00a0\r\nTo following is the letter in its entirety:\r\nDear President Obama:\u00a0\r\nWe write to express our concern and regret at your decision to sign the United Nations\u2019 Arms Trade Treaty. For the following reasons, we cannot give our advice and consent to this treaty:\u00a0\r\nFirst, the treaty was adopted by a procedure which violates a red line laid down by your own administration. In October 2009, then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stated that the U.S. supported the negotiation of the treaty only by \u201cthe rule of consensus decision-making.\u201d But in April 2013, after the treaty failed to achieve consensus, it was adopted by majority vote in the U.N. General Assembly. We fear that this reversal has done grave damage to the diplomatic credibility of the United States.\u00a0\r\nSecond, the treaty allows amendments by a three-quarters majority vote. As the treaty is amended, it will become a source of political and legal pressure on the U.S. to comply in practice with amendments it was unwilling to accept. This would circumvent the power and duty of the Senate to provide its advice and consent on treaty commitments before they are assumed by the United States.\u00a0\r\nThird, the treaty includes only a weak non-binding reference to the lawful ownership and use of, and trade in firearms, and recognizes none of these activities, much less individual self-defense, as fundamental individual rights. It encourages governments to collect the identities of individual end users of imported firearms at the national level, which would constitute the core of a national gun registry, and it creates a national \u201cresponsibility\u201d to \u201cprevent . . . [the] diversion\u201d of firearms, which could be used to justify the imposition of controls within the U.S. that would pose a threat to the Second Amendment and infringe on the rights protected therein.\u00a0\r\nFourth, the State Department has acknowledged that the treaty is \u201cambiguous.\u201d By becoming party to the treaty, the U.S. would therefore be accepting commitments that are inherently unclear. The Senate cannot effectively provide advice on an ambiguous treaty, and it should never provide its consent to such a treaty.\u00a0\r\nFifth, the criteria at the heart of the treaty are vague and easily politicized. They will restrict the ability of the U.S. to conduct our own foreign policy, and will steadily subject the U.S. to the influence of internationally-defined norms, a process that would impinge on our national sovereignty.\u00a0 We believe that treaties which allow foreign sources of authority to impose judgment or control upon the US, as this one does, violate the right of the American people, under the Constitution, to freely govern themselves.\u00a0\r\nSixth, the State Department has acknowledged that \u201cspecific . . .\u00a0 country concerns, including Taiwan, China, and the Middle East, create challenges for establishing [treaty] criteria that can be applied without exception and fit U.S. national security interests. These concerns would make Senate ratification difficult.\u201d We are indeed deeply concerned that the treaty criteria as established could hinder the United States in fulfilling its strategic, legal, and moral commitments to provide arms to key allies such as the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the State of Israel. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\r\nWe urge you to notify the treaty depository that the U.S. does not intend to ratify the Arms Trade Treaty, and is therefore not bound by its obligations. As members of the Senate, we pledge to oppose the ratification of this treaty, and we give notice that we do not regard the U.S. as bound to uphold its object and purpose.\u00a0\r\nWe appreciate your consideration on this issue and look forward to your response.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/dr-boozman-s-check-up?ContentRecord_id=d027854b-298d-4aa7-b156-9989e31300fd", "Debt Ceiling Memo", "2013-10-14", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The debt ceiling is a cap set by Congress on the amount of debt the federal government can legally borrow. According to the Treasury Department, Congress is facing an October 17 deadline to raise the debt ceiling or face a default on the bills our country owes.\u00a0\r\nIrresponsible spending hurts the future of our country. Over the past four years, the out-of-control spending has increased our deficit spending and forced us to increase the debt ceiling seven times. This means Washington has added $43,000 in debt for every American household. We need to cut spending and balance the budget so we can regain control of our finances.\u00a0\r\nCut Spending\u00a0\r\nHardworking Arkansas families are forced to spend within their means and Washington needs to do same. We need a long-term plan to put our country on the road to fiscal responsibility and that begins by reining in spending.\u00a0\r\n61 percent of Americans believe that it\u2019s \u201cright to require spending cuts when the debt ceiling is raised.\u201d\u00a0\r\nBalance the Budget\u00a0\r\nThe government has a responsibility to pay its financial obligations, but continuing to raise the debt limit is not an approach that puts our country on the path to fiscal responsibility. We need a mechanism that prevents us from overspending and forces the government to budget within its means. The only way to get a handle on the out-of-control spending is to reform how we allocate federal dollars. That\u2019s why I\u2019m supportive of a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution.\r\nJust think how differently our financial outlook would be had Congress passed the Balanced Budget Amendment in 1995. The House approved the amendment but it failed in the Senate by one vote.\u00a0\r\nWashington needs to follow in the footsteps of Arkansas where state leaders are required to balance the budget. If Arkansas can do it, Washington can too.\u00a0\r\nI am a cosponsor of S.J. Res. 6, a balanced budget resolution introduced by Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL) as well as S.J. Res. 7, a balanced budget resolution introduced by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX). Both of these measures would propose a Constitutional amendment that stipulates that the United States cannot spend more than its total revenue for any given fiscal year.\u00a0\r\nWhile Washington has taken steps to rein in spending we need to continue efforts. In 2011 Congress passed the Budget Control Act to simultaneously address federal spending and the debt ceiling. In an effort to cut Washington spending by a trillion dollars, President Obama proposed and agreed to across-the-board cuts known as sequestration. To avoid these automatic cuts, members of the joint deficit reduction committee, commonly referred to as the supercommittee were tasked with cutting more than $1 trillion in deficit spending. As you may remember, the committee failed to make the necessary cuts which triggered sequestration.\u00a0\r\nWe have to make difficult spending decisions. That begins with passing a budget and approving the 12 appropriations bills. Following proper procedure allows for proper oversight to help eliminate waste, fraud and abuse with taxpayer dollars.\u00a0\r\nLearn more:\r\nCongressional Research Service (CRS): The Debt Limit: History and Recent Increases", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/weekly-columns?ContentRecord_id=fdab4502-511e-4af5-bea3-d3a2c3c77ccb", "Ready to Help During the Shutdown", "2013-10-11", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "I\u2019m disappointed that the partisanship in Congress has resulted in a government shutdown. What is most frustrating is that this directly impacts the services Americans rely on. A government shutdown has real implications for seniors, veterans and hardworking Arkansas families who rely on the services provided by federal agencies. We need to work together to find common ground to get the government up and running so we can eliminate the interruptions in government services.\u00a0\r\nThe shutdown is already impacting many Arkansans. I talked with one Arkansas veteran who receives benefits from service-related injuries that left him disabled. I assured him we are working to make sure he still gets the benefits he earned. These benefits should not be compromised because of a government shutdown. That\u2019s why I cosponsored legislation that directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to continue discretionary payments such as benefits for low-income and disabled veterans and education and vocational rehabilitation benefits during this lapse in funding.\u00a0\r\nPrior to the shutdown, Congress approved the Pay Our Military Act to cover pay and allowances for active and reserve personnel in addition for Department of Defense civilian personnel essential to military readiness. Unfortunately, the intent of this law is not being followed. National Guard members in Arkansas and across the country have been furloughed. I joined a bipartisan effort to encourage Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to review this law so we can put these men and women back to work.\u00a0\r\nA government shutdown is not in the best interest of our country. I wanted to avoid this situation which is why I voted to continue funding the government while making policy changes to the President\u2019s healthcare law. Each of these votes was in support of House-passed legislation. Unfortunately, these bills did not have the support of the Senate Majority and triggered a government shutdown for the first time in 17-years.\u00a0\r\nWhile I don\u2019t believe a continuing resolution is the responsible way to fund the government because it is a short-term funding solution, we need to find common ground to provide the services of government. We will continue to encourage long-term planning and that begins with basics of passing a budget. This is the most basic level of governing. We need this framework to rein in spending and eliminate the waste and abuse of government programs. We need to pass appropriations bills. This proper process is necessary so we can avoid interruptions in government like we\u2019re experiencing today.\u00a0\r\nMy staff is here ready to help and hear about how this shutdown impacts you. With a government shutdown, more and more Arkansans have the potential to be inconvenienced and we\u2019re here to help. Please don\u2019t hesitate to reach out to us so we can better serve you.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=9fa8f584-7df5-4777-a69e-3524598bce12", "Senators Urge FAA to Reopen Aircraft Registry Office", "2013-10-10", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Sens. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.)\u00a0and\u00a0John Boozman (R-Ark.)\u00a0along with Sens.\u00a0Mark Pryor (D-Ark.), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.)\u00a0Wednesday sent\u00a0a letter to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Michael Huerta\u00a0requesting\u00a0a review of FAA\u2019s decision to close its Aircraft Registry Office despite its value in protecting national security and highlighted\u00a0that the office has remained open through previous government shutdowns.\u00a0\r\nIn the letter, the\u00a0Senators wrote:\u00a0\u201cThe FAA appears to be handling the current shutdown in a different manner from previous shutdowns, inflicting unnecessary hardship on aviation industries in our country.\u201d\u00a0\r\n\u201c[T]he Anti-deficiency Act provides the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the FAA with the necessary authority to staff the Registry because it helps provide vital protection to human life and property. Maintaining this database is necessary for the U.S. to fulfill its ongoing international legal obligations under the Chicago Convention and the Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment relating to the registration of aircraft. The Registry is also important to national security. Following the terrorists attacks of September 11, 2001, triennial registration was mandated for all aircraft to help the government identify and mitigate potential terrorist threats. As long as the Registry remains closed, this important anti-terrorism tool will be unavailable to law enforcement officers.\u201d\u00a0\r\nThe full text of the letter can be viewed by clicking the attached link below.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/dr-boozman-s-check-up?ContentRecord_id=d82b2b2a-60f2-4b18-b636-c0ef60a4e67f", "Sorry, we're closed: E-Verify is currently unavailable", "2013-10-08", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The electronic employment verification system, commonly referred to as E-Verify, that allows employers to confirm the immigration status of their workforce is not running because of the government shutdown.\r\nThis means we are unable to:\r\n \r\nEnroll any company in E-Verify\r\nVerify employment eligibility on new cases\r\nView or take action on any pending cases\r\n \r\nE-Verify is an internet-based system that employers and companies rely on to ensure new hires have the legal right to work in the U.S. E-Verify has a successful track record of combating the hiring of illegal immigrants and is currently used by more nearly 410,000 employers nationwide. The Department of Homeland Security estimates more than 1,000 new businesses sign up each week. Unfortunately, because of the government shutdown, these employers are unable to determine if new hires are legally able to work in the U.S.\u00a0\r\nE-Verify is a great tool to combat illegal immigration. That\u2019s why I\u2019m working to strengthen the program and make it a requirement in every workplace. Earlier this year I cosponsored the Accountability Through Electronic Verification Act of 2013 which permanently reauthorizes the E-Verify program and makes its use mandatory for all employers within one year of date of enactment.\u00a0\r\nThis is a practical approach to holding employers accountable and also helps cut down on identity theft by ensuring that the government catches multiple uses of Social Security numbers.\r\nIllegal immigration isn\u2019t just an issue for border states. It\u2019s an issue that impacts all 50 states. A government shutdown compromises our ability to combat illegal immigration and secure our border and it puts a hold on our economy and the hiring by companies that are nervous to proceed without the ability to check the legal status. We are urging our colleagues to find common ground to end this stalemate and get this program up and running.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=63647b6d-fa4b-42f7-91fc-e15140e6ccc1", "Boozman, Colleagues Call for Restoration of Death Benefits for Families of Fallen Heroes", "2013-10-08", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) and a bipartisan group of senators today urged Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel to provide immediate death gratuity benefits to the families of those killed in action during the government shutdown.\r\nThe death gratuity program provides these families with a special tax-free payment of $100,000 to help with the looming costs of funerals, travel expenses, and living expenses as normal military paychecks are suspended immediately when a soldier is killed while on active duty.\u00a0\r\nBoozman and his colleagues urged Secretary Hagel in a letter \u201cto use what whatever legal discretion you have to ensure that the nation can fulfill that sacred obligation, and to promptly notify us of changes required under law while the Congress continues to work towards opening the government. Most immediately, we request that you seek an interim solution to allow the families of five service members killed in Afghanistan this weekend to welcome their loved ones home.\u201d\r\nAlong with Boozman, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Roy Blunt (R-MO), Chris Coons (D-DE), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Claire McCaskill (D-MO), Jerry Moran (R-KS), and Tom Carper (D-DE).\r\nClick the file attached below to read the letter in its entirety.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/dr-boozman-s-check-up?ContentRecord_id=ca36818d-84a5-48ec-b149-bbd4a2fb54d8", "Guard and Reservists Return to Work", "2013-10-07", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Over the weekend, the Department of Defense (DOD) announced that almost all of its 350,000 furloughed civilian employees, including those in the National Guard and Reserve components, would return to work in the coming days.\r\nThis includes over 700 members of the Arkansas National Guard that were furloughed last week.\r\nI am pleased that Secretary Hagel has cleared the way for these men and women to return to work, but they should\u2019ve never been furloughed in the first place. Prior to the government shutdown, Congress passed and the President signed into law the Pay Our Military Act to make sure both active duty service members and DOD civilian employees receive pay during the government shutdown.\r\nThe language of the Pay Our Military Act was specifically written to avoid the \u201cexempted\u201d and \u201cessential\u201d tags. The law is explicitly clear: all members of the Armed Forces, including Reserve component personnel serving in an active status, will be paid in the event of a government shutdown. Further, the bill requires that civilian Department of Defense personnel \u201cproviding support to members of the Armed Forces\u201d continue to receive their pay and allowances.\r\nLate last week, I joined forty-nine of my Senate colleagues to ask Secretary Hagel to make sure that all members of the military are compensated for their service during the shutdown. \u00a0We clearly stated that all service members, and the civilians that support them, should receive equitable and fair treatment under this law. We urged him to use the authority granted by Congress to maintain our military readiness without interruption.\r\nI am pleased that the Administration took steps to ensure that the spirit of the \u201cPay Our Military Act\u201d is upheld. It would be beneficial if the Administration made more common-sense decisions like this to help Americans impacted by the shutdown, rather than looking for ways to exacerbate the pain.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=700f651f-b24c-4b2a-b918-8d6d4098008b", "Boozman Calls on Defense Secretary to put National Guard Members back to Work", "2013-10-04", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congress passed the \u201cPay Our Military Act\u201d to continue funding all military personnel and prevent furloughs to Department of Defense civilian personnel. Unfortunately members of the National Guard, Reserves and the civilians who play a critical role in our military readiness have been furloughed. U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) is calling on Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel to exercise the intent of the law and bring these employees back to work.\u00a0\r\n\u201cArkansans are impacted by this flawed interpretation of the law. Active duty and reserve personnel in addition to civilians who provide support are supposed to be paid and working. I am concerned with Secretary Hagel\u2019s interpretation of the law and encourage him to review this policy and uphold the intent of the \u201cPay Our Military Act,\u201d Boozman said.\u00a0\r\nBoozman joined 49 of his Senate colleagues in a bipartisan letter to Department of Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel asking him to review this matter and resolve any discrepancies to make sure that all members of the military are compensated for their service. The Senators urged the department to use the authority granted by Congress to maintain our military readiness without interruption.\u00a0\r\n\u201cThe law that we recently passed is clear: all members of the Armed Forces, including Reserve component personnel serving in an active status, will be paid in the event of a government shutdown. Further, the bill requires that civilian Department of Defense personnel \u2018providing support to members of the Armed Forces\u2019 continue to receive their pay and allowances,\u201d the senators wrote in the letter.\u00a0\r\nTo following is the letter in its entirety:\r\nDear Secretary Hagel,\r\nOne of the issues that this divided Congress can agree on is ensuring that our troops who serve in harm\u2019s way, and those that support them, receive the pay and benefits that they have earned. That is why Congress unanimously passed the \u201cPay Our Military Act\u201d and the President quickly signed the bill into law.\r\nThe \u201cPay Our Military Act\u201d gives the Department of Defense broad latitude to pay service members and civilians. The bill does not limit the provision of pay to civilians or certain service members who were previously categorized by the Administration as 'excepted' or 'essential' during sequestration furloughs. The law that we recently passed is explicitly clear: all members of the Armed Forces, including Reserve component personnel serving in an active status, will be paid in the event of a government shutdown. Further, the bill requires that civilian Department of Defense personnel \u201cproviding support to members of the Armed Forces\u201d continue to receive their pay and allowances.\r\nUnfortunately, we are receiving disturbing and conflicting reports from constituents and military personnel that uniformed service members and civilians who are directly supporting troops, including those in combat, are being furloughed. It is our understanding that under the current Department of Defense guidance, our National Guard and Reserves are seeing disruptions for personnel, to include:\r\n\u2022 Traditional members of the Guard or Reserve who attend drill and annual training, including those who are performing domestic disaster relief and recovery operations; and   \u2022 Dual-status technicians, who are uniformed service members, and also non-dual status technicians; and    \u2022 Active Guard Reserve (AGR) personnel; and    \u2022 Personnel on short-term, mission-essential, active duty tours (commonly known as ADOS); and   \u2022 Federally reimbursed state civilians, such as firefighters, air traffic controllers and other civilians in direct support of military operations.\r\nBeyond the impact on the National Guard and Reserves, we have also received reports of civilians who have been furloughed, even though they directly support deployed troops and their family members.\r\nTherefore, we urge you to review the policies that the services are disseminating to their commands to ensure that the spirit of the \u201cPay Our Military Act\u201d is upheld and that guidance is standard across the services. Congress has given you the authority to maintain our national security without interruption. We strongly believe that all service members, and the civilians that support them, should receive equitable and fair treatment under this law.\r\nThank you for reviewing this matter.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/weekly-columns?ContentRecord_id=798404bd-6cd3-47ad-8389-885f15b3c1a8", "Protecting our Second Amendment Right from International Law", "2013-10-04", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Numerous Arkansans, including myself, exercise our Second Amendment right. Sportsmen, hunters, gun enthusiasts and law-abiding citizens concerned for their personal safety have a right to own guns for these legitimate purposes, and I am committed to protecting this right and fighting legislation that poses a threat to our ability to keep and bear arms.\u00a0\r\nThat\u2019s why I\u2019m working to prevent the Senate from ratifying the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty (UN ATT). This regulates global trade in conventional weapons. This treaty could control the lawful ownership of firearms that Americans use to hunt, target shoot, and defend themselves. I am concerned this is a backdoor effort to chip away at our constitutional right. As a sovereign nation we should not have to abide by this international law that erodes away at our constitutional rights.\u00a0\r\nThe U.N. opened up the ATT for signatures in June. At the end of September, 112 countries had signed the treaty, including the U.S. Despite bipartisan opposition, Secretary of State John Kerry signed this controversial treaty. This is a reversal of policies from the previous two administrations. I am vehemently opposed to the U.S. signing any treaty that would regulate small arms. I believe this is a direct threat to our Second Amendment right.\u00a0\r\nFortunately for this treaty, or any other treaty, to take effect, it must be ratified by two-thirds of the U.S. Senate. There is overwhelming opposition in this chamber and we\u2019re on the frontlines taking steps to preserve our Second Amendment right and fight against this.\u00a0\r\nIn addition to Second Amendment concerns, there are concerns that the U.N. ATT could limit the ability of the U.S. to conduct foreign policy, such as impeding arms transfers to our allies.\u00a0\r\nEarlier this year I joined a bipartisan effort of 53 Senators in supporting an amendment to prohibit the State Department from negotiating this treaty. We are cosponsors of a bipartisan resolution which makes clear a U.N. ATT that undermines constitutional freedoms of American gun owners will not be ratified by the Senate. \u00a0In addition, we\u2019ve signed onto several letters to administration officials showing a strong disapproval of this treaty including one to the President last week informing him that the Senate will not ratify this and cannot be bound by its obligations.\u00a0\r\nWhile support for the U.N. ATT doesn\u2019t exist in the Senate, we need to continue to prevent this from even becoming a reality.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 433, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"party\" = :p0 and \"state\" = :p1 and \"year\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "Republican", "p1": "AR", "p2": "2013"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=AR&year=2013", "results": [{"value": "Republican", "label": "Republican", "count": 433, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=AR&year=2013", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=AR&year=2013", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 433, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=AR&year=2013&chamber=House", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=AR&year=2013", "results": [{"value": "AR", "label": "AR", "count": 433, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Republican&year=2013", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=AR&year=2013", "results": [{"value": "2013", "label": "2013", "count": 433, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=AR", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2013-10-04,https~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Eboozman~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fpublic~2Findex~2Ecfm~2Fweekly-columns~3FContentRecord_id~3D798404bd-6cd3-47ad-8389-885f15b3c1a8", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=AR&year=2013&_next=2013-10-04%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Eboozman~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fpublic~2Findex~2Ecfm~2Fweekly-columns~3FContentRecord_id~3D798404bd-6cd3-47ad-8389-885f15b3c1a8&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 199.36776300892234, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}